Knocked up by the Mountain Man (Silver Ridge Mountain Men)

7. Clara

7

CLARA

B eau grabs me, his hands rough and insistent. He drags me towards him, his lips crashing down on mine. I gasp in surprise, my back hitting the rough bark of the oak tree behind me. His kiss is fierce, filled with all the anger and passion he’s been holding back.

For a moment, I’m lost in it.

The familiar taste of him, the heat of his body pressing against mine, it’s all too much. My hands come up to his chest, not to push him away, but to feel the solidness of him, to remind myself that this is real. Beau’s hands move to my waist, his grip tightening as he presses me back against the tree, making me feel all of him. The rough bark digs into my back, but the pain is a distant sensation compared to the intensity of his kiss.

His lips are demanding, coaxing a response from me that I can’t deny. I part my lips, allowing him deeper access, and he takes it, his tongue sweeps into my mouth, tasting, exploring. I moan against his lips, my fingers gathering the fabric of his shirt. The heat between us is electric, sparking memories of a time when this passion was all we knew. His hands slide up my sides, fingers tracing the curves of my body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. He pulls back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes, his breath hot against my lips.

“Clara,” he murmurs, his voice a mix of longing and desperation. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”

Before I can respond, he captures my lips again. This time the kiss is softer, but no less intense. I find myself rolling my hips against him, my body grinding against his in ways I thought I’d forgotten. His hands move to my hips, lifting me slightly so I can wrap my legs around his waist. The new angle brings us even closer, the hard length of him presses against my core, igniting a deep, throbbing need inside me.

My hands move to his hair, fingers tangling in the dark strands as I pull him closer, now refusing to let him go. I know we shouldn’t be here, doing this, but I’m utterly powerless to resist this man, I just can’t help myself. He groans, the sound vibrating through me, sending shivers down my spine. His lips leave mine, trailing hot, kisses down my neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin. I tilt my head back to give him better access, my breaths come out in short, ragged gasps.

“Beau,” I whisper, the name a plea, a surrender. I can’t fight this any longer.

The barriers I’ve built are crumbling under the weight of his touch, his kiss, his need. His hand slips between my legs, finding the wetness already pooling there. He groans against my lips, his fingers teasing me through the thin fabric of my panties. I gasp, my hips bucking into his hand, seeking more.

“Please,” I whisper.

He doesn’t make me wait. His fingers hook into the waist band of my panties, and pulls them aside as he slides a finger inside me. I cry out, my head falling back against the tree as he begins to move, his touch both gentle and insistent. The pleasure builds quickly, a tight coil of heat in my belly, threatening to unravel.

“Clara,” he breathes out, his voice a low growl. “You’re so wet for me.”

I can only moan in response, my hands clutch at his shoulders, holding on as he adds another finger, stretching me, filling me. His thumb finds my clit, circling it with just the right amount of pressure, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through me.

“Beau,” I gasp, my body trembling with the intensity of it all. “I need you.”

With a swift movement, he pulls his fingers out of me me, and move up to unbuckle his belt. I hear the clink of metal, the rustle of fabric, and then he’s there. His cock presses against me, hot and insistent. I arch my hips towards him, desperate to feel him, all of him, once more.

Beau grabs my ass, lifting me slightly higher as he pushes inside me, filling me completely. The sensation is overwhelming, a mix of pain and pleasure that sends my head spinning. The sort of pain and pleasure I’m sure only he can give me.

“Fuck, Clara,” he groans against my neck, his breath hot and ragged. “You feel so good.”

I can barely form a coherent thought, let alone a response. My nails dig into his shoulders as I cling to him, the intensity of our chemistry driving me wild. He begins to move, each thrust deep and deliberate, sending waves of pleasure coursing through my body.

“Harder,” I manage to gasp, needing more. Needing him to claim me completely.

Beau doesn’t hesitate. His pace quickens, and his movements become more forceful.

The slight pain from the oak tree digging into my back only heightens the pleasure. I wrap my legs tighter around him, pulling him in deeper, lost in the raw, primal need between us. Our bodies move in a feverish rhythm, every thrust sending electric jolts of pleasure through me. The sound of our panting breaths, mingled with the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of cicadas.

“God, Clara, you feel so fucking good,” Beau groans, his voice rough with desire. His hands grip my hips with bruising intensity, pulling me even closer as he drives into me, each thrust more powerful than the last. “I’ve missed this. Missed you.”

I can feel the tension building, a tight coil of heat winding tighter and tighter in my core.

“Beau,” I gasp, my voice breaking. “I’m so close.”

We’ve been here once before.

The déjà vu hits me hard.

I’ve said those exact words to him once more and it was the best moment of my whole damn life.

