Chapter 16 Eric
T he Big Barn glows under the soft shimmer of string lights, casting a golden haze over the wooden beams and hay bales lining the walls. The scent of apple pie and freshly cut straw drifts through the air, wrapping around me in a blanket of home. Sunflowers sit in oversized mason jars, their bright faces turned toward the warm glow. Ribbons in deep autumn colors sway gently with the breeze slipping through the open barn doors, as if the night itself is celebrating with us.
Emma stands beside me, her cream dress hugging her curves, catching the light with every shift of her body. The faint scent of her perfume lingers in the air between us, stirring something deep inside me. She leans in slightly, just enough for me to feel her warmth, the pressure of her against my side sending a bolt of longing straight through my chest.
The ring on her finger glints under the lights, like an unspoken promise of more than I ever expected. It fits her perfectly. She fits perfectly. Despite her injured ankle, she insisted on wearing a heeled shoe on her good foot, balancing herself with subtle shifts against me. Every time she leans into me, every glance she steals, and every breath she takes, is a reminder that this engagement isn’t pretend anymore. Not for me.
Tomorrow, I’ll have to turn this lie into the truth I crave. Because the thought of losing her? It feels like losing a piece of myself.
“Has anyone seen Misty?” Annabelle’s voice cuts through my thoughts, her concern slicing through the warmth of the night. “She was supposed to help with the pony rides, but no one’s heard from her since last night.”
Blake steps up, his usual easy grin replaced with something more serious. “I stopped by her place. Her bike’s gone, and she’s not answering her phone. That’s not like her.”
Emma stiffens beside me. “We should go look for her. She didn’t seem okay after I fell off Thor.”
A cold knot tightens in my stomach. First the power outage, and now Misty’s disappearance. The uneasy feeling that’s been trailing me for the past twenty-four hours presses heavier against my chest.
“I’ll go,” Blake says, already stepping away. “You two enjoy your big night.”
I nod, even as the worry lingers, pressing against my ribs like a weight I can’t shake. I squeeze Emma’s hand, grounding myself in her warmth.
“Ready?” I ask.
The barn hums with life. Laughter bubbles through the air, mingling with the twang of a country song. Nearly everyone in Lords Valley is here, dressed in their fall best. Even Caroline lurks near the refreshment table, watching from a distance.
Emma hesitates for half a second, her smile faltering before she straightens, smoothing a hand down her dress. “Ready.”
She leans into me, her body molding against mine, and I swear I can feel the rapid beat of her heart against my arm. I have to remind myself this is still a charade. That this is all temporary.
Until I can talk to her father—and her brothers—it all feels like it can slip away. It feels ephemeral and delicate, and that terrifies me.
Grandpa Albert approaches, his face splitting into a wide grin. “There’s my favorite couple! Emma, dear, how’s the ankle?”
“Much better. Eric wrapped it in vinegar and water,” she shifts her weight. Instinctively, I tighten my hold around her waist, fingers pressing into the soft fabric of her dress.
The music fades, and Sheriff Simon’s voice echoes through the barn. “Evening, folks! Before we get to the pie eating contest, Eric Waters has an announcement.”
My stomach clenches. The moment is here and I feel the weight of the lie settle over my shoulders, heavier than it was yesterday. Heavier than it’s ever been. But then I look at Emma and the trust shining in her blue eyes, and suddenly, this lie feels like the truest thing I’ve ever held in my heart.
I take her hand and lead her toward the stage, each step amplifying the pounding in my chest.
I clear my throat, steadying myself. “Thank you all for being here tonight. Lords Valley has always been my home, and I’ve never wanted to be anywhere else. But until Emma came into my life, something was missing.”
I turn to face her fully, taking both her hands in mine. The words I had planned vanish, replaced by something deeper, something real.
“Emma, you didn’t just walk into my life. You turned it upside down. You challenge me, you surprise me, and you make me laugh in ways I never thought possible. You see past my walls and accept my flaws, my past, and everything I thought no one could love. When you’re here, the ranch feels alive in a way it never has, like it’s been waiting for you all along.” My voice thickens and emotion clings to every word. “You make me want to be the man you deserve. I’m honored that you’ve agreed to be my wife, and I swear to spend every day proving I’m worthy of your love.”
I hear the cheers before I process them. Emma’s eyes glisten, her fingers trembling in mine. Annabelle dabs at her cheeks, Derek gives me a knowing nod, and Grandpa Albert is grinning so widely, it makes my chest ache.
