18. Dawn
Chapter 18
Dawn
T he sun sank low over the hills, turning the fields golden as I walked toward the barn. Laughter floated on the mid-summer breeze, drawing my attention toward the paddock.
Nash was there, crouched next to Ben, helping him adjust the bridle on one of the gentler horses. Clara stood nearby, grinning as she held a bucket of carrots, her giggles echoing when Nash wobbled in an exaggerated dance to make them laugh.
I stopped in my tracks, watching them. Nash had only been here a few weeks, but somehow, he’d found a way to connect with everyone in a way I hadn’t expected. The man who had once graced glossy magazine covers for drunken bar fights and reckless antics now stood in the dirt, gently supporting the members of my ranch, his patience endless.
For a moment, I forgot about the letter from the bank sitting on the kitchen table. I forgot about the lodging repairs, the training sessions, and the anxiety that clung to me like a second skin. All I could see was this man—this unexpected, down-to-earth man—making the residents smile in a way that tugged at my heart.
“Not bad, huh?”
I turned to see my sister, Billie, walking toward me with her arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face. Her long blonde hair flowed behind her, a floral scarf tied around her head.
“What do you mean?” I asked, playing dumb.
“You know what I mean,” she said, nudging me with her elbow. “Nash. The way you’re looking at him right now like he hung the moon.” She exaggerated the last word, teasing me like a kid seeing his parents kiss.
I scoffed, shaking my head. “It’s not like that. He’s just… he’s good with them.”
“And good for you,” Billie said softly. Her words hit harder than I wanted to admit, and I looked away, focusing on the horizon instead of the way she was studying me.
“Billie—”
“Dawn,” she interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. “You’ve spent so long taking care of everyone else—me, Ben, this ranch. You never stop to think about what you need.”
“I don’t have time for that,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “There’s too much to do, too many things that could fall apart if I?—”
“If you let yourself be happy?” she finished, cutting me off again. When had my little sister become this intelligent, compassionate, and articulate woman? Time had flown by so fast that I hadn’t taken a break to witness her change.
I felt my throat tighten, memories of late nights and early mornings rushing back. The accident that took our parents. The way I’d stepped in to keep everything together because there was no one else. “I don’t have a choice,” I said quietly.
“You didn’t,” Billie said, stepping closer. “But you do now. We’re older, more mature. You’ve done everything for us, Dawn. You’ve held this family together when it could’ve fallen apart. But you can’t keep carrying it all by yourself.”
I looked at her, my eyes burning. “I don’t know if I can stop, Billie.”
Her face softened, and she pulled me into a hug. “Haven’t you seen the funds raised by the benefit concert? If the predictions are right, we will have enough to keep the ranch afloat for some time.”
“Billie, I don’t think you understand—” She cut me off again.
“I’m not a kid anymore, Dawn. I’ve seen the bills on the kitchen counter. But I also know there is a way to not only keep the ranch but truly transform it into what it should have been.”
I couldn’t help but eye her with suspicion. What was going on in that head of hers? She must have sensed my incredulity in the way I tensed in her arms. She let go of me only to give me a stern look.
“I cooked up several ideas and did my research in the last few weeks. The benefit concert would be the perfect platform to launch our own foundation and help raise money. With the funds, we could create workshops or classes on topics like building life skills and promoting physical and mental wellness for people with disabilities. The ranch could become a real wellness center and could even expand with the money raised by offering the classes.”
The ideas made perfect sense, but stress still tugged at me. This was too much for me to handle alone.
“We don’t have the money to pay workers to teach the classes…” I offered hesitantly, not wanting to burst her bubble.
“We can ask students in my program at college to volunteer. People in occupational therapy are always searching for ways to learn and give back to people at the same time.”
“You did anticipate everything, huh?” I had to admit that her plan seemed strong. For a moment, a mix of pride and guilt swam through me. I should have thought about it much sooner.
“I told you that I was there for you, Dawn. I’m not sixteen anymore. Please, trust me with this.”
“I don’t want you to lose yourself in the ranch like I did, Billie. School will take up much of your time this fall, and I don’t want you to quit it to help us here.”
“I know, that’s why I asked Willow to help me. She is willing to quit the grocery store to manage the Foundation and supervise the workshops while I’m at school. That means the choice for the rest is yours, Dawn. You won’t be obliged to go on with the rodeos if you don’t want to, and you will have the liberty to continue with them if you want. The choice is all yours now.”
