Chapter 49
FORTY-NINE
“Admit it, you’ve got a thing for Betty.” Summer threads her fingers through my hair, twirling the strands absentmindedly.
I look over at her in the passenger seat of her restored Bronco.
She smiles. “We can share her.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m a one woman kind of guy.”
“Now that’s not true… you’ve got me and Gracie.” She props her feet up on the dash, the night air blowing her hair in every direction. Fuck. She’s beautiful. And all mine. I’m not sure that’ll ever grow old.
I focus back on the road. “Yeah. You’re right.”
“Are we going to the pond?” She reads a mile marker as we pass it. “This looks familiar.”
“No. But it’s around the same area.” I would’ve brought her back there, but this spot has a similar feel without the hike in.
She hums. “Today was a good day, right?”
“The best.” Though I’d classify every day I spend with her that way.
Summer had her own surprise planned. The moment I handed her the keys, she drove us into the city.
Our first stop was Citgo, where she decided we’d do a Gatorade flight—yes, apparently that’s a thing, though I’m pretty sure Summer made it up—while she pumped her gas for the first time. The bottles are now rolling around the backseat, still mostly full.
Then we went to Sully’s and played a game of Scrabble. I let her win.
After that, a kiss in front of the Bean. A kiss that didn’t have to be hidden, even with Summer’s fans taking pictures.
It felt so damn good.
I glance over at her again, her feet still up on the dash, head tipped back against the seat, humming along to the radio.
I didn’t know I was missing this until she showed up. The ordinary, unremarkable shape of a day spent with someone you love.
I slow the truck, looking for the road that’s hard to spot until you’re right up on it. I signal, then turn in, spinning the dial down on the radio. The crunch of gravel, the chirp of crickets, and wind through the trees fill the quiet.
“I think it’s a bit late for a hike,” Summer says, sounding very skeptical. “Unless you brought headlamps… still, I’m not sure how into that idea I am.”
“Don’t worry. No wilderness excursions in the dark.”
I follow the service road all the way to the lake, and after passing a copse of trees, find the lot empty. I park near the sandy shoreline.
The sun set about thirty minutes ago, so we’ve still got time before the sky is dark enough. With less light pollution, this spot should be even better than what we could see from our balcony.
I tilt my head up, but before I can search for stars, Summer tugs me toward her, her hand still tangled in my hair. “Oh, I like where your mind’s at,” she murmurs, her breath warm against my lips, and all other thoughts disappear.
I kiss her, then chuckle. “My intentions were much more romantic than that.”
“You know what they say about good intentions.”
“I’m not sure I do. Tell me.” But I bring my lips down on hers again before she can answer.
She shakes her head and mumbles, “Doesn’t matter.”
I reach for her, but the center console keeps us apart. She makes a small sound of frustration. The need between us has been there since December and hasn’t let up.
“Back,” she mutters, before shimmying through the gap between the seats.
There’s no way in hell I’m squeezing myself through that way. I hop out and open the back door to find her topless and wriggling out of her skirt. She’s splayed across the caramel leather, lips parted, eyes dark, shadows playing over her body. I grab the neck of my shirt and pull it off.
“Fuck, honey.” I hook my hands behind her knees and pull her to the edge of the seat.
I look around to make sure we’re still alone. My back is to the water, so if someone pulls in, I’ll notice them before they can see her. Assuming my face isn’t buried in her pussy, which is exactly where I intend to be.
I let out a hiss of breath as I bend, a muscle pulling tight in my shoulder. Summer stills, propping herself up onto her elbows. “Are you okay? Maybe we shouldn’t—”
“We should,” I cut her off. “Lie back.”
She eases onto the seats, but peers down at me as I peel off her thong—electric blue—and lick her from entrance to clit.
Her back bows and she lets out a strangled sound. I groan as her taste floods my mouth. I keep going until she’s grinding against me, chasing her release. Fuck, this woman turns me on like no other.
I reach down, pop the button of my jeans, and yank them down enough to get a hand around my cock. I give myself a slow stroke.
“Miles—” My name cuts off and is replaced by an intake of breath and a low moan, her pussy fluttering against my tongue.
She’s barely come down when I push into her, her body pliant but tight around me. I drive into her, hard enough to make her breasts bounce every time I bottom out.
“Need you closer, baby,” she whines with lust-drunk eyes.
She scoots back against the door and I follow, settling over her, her legs wrapping around me. She rolls her hips impatiently, and I thrust back into her.
I move, one hand braced beside her head, the other finding her hip, her waist, anywhere I can reach. She arches into me, fingers tight in my hair, and I press my face into her neck. She smells of citrus and sunscreen.
Her hand slides to my cheek, tipping my face up, and I bring my mouth down on hers, tongue tracing her bottom lip until she opens for me.
“Don’t stop.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I say, breathless, watching her face in the last of the evening light.
Her lips part.
Her breath catches.
Her eyes stay on mine.
I want to drag this out, but my body has other plans, and so does she. She tightens around me, hips lifting for more, and I give her what she needs. She comes with her forehead pressed to mine, and I follow her over, buried deep as I fill her.
I stay there, not ready to put even an inch between us. I brush her hair back from her face, my fingers lingering as they trace the line of her nose, her temple, her jaw.
She looks up at me with a satisfied, soft smile. And I’m sure my lips are doing something similar.
This woman drove into my life in a beat-up Bronco and mended parts of me I didn’t even know were broken.
I don’t think it’s possible to love someone more than I love her.
I’ll never know. Don’t want to.
Her gaze drifts over my shoulder, and her smile becomes amused. “You brought me here to watch the stars, didn’t you?”
“I did.” I huff a laugh. “But your idea was a good one, too.”
We untangle ourselves slowly. I gather our clothes strewn around the Bronco while Summer giggles at the state of her hair in the rearview mirror. Cool air hits my skin when I climb out, and when Summer shivers I pull her against my side.
I grab the blanket from the trunk and spread it out on the grass. We lie down together, her tucked against me at first, before she rolls onto her back and tips her face to the sky. I lean on one elbow, my attention fixed on her.
“You’re not even watching them.” She grins.
I glance up, then back to her. “I like this view better.”
She shakes her head, but looks pleased. Her gaze flicks to the stars, then returns to me. “It’s still going to be hard sometimes.” Her voice is small, thin in the open air.
“All things worth having are.”
She nods.
I twist a strand of her hair around my finger. “I’ll follow you whenever I can. And you’ll always come home.”
“There are going to be nights when we’re on opposite sides of the country. Maybe even different sides of the world…” She trails off.
I pull her closer.
“Did you know everyone on Earth is looking at the same sky?” She furrows her brows, and I add, “Doesn’t matter how far apart we are. We’ll always be under the same stars.”
She’s quiet for a moment, her eyes on mine in the dark.
“And as long as that’s true, we’ll be okay,” I murmur.
I kiss her temple. When I ease back, she’s smiling, the one she only gives to me.
It gets wider. “So, unless I become an astronaut?”
“Then I guess I’d be moving to Mars.”