Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men, #2)

by S.J. Tilly

Kendra walks down her front steps, backpack in hand, legs on display. All that skin flashing in the beam of my headlights. By the time I put the truck in park, she’s already opening the passenger door. Instead of chastising her, I reach across, take the backpack from her hands, and set it on the back seat. She climbs into the seat in silence. And I look. I look at her shiny hair, hanging down to her shoulders. I look at the cardigan that can’t hide her nipples. I look at her lap.

At the outline of her pussy in those fucking shorts. She shuts her door, and the overhead light turns off. Leaving us in the dark. I swallow and shift the truck back into drive.

I’m about ready to undo my seat belt and crawl into Luther’s lap when he slows. We’ve been driving for fifteen minutes on another country highway, but we’re not turning onto another road. We’re turning down a driveway. My core clenches. We’re here. It’s another minute until I see the house. And holy fuck. My mouth drops open. It’s not a house.

It’s a freaking log-style mansion. The house is surrounded by tall pines that block out the setting sun, draping the property in shadows. But lights glow along the last length of the driveway and up the path leading to the front steps. And lights glow from inside too, illuminating the two stories of windows. It’s… stunning. It’s out of a damn magazine. I glance over at Luther. He glances at me, still not speaking, and lifts a shoulder. Just a casual Yeah, I’m loaded. I remember my dad saying he owned a bunch of hotels, but I was picturing motels with dive bars like the Inn. This house was built in a whole different tax bracket. Luther presses a button on the truck visor, and one of the three garage doors opens.

I close the garage door after I turn off the engine. I grab Kendra’s bag and open my door. And by the time I reach the passenger side, Kendra is sliding out of the truck. The overhead lights are on night mode, filling the garage with a dim glow. I hold out my hand to Kendra. She slides her palm against mine. Her fingers are cool, and I wrap mine around hers. I’ll warm you up soon, Baby.

I tip my head forward. Needing to watch. She’s looking up at me. Eyes only for me. Just for fucking me. I won’t do the work for her. But… “Deeper.” Kendra blinks. Then she slides her mouth down my length. Taking me deeper. I bump against the back of her throat. I feel her muscles work. She pulls off a little. “Is that all you can take?” Kendra sucks on the head of my cock, blinking up at me, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “Can you deep throat, Baby?” She gives her head a small shake, keeping my dick in her mouth. Excitement fills my chest. “That’s okay,” I tell her soothingly. “When you’re being good, I’ll teach you how. I’ll teach you how to fit my cock down your throat while I teach you how to take

my dick in your ass.” My stomach muscles clench at the idea. The way her little hole was squeezing my fingertip, it’s going to take work.

“That’s my girl. Hold it there.” She looks so fucking pretty like this, I can hardly catch my breath. “One more second.” Her throat muscles pulse once more. She blinks. Two tears roll down her cheeks. And I’m done. I reach out and hook my hands under her arms, then I lift her, and my dick slides out of her mouth. Kendra is trembling. Literally vibrating. And I have one second to worry that I took it too far. But then she’s helping me, scrambling onto my lap, her knees on either side of my hips. She reaches down between us, gripping the base of my dick and aiming the tip at her entrance. Then she drops. Her legs giving out. Impaling herself.

The first brush has my body tensing. Luther grunts as he rocks me rougher. “You ready, Baby?” “I’m ready, Daddy.” I’m practically crying. He slides one of his hands around to my ass. And then his finger is there again. Rubbing. Circling. I roll my hips. “Wait for me.” He thrusts his hips up below me, shoving deeper. “You wait for me.” The tip of his finger pushes into me. I tense. And he starts to pulse inside me. Pleasure explodes around me. And I lean forward, sealing my mouth over his, as I come.

Lips crash against mine, and she cries into our kiss. My tongue tangles with hers. I push my finger farther into her ass. I dig my fingers into her hip. Kendra shakes as her pussy continues to dance around my cock. And my balls squeeze painfully as I fill her with all of my release.

His mouth pulls into a smile. “I think that orgasm might’ve shaved a few years off my life, but it was worth it.” I huff a laugh, which makes my muscles clench. Luther groans as his body twitches in response. “Sorry,” I chuckle again. He slides his hands to my hips, holding me still. He grips me much gentler than before, and I wonder if I’m going to have handprints on my skin tomorrow. I kind of hope I will. “I think we need a shower.” Luther’s thumbs trace circles on my skin, making me shiver. Causing my muscles to clench, again. “Dammit, woman.”

I press my lips together and widen my eyes, knowing if I try to talk, I’ll laugh, making it worse. So I nod, agreeing to the shower. Taking a slow breath, I gather my composure. Luther pats my ass. “You gotta get up first, Baby.” I look down between us. “It’s gonna be messy.” Luther shrugs. “Leather is easy to clean.” I make a face.

