by Jayne Rylon
Morgan had to swallow the acrid burn of envy.
Kate nodded. “When Mike and I first started dating, I told him about a fantasy of mine. I wondered what it would be like to have more than one man as a lover. At the same time. The crew granted my wish. They shared themselves with me. And Mike.”
Holy crap. Had Morgan heard that right? “You mean…”
“Yeah, cupcake. The six of us had a smoking affair. One hell of a pool party.” Joe’s gorgeous green eyes went glassy as he remembered. “I’m not going to lie, the crew has messed around before. With other ladies…and sometimes by ourselves.”
The proud set of his jaw, as if he prepared for a blow, ticked her off. Couldn’t he tell how much the revelation turned her on? She’d swear her nipples were about to poke through her shirt, and her thighs trembled. This time the reaction had nothing to do with fear.
“You expect me to run screaming? Rant at you?” How many women had rejected him after finding out about his sexual proclivities?
“Maybe.” He shrugged then leaned against the counter, his shoulders relaxing.
“It’s not something you learn about your friends every day.” Kate winced when Morgan turned her attention toward her.
“How can you think I’d judge you? You’ve always been there for me.” Morgan tilted her head as she studied her friend. “If anything, I’m upgrading your status from lucky bitch to queen of all lucky bitches. Damn you for not spilling the details right away. What’s the use in having a best friend if she doesn’t come running to gloat about five of the sexiest men on the planet ravishing her?”
Kate beamed as she lunged across the gap between them and threw her arms around Morgan.
“But…one question.” She sensed both Joe and Kate holding their breath as she tried to rein in her disappointment enough to keep it from coloring her tone. “Why twist my arm about how much I want Joe—”
A growl startled her into meeting his forest green eyes.
“—if you already have dibs? Shit, I didn’t mean to step on any toes.” Her stomach lurched at the thought of damaging her dearest friendship.
“I think you should field this one.” Kate held her palms out toward Joe.
He paused for several seconds before speaking. “It’s not like that between us. I mean, we all knew Mike was serious about Kate. Never seen him mope around like a lost puppy before. I laughed when she had him chasing his tail for months. Maybe that’s why I’m gettin’ some of my own damn medicine lately.”
Kate giggled. “Mike’s enjoyed the payback for sure.”
“When things started heating up between them, he came to the crew. Told us about her request. I can’t explain what it’s like with the guys. I’m not great with words. But I can say we’re closer than brothers. Comfortable with each other—with what each of us needs and what our limits are. That doesn’t mean we’re in some kind of relationship though. Except for James and Neil. They are pretty much a pair for life. Man, this is clear as mud, I’m sure.”
Morgan didn’t realize she’d moved until her fingers rested on his tensed forearm. Explaining didn’t come easy. The corner of his mouth tipped up at the contact.
“I guess the bottom line is we respect each other. Kate’s one of us now. It doesn’t mean anything beyond that, though. We’re all adults. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I see her and Mike are in this for the long haul. If they want to share some of their joy with the rest of us then we’d be glad to join in. If not, we get that too.”
“The guys in the crew see other people all the time.” Kate shot her a poignant stare.
It was now or never. Morgan drew a deep breath then prayed birthday magic could work in her favor. Just this once. “So… If I asked you to check out the autumn festival with me tomorrow night—”
“I’d do this.” Joe wrapped her in the heat of his muscles and squeezed her tight. He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose before teasing the seam of her lips. She parted for him, but he didn’t delve inside. Not now. Not with Kate staring at them, her hands clasped in front of her, standing on tiptoes, her eyes wide.
But the lingering tingle Joe’s lips had inspired promised much, much more to come.
Morgan groaned then licked the spot he’d singed with his caress. Mmm… “You’ve been stealing cookies off the cooling racks again.”
Somehow the Belgian chocolate she’d used in them tasted better after mixing with Joe.
