Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Iverson
I pull into the overgrown lot around the mine.
Between me and my brothers, we drive enough to keep the main area cleared of weeds.
Haven’s pickup is sitting at the far edge.
Hell. My brain is spinning for what to do.
Do I keep secrets from them when I never have before?
They won’t talk about Jamison, but I’d rather clear it with her first.
Haven emerges from a trail that leads to the river. Durban’s with him, and they each have a fishing pole resting on their shoulder.
Haven spots me and grins. “Hey. You missed the fishing.”
Durban lifts the cooler he’s carrying. “And the beer.”
“You two taking off?”
“Nah,” Haven says. “We have a few more beers. Thought we’d load our stuff and enjoy a drink to celebrate getting fuck all for fish.”
Dammit. In ten minutes, Sunny would arrive. I skated on thin ice days ago, almost getting busted by her dad. Suddenly, I’m a teenager sneaking around all over town. “If I buy you both a six-pack, will you leave and have the beer at the ranch?”
“You know how prickly William gets when we drink on the property,” Durban says. “He thinks we’re all heathens looking for a reason to get wild and destroy shit.”
Haven stops in his tracks. “Hold on. What kind of beer? Our choice?”
He’ll get the expensive stuff. He likes trying craft beer, expensive spirits, and new wine. Even better if I’m footing the bill. But I have few other options to get them to leave. “Your choice.”
Durban narrows his eyes. “Why?”
Tires crunch in the dirt behind me. I’m not the only early one. At least I don’t have to think of a lie.
Haven’s eyes light, and he lets out a whoop. “Ivy, you naughty boy.”
“You’re still fucking her?” Durban’s brows are raised high.
“Don’t talk about her like that.”
His brows inch higher. “Like what? Are you dating ?”
He sounds even more incredulous that there’s more between me and Jamison. After my last two conversations with her, I only want more when it comes to us.
“No. Not dating.” We’re just fucking, like he said. Tonight’s the closest we’ll get to an actual date. Especially when I do idiotic things like buying wine and chocolate-covered strawberries for tonight.
Sunny creeps to a stop. Through her windshield, I can see her wide, questioning gaze.
I wave for her to park next to me. She does and gets out.
She’s wearing the same yellow sundress from the night I met her.
If that doesn’t slap my dick awake, nothing will, but just thinking about Sunny is enough for that.
“We’re busted,” I explain as she approaches. “But the guys won’t tell anyone.”
Haven tips the ball cap he wears when he fishes. “Keeping secrets so our brother can get some.”
Durban swats his arm. “Be respectful.”
Haven grins, unrepentant. “Sorry, ma’am.”
“Sunny is just fine,” she says with a laugh.
Haven shakes his head. “No, ma’am. It is not.”
“Jamison at least, please.” She stops next to me. “Thank you for keeping this between us. I wish you didn’t have to.”
“Your daddy’s right to be worried,” Durban says, his expression serious. “Not all the men hired at the ranch are like Iverson.”
She smiles up at me. “He is one of a kind.”
Damn. The way she looks at and talks to me is the reason I can’t stay away from her. The sex alone makes it impossible, but when I genuinely enjoy being with her, talking to her… I’m screwed.
My brothers study us. Haven almost looks disappointed, like he thinks I’m going to haul Sunny off and get married and to hell with the ranch.
The idea holds a lot of appeal.
Durban’s forehead is furrowed as his gaze jumps between us. When his eyes meet mine, I see disappointment. I haven’t told them I’m still messing around with Sunny.
That’s not all I haven’t mentioned, and I owe them a talk. “Hey, uh, tomorrow we need to have a meeting. About this place.”
Understanding fills their eyes.
“Gotcha,” Haven says. He tips his hat again. “You two enjoy your night.”
He and Durban hop in the pickup. Haven, the jackass, lays on the horn on his way down the drive.
Sunny watches them go. “I came too early.”
I pull her closer. “I’ll take you anytime,” I say before I kiss her.
She smiles against my lips before she melts into my arms. Once we break apart, I murmur against her mouth, “I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”
“Me too. I was worried it was going to rain.”
“We can do just fine in the cab if we need to.” But I’d rather be with her under the stars. I drop the tailgate of my pickup. “I, uh, have some wine and some snacks.” My cheeks heat. Am I goddamn blushing?
Awe fills her face. “You have wine?”
“I couldn’t find the Kinky stuff you asked for that night.”
She grins. “I like wine. I like snacks too.”
She’s about to hop onto the tailgate, but I rest a hand on her hip. “I’ve got a pad and a blanket.”
“You think of everything, Mr. Hennessy. Done this a time or two?”
