“Always take care of your horses and stock dogs,” David said, snapping me out of my thoughts yet again.
“Yes, sir. Take care of the horses and dogs,” I said halfheartedly.
David followed my eyes to where I was looking, and he let out a laugh. “Garrett, you can’t keep avoiding her.”
I snapped my head over to Billy, and he just shrugged his shoulders. Never taking my eyes off of Billy, I said, “I’m not avoiding her. I just…I just don’t know what to say to her. I mean, she deserves more than what I can give her. I can’t give her anything.”
David grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me to face him. “Excuse me? You can’t give her anything? What about love? Respect? A beautiful home sitting on one of the most beautiful countrysides God has graced us with. So, you’re not going to college. I didn’t go to college, and your daddy didn’t go to college. Do you think your mother would have been happier if your father had a law degree?”
I swallowed hard. “No, sir, I don’t think she would have been.”
David looked back out and motioned with his head. “You’re not even going to give her a chance to decide for herself? Son, you don’t make decisions about a woman’s feelings—ever. You let her decide on her own. They are her feelings, and only she knows them.”
I turned back to David and smiled as I whispered, “That sounds like something my father would say.”
David’s eyes began to fill with tears. He quickly wiped at his eyes and then looked me square in the eyes. “No one will ever take the place of your daddy, but I want you to know that I’m here for you, Garrett. You’re like my own son. I’ll always be here for you.”
My heart began beating harder in my chest, and for the first time since I’d held my mother in my arms on that fateful day, I wanted to cry. I nodded my head and barely said, “Thank you, sir. Thank you.”
Billy stood up and walked up to us. He slapped us both on the back. “Well, hell, this is nice and all, but you better get your ass out there, Garrett, and show that girl how much you care about her.”
I stuck my hand out and shook Billy’s hand and then David’s.
Billy started laughing. “Now, maybe we can go on a double date—you and Emma with Marg and me.”
I let out a laugh and turned to make my way out of the barn. Everyone had gone into the house by this point. I walked up the stairs as I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants. I took a deep breath and opened the door. I walked into the living room, and Emma was standing at the window, looking out at the west pasture.
She slowly turned around and smiled when she saw me. It wasn’t the same smile I’d been getting from everyone else. It was different. Her eyes sparkled, and her face flushed.
“Your mama’s packing up a picnic. I thought maybe we could go for a ride, if you’re up to it,” Emma said as she tilted her head.
She gave me a look I’d never seen before. My dick jumped in my pants, and I had to shake my head to clear the thoughts I was having.
“That, um…that sounds, um…” Holy shit, what is wrong with me? I can’t even think clearly.
“Yesterday was my birthday. The least you can do is take me on a picnic, Mr. Mathews.”
My mother and Mrs. Birk came walking up behind me, and it was the first time in weeks I’d heard my mother laughing.
“Why, Garrett Mathews, you’re a mess. Run and clean up, and I’ll have Pete saddle up some horses for you and Emma Rose.”
I winked at Emma and turned to face my mother. “Yes, ma’am.”
Five minutes later, I was walking Emma down to the barn. I helped her up onto my buckskin horse, Jack. I loved that damn horse, and if I ever had a son someday, I was going to name him Jack.
“What’s this guy’s name?” Emma asked as she got atop the horse.
“Jack,” I said with a smile as I handed her the quilt.
“Jack. I like that name.”
Yep, I just fell in love with her even more. Wait, am I in love with Emma? We’ve never even been on a date. How in the world could I possibly love her?
I grabbed the basket and tied it onto the back of Jack’s saddle. Then, I led him and Buttercup out of the barn. When I got on Buttercup, she started getting feisty with me.
“Whoa, Buttercup girl. Settle down.”
Emma looked at me with a shocked face. “Your horse’s name is Buttercup?”
I wanted to laugh because I knew she was thinking back to the night of the dance when I’d called her Buttercup. “It sure is. She is feisty but still a lady, stubborn but sweet as hell, and strong but gentle, too. She’s my Buttercup.”
Emma gave me a crooked smile that melted my heart on the spot. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make her smile like that every day for the rest of our lives.
As we made our way to my favorite oak tree in the west pasture, I let Emma do all the talking. She had an amazing sense of humor, and for the first time in weeks, I felt alive and happy.
We rode up to the big oak and Emma let out a gasp. “What a beautiful oak tree.”
I smiled and nodded my head. “I know. This is my favorite place to come. I could sit here for hours and just think.”
“A thinking spot, huh?” Emma said with a giggle.
“Something like that,” I said with a wink.
I helped Emma lay out the quilt she had brought, and then we set out all the food my mother and Mrs. Birk had packed up. I’d never laughed so hard in my life as I listened to Emma tell me about the first time she swam in a river.
“I did. I screamed the whole time. I don’t like swimming in water I can’t see through.”
I chuckled. “Why?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fear of not knowing what’s in the water. Oh, and don’t get me started about the snakes.”
“No wonder your friends wouldn’t let you go back with them to the river.” I took a sip of the sweet tea my mother had made.