“I’ll make it up to you.” The power of his grin caused her stomach to do flip-flops. “Tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up at the bakery’s booth around seven.”
“Who’ll take care of—?”
“Let me worry about the details. You like my surprises, remember? I guarantee you’ll have a good time.”
Morgan tried to convince herself she’d be satisfied with some mulled cider and a run through the infamous corn maze with this gorgeous man by her side. But when he patted her ass on the way out, she swore she wouldn’t settle for less than a very naughty hayride.
2
“You kids have a good time. And don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.” Mike and Kate shooed them from the bakery stand with a wink and a nod.
“I understand if you don’t want to leave.” Joe turned to Morgan after measuring the line of customers. It stretched out the entrance of the old barn that housed vendors at the annual festival. He didn’t blame the hungry crowd. The assortment of sweet creations looked almost as tasty as his date. Almost.
“No. Let’s get out of here while we can. The store will sell out soon. The last of the stock I brought is on display now.”
“Congratulations. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the rest of the town caught on.”
“Thanks.” Her megawatt smile flanked by killer dimples stole his breath. The rare glimpse made him feel like a photographer on safari who captured never-before-seen wildlife behavior. Maybe now that things were looking up with her business, Morgan could learn to smile more. “Besides, Kate owes me for yesterday.”
“I’m pretty sure I owe her.”
Morgan cleared her throat and adjusted the hem of her light brown sweater over the seam of her faded jeans. He wondered if the fuzzy fabric was as ultra-soft as it looked. With any luck, he’d find out for himself before the night ended.
A rambunctious toddler veered into their path when she escaped from her harried mother. Joe cupped his hand around Morgan’s elbow and steered her out of the chaos. Yep. The sweater caressed his palm, tempting him to burrow beneath it to the warm flesh inside.
Damn, he was screwed. He’d planned to take things slow, but weeks of keeping his distance threatened his restraint. He forced his grip to relax, afraid of spooking her again.
“Everything okay?” Morgan’s cherry-scented breath tickled the side of his neck as she leaned closer to speak over the din of the throng and the music belting out of the local radio station’s amplifiers.
“Uh…yeah.” He stifled a groan. “Hoping you like what I have planned.”
“Planned?” She tilted her head then peeked up at him from beneath the long, dark lashes that emphasized her gorgeous, dove-grey eyes. “I thought we were going to hang out at the festival?”
“Something like that.” Joe grinned at the anticipation in her glance. He loved delighting her with little things and hoped she’d react as well to what he had in store for their evening. The way she lit up shifted something in his gut. And made him wonder about the man she’d nearly married last year. What kind of damage had that asshole inflicted?
Kate had refused to give him details no matter how hard he’d pressed, but it was clear the prick had hurt Morgan. Deeply. He intended to try his best to erase the sadness he’d sensed lingering inside her—hoped she’d let him be more than a rebound guy. But he’d settle for healing if he had to. If he could. It infuriated him to see such an amazing woman hiding from the world and herself.
One step at a time, buddy.
“How about we start with a hay ride?�
�
Oh crap! Morgan blushed at the suggestion. Had Joe plucked the dirty thought from her mind yesterday? If she were so transparent, why would he pursue her instead of shoving her away like Craig had when he’d finally realized all she desired?
“Are you allergic to hay or something?”
She hadn’t realized she’d stopped dead in her tracks until the pressure of his warm fingers singed the back of her arm.
“Uh, no. Sorry.” Morgan studied the tiny scuff on the toe of her black leather boots. She hadn’t worn them in quite a while, but the extra height afforded by the stiletto heels eliminated some of the disparity between her and Joe. In the commotion of preparation for the festival, she hadn’t had time to search for polish.
“Why do I make you so uncomfortable?” His tense tone drew her gaze to his handsome, if rugged, face. The corners of his plump lips pinched together as though he hadn’t meant to speak aloud. “I would never do anything you don’t want. But, if you’re more comfortable staying around here that’s fine too.”
