Chapter 6
brIDGET
One great thing about our place is that the bathroom is between my bedroom and Mom's, so she can't hear me when I practice guitar quietly.
There's no way I could go right to sleep after such an intense night. My mind needs some time to settle down. So I do some finger strengthening exercises, then work on my chord changes. Sitting on my bed with my back against the wall, I try to strum precisely but quietly.
I still don't know if it is possible for Dash to be in my life permanently, but Mom is going to have to come around to the idea that he and I are dating.
He's incredibly caring, and I love that he's so kind and protective. What kind of guy offers to install a security system for a girl when he's only been dating her a few days?
Every country song is starting to make sense. The longing, the obsessive yearning. My inability to think about anything but Dash's smile, and brilliant, expressive eyes. The feeling when he touches me so carefully, with a heat that tells me without words he wants me to be his.
Oh yeah, I've fallen hard. And I want to believe, even though I know planning anything long term is a bad idea right now.
Once my fingers are burning from my freshly-developing calluses, I lean the guitar in the corner and get ready for bed. Just as I'm setting my alarm, a text pings.
Dash: Tonight was amazing. I'll be thinking of you every second until I see you again.
Me: I'll be thinking of you every second too. Even though that sounds like a country song.
Dash: I'll be thinking of you when I'm driving in the woods. I'll be thinking of you when I'm chopping down a tree. I'll be thinking of you, 'cuz you're the one for meeeeee… Wow. The song really does write itself, doesn't it?
Me: Ha ha ha. Lumberjack turned songwriter. Is there anything you can't do?
Dash: I want to give you everything you need, beautiful. That includes a good night's sleep. Sweet dreams.
Me: You too.
The next morning at Acorns my mind is buzzing. The urge to tell everyone that I am in the process of falling in love is ridiculous. Somehow, though, I keep my mouth shut, simply smiling and chatting and trying to act like it's a normal day.
"When I'm Queen of the World, coffee will magically appear at people's tables," Lynn murmurs as we wait a few seconds for the latest pot of coffee to finish brewing. Then she gives me a careful look. "You're in an extra peppy mood."
"It's a beautiful day." I give her a wink, then reach for the pot, snatching my hand back as she grabs the handle just before me. She somehow has learned the machine's gurgles, and knows precisely when it finishes the cycle. "You're a monster!"
"Rawr." Lynn giggles as she carries the pot around her tables while I put on the next one. She's usually super quiet, so it's wonderful to see her being sassy now and then and coming out of her shell a tiny bit. Or, at least to see that the shell is cracking open. That's a start.
An hour later, after a flurry of customers, things quiet down. "Take your break now," I tell Lynn. "Then I'll go."
"Thanks." She grabs her water bottle and takes off out the side door just before two more customers come into the café.
There's no mistaking the huge frame of the biggest man in town whom I just met last night. "Hi, Corbin. What can I get you?"
He smiles politely and tells me his take-out order. While I quickly prepare the four large coffees and bag of muffins and bagels, I sneak a few looks at the other man. Once everything is organized, he smiles at me and holds out his hand. "Hi, Bridget. I'm Ansel."
He shakes my hand warmly, and I take a good look at the eldest Oakley brother. Very handsome, with warm eyes and a tidy beard. Corbin is more of a rough, huge bear of a man, but I can see the resemblance since they're standing next to each other.
"Hi. Off to chop down some trees today?"
They both chuckle, their voices a bit deeper than Dash's. I can't help noticing the way Ansel looks me over. Not unkindly: it's as if he's scanning me for information. Then he waves to Rachel in the office. Are they old friends?
"Now that the boss is here, we're getting to it," Corbin says quietly. "We should be taking down some black walnut and a couple of oaks this afternoon."
Ansel's eyes shift to the side as he shoots Corbin a sharp look. "The boss? Is that me?"
Corbin shrugs his immense shoulders. "Somebody has to be."
Placing my hands high on my hips, I give them my best exasperated mother glare. "Now boys, don't start something I'm gonna have to finish."
Corbin chuckles and Ansel laughs out loud, swiping his debit card. "You'll need that attitude to keep Dash in line," Ansel says, picking up the bag of treats, leaving his brother to grab the coffees. "Really nice to meet you, Bridget. I'm sure I'll see you around."
"Have a great day!"
I go back to helping the other customers, while a little hum sings in my heart. If Dash and I are able to stay together, that would mean I'd have three huge brothers-in-law. Talk about a safety net.
Of course I'm getting ahead of myself, but feeling secure is something I'd dreamed of as much as falling in love. For both to happen at once feels like a stroke of luck that I don't deserve, and I can't quite trust.
On my last break of the day, Dash messages me to arrange to pick me up after work as if it were completely normal. Is this my life now, where my new boyfriend just drives me around, and always knows what I'm up to? It feels comfortable and loving and completely alien at the same time.
