by J. Daniels
I open my eyes when I feel the tears falling down my face.
She reaches up and wipes them away. “This is where I belong. Wherever you are. Always.”
Her declaration has me struggling to stay upright. My knees feel weak enough to drop me. But she has me. She wraps her arms around my waist and places her head against my chest. I bury my face in her hair.
“We’ll come back for your car. I’m not driving home in separate vehicles when I’ve been without you for this long.”
She giggles against me, her face turning up and knocking me out with that smile. “It hasn’t even been a whole day.”
“Felt like a whole year. Come on.”
I move her along the grass and help her up into my truck after securing her vehicle. There’s no space between us, not anymore. And there never will be again.
She’s against my side the entire drive home. Her head against my shoulder and my hand in her lap with both of hers holding on to me. I let her scent fill my lungs, feeling it calm me like a damn drug. Pain killers? No. I won’t need any pain killers. She has me completely relaxed, every muscle in my body loose, until I feel her lips press against my neck.
She squirms against me, wiggling my hand down so it settles between her legs.
“Remember when you were so close to pulling over and taking me in your truck?” Her breath heats the skin below my ear, sending a jolt straight to my cock. “I want that. Right now.” And then her hand is pressing on my massive erection, the one that is threatening to rip through my zipper.
I hiss through a moan as she works me through my shorts. “You want me to throw you in the back and fuck you on the side of the road?” I feel her nod against me as her teeth scrape against my ear. “Fuck. How wet are you right now?”
“Very.” She grabs my hand and slips it under her dress, pressing my fingers against her panties. My cock becomes painfully hard at the feel of her arousal, and she moans when I press a finger against her clit. “Ben, please,” she pants, digging her nails into my wrist as I twist my hand.
I slide underneath her panties and dip one finger into her. Her head falls back onto the seat with a shuddering gasp.
“Jesus Christ. Hold on, angel.”
She protests with a whimper as I slip my finger out of her and pop it in my mouth.
I pull off on a back road that breaks into a secluded wooded area, parking my truck between the trees. I turn the truck off and unbuckle my seatbelt as she does the same.
“Climb over the seat and take that dress off. I want you naked and ready for me.”
She complies with a gleeful chuckle, giving me a gorgeous view of her ass as she crawls into the back.
I step out of the truck and glance around. We’re completely isolated. Good. Nothing is interrupting this. Opening the back door, I pull my cock out of my shorts before I climb inside. She’s slipping off her panties, her dress discarded somewhere. Her hungry eyes focus on my dick that I’m slowly stroking while I watch her.
“You’re so hard for me,” she states with a fascinated tone. She reaches for me but quickly pulls her hands back. “Do you want me to do that? Or should I touch myself while you watch?”
Christ. That is tempting as hell. My cock jerks in my hand at the thought. But I’m suddenly hectic with the need to feel her around me. Nothing else will suffice right now. I grab her leg and pull her toward me, keeping my other hand on the base of my cock.
“Straddle me. I want those tits in my face.”
I guide her over me, sliding my hands up her thighs as she grabs my cock and rubs it against herself, slicking the head. “Fuck, you feel amazing, baby,” I grunt through a tense jaw. I lean in and lick her taut nipple, teasing it before drawing it into my mouth.
“Ben,” she whispers urgently, shifting her weight forward and guiding me to her entrance. She grabs my face with both her hands, pulling me away from her breast, and locks eyes with me. “Watch me.” Her mouth parts slightly as she lowers herself down, taking me to the hilt. “I love you.”
I lean my head back and smirk. “Me? Or my cock?” Before she can answer, I grab her hips and lift her up, slamming her down on top of me five times with brute force. “You. Love. This?” I ask with my thrusts.
“Yes. God, yes.”
When I finish, she takes the lead and digs her nails into my shoulders as she rocks against me.
“Easy, baby,” I warn her when her hand presses against my stitches.