I couldn’t help the tears welling in my eyes as I heard all of this. After such a long time of feeling alone with all my problems, I didn’t know how to act. I survived so many years fueled by stress and anxiety, dealing with everything by myself, that I didn’t remember how it felt to let go.
“You are one brilliant woman, do you know that?” I finally said, embracing her and letting my tears wet her shoulder.
“I’ve learned from the best,” she murmured.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, I didn’t have to carry everything alone.
As I opened my eyes slowly, still embracing my sister, I saw Nash struggling to regain his jacket as the horse tugged on his zipper.
A small laugh bubbled up from my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was the sheer absurdity of him wrestling with that jacket or the way he glanced over at me, a crooked smile on his face, like he was in on a secret I didn’t know yet. But the thought hit me like a lightning bolt: with his ridiculous horse antics and big-hearted plans, this man was about to turn everything I’d built upside down.
And against all logic, I was going to let him.
* * *
That evening, we built a bonfire in the clearing behind the barn. It was a Friday night tradition. I rarely had time to come by these days, with the rodeos usually taking place on the weekends.
The flames crackled and popped, casting long shadows on the faces gathered around. Ben and Clara roasted marshmallows, their laughter mingling with the distant sound of crickets. Simon brought his rocking chair near the bonfire while Billie and Willow talked excitedly beside him.
Nash sat behind my brother, strumming the chords of his guitar absent-mindedly. His smile was bright, and his eyes wrinkled at the corners. He laughed at something Clara had said. Every so often, his eyes would flicker to mine, and my heart would skip in a way that was starting to feel familiar.
I sipped my coffee, its warmth spreading through me as I sat across from him. He was leaning back, his guitar resting on his lap, his eyes catching the flicker of firelight. Clara, her round face glowing with excitement, scooted closer to him.
“Nash, can you teach me a song?” she asked, her voice as bright as the stars overhead.
Nash’s face lit up in a way that made my chest tighten. “Of course, Clara. What do you want to learn?”
She tapped her chin thoughtfully before blurting out, “You are my sunshine!”
Her excitement made everyone laugh, including Nash, but not in a mean way. Like many others, the song probably reminded her of her childhood. He adjusted the guitar and started strumming the familiar tune, his voice low and playful as he sang the lyrics and showed Clara the chords. Clara was focused on the task, and I couldn’t help but smile. His charm was effortless, like the music he coaxed from his guitar.
When the song ended, Nash leaned forward, his gaze sweeping the group. “Who’s next? Anyone else want to learn?”
“Dawn does!” Ben’s voice rang out, startling me. I nearly spilled my coffee.
“Ben!” I hissed, but it was too late. All eyes turned to me. My cheeks burned hotter than the bonfire.
“Oh, come on, Dawn,” Willow teased, grinning like the troublemaker she was. “You’ve got that look. You’re dying to try.”
“I don’t think?—”
A chorus of cheers erupted, cutting off my protest. Clara clapped her hands again, chanting, “Dawn! Dawn! Dawn!” Even Simon gave a thumbs-up from his spot by the logs.
Nash’s eyes locked on mine, his smile turning softer, more coaxing. “What do you say, princess?” he murmured. “Come on over. I’ll make it easy for you.”
I hesitated, my heart thudding in a way that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with the man sitting across from me. Before I could talk myself out of it, I set my coffee down and stood.
The group whooped and clapped as I walked over, each step feeling heavier than the last. Nash shifted the guitar on his lap and patted the spot before him. “Sit here. It’ll be easier this way.”
I stared at him, my pulse pounding in my ears. “You want me to…sit on your lap?”
“Unless you’ve got a better idea.” His voice was low, teasing, but his eyes held a challenge I couldn’t ignore.
The group had already started drifting back into their own conversations, the moment no longer theirs but ours. I swallowed hard and sat down, trying not to notice how solid he felt beneath me or how his breath brushed against my ear as he leaned in. My back pressed against his chest, and I felt the steady rhythm of his breathing, strong and sure.
“Relax,” he whispered, his voice a warm rasp. “I’ve got you.”
His arms came around me, his hands guiding mine to the guitar. His fingers were calloused but gentle as he placed them on the strings. “These are the chords. Just press here…yeah, like that. Now strum.”