I tell myself this is all for show. But the words feel like a vow.
“ To Eric and Emma! ” Derek raises his glass, and the crowd echoes the toast.
Emma leans in, her breath hot against my ear. “That was quite a speech, cowboy.”
“I meant every word.” I brush my lips over hers.
The music picks up again and a slow ballad fills the barn. Emma’s eyes light up despite her ankle.
“Dance with me?” I ask.
I guide her onto the dance floor, careful with every step, holding most of her weight against me. She fits perfectly in my arms, her head resting on my chest, her curves pressed against me in a way that makes me forget everything else. The scent of her skin, and the feel of her breath against my neck are intoxicating.
"Grandpa’s waltz lessons paid off," she murmurs, lips grazing my skin. “He must be proud.”
I spin her gently, my hand sliding lower on her back. She lets out a soft sigh, melting into me, and I hold on just a little tighter.
The pie-eating contest provides a much-needed distraction. Grandpa Albert, despite my mother’s protests, demolishes his competition. Sheriff Simon struggles to keep up, and when Caroline drops her third slice onto her lap, Annabelle cackles loud enough for the whole barn to hear.
“That’s what you get for messing with my pies,” she whispers to Grandpa, earning a conspiratorial wink.
The Sheriff lifts Grandpa’s hand in the air. “Winner!”
The crowd erupts and the warmth of the night settles deep in my bones. Grandpa looks younger and happier, and the weight on my chest eases just a little.
But then I catch sight of Caroline slipping out the back door, her face set with something cold and calculating. A chill runs down my spine.
Something’s not right, but I shake it off when Emma presses against me, looking up at me with those starlit eyes.
Tonight is ours. Tomorrow can wait.
The celebration stretches late into the night, though Misty’s absence lingers at the edges of my thoughts. When Emma finally leans into me, exhausted, I scoop her into my arms and carry her to the truck.
By the time we reach the house, she’s quieter, and more thoughtful. I help her inside, setting her gently on her feet. She stares up at me, something unreadable flickering across her face.
“Thank you,” she whispers, trailing her fingers up my chest. “For making tonight perfect.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Even with the fake engagement?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing about tonight felt fake to me.”
And just like that, I’m lost. I kiss her, pouring everything I can’t say into the way our mouths move together. She responds with the same desperation, her fingers curling into my shirt.
When we finally pull apart, breathless, she studies my face. “Eric?”
“Yes?”
“Take me upstairs.”
I scoop her up into my arms, carrying her upstairs and across the room before laying her gently onto my bed. Her body molds to the sheets, her hair fanning out around her like a halo. My pulse pounds against my ribs
“Come here, cowboy” She curls her finger in a slow, teasing invitation.
Her soft curves, the fire in her eyes, and the way she calls on me with a promise, undo me, and I don’t hesitate. I bend down, drawn to her like gravity.
But she lifts a hand, stopping me in my tracks. “Wait.”
I freeze, and my muscles tighten with restraint.
“Take off your pants,” she instructs, her voice as smooth as silk.
Ignoring the firm ‘no’ in my head, my hands fly to my waistband. She reaches for her ponytail and removes the sunflower scarf from her hair before lifting to her knees with the scarf stretched between her hands.
She points to the sheets. “Lie down.”
Desire blazes in her eyes as Emma transforms into the fearless vixen I remember from the strip club—bold, determined, and utterly confident.
“You don’t touch me. I touch you. Understood?”
A wordless nod is all I can manage, my voice lost somewhere between desire and disbelief. With a contented sigh, Emma stretches and slowly slides off the bed like a graceful dancer. Despite her wrapped ankle, each step she takes is calculated and alluring, as if she’s putting on a performance.
I follow her lead like an obedient pup, already plotting the moment the tables turn. I picture her beneath me with my cock buried deep inside her.
She takes my right hand, and the touch of her fingers burns on my skin. She wraps the sunflower scarf around my wrist and ties the other end to the bedpost. As she carefully moves around the bed, one of my ties magically appears in her grip. I watch as she fastens my left hand to the other bedpost, then climbs onto the bed and straddles me.
Longing pools in her eyes, vibrant and deep. My body thrums with an electrical charge, each nerve lighting at the promise of her touch.