Morgan couldn’t stop herself from turning into the solid bulk of his chest and giving him a quick, one-armed hug. “Thanks for offering, but that’s not necessary. I trust you.”
Crazy but true.
She’d spent most of the summer with this man, alone as they worked on her store or surrounded by his equally burly friends. Funny how they’d never once intimidated her in the cramped space. Around them, she felt safe.
His smile answered for him as he dropped a kiss on her forehead. They resumed their leisurely pace toward the edge of the gravel lot where several tractors towing platforms, ringed with hay, waited for a full load of passengers. His knuckles stroked the sensitive space between her fingers as he held them in a loose grip.
A mix of children hopped up on candy, parents enjoying the brisk but not too chilly evening and young couples out for an evening of local entertainment piled into the wagon. Joe paused to boost a straggling kid onto the loose bales before leaping up himself. He turned and offered his hand. She gladly accepted. He tugged her into his arms as a few women nudged over to make room for his wide shoulders. When it looked like they’d run out of space, Morgan peeked toward the next wagon.
Instead of making a move in that direction, Joe settled in the gap remaining then scooped her into his lap before she could object. Not that she would have. The leather of his jacket smelled divine and quickly warmed with the heat of her cheek, pressed to the supple material. The woman to their right shot Morgan an envious grin before resuming her conversation with her friends.
The cramped space forced Morgan’s hands to land against the taut muscles of Joe’s chest beneath his thin T-shirt. Defined lines tempted her to trace them downward to the ridges of his abdomen, but she resisted. Barely.
“Comfortable?” He nuzzled her temple while his hands ran along the length of her spine. One settled on her knee, and the other on her waist, for several seconds before she remembered to respond with words instead of a simple purr.
“Very.” Holy shit. Had that husky sigh come from her? Thank God for their chaperones or she might have been tempted to throw decorum out the window and beg Joe to touch her more intimately right here and now.
“Blanket?”
Morgan blinked up at the attendant waving a quilt in their direction.
“Sure.” Joe winked when her mouth gaped into a giant O. “Wouldn’t want you to catch a chill.”
Between the helpful older man and her date, they bundled her under the well-worn cover in a matter of moments—right along with Joe’s wandering fingers. She laughed when he traced the dip of her side beneath the hem of her sweater. Amid the banter of the other passengers, no one seemed to notice.
Her brows rose when Joe’s palm cupped her ribcage, the side of his hand brushing the underside of her breast. No way could his touch be accidental. The warm hold soothed her. She relaxed further into the cushion of his thighs, chest and arms.
Joe flashed a terrible imitation of an innocent grin then proceeded to ask her questions about the new assortment she’d planned in order to capitalize on the change of seasons. They talked about the successes and failures of her recent product testing as the tractor began to pull them along the bumpy farm grounds toward the pumpkin patch.
To avoid embarrassing herself, she thought of things she had to do this week. That way she might be able to ignore the contact of their bodies shifting against each other and the hard length of Joe’s denim-clad erection at her hip.
Before she left tonight, she’d snag a basketful of local produce to use in the tarts she’d unveil this week. “Do you like pumpkins? I have some new recipes I’d like to try if you don’t mind being my guinea pig.”
Her question came out more like a squeak.
“I’ll eat anything of yours. After tonight, I have a feeling pumpkins may be my new favorite vegetable.”
The children at the front of the wagon sang off-key loud enough she couldn’t swear she’d heard him right. Before she could clarify, the cart lurched to a halt.
“I think this is our stop.”
“Huh?”
“We’re getting out. Come on, you’ll see.” Joe set her on her feet as the attendant collected their cover.
“Don’t forget, the last ride comes by at midnight. After that you’re on your own to make it back to your cars. If they haven’t turned into pumpkins by then.” The man laughed at his own joke.
Joe planted one hand on the rail then leapt to the ground with a hell of a lot more grace than she could muster. He wrapped his hands around her waist then lifted her from the wagon as though she weighed about as much as a bag of confectioner’s sugar.