I tried, but the sound that came out was more of a twang than a chord. I groaned, and Nash chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. “Not bad for your first try,” he said, his breath tickling the side of my neck.
“You’re just being polite.”
“I’m not.” He shifted slightly, his hands adjusting mine. His thumb grazed my wrist, a touch so fleeting yet so electric that it sent a shiver down my spine. “You’ve got good instincts. You just need to trust them.”
His words felt heavier than they should, and I turned my head slightly, finding him closer than I expected. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the world faded away. The fire, the voices, the night itself—all of it disappeared, leaving only the two of us in a bubble of warmth and quiet.
“Nash…” My voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to break the spell. He smiled, a slow, crooked thing that made my heart stutter.
“You’re perfect, Dawn,” he said softly, his gaze lingering a moment longer before he looked back at the guitar. “Let’s try that chord again.”
The conversation around the fire continued, voices rising and falling as the others laughed and passed food around. Nash didn’t seem to notice any of it. He was still, his focus unnervingly steady as he let go of the guitar after some time and reached for the plate of sausages at his side, offering it to me.
“Have you eaten yet?” His voice was soft, pitched just for me despite the noise around us.
“Thanks… I’ll go back to my place now.” I laughed shyly. But as I tried to escape his embrace, his arm tightened around me.
“Stay…please.”
I held his gaze as I took the plate he was handing me, my hands brushing his in the movement. It was such a simple touch, fleeting and light, but it sent a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the chill in the night air.
“Gotta eat,” he said, leaning back as I took a sausage and set the plate aside. His fingers stretched out on the right armrest, grabbing it tightly as if he used it to steady himself.
It wasn’t much—none of it was much. But every glance, every quiet word, every brush of his hand felt like it added up to something. And every time it happened, I wondered if he could tell how easily it was undoing me.
At some point, Clara tugged Ben toward the house and invited Simon to join them for a game of UNO, leaving just the four of us. Willow rapidly told us that she needed a refill on her coffee and whiskey and asked Billie to show her where the liquor was. Willow knew really well where we stored the alcohol in the house since we helped ourselves to it when we were teenagers. Her wink as she passed me proved that.
Then it was just me and Nash.
The silence stretched, comfortable but charged.
“I can sit on this chair now that everyone’s gone.” I chuckled, already sliding off the chair.
“Don’t.” I heard him whisper behind me. My heart skipped a beat, but I obliged. I didn’t want to leave his heat anyway.
I sat back on the armrest, but not for long. His strong arm circled my waist and slid me onto his lap, sticking my back to his torso.
The fire crackled, and the world was quiet except for the sound of our breathing and the whispers of the wind. I felt good in his arms, his upper body moving steadily as he breathed.
“Thank you, Dawn, for trusting me with the concert. You don’t know how much I needed someone to believe in me, in my abilities to do something good.” I heard him whisper, his mouth so close to my neck that I felt his breath tickling me.
I turned slowly, wanting to look at him in his eyes. The deep blue of them reflected the night sky, and I could have sworn I saw the stars dancing in them.
“You are a good man, Nash Rhodes. Don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise,” I said, caressing his jaw, letting his stubble prick my hand.
I let my eyes wander slowly as I stroked every part of his face. I saw his own eyes wander towards my mouth, and I couldn’t help but bite my lip at the same time. His pupils seemed to expand at the exact moment.
I felt our breaths quicken as our chests rose and fell with increasing urgency. He leaned in slowly, tentatively, as I gave in to him. I felt his hand at the back of my neck a moment before I sensed his lips against mine. His mouth was soft and firm at the same time.
It started slow, but soon it got rougher, the need taking up all the space. I let myself go entirely in his arms as I tentatively passed my tongue against his. I heard a soft moan escape him as I felt a bulge grow beneath me.
It felt good to let my barriers fall entirely. I wanted him to consume every part of me, to help me escape myself and everything unraveling around me.
His hands slid under my thighs, placing them on each side of him so that I straddled him. I felt his cock more distinctly now, and I couldn’t help but squirm against him.
“You don’t know how much I’ve thought about this, princess,” he exhaled rapidly, kissing my jaw and then down my neck. I let out a soft moan, startling myself. It had been so long since I had given myself to a man that I barely recognized my reactions.