She splays her hands over my abs and lowers to my ear with a seductive whisper. “I’m going to lick you, then I’m going to suck you, and then I’m going to?—”
“—don’t you dare finish that sentence, Emma. If there’s anyone who’ll be doing any fucking, it’s me.”
A rumble rolls through my chest. I want her, and I want her badly. I want to cherish her virgin pussy and devour every delectable inch of her skin like she’s mine, and only mine. Forever.
She captures my mouth with hers. Her soft pink lips are hot and needy, but she breaks away before I’m sated. She slides down my body and reaches for the waistband of my boxer briefs, slowly dragging them past my hard dick which springs into a solid rod. My stomach sinks and her mouth twists into a wicked grin. She licks her lips and lowers, placing them over my crown. I push my head back into the pillow, giving in.
“Fuck,” I groan, closing my eyes.
She traces her tongue underneath the head of my cock, pulling me into madness. The heat of her slick mouth burns over my skin. I tighten my hands into fists and hold my breath. I can’t think and I can’t breathe. There’s no more blood in my head, and zero will to stop what I’ve unknowingly wanted for years. Her fingers wrap around my length, stroking slowly before she takes me deep into her mouth.
Good God!
The longer she takes, the more I want to come between her beautiful lips. My ass tightens, and my balls expand. She cups them with her free hand, and as much as I don’t want to believe she hasn’t done this before, it’s impossible.
Her head bobs up and down my cock, her lips forming a perfect seal around me. She’s warm and precise, pressing her tongue to the sensitive skin. I match her mouth’s movement with heavy thrusts. The tie and scarf around my wrists dig into my skin as she fulfills my filthy desires. A surge of pleasure shoots down my spine and into my balls, and I know, I won’t last. I can’t last, because the thought of filling every one of her cavities becomes an overwhelming dream I’ve had since the day I realized I wanted her. And it all started with her dirty little mouth.
Fuck.
As she works her magic, sliding her finger beneath my sack, I draw closer to the edge. My thighs flex, and my body trembles with the first spasm, but I hold back, because I want her mouth fucking my cock a bit longer. Emma seems to sense my restraint and her ambitious mouth takes over. She tightens her lips around my cock and presses her finger harder beneath my balls, sending me spiralling towards ecstasy.
“Emma,” I hear her name on my lips over and over, begging her to finish me off. She listens to my plea like a good girl and takes me deeper into her mouth. I hit the back of her throat again. Once, twice, three times, until my balls tighten and I spill. There’s no end to my orgasm as she swallows every last drop and licks me clean.
I pull on my restraint and rip Emma's sunflower scarf from the bedpost. She kneels in front of me, breathless and proud.
Fuck, she's beautiful.
By this point, I know that I will do anything to keep her in Lords Valley. I quickly free my other hand from the tie binding my left wrist. She has plenty to learn about knots, but this isn’t the time for lessons. I lift and reach for the hem of her dress, slowly removing it over her head, revealing her smooth skin and the hint of blush on her chest. I undress her piece by piece, savoring every second as she kneels before me. Her breath hitches. I scoot closer and kiss her slowly and deeply, tasting my salty release on her lips. I draw her body against mine. The warmth of her skin ignites a slow-burning fire that spreads through every nerve. Her soft moans fill the room. I trace her every curve and hollow, etching every inch of her skin to memory. When I pull away, her blue eyes glow with lust, and her cheeks are flushed.
"My turn." I wipe a stray drop of my cum off her chin before dragging my fingers down the side of her neck, guiding her body to the sheets. I snap the clasp at the front of her bra and the fabric falls apart, exposing her beautiful round breasts and pink nipples.
I kiss the path along her jaw, pausing to nip at the spot below her ear that makes her gasp. Her hands find their way into my hair, nails scraping against my scalp.
"Eric," she arches into my touch. “Take me. Please.”
Hearing my name on her lips sends a bolt of heat back to my groin. I’m already hard again, ready to sink inside her. I slide my hands down her sides, watching her skin cover with goosebumps in their wake. She responds to my touch like a sunflower seeking the sun.
I reach her panties and she lifts her hips. I hook my fingers under the elastic and slowly peel them over her hips and down her legs. She lays down on the bed and her lips part with a sigh.
My beautiful Emma lays bare before me, like an offering, without an inch of clothing between us. I take a moment to drink in the sight of her. She’s the most breathtaking thing I've ever seen.
"Eric," she whispers, a hint of shyness in her tone. Her hands move to cover herself but I catch them before she can.
