“Where are we?” Audria whispers, as if she’s afraid of waking any monsters lurking in the shadows.
That gives me pause. “Are you afraid of the dark?”
She peeks over from the corner of her eye. “No.”
I seek out her hand to hold. “You’re not convincing anyone.”
Her brow creases. “Huh?”
I squeeze her fingers. “You can tell me, babe. No need to be ashamed.”
Audria sends me a bland look. “Thanks for the boost of confidence, buddy. If I’m getting scared, you’ll be the first to hear.”
“And the only one.” I hitch a thumb at the abyss beyond my window.
“That’s not creepy at all.”
I’m pretty sure I can hear her teeth chattering. “Should we leave? I feel like you’re nervous.”
She rubs her temples. “Are you trying to give me reason to be?”
“Not at all.” Quite the opposite, if I can stop assuming the worst.
“Then who are you trying to convince?”
“Good question,” I mutter. “Should we get out?”
Audria reclines against her door, showing no signs of moving. “Not until you tell me where we are.”
I groan and shake my head. “That would probably be a good place to start. This is the first field I helped seed. We planted alfalfa hay, not that it matters. These twelve acres hold a bit of sentimental value for me.”
Her entire demeanor changes. She exhales, and the strain relaxes from her posture. Any trace of the pinched expression from moments ago smooths out, replaced with the carefree smile I’ve grown so fond of. “You’re sharing another special spot with me. That’s so sweet.”
“It also has an incredible view.” I point upward.
She gasps. “Oh, oh. Can we go stargazing?”
Damn, she’s cute. “Of course, babe. We just need to step outside.”
Audria unbuckles her seatbelt before I finish talking. She leaps down from the truck with a squeal. “This is crazy romantic.”
I wait for the catch, but she doesn’t add more. The moon offers a soft glow, providing just enough illumination to tease me. With a flick, I turn on the interior light and kill the engine. “Are you okay lying in the bed?”
Her features pinch. “Uh, where in the what now?”
A chuckle bursts from me. “The pickup box. We can get cozy back there.”
Her lips make a small circle. “Right, okay. That makes sense.”
“Can you take this?” After switching on the LED lantern, I pass it to her. I grab the pile of blankets from the back seat and step out, meeting her on the passenger side.
Audria glances at my stack. “Were you planning on this?”
“And hoping you’d agree.” I direct her to the rear of the truck.
“How could I refuse?”
I lift her onto the open tailgate, and she scoots backward on her ass. I leap up and join her. She sets the lamp in a corner, bathing the box in dim light. We can see well enough to get the job done. With her taking the lead, we unfold the blankets and create a makeshift mattress.
She doesn’t hesitate to get situated then pats the flat space beside her. “Why don’t you join me, farmer?”
“Just taking a minute to appreciate the view.”
“Isn’t that the entire point of this?” She motions to the sky.
I toss off my hat and comb through my unruly hair. “I’ve seen these stars my entire life. You’re stealing the show, babe.”
“Smooth words,” she purrs. “Lie with me and get a closer look.”
I follow orders like any wise man in this situation. It’s so quiet I strain my ears to hear any noise just to prove I can. The barest hint of crickets chirping makes me grin. I glance over to find Audria’s gaze fastened on the starry expanse above us. The corners of her lips curl higher, as if the sky is whispering sweet nothings that only she can hear. I want to be responsible for every ounce of her pleasure. Just watching her gets me hard, my blood pumping hotter than the humidity in July.
A calm breeze blows a gust over us. The wind doesn’t bother me, and Audria doesn’t react either. Iowa in early autumn is usually mild. The beginning of October has graced us with highs in the upper sixties and low seventies. The temperature cools without the sun, but being out in the elements is still bearable. If I waited until next weekend, this entire idea might’ve been a massive flop.
We chill in compassionate silence, and Audria slips her hand over mine, interlocking our fingers in a gentle embrace. The subtle contact almost startles me. I’d been two seconds shy of touching her somehow, stoking the heat between us to combustible levels. As it turns out, she isn’t as preoccupied with the stars as I assumed. To further prove that point, she curls her body against my side with a sigh.
“I was wrong earlier,” Audria murmurs into the stillness.
I tense beside her from habits long formed. “About?”
“This scenery is better.” She rests her head on my shoulder, sending puffs of warm air ghosting across my throat.
My sinking gut rebounds as I exhale harshly. “And why is that?”
A small palm settles on my thigh, applying the slightest pressure. “We’re alone, for starters.”
“You wanted privacy?” My eyes nearly cross as she trails her hand upward.
“Maybe.” But her response holds no uncertainty. Instead, the even lilt in her voice leaves little room for misinterpretation.
A low throb builds in my groin. “I would’ve snatched you away much sooner had I known.”
“Building the anticipation gets me very excited.” She chooses to avoid the hard ridge straining behind my zipper, swerving to resume her quest underneath my shirt.
“Tell me what else you prefer.” The demand is a mere croak. Lord have mercy, she’s going to make me embarrass myself.
“Having all of you within reach.” Her fingers walk across my ribs and pecs. She’s thorough to a fault, covering each dip and groove.
“I’m all yours, babe. Free rein,” I offer. I stretch my restraint taut in an effort to stay still. Every rippling