His mouth was back on mine, hurried and uncontrolled. I felt his strong hands slide up my thighs, moving steadily before reaching my hips. His thumbs followed the lines of my groin before hesitating at my apex.
“Dawn, is this okay? Are you sure you?—”
“Yes, please, yes.”
“Thank fuck.” He groaned before letting his fingers find my clit through my leggings. They were soaking wet, proof of my desire for him.
I ran my fingers through his hair, anchoring myself as I felt his fingers push and circle my clit. His left hand wrapped around my back, pushing my hoodie up, exposing my sweaty skin to the night air.
“Let’s take this off, baby.” He murmured as he helped me, not waiting until I had it all off before kissing my collarbone. He nipped the skin at the base of my neck, then licked the sting away, making us both moan at the feeling.
He hooked his finger into the soft cup of my bra and lowered it, exposing me to the fresh air. His forehead pressed against my chest, and I felt him staring at my breasts, his gaze burning.
“Jesus, Dawn, you’re fucking perfect,” he groaned softly, running his fingers over my hard nipple, making me gasp.
“Dawn, can I?—”
“God, please, yes. Do it, do everything.” I whimpered. I felt overwhelmed, dizzy, and confused by all the sensations. His palm took my breast, as he licked the pebble on my other one hungrily. He pinched it with his teeth, the hard point becoming even more rigid.
I needed to feel him, all of him. I slid my hands down his shoulders, pushing his jacket off. I urged him to remove his T-shirt, wanting to see him in full. His strong abs contracted, and his chest rose and fell rapidly with every breath.
He kissed me again, this time slow and gentle, as he continued to slide his fingers back and forth over my pussy, still covered by my leggings. It wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough.
“I need to feel you, Nash.”
My head was spinning from the pleasure, grinding against him, desperately seeking more friction.
“Look at you, baby. That’s it, take everything.” I hid my face in his neck, embarrassment clinging to me. I felt vulnerable but powerful at the same time. Searching for my pleasure without thinking about him, without thinking about what was correct. Just enjoying the feeling. Another whimper. His.
“Dawn, I don’t know how much more I can handle,” he said directly into my ear, making me shiver. I felt his cock grow even harder in his pants beneath me.
“Then don’t restrain yourself,” I said softly, locking my eyes with his. In one swift motion, he enveloped me in his arms and rose. I felt him juggle with his pants before setting us back in the chair.
His thick cock was throbbing against his abdomen. Heat pooled in my core just from looking at it.
“You can’t look at my cock while licking your lips like that, Dawn.”
“Scared of not holding on, cowboy?” The confidence had come from somewhere, perhaps the need to regain some control as I felt myself dissolve in pleasure. He laughed, closed his eyes, and leaned his head against the chair.
“You’re so hot that I almost came twice in my jeans just from feeling how wet you are for me, princess.”
Fuck. His words did something to me I couldn’t explain. I got up on my knees above him, pulling my leggings and underwear off, leaving me naked. I felt the heat of the fire against my back, mirroring the heat growing inside me.
“Fuck…” I heard him moan before I settled myself against his cock. I continued stroking myself against him, his cock slipping through my wet folds.
My entire body bloomed in heat. It was as if I were having an out-of-body experience, sitting on this man, taking my pleasure.
“You’re fucking unreal, princess.”
“Nash, please fuck me, or I’m going to lose my fucking mind,” I said, gripping the back of the chair and looking directly into his eyes. More. I needed more.
“I—shit, I don’t have a condom, Dawn.”
“I have an IUD, and I haven’t been with anyone else for the last few years.”
“I’m clean, too.”
“Then stop talking and fuck me already.”
“Anything you want, baby.” He laughed softly, grabbing me in a bear hug. His left hand anchored at the base of my neck while his right arm circled my waist. He positioned himself just at my entrance, and I lowered myself slowly onto him.
I heard him groan deeply, his embrace tightening around me. I tried to move, but he stopped me.
“Don’t. Please, I need a minute.” I was undoing this man. I felt powerful. The head of his cock was massive inside me, and I couldn’t wait to feel the rest of him.
“You’re making me fucking crazy, Dawn. Do you even realize it?” He kissed my cheek.
