Arrogant Devil(90)

On our right, there’s nothing but cornfields. On the left, rolling hills and oak trees.

“Does this land belong to Blue Stone?”

He nods. “It starts back near the edge of town and stretches this way a couple miles.”

Good.

“Pull over up there, where the road cuts into the cornfield.”

“Why?”

“I want to see something.”

“A cornfield?”

Not exactly.

Despite the skepticism in his tone, he listens and pulls off the road. We dip between the rows of corn.

“Keep going.” The road turns to dirt and there’s nothing but stalks as far as the eye can see. We’re at least a mile from the main road, not another soul in sight.

“This is good,” I say, unbuckling my seatbelt and reaching into the back for his jacket.

He puts the truck in park and turns, a question in his eyes, but I don’t give it time to surface. I hop out of the truck and round the back so I can lower the tailgate and climb up. Fortunately, it’s empty and pretty clean—not that it would stop me if it wasn’t.

Jack cuts the engine and steps out, leaving the door open.

He doesn’t realize we’ll be staying a while.

“Might want to close your door or that overhead light will kill your battery.”

“Why don’t you tell me what you have planned?”

I shake out his jacket and drop it on the bed of the truck. I set my phone down and Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” plays softly from the speakers.

“Oh my god,” he says, shaking his head.

“Haven’t you figured it out by now?” I ask, stepping to the edge of the truck bed and leaning down to prop my hands on the ledge. I smirk and he steps right up so I can kiss him. His hand wraps around my neck and his fingers twine through my hair, keeping me bent there while he deepens the kiss.

His fingers massage my neck. His tongue skims against mine and my arms start shaking from the weight of holding myself up. I smile and break the kiss, pressing the back of my hand to my lips.

His eyes are alight with mischief, but he’s still there on the ground. Maybe I’ll need to do a bit more convincing.

I move to the first button on my sundress. There are five up top. Each one will reveal a little more of my pale cream bra—the same bra I wore the day we jumped off the rope swing.

“Y’know, I’m legally a single woman as of today.”

His brow arches, but his eyes are on my fingers as I slowly tug each button free.

“That means your excuses have all run out.”

He shakes his head and waves for me to get down. “Let me take you back to the farmhouse, to a bed.”

“This is a bed—well, a truck bed. Are you worried someone’ll see us?”

My taunt brings a little smirk to his lips. He wipes it away and glances down the road, contemplating something. I want to know what he’s thinking. I want to know how much more convincing it’ll take before he climbs up here.

All five buttons are free and I push the strap of my dress down my shoulder.

He’s watching me, mesmerized.

“Meredith,” he warns.

“Jack.”

His brown eyes implore me to get down, but I shake my head and offer up a sweet smile.

I’ve never stripped like this for a man, but it’s exhilarating. I know he wants me as much as I want him. I know he’s scared to hurt me, but I’m not as fragile as he thinks. In fact, I think I’ve proven pretty resilient these last couple months.

I push the second strap of my dress down, and—oops—the fabric falls to my waist. His eyes skim down, blazing a path across my bare skin. The humor is wiped clean. Now he’s looking at me like a man who’s a little bit angel and a whole lotta devil.

A summer breeze picks up strands of my hair and wraps me in a gentle warmth. Goose bumps bloom across my skin, and all the while, he stands there, watching me.

I tug the rest of my dress down and kick my shoes off with it. I’m standing there in my underwear, exposed and vulnerable. He could still force me to get down. He could drag me to the farmhouse and tuck me into bed, but I don’t think he wants to wait any longer either. I think he’s sick of being the responsible one.

With a groan and a tug of his hand through his hair, he turns and whips the truck door closed. The light cuts off and we’re left under the stars. I blink, trying to force my eyes to adjust faster, but the loss of that sense heightens all the rest. I’m jumpy and nervous as he rounds the truck and hops on up.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” he warns with a husky tone before his hands find my waist and he pulls me to face him.

My bare leg brushes against his denim-clad thigh and he squeezes, holding me tight. His chest crushes mine and I feel so small, so out of my league all of a sudden.

His head dips down and his breath hits my hair. I shiver even before he presses a kiss just below my ear.

“Have you ever had sex in the bed of a truck?” I ask, breathless.

He laughs. “I like to treat women a little better than that.”

“Oh yeah?”

He nuzzles against my ear. “I don’t think you realize how uncomfortable it’s going to be for you.”

I smirk and kiss his cheek. “Not if I’m on top.”