Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“They’re not here all year?”
“Nope. We only get them for about six weeks every spring, and I always look forward to them.”
“That’s so sweet.”
He looked slightly embarrassed as he grinned at me. Then he turned to the dogs, who I assumed would be coming with us, and said, “Y’all need to stay here and guard the ranch. Follow Deogee, he knows what to do.” Three of them stared at him blankly, but the little brown mutt leapt up and trotted around the corner, presumably headed for the front of the house. The other three hurried after him.
Ryder took my hand and told me to watch my step as we made our way down some worn brick stairs. From there, we followed a dirt path that disappeared into a grove of trees. About a minute later, we emerged into a sunlit clearing, and I whispered, “Oh my god.”
A vintage wrought iron bed sat among the wildflowers in the middle of a meadow. It was made up with pastel linens, lots of pillows, and a lovely, faded quilt. “This is magical, Ryder. How did you manage it?”
“I set up the metal bedframe and the side table a few days ago. I’d had the frame stored in the barn and just needed to clean it up a bit. Yesterday, I wrapped the mattress from the guest bedroom in a tarp and brought it out here. When I told you I needed half an hour to get ready, the majority of that was spent bringing the bedding down here and making the bed.” He looked proud of himself as he turned to me and added, “I made all the stuff for the picnic yesterday, to save time.”
“I can’t believe you did all of this.”
“Does it look familiar?”
“Familiar? Why—” Just then, I realized what he was getting at and exclaimed, “You recreated my sex dream, the one I told you about weeks ago!”
“Did I come close?”
“This is even more beautiful.”
We waded through the sea of flowers to the bed, and he circled around behind it and placed the picnic basket on a small, wooden table. I took off my sandals before climbing onto the bed. The linens had been warmed by the sun, and I murmured, “This feels so luxurious.”
“We have total privacy out here.” He sat on the edge of the bed and took off his shoes and socks. “I even shut the gate at the start of our private road this morning, not that we get many visitors. But that pretty much assures we won’t get interrupted.”
“In case we want to get naked and mess around?”
“That’s an option. I brought lube and some other stuff, not that I’m tryin’ to be presumptuous. We can just lounge around and eat our lunch if you want.”
I pulled my top over my head and tossed it over my shoulder. “We can lounge around and eat our lunch after we fuck like bunnies.” Ryder was smiling ear-to-ear as he grabbed me and tossed me onto the mattress.
As it turned out, the night before in the truck could better be described as fucking like bunnies. This time, we made love. I’d always thought that expression was pretty old-fashioned, but it was the best way to describe the next two hours.
We took our time, kissing, licking, and exploring every inch of each other before he finally slid inside me. Even then, he made it last, slowing his thrusts and the speed of his hand on my cock whenever we started to get close.
By the time we both came, I was exhausted, in the best possible way. Fortunately, Ryder still had some energy left. He cleaned me up with the water and towels he’d stashed under the bed. Then he shifted the pillows so I could sit up, and he hauled the heavy picnic basket onto the bed and handed me a big, glass jar of lemonade. He’d packed the basket with ice, so the jar was still cold. Condensation dripped onto my skin as I took a drink. It made me giggle when he leaned in and licked it off my belly.
Lunch consisted of fruit salad, chips, and sandwiches on homemade focaccia bread with pesto and fresh mozzarella. For dessert, he’d baked decadent chocolate brownies. After we ate our fill, he packed up the leftovers and returned the basket to the table. Then he turned to me and paused before asking, “Baby, are you crying?”
“No.” I quickly blotted my eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. This is absolutely incredible, and I’m so grateful, Ry. I’m just not used to being treated like a prince. I guess it made me emotional.”
He drew me into his arms and said, as if it was an absolute fact, “That’s how you should always be treated, Hal. You’re way too special to settle for less.”
I put my head on his chest and closed my eyes. I was enveloped in warmth, from the sun on my skin to the heat radiating from Ryder’s body. It was incredibly quiet and peaceful. The only sounds were a chorus of crickets, and the gentle breeze stirring the leaves on the trees around the meadow.