He’s not wrong, but the visual of cleaning sex mess off a chair is… gross. Moving my hands back to his shoulders, I try to lift my hips. But my quads shake, and I barely budge. That’s it. I give up trying, accepting my new existence. St...

“I think you’ll have to toss me over the side of the chair,” I tell him seriously. Luther lifts a big shoulder, then lifts me—his dick sliding free—and shifts his weight like he’s going to seriously tip me onto the floor. “Luther!” I screech, clawing at his shoulders. The laugh that comes out of him is the loudest I’ve ever heard. He drops me back onto his lap, his dick under my ass but no longer inside me. And while I try to clench my core muscles for all I’m worth, he continues ...

“You hungry?” I ask Kendra as she steps out of the bathroom. I’m sitting on the foot of the bed—chair already cleaned—wearing a pair of gray sleep pants and a white T-shirt. And Kendra is dressed in gray sweatpants and a white tank top. I smirk at our matching outfits. Kendra nods in response to my question, even as she lifts a hand to cover a yawn. “Or do you just want to go to sleep?” I smile at how cute she looks.

I set my phone on my chest as I listen. Footsteps. Door hinge opening. Door clicking shut. “Where’re you hiding, Baby?” Luther’s quiet voice has me releasing my breath. “Over here.” I stick my arm straight up, but I’m not sure if my fingers show over the top of the mattress. Lifting my head off the pillow, I watch Luther round the foot of the bed. His gaze holds mine before glancing at the pile of furry rugs beneath me. “Why are you on the floor?” “It felt weird to stay in the bathroom.” I spent ten minutes doing just that, poking through his drawers

Dad eyes me as he opens the door leading into the garage. “You okay?” I follow him, keeping my gaze firmly away from the laundry room. “I’m good.” He stops next to his truck, not getting in. “You sure? Because you’re acting stressed out.” Cool. Glad that’s translating. “I’m fine. I just…” I’m stressed because I’ve been sleeping with your best friend behind your back. Today I’m meeting his daughter, who is only six years younger than me, and I have this bone-deep need for her to like me. I’m terrified that she won’t like me and that Luther will call this all off. Instead of that, I go with a partial truth, knowing Dad won’t drop it until I give him an answer. “I want

Ashley to like me. You and Luther are such good friends, it… it would be awkward if we didn’t get along.” Dad sets his hand on my shoulder. “Of course you’ll get along. You get along with everyone.” He smiles and drops his hand. “And if Ashley doesn’t like you, we’ll fight them.” A laugh pops out of me. “Them?” He nods. “Yeah. Father versus daughter.” “Versus?” I laugh again. “Yep. I’ll take Ashley, you get Luther.” He says Luther in a high-pitched voice, mimicking me. I scoff. “You’re such a chickenshit.” “Have you seen the man? He eats workouts for breakfast.” Dad reaches for his door handle. “I ain’t fightin’ him.” Walking around the truck to the passenger side, I bite down on my smile. I’m still stressed, but I have seen the man. And he does indeed look like he eats workouts for breakfast.

Flustered, I reach for the beer. Before I can wrap my fingers around it, Luther’s hand reaches it first. That idea of strangling is suddenly even more likely, but then I watch as he twists the top off for me. Oh. “Thank you,” I say as I take the open bottle from him. “Mine too.” Dad pushes his beer across the table toward Luther. “Open your own.” Luther shakes his head. “The caps hurt my hands,” Dad complains, pushing the beer even closer to Luther. Sighing, Jessie leans forward, grabs the bottle, twists off the top, flicks the cap at Luther, then hands the bottle to my dad. Dad flutters his lashes at Jessie. “I think I’m in love.” She rolls her eyes at him. “I think you’re an idiot,” Luther grumbles as he opens his own beer. Ashley laughs.

Which is when I spot Luther’s plate. And the fact it’s heaping with nothing but brownies.

“Guess I should say hi to the people who are going to be sleeping under my roof tonight.” Luther groans as he pushes himself up to standing. Ashley and her friends are already walking through the garage, so Luther doesn’t go far. As they approach, I watch in amusement as all of Ashley’s friends stare at him. Even the guys. One of the girls whispers something to Ashley, and she replies by pretending to gag. I bite down on a snicker. I get it. If one of my friend’s dads looked like Luther… I’d be inviting myself to sleepovers as often as possible.

“Here you go.” I hold the beer out for Luther. He sits up from his reclined position, taking the bottle. “Thanks, Baby.” My heart stops. He just called me Baby. In front of his daughter.

Pretending none of this is happening, I open my can of cider and bring it to my lips as I lift my gaze. Ashley is on the other side of Luther, so I can’t see her expression, but one of the girls on the couch across from ours is smirking at me. When we lock eyes, she mouths, Lucky.

