Whiskey and Country

29

DAHLIA

“Nick, it’s charming. I can’t believe you made this for one night. Did you even sleep at all last week?” I asked, my hand covering my mouth in awe as I took in the raised platform he’d built. The same walnut color as the porch. Located behind the old garage in the backyard, it resembled a giant bunk bed on stilts. From the tree branches, he hung fairy lights—as if he knew I loved those—that gave the whole thing an out-of-this-world experience. It would be so magical at night.

On one side, there were wooden stairs to climb up along with a ramp for Buddy’s old bones. Okay, this was the cutest thing I’d seen in a long time. Nick’s thoughtfulness and caring ways made my heart tremble with eagerness and need. Lust or something I couldn’t exactly define. All I knew was that spinning in his orbit made me happy. And content.

Before he could say anything, I turned around and slammed my lips to his, my tongue wanting to taste him. He jerked and stiffened in shock, then leaned into the kiss as heat shot up between us. Biting his lower lip, I soothed it with brushing strokes. Then invited his tongue into my mouth, sucking it hard. Nick’s cock rose to greet me, a fitting reply to my bold move. Maybe I wasn’t so rusty after all. And the idea only showered me with rousing jitters.

Breaking off the kiss, I panted heavily against his mouth. A new sensation washed through me. One I could easily get addicted to. Never been so rough, taking what I wanted with no restraint, but now I wished nothing more than to play dirty. Silence reigned around us. Only our harsh breaths broke its symphony.

“Let’s check out the view from the top. It’s fantastic,” he suggested. I nodded and gestured for him to climb up. He gave me a weird look, and a silent giggle left me. Nick started going up the wooden stairs and I followed. Close enough. Deliberately rubbing my body against him. My hands squeezed his butt. Hard. And he stumbled on the steps.

“Hey.”

My eyes widened with fake innocence as a lascivious grin made its way.

“What? Just admiring the view. As you said. With my hands. I agree it is fantastic and mouth-watering.”

He waggled his finger at me as a wry smile overtook his lips. His gaze flashed with mischief. Guess he hadn’t met with my brand of naughtiness yet. “Woman, behave.”

His muscular arms wrapped around me when we reached the top, and I nestled in his embrace. The view was quite impressive from up here.

“I had no idea the property was sitting on such a big piece of land.”

The trees lining the boundaries created a much-appreciated intimacy, offering us no view of the neighbors. I bet the owners had some great parties in this yard. At least I would have pitched a big white tent and thrown my get-togethers here. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings. A place to bring families and friends together. To create memories.

Pillows were laid on the mattress and sleeping bags, and my eyes lingered on the comfortable display.

“Perhaps this could be our thing. Sleeping under the stars once a week,” Nick put forth with a shrug.

I agreed with a nod. “It’s magical. Coming here once would never be enough.” His hardness pushed against my back, and I rotated in his arms. His grip on me slackened, and I watched him, amusement returning to my face, my cheeks heating up. “Oh, I’m not the only one feeling naughty.”

“W-what?”

I gave him a pointed stare, then deliberately dropped my gaze to his cock still at half-mast. The tent in the front of his jeans slowly swelled up.

“Dahlia, don’t play with fire. You will get burned.”

“Yeah, but what a way to go. Tried safe. Now I want the inferno. Hotter the better.”

My breath hitched as he combed my hair away from my face gently, then curled it around his fist and pulled until my lips opened. The flutters in my belly turned to raging fireworks. Hot air whirled between us. Mine or his. I couldn’t tell. Nick’s lips rubbed against mine as the other hand cupped his junk, then pushed it against my softness. My insides melted as his length hit my sensitive nub. More. I wanted more. I needed more. Hungry for release as steam vaporized my sanity, I thrust against him. Demanding. Unapologetic. Anyone could walk on us, but I couldn’t care less. I was finally taking everything I craved for weeks now. My lips bit his as he sucked my lower one until they felt sore. I wanted to be marked by him and brand myself on him. Nick Peterson was mine. No one else’s.

We kissed for a few intense minutes, rough and hard. Playful and steamy. Bit by bit, sanity returned, and we separated, gasping for air. The desire that arose within seconds of our bodies touching each other couldn’t be contained. I didn’t want our first time to be out here on the platform. But I wouldn’t be opposed to it the next time.

Not today, though. Today, I had plans. For him.

Nick’s large palm framed my face, holding me in place. I grabbed his shirt to avoid falling onto the mattresses and taking him with me.

“Dahlia—” He was flustered, his gaze smoldering.

I tried to speak but couldn’t find the words. The only thing that I could think about was our release. Mine. His. Entangled together in sheets. And breathless. The only words that rang in my mind were Fuck me. The tidal wave of pure need rising inside my core was demanding to be satiated.