His response is a deep, primal growl that vibrates against my skin. He shifts slightly, angling his hips to hit that perfect spot inside me. The sensation is overwhelming, sending a shock wave of pleasure radiating through my entire body.

“Come for me, Clara,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice a low, seductive command. “I love feeling it.”

I can’t hold back any longer.

The world narrows down to the intense pleasure coursing through me, the feeling of him deep inside me, the sound of his voice, rough and urgent. With a cry, I tumble over the edge, the orgasm hitting me like a tsunami of crashing waves. Each wave of pleasure builds on the last, pulling me under. Deeper and deeper, until I’m lost in the overwhelming sensation. It’s as if I’m drowning in ecstasy, each wave dragging me further into a sea of bliss.

Beau doesn’t stop.

He keeps moving, his pace relentless, driving me higher and higher until I’m lost in a whirlwind of sensations.

“Fuck, Clara, you’re so tight,” he groans, his words sending a fresh wave of heat through me. “So wet and perfect.”

As the waves of pleasure ebb, I feel him stiffen, his breath catching in his throat.

“Oh fuck, Clara, I can’t…”

With a final, deep thrust, he groans my name, his release sending shivers through both of us, tightening my chest in a powerful vice like grip.

I wake with a start, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

The intensity of the dream still lingers, the phantom sensations of Beau’s touch and the rough bark of the oak tree vivid in my mind. I sit up, push the sweat dampened hair from my forehead, and look around my room, disoriented.

That is not how I wanted to start my first full day back at Silver Ridge.

Not when I have so much to do, starting with finding suitable childcare for Thomas while I work.

Urgh, I have to shake off that dream so I can focus on what’s important. I shouldn’t be dreaming of Beau like that, especially after how weird he was last night. All drunk and demanding to know about my husband. As if I’m going to tell that icy cold man anything about my life.

I get out of bed, trying to shake off the remnants of last night. After a quick shower, I get dressed and head downstairs, following the scent of fresh coffee. Wyatt’s house is quiet, the only sounds coming from the kitchen where I find him standing by the stove, flipping pancakes. Such a different scene from the house we lived in as kids, where it was absolute chaos, all the time.

“Morning, Clara,” Wyatt greets me with a warm smile. “How’d you sleep?”

I force a smile in return. “Morning, Wyatt. I slept… alright.” I pour myself a cup of coffee, taking a moment to savor the rich aroma before taking a sip. “How was your date last night?”

Wyatt grins, his eyes lighting up. “It was great. We went to a new restaurant in town, The Harvest Moon.”

“Aw not Milly’s Diner?” I tease. “Isn’t that where you used to take all your dates?”

He rolls his eyes. “In high school, yeah, but this is different.”

“So, how was it?”

“The food was amazing, and she’s really nice. I actually like her a lot. We’re planning to see each other again this weekend.”

“That’s great, Wyatt. I’m glad it went well.” I settle into a chair at the kitchen table, cradling my mug in both hands. “It’s weird to see you so excited about someone though.”

Wyatt chuckles as he places a stack of pancakes on a plate. “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve felt this way about someone. But enough about me, how are you holding up? Any plans for today?”

“Yeah, actually, I wanted to ask you about nurseries. Do you know any good ones around here? You know, just for while I work?”

Wyatt thinks for a moment, flipping the last pancake on the plate and turning off the stove. He brings the plate over to the table and sits down across from me.

“Actually, there’s a new nursery that just opened up a few weeks ago. I’ve heard good things about it from a couple of people in town. Might be worth checking out.”

“Do you know who runs it?” I ask, hopeful.

He shakes his head. “No idea. I mean, without kids myself, no reason to really look into it.”

I nod, taking another sip of my coffee. “True, I’ll look into it today. Thanks for the tip, Wyatt. What’s it called?”

Wyatt frowns, trying to recall the name. “I think it’s called Little Sprouts Nursery. It’s on the east side of town, near the park.”

“Got it. Thanks, Wyatt. I’ll check it out.” I finish my coffee, feeling a bit more grounded and ready to tackle the day ahead.

Finding a good nursery for Thomas is my top priority, I hope this new place will be exactly what I need. After breakfast, I grab my bag and Thomas, who’s already wide awake and full of energy. As we head into town, I’m struck by how familiar everything feels. It’s almost like I never left. Memories flood back, some sweet and some bitter, making it harder than I thought it would be to be back here.

It isn’t for long, I remind myself, something I think I’ll be doing a lot.

Not for long at all.

Trying to keep my mind on the task at hand, I park and navigate the streets with Thomas in tow. We pass by the park where I used to play as a kid, the bakery where we’d get fresh bread every morning, and the old library that always smelled like dust and ink. With all of that, plus dealing with Thomas, I’m not paying as much attention as I should be as we walk up the Little Sprouts steps.