He puts the paper cup in front of me, and I wrap my hands around it while he lowers himself into the other chair. “How was your day?” Luther’s dark eyes stay on mine. I let a smile pull at my lips. “It was alright.” “Just alright?” “Well, it’s recently gotten better.” The man smirks. I tell him about my current project at work. We sip our drinks. He tells me about the rest of his weekend with Ashley. We slide our free hands across the table. Our fingertips meet, and I slide mine another inch closer. Luther places his hand on top of mine. And I have to ask him. “Luther?” “Yeah, Baby?”

I hesitate for a moment, then exhale. “Can I ask you about Ashley’s mom?” I expect Luther to pull away. To move his hand off mine and sit back in his chair. But he doesn’t. He stays leaned in. And he doesn’t sigh. Doesn’t act uncomfortable. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” he says, and I know he means it. “I didn’t hear anyone mention her during the grad party. Is, um…” I didn’t think this through. I can’t really just ask if she’s alive, can I? “Is she around?” “If by around you mean living in the US, then yes. But she’s not involved in Ashley’s life.” His answer brings up so many more questions, but I ask the first one that pops into my brain. “Were you married?” Luther glances away. Then he slides his hand off mine. “Are you fucking serious?” “Sorry.” My heart starts to pound. “Sorry, I⁠—”

He turns his head back to me, his gaze wide. “No, Baby, it’s not⁠—” “Kenny?” My dad’s voice infiltrates my bubble of panic. My head snaps to the side. “Dad?” He’s halfway across the room, walking straight toward us. I look down to where my hand is on the table. Where Luther had his hand over mine. Did Dad see that? I look at the bags of coffee standing on the edge of the table. Please let that have blocked his view. “What are you two doing here?” Dad’s eyes are narrow...

Luther shuts his truck door, and I stand, moving down the rest of the steps. But he doesn’t come to me. He stays where he is. A few yards away. And I can feel it. It’s heavy. And thick. And dark. “Luther,” I whisper. It’s a plea. An unspoken question. A please don’t do this. His shoulders drop. “I’m not right for you.” One sentence.

Five little words. And every one of them slices through my heart. He looks down, taking a second, then he lifts his head. And he holds my gaze. “You have your whole life ahead of you, Kendra. You’re beautiful and smart. You have so much to offer. And I have nothing to give.” “I… I don’t understand.” Moisture fills my eyes. How did I read this thing between us so wrong? So incredibly wrong. “I’ve already lived. I have my daughter. I got to experience raising her. And I wouldn’t change it, but I’m not going to have more kids.” He shakes his head. “And I can’t take that away from you. I won’t make you choose.” His voice is steady, and it makes me want to scream. Why is he doing this? Why didn’t he ask me about kids? If he asked me, I’d tell him. I’d tell him everything. I want to tell him. I open my mouth. Inhaling.

Dad shakes his head. “You two are so weird.” I look at him, brow raised. “We’re weird? Have you met yourself?” Dad rolls his eyes. “Luther knows his stuff,” he says in a high feminine voice, then he switches to a deep tone. “That’s Kendra’s chair.” I laugh. “You sound ridiculous.” “You sound ridiculous.” I shake my head. “And what chair is mine?” He takes another sip of his coffee, gesturing with his free hand. “At the fish fry, before you bailed.” “Bailed,” I repeat dryly. Dad never really believed I wasn’t feeling well. Pretty sure he thought it was a lie because I was bored. Which is still better than him knowing the truth.

He huffs. “Yeah, well, if you’d come back, you’d have saved us from the flock of women trying to flirt with Rocky.” I purse my lips, thinking about those women. How that one reached for him. “Maybe Luther liked the attention.” I emphasize his name just to be a pest. Dad scoffs. “Not him. He’s no saint, but he’s damn close. Been forever since I’ve seen him interested in anyone.”

“I’m still mad at you.” I swallow and nod. “Understandable.” She blows out a breath. “But I’m going to forgive you.” I stare at her. Just stare.

“Hey.” I answer the phone with a smile. “—mergency… Buddy.” Kendra’s distressed voice cracks through the speaker. My heart drops into my stomach. “Say that again, Baby.” The line cracks. I stride across my living room. “Stay on the phone and say it again.” Fucking shitty mountain service.

“The fox⁠—” “Buddy,” Joe interrupts. “Buddy…” Ethan says slowly. “Is going to be fine.” The father-daughter duo on either side of me slump back in their seats with loud exhales. Ethan’s lips twitch, but he continues. “He’s currently sedated, and Dr. Child is setting his broken leg.”

