“Same, I have opening shift.”
“But you haven’t tried the cider,” I protested. “Wait!” They didn’t protest as I grabbed out a stack of styrofoam cups and a ladle.
“This is the maple,” I said, handing them each a cup then making one for myself. I took a sip and groaned at the mix of spice and syrupy sweetness. It wasn’t too sweet, and really brought out the apples. “This is brown sugar,” I said.
Boone wrinkled his nose at that one and quickly sat the cup aside. The other two looked equally unimpressed and when I took a sip, I couldn’t disagree. it wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t anything to write home about. And definitely not worth putting our orchard’s name on the label.
“Alright, hit me with the third,” Boone said. I made the final round and we all clicked our cups together before taking a sip. It was better than the second but I felt it was masking the apples more than the first.
“I think I liked the first the best,” I admitted. “Though it could use a bit more spice.”
“On that we agree,” Hunter said. “The citrus gives it a nice brightness.”
“Listen to us sounding like refined cider drinking experts,” Jack laughed. “But I’m going to have to agree. The others are almost too sweet.”
“Then we have a winner!” I said excitedly. “Maybe a few more tweaks and it’ll be perfect. Goodnight guys, thanks again for all the help.”
Hunter froze as I threw my arms around him, but quickly wrapped his arms around me and returned my hug. Before the alpha could overthink anything else, I moved onto Boone who wrapped me in a bear hug that soothed my soul in ways I didn’t know I needed before he released me, placing a soft kiss to my forehead before heading inside.
By the time I could breathe again, I gave Jack a hug as well. He shifted from hug to an arm around my shoulder as he led me back to the fire after we said goodnight to the guys.
“I figured the ciders have to cool some more anyway, might as well enjoy the fire right?” he asked as he settled me next to him on the bench.
I loved the setup they had out here, a cast iron firepit and benches they’d clearly constructed themselves. They’d put cushions over it and sanded them down and stained them, so it was more comfortable than I expected. I melted easily into Jack’s side and we both stared out at the fire. His hand absently brushed over my arm and each stroke of his fingers had my body amping up. It wasn’t just my arousal that scented the air and I glanced up at him, gauging where he was at. His eyes were full of heat as he put a finger under my chin, tilting my face up before brushing his soft lips over mine.
I groaned into the kiss, pushing it past sweet to heated. He didn’t complain as he shifted me over his lap. My hips rocked over him as my hands tangled in his hair, our kiss turning into a war of dominance that he never took too far.
Jack pulled away and took a steadying breath, meeting my eyes as if he were studying me. “Is this okay? We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
“We don’t,” I agreed. “But I want this, Jack. I want you.”
He swallowed hard before brushing his fingers against my hips, shifting my shirt up and over my head. Goosebumps erupted on my arms and torso as a cool breeze drifted over us. But I barely felt the cold, comfortable between our warm bodies and the fire at my back.
I was less gentle as I lifted up his shirt and tossed it to the bench beside us. Thank fuck they lived on the outskirts, meaning no one could see us out here. Plus on the off chance that Hunter or Boone did see, I wouldn’t mind it, but I was more than happy to be in Jack’s arms at the moment. There was just something amazing about connecting under the stars, firelight and the scent of apples in the air still.
His mild spiced cream and caramel scent was the perfect addition and I found myself brushing my nose over his neck, inhaling as I trailed small kisses down toward his shoulder.
“We should go inside,” he said in a strained voice. “You deserve a soft bed and for us to take our time.”
“Next time,” I promised. “For now, I want you out here, like this.”
He groaned at the thought and stopped protesting. It might have had something to do with me shifting off of him, slowly stripping off the rest of my clothes until I was naked before him. It seemed I’d stunned the beta speechless, his mouth agape as his gaze trialed over every inch of my body. Slick pooled between my thighs and I squeezed them together to get friction while he took his time.
“You’re beautiful, Autumn,” he whispered reverently. “You don’t know how much I want you.”
“Then do something about it, Jack,” I challenged. That seemed to bring his brain back online and he stood up so fast I almost stumbled back, but his hands steadied me. My breath caught as he sat me down on the bench, shifting my legs wide and studying me yet again. “You’re going to give a girl a complex if you keep staring like that.”
“Oh stop,” he laughed as he fell to his knees.
All joking was gone as he swiped his tongue over me, groaning at the taste before going all in. My cries were barely stifled as I clung to his hair for dear life as he tongue fucked me into oblivion. Pleasure tightened in my belly before surging through me. My legs were shaking as I grinded into him, forgetting all thoughts of reservation as I came hard enough my vision blurred.
“Holy shit,” I breathed out eloquently as he moved away, face glistening with my slick. “If this is how we’re going to start all of our encounters then I’m one lucky girl.”
The proud smile on his face was adorable. As he stood, his muscles on display and jeans dipping below his hips, my mouth went dry.
He smirked as he started to unbutton his jeans, then froze. His entire demeanor changed from sexy to serious.
“What is it?” I asked.