“I don't want another housekeeper.”
Still she waited.
He stepped closer.
“I don't want someone else making coffee.”
“Or yelling about my boots.”
“Or filling this place with jars.”
His voice grew rough.
“I don't want another woman in this house.”
The Mountain Woman swallowed.
The Mountain Man continued.
“I want you.”
The room became completely still.
The Mountain Woman searched his face.
No performance.
No joke.
No half-truth.
Just a man who had apparently been carrying the same fear she had.
She asked:
“Since when?”
The Mountain Man almost smiled.
“First week.”
Her eyes widened.
“You barely spoke to me.”
“Exactly.”
She laughed.
“Coward.”
“Yes.”
The Mountain Woman stepped closer.
His hands remained at his sides.
That mattered too.
He did not assume.
He waited.
She lifted one hand.
Touched the fur lining of his vest.
Then the skin beneath.
The Mountain Man inhaled slowly.
The Mountain Woman looked up.
“You could have said something.”
“You would've left.”
“Maybe.”
“I couldn't risk it.”
“That isn’t flattering.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“Still honest.”
The Mountain Man’s hand rose.
Slowly.
He touched her waist.
Not pulling.
Resting.
The Mountain Woman’s breath caught.
He asked:
“Too close?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
His other hand came to her cheek.
The Mountain Woman closed her eyes for one second.
She had been touched before.
Hands helping her into wagons.
Women fixing her hair.
Children clinging.
Men shaking hands.
Nothing like this.
Nothing that asked.
Nothing that waited.
When she opened her eyes, the Mountain Man was still watching her.
She whispered:
“You're still thinking.”
“Yes.”
“About?”
“Kissing you.”
The Mountain Woman’s mouth curved.
“You require permission for everything?”
“With you.”
That answer nearly undid her.
She leaned closer.
“Then stop asking questions you already know.”
He kissed her.
Slowly.
No rush.
No claiming.
The first touch of his mouth was almost careful enough to make her laugh.
Then she put one hand behind his neck.
That changed things.
The Mountain Man made a low sound.
His arm tightened around her waist.
The Mountain Woman leaned into him.
Warm fur.
Bare skin.
Beard against her cheek.
Firelight.
Snow outside.