Mountain Men of Liberty (Complete Box Set)

by K. C. Crowne

  “So you used my class as punishment? You think it’s that bad?”

  “No, that’s not—” I paused to try and say what I needed to clearly. “I mean, I can see why you’d think that. But truthfully, I did it because he’s going to write a new review, a positive one based on his experience in your class and remove the rest.”

  She stopped walking, and I had to turn around to face her.

  “You’re making him write a positive review?”

  I shrugged. “Based on his actual experiences, yes, so it’s not fake. Believe it or not, I do have some integrity.”

  She looked stunned, then muttered, “Thank you, I think? I mean, the damage might already be done, I don’t know.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, and I felt like an asshole even though I didn’t really do anything. Still, she was crying and I had no fucking clue how to handle it. I reached out and placed a hand on her arm, but she pulled away.

  “I’m sorry. I had no idea Ben did that. I didn’t condone his behavior and have tried to fix it. But I can only do so much,”

  She wiped at her eyes. “No, it’s not that. I believe you, it’s just—” She waved away my concern. “Never mind.”

  She pushed past me and tried to walk as fast as possible. I should have let her go. I wasn’t sure what pushed me forward, but I couldn’t let her continue crying like that. My employee fucked things up for her, and I couldn’t help but feel responsible for her difficulties.

  “Josie, please—”

  “Cyrus, just leave me alone, okay? Not everything is about you,” she said. “I just want to hike my favorite trail in peace and blow off some steam. Is that too much to ask?”

  “This is your favorite trail?”

  She side-eyed me. “Yeah, so?”

  “It’s mine too, and I’m here for the same reason. To blow off some steam.”

  She rolled her eyes but slowed down. She was no longer running away from me. “You have a crappy day too?”

  “You can say that.”

  “What happened?”

  I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to talk about it, but I also didn’t want to be a complete dick. “My dad died.”

  “Oh God, I’m so sorry, Cyrus,” she said, stopping again. Her eyes were filled with pity.

  “Don’t be sorry. He was an asshole who abused my mom and me,” I revealed, trying to remain calm. “Truthfully, he’s been dead to me for years.”

  “I know that feeling all too well,” she murmured softly. She continued walking, staring at the ground at her feet.

  “Oh yeah? Terrible father?”

  “No, an ex,” she said. I thought she might leave it at that, but she continued eventually. “He was abusive, but I didn’t know it at first. I thought he was a good man. He often spoiled me with gifts and trips, then turned psycho near the end. And the worst part? He may be getting out of jail in a few weeks.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” I sympathized. “Classic abuser right there.”

  “I know, right? Like, how could I be so stupid?”

  “You can’t blame yourself. These guys know how to manipulate people into seeing who they really are,” I muttered, remembering the countless women my dad had lured in after my mom. None of them stayed very long, once his true self emerged, but there were many beautiful women wooed by his wealth and charming personality.

  “I guess so,” she said, sighing.

  We hit a straight patch right before the final leg. We pushed past it, not saying much else. I relished in the burn in my calves and felt my mood lift the moment we made it over the hill. The view from the top was unbelievable, as always. The valleys and mountains around us stretched on forever, and the sun was slowly descending upon the horizon.

  Josie and I stood there for a few moments, absorbing the peace surrounding us. I could hear her breathing heavily from the last trek, and when I glanced at her, I caught her staring at me.

  I don’t know what got into me. Maybe it was the adrenaline from reaching the peak of the trail, seeing such an amazing view, or the way she was checking me out.

  I could tell we both needed something.

  I turned, so did she, and before I knew what was happening, I was pressing my lips to hers. She kissed me back, opening her mouth to me, as her hands worked underneath my shirt. She caressed my abs, then moved to my chest and back down again. My own hands were exploring her exquisite curves, going lower and lower until I cupped that tight, round ass of hers.

  It was everything I’d hoped it would be, and more.

  I had to have her.

