44. Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Maci
I t’s dark before Izzy and Leah leave, two sleepy-eyed kids in tow. Leah’s niece and nephew have always been special to me, but today they pulled out a side of Sutton I wasn’t expecting. At least not yet.
The thought seems to draw him to me, and his warm arms wrap around me from behind as I watch my friends’ taillights disappear in the driveway.
“What do you think about sleeping under the stars?” His voice is low and questioning in my ear.
I groan and press my body deeper against him. “Anywhere you are is where I want to be.”
“I’m serious. I’ll throw a blow-up mattress into the truck bed and we’ll sleep at Nopal Vista.”
Hearing the name tumble off his lips lights me on fire. His arms loosen but don’t let go as I twist to look up at him. “Yes.”
His lips are warm, especially compared to the cool November air, as he presses a soft kiss to my own. I’ve felt gratitude in massive waves today, but my thanks for this man are never-ending.
“I’ll be right back.” He kisses me again and heads back into the main house before returning with a large beige bag thrown over a shoulder and several comforters trapped under the other arm.
I extend my hands for a comforter, but he only arches an eyebrow at me.
“And you call me a stubborn ass.”
He slaps my ass as I crest the top stairs.
“Hey!” I call over my shoulder with a laugh.
“It’s a love tap.” His laugh is young and free. I never want this night to end.
In the meadow, Sutton parks facing out from where the house will sit one day. A small battery-operated unit blows up the massive air mattress he throws into the back of the truck. I can only hear it, not see, because obviously I’m not allowed to get out of the truck until he comes to get me. I snort at the thought.
I wonder if he realizes he’s turning me into a passenger princess. A girl could get used to letting someone else do all the work. Actually, I don’t think I’m capable.
Finally, he opens my door. “You been feeling better, yeah?”
My brows furrow. “Yeah…”
“Good.” He leans in and unclips my buckle.
I open my mouth to inquire just what’s going on when he grabs me on either side of my waist, pulling me out of the open door. My hands reach to brace on his shoulders, but he throws me over his shoulder, causing me to squeal.
“I never realized how much I’d love that,” he chuckles, the sound vibrating his chest.
Blood rushes to my head and I grip his cool jacket with both hands. “Hauling me around like a bale of hay?”
He laughs louder. “Have you seen anyone haul hay here?”
“That’s. Not. The point,” I grunt into his back.
Sutton sits me upright in a whoosh and lands me on the open tailgate. My head spins as the blood rushes back into my body.
“Listening to you squeal.” His arms cage me in on either side.
I can’t be sure, but I think I feel my pupils dilate as I take him in standing in the dark, lit from behind by the semi-covered moon.
“Oh?” My voice is breathless, and I don’t try for more. His effect on me is always instantaneous—his hold on my arousal, as much as his grasp on my emotions.
His lips brush mine teasingly. “Yeah, oh. I’m a fan of all the sounds you make.” I’m chasing after him when he pulls back.
“I see.”
“You know, I thought I was becoming addicted to you.”
I swallow. “I remember. Did you get yourself in check?”
“Never.” His nose drags along my jaw and into my loose hair. “In fact, I think it’s much worse than I thought.”
I try for “oh no” but all that comes out is a breathy “ohhh” as my body stills, afraid that if I move too much he’ll pull back again.
“I warned you about sharing. And you’ve been such a good girl,” he breathes, tickling my ear. “But it’s getting worse. I don’t even like sharing you with family.”
“Good thing I don’t want to sleep with them.”
He pulls back and grabs my jaw in the crook of his hand in a flash. “Not funny, Firecracker.” There’s mirth in his stormy eyes, though.
“I thought it was pretty funny,” I challenge.
He closes his eyes briefly. “You’re always trying to set me off.”
“Yes. Because I love every part of you. Even that beast you keep locked inside.”
He grins. “I’m not a beast.”
