Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Emmett

T his morning, I left a note on Briar's yogurt in the fridge that said tonight is date night and to be ready at seven. It's hard to have a date night when we can't go out in public around here, but I have a good friend in Hickory who owns a drive-in. I got him to agree to open it for the night for us only. He's playing some older romance movie, but I don't really care what's on the screen if I get to spend time with Briar.

I walk into my house at six thirty, and I hear her getting ready upstairs. I love coming home to her. I never thought I'd be the guy who couldn't get home fast enough at the end of the day, but here I am, head over heels for this woman.

I climb the stairs and right away notice she's getting ready in her room. It feels odd since she's been spending most of her time in my room, even doing her makeup and hair in my bathroom lately. I knock on her bedroom door.

"You'll see me at seven," she says.

I chuckle and head into my room, seeing a new pair of jeans and a plaid shirt with the metal snaps as buttons laid out on the bed with a note that says wear me. I grin.

"Reversing roles, I see," I call, and she giggles. I'll never tire of that sound.

I take a shower, do my hair, dress in the outfit she picked out, and spray on some cologne. I already set everything up to make it a surprise.

At seven o'clock, I knock on her door again.

She opens it, and my breath halts. "Fuck, you're gorgeous."

Her dress is white and lacy, and her hair is done in waves. Her makeup is heavier than usual, which she doesn't need, but it highlights her beautiful eyes.

"I can't believe you're my date tonight."

She laughs, grabbing her purse from the bed before coming back over to me. She lifts onto the balls of her feet and kisses me, and although I want to keep her pressed to my mouth, we have to get to the movie.

I put out my hand for her to go down the stairs first. My eyes stay trained on her, still disbelieving that this woman picked me.

We go to my truck, and I open the passenger door for her. She climbs up and puts on her seat belt.

I go to the driver's seat, and before I turn on the engine, I lean over for another kiss. "I'm the luckiest guy ever."

She shakes her head. "Stop. I'm blushing."

"And I love seeing it on your skin."

"Just go."

She looks embarrassed, and I'm not sure why. Surely she knows the catch she is. Obviously, the men before me didn't make her feel like the prize she is, but I'm determined to change that.

We drive toward Hickory, and she doesn't ask any questions. She doesn't even ask for a hint about where we're going.

I glance at her. "You like surprises, huh?"

"Love them," she says.

I wish I could watch her the entire drive, but I keep my eyes on the road, reaching for her hand. She accepts my advance and squeezes my hand.

I can't explain this thing between us or how I fell for her. I've always been the guy who swore off relationships, but Briar has changed everything, which I still find crazy.

I pull into the deserted drive-in, and for the first time tonight, she looks confused. "Um…"

"Don't worry. I've got it handled."

I'm not sure if she was questioning the fact that it's not open or that it's still so cool at night, how could we watch it in comfort, but I've got it covered, and I don't want her to worry.

"Okay." She relaxes back in her seat.

I drive the truck to the middle of the gravel lot. A blown-up inflatable couch sits on a giant blanket with pillows, sleeping bags, and blankets. I bought almost every kind of candy at the store because I didn't know her favorite, along with popcorn and chips.

"Emmett," she says, sitting up straighter to take in the scene.

I park the truck to the side of my setup, so it can block the breeze a little, and shift to look at her. "Surprise."

She opens her door and gets out before I can stop her and tell her that's my job from now on. Immediately she slips off her shoes, sits on the couch, and fingers through the candy. "This is amazing."

I take off my cowboy boots and walk over to her. "I know it's not a five-star hotel or the opera. You're accustomed to more high-end things in Chicago, I'm sure."

She stands and places her finger over my lips. "It's perfect. So perfect."

I take her in my arms because it's hard not to have her close to me every second of every day. We don't kiss, but she rests her head on my chest, allowing me to hold her.

I never want us to end, but I can't deny that I fear what the future holds. There are so many unknowns, and her waiting to tell Gillian about the baby, about us, is really wearing on me. I want everyone to know she's mine. Maybe then they'll see that I'm not the person they thought I was. That she's changed me. But even if they don't, it doesn't matter as long as she knows.

There's also the matter of wanting to bring her to my mom's grave to introduce Briar to her. I need to thank Mom for sending Briar to me, because I know she had something to do with it.

"I didn't know your favorite candy, so I bought one of everything." We both sit down on the couch.

"I noticed you have quite the selection." She pulls out a pack of Reese's Pieces. "My favorite."

"Noted." I lean back on the couch, my arm swung over the back, watching her open the package and eat the first one.