He pushed himself further inside of me slowly, and I gasped. I felt him everywhere, full and hot. He reached so deep inside me, hitting the bottom.
“Fucking…” he bucked his hips.
“Crazy,” he bucked again, changing the angle slightly, hitting something incredible inside me. I was so wet that I felt it flowing outside of me.
“Oh my God, Nash.” He hit that perfect spot again, and I just lost it. He kissed my cheeks, my jaw, and my neck. I was too lost in the pleasure to even speak at this point.
I heard a groan from the back of his throat as he pulled me tighter against his chest. My breast rubbed against him, making my sensitive nipple harden.
My thighs trembled as his rhythm became erratic, pounding into me. Everything felt so good, so raw, so perfect.
“Nash… Nash, I’m coming.” I was losing control, digging my nails into his strong shoulders, trying to ground myself.
He loosened his grip just enough to look at me, his eyes burning with desire. His pupils swallowed the blue of his irises.
“Not yet, princess. I want this to last a bit longer.” He watched himself, staring at his cock spearing me, my pussy stretching around him.
He slowed his rhythm, pushing inside slowly, watching me take him. Too slow. I felt myself burning inside and out.
“You’re amazing, baby. You take me so well.” He grabbed one of my nipples in his mouth, sucking it, then letting it go. He blew softly on it, making it stiffen, causing me to shiver.
I clenched around him, balancing on the edge of my orgasm, as he gasped.
“Jesus,” he said. “Fuck.”
I took control into my own hands, pressing my forehead against his and accelerating the rhythm—my need for control overtaking me. I pounded into him, every ounce of embarrassment or shyness evaporating. Pressure grew with each of his moans, his thumb finding my clit and adding to the pleasure.
“Dawn, fuck. You’re going to be my undoing.”
I sat fully on him, his cock settled deep inside, giving me something to clench around as the explosion built inside me.
I clenched, gripped, and bit into his shoulder, trying to muffle my screams of pleasure, not wanting to alert anyone inside.
“You’re killing me, baby. I love—” He stopped himself, groaning, as he tightened his grip on me.
“I love it,” he murmured as I felt his cock twitch inside of me. His words barely registered, the power of my orgasm scrambling my mind. We stayed in this position for a long time, not wanting to let go of each other, breathing in each other’s air.
After what seemed like hours, he pulled his jacket around my shoulders, gently taking me off of him. Shivers raked my body, and I couldn’t tell if it was the temperature outside or the swirl of emotions storming inside me.
I felt so calm, so at peace in his arms, protected.
“Come on, baby. Let’s go to sleep.”
He dressed me slowly and affectionately, while I mustered every ounce of energy in me to stay upright.
The only thing I remember before falling asleep was his strong arms around me, carrying us inside the house.
* * *
Nash
The sun was just beginning to spill through the curtains when I woke up, its pale light catching on Dawn’s dark brown hair, fanned across the pillow. For a moment, I forgot where I was.
The room was warm and quieter than I was used to. Then it hit me—I wasn’t in the city, or in my truck, or a motel somewhere between gigs. I was in Dawn’s bed, in the main house.
And she was beside me.
I couldn’t stop the slow grin spreading across my face as last night came rushing back—her soft laughter in the dark, the way her hands found my body, the softness of her when she let me in, both literally and figuratively.
After what was the best night of my life, I decided to sleep at the ranch. It was already late, and I didn’t want to leave her, anyway. We had fallen asleep quickly, even though I could barely keep my hands to myself.
From the moment I first laid eyes on Dawn, I was drawn to her in a way that caught me off guard—like gravity had shifted, and she was the center of it. But as I got to know her, that pull grew stronger until it became almost unbearable.
It wasn’t just the way she moved, confident and grounded, or how her smile could light up a whole damn room. It was her—her kindness, her resilience, the fire she kept hidden just beneath the surface. Being near her made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t in years. Now that I was finally this close, it was like I’d finally found myself.
This thing between us wasn’t something we defined, not yet. But it was something. And I’d take it, no questions asked.
I turned my head, careful not to wake her, just watching her for a moment. She looked peaceful, her features relaxed in a way that made me think she hadn’t slept this soundly in a while. Not that I had, either. Being with her felt like home in a way that scared me and steadied me all at once.
A sharp knock on the door broke the silence, and I winced. Dawn stirred beside me, her brow furrowing as she blinked awake.