Her eyes go to the spot on my arm, and she raises the sleeve of my shirt. Her brow furrows with pain, maybe guilt. I’m not sure. She leans in, pressing her hand to my chest as she kisses the bandage. I wince at the pressure she puts on me and she notices. Her hands grab the bottom of my shirt. “Take it off.”
I stop her from lifting it farther than my upper abs. “I’m fine. Just a little sore.”
“I want to see it.” She pulls with determination and I comply, shifting so she can lift it over my head. She inhales sharply, her eyes taking in the nine welts and the bruises that have formed around them. Her hand lies gently over the one welt that sits right in the middle of my chest. I see her lip tremble and reach up, cupping the side of her face. Her eyes meet mine with agony. “I could’ve lost you.”
I pull her face toward me. “No. You’ll never lose me. I told you that nothing could ever take me away from you.” I brush my lips against hers and taste her tears on my tongue. “Don’t cry. Not now. Be here with me, Mia.”
She kisses me gently after wiping her tears away. “Make love to me. Just like you did that first night.”
“You want me to be gentle?” I ask, snaking my arms around her waist. She nods before sliding off my lap and lying out on my back seat, legs spread. I shove my shorts and boxers down to mid-thigh before getting between her legs. “Guide me in, baby.”
She smiles and reaches around me, pulling me straight into her.
I thrust my hips slowly, letting her feel every inch of me as I brace myself on my elbows. Her eyes flutter close and she arches against me, brushing her chest against mine with a deep inhale. I can feel her heart knocking against my chest, mimicking my beat. I kiss her jaw, her nose, her cheeks. Every inch of her face is touched by my lips. She lets me worship her body like it’s the first time. My hands caress every part of her, my lips sliding along her skin. I commit her to memory. Her scent. Her taste. The way her body shudders against mine. The feel of her right now, beneath me while I drag this out, while I prolong this moment with her, this, fucking this is the reason for my existence.
With every breath I take, I take one for her.
She moans loudly and grabs my face, pressing her lips against mine. “I’m so close.”
I move in her at the same pace. Not speeding up. Not taking her the way she’s become accustomed to.
“Oh, God, Ben,” she says against my lips, raking her nails down my back. “Please.”
“I know, angel. I’ve got you.” I slide my hand between us and press my thumb against her clit. She answers with a whimpered cry and I get her there. Right there with only a few strokes.
Her eyes open and she wraps her legs around me. “I don’t want to come without you.” She barely gets her sentence out before her body tightens around me. “Ben . . .”
I groan loudly and feel my orgasm burning up my spine. “Holy shit.” I watch her lips part with a silent cry, eyes closing as the pleasure builds, and push her knees back, needing to get deeper. My breath is stolen from me as I go off inside her, driving into her to the point of exhaustion. Giving her every piece of me. And even though I was tender and unhurried, it rocks me with a blinding intensity.
The kind I’ve only ever felt with Mia.
I collapse on top of her, resting my head on her chest. Her arms wrap around me and hold me tighter. Closer. Never close enough. I can’t imagine loving her any more than I do right now, but I know I will. Because every second I’m with her, I fall harder. It’s how it’s always been between us. Even when I held myself back. I
loved her when she became my best friend. And given the chance, I’d never change the way it happened. I’d never take back those weeks I suffered in silence, wanting more than she was willing to give me. I’d give her that a thousand times over if she needed it. A future with her was more than I’d ever deserve.
And I’ll cherish her like the gift she is until I draw my last breath.
“YOU KNOW, BEFORE this whole thing started between the two of you, you technically were mine for the summer,” Tessa says as she helps me pack up my stuff in the bedroom I’ve occupied for the past two months. “I mean, I don’t see the harm in you finishing out your time here with me and then moving in with Ben after the summer’s over.”
“Because he’d be so quick to agree to that arrangement,” I state with a soft chuckle.
I knew there was no way in hell he’d go along with me prolonging my move. It’s all he’s talked about for the past five days. I’m actually surprised he’s given me this long.
“And you act like I won’t be right around the corner. You do realize I’m here permanently, right?”
