Page 12 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

“Wait, let me grab something for my arms.” She quickly entered the house, grabbed her favorite jean jacket, and left a note that she was leaving with Ben. She was a little breathless when she returned, “Okay. I’m ready!”

Ben was ever so careful when he helped her onto Whisper, especially since she was carrying precious cargo. Once Dillyn was settled atop, he hopped on. For a minute, they just sat there with Dillyn sitting in front of him, cradled between his arms. Ben held her tight while his hands rested on her non-existent belly.

Content, Dillyn released a soft sigh, “I love it up here. It’s unlike any feeling I’ve ever felt. I feel . . . free.”

Ben felt the exact same way. They marveled at the moment for a little bit, then he clicked his tongue, gently pressed his heels into Whisper’s sides, and they began to move. “We need to make the most of our rides while we can because before long, you’re going to be too far along for it to be safe.”

Dillyn leaned back into his chest and basked in how good she felt.“I’ll deal with that when the time comes. For now, I’m just going to enjoy the ride.”

*****

How’d he do it?Dillyn was amazed at Ben’s thoughtfulness.He had chosen the most magical spot on her property for dinner and to watch the sunset. Dillyn took it all in as she glanced around in wonder. “It’s so beautiful here. How do you always manage to find the most perfect places?”

Ben was pleased that Dillyn loved the area he’d chosen. He could see it in her eyes, and that filled him with pride. He lifted a shoulder in a little shrug, “You forget, old man Steele and my father were best friends. I know his property, well, yours now, almost as well as mine.”

Lana would have hated it.Nope.That chapter of his life was done. Ben refused to let any thoughts of his deceased wife taint this moment. Dillyn was his future, and this night was about her and moving their relationship to the next level. More and more, she was opening herself up to him. Soon, Ben hoped Dillyn would trust him completely, not just with her body but also with her heart.

Ben helped Dillyn get down from Whisper. “It’ll just take a minute to set everything up.” He walked to the rear of the horse and opened the pack that was hitched to the back of her, then handed Dillyn the picnic basket while he held on to a couple of thick blankets.

Ben tucked one of them underneath his arm and spread the other on the ground, where they could watch day turn into night through a small opening in the trees. “Have a seat while I finish getting things situated.”

Dillyn felt useless, “Let me help do something.”

“Nah. I’ve got this. You’re fine right here,” He patted the ground, “enjoy letting me pamper you.”

Begrudgingly, Dillyn sat down with the picnic basket and decided to unload it until Ben stopped her.

“When I said I’ve got it, that’s what I meant.” His voice was stern even though it was laced with a smile, “Get your hand out of that basket.”

Dillyn raised her hand and saluted him. She giggled, “Aye-aye, Captain.” She resigned herself to watching Ben create their own slice of heaven. He easily rolled a fallen tree trunk closer to where she sat. The muscles in his arms bunched and tightened as he worked. It was a thing of beauty. She sucked her lower lip into her mouth and gently nibbled on the soft fleshy part while thinking of touching his body, including that big muscle bulging between his legs.

She trembled.

No doubt about it, the Gods sculpted Ben, and they gifted him with a keen sense of how to use his gifts. The man had an innate knowledge of where to touch, taste, and stroke to make her body come alive.

Dillyn’s little kitty clenched and pulsed at the thought. The longer she watched him work, the more intense that dull ache from earlier became.Girl, calm down.Dillyn squeezed her thighs together, hoping it would keep her building desire in check. She was amazed at how she’d gone from having zero sexual urges, to becoming a raging sexual lunatic.

A little embarrassed, Dillyn blushed. She was grateful that Ben was too busy to see her lusting after him.

Slowly, she exhaled a long breath.It’s official. I’m addicted to this man.She wondered if he enjoyed having sex with her as much as she did. Self-doubt began to creep into her brain.He’s a man. They like sex. It could be with anybody.

“Stop.” She told herself. Ben was trying to create a romantic evening.No self-sabotaging with negative thoughts.

Ben was completely oblivious to Dillyn’s lustful thoughts and misgivings. He was singularly focused on making her feel special. After rolling the tree trunk next to her, Ben covered it with the other blanket so she could comfortably lean against it.

Her eyes closed, and she released a small moan. “I feel like a princess.”

“Nah . . . that’s not good enough. My job is to make you feel like a queen.” Ben returned to Whisper and miraculously pulled out another, thinner Afghan.

“Whisper can carry all of that?” Dillyn couldn’t keep the laughter out of her voice as Ben kept grabbing things from that pack. “What else is in there, a refrigerator?”

He winked. “Maybe. Is that a request? Will it make you feel like a queen? If so, I might have to figure something out.”

Dillyn giggled like a teenager in love for the first time. To some degree, she was. Although not a teenager, but the butterflies she was feeling in her stomach were real. It was different from what she had experienced with Steven. If Dillyn wanted romance with him, she had to be the one to initiate and execute the plans. Being on the other side felt wonderful. “Let me rephrase. I feel like a queen even without the refrigerator and am in awe at the endless number of items you keep pulling out of the bottom of that thing.”

Ben handed Dillyn the little blanket, “Good. Now wrap yourself in that until I get the fire going.” It didn’t take long before he had it blazing. Soon after, they ate and sat contentedly nestled in each other’s arms, watching the most beautiful bursts of deep yellows and reds morph into different arrays of dark purples until the eventual arrival of the calm of inky darkness. It was the most beautiful sunset Dillyn had ever seen.

The glow from the fire was now their main source of light. Dillyn looked up at Ben. “Thank you for this.”

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