“Um Boone? Why are we off-roading?” I asked, my voice wavering thanks to the constant shifting of the truck on this awful road.
“Trust me?” he asked, his voice quiet but intense.
“I do, Boone. I do.”
He slowed a bit more and only a few moments later he stopped, the headlights illuminating a clearing in the crops, large beams of wood sectioning off the dirt area.
“Here, you’ll need this,” he said simply as he handed me a large flashlight before shutting off the lights. We were plunged into pure darkness, with the sky being cloudy I could barely make out the door handle as I fumbled around for it. By the time I was out of the truck I was starting to freak out a little. Darkness wasn’t a fear of mine but I had forgotten how pitch black it was out here away from town.
When Boone’s beam of light led away from the truck I followed him. He waited for me at the edge of the wooden beam, helping me over before continuing on.
“Hold on, there’s lights,” he promised. If not for his scent I’d have lost him in the darkness, his light barely visible anymore as he moved ahead. Instead of following him I stayed in place, waiting for the lights he talked about.
A few moments of silence that may or may not have had me assuming I would be eaten by a monster hiding in the corn, and the lights flickered on with a soft buzz.
It was magical.
That was the only proper description of what I was looking at. Strings of Edison lights were strung from four poles I hadn’t noticed in the darkness. Now that they were lit it exposed a large fire pit already ready with logs. There was a crude wooden bar that Boone or someone had obviously thrown together. Boone was unloading the contents from his basket and putting it down before grabbing the blanket and dropping it over the hay bales near the fire. He worked so methodically that he didn’t even look over at me until he’d had a fire burning.
“Are you okay?” he asked with amusement. “You might want to close that mouth, baby girl, before I start having ideas.”
That snapped me out of the trance I’d been in and I chuckled.
“Yes, this is… amazing, Boone,” I breathed out as I came over.
He led me to the hay bale and got me settled before stepping away and returning with a plate that looked like a mini charcuterie board. I picked up a cube of cheese and popped it into my mouth.
“The Kinsey Pack owns it. But after I did work at their B&B, they offered me use of it whenever I wanted. Taking you here seemed like a good time to take advantage of that,” he said, readying a few other foods for us to enjoy.
We glanced over at the fire as we picked at the food he’d prepared, but having him so close to me wasn’t easy. Sitting in silence was never a problem with Boone, I enjoyed his company and companionship, but it was the searing connection just below the surface that had me on edge.
I could feel the tension building every time our hands brushed and neither one of us could seem to find the words to speak. It was the peak of awkwardness and finally I couldn't help but let out a little absurd laugh.
“Okay this is crazy,” he finally burst out. “I like you, Autumn. In fact, I’m in shock you haven’t been claimed by a pack already. But don’t get me wrong, I’m fucking grateful you haven’t. I don’t love the idea of you returning to the city but I really want to get to know you and I don’t want to fuck it up with my inability to socialize.”
I was shocked for a moment at his outburst, not having heard him speak so passionately or so much all at once.
“I don’t need you to be anything you aren’t, Boone,” I said, recovering quickly, moving the food and scooting closer so our thighs were touching. When he shifted uncomfortably I threw my leg over his to keep him from moving away from me. He calmed instantly and took a deep breath, the tension and anxiety draining as he blew it out. “And I want all of those things too. Though I’m not going to lie and say that I know what will happen in the future, but what’s important is that I’m here now.”
His hand absently rubbed my leg as he thought over my words.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked.
If anyone else had asked me first I might have laughed, but with Boone I knew it was him ensuring that I was safe and cared for. Instead of answering I leaned forward, my lips brushing his once before I deepened it.
While he’d always been gentle and sweet he didn’t hesitate to take over as soon as his lips touched mine. His hand gripped my leg and his other pulled me in. His tongue teased along the seam of my lips and I opened for him. He swept in, dominating the kiss until I was breathless and my entire body was pulsing with need.
We weren’t hurried, in fact Boone was the picture of calm dominance. Every touch and stroke of his tongue was with purpose, each one had my omega side ready to preen for him.
“Autumn,” he said, my name was said with a hint of confusion, like he couldn’t believe this was happening. But I didn’t want this to be something he second guessed or worried over. No one needed out of their own head more than this alpha.
“Don’t overthink. Just feel,” I told him before gripping his shirt and pulling it over his head. I’d gotten my first taste of him and now I wanted more.
He helped me toss it away and his cheeks heated as I ran my eyes over him. Whatever he was worried about was unfounded. Boone was a solid man, a softness covering his strength that was sexy as hell. I couldn’t wait to cuddle with him and learn everything that made him tick.
Moving to my knees in front of him I unbuckled his pants and his breath hitched as I took him into my hand. He was average in length, and with how girthy he was, my body thanked him for that.
“Do you want this too?” I asked. He looked taken aback by my question but eventually nodded.