  Chapter 5

  Josie

  Standing at the top of the hill overlooking the world, all I could do was look at him. He was the most gorgeous thing about the view. I’d always thought he was hot, but having him open up to me like he had? It showed him in an entirely new light.

  His body felt even better to touch than to look at. At least until I began removing his clothes. I ripped his shirt off over his head, with his help, and stood in awe. His chest and abs were the tightest, most toned of any I’d ever seen. He looked like Jason Momoa, but somehow even better. I outlined the tattoos on his chest with my fingers, the smooth muscle underneath his skin tightening with each touch.

  “Fuck, I need you,” he growled, lifting me to make it easier to kiss me.

  We made out like two drunken teenagers. Our hands explored each other’s bodies, our mouths moved from lips to neck to chest then back to lips again. He pulled off my shirt, tossing it to the side and went back for my sports bra.

  I didn’t even hesitate. I let him strip me down in the wilderness. Anyone could walk upon us at any time, but I didn’t care. And let’s face it, very few people would take that particular hike this late in the evening. You had to be fairly advanced to do it during the day, much less at night.

  Cyrus took my breasts into his hands, cupping one in each. He gazed down at them, his eyes filled with lust as his mouth moved lower until he could suck on them. He took turns, going between them like he couldn’t decide which one he liked better. I just liked his mouth on me. My insides were on fire, and my panties were drenched. I needed him to touch me lower.

  I fumbled with his pants, releasing the buttons. I was shaking but managed to yank them down. He helped remove them the rest of the way, and I felt his hard cock before I saw it. Wrapping my hand around it, I stroked him, amazed at how hard and thick he was. Everything about the man was larger than life.

  He lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing at all, then he went down, laying me in the grass just off the trail. The earth beneath me crackled as my weight settled into the leaves and grass. He slid my yoga pants down and I shimmied out of them for him. I lay there, naked and exposed for him. His eyes moved over my body, drinking in the sight. The way he looked at me made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

  He began kissing my neck, then moved lower to my breasts, teasing my nipples with his tongue before going lower. He tickled my belly button, bringing out a giggle from me before going even lower. He pushed my thighs apart, and I gasped as he dotted kisses along my inner thighs. Gently, he parted my lips with his hand before diving into my folds.

  I cried out in pleasure as his tongue found my clit. He circled it and teased it, making sure not to touch it directly, while his fingers played with my opening.

  “Yes, yes,” I whimpered, writhing against the grass.

  Cyrus sped up the pace, slurping at my juices. I was squirming and twisting beneath him so much that he needed to hold me in place. He held onto my hips, pressing me into the ground and keeping my legs open for him. With one hand, he took my leg and threw it over his shoulder so he could get even closer.

  He buried his tongue inside of me, and it felt so good, I pressed on the back of his head, urging him to go deeper, but his tongue could only reach so far. I wanted more of him.

  “Please, Cyrus,” I begged, trying to nudge him upward. “Please.”

  Cyrus wasn’t having any of it,
though. He continued eating me out, devouring my pussy and sending shudders throughout my whole body.

  I threw my head back against the ground, overcome with pleasure, my nails digging into the back of his head. I both wanted him to hurry up and fuck me and for him to continue eating me out like this forever. I couldn’t make up my mind. Either way, I was on the verge of orgasm and every flick of his tongue brought me closer and closer.

  He lifted his face long enough to mutter the words, “Cum for me, Josie.”

  “Cyrus, I’m—” I didn’t even get the words out. They became garbled and turned to screams which echoed throughout the valley as I came. My lower body arched upward as I pressed him into me, cumming harder than I’d ever cum before.

  Cyrus didn’t let up until I couldn’t take it anymore. My clit was throbbing and over-sensitive, and I jumped when his tongue passed over it again. He pulled himself away from me, staring up from between my thighs with a cocky ass grin on his face. His lips and beard were soaked, and he made a show of licking his lips and fingers clear as he moved up the length of my body.

