Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Magnolia
Every inch of my body is on fire as Tripp holds my hand and drives us out of town.
I had the best time tonight even if we couldn’t really talk.
It was still fun to see him interacting with the little kids and being playful.
His dinosaur costume was a huge hit, and I couldn’t stop laughing at how silly he looked.
It’s a side of Tripp I haven’t seen in a long time, and I hope it stays.
The go-with-the-flow and letting loose parts of him that initially attracted me to him are why I crushed on him so hard in high school.
Add to that his little flirty comments and how he always got me out of sticky situations, it’s no wonder I was a goner for him.
But then Billy died, and those parts of him did, too.
I knew the real Tripp was still inside him somewhere, and I’d wanted to be the person to bring him back to life if he’d let me.
“Thanks for bringin’ me along tonight,” I say after a few minutes of silence. Darkness surrounds us, but the dashboard lighting reflects off his eyes. “It was a ton of fun even if those kids could run circles around us.”
His face softens with a smile and he squeezes my hand. “Thanks for sayin’ yes to going with me.”
Before I respond, Tripp pulls his truck over to the side of the road. There’s no oncoming traffic, but being surrounded by dark shadows makes me nervous.
“What’re we doin’?” I glance around, making sure the door is locked. On a normal day, I’m positive I could take on a sociopathic murderer, but I’m in a short dress and heels, so tonight I’d be at a disadvantage.
“Figured it was time to teach you how to drive a stick shift.” He adjusts the bench seat, moving us all the way back.
My lips curve up in surprise. “Wait, what?”
“You don’t know how, right?”
“Well, no.”
“And you mentioned at one time wantin’ to learn, so…” He pats his thigh. “Saddle up, Sunny.” My heart races in anticipation of sitting on Tripp for the first time.
I’m so used to him avoiding eye contact, so when our gazes meet, my breathing stalls. For what feels like the first time, he doesn’t glance away, and having his full attention gets me flustered.
“You remember me sayin’ that from five years ago?” I ask, stunned. “And wait…didn’t Landen say you don’t let chicks drive your truck?” I quote the exact words he’d said in my best deep, manly voice.
He barks out a laugh. “Yep, you’ll be my first.” Then he leans over and brushes his thumb along my jaw. “I remember everything about you, Magnolia. Especially the drunken moments.”
I groan at the embarrassing things he’s witnessed over the years. “You coulda just left it at that first sentence.”
He tilts my chin, and my breath hitches at his proximity.
Technically, we’ve kissed before during my birthday BJ shot, but this is different.
This is private. No drinking game, no pressure, no audience.
Tripp wants this as much as I do. I’ve pictured this moment for years, and now that I’m here, my nerves are getting the best of me.
“I should warn you…I don’t kiss on the first date,” I blurt out before our lips touch.
The corners of his mouth lift as it brushes against mine and he whispers, “Then it’s a good thing this wasn’t a date.”
And just like that, I’m putty in his hands.
He closes the tiny gap between us and my entire life changes.
Tripp doesn’t just kiss me.
His tongue intimately dances with mine in tender strokes as he cups my face.
Soft, eager lips mixed with his rough facial stubble hold me hostage to his intimate touch.
One hand slides behind my neck and pulls me impossibly closer until his chest presses to mine.
Then I fist the fabric of his shirt, holding him to me and never wanting to let him go because I think I’m still in shock that this is happening.
The rough edges of his calloused fingers mixed with the tenderness of his hold have every inch of my body burning hot. Shivers soar down my spine and butterflies pool in my stomach. His touch is nothing like I’ve felt before, and I’m eager to keep it as long as possible.
A deep, guttural moan releases from his throat as my heart thunders inside my chest because this man, one I never dreamed would reciprocate my feelings, is ruthlessly fucking my mouth with his tongue. And I never want him to stop.
“Sunny…” He pants out like his resolve is seconds away from snapping. “Fuck, you taste so good.”
“Then why’re you stoppin’?” I whimper when his lips feather down my jaw and neck, sending tingles down to my core.
“Because if I don’t,” he whispers in my ear, “I’ll keep you hostage in here all night long.”
“Then I’d be a willing hostage.”
He chuckles and brings his lips back to mine. “I think that’s a contradiction.”
I shrug, loosening my grip on him. “Then so be it.”
