Chapter 11
Eve
Cassie and Roger were in total party mode. The drinks weren’t exactly flying around but they’d spent the last hour on the dance floor, through fast and slow songs, laughing, dancing, and yelling at each other over the music.
I stifled a yawn with my fist, then twirled my empty glass around on the wooden tabletop.
“Are you as done with this as I am?” Joshua asked.
It’d been painful to move away from him when he touched me but I’d done it. I didn’t want to lead him on, yet I craved spending time with him. He had such a relaxed vibe, a pervading sense of calm that settled me.
“Yeah, pretty much,” I said and gave him a cautious smile. “I came with Cassidy, though. I don’t have much of a choice but to stay.”
“Well, I came with my Ford, so I could give you a lift back to your place,” Joshua said, then raised his hands. “Don’t worry, I’ve been drinking water for the past hour. Ever since I got the hunch that these two wouldn’t be stopping any time soon.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a burden.”
“How could you be?” Joshua raised an eyebrow at me. “Besides, I owe you one after you saved me the other day.”
“Saved? More like almost killed.”
“A rose by any other name,” he replied, and winked at me.
My stomach did a flip. “Did you just quote Shakespeare?”
“You’d have preferred something else? I figured To Kill a Mockingbird didn’t suit the current situation,” Joshua said. “At least, I hope not.” He waved at the two on the dance floor and didn’t give me time to marvel at him.
A literary buff, eh? Sure, he’d been to Harvard but I’d never have suspected that the farm boy enjoyed reading. Never judge a book by its cover.
Roger and Cassidy jogged over, still hiccupping from leftover giggles. “What’s up?” Roger asked.
“We’re getting a little tired.”
“Oh? Shoot, okay, Eve, I’ll grab my stuff and we can –” Cassie reached for her bag, disappointment radiating from her friggin’ pores. She really liked this guy, and it certainly wasn’t fair of me to deprive her of a fun evening when she didn’t get much of this kind of thing. Or none of it.
“No, no, that’s okay,” I said, “Joshua offered to give me a ride home.”
“Are you sure?” Cassie asked. “Is that safe?”
“I’m fine,” Joshua replied, then held out his arms on either side of his body and mock-walked an invisible line. “See? Perfectly fine to drive.”
“I live right around the corner, anyway,” I said. “You two stay and have fun.”
“Okay,” Cassie replied. “If you’re sure.”
“One hundred percent.”
“Great,” Roger put in, “I’ll make sure Cassidy gets back home safe, too.” He touched her on the shoulder, a sweet gesture – Cassie positively glowed in response. It was shit of me but I couldn’t help wondering if he knew about Charlie.
Ugh, now I’d gotten ahead of myself. I slung my handbag over my arm, drew Cassidy into a quick hug. “Be safe,” I whispered.
“I’m fine,” she replied, “and you, too.”
We parted ways and the men shook hands. Joshua and I walked to the exit together, once again, with female gazes tracking our every movement. The most eligible bachelor in Hope Creek with a woman who couldn’t satisfy him.
Yep, that was me. I adored him, though I didn’t want to admit it but I could never give him what he deserved. Once again, getting ahead of myself.
Joshua held open the door for me and I entered the chilly night. Not too cold, thankfully, but he followed me out and offered me his jacket right away.
“I’m okay,” I said, and smiled at him. “Thanks.”
“You wouldn’t perhaps feel like some coffee, would you?” he asked, setting an easy pace for us. His Ford waxed in the darkness, tires pitch black against the dirt of the makeshift parking lot.
“Sounds great but I don’t think anywhere is open,” I replied. “That’s the hazard of living in a tiny town, I guess. No noise but no late-night takeout, either.” McDonald’s was sacrilege but I couldn’t quit craving a Big Mac. It was the weirdest thing about their food. I knew it was bad for me, and I could whip up a better burger at home but I still needed one every now and again.
“I – uh, I meant would you like to come back to my farm and have a cup of coffee?”
“Joshua, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said, stopping dead in my tracks, boots crunching on the grit.
“I didn’t mean like that, sheesh,” he said, “I mean actual coffee. I’ve got a new machine, you know, one of those fancy barista ones like they use in Starbucks. I can whip us up a cappuccino.”
Now, that was true temptation. “Are you sure?”
“Look, this is not a ploy to get you into bed. I’m not that type of guy,” he said. And all the rumors I’d heard confirmed that about him. He’d avoided every woman in this town like the plague. No one-night stands on record, according to Cassidy. “I just want to grab a coffee and talk a while. We could watch something, too.”
“Netflix and chill?” I couldn’t help myself.
“No, I –”
“I’m fucking with you,” I said, and chuckled. “Yeah, okay, let’s grab some coffee. That would be nice, actually.” Hopefully, I’d be able to resist my baser instincts while on the sofa with him. It was easier out here, where I wasn’t exposed to his cologne and body heat.