I lean back. He’s getting away with too much teasing, and I’m taking matters into my own hands. “You’re right.” I feign boredom and sigh. “You’re really kind of a fuddy duddy.”
He belly laughs, and I can’t help the wide smile that splits my face. “A fuddy duddy?” His laughing strengthens.
Pride fills me. “Yep. Such a boring gentleman.”
He leans in so his breath skates over my lips again, but he doesn’t break eye contact. “Is that why you call me ‘Sir’?”
“It’s the respectable thing to do with your elders.” The challenge has left my voice, but I manage to maintain his stare.
“You’re such a brat.” He removes his hands from the truck bed. “That’s alright. I owe you one.”
“One what?” Confusion overtakes my playfulness.
His hands land on my hips. “I told you I was going to watch you come apart under the stars out here, and I’m going to make good on that promise.” My mouth drops open and he follows up with, “Because us fuddy duddies keep our word.”
And with that, he launches me onto his shoulder again, eliciting another surprised squeal. His grip on my thighs is sure, and he grabs the frame of the truck bed with his free hand, climbing swiftly into the back.
“I have another idea.”
“Regarding?” Sutton’s fingers stroke my shoulder. We’re loosely tucked under the comforters he brought, gazing at the star-filled sky in our afterglow.
“The ranch,” I say matter-of-factly.
“This should be good. A wet T-shirt contest?”
“What?” Laughter bursts out of me.
“Well, last time you said me and all the guys should pose nude for a calendar.”
“Oh my God, I did not say nude! I said maybe without shirts.” I continue to laugh, shaking against his warm body. “Why would I submit for the objectification of women’s bodies?”
“Only men’s bodies, then.”
“Absolutely.”
His hand drops from my shoulder to tickle my waist. “You just want to show off what you have.”
I squirm and wiggle until my laughter causes tears.
“Ok, so then what’s the big plan?”
“A haunted house.” His fingers resume trailing over my skin, and I take his silence as cue enough to continue. “With everything going on, you haven’t been subjected to my insane love for Halloween yet, so this probably seems out of left field. But I think a creepy-ass haunted house would be amazing out here.”
“Mmhmm,” he hums neutrally, encouragement enough for me to continue.
“We’d get volunteer actors. I’m sure there are people in the community, and we can source the community colleges nearby, too. We could have set dates, like only Fridays and Saturdays in October. The structures would be permanent and we could repurpose them, if we want, during the other months.”
“October is a pretty busy month for the ranch. I don’t know if we need to add to that,” he says with a hint of reservation.
I’m not put off by his thoughts, instead pushing harder. “All you’re doing is adding to it. You’re adding four times as much busy as you have now.”
“That’s fair.”
“I think you’re under the impression that you’re going to need to oversee everything that happens. And on a big-picture scale, you are. But you’re going to have to get comfortable delegating,” I tell him pointedly.
“Says the woman who’s always trying to shoo me out to work.” He kisses the top of my head.
“I just don’t like being in the way.”
Like lightning, he readjusts his grip and pulls me atop him again. “Would you stop that? You’re not in the way. You are the only way. The only path I care about is the one where you are.” He reaches up to run his fingers through my loose hair, but they tangle near my ear and I snicker. He doesn’t acknowledge either.
“I used to think that expanding was only about what was best for Strickland Ranch. The legacy. I wanted to make my parents proud.”
I quiet to take in the seriousness of what he’s sharing.
“Now I know it’s not just that. I still want those things. I want to do everything in my power to keep Strickland Ranch thriving and growing. But I also want to build a life with you. So only the things that make that a possibility matter to me.”
I lean down and press a tender kiss to his lips. “Fine. I am the way.” I grin against his mouth and his lifts into a returning smile.
“Fuck, I love you.”
My heart tips over itself. “I love hearing you say that.”
He lifts his head up, pulling me tighter against him, and growling repeatedly in my ear, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
I giggle as he rolls us over, sliding his growing erection between my legs again. “Show me again,” I whisper.