I head out of town and follow the directions Viper gave me when I asked for locations I could bring Annistyn to tonight.It doesn’t take us long to get to the overgrown path others have driven leading into the woods.I know Annistyn doesn’t necessarily like this, but I think she’ll enjoy it once she realizes the woods aren’t that deep and we’ll be in an open field with the trees only behind us.
“This isn’t a regular forest,” I tell her when I feel her body start to tense up beneath my touch.“The trees are only right here and then we’ll be in an open field.If you still don’t like it, we can leave and find somewhere else to go.”
“Okay.I trust you, Kreed,” she says and those words make my heart race because I know it’s not easy for her to trust anyone.Even now she still has trust issues and that’s to be expected with her past.
Before I can say anything else, the trees disappear from sight and nothing but a huge variety of wildflowers fills the field in front of us.Annistyn gasps in her seat.There’s a sea of color and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.With the sun starting to go down, the flowers all seem to glow as I turn the truck around so the bed faces the field and Annistyn won’t see the trees behind us.Her focus doesn’t need to be on them when she has issues being surrounded by them.
“Give me a minute to get everythin’ set up, Pixie,” I tell her once the truck is parked and I shut the engine off.
Getting out, I open the back door and the first thing I do is slide open the window so we’ll be able to hear the music even when we’re not in the truck.Next, I grab all the blankets and pillows I put in here while Annistyn was still getting ready.Viper brought up an air mattress from the clubhouse I had him buy while I was still working and got it set up in the bed of the truck.With my hands full of everything, I get back out and head for the bed of the truck.Opening the tailgate, I laugh when I take in the straps he used to hold the mattress down and in place while I was driving.Climbing up in the truck, I start to lay out the blankets and pillows so we’ll be comfortable.
It takes me longer than I thought it would, but everything is finally ready to go as I jump down and head for Annistyn’s door.Opening it, I help her down and keep my hand on her hip while I lean in to grab the bag of food.Lacing our fingers together, I walk her to the bed of the truck and let her have a minute to take it all in.
“Do you like it?”I ask her as I start to get nervous because I have no clue how she’ll respond to this.
“I love it, Kreed.This is perfect and exactly how I want my first date to be.Away from everyone with just the two of us.Are you sure this is something you’ll enjoy?”she responds, looking up at me as I lift her in my arms and place her in the truck.
“I’ll like anythin’ I do with you, Pixie.This is perfect,” I tell her honestly as I get back up in the truck with the bag of food and let her get settled on the mattress before I join her and start handing out the food.
A small cooler I just noticed rests in the corner by the top of the mattress and I open it to find bottles of water, soda, and a chocolate shake inside.Fucking Viper.Pulling out the shake, I hand it to Annistyn and watch as her eyes light up.She’s got fried chicken with mashed potatoes and one of those vegetable medleys.I got a burger, fries, and peas for my dinner.
“Pixie, you already know you’re mine.I’m your man and you’re my woman.I’ll wait to claim you as my ol’ lady and propose to you until you let me know you’re ready for that step.It will happen though.What I want to know is what you want from me.I’ve told you how I feel and what I want, but you really haven’t said much in return.I want your honesty and to know you understand that everythin’ between us happens at your pace,” I say as she takes a bite of her chicken and closes her eyes while she savors the taste of food in her mouth.
Annistyn finishes the food in her mouth while I pick up my burger and start eating.I’ll give her all the time in the world to respond if that’s what she needs.I know she’s thought about being with me but she doesn’t know how to voice her feelings about the situation.This is all a first for her and she deserves to have the time to process everything and work it out for herself.Annistyn has rebuilt herself from the ground up and everything she feels and thinks is new to her.Things she never had the chance to experience before because of her past.I can’t, and won’t, hold that against her.
“I’ve accepted that I’m yours, Kreed.There’s never been any doubt in my mind about it if I’m being honest with myself and you.From the second you walked in that warehouse and my eyes locked on you, I knew you’d change my life in ways I could only dream of.You’re my best friend, the man I am starting to fall in love with and truly realize that’s what I feel for you, and the only person who will ever know every part of me.I want to give you all of my firsts and build a life with you.I want to create a million memories with you and for the first time, I want to stand in front of the camera to capture every second with you,” she says, putting her food down as she turns to look at me while she talks.“I’m not ready for you to claim me or to get engaged.I will be ready for that eventually, but I like how we’re doing things now.We’re getting to know one another and figuring out the dynamics of our relationship.”
“I agree.I want to have all of your firsts, Annistyn.To be the only person who knows your soul and feels every beat of your heart.I want to be the only man who knows how soft your skin is, what you taste like, and to hear you moan my name.No, I don’t want you just for sex.That will happen when you’re ready.I will make all of those memories with you and gladly hold the camera to capture them all.For now, we’ll date and continue livin’ together.We can have our alone time at the house or on our dates.I think we should have at least one date night a week.We can take turns plannin’ them if that’s what you want,” I say as Annistyn takes in my words and I notice the blush on her cheeks and neck.I might have gone a little too far, but I’m being absolutely honest with her and what I want.
“That sounds perfect,” she says, picking her food back up and eating.
For a while, we remain silent with the sounds of nature, music from the truck, and our eating filling the air around us.Annistyn keeps looking at me like I’m not going to catch her as she eats and drinks her shake.I open a bottle of water and take a long pull before replacing the cap and setting it down next to me again.When we’re done eating, I get her out of the truck as the music switches to a slow song.
“May I have this dance, Pixie?”I ask her, my voice filling the night as the stars come out and the moon floats above us.The only other light is from the headlights of my truck.
“Always,” she responds as I step closer and pull her into my arms.
Annistyn wraps her arms around my neck while I keep mine around her lower back, my fingers brushing the top of her ass.I slide one hand under her sweater and feel the skin of her back.It’s smooth with small raised bumps from the scars on her skin.Annistyn tenses for the briefest moment and I know she doesn’t want me feeling them.
“Doesn’t change a fuckin’ thing, Pixie.They’re part of your story and I plan on kissin’ every fuckin’ one of them to show you they don’t change a damn thing,” I say in a whisper as I continue dancing with her.Annistyn has never danced before and it shows when her feet get tripped up every now and then.
Annistyn doesn’t say a word as she rests her head on my chest and closes her eyes.I lean my head on hers and just take in the moment.When the song changes and switches to a faster one, our movements remain the same.Together we slow dance until Annistyn starts to yawn and I lead her to the back of the truck once again.We lay down next to one another and I pull a blanket over us as she looks up at the stars.I point out a few constellations I know while she shares stories she’s read about them in one of the books her mom left behind.When her yawns start to come faster, I know it’s time to take her home.
I clean everything up and put it back in the bag so none of our garbage gets left behind.Annistyn helps me fold the blankets and put the pillows in a pile so we can load them in the backseat.I make sure the mattress is still tied down and won’t fly away from us before I help her in the passenger seat and lean in to kiss her.Since we live together, I won’t kiss her once we’re in the house.I don’t want her to feel pressured at all to have sex.Annistyn and I talk a little on the way home as she moves to sit closer to me when I’m stopped at a light.She rests her head on my shoulder and I place a hand back on her thigh.I’ll never get tired of touching my girl.
