He leans in, brushing his lips across mine and kissing me. He’s tenderness and hunger. Passion and restraint. His hands smooth my hair, cup my cheeks, one lands on my hip, bracing me. I loop my arms around his neck. The soft hairs tickle my palm. I run my fingers along his scalp and he hums low.
He smiles into our kiss and says, “Don’t stop doing that. It feels amazing.”
His hands hold me in place while my world shifts. We pause, barely breaking contact. His face is so close I feel the warmth of his breath across my still-sensitive lips.
“Carli.” His voice is barely audible.
“Cody,” I answer him. Then I run my hand through his hair again, front to back, dragging my nails lightly along his scalp.
His eyes flutter shut and he hums—a gravelly rumble from his chest.
“You’ve found my Achilles’ heel on our first night together,” he says with a smile. “I’m in big trouble.”
“I’ll definitely be using this to my advantage,” I tease him.
“Please do,” he teases back, leaning in to place a soft kiss on my lips again. I cup his jaw, running my hands over the stubble that’s been begging for my touch all night. He rests his forehead on mine, running his hand down my hair and sighing contentedly.
He pulls back, glancing at the truck clock and groaning.
“We both have early mornings,” he says. “I want to play hookey.”
“I wish we could.” I really do. “But as you said … we haul hay before you see your bae.” I barely get the words out before we’re both snort-laughing.
“Farm rap. Who knew?” Cody says through his laughter.
“Yeah,” I say. “I’m a woman of many talents.”
“This, I did know.” He says it with such determined confidence, my breath stalls.
“Thanks.”
He runs his hand down my hair again, letting his palm rest on my shoulder before he says, “We’d better go. I could stay here all night, but … you know.”
“Hay before bae,” I say again. And we laugh in a way that feels so familiar, but brand new.
Without another word, he pops his door open and jogs around to open my door.
“Such a gentleman,” I say.
“I’m definitely exercising restraint,” he says.
He clasps my hand and we walk over to my truck, our steps slow and deliberate. When we’re just outside my door, he leans in and gives me one more soft kiss, unhurried and tender.
“Good night, Carli,” he says, giving my hand a light squeeze.
I almost ask him when we’ll see one another again, but I don’t want to pop the bubble we’re living in with more reality.
He opens my door and holds it for me as I climb into the driver’s seat. Then he shuts the door and pats it once. I start the engine, my eyes never leaving his. I reluctantly back away from him, onto the dark road, lit by the same moon. Only everything’s changed now.
Chapter 16
Cody
A man on a farm sees a lot of things
he never sees in town.
~ John Steinbeck
