33. Harlow
Harlow
Jude released his grip on my shoulders and spun me around. “That is for you.”
I’d briefly noticed that we’d stepped into an opening in the corn maze, but I’d been distracted. I certainly wasn’t expecting this when I looked past his tall frame.
There was a large plaid picnic blanket with cushions laid out on it. A wicker basket and a thermos sat there too. Fairy lights were scattered around the perimeter.
I let out a gasp.
Jude beckoned me closer. “I asked Ben to set up a picnic with some snacks, but he’s clearly outdone himself.” He let out a low laugh. “They do these pop-up picnics here. I thought it might be good for socials, and that you might be hungry by the time we got here.”
I was starving. Both for food and time with him. I didn’t think any man had gone out of their way like this for me before.
I sat down on the blanket, while Jude twisted open a thermos and pulled two ceramic mugs from the basket. A familiar sweet and spiced scent came from the steam that escaped.
“Is that—”
“Sweater Weather’s caramel cardamom chai,” he answered before I could finish the sentence. “I picked some up on my way over. I thought you’d enjoy it.”
Another arrow hit my heart with a jolt. Okay, now I’m certain, no one has done this for me before. And to think he’d organized all this before I even told him I wanted to stay in Autumn Creek.
Jude fucking Bramley.
I shook my head to myself in misbelief as I accepted the mug. I breathed in the smell of warm spices and tea, before taking a long sip. By the time I refocused, Jude had pulled out a few more containers. A cheese platter, apples with a caramel dip, and some focaccia.
My eyes widened.
I let out a moan as I dug into the cheese, paired perfectly with local jams, and the thick caramel with tart green apples. I caught Jude’s darkened golden eyes lingering on me and a shiver ran through my body.
My hunger was satiated—mostly—so I jumped up from the blanket.
“We’re here for content. I should take some photos.” Before I get too distracted.
I took out my phone and snapped some shots of the autumnal flat lay in front of us. I got some clips of the pink and orange sky over the field and of the glittering lights around the maze.
“Wait.” I gestured to Jude. “Look away for a second.”
“Why, what are you going to do?”
“It just looks aesthetic.” I wiggled my fingers. “Kind of mysterious and faceless. Like anyone could imagine themselves here.” Then I made some air quotes with my fingers. “Come to Autumn Creek and enjoy a picnic with a handsome guy dressed like a lumberjack. You know?”
He rolled his eyes but looked away, just like I asked.
“I don’t dress like a lumberjack. Flannel is just practical.”
“Sure.” I smiled as he turned to me again, and my breath hitched as I saw the gleam of his smirk in the golden hour light. Blush crossed my face as I knelt down, handing Jude the phone so he could see the photo.
“I do look mysterious.” He admired it, nodding, then quickly turned the camera on me, snapping a shot before I could react. “You look gorgeous, though.”
Even more blood rushed to my face. “You need to stop flirting with me.”
“Why? I like making you blush.”
“We’re working. And we shouldn’t,” I said, lightly nudging his leg as I settled back onto the blanket.
He looked at the time on my phone. “We’re definitely off the clock by now. Can’t I flirt with a pretty girl if I want to?” He leaned closer. “Especially now I know you could be staying and I actually might have a chance. There’s no reason I can’t want you.”
“Want me?” I took in a deep breath. It did nothing to clear the heady thoughts filling my mind.
“Yeah, I want you. Right here, sweetheart.”
“In a corn maze?” I giggled, looking over my shoulder. But we were all alone.
“I’d fuck you anywhere you’d let me, just to finally cut through this tension between us.”
I gulped, feeling that palpable buzz as we sat, inches apart. It had been there for far too long.
I replied in a hushed tone. “I want you, too.”
The collar of his flannel shirt was in my hands a second later.
I pulled him in, closing the gap between us.
My lips pressed against his and Jude groaned deeply.
I could feel the vibrations of that sound reverberate through my body.
His hands landed on my neck and waist, as he took control of the kiss. I arched in reply.
Despite the air surrounding us slowly getting colder, I felt like I was burning under all of my layers of clothing. Jude’s lips were searing.
He pushed forward, cupping my neck as he laid me back onto the picnic blanket. My skirt rode up as my legs spread, allowing him to settle between them. He was all around me. His arms braced on either side. It was making me lose my mind.
He moved his kiss over to the corner of my lips, then down my jaw, and slowly followed the line of my throat, in a hot trail over my ragged pulse.
