Page 38 of Craved By the Mountain Man

“You are extremely irritating.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“Do women usually put up with this?”

I don’t like the question.

More accurately, I don’t like the picture it puts in her head. Other women in this kitchen. Other women standing where she is, looking at me the way she is.

There haven’t been any.

I set my mug down.

Her gaze follows my hand.

“No.”

She looks back at me. “No what?”

“No one puts up with me.”

Her mouth twitches. “That I believe.”

I step toward her.

The amusement disappears from her face.

Stopping would be the smart move.

I close the rest of the distance instead, leaving barely a foot between us.

Her head tips back.

“What are you doing?”

Her voice has gone quieter.

“Seeing if you back up.”

She doesn’t.

Not an inch.

Her pulse beats fast at the base of her throat, and watching it makes mine hit harder.

My eyes drop to her mouth.

She notices.

“You keep doing that too.”

“What?”

“Looking at my mouth.”

I raise my eyes.

“Maybe I like your mouth.”