Her body slid along every hard inch of his on the way down.
Oh my.
The man in the wagon tossed Joe a flashlight then trundled off into the dark toward the main barns they’d started at. In the wake of the raucous gathering and the sputtering diesel engine, the still night rang in her ears. Vines curled across the ground, their leaves rustling in the soft breeze.
They stood in the middle of the farm’s pumpkin patch listening to each other breathe for several heartbeats.
“Okay?” Joe spoke softly but his gentle question might as well have been gunfire. It sliced through the quiet. “Your phone works out here if you want to call the cops on me for abducting you or have Mike kick my ass.”
“Not necessary.” She shivered a little, but it had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with the excitement of being truly alone with the man she’d been dreaming of for weeks. Her curiosity grew by the second. “What are we doing out here?”
“Right this way, you’ll see.” Again he took her hand, entwining their fingers. Suddenly it was enough to be here, with him, walking side by side along a slightly wider row in the field.
A beam of light swept from edge to edge, guiding Morgan out of danger of twisting an ankle in her ridiculous boots as long as she kept to her toes. The heels made her calves look fantastic, but had no place in the tilled dirt.
The row narrowed, forcing her behind Joe. She hummed when he tucked her fingers into the waistband of his jeans. So warm. But even that distance made the walk treacherous in the moonlight.
Rocks and divots in the earth waited to trip her. She stumbled a bit before her eyes adjusted after the bright white of the flashlight. Joe stopped in front of her. She plastered herself along his backside before she could reverse her momentum. Pure male strength greeted every inch of her from the hard tips of her breasts to the soft curve of her belly, which met his firm ass.
Morgan took a step away, thanking all the powers of the universe he couldn’t spot her face flaming in the shadows or smell the scent of her instant arousal. Instead of continuing on, Joe crouched, holding his arms out from his sides.
“Hop on. It’s not far from here but I don’t want to spoil the fun before it’s begun.”
When she simply stood and gawked, he glanced over his shoulder.
“Wha
t, you don’t like the idea of riding me?”
Jesus. It was either admit she enjoyed the thought all too much or pretend her panties hadn’t drenched at their collision and his naughty implication. Without another objection, she climbed onboard.
The powerful shift of his torso between her thighs had her groaning before she could prevent the sound from escaping. His fingers stroked the back of her knees. The motion, designed to soothe, instigated a hormonal riot of massive proportions.
“Too fast?” Joe slowed to a pace that jostled her less but caressed her core with each tread of his long stride.
She didn’t attempt to answer. Clinging tighter to his sculpted chest, laying her head on his solid shoulder and surrendering to her hunger before it raged out of control seemed wiser. Her lips brushed his neck with each step, but sensory overload prevented her from fidgeting. If she moved her head, her rock-hard nipples would stroke his shoulder blades. If she adjusted her hips, her steaming pussy would graze his lower back.
Why was that a bad idea again?
Her tongue nipped out to taste Joe’s nape. Salty spice and oak. He cleared his throat. Could she make it hard for him to speak too?
God she hoped so.
“We’re here.” He released her thighs slow enough she had time to ensure her footing despite her wobbly legs. She relinquished her hold on him one finger at a time. Too bad their destination hadn’t been another five miles, or five hundred, away.
Joe turned to face her, blocking the view behind him. He took her hands in his, his thumbs brushing the sensitive centers of her palms. Then he lifted them over her eyes. “Don’t peek. Give me a minute, okay?”
“Would now be a good time to tell you the dark isn’t my favorite thing?”
“I’ll be right here.” The deep timbre of his voice continued to croon to her as he moved to the left then the right, a little further away then close again, so she never felt alone.
A whoosh carried to her ears a moment before heat and orange light washed over her cheeks.
“Can I look now?”
“Sure.” His breath teased her face as he took his place behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist and drawing her back against his chest.