Suddenly, I bump into someone, and we both stumble back.

Papers fly everywhere, scattering across the steps.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaim, immediately bending down to help pick up the scattered notes. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“It’s okay,” a familiar voice says, laughing softly. “I wasn’t either.”

I look up, and my breath catches. “Abby?”

Abby looks up, surprise flashing in her eyes before her face breaks into a wide smile as she recognizes me. “Clara? Oh my god, it’s really you!”

“Yeah, it’s me,” I say, grinning as we both stand up, still holding the papers. “I can’t believe we ran into each other like this.”

Abby laughs, shaking her head in amazement. “I know! It’s been forever. What brings you back to Silver Ridge?”

“Work,” I say with a shrug. “I’m here on a job, so not for very long. But I need childcare for my little one.” Her eyes widen, understandably so. “Wyatt mentioned Little Sprouts, so I thought I’d check it out.”

Abby’s eyes light up even more. “Well, you’re in luck. I run Little Sprouts!”

“You do?” I say, my surprise evident. “That’s amazing, Abby! I had no idea.”

“Yeah, it’s my little passion project,” she says with a proud smile. “Why don’t you come inside and take a look around? We can catch up while Thomas explores.”

“That sounds perfect,” I agree, feeling a wave of relief. Abby leads us inside, and I’m immediately struck by how bright and welcoming the nursery is. The walls are covered in colorful murals, and the space is filled with toys, books, and little play areas.

Thomas’s eyes go wide, and he immediately makes a beeline for a stack of blocks. Abby and I settle down on a couple of plush armchairs nearby, watching him play.

“So,” Abby begins, her eyes still on Thomas. “What happened after high school? You just… vanished. One day you were here, and the next, you were gone.”

I take a deep breath, feeling a little embarrassed, her question was a fair one.

“Yeah, it was a rough time. Things got really bad with my uncle. I couldn’t stay there anymore, so I just ran. I’m sorry, I should have told you but I felt so desperate…”

Abby’s expression softens with concern. “Yeah, it was always bad, wasn’t it? I’m so sorry, Clara.”

“It’s okay,” I say, offering a reassuring smile. “It all worked out in the end. I ended up in Lewistown, trained and got a job as a vet. I’ve built a nice life there. It’s been good for us.”

“A vet? That’s fantastic! That’s what you always wanted,” Abby says, genuine pride in her voice. “But I’m glad you’re here now. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

I know there is more to this story, but I don’t need to dump it all on Abby at once. Especially when she’s at work. I’m just grateful to have the chance to see her again. I should have kept in touch, I can’t believe I let her go. Thank goodness, she’s still here.

“So, where are you working?”

“The Marshall Ranch,” I confess wryly. “Which isn’t the easiest…”

Abby’s eyes widen in shock, her mouth dropping open slightly. “The Marshall ranch? Clara, are you serious? Does Beau know you’re here?”

I nod, feeling a twinge of anxiety. “Oh yeah, he knows. We ran into each other yesterday, and let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a warm reunion.”

Abby’s shock turns to concern. “Oh, Clara, that must have been so hard. What did he say?”

“He was... distant, and a bit cold. He seemed surprised to see me, which is understandable, I guess,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “I didn’t exactly give anyone a heads up before I left back then and no one knew I was coming back either.”

Abby shakes her head, still processing the information. “I can’t believe it. Beau and you were so close. I always kinda thought you two would end up together.”

“Yeah, if it wasn’t for Wyatt,” I remind her. “Who still works on the ranch.”

“Urgh, that’s intense.” Abby rolls her eyes. “Well, if it makes it easier, you can keep Thomas here, so you can come and moan to me at the end of every single day, I’d be glad to have him.”

“Actually, that sounds amazing… although it’s still a surprise that you ended up in childcare, Abby,”

She laughs. “I know, right? I wanted to be a journalist, remember?”

I nod, smiling at the memory. “You were always so passionate about it. What changed?”

Abby leans back in her chair, a thoughtful look on her face. “Life, I guess. After college, I did a stint at a local paper, but it wasn’t what I thought it would be. For a change of pace, I found myself working at a daycare center. I loved it so much that I decided to open my own place back in Silver Ridge, and it’s been incredibly fulfilling.”

“I’m glad you found something you love,” I say sincerely. “And I’m even more glad since it means Thomas will be in good hands while I’m at the ranch.”

Abby reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I’ll take good care of him, I promise. And you take care of yourself out there, okay?”

I nod, understanding her concern. Who knows what will happen while I’m on the ranch. I can’t help worrying that it might all be a nightmare.

But all I really need to do is survive it, right?