“Dawn?” came Ben’s voice from the other side of the door. “You’re late. Chickens don’t feed themselves, you know.”
I bit back a laugh as Dawn groaned, burying her face in the pillow. “Tell them to fend for themselves,” she mumbled, her voice muffled.
“Dawn, I can’t tell them that. They are chickens,” he shouted through the bedroom door.
Dawn sighed, sitting up and running a hand through her tangled hair. I didn’t miss the faint flush creeping up her neck as she glanced at me, a little sheepish but still smiling. “Okay, okay. I’ll be down in ten minutes,” she called out.
“Can you make it five?” Ben shot back. “Simon made oatmeal, and it’s… not really good.” His footsteps retreated down the hall.
I chuckled as she let herself fall back dramatically on the bed. “Guess the honeymoon’s over.”
Dawn rolled her eyes but laughed anyway, the sound warm and unguarded. “Ranch life at its finest.”
I turned her back toward me and buried my nose in her hair, wanting to enjoy the moment a little longer.
We didn’t rush, though. We stayed tangled up for a little while longer, sharing lazy smiles and the kind of quiet that didn’t need to be filled. Eventually, she swung her legs out of bed, and I followed, pulling on my jeans and shirt from the night before.
Downstairs, Ben greeted me with a cheerful wave, none the wiser about what had happened between his sister and me. He was already elbow-deep in Simon’s oatmeal experiment, chatting about the cats he’d helped count yesterday.
My smile grew bigger when I looked at Dawn. Her hair was up in a high bun, and dark circles under her eyes testified to our night together. She was stunning.
Willow sat at the table, taking a big gulp of orange juice after each spoonful of Simon’s oatmeal. Her knowing eyes traveled between Dawn and me, and a wide grin spread across her face. We didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help the smile that answered her silent questioning.
As the morning went on, we fell rapidly into the routine of attending to the barn chores and taking care of the horses and their stalls. Ben and Billie took the horses around the ranch for a small trot while Simon and Clara stayed inside the house to help with the housework with Willow.
After I fed the devil’s birds, I found Dawn. She was on all fours under the old tractor. Memories of last night came rushing into my mind, and my body responded almost instinctively to hers. I approached slowly.
“Come on, motherfucker. Give. Up,” I heard her mutter under the machine.
I leaned against the side of the tractor, grinning as I watched her struggle with whatever demon bolt or stubborn part had her cursing. “You talking to me or the tractor?”
Dawn jerked her head up, her forehead grazing the edge of the undercarriage. “Damn it, Nash,” she muttered, her voice muffled. “You’re trying to give me a heart attack?”
“Not this time.” I crouched down to get a better look at her. She was covered in grease, a streak smudged across her cheek, and her hair was now in a messy knot, making her look more maddeningly irresistible. “Need a hand, or are you winning this fight?”
She shot me a look that could’ve melted steel. “I’m fine.” She tugged hard on something, her whole body straining. “It’s just this bolt. It’s rusted to hell, and I can’t get it loose.”
“Let me try,” I offered, reaching for the wrench in her hand.
Her fingers tightened around it like I was about to steal candy from a kid. “I said I’ve got it, Nash.”
“Alright, alright,” I said, holding up my hands in surrender. “But you’re gonna pull something if you keep at it like that. Then you won’t be able to continue with the races… or the riding.” I added with a wink.
She muttered something under her breath that I was pretty sure wasn’t flattering, but after another few failed tugs, she sighed and got out from under the tractor.
“Fine,” she huffed, sitting up and wiping her hands on her jeans. “But if you strip the damn thing, you’re fixing it.”
“Deal.” I grabbed the wrench and slid under the tractor, aware of her eyes on me. “What am I loosening, exactly?”
“The flange bolt on the front axle housing,” she said, crossing her arms and leaning against the tractor.
I blinked up at her. “You realize I have no idea what that means, right?”
Her lips twitched, a smile tugging at the corner. “The rusty one. Dead center. You can’t miss it.”
“Got it.” I found the bolt in question and gave it a solid twist. It resisted at first, but with a grunt and a bit more elbow grease, it finally gave way.
When I slid back out, holding up the freed bolt like a trophy, Dawn raised an eyebrow. “Show-off,” she said, but her smile betrayed her.