He pants against my mouth as he kisses me once more. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
“What was holdin’ you back?”
Instead of being guarded like I half expect him to, he rests his forehead on mine.
“A lot of shit. Mostly anxious thoughts about not being good enough or how I don’t deserve to be happy that got into my head.
But I’m tired of lettin’ those fears get in the way of puttin’ myself out there.
I think you and I deserve a chance to see what this could be without that gettin’ in the way. ”
My heart is beating out of control at his raw emotions. Tripp’s been reserved for so long that every word out of his mouth is taking me by surprise. But it fills me with warmth that he trusts me enough to be open and honest.
Pulling back, I cup his face until he meets my eyes.
“I agree, and I hope you know you can always share those fears with me. You don’t have to go through shit alone if you don’t want to.
I’m here for you to get through it, whether that be talking it out or just sitting with you and holding your hand until it passes.
Anxiety gets to me too, just in a different way. ”
Like how scared I am to lose him now that I finally have him.
How being together changes everything.
What will Noah really think when she finds out?
Landen knowing is one thing since he’s been in on the secret for a while, but Noah’s my childhood best friend and is protective of me in a different way than she’s protective of Tripp, but I’m still worried about how she’ll react.
She knows my past and what her brother’s gone through, so our dating could cause tension in our friendship even if she’s always encouraged me to tell him.
She wouldn’t want either of us to get hurt, and if there were a fallout, she’d be stuck in the middle.
The last thing we need is other people’s thoughts and opinions to bring in more anxiety and concerns about whether we can actually be in a relationship. Neither of us has had success in that area, but I’d like to think Tripp’s and mine could be the outlier.
His thumb strokes over my hand. “You’re really amazing, you know that?”
“You better keep that thought when you try to teach me how to drive this thing.”
His face splits into a wide grin. “It’ll be good practice for when I teach Mallory in a couple years.”
My jaw drops in offense. “I better be easier than a thirteen-year-old!”
“Well…let’s find out.” He sits back and motions for me to come over.
“Are you sure about doin’ this in the dark? Is it safe?” I ask, positioning myself on top of him.
My legs sink in between his thighs and he pushes the steering wheel up so we have enough room.
“Don’t worry, I know these roads like the back of my hand. I’ll work the clutch and pedals for now and keep an eye out for deer. You focus on steerin’ and shiftin’.”
Relief swarms through me at not having to multitask at a time when Tripp’s groin is directly under my ass. I can barely breathe as it is with his chest pressed to my back.
Has he no clue what he’s doing to me right now?
He grabs my right hand and puts it on top of the shifter, then jiggles it around. “Get comfortable with how it feels so you can get used to the feeling of switchin’ gears.”
The only thing I’m focusing on is how his dick is only two fabric layers away from my bare skin.
“Okay?” he prompts when I forget to speak.
“Yep. One hand on the wheel, one hand on the stick.”
His laughter makes his chest shake. “Precisely, yes.”
Then he explains what each letter and number mean and when to shift into those gears. Seems basic enough, but considering my mind is elsewhere, it’s a good thing we’re on an empty country road.
“Okay, now we’ll shift into first and you can turn back onto the road,” he commands.
Tripp keeps his hand over mine, and when he accelerates, he talks me through shifting into second and then again into third. We’re still going under the speed limit driving, but it helps to get me used to the feeling of when to change gears.
“You’re doin’ good…just keep drivin’ straight, and I’ll go a bit faster so you can feel when to upshift again.”
The roar of the engine vibrates as he speeds up. My breathing also increases when he removes his hand from mine and moves it to my upper thigh.
After he presses the clutch, I move us into fourth. When I feel him let off the gas, and he clutches again, I shift into fifth.
“Fuck, that was hot.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re gettin’ a little excited,” I taunt, wiggling my ass against his erection beneath me.
“Sunny…I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” His taunting voice echoes in my ear and stills my movements.
I ground my hips and sink lower against him as I move back and forth.
Instead of scolding me, his fingers tease over my thigh, pushing up my dress and exposing more bare skin.
“There’s a stop sign ahead…and it seems my hand is occupied, so you’re gonna have to shift to neutral when I tell you to.” He skims his finger along the seam of my thong and my breath hitches.
He presses down on the clutch and brake, and I struggle to concentrate with how he’s touching me.