"Don't hide from me, darling." I press a kiss to her knuckles. “You're gorgeous."
A faint blush colours her cheeks but when I guide her hands above her head, she doesn't protest.
“I’m not tying you up,” I whisper. “Not today.”
I kiss my way down her body, savouring the taste of her nipples, silently promising to have every pink shade of her skin in my mouth. I circle the perfect nubs until they harden into peaks and fit splendidly between my teeth. I gently bite down, pulling out until the nipple springs back before I make my way down her sinking stomach.
I slip my fingers in my mouth, coating them thoroughly. I spread her legs open, and settle between her thighs, circling her entrance, and watching her face for signs of discomfort.
"Relax, darling," I whisper. "I've got you."
She nods, her eyes fluttering shut. I press two fingers inside her, moving slowly to allow her body to adjust. When I feel her inner muscles loosen around me, I add a third finger, scissoring them gently apart.
A soft moan escapes her lips, and I swallow the sound with a kiss, curling my fingers just so. Her back arches, hips rocking to meet the soft pumping.
“Let go, darling. I’ve got you," I whisper against her lips.
I move down her body again, lips tracing a trail over her stomach and toward her waiting heat. My mouth meets her sex with a long lick, and she lets out a whimper. The taste of her fills my senses with a mix of sweetness and urgency. As I lick through her flesh, settling around her clit, she lets out a soft cry. I close my mouth around her swollen clit, pumping my fingers in and out of her pussy while flicking my tongue. Her hands find my head, and her fingers rake through my hair, as she arches her back. I flick my tongue and suck her clit as she pushes herself harder into my mouth before cumming with a cry, her inner walls clenching around my fingers and her body shaking. I work her through the orgasm, prolonging her pleasure with gentler sucks and tender sweeps of my tongue until she collapses back against the bed, sated and breathless.
Only then, do I withdraw my fingers, waiting patiently until Emma opens her eyes. A smile tugs at her kiss-swollen lips.
“I love you,” she says softly. “I love you so much.”
My heart swells. I brush a lock of hair from her face and lower to kiss her.
“Make love to me,” she pleads against my lips.
I keep my mouth over hers, kissing her as I position myself between her thighs. I slowly sink into her welcoming heat, and she whimpers. Her nails dig into my shoulders. God, she’s tight. I pause, giving her body time to adjust.
“You feel incredible,” I groan, burying my face in her neck. I place searing kisses along her throat, relishing her breathy moans.
Her hips roll against mine, urging me deeper. I respond with a slow and steady rhythm of my hips. The sound of our breathing fills the room, and the scent of her warm and inviting skin overwhelms my senses. Her legs wrap around my waist, her heels digging into my lower back.
"Harder," she begs, clenching around me. "Eric, please..."
A groan vibrates low in my throat, hips snapping forward, and I bury myself within her, just enough not to break her. Emma cries out, fingers twisting in my hair, and the familiar tightening returns to my balls.
Reaching between us, I circle her clit with my fingers, rubbing her spot and pumping quicker into her sex until she shatters around me, inner walls convulsing as she succumbs to a fresh release. Pleasure and pain throb in my groin as I hold back, but after two more rough thrusts, I come inside her, finally marking her as mine.
Our breathing slows, and I pull out slowly and lay beside her, bringing her close to my body into a tangle of sweaty limbs and racing hearts.
“You all right?” I ask, covering us with a throw. Emma lets out a satisfied sigh, her chest rising and falling as she catches her breath. She turns her head, her eyes meeting mine with a soft smile.
“That was perfect,” she murmurs, her voice hoarse and throaty. “I’m thirsty.”
I brush a stray lock of hair away from her forehead.
"Then let’s take care of that." I lift and scoop her up, her body curling into my chest. She laughs with a sound as light and sweet as the evening breeze drifting through the window.
As I carry her downstairs, her head resting against my shoulder. I set her down gently on the soft blankets and plush pillows in front of the fireplace. She looks up. Her eyes sparkle, and I lean down to kiss her forehead before heading to the kitchen.
When I return, I find her curled up in the shadows of dancing flames. She looks up as I hand her a glass of water.
“I want to do that again,” she hums.
I lower to the blankets and she snuggles into my side.
“I promise, you’ll come again before the night is over.”
Her laughter, light and melodic, wraps around me like a balm. The firelight dances in her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, the world feels perfect. It’s just her and me, cocooned in the glow of our growing love.