Briar grabs a blanket, slides against my side, and covers both of us with it. Then she stares up at me, and I kiss her on her temple.

"This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me."

"Surely not." I run my fingers over her shoulder.

"It is. And it means so much more because it's with you. How do you work that charm on me?" Her hand goes to my cheek, and she leans in, kissing me.

"I'm just that good."

"Yeah, you are," she says with a laugh.

The film starts, and she nuzzles up to me. I could get used to this life.

We watch the movie for the first forty minutes or so, but to be honest, it's a little boring.

She unsnaps a few buttons of my shirt, sliding her hand through the space she created, her fingers weaving through my chest hair.

"Cold?" I ask.

"My hands are a little."

I place my hand over my shirt and her hand, but she unsnaps another button, her hand roaming over my chest. One by one, the snaps are undone, and her fingers run over my bare skin. My cock has taken notice and is beginning to strain against my jeans.

"Are you sure you're cold?" I can't hide the amusement from my voice.

She tilts her head, kissing my chin. "I'm a little bored to be honest. Who's playing the movie?"

I have a feeling I know why she's asking. "My friend Nick said he'd come back after it was over to close up. So, no one is around right now."

"Perfect," she says, excitement in her tone.

She pushes down the blanket and straddles my lap. "Let me properly thank you for a great date."

She kisses my forehead, her tits right in my face. I graze my hands over her ribs and take her tits in my hands, squeezing them. She moans as I knew she would. Apparently, they're really sensitive these days.

"You don't have to thank me," I say, loving the sprinkle of kisses she's landing on my face.

She moans again when I tweak her nipples through her dress. I swear she's trying to kill me by not wearing a bra. She slides down my body, undoing any snap she missed.

"What are you doing?" My voice is as gravelly as this parking lot.

It's obvious what she intends, and I'm not about to stop her. She's gone down on me a few times, but I always stop her before I come, unable to resist the urge to be inside her.

She slips down between my legs. "Do I really need to explain it to you?"

Her fingers hover over the button on my jeans, and I watch her unfasten it. My dick is hard, pressing against my zipper, and she gently lowers it, carefully going over my bulge. Then she sets her eyes on me, and the lust and desire pooled in them causes my hips to rise off the inflatable couch.

"Fuck, Briar."

She slides her hand inside my jeans, palming my length, rubbing and squeezing. "Have I told you how much I love your cock?"

"No, but I'd love to hear all about it."

Her hand pumps me through my black boxer briefs. "It's so thick and long and fits me perfectly."

I cradle her cheek. "Take it out, sweetheart."

She hooks her hands in the waistband of my jeans, and I lift my hips for her to drag them down to my ankles. I swallow hard when she runs her plump lips over the bulge, her nails scraping my stomach as she dips them under the waistband of my boxer briefs, dragging them up and over my dick, resting them under my balls.

The cool air hits my dick, but she wraps her hand around it, pumping, watching me. "I want to see you come undone."

My fingers weave through her hair, gripping the back of her head. "It won't take much."

She brings her lips to my tip, tongue sliding out and twirling, licking up the pre-cum that's already leaking out. Without warning, she opens her mouth and swallows me down her throat, holding my base firm.

"Damn," I say, my head falling back, eyes closing.

She draws my dick out of her mouth, her saliva dripping down my length. "Eyes on me, big guy."

I chuckle and watch her. I'm sure my eyes are hooded as she takes me into her mouth again. She works me over, twisting and tugging, tapping the tip on her tongue. I'm fixated, and every time her eyes swoop up to mine, my cock twitches in her mouth, and she smiles with her lips wrapped around me.

I'm lost in the world of Briar, and I don't want to be found.

"I'm gonna come." My ass inches up to get as far back in her throat as I can.

She pulls my dick out of her mouth and holds the tip right on her splayed tongue, waiting, and with a roar from deep in my throat, I empty myself in her mouth. She covers my tip with her lips and sucks gently until I've given her everything I can.

After my orgasm retreats and my ass is back on the inflatable couch, she cleans me up and slides my boxer briefs back up.

"C'mere." I place my hands under her arms and help her up off her knees. She straddles me, and I brush her hair away from her face. "Was it as good as you thought it would be?"

She jabs me in the shoulder. "Jackass."

I chuckle and bury my face in her neck. "Best blow job ever."

She giggles, and I roll us over, setting her back on the inflatable couch.

"And now it's your turn." I slide down her body.

When will I ever get enough of this woman?

Once the movie is done, we pack up and I drive us back to my place. My house that has become a home with the addition of Briar. I'm completely screwed if she ever leaves me.