She smiles over her shoulder as she grabs the clothes that are hanging in the closet. “That’s not the point. I love that you two are together, but he’s a horrible sharer. He always has been.”
I take the clothes from her and pull them off the hangers. “Have you talked to him?”
“Who?” I give her a knowing look and she rolls her eyes. “Why would I talk to him? There’s nothing to talk about. It’s over.”
Her words are final, but I know Tessa. She’s hurting. She’ll never admit it, but she misses him. “Isn’t tonight going to be weird? Seeing him at the concert?”
She shrugs once before taking the hangers back to the closet. “There’s going to be like, five thousand people there. I can avoid him in a crowd that size. Plus, I plan on getting shitfaced, which is sure to help with the situation.” She closes the closet door before dropping her forehead, hitting the wood with a soft thud.
“Tessa . . .”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She lifts her head and turns toward me, her eyes giving away exactly what she’s feeling. “Okay?”
I nod. “Okay.”
We finish packing up my room in silence. I know when she’s ready to talk about it, she’ll open up. And she knows that I’m here whenever that time comes.
My aunt is taking care of selling my mom’s house for me, allowing me to stay in Alabama during the process. Ben and I will be making a trip to get the rest of my things soon, but to be perfectly honest, I have everything I’ll ever need. I never imagined moving back to Ruxton, but now I can’t imagine not living here.
This was always my home. Wherever he was.
After loading my stuff into my Jeep so that I can take it straight to Ben’s after the concert, Tessa and I head over to the field.
Ben somehow managed to snag tickets to see Luke Bryan. Lawn seats, which allows us to park in the field overlooking the stage and sit in our vehicles while we enjoy the music. I spot Ben’s truck after weaving in and out of the crowd and park next to it, watching as he jumps out of the bed and walks over to my door.
“Hey, baby. You all packed up?” He opens my door for me and I hop out, waving to Reed who Tessa is making her way toward.
I take his hand and let him lead me to the back of his truck. “Yup. Everything’s in the Jeep. Your sister’s not too happy about it.”
He stifles a laugh as he drops the tailgate down. “Like that would stop me from moving you in with me. Here. Up you go.”
I climb up into the back of his truck, spotting the pillows and the blankets spread out for us. I turn to him with a smile. “Am I getting lucky during this concert?”
He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my bare shoulder. “I’m always prepared, angel. My girl seems to be a bit insatiable lately.”
“You’re like a dirty little boy scout,” I add, hearing Tessa’s laugh get louder behind me. I turn in Ben’s arms and spot her walking over toward us with Reed.
“Hey. I’m really glad you guys worked your shit out. You sucked as friends,” Reed says through a teasing smile.
I flip him off over Ben’s shoulder and he throws his head back with a laugh. Just as Tessa opens her mouth to speak, another truck pulls up alongside Ben’s and catches her attention.
“Oh, perfect. He couldn’t have gotten lost on the way here?”
Ben’s chest shakes with laughter against my back as his hands splay across my abdomen. “We’ve been here a thousand times. I doubt he’d get lost.”
Tessa’s body goes rigid suddenly, and I turn my head to see why.
Luke isn’t the only one emerging from his truck. A tall, leggy blonde is at his side as he joins the group, stopping just a few feet short of Tessa and Reed.
He shifts his gaze from Tessa to Ben and then to me. “Guys, this is Brandie. Brandie, this is . . . everyone.” She waves her delicate hand, the one that isn’t currently roaming freely over his chest. Luke wraps his arm around her waist. “We’re going to head closer to the stage. We’ll catch up with you guys later.”
As he walks away with little Miss Handsy, Tessa slams the tailgate of the truck up and startles the three of us. “Well, she seems lovely. He’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel now, isn’t he?”
Reed shrugs once. “I don’t know. She’s pretty hot.”
She glares at him and he steps back a bit. “Yeah, she’s really got that street corner look down. And could her name be any more whorish?”
“You’d think that if her name was Mary,” Ben says. “Stop being jealous, Tessa. You broke up with him.”