  I grabbed him and wrapped myself around him.

  “What do you want, Josie?” he asked, staring down at me.

  His cock was inches away from my opening. I felt myself widening in yearning for him, wanting more than anything to be filled up with his thick cock.

  “I want you,” I whimpered, rubbing myself against him. “Please.”

  “No, tell me what you want to do, exactly.”

  “I want you to fuck me,” I whispered.

  “Louder. I couldn’t hear you.”

  “I want you to fuck me,” I said, speaking louder.

  “Good girl,” he said, thrusting into me and taking me by surprise.

  I cried out, his thickness stretching me as he buried himself deep inside of me. I couldn’t believe how good he felt. Nothing had ever stretched me and filled me the way he did. He rocked back and forth, fucking me gently at first. I could tell he wanted to go harder and faster, and I wanted that too.

  “Harder,” I muttered.

  “What was that?” he asked. A sly grin told me he knew exactly what I’d said. He just wanted to hear me say it again.

  “Fuck me harder, Cyrus.”

  Cyrus took my hands and held them over my head, pressing them into the ground. And I got to witness his glorious body working its magic. He hovered above me, thrusting into me hard and fast, reaching the very depths of me. His chest muscles and arms tightened, as did his jaw. His face contorted into a look of bliss as it took everything in him not to explode inside of me right away.

  Just watching him above me was a show in and of itself. I’d always thought he was hot, but damn, he was a beast. Sweat glistened on his brow as he focused all his energy on simply fucking me.

  His head fell forward, and it became almost animalistic. He moved in and out of me, hard and fast. He let go of my hands and I wrapped myself around him again, holding on for dear life as the fire inside me began burning hotter and hotter. I felt like there was a bomb inside me, ready to burst at any second. Cyrus let out a deep, thunderous groan, and I knew he was close.

  But he was holding out for me.

  “Cum with me,” I begged. “Please, Cyrus, cum with me.”

  My words turned to screams as pleasure exploded inside me. My nails dug into his back, piercing his flesh as I bucked wildly underneath him. Cyrus buried his cock in me one last time. His member pulsed and throbbed, unloading his seed as we came together.

  “God that was amazing,” I whimpered as my orgasm subsided.

  Cyrus lifted himself to look down at me, and the look from earlier was still there. He still looked at me like I was the sexiest, most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. The lust had died down, but only a bit. He kissed me, and I tasted myself on his lips.

  He pulled out of me and laid down beside me. I turned to face him, unsure if we should cuddle. He was on his back, staring up at the blue sky. His bare chest called out to me.

  I inched closer to him, running my fingers down his abs. He took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently before pulling me even closer. My head rested on his chest, and I could hear his heartbeat thundering wildly inside of him. It was such a relaxing sound, I could almost fall asleep.

  After a few moments of lying underneath the mountain sky, Cyrus said, “We should probably get moving. The sun is setting. We don’t want to be on this trail after dark.”

  I sat up and gathered my clothes, feeling awkward for the first time. Cyrus didn’t say much either as he got dressed. It was like neither one of us knew what to say, even though the question was lingering in the air.

  I finally broke the silence. “You know, that was amazing and all, but I don’t think I’m ready for anything serious.”

  “Oh yeah?” Cyrus asked, scratching his beard. “That’s good. Me neither.”

  “Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page then.”

  My cheeks burned red, and my heart was screaming at me to shut my mouth. But he’d agreed easily, so obviously I was right about him not wanting anything more. I wasn’t sure what I wanted; I didn’t think I was ready to jump into anything serious. I had to deal with Wade, plus I had to think of Milo. Cyrus didn’t even know I had a son; it didn’t seem right to start a relationship before telling him I had a kid.

  I took a deep breath and looked out at the beautiful mountain scenery. Cyrus was beside me, neither of us saying anything more. We both turned and walked back down the trail, making small talk as we went. Neither of us mentioned what we’d done again, and we got to our cars and went our separate ways as if nothing had happened.

