“Want to come?”
“Yes,” I answer immediately, and she giggles.
“You might want to think about it. I’m supposed to be there until dark, when they start the haunted maze. They don’t do it during the day because they don’t want to scare the little kids. But at night they make it spooky, and there’s no way I’m going in it then.”
“You’re scared of haunted corn mazes?” I squeeze her side, teasing her. “Even if I was with you?”
“Well, probably not with you by my side. You’re taller than the corn, so you could probably see over the top of it.”
“Then I’ll go if you’ll do the maze with me tonight.” I nuzzle my nose against her neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
“Okay, but if I get scared you have to give me a piggyback ride.”
“Then I’ll make sure you get scared,” I whisper against her ear, and she shivers.
Her phone buzzes with a text message in her back pocket, and when she checks it, she says we need to leave soon. I make sure we both eat some of her pie and then I eat her once more before we leave.
“They're going to know what I’ve been doing,” she says into the rearview mirror of my truck as she pats her flushed cheeks.
“Good, then they’ll know you’re mine.” The look she gives me is hot and needy as she bites her lip. “Don’t make me bend you over in this truck and do it again.” I lick my lips, desperate for exactly that.
“Maybe after the sun sets,” she teases as she leans over and kisses me.
I love how she doesn’t hesitate to show affection, and after being without it for so long, I’m selfish for extra attention. When she tries to pull away, I growl and hold her close, kissing her just a bit longer. When I pull back, her eyelids are heavy, and she’s staring at my mouth like she can’t believe I’m still so hungry for her.
“We’ve gotta get out of this truck before I jump you.” Her hand moves between my legs to rub my cock, and I groan.
“You keep doing that and I’ll fuck you on the hood where the whole town can watch.” I lick the seam of her lips, and she gasps. “Come on, sunshine. Show me what to do.”
Jumping out of the truck, I pull my hat down low and walk around to the other side to help her down. Once she’s on her feet, I smack her on the ass and then take her hand in mine. Damn, it feels so good to be with her, I’ve hardly thought about my scars. The way Gracie looks at me makes me feel whole, and I wonder if she’ll let me be with her always.
“Dad?” Gracie says when we come to a stop at the check-in.
“Hey, pumpkin, they just told me you’d be here tonight,” he says as a woman steps up beside him.
“Hey, Evy,” Gracie says and then squeezes my hand as she looks up at me. “Donovan, this is my dad Joseph and his friend Evy.”
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I say and extend my hand to both of them. “Ma’am.”
“I didn’t know y’all would be here,” Gracie says, and I watch as Evy moves a little closer to Joseph and places her hand on his back.
“It was a last-minute decision.” Joseph looks at Evy and then to Gracie and clears his throat. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Donovan, but we’re going to head into the maze now.” He holds up his tickets and then hurries off toward the cornstalks.
“He doesn’t want me to know he’s got a girlfriend,” Gracie whispers.
“Why?”
She shrugs as she leads me through the entrance and to a little house that’s set up to sell cider and caramel apples. “I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve always taken care of him, and now he’s got someone else to do it.”
“Does it make you sad?” I stop and she turns to face me.
“No.” She smiles softly and shakes her head. “It makes me so damn happy he’s finally found someone to spend his life with.” She goes up on her tiptoes and kisses me out in the open for everyone to see. “Everyone deserves to be loved.”
It’s like she’s speaking right to my heart as I nod and pull her against me for a hug. Hugs from Gracie make me feel warm inside where I’ve been empty. It feels like maybe if I hug her enough, I’ll be whole again.
“Come on, let me teach you how to make the best caramel apples in town.”
“These are the only ones in town, aren’t they?” I tease, and she nods.
“That’s why they’re the best.”
We spend most of the late afternoon and evening in the little house with me making apples and popcorn while Gracie talks to every single person like they’re old friends. Maybe some of them are. She always introduces me with pride in her voice and a sense of appreciation. It makes me feel so good even if I don’t remember any of the people she’s introducing me to. The only thing I know is the longer I’m with Gracie, the less I want to be away from her.
“Hey, Gracie, we’re here to take over,” a woman says as she knocks on the door. A man beside her is carrying more refreshments, and it’s a good thing because we’ve sold out of most of everything.
“Thanks, Lou-Anne. It’s been busy, but I’m sure it’s only going to get busier tonight.”
“It always does when the sun sets.”
We move out of their way, and Gracie tells them all the important stuff as I wait at her side. I can’t help looking at her when she speaks because she’s so happy. It’s infectious, and I find myself smiling more today than I have since all the years after my accident.
“Goodnight,” she tells the couple as she turns to me and bounces on her toes. “Ready to go?”
“Oh no, you’re not getting out of it that easily,” I say and tug her against me. “Come on, it will be fun.”
“If you say so, big guy.” She snatches a little map off the table as I pull her against me and walk toward the maze.
The sun has fully set, and I can already hear some people shrieking in the distance. I smile when I see her jump when a stalk of the corn brushes against her ankle.
“I’ve got you,” I say against her ear and pull her back to my front.
Just then someone jumps out from around the corner, and Gracie shrieks. After the guy runs off, she giggles and then turns in my arms to playfully swat at my chest.
“Stop laughing at me.”
“You’re laughing at yourself.” I lean down and kiss her on the lips before she can argue with me.
“It’s creepy in here,” she says against my lips as she presses her full curves to my hard lines.
“Does that turn you on?” My hand dips down the back of her jeans, and I palm her ass.
“Maybe a little?” She looks around and then back at me. “We can’t out here.”
“Trust me?” I ask, and she nods. “Follow me.”
I check the map and see a section of the cornfield that’s away from the trail, and I carry her to it. This isn’t the place we’re going to fuck for the first time, but I’m just as eager to make her cum as she is to get off.
Chapter Nine
Gracie