Page 29

O n our way to the Ferris wheel, I spotted a giant stuffed dinosaur at the ring toss booth.

I knew Caleb would love it and had to get it for him.

After several failed rounds trying to win it, the attendant offered to sell it to me for a steep price.

He must have overheard me telling Briar I wanted to get it for my son and assumed I’d pay whatever it took.

He was right, and now I’m left carrying a stuffed animal through the fair.

When we reach the Ferris wheel, there’s only one couple ahead of us in line.

Briar drums her fingers against her leg, eyes flickering to the towering ride turning lazily overhead. When she told me she wasn’t a fan, I assumed she was exaggerating, but her death grip on my arm says otherwise.

We could skip it and find another ride, but I want to show her she can trust me, and that she’s safe with me. I’d never let anything hurt her. Besides, sometimes the best memories are made when you step outside your comfort zone. Here’s hoping Briar agrees .

When the Ferris wheel slows to a standstill, she moves her hand further down my arm.

“It stopped,” she blurts out. “That can’t be good, right?”

I chuckle softly, kissing her temple. “That means it’s almost our turn to get on.”

“Oh.”

I run my thumb along her palm. “You’re safe with me; I promise.”

She leans into me, briefly resting her head on my shoulder.

The people in front of us shuffle into the waiting car, and the attendant rotates the wheel, bringing another empty car to the loading platform. When he glances in our direction, he shakes his head.

“You can’t bring that thing on board.” He nods toward the giant dinosaur. “Two per car max.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

“I don’t make the rules. I just enforce them,” he replies flatly.

With a sigh, I pull another ticket from my pocket, handing him three. “Okay. Put it in its own car, then.” He stares at me, stunned, awkwardly accepting the dinosaur when I push it into his chest.

I rest my free hand on Briar’s back, guiding her past the attendant. She releases a quiet shudder when the gate swings shut behind us. Frosted panels line the lower half of the car, providing a sense of privacy.

“Enjoy the ride,” the attendant says flatly.

He pushes a button on the control panel to move our car forward. I look back to see him tossing the dinosaur onto the seat of the car behind us, closing the door just as we start our slow ascent.

A gentle breeze drifts through, carrying the buttery scent of popcorn. I settle in beside Briar, the cushioned seat creaking under our weight, but remain silent. I don’t want to give her another reason to worry .

The past week dragged on forever, and every night, I was tempted to go to her bedroom to give us both what we’ve been craving.

But time has been scarce between work and taking care of Caleb.

I’d started thinking I’d have to take matters into my own hands and find a way to steal a few hours alone, but Julie and Samuel came to the rescue before I had to.

Letting Caleb go without me wasn’t easy, but the fact that he wanted to go was significant, and I couldn’t say no. Besides, it gave Briar and me a chance to explore this thing between us without interruptions, and I wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip by.

I glance over to find her huddled in the middle of the bench, hands clasped in her lap, her eyes darting between the ground and the sky.

I drape my arm around her shoulders, pulling her to my side. “You alright?”

She lets out a dry laugh and shakes her head. “I’m trapped in a metal cage, spinning on a giant wheel of terror. How do you think I’m doing?”

“I’ve got you, sweetheart.”

The wheel spins in a rhythmic motion, and as we reach the top, Briar’s fingers grip my leg, her eyes squeezing shut.

“Remind me again what kind of person thinks this is enjoyable,” she mutters.

“Probably the same people who think pineapple belongs on pizza,” I tease.

Briar cracks one eye open, shooting me a mock glare. “I should have figured putting fruit on pizza and using a non-adjustable wrench to fix a leak weren’t your only questionable life choices.”

“At least I’m consistent.” I shrug. “Should I have the attendant let us off when we get to the bottom?”

She sits up straighter. “Oh no. You promised this would be worth it, so I’m sticking it out. No take-backs.”

I smirk. “Never. ”

She exhales slowly as I rub her back, and the tension in her spine eases with each rotation.

Still, at the peak of every climb, her grip on my leg tightens, making my cock twitch.

