Chapter Nine
Autumn
I’d never ventured out to this neck of the woods before but had religiously stalked the area before asking Ross on a date. Well, outing.
This is just friends hanging out, Autumn, nothing else. Your colleagues will be there. It’s not a date.
Why on earth did Ross look like a lumberjack thirst trap, then? Gosh, his new forest-green-and-cream plaid suited him too well. It had a subtle pattern, a rugged cut, and looked soft enough that I wanted to touch it just to see if it felt like his fur.
We did have a date, though.
The prospect of going out for Thai food with Ross put a spring in my step. “Let’s say hi!”
I hooked my arm around his elbow and pulled him over to greet Bee and his partner. Kjartan was almost as terrible at social interactions as Ross was but they hit it off straight away.
“He built me a chicken coop,” Bee whispered in my ear as he hugged me. “I’ll so marry him.”
“I’ll come by to cuddle the chickens.”
My colleague giggled. “I’m not sure they’re cuddly. But they might make an exception for you.”
“Hello, Autumn,” Kjartan greeted me and he held out a scarred hand.
“It’s so good to see you again. A chicken coop, eh? The straightest way to this one’s heart.”
The Orc gave me an embarrassed grin. “I’ll build anything for him.” Kjartan huffed when Bee flung himself into his arms and kissed him.
“Gods, see? He’s perfect!”
“Oh no, just right for you, Vindur.”
A few minutes later, Taran, Maeve, and Stella arrived in an expensive off-road vehicle that looked brand new.
“Hi!” Maeve jumped out and dashed over to us. She was always so full of energy and her wide smile shone brightly in the gloomy morning. “I hope you haven’t had to wait for us for too long! We only just picked up Stella a few minutes ago.”
“Nah.” I hugged her first, then Stella, and lastly Taran, who looked beautifully out of place in his tweed suit, a moss green corset, and green wellies.
“Autumn, how lovely to see you,” he told me in his smooth voice as he pecked my cheek.
“You too! I’m so happy we’re doing this today. I’m sure it’ll be such a good day!”
“Team building and all,” Maeve added as she slipped her arm around Taran’s waist.
“Roasted chestnuts,” Stella sighed. “And pumpkin everything.”
We all squeezed through the entrance and I caught Ross by the sleeve as the others took in the decorated courtyard.
“You okay?” I muttered. His fur-covered hand enclosed mine for a moment.
“Yes, I am.” He squeezed my fingers. “Want to check out their coffee?”
“I bet it’s not as good as yours,” Maeve said from right beside me.
“Maybe we can get them to buy yours next year.”
Ross fit in more easily than I’d expected.
He disappeared into a conversation about coffee roasting with Taran about twenty minutes after we’d arrived and then talked shop with Kjartan about wood working tools.
Meanwhile Maeve, Bee, Stella, and I ate our way through everything they had on offer, and bought treats from an enormous man with a nose ring and a kilt who sold jars of honey and beeswax candles.
Stella flirted with the man who seemed flustered at the attention and kept a polite distance.
By the time early afternoon came around and we spread all the pumpkin pies, chestnut pastries, and honey treats Taran and Maeve had got for us over an entire table so everyone could try one of each, Ross ended up next to me.
“I’m glad you came along today.”
Ross smiled but kept his eyes on a gaggle of kids painting pumpkins. “Me, too. It feels different. Good different.”
“You’re almost a people person now, Mr Graham,” I said and bumped my shoulder against his elbow.
“Don’t tell anyone,” he snorted. “I’ve got a reputation to protect.”
“Oh, I promise.” I pressed a finger to my lips. “I’ll tell no one that you are secretly a big, soft teddy bear.”
I snorted.
“Would you like to check out the maze with me?” he asked. “Or the orchard. There’s a sign.” Ross waved at a point behind him. “Apparently there are apples,” he rambled on.
The cutest.
“Yeah, I’d love that,” I told him. “Let’s go.”
“To the maze or the orchard?” Ross asked.
I looked at him and made a show of licking my lips rather suggestively.
“Yes,” I said, enjoying the way his huge eyes dropped to my lips so heavily it was almost audible.
He led me towards the orchard and away from the maze that was crowded with small children and their tired-looking parents. His broad hand hovered over the small of my back making me, once again, very aware of how tall Ross was compared to me.
It was beautiful in the orchard. The pumpkin carving contest had just started and the orchard was deserted.
Ross and I strolled in the shade of the apple trees’ branches, which were still laden with fruit, stretched out over the path. The sun peeked through the clouds.
When we arrived at the far end of the orchard, Ross took my hand in the space between our bodies.
He cradled my fingers in his as if he was holding an injured bird.
Warmth spread through me from where he touched me all the way through my body.
And something else filled me, too, something I didn’t yet want to name.
I liked Ross. I really fucking liked Ross.
Then he stopped and tugged me around so I looked at him.
“Autumn,” he breathed as he stepped nearer, staring at me like he’d seen a ghost. “The trees, the colours, and you…” Ross raised his hand and touched his fingertips to my cheek.
“You look like a fairy princess.” The smile he gave me would stay with me for a long time, a precious gift from this beautiful man.
Then Ross tilted my chin up and guided his lips on mine.
Wow.
Unlike our first kiss, which I had initiated, Ross gave me space to explore. He crouched down and placed our intertwined fingers on his chest, giving me permission to touch. My other hand found his waist. He groaned into the kiss.
Holy smokes.
When I trailed my tongue over his bottom lip, he groaned and met me eagerly. It had a soft, leathery texture. A moment later I found myself with my back to one of the apple trees and Ross’s body pressing gently into mine.
Being so near to him with his hefty thigh nudging between my legs turned me on like crazy. I fidgeted a little and gasped when the slick fabric of my knickers rubbed against my cunt.
I dripped for him.
Ross inhaled a deep breath and his exhale came out hot and with a growl.
RIP to my knickers.
His cock was properly sized for his body, but good lord.
I was desperate to see and to touch him, yes, but I couldn’t possibly be this brash.
Then his hand, the one that had held onto mine, trailed down my body and cupped my ass.
He handled me so carefully, as if I was breakable.
When Ross rubbed his bulge between my legs, I very nearly lost it.
He broke the kiss when I gasped, completely overwhelmed by his sheer size and by his taste and the intensity of my feelings.
“Sorry,” he said as he backed away and brought a couple of inches of space between us.
“Don’t be,” I all but moaned, still so freaking turned on.
“I feel like I can finally breathe around you, Autumn.” He sighed and pulled me a little closer to his warm body. “I thought I’d forgotten how to want, but you make it so easy.”
“You want me?” I asked, distracted by the thick bulge in his jeans.
How much clearer do you need him to be?
I totally wanted him too.
“Yes, I do,” he admitted, giving me that half smile again, the one that made my stomach swoop. “I can stop, though, if you need me to. I don’t want to overwhelm you.” He relented.
“No, don’t you dare,” I said. And for the first time since I’d met Ross, a smile crept over his broad face that made his large brown eyes sparkle. The effect was mesmerising.
“Do you want to come back to my place and have dinner with me tonight, Little Fairy?” Ross asked, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “I don’t want this to be the end of our date.”