By the time I see Dash standing beside his truck, I don't even care if people are watching. Running into his arms, he envelops me in a sexy full body hug. "I missed you," he growls softly against my ear, pulling me against him. "Maybe I shouldn't tell you how much I want you, but I do."
He doesn't need to tell me in words. I can feel his hot, hard length pressing against me. It takes less than two seconds for my body to respond in kind, craving him.
He kisses me gently, then steps away. "Corbin has decided that he's making me dinner as a thank you for letting him stay one more night. You're welcome to join us."
He helps me into the truck, and by the time he gets in, I know I don't want to sit through dinner being polite before being with him again. "I think you've turned me into a bad girl already. I'd rather be alone with you first."
Dash chuckles, singing, "I've got a bad girl in my truck, and I don't give a…" He shoots me a sideways glance. "Heck."
We laugh together. "But we can't go to my house…" I begin.
He starts driving toward the forest. "What if I were a terrible man with a terrible idea?"
"How terrible? Are we going to do something naughty in the shop again?"
"No," he says slowly, shaking his head. "Braden and Corbin just installed the security system. There's no way in hell I'm letting anyone else look at you."
My stomach flips in a slow cartwheel. I adore how naturally protective he is.
The huge pickup drives down the private road until it turns into a gravel work track that ends in a deep, thick part of the forest. "Nobody but my brothers ever comes out this far, and they'd have the courtesy to honk if they got close," Dash explains.
He parks the truck, cracks both of the windows a pinch, then slides the leather bench back a few inches. As our seatbelts fall off and we reach for each other, he confesses, "I know it's a stupid teenage boy thing, but I've always wanted to have sex with a girl in my truck. Is that terrible?"
I laugh, untucking his shirt to run my hands up his rippled abs. "You're a country boy. It's probably in your DNA or something."
"Just a country boy, with a sexy gorgeous toy," he sings, then stops, looking deeply into my eyes.
"I'm kidding. You know you're not a toy, Bridget.
" His thumb across my cheekbone makes me melt.
"I've never felt like this before." His soft brown eyes smolder in the dim light. "Tell me what you want, beautiful."
My voice is barely a whisper. "I want you."
He grins. "Good."
Even though it's a big truck, it's slightly awkward to pull off my shirt, then slip off my shoes and pants.
"Leave your bra and undies on." His voice is thick with lust. "I don't want anyone to accidentally see you totally naked. Plus, this is even sexier."
I'm glad that I put on matching underwear today at least, though from the glazed look in his eyes, he doesn't need fancy lace lingerie to get aroused. "So gorgeous," he murmurs, shifting to lie across the bench with bent knees as he pulls me on top of him.
His hands on my breasts are so gentle, searching as if to find every tingly nerve ending. My hips shift, grinding against him as I feel his erection growing. "You might need to let him out for air."
"Only if you want me to." His eyes search mine. "If it's too soon for another round, maybe I can just taste you. Touch you. Whatever you want."
My emotions quickly have a secret meeting with my libido and decide it's in charge for now.
My trembling fingers reach down to unfasten his jeans.
There's no way to describe the deep burning need inside me, not just to have us join physically, but for another dose of the sensual bonding I felt with him last night.
Dash's grin is pure joy as he helps me, pulling his jeans and shorts down to his ankles. I love that he takes control, positioning me so that my knees straddle his hips. Automatically grinding against his thick shaft, we moan together as he pulls my lips to his.
His kiss is raw and sultry. My breath stutters, my body overheating even though it should be chilly out here in the forest. "Tell me you want me," he rasps against my lips.
"I want you."
"Lift up."
As my hips rise, he pulls the gusset of my panties aside, dragging the thick head of his shaft slowly through my crease, wetting himself with my juices.
A deep shudder rolls through him. Did I do that?
Am I actually making this gorgeous man as breathless and helpless as he's making me? It's a strange, powerful sensation.
After having no control over huge parts of my life, giving him control willingly feels deeply satisfying.
Gripping his shoulder with one hand and the back of the seat with the other, I circle my hips as I grind against him.
Our eyes lock as he starts to press inside, making us both shiver from the intensity.
Slowly sinking down, my body stretching open for him is like soothing an ache, making everything feel right.
As I slowly begin to bob up and down, working him deeper, I realize this is going to be my life for the next little while. Trying to find moments to be with Dash as often as I can. The two of us bonding, pleasuring each other, falling deeper into…us.
Just as another shudder rolls through me, a dark whisper quickly follows.
This can only continue if it's safe for Mom and me to stay in Oakton.
And there are no guarantees when it comes to that. Is it fair to start a relationship with Dash if I know I might need to move on again?