I bite the inside of my cheek, reminding myself this is about making her comfortable.

But as she shifts beside me, her hand slides higher, making it damn near impossible to ignore the way my body reacts to her, every brush of her skin fanning the flames.

The Ferris wheel lurches to a sudden stop, snapping my attention away from Briar’s hand on my leg, and I’m instantly on edge when I realize we’re suspended at the highest point.

Shit, I don’t think that’s supposed to happen.

“Oh god, what’s going on?” Briar asks, panic rising in her voice. “Why are we still up here?”

I flash her a comforting smile and give her hand a squeeze. “It’s probably just taking longer than usual to let the other riders off.”

I lean over the edge to watch the attendant at the controls.

The Ferris wheel is small enough that I can clearly see him, yet high enough that we’re still tucked away from the crowds below.

He’s frantically pushing buttons, eyes darting nervously around the fairgrounds.

His lips move, and I’m pretty sure I catch a string of curse words under his breath.

Fuck, that’s not a good sign.

Bringing attention to the problem will only trigger Briar’s panic, and I might not be able to calm her down while we’re stuck up here.

My best bet is to distract her before she reaches that point, like I promised.

My original plan was to make out on the Ferris wheel, but this calls for something drastic.

I want to replace her fear with an unforgettable memory that leaves her breathless for all the right reasons.

Her teeth are clenched, and she’s staring straight ahead. I cradle her face, caressing her cheek until her gaze meets mine .

“There you are,” I say, trailing kisses along the delicate line of her jaw. “Have I told you today how beautiful you are?”

“Are you trying to distract me?” she murmurs.

“Maybe. Is it working?”

I follow the slope of her neck, tugging her earlobe between my teeth.

She releases a soft moan, leaning in, her hand resting against my chest. The space between us buzzes with electric energy.

I press a soft kiss to the sensitive spot beneath her ear, my hand sliding to the small of her back, drawing her closer.

“Do you trust me?”

Her breath catches, and she tilts her head to give me better access as her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt.

“Yes,” she whispers.

“Can I make you feel good, sugar?”

My hand drifts past her breasts, down her belly, fingers grazing the curve of her hip.

“Yes,” she repeats, a shiver running through her.

“Take your panties off,” I demand.

She blinks at me. “What if someone sees?”

“It’s just you, me, and the stars.” I nod toward the open sky. “The question is, can you stay quiet? Or are we about to give the whole county more to gossip about?”

She arches a brow. “Guess it depends on whether you bring your A game or not.”

“Careful, darlin’. I play to win. Now…” I trail my fingers down her thigh. “Take. Your. Panties. Off.”

Briar’s breath hitches, and her eyes flicker with surprise before desire overrides everything else.

She turns toward me and lifts the hem of her skirt, inching it higher to reveal smooth, sun-kissed skin glowing in the moonlight.

When she has the fabric bunched at her waist, my eyes drop to the V between her legs, where I get a glimpse of her red satin panties.

She flashes me a cheeky grin as she lifts her hips, slipping them down her legs.

Once they’re off, she holds them in front of me, her sultry gaze locked on mine.

My pulse is hammering as she holds me captive with her magnetic charm.

I curl my fingers around her wrist and lean in, pressing the fabric to my nose, inhaling the scent of her musk.

“So damn sweet.”

Her mouth parts as her fingers go slack. I catch her panties before they fall, sliding them into my shirt pocket.

“Lean back and close your eyes.” I want her to forget the world around us, consumed only by my voice and the warmth of my hands on her.

This time, she doesn’t hesitate to follow my command, tipping her head back, lashes resting against her flushed cheeks.

Her chest rises and falls, each breath deep and measured as if she’s already given herself over to what comes next, her legs falling open in invitation. The sight damn near undoes me.

My hand drifts along her side, brushing over her hips, leaving a path of goose bumps behind, before settling on her bare thigh. I slowly make my way to her core, running my fingers through her wetness.

“You’re dripping wet for me, sugar.”

Her eyes flutter open, giving me a mischievous smile. “Do something about it.”