I watched as Emma drank her tea, and afterward, some of it was still on her lips. She used her tongue to get it off, and my heart dropped to my stomach.
I began praying, God, please give me the strength to take my time with this girl. She means so much to me.
She slowly smiled and began chewing on her lower lip. “Garrett?” she whispered.
I swallowed hard and said, “Yes.”
“I’m still waiting,” she said with a small smile.
I shook my head, confused. “Waiting?”
She nodded her head. “The promise.”
My heart began beating so fast that I was sure she could hear it. I put down my tea and moved closer to her. I’d never been so damn nervous in my life. It wasn’t like I’d never kissed a girl before, but Emma…Emma was different. She slowly began lying back as her beautiful gray eyes locked with mine. I moved my eyes over her body. Her chest was moving up and down so fast.
Don’t mess this up, Mathews.
I looked back into her eyes and whispered, “I want to make all your dreams come true, Em. I want you to take me into your heart, like I’ve taken you into mine. I never want to be apart.”
She smiled and whispered, “Garrett, I’ll be yours till the end of time.”
I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. I tried my best not to let out a moan. I slowly began kissing her as I moved my tongue along her bottom lip.
Shit. I can taste the sweet tea on her lips.
She reached her hand up and pushed it through my hair. She let out the sweetest sound and opened her mouth more for me to explore it. Our tongues moved slowly at first as we learned each other. It didn’t take long before the kiss turned passionate. I wanted to crawl into her body and stay there forever. Every bad memory of the last month completely vanished the moment I tasted her. I couldn’t try to describe what she tasted like. It was heaven…just pure heaven.
She grabbed a fistful of my hair, causing me to moan.
Then, she pulled her mouth away and gasped for air. “Touch me, Garrett.??
?
I shook my head and looked at her, confused. “I am touching you, Buttercup.”
She smiled, and the flush that covered her cheeks about killed me on the spot.
“Touch me, Garrett. Please touch me. I need to feel your hands on me. I need you to ease the feeling I get every time you are near me.”
I pulled back and stared at her. “Emma, I…”
I watched as she began pulling up her shirt. I didn’t think my dick would ever be as hard as it was in this moment.
She looked into my eyes and whispered, “I’ve never…I’ve never been touched before. I want you to touch me, Garrett. Please.”
“Emma…are you sure you want to do this?” I asked as my voice cracked.
She took my hand and moved it down her chest, her stomach, and then even lower until she stopped when my hand was on the inside of her thigh. I closed my eyes and prayed to God that I wouldn’t come on myself as soon as I touched her. I moved my hand closer to her knickers, and she held her breath as she closed her eyes. I instantly stopped, and her eyes snapped open.
“Please don’t stop.”
I slowly moved my hand up until I felt her silk knickers.
“Garrett…oh God.”
“Emma, I don’t know if I can…”
She ran her hand through my hair and smiled at me. I slipped my hand inside her knickers and brushed my fingers across her soft lips.
“Emma…” I whispered as she pushed her hips into my hand. I slowly slipped one finger inside her. “God, Em…you’re so…”
“What? I’m so what?” she asked as she panted.
I licked my lips as I looked at her lips. “Wet. You’re so wet, Emma. I should stop.”
She thrashed her head back and forth. “No! God, no…please, Garrett.”
I closed my eyes and gently pushed another finger inside her. She was so tight, and I could practically feel her pulling my fingers in. I leaned down and began kissing her neck.
Then, I moved my lips up next to her ear. “Emma,” I whispered.
I stretched her a little, and she whimpered. I stopped, and she thrust her hips into my hand.
“Garrett, do something…please…”
Do something? What does she mean, do something?
I slowly slipped another finger in and began moving in and out faster.
“Oh…that feels…I’ve never felt anything so good. Faster, Garrett. Go faster.”
I was pretty sure if my heart beat any faster, I was going to pass out. I brushed my thumb across her clit, and she bucked harder against my hand.
“Yes!” she called out.
I did it again, but this time, I kept my thumb there. I rubbed it against her clit as I moved my fingers in and out of her body. I wanted nothing more than to be inside her. I wanted to feel what it would be like to make love to her.
“What’s happening? Oh God…Garrett.”
Her eyes locked on mine as she began to call out my name. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was so beautiful, and the fact that I was giving her an orgasm, her first one, made this moment even more beautiful. I leaned down and began kissing her since she was calling out my name so loudly. The last thing we needed was for someone to hear her. She pushed her hands into my hair and kissed me back with such intensity that I wanted to strip off my clothes and just take her as mine. I could feel her squeezing down on my fingers, and I’d never in my life been so turned-on.
She slowly stopped moving her hips, but I could still feel her body reacting to her orgasm. I pulled back and looked into her eyes. The smile on her face caused me to smile. I leaned down and kissed her neck as I took my fingers gently out of her.
I moved my lips next to her ear and whispered, “I love you, Buttercup. I want to make you feel that good always.”
When I lifted my head to see her face, she had a tear rolling down her cheek.
Fuck. I knew I shouldn’t have done it. I knew it.
“Say that again,” she whispered.