Nick cleared his throat and broke the tension. The one wrapped tight around us. “Tonight, I prepped food we can grill over the campfire and treats for dessert. Hope you’re hungry.”

Yes. Hungry. Not for food. For him. I salivated at the mere thought.

My body refused to temper down. To settle.

His hard-on was all I wanted to scratch the itch that was making my panties cream. It was all I dreamed about since the day I saw him. At the door of my shop. Where I imagined taking him. One day.

With my arms around his midsection, my eyes stared into his. “Starving.” Huskier than normal, rougher than before, the single word came from the well of my desire.

Nick’s eyes burned fiery. Tracing my cheekbone, down to my neck, right down to my cleavage, his finger hovered over the valley between my breasts.

Against his lips, I whispered, “Jack is still napping in the playroom. How about you and I have a little playtime of our own?”

Coils of heat snapped into my body as his pupils dilated.

“You serious?”

I gave a sharp nod.

“Woman, I thought you’d never offer.” Without another word, he jumped from the platform and raised his arms to give me a hand, allowing my body to rub against his slowly as he helped me down. A blaze snaked around us, between us. He swept me off my feet and scooped me over his shoulder, right to his room. With my hands caressing any part of the body I could touch, I allowed the fire to burn brighter, burn hotter.

This moment would be mine—ours—and I would make the most of it.

Over the last few years, I had always put myself last. Not this time around, though. This was my time. Nick shut the door and lowered me to my feet, my toes barely touching the ground as I became a body of lust, conscious only of the thrumming pulse deep between my thighs, desperate for satisfaction.

All the naughty dreams I’d had about our first time, about us, could now turn to reality. And none of them involved clothes or being rational.

Just the image of his body nestled in mine, enveloped by the scent and taste of him, sent a zing through me. And the picture of his heavy self crushing mine, the feel of his naked flesh, made me weak in the knees. Bits of me I thought to be dead were slowly reigniting to life. And now I wanted to take charge, to rock his world, to show him just how far gone I was for him.

His greedy palms connected with my ass, molding my flesh to them. His mouth, as if under some magnetism, lowered over mine.

“Wait,” I said, pushing back. A frown creased his forehead as he looked confused. I moved a step away from him, never breaking eye contact. With a twist, I opened my shirt, twisting each button until it lay open. The shadow between my breasts now giving him tantalizing glimpses.

His eyes widened as realization struck him. “No bra. Did you ditch it to mess with me? Had I known this, I would have lost my mind long before. “

“None whatsoever. Lost it the other day. Didn’t wanna risk it again. So sad, I have nothing for the wall of your bedroom this time. Maybe this shirt. Do you want?” Nick’s gaze could set the world on fire. With a seductively slow movement, I slid my hand lower, just under the waistband of my shorts. I tugged the dark pink lace up and winked. “Or maybe these.”

“Yeah.” Nick cleared his throat, his voice rough. “Yes. Gimme.”

A victory smirk spread over my lips.

Sucking on my finger for a second, I glided it to the dip of my collarbone and down to my navel, swaying my hips, taking a few sideswipes over my hidden breasts, squeezing them, pinching my nipples until they poked out from under the fabric of the shirt. Nick’s eyes were at risk of bulging out, following every movement. Feeling brave and beautiful under his ardent stare, I wetted my finger and dipped it into the waistband of my shorts, a low grunt escaping. I could see his restraint wearing away, and I relished my power over him.

With the shirt still on, my way to titillate him, I used my other hand and unbuttoned my cutoffs, pulled the zip down.

Nick’s sharp intake of breath rippled through me.

Like a predator hunting his prey, he prowled toward me. I shook my head. Slowly, I shimmied out of my denim shorts. I pushed the lace to the side, slipped a finger inside me, allowing the wetness to coat my finger. I added another digit and dived them in and out to bring me to the edge. I removed them and showed the evidence of my desire to Nick. “Look what you do to me. Want some?”

His tongue darted out to wet his dry lips, ravenous hunger visible on his face as he bobbed his head like a kid. Good, I liked that.

“Striptease.”

“What?”

“Strip for me. Then you can fuck me as many times as you want, however you want.”

Heat flared as determination rose in response to my challenge. He fished out his phone, his thumb working the screen for a couple of seconds, and played a song, low and soulful, filled with beats, hot and heavy. His body started moving to the rhythm of it. I retreated until my calves hit the bed, then slowly crawled backward on it. All the while watching Nick move to the song.

In the most jaw-dropping move, he lifted his shirt, one inch at a time, enticing me with glimpses of his body, the planes of his abs, his pecs, then his shoulders. As if he’d rehearsed it multiple times, he took a handful of the fabric behind his neck and peeled it off, the garment falling from his fingertips. His entire bare chest was exposed to my gaze. Hot. He turned around, his back presenting me with another delectable treat. I would love to sink my teeth into those muscles. Lick the golden skin that tempted me.