Chapter 5

Billie

I barely slept last night. Every time I shut my eyes, all I could think about was Rayne's lips on mine, his rough voice telling me he's done holding back. Now, as I wait outside the bakery for him to pick me up, my mind's racing with possibilities.

This thing between us has been simmering for years. All those stolen glances, the way he always shows up when I need something. It's like we've been circling each other forever. But all it took was one day, one sentence, one kiss, and now he's taking me on our first date. I feel like I'm about to explode.

The sound of Rayne's truck pulls me out of my thoughts, and there he is—driving up like the damn cowboy fantasy he is. That worn-out hat, his thick forearms, huge hands gripping the wheel, those broad shoulders stretching his shirt tight. Jesus, I've been trying to keep my cool, but it's hard as hell when the man looks like that.

Rayne hops out, walks around the truck, and without a word, lifts me up into the cab like I weigh nothing, making me gasp and giggle like a girl. His hands linger on my waist, and I can't help but notice how strong they are. God, I want those hands everywhere. And don't even get me started on his cock. I've never seen it, obviously, but I've ogled his bulge way too many times. And at this point, I think I've got a good idea about what's hiding under those jeans, and let's just say it's not small or average by any stretch of the imagination.

"Thanks," I mutter, my voice coming out all breathy.

Rayne just gives me one of his smoldering looks and a small grunt in response as he gets back in the driver's seat. The truck rumbles to life, and I'm immediately surrounded by the scent of leather, engine grease, and him. That woodsy, rough smell that makes me want to bury my face in his neck and breathe him in.

The road to his ranch is quiet, autumn colors flashing by. The silence between us, thick with everything we're not saying yet. All I can think about is how close we were to losing it yesterday. One more touch, one more look, and I'm pretty sure we'd have been going at it on my bakery counter.

"You take all your ladies pumpkin picking?" I ask, breaking the silence. I'm aiming for casual, but my heart's racing, waiting for his answer.

Rayne glances over, one corner of his mouth quirking up into a smirk. "You think I got other ladies?"

I snort, trying to play it cool, but inside, I'm doing a little victory dance. "Never know with you, cowboys."

He just grunts again, which is Rayne-speak for ‘you're the only one'.

* * *

Rayne

I didn't get much sleep last night. Too busy thinking about Billie, how she tasted like sugar and cinnamon when I kissed her, how her body felt pressed against mine. And now, with her sitting in my truck, looking fucking perfect in those tight jeans that show off her big, round ass… Yeah, I'm not thinking straight.

I've been holding back for too long, and now that I've made my move, it's even harder. Billie's been driving me crazy for years, but seeing her react so strongly to me? Fuck. That shit's everything.

I pull up to the ranch, glancing at her as I step out of the truck. She's looking around, taking in the land, but I can see the heat in her eyes. Good. She's thinking about it too. About what's gonna happen when I finally get my hands on her.

I walk around to help her out of the truck, my hands settling on her waist as I lift her down. She smells like heaven, and fuck, I'm barely hanging on by a thread. All I can think about is how soft her skin would feel under my hands, how her lips would look wrapped around my cock.

Shit.

"Ready?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady and my growing erection under control.

Billie raises an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sassy smirk. "You think I can't handle a little pumpkin picking?"

I chuckle, leading her toward the patch. "We'll see."

* * *

Billie

This pumpkin patch is huge, stretching across Rayne's ranch like something out of a magazine's fall edition. There are workers everywhere, tossing pumpkins on trailers. Horses grazing in the distance, a few dogs running around, chasing after each other. The place is bustling with life.

I grab a pumpkin and try to focus on pulling it off the ground, but it's hard when Rayne's standing this close. His body heat rolling off him. And the way his eyes keep flicking to my ass? Yeah, I know what he's thinking. Hell, I'm thinking about it too.

"There's a science to picking the right pumpkin," Rayne says, pulling me out of my rapidly escalating thoughts, lifting a huge one like it's nothing.

"That so?" I reply, huffing, struggling with the one refusing to let itself get extracted.

"Yeah," he mutters, stepping closer. His voice dropping low. "Gotta make sure it's hard."

My eyes instantly flick up to meet his. And I bite my lip, feeling the heat rise between us. "Hard, huh?"

Rayne smirks, his hot gaze running all over my body. "Yeah, hard."

With renewed energy, I grab another pumpkin and toss it into the crate, trying not to let my mind wander too far into dangerous territory. But it's hard as hell when he's right there, looking at me like he wants to bend me over and fuck me in the middle of his damn ranch.

* * *

Rayne

I'm trying to play it cool, but fuck, it's hard when Billie's walking around in those tight jeans, bending over, giving me a view of that perfect ass. I've been imagining what she'd look like in this position for far too long. With her pussy wet and ready for me. And it's taking everything in me not to make that fantasy a reality right now.

But I have to be patient. When I finally get her alone, I'm gonna take my time. Fucking savor her.

We continue loading the pumpkins. Billie, chatting, teasing. But the fire between us keeps growing. I can see it in the way she looks at me, the way her breath hitches every time I get too close. She wants it just as badly.

"You always work this hard?" she asks, leaning against the side of the big hauling truck, eyes trailing over me like she's undressing me with her mind.

I step closer until I'm right in front of her, my body just inches from hers. "Depends on what the reward is."

She arches an eyebrow. "Really? And what's the reward?"

I lean in, brushing my lips against her ear. "You'll find out soon enough."

She shivers, her breath catching in her throat, and I know I've got her right where I want her.

* * *

Billie

I swear to God, Rayne Miller is gonna be the death of me. The way he talks, the way he moves, the way he looks at me like he's about to fucking devour me… I'm fucking loving every second of it.

As we finish loading up the truck, I catch him watching me again, his dark eyes burning with desire. I know exactly what's on his mind because it's on mine too.

"‘Ready to head back?" he asks, stepping close enough that I can feel the heat from his body.

I nod, my heart racing, already thinking about what's gonna happen next. "Yes, thank you. I had fun," I manage to say with a smile.

We climb back into his truck, and as he starts the engine, I steal a glance at him. He's got one huge, veiny hand on the wheel, the other one resting on his muscular thigh, and all I can think about is what it'd feel like to slide my hand over that thick muscle, to feel his cock harden under my touch. Oh, shit. I'm in trouble.