He drove around the side of the house and parked in the laneway. A single light burned in the old house. Riley turned off the engine leaving them in silence. He glanced at Sassie. Her teeth were digging into her bottom lip, and he could make out the slight flush on her cheeks in the light from the almost full moon overhead.
“Ready?” She nodded her head, the wild array of curls bouncing around her face.
What a question. Of course he was ready. “Always ready for you. The thing is, are you ready, Sassie, because once I get out of this truck, I’ll have only one thing on my mind.” And the discomfort from his jeans wasn’t letting him forget it, either.
Sassie laughed and opened the door.
* * *
Her breath was coming in small, fast bursts as her body tingled with anticipation. Not shy in coming forward for anything she wanted, suddenly she found herself more nervous than she would have thought about taking him into her bed.
Memories of her previous lover taunted her, making her unsure of her ability to please this gorgeous man. Paul’d always said she was frigid, and it had taken her a while to figure out it was his way of trying to control her. But scars ran deep and made her doubt herself, even when she knew they weren’t warranted. The need to prove Paul wrong may have been one reason she was so keen to have Riley, but in the back of her mind there was the blatant sexual attraction she couldn’t deny.
“I’ll meet you in the backyard under the fruit trees in a few minutes. Make yourself comfortable.” With a resounding thud, she slammed the door and headed inside, her heart racing. Sassie hurried to find the picnic blanket by the hall light, dumping it by the back door.
In her bedroom, she fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, growing frustrated as her fingers refused to work as fast as she wanted. Dropping the garment to the floor, she slid down the zipper of her skirt and peeled it off, kicking off her stilettos at the same time. She shimmied down her panties and slid the bra straps down her arms so she could twist it around and undo the clasp.
The slight, cool breeze wafted in through her bedroom window, lifting the old lace curtain, showing the moon in all her glory. Sassie stood naked in the white glow, her nipples pebbling in anticipation of what was waiting for her outside. She found a soft wrap and draped it over her shoulders, letting it fall the front of her body, barely covering anything.
She walked out to the kitchen. Under the jumble of kitchen items she had stored in a box in the walk-in pantry was a mason jar with a candle stub in it. She dug it out and found the box of matches, striking one against the side of the box. She held the flame to the wick until it sputtered into life and then flicked the match out, leaving it on the windowsill.
Sassie scooped up the blanket and grabbed the lantern to help her navigate the concrete path that led to her back garden. The shadows of the old orchard held promise and a sense of lust she’d not felt before. Eagerly, she walked toward the man waiting for her. The path was cool against her bare feet, and she followed it until it ended at the wicker gate of the vegetable garden. Stepping onto the grass, she felt the softness beneath her bare feet.
Riley leaned against the trunk of a large tree, his gaze locked on her. He reached forward to take the blanket from her outstretched hand.
She let the folds of the shawl fall open, showing him what was in store. Sassie reached up and hooked the lantern above her head bathing her in a soft yellow light. The glow highlighted the tree above them, showing off the budding fruit bursting from the final blossoms.
Riley laid the blanket out and turned back to face her. With a slight shift of her shoulders, Sassie let the shawl slid down over her arms, exposing her breasts to his gaze.
“Fuck.”
“Now that would be the general idea, but there’s no need to be quite so crass about it.”
He looked contrite, and inwardly, she smiled. The effect she had on him gave her a wonderful dose of confidence, and she brushed most of the self-doubt away. She could do this and do it well. After all, what was the point of having a handsome hunk of a man around annoying her if she couldn’t make the most of him?
“Sorry, that wasn’t what I meant.” He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. “You’re stunning, you know that?”
“Why, that’s a very kind thing to say. Thank you.” Sassie stood in front of him and wait for his next move.
He stepped closer and lifted his hand to her chin. “You blow me away with how open and honest you are.”
“There’d be no point in lying to you, R.P. Cooper. I want you, and it’s pretty obvious you want me, too. I say we make the most of it and enjoy it while we can. Both of us are consenting adults and know our own minds, for goodness’ sakes. I see nothing wrong in that if we’re not hurting anyone. Best you stop talking and kiss me before the sun comes up.”
Sassie lifted her face to his and the shawl slid to the ground soundlessly as she reached for him. Once her hands were wrapped around his body, he responded. His lips met hers and he slid his arms around her waist, bringing them together as he deepened the kiss.
She sighed into his mouth and brought up her good hand to cup the back of his head, tangling her fingers in the long locks of