Then he sucked hard on the space where my neck met my collarbone, and I let out a desperate cry.
He chuckled, holding himself back for a second while his gaze danced over me. “Fuck. You look so good.”
In reality, I was disheveled. My eyes were half closed, hair fanned out around me, and my skin was certainly flushed.
On the other hand, Jude still looked great and far too put together.
His breathing was heavier than normal, but his hair was still perfectly tousled and his cider coloured eyes were gleaming.
The only sign of him ravaging me was the large bulge pressing against my leg.
I wanted to see him come undone.
So I sat up, bringing us closer, and pressed a soft kiss to his lips as my hand trailed from his side, across the rough denim of his jeans, and I followed a seam to the centre.
He drew his lip between his teeth and made a deep sound—almost a growl—as I grasped his length the best I could. His hips ground against my hand.
I batted my lashes up at him and asked. “So, are you going to fuck me, Bramley?”
“Is that what you want?”
Like nothing else. I nodded.
He sat back and reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet, as I laid back on the blanket. A second later he sighed. “Shit. I don’t have a condom. Let’s continue this at home, sweetheart. You deserve a bed anyway.”
I pushed myself up on my elbows. “So you really didn’t plan this whole thing?
” I joked, as I took a second to consider my options.
This place might be unconventional—surrounded by soft glowing lights and nature—but to me, it was perfect.
And I knew I was safe, I’d even done an at-home test after the whole cheating situation.
So I looked up at him. “I’m on birth control and I’ve been tested. ”
His throat bobbed. “I’ve been tested too and it’s been a while since…” He let out a distracted groan, as he took me in. “You really want me to fuck you raw out here, Harlow?”
Molten heat rushed through me. I held his gaze and nodded.
Yes, I do. I wanted him so badly.
My answer unlocked something within him, because in less than a second his hands were on my thighs. He spread them, fingers trailing up, dancing over my skin.
He sent sparks through my veins, and I waited to see what he’d do next, whimpering softly at the feeling of his skin on mine.
His hand pushed up, underneath my skirt, and he grabbed my hip pulling me closer. With a gasp, my shaky arms buckled beneath me, and I found myself underneath his towering body. Before I could catch my breath, his fingers brushed over exactly where I needed him.
I let out a cry.
Even with fabric between us, the friction sent delicious shivers through my core.
“You’re so wet already.” He pressed his fingers more firmly against me. “Haven’t even touched you yet, and you’re soaked for me? What have you been thinking about?”
All kinds of things.
The noises he made as I fell apart on the bed in front of him. The way he crushed himself against me in his truck bed. Even the way it felt to lather my body up with soap he’d given me in his shower.
I was already flushed. I couldn’t let him know how much he’d been consuming my thoughts. But I replied, “You. You get me this wet.”
He hooked his fingers around the waistband of my underwear and pulled, dragging them down my hips. I lifted my legs to help him as he left me bare beneath my skirt.
He ran a finger through my wet core, and I let out a moan. One that was way too loud. I threw a hand over my lips and bit back my whimpers as he found my clit again and began tracing languid circles over the sensitive spot.
“Don’t be quiet,” he said in that deep voice of his. “There’s no one out here who can hear you but me.”
That fact filled me with excitement. I was losing my mind from his touch.
With his free hand, Jude pressed my wrists together into the blanket, fully pinning me beneath him as he worked me into a pleasurable mess of cries and moans. Then he pulled away, and my eyes shot open, only finding him moving down my body.
He lifted up my sweater, leaving me just in my skirt and lacy black bra, and pressed his mouth over the fabric.
“Jude,” I whimpered. “Please, I want you.”
“Good.” He trailed a few more kisses down my sternum and the soft skin of my ribs. “But I’m not done with you yet. I’ve been thinking about this for weeks.”
Then his lip met the waistband of my skirt. He lifted the fabric slowly up to my waist. I gasped as the cold air met my wet sensitive skin.
“Is this okay?” His voice was ravenous.
“Yeah.” My voice was brimming with shaky neediness. “I’ve just never…”
“No one’s ever eaten you out?” His eyes darkened even further, and I swear I saw a muscle in his jaw tick.
“Not really.” There had been a half-assed attempt once or twice before, and I’d decided not to bother with it again. But no one had ever looked at me like they were about to devour me whole, like Jude did.
“Then let me be the one to treat you right.” He dipped his head, pressing a slow kiss to my left thigh. Then to my right.