She waves him off and grabs Reed’s hand. “Whatever. Let’s go get several hundred beers. You guys want any?” she directs toward us, her face still tense with bitterness.
“I’m good,” I say, looking back at Ben who is situating the pillows and spreading the blanket out.
“Me too,” he adds.
Tessa and Reed disappear into the crowd.
I turn around just in time to see Ben reach through his back window and pull out a picture frame. He smiles at me and sits down on the blanket with his back against a pillow. He reaches for me with his free hand. “Come here, angel.”
“Whatcha got there?”
He pats the spot between his legs. and I sit with my back against his chest, drooping my arms over his legs. He places the frame in my lap. “Don’t cry,” he whispers against my ear.
I tilt the frame up and look at the drawing. Three figures, undoubtedly drawn by Nolan, depicting our family. My family. He even labeled me as Pwincess Mia Mommy. And the tears come instantly. I can’t help it.
“Your artistic skills are horrendous.” I reach up and wipe underneath my eyes as Ben laughs against me. “God, he is the sweetest, isn’t he? Can we hang it up at your house?”
“Our house,” he corrects me. He presses his mouth to my hair again. “Don’t cry, baby.”
I open my mouth to tell him that I can’t not cry at seeing our first family drawing, but he wipes every word from my vocabulary when he places a small box in my lap.
You know, the kind of box that every girl recognizes.
I gasp softly, holding the frame tightly against my chest while my eyes stay glued to the box.
His steady hands open it. “Do you know how much I love you?”
I nod and clutch the frame harder, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. I blink them away and focus on the ring that he’s holding between his fingers. “As much as I love you,” I choke out.
“No, angel. No one has ever loved anyone as much as I love you. I got you beat there, I’m afraid.” He motions for my hand and I place it in his, allowing him to slip the ring on my finger. “You’re my best friend, Mia. I want you every day, for the rest of my life. I will always cherish every moment you give me. Marry me, baby.”
I’m nodding and whispering “yes” before he even finishes. And then he’s turning me and cradling me agai
nst his chest, worshipping me with kisses all over my face. “Thank you,” I say against his lips.
I feel them curl up into a smile. “For what?”
I kiss along his jaw up to his ear. “For being at the bar that night. For being the guy that you are. For giving me Nolan.” I pull back and cradle his face in my hands. “Can we have more babies?”
He brings my hand up to his lips and kisses the back of it. “Can we start right now?”
And then I’m on my back, his body covering mine. I laugh against him as he brushes my hair away from my face. “We’re in the middle of a field.”
“Don’t care. Nobody can see us anyway. Look how high up we are.”
“Yes, but I’ve been told I’m rather noisy,” I tease as he kisses my neck. He grunts once and nips at my sensitive skin there. “I love you.”
“Love you.”
“I want lots of babies.”
His head comes up and he smiles widely. “Lots.” He shifts his weight and lays his head on the pillow, pulling me so I’m lying against his chest.
And we stay like that long after Tessa and Reed return. Long after the concert starts and ends. Until we’re the only vehicle left in the field. He makes love to me under the stars, his tenderness breaking into a wild frenzy when we both need it. It’s perfect. And I’m right where I belong.
Where I always will be.
Mia: Meet me at our spot.
I STARE DOWN at my phone, reading the text message for the second time.
Our spot. What spot? As far as I’m concerned, every spot I’ve taken Mia to has become our spot. And we’ve racked up a lot of spots over the past four months.
I go to reread her text again when my phone beeps.
Mia: The bar, Ben.
I shake my head with a laugh.
Me: I would’ve figured it out. What have I told you about doubting me?
Mia: Just hurry up before one of the other men in here takes me home.
Me: Mia . . .
Mia: Kidding. Hurry though.
I’m in the parking lot within ten minutes, pulling up next to her Jeep. It’s about as crowded as it was the night Mia became mine, but I spot her on that same stool she occupied all those months ago. I don’t go to her though. Instead, I go to the side of the bar where she can’t see me and watch her without her knowing.