I answer by sliding a finger inside her tight pussy, her moan vibrates between us, drawing me deeper into her heat.

My cock is painfully hard, but all that matters is watching her fall apart beneath my touch.

My thumb finds her swollen clit, and when she groans, I’m torn between looking at her soaked center and the bliss written all over her face.

I drink in the sight of Briar’s dilated eyes, parted lips, and the way her gaze tracks mine, dazed and hungry. Her frame quivers, melting into my side as I draw needy sounds from that sinful mouth of hers, and I’m unable to resist stealing a kiss .

The way she grinds against my palm is downright desperate, and she gasps as I slide in another finger and take my time exploring her.

“That’s it, darlin’. Ride my hand and show me what a good cowgirl you are.”

“Oh fuck,” she cries out.

Mesmerized, I watch her circle her hips, gripping my wrist, urging me on. The car sways, but she doesn’t notice. She’s too caught up in the heat building inside her, chasing a high far more intense than her fear of being suspended in the air.

She squirms when my hand stills, furrowing her brow.

“Why’d you stop?” she croaks.

“Because I’m not done with you yet.”

There’s no telling how long we’ll be stuck up here, so I intend to draw her orgasm out.

I give her another scorching kiss, my free hand working to unfasten the top buttons of her shirt, and tug one of her bra cups down to expose her breast. I lean down and wrap my mouth around her nipple, gliding my tongue across the pink bud.

“Jensen.” My name falls from her lips like a prayer.

She inhales sharply as I alternate between flicking her nipple with my tongue and tugging it taut with my teeth.

As I lavish her breast with kisses, I continue moving my fingers in and out of her, using short strokes, never going more than knuckle-deep.

She gives a soft huff as she shifts, her body quivering beneath my hand.

Each movement fuels a craving only I can satisfy, and it’s damn exhilarating to elicit this kind of reaction. She tips her head back, her brown eyes meeting mine as she lets out a breathless gasp.

“So good,” she groans loudly.

“Easy, sweetheart; keep that up and the folks in the other cars might think we’re putting on a show. ”

Her pupils grow wide, the flush on her cheeks deepening as she lets out another needy sound.

“You want everyone to hear how good I make you feel?” I growl in her ear.

Briar sinks her teeth into her lower lip, nodding as she clenches around me.

She lets out another soft moan when my thumb moves back to her clit, and I catch her mouth with mine, muffling the noise.

Her reaction to the idea of being heard is insanely sexy, but her sweet sounds are meant for my ears only.

I’m rock hard watching her wind tighter with every plunge of my fingers. Sensing that she needs a push over the edge, I apply pressure to her clit, sending her shattering around my hand. She lets out a strangled cry that I swallow with another kiss.

She’s stunning, closing her eyes as she surrenders to the fading waves of ecstasy. I’ve imagined her coming undone with my hand wrapped around my cock more times than I can count, but no fantasy compares to the reality of witnessing it in person.

As she comes down from her high, she goes limp in my arms. I slowly pull my hand from her, bringing my fingers to my mouth, and suck them clean. I groan, savoring the taste of her sweet essence on my tongue.

Her eyes flutter open, a bright smile crossing her face. The fair lights bathe her in a golden glow as she tosses her head back, laughing. She looks so at ease, and I smile back, proud to be the reason she’s so carefree.

Briar moves her hand to my pants, where the outline of my cock is visible, but I place my hand over hers.

She tilts her head, confused. “I want to take care of you.”

I lift her hand to my lips and place a kiss to the back of it. “This was about you .”

I fasten the buttons of her shirt, and just as I’m smoothing her skirt, the Ferris wheel lurches back into motion. Briar’s hand shoots out to grip my arm .

“Still afraid of the Ferris wheel?” I murmur, taking her hand in mine.

“It’s still not my top choice,” she admits, leaning closer. “But I wouldn’t have minded being stuck with you for a bit longer.”

I lean my forehead against hers. “Don’t worry, darlin’. That was only the beginning.”

We have the rest of the night to ourselves, and I plan to make the most of it.