“Good night, and I love you.” My eyes open. I didn’t… Shit, I didn’t mean to say that. Luther stays silent. The only thing filling the line is the sound of the highway. I sit up. My heart is racing. That’s not what he was trying to get me to say. I didn’t mean to… And he… He doesn’t say it back. I pull the phone from my ear and end the call. The screen goes black, reflecting my horrified expression. I stare at myself with wide eyes. I told him I loved him. And he didn’t say it back. He didn’t say anything.

He holds my gaze in his as he says it again. “I love you, Kendra. I have for so long.” The air freezes in my lungs. “What did you say?” my dad shouts through the door. We both ignore him. “You hung up too fast, Baby.” Luther takes a step toward me. “You didn’t give me time to catch my breath.” He takes another step. “Because that’s what you do to me. You take my fucking breath away. Every damn day.” He takes one more step. And then he reaches for me. With both hands. Tears roll down my cheeks. Luther shakes his head as he rests his palms against the sides of my neck. “No more tears. Even if they’re happy ones.” His thumbs brush away the dampness. “Even if they’re because you love me too. I still can’t stand to see you cry.”

“Now say it again.” He leans down, pressing his forehead to mine. “Tell me you love me again.” I close my eyes and do the easiest thing in the world. I tell him. “I love you, Luther.” I inhale his exhale. “I have for so long.” His grip on me shifts, and he tips my head back. So our eyes meet. “Again.” His voice is so gruff. So demanding. I smile through the tears that keep streaming down my cheeks. “I love you. I think I will forever.” Luther’s throat works. And his fingers flex as they circle my throat. “That’s good, Baby Doll. Because you’re it for me. Until my heart stops beating. And even then…”

Joe is standing on the other side of the threshold in boxers and a white T-shirt, hair askew, arms crossed over his chest. “Here’s the thing—” I start. He steps forward and punches me in the chest. “That’s for… whatever you’ve done with my daughter.” “Dad!” Kendra tries to step past me, but I catch her around the waist and shove her back behind me. Joe punches me again. Landing this hit next to the first. “And that’s for keeping it from me.” “Dad,” Kendra sighs.

I keep her behind me and rub at my chest with my free hand. “Shit. When’d you learn how to punch?” “I didn’t.” Joe grimaces and shakes out his hand. “What are you made out of? Fucking rock?” I make my own face as I press my hand over my pec. “You smashed my nipple.” Joe drops his hands to his sides. “Good.” Kendra snickers behind me, and I feel her drop her forehead against my back. I try not to smile. Joe points at me. “This isn’t funny.” My nipple throbs. I bite my cheek as I shake my head. “It’s not funny.” “That’s my daughter.” I nod. “I know.” “And you didn’t tell me.” I nod again. “I’m sorry.” His jaw works. “How long—You know what? Don’t answer that.” Kendra grips the arm I have against her and slides her hand down until our fingers twine together.

Joe props his hands on his hips, looking back and forth between Kendra and me. “Any other life-altering surprises you’d like to share with me?” I feel Kendra’s shoulders slump against my arm, and I know she’s thinking about the cancer conversation. “There’s nothing else. I swear. I’m sorry.” Joe sighs. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t’ve said that. You told me when you could.” “No, don’t apologize. It’s fair. But…you’re okay? With… us?” Kendra asks hesitantly. I hate that she’s nervous, but I understand it. This is a big deal. Not just because I’ve been friends with Joe. But because we’re a big deal. There’s no going back, not for either of us, so Joe had better learn how to be okay with it. Because Kendra and I… we’re each other’s person. Until the end of time. Joe lets out another heavy groan. “There are no two people in this world that I love more than the two of you. And if you can love an ugly man like him…” He jabs his finger into my chest. “Then yeah, I’ll be okay with it.”

Kendra sniffs. Joe shakes his head. “No crying.” Kendra lets out a watery laugh, and I let go of her hand so I can wrap my arm around her shoulders and hold her against my side. Joe turns his gaze on me. “You better mean to marry her. Because if you break my daughter’s heart, I will kill you.” I grin. “I’m serious. I will literally fucking kill you.” He jabs me in the chest again, and I flex my pecs, making him jerk his hand away. I keep grinning. “Oh, I’m going to marry her. And I’m pretty sure you just gave me your blessing.” Joe lets out another long sigh. “Fine. But no touching each other in front of me.” “Dad.” He points his finger back and forth between us. “I mean it. When we’re watching TV, you aren’t sitting on his lap or anything like that. Not in my house.”

I kiss her hair again. “You ready to go to our room, Baby?” She turns into me, pressing a hand to my chest. “Yes, Daddy.” Heat pulses down my spine. “Nope!” Joe yells loudly from close by. Kendra slaps a hand over her mouth. “Nope. Nope. Nope.” Joe holds his hands up as he walks away from us, shaking his head.