I looked at her, confused. “Say what?”
She let a small sob escape her as she reached her hand up and placed it on the side of my face. “Tell me that you love me.”
I let out the breath I had been holding as I sat up and pulled her up with me. I pushed her skirt down and brought her onto my lap. When she felt my hard-on, she raised her eyebrows, and a beautiful rosy blush moved across her cheeks.
I pushed a piece of hair back away from her eyes and smiled at her. “I love you, Emma Rose Birk. I’m going to marry you someday, and I’m going to have my wicked way with you anytime I want.”
She moved a little against me, and I moaned.
“Garrett, should I…I mean…would you like me to make you feel good?”
I laughed just a little and shook my head. “Don’t worry about me, Em. I’ll be okay. We better head back before your father comes looking for us.”
Emma stood up and fixed her hair, and then she smoothed down her skirt. I started gathering up all the food and putting the containers back into the basket, but all I could think about was Emma and the way she’d called my name as she had that look in her eyes. I needed to get home and get away from her as fast as possible, or her father would be able to see on my face how much I wanted her.
After I tied the basket onto the back of Jack’s saddle, I turned to see Emma holding the folded quilt. She was biting on her lower lip.
I walked up to her and placed my finger under her chin. “Emma, look at me. Do you regret what just happened?”
Her eyes widened, and she said, “No. My God, no. I’ve been dreaming about that for months. You don’t know how badly I’ve wanted to touch myself to ease the feeling I get in my lower stomach every time I think about you.”
I smiled and tilted my head. “You’ve wanted that, Em?”
She nodded. “I’ve had dreams about you—very descriptive dreams of us…making love. Each time I woke up, I was touching myself, but I quickly stopped because I wanted it to be you. I wanted you to give me my first orgasm. Garrett, I have to be honest with you. I don’t think I can wait until we are married to make love. I want to feel you inside me.”
Jesus…I’ve died and gone to heaven. “Emma, you’re gonna kill me.”
She let out a giggle and held up the quilt. “I want to make love on this quilt for the first time. I made it a few months ago, and the whole time I was making it, I had thoughts of you and me…” She stopped talking and looked away.
I brought her face back to me and pierced her eyes with mine. “What’s wrong?”
She began crying, and I brushed away her tears with my thumbs.
“I feel so guilty because the whole time I was pushing you away, I just…I just…”
I held my breath. “You just what?”
She closed her eyes and then opened them again. “I just wanted to be with you.”
I took her in my arms and began kissing her. When she let out a small moan, it traveled through my whole body, and I trembled. I pulled her closer to me and pressed myself into her stomach. I needed her to know how much I wanted her.
That was when I heard someone clear his throat. I slowly pulled back and stepped away from Emma. I turned to see David sitting on top of his horse, looking at us.
“Emma, go on, and get onto Jack. Garrett, take Emma on back now. I’m sure her parents are waiting and ready to go. After they leave, I’d like for you to meet me in the barn.”
Emma quickly walked up to Jack, and I ran over to help her up.
Then, I jumped up onto Buttercup and looked at David. “Yes, sir. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
As we rode back to the house, Emma looked over at me. “I’m so sorry if I got you in trouble, Garrett, but I’ll never be sorry for what we did. It was…magical.”
I smiled at her. “I’ll never regret it either, Emma.”
She giggled and looked away.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
She looked at me through her beautiful long eyela
shes. “Do I look different? Will my parents be able to tell?”
I threw my head back and laughed.
“Do not laugh at me, Garrett Mathews. It was an honest question.”
I shook my head and said, “No, Buttercup. You don’t look different, except for the beautiful flush that has been on your cheeks since you came on my fingers.”
She let out a gasp. “Garrett Mathews, you shouldn’t talk to me like that.”
I smiled and looked ahead. When I peeked over at her and saw the smile on her face, I knew she had liked what I just said to her. I made a note to myself that I would be romantic as hell the first time I made love to her, but the second time…the second time I was going to see just how naughty my Emma truly was.
After putting the horses up we walked back up to the house, holding hands, I glanced up and saw Mrs. Birk and my mother sitting on the porch. They were both smiling at us, but my mother’s smile faded for a brief second before returning.
That’s weird.
“Did y’all enjoy the picnic?” Mrs. Birk asked.
Emma did a little jump and said, “Yes! We enjoyed it very much. Garrett took me to his favorite oak tree, and we laid out the quilt and had a lovely time talking.” She glanced back at me and winked.
I was pretty sure my face turned bright as the sun.
The screen door opened, and Dr. Birk stepped out. “Ladies, I do believe it is time to leave.” He turned back and shook Uncle Pete’s hand. Then, he walked up to me.
I reached out my hand and said, “Thank you for allowing me to take Emma on a picnic, sir. It really helped me to spend some time with her. She makes me laugh with her stories.” I looked at Emma.
“I’m not surprised. The girl has always been good at telling stories. Even as a little girl, she knew how to make us laugh.”
Emma looked down. “Daddy, please, you’re embarrassing me.”
Emma’s mother giggled and said, “Charles, don’t embarrass your daughter.”