Joshua opened the passenger side door of his truck for me, and helped me inside, then shut the door and rushed around to his side. He started up the engine and we were on the road in no time, darkness flashing past the window, punctuated by the occasional silhouette of a house and then, expanses of fields.
We crossed on to the dirt roads and the further we got from Hope Creek, the more nervous I became. This was a mistake. His scent filled the inside of the cab, and memories of us together twined through my mind.
Sweat trickled down my spine, my core heated up. God, he hadn’t even touched me, yet somehow I was ready for him. On edge, desperate for his touch. This couldn’t be happening again. It was like I was possessed around him, and I didn’t enjoy that I needed him so much.
I’d never needed anyone before. Not even Bryan and I’d loved him. Or I’d thought I had at the time.
“Are you okay?” The truck slowed and bounced through a rut. “You’ve got a really weird expression on your face.”
“I – no, I’m not okay. Can you just stop for a second? I need to get some fresh air.”
Joshua slowed to a halt immediately but I didn’t get out of the car. I rolled down my window and let in the soft hum of nature along with the breeze. It did nothing to clear my head or the tension.
“Eve, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Not really, no. I don’t know what’s happening to me.” I pressed my hand to my clammy forehead.
“Shit, are you feeling sick? Do you want me to take you home?”
“No, not sick,” I said, and swallowed. Suddenly, my dress was too tight, my boots hot. “I can’t – god, this is going to sound terrible. I can’t stop thinking about you and me. What happened between us.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“No, not like that,” I replied, and nerves twanged behind my solar plexus. Was I really going to tell him this? I met his concerned gaze. “Like, I want it to happen again but I’m scared.”
Joshua didn’t reply. Just stared at me.
“I’m scared of the way you make me feel. I’m scared of making you feel the way I do.”
“It’s too late for that,” he said, at last and shut off the engine. “I already do.”
“No, you can’t. If you felt the way I do right now, you’d want to take a cold shower.” I’d never minced words before but that was the politest manner in which I could phrase it.
Joshua actually chuckled. “Who says I’m not?” He gestured to the front of his jeans. The outline of his erection strained against the front of them. “I’ve had this situation going on ever since you got into my truck.”
I gasped for air. What was this feeling?
“Eve, it’s taking every ounce of my willpower and my respect for you not to make a move.”
“But aren’t you worried I’ll hurt you?”
“No,” he said, “I don’t care. I just want more of you.”
I groaned and crossed my legs in an effort to fend off the desire. My head swam. “I want more of you, too,” I said, and looked at him again.
The unbridled desire in his eyes pushed me over the brink. I rushed at him. He came for me at the same moment, and we met in the middle, kissing frantically, needing to taste each other.
I tore at the front of his shirt, gave up and focused on his jeans instead.
He ripped down the front of my dress, grabbed the cup of my lacy bra and sucked on my nipple, sending prickles of pleasure spiraling back through my chest.
I undid his jeans and tugged on them until his thighs were out, his dick resting against his shirt. I pressed my lips together and stared at it, heat rushing through my limbs. I twirled my fingers through his hair and straddled him. Forced him back against the car seat.
He nipped at my chin, my jaw, then placed his hand over my cheek and pressed the side of his face against mine and inhaled my scent.
It was an animal moment, and I let out a low whine in response. I reached between our legs, took hold of his cock, and ran it between my lips. I hadn’t worn underwear tonight but only because I’d run out.
“Fuck,” he gasped, “you’re so fucking wet.”
I sat down on his dick, took everything he had and cried out.
Joshua cupped my left breast and pinched my nipple, hard. He placed his other hand on my hip, scrunching up the material of my dress. He lifted me and put me down again, using just that grip to direct our sex.
I dug my fingernails into his shoulders, hair swaying in front of my face, mouth half open, tiny breaths escaping my lips. It was too good. He fit me perfectly, just as he had the first time.
Except this was more desperate. Our need for each other had escalated. It was as if we’d taken the first hit of a drug that night, and this was our second fulfilment of that craving.
He thickened inside me, thrusting deep, hard, massaging my g-spot. My skin tingled, and my pulse went crazy. “Close,” I said because it was all I could manage right now.
Joshua let go of my breast and gripped the back of my neck instead, brought my lips to his, still working my body against his, bringing us both closer to the peak. He searched my mouth with his tongue, tasting me, taking it all.
God, I wanted him to have everything I had, too.
He bit my bottom lip and grunted. His pulsing started, hardening inside me, and my release followed right away. I let out a feral groan, and rode him for all I was worth, bucking my hips through the strongest orgasm I’d ever experienced.
Better than the first time.
I sank against his chest and my eyes drifted shut. He kissed my forehead, stroked my hair, then laid me down beside him on the long, joined seat. His strong arms encircled me.