“Your daddy owned this huge orchard! What’s wrong with that?”
“He didn’t always own it. His people were sharecroppers. My daddy was a poor kid from the wrong side of town. His daddy died of a heart attack when he was only fifty-five.”
“Shit.” I pull her into another hug.
She manages a smile. “But look what he did. He married the woman of his dreams, he built this huge orchard, he got everything he wanted…”
Her voice trails off, and we don’t continue down that road. I don’t want to think about how he had it all and ultimately lost everything.
I want to think about right here, right now.
I want to think about having her with me and life and love. “Tell me about this peach festival coming up.”
She blinks up at me, her smile returning. “It’s sort of the annual town gathering. We do it every year at the end of the harvest.”
“Are you saying I’ll get to meet the whole town?”
She laughs. “I don’t know if the whole town will be there, but a lot of people go. They have pie-eating contests and car shows and pageants and crafts. Mrs. Jenny Ray, Mindy’s mom, is going to put some of my beauty products at her table for me to sell.”
“Hey! That’s a big deal.”
“Why do you think I’ve been working so hard every night?”
“Hell, I don’t know.” I was too focused on her to wonder about what she was doing or why. “I thought you did that every night.”
“No.” She shakes her head, laughing.
“Well, I’ll be there with my money in hand.”
“You don’t need beauty products.” Her arms are around my neck again, and she kisses my nose. “You’re pretty enough without them.”
“I have to get more of that lip stuff.”
“What’s wrong with your lips?” Heavy-lidded eyes slide to my mouth, and it’s enough of an invitation for me.
I pull her to me, parting her lips, nibbling and kissing them, loving the rise of heat between us as our chests move together, only separated by thin cotton. Her skirt floats around us, and I put my hands on her thighs, sliding them higher, wanting to explore her secret places.
She inhales sharply as I find the line of her panties. She trembles in my arms, and I kiss her deeper now, moving my tongue to hers as I slide my finger back and forth across her clit.
“Taron…” Her thighs tighten around my hand.
I’m rock-hard and desperate to be inside her… Still. “It’s okay.” My breath is hot at her ear, and I start to take my hand away.
“No…” It’s a soft plea, and I grin, finding her eyes. Our gazes lock, and her cheeks flush.
I back us to the pier post, bracing her as I move my hand again to her warm pussy, massaging and fingering the sweet heat between her legs. Her eyes squeeze shut, and her grip tightens on my shoulders. I keep going, watching as her breath grows faster, shallower.
“Right there… right there…” It’s a soft hiss, and her hips rock.
She rides my hand, biting her lip and bucking her pelvis. I circle faster, and she holds my arm, focused on what I’m doing to her. I lean forward to kiss her ear, lightly touching it with my tongue, and she breaks with a loud moan.
“Oh, yes!” She’s crying out, thrusting, fucking my hand like a goddess, and with every stroke, she moans and shudders. “Taron…” She exhales sharply. “It feels so good…”
My arm is around her shoulders, and I cradle her against my chest. “I want to make you feel good.”
She holds me a bit longer, riding out the afterglow. Then she stretches up and kisses the side of my jaw, biting it lightly. It’s fucking hot. My hand is out of her panties and on her cute little round ass, cupping it to me. I want her to feel my cock. I want to sink into her so bad right now.
She hugs me tighter. “I’ve never done this before with a guy.”
I’m not sure I understand what she means. Still, I don’t want to break this moment. She’s here, just like my dreams. She’s in my arms, and her hair is against my cheek.
Kissing the side of her face, I whisper in her ear. “I love holding you this way.”
Her body moves, and she pulls back slightly. “I need to tell you something…”
I smile, pushing a damp lock of hair behind her ear. “This sounds serious.”
“Just so you don’t think I know how… I mean, we don’t have much time, so I’m trying—”
“Hey.” I put my fingers over her lips gently. “You don’t have to feel pressured because of time. I don’t want that.”
“But I do.” Her eyes are wide, pleading. “I do want it. I just need you to show me how… I’m not sure exactly what to do.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
“Ah, this is so embarrassing… Don’t make me say it.”
“Say what?” I’m horny as hell, and still she’s able to make me laugh.
Her chin drops and she says it fast. “I… I’m a virgin.”
8
Noel
Everything goes quiet like I shouted a swear word in church.
Even Akela doesn’t make a noise—not that she ever does. The only sound is the constant churning of the aerator in the middle of the pond, and I feel Taron’s eyes on me even if I don’t look up to meet them.
My cheeks are hot, and I want to die of embarrassment. Naturally, I assumed he wanted to have sex with me. Is it possible I was wrong?
We have been kissing pretty hot and heavy every night this week before I send him out the window, which by the way, takes the strength of Hercules. He did just make me come right out here in the middle of the lake—and oh, God, did he ever make me come…
I shiver. I might be a virgin, but my body is ready.
“Say something.” My voice is quietly cringey.
He only shakes his head. “Okay.”
“That’s it?” My eyes flash to his.
“You’re only eighteen, Noel. You live in this tiny town. I’d be surprised if you weren’t a virgin.”
Pulling away, he takes my hand and guides me to the shallow waters then leads me out to the truck. My stomach sinks to my feet.
“Does that mean you don’t want me?”
“No.” His voice is low and strained, and it’s a thrill in my stomach.
Still, I’m confused. “Where are we going?”
“We need to head back.” He still holds my hand warm and strong in his, and when we stop at the truck, he looks down at my wet dress. “I don’t guess you have a towel or anything.”
“There might be one in the glove box.” I wait, watching him dig around then come back empty-handed.
“Here.” He pulls his tee over my head, covering my transparent dress.
His jeans are soaked, but he helps me in the truck and jogs around to the other side. We drive back the way we came—me sitting in the middle with my head on his shoulder. Him looking ahead, his hand between my knees.
How I wish his hand would move higher, stroke me, and make me come like he did a few minutes ago. Instead, as I feared it would, my confession threw cold water on everything. I expect he won’t touch me again the rest of the week…