She’s kidding, but I’m serious. “No. I’ve never brought anyone here.”
Her brows lift. “Never?”
“Never.” She’s special. If we have to sell this property, then I’ll have one more cherished memory to go with it. My chest grows tight. I leave her to dig out the items I’ve brought.
I roll out the pad. I had cleaned the box before I left the ranch. Then I spread the blanket out. The day is warm, but nighttime might get a little cool. Next, I clip plastic dragonflies around the bed.
She taps a pink dragonfly. “Wanna tell me what these are for?”
“They’re supposed to keep bugs away and don’t stink like citronella.”
“Interesting. I can’t wait to put them to the test.”
“I brought citronella just in case.” I take her hand and help her into the back before I crawl in behind her. The sun is starting to sink behind the mountains in the distance. I have a few chemlights to crack for when it gets dark.
She digs through the grocery bag, pulling out the plastic cups I bought. “You really did think of every—” She gasps. “Chocolate-covered strawberries? Are these from Elodie’s bakery in town?”
“Yes.”
“She’s not much older than me, and she was always making the best food in school.” She opens the box and grins at me. “Can I have one?”
“Have them all if you want.” I’m just enjoying her reaction to them.
She wiggles and plucks one out of the box. I’m in the middle of opening the wine with the corkscrew from the multi-tool I always have on me when I have to stop and watch her. Her plump lips wrap around the berry, and her eyelids flutter shut.
“Mmm.” She takes a bite and chews. “Ohmigod. These are so good.” She pins me with her gaze and juggles the cardboard container to grab a new one. “Here.”
The berry hovers a few inches from my lips. Her fingertips overlap the flesh of the fruit. I take a big enough bite to lick along one of her fingers.
“Oh, Iverson Hennessy, you are a bad boy.”
Her voice is a low purr, and her expression is provocative. I’m ready to ditch the drink and food and get to business.
Suddenly, it seems important to make sure she knows I’m not only here for sex. I could have sex if I wanted. I could be public about it. It’s her I’m interested in.
I carefully set the wine aside. “I don’t want to seem like I’m rushing you. I want to sit with you all night, but I need to see that body before all the light fades.”
She places the strawberries by the wine. A sultry grin spreads across her face, and she yanks her dress over her head.
I’m greeted with smooth, bronzed skin. Her tits are cupped by a pale-yellow bra and her lacy underwear matches.
“Jesus, Sunny.” I can’t get enough of looking at her.
She pushes me back. “It’s time for me to spoil you.”
“Just having you here is enough?—”
She yanks down my zipper and maneuvers between my legs. Her tits frame my dick once she frees it, and her ass is in the air. I can see it all with perfect clarity. “Fuck.” Thank you, sunlight.
She licks me from base to tip, and I groan.
I prop myself on my elbows. “You’re a goddamn tease.”
She does it again. I twist my fingers in her hair, but I don’t jerk her head around. She licks across the crown of my cock, and energy shoots down my shaft. Then she sucks me as far as she can into her mouth.
I nearly collapse back. The only thing supporting me is the need to watch her work my length, her cheeks hollowed and that ass within view.
I roll my hips into her. Pleasure is building too fast and too hard as she pumps the base around my balls.
When she opens her eyes to pin me with those amber depths, I have to drag her off me.
“Sorry, sunny day. I need to watch you ride me before it’s dark.” We have time. I just lack the patience. She does that to me.
She licks her swollen lips and grins. Pushing off my legs, she straightens and unhooks her bra. It falls free, and she drops it on her dress.
“Fuck yes.” Her nipples are a perfect dusky pink. A little mole dots her chest underneath her right tit. I trace it with my finger.
The show she gives me when she wiggles out of her underwear is enough to get me off. I grit my teeth and savor the view, just like I’m going to cherish her later. By the time she straddles me, I’m shaking. And her groan when she sinks onto my length is lost in the night around us.
I grip her hips. “There’s nothing like being inside you bareback.”
“It’s my favorite thing.” She traces my lips. “One of them. They all seem to involve you.”
For some reason, her words wind their way around my heart. We haven’t done anything but fuck and talk, but maybe it doesn’t need to be more complicated than that. “Tell me more of your favorite things. Like our first night together.”
She slowly rides me. I can barely concentrate, but I force myself to.
She bites her lower lip and rolls her head back. “I love when you open up to me. When you hold me. And I can watch you ride a horse all day.”
I roll my hips into her. “You been spying on me, darlin’?”
“Every chance I get.”
I chuckle as I sit up enough to lick her tits and give her nipples some much-needed attention.