  But something had happened, and even though I was cool on the outside, I was going crazy on the inside. I had to talk to someone about it, and fast.

  Ooo000ooo

  “You fucked him?” Elle exclaimed the next day at lunch. She literally squealed, clasping her hands over her face in surprise. “Wow, you lucky bitch. I’m so jealous right now.”

  I covered my face too, but for a different reason. Everyone in the Smothered in Love cafe turned to look at us. It was dinnertime, so families were around us. One mother held her hands over her son’s ears. Elle didn’t even notice; she was still staring at me in disbelief.

  “Yeah, yeah, can you keep it down? I’d rather not let the whole town know my business.”

  I saw Sadie, the town gossip, in the far corner. She was pretending to read a newspaper, but her ears were definitely perked up. Elle hadn’t been in town for very long as an adult and didn’t really understand the way gossip spread around here.

  “I’m sorry, I’m just so freaking excited for you. You needed this, Josie. You totally needed a good fuck.”

  She was still speaking way too loudly for my liking, but that was Elle for you. She was mouthy, never afraid to say what she meant, even if it could get her in trouble with the people around her.

  “So tell me everything,” she said, piling a forkful of salad into her mouth.

  “Like what?”

  “Uhh, like how big is he? A man that big has to be endowed, right? Please tell me he had a big dick, because if not, my world is about to be shattered.”

  “Elle!”

  “Sorry, is that too much? If you don’t want to spill the beans, I understand.”

  “It’s not that, it’s just—well, I’m not sure this is the place to discuss such things.”

  Elle looked around as if she just now realized we were in public surrounded by families. An elderly woman nearby glared at her.

  “Sorry if I’m excited for my friend getting laid,” Elle announced, unperturbed.

  The older woman got up from her seat and went to another table across the room. I wanted to run away too, but I’d go a lot farther than just across the restaurant. I didn’t want to see me these people ever again.

  “Calm down, Josie. It’s just sex.”

  “Sometimes I think you forget that you’re not in New York City anymore, Dor
othy. Utah is a little more conservative than what you’re used to.”

  Elle shrugged. “Yeah, I know. One reason I was happy to leave. But don’t worry about them, they’ll get over it. I’m just happy for you. When will you see him again?”

  “Say what?”

  “Uh, when will you to get together again?” she asked, almost talking to me like I was stupid.

  “Probably never, at least not in that way,” I said, holding my hand up before she could stop me. “This was a one-time deal. We both agreed we aren’t looking for anything serious.”

  “Oh, you’re no fun at all. You should at least fuck him a few more times, for good measure.”

  “Elle, I can’t let him distract me right now. I have enough on my plate.”

  “Which is exactly why you need a good, old-fashioned distraction!”

  I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms in front of my chest. I shook my head so hard, it caused my heart to hurt. “Nope. No way. I can’t right now. I have to think about— well, you know what I have to think about. He comes first, not some fuck buddy.”

  “Did you ever think that maybe you being happy might be best for everyone?”

  “I am happy,” I lied.

  “No you’re not. Stop kidding yourself. You’re lonely, and all you ever do is work and complain about work. Cyrus would be good for you.”

  I shrugged. I couldn’t deny that she had a point. I hadn’t been happy for a while, and I was lonely. I had my mom and Milo, sure, but I missed having a companion, a partner-in-crime, and yeah, I missed sex. Not that I’d ever had sex like that before, but now that I had, I knew I’d miss it even more.

  “Well, even if I wanted to pursue something, he’s not interested in anything serious, so yeah. It ends here.”

  Elle sighed deeply and continued eating her salad. “Fine, if you say so. But I still think you should give it a shot, see where it goes.”

  There was no use arguing with her. I turned to my plate, a chicken sandwich I was no longer in the mood for, and started picking at it. “Can we change the subject, please?”