“Hey, I aim to please,” I shot back, handing her the bolt while still kneeling before her. “Anything else you need, princess?”
Dawn tilted her head, giving me that look that always left me a little breathless. “Depends,” she said, a teasing lilt in her voice. My eyes darkened as I saw her glance around. We were hidden by the dusty tractor at the back of the barn, and I knew everyone else was occupied.
I advanced on her on my knees, and she slowly began to retreat, getting stuck between the tractor and me.
“Nash, I meant like… cleaning the… the truck or something,” she finally said, her words getting tangled as I slid my hands along her thighs.
“Oh, I can stop,” I said, gazing at her. Her cheeks were flushed, and I could see her chest heaving.
“Don’t.”
“That’s what I thought.” I grabbed her firm ass through her jeans and pulled her closer. Gently, I kissed her stomach, exposed by her short t-shirt. She was soft and hot—everything I could ask for. I was quickly becoming addicted to her, like a sailor enchanted by the call of a siren, knowing it could lead to my undoing but unable to turn away.
“I want to taste you, princess. Is that okay?”
I had to look up to see her nod since all she managed was a whimper.
“Fuck, I love your sweet little sounds.”
I unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down to her knees, revealing her pink underwear. I could see how wet she was for me. I groaned and fisted myself through my jeans, desperate to feel some friction.
“Play with your pussy, baby. Let me see it.” Her shaky fingers reached down to circle her clit slowly. I heard her breathing hitch as pleasure started to overwhelm her. I passed my hand inside my pants, grabbing my cock, which was already throbbing.
“You look so fucking good, princess. What a mess you are for me.” The words spilled from me uncontrollably. I needed her to know the effect she had on me.
I helped her out of her jeans and underwear, then grabbed one of her legs, placing it on my shoulder. Her pussy was glistening, and I couldn’t resist any longer.
“Fuck, I need to taste you so bad.” I felt her fingers tangled in my hair as I kissed her apex—not directly on her clit. Her scent flooded my senses.
I let out a deep moan as I ran my tongue along her wet folds. The taste of her was intoxicating. I explored every crevice of her, eating like a man starved to death.
She whimpered and bucked her hips.
“Needy little thing. Does it feel good, baby?” I watched her tilt her head back, her mouth open in a soft moan.
I secured her leg on my shoulder, steadying myself. I licked her swollen clit gently, wanting to see her lose herself in the pleasure of my touch. She pulled at my hair and finally looked at me. Her gaze was like fire, burning me.
I smiled against her skin as I slipped one finger inside her. She tightened around me, her muscles gripping me as I moved it in and out. My other hand was busy stroking my cock, trying not to come from the sight of her.
“You like it, baby? Feeling me inside you?” I added a second finger, crooking them to touch the spot inside of her that drove her wild. A loud whimper escaped her, and she pressed a hand over her mouth. We were alone in the barn, but we still had to stay quiet.
Her wetness coated my fingers, my tongue, and even my mustache. Her sweet scent tormented me. I hooked my fingers and returned to working her sensitive clit.
“Fuck, Nash. Don’t stop, don’t stop.” I felt the tip of my cock wet with precum. I was so close. Her muscles clenched around my fingers, almost forcing me out of her. I groaned deeply against her, wanting to feel it on my tongue.
I grabbed her ass and pushed her closer to my mouth, my tongue plunging into her folds, entering her hot center. Fuck. She was everything.
That’s when I felt it—her orgasm crashing through her like a storm, making her shake and buck uncontrollably.
“Good girl, baby. Coming for me like that.” I didn’t even need to stroke myself as I came in my hand, the sight of her undoing me. Everything with this girl was an out-of-body experience, and I was losing myself to her.
“Aah, fuck, Nash… Wow.” She finally said after some time, regaining her senses.
I rose on shaky legs, gently buttoning her pants and cupping her face in my hands.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” I was serious. Dawn Taylor was one of a kind. Sensitive and strong, resilient and compassionate, sexy and fierce. She was amazing inside and out.
A small smile reached her eyes. “That probably deserves a song, eh?”
I let out a laugh, hugging her tightly.
“I don’t know if I can write about anything else going forward.”
Damn. As she laughed, utterly unaware of the storm she’d stirred in me, it surged through me like a wildfire—I was in deep shit, because walking away from her was starting to feel impossible.