Page 40 of Out of Place

When he comes over to Sugar, I attempt to swing my leg over the saddle but fall straight into Landon. His arms steady me until I can get my feet on the ground. I swear this man has seen me do so many embarrassing things. I don’t know how he could possibly still like me.

He ties Sugar up next to his horse and takes my hand. We walk down a path in between a row of sunflowers.

“Give me your phone,” he says. Without question, I hand it over, and he opens the camera. He pulls me close and takes a picture of us with the sunflowers as the backdrop.

We both look tired and have dirt marks on our faces. I have zero makeup on, and hair strands are coming out of my long braid. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have allowed my picture to be taken unless I looked perfect.

But this. . . this is us. This is how we see each other. He doesn’t know the socialite who attends lavish parties every other night and only wears designer brands. He knows Olivia, the girl who had to learn to do hard work and get her hands dirty. Like really dirty. I still can’t get all the dirt from under my fingernails.

It’s almost like I’m a completely different person now.

“What was that for?” I ask when he hands me my phone back.

“I wanted you to have a picture of the day we had our first kiss,” he says casually.

My eyes go wide, and I swallow hard. “What?”

He turns to me and cradles my face in his hands. His dark eyes bore into mine. “I’ve been dying to kiss you, Olivia. I can’t wait another day.”

“O-ok,” I stammer.

He inches towards my face, tilting my chin up. I can’t believe this is happening. He’s finally going to kiss me. And I can’t believe how badly I want him to kiss me. I never usually care about kissing. It’s boring and a means to an end for me.

But with Landon? I think I’m going to enjoy this. No, I know I am.

His lips graze mine lightly in a whisper of a kiss as my eyes flutter closed. He pulls back a tiny bit before finally pulling me closer and kissing me with everything he has.

His lips are soft but claiming. His hand remains steady at the back of my neck, holding me to him as he kisses and kisses me. I open for him, letting him explore my mouth. Our tongues dance together, and I feel like I can’t get enough of him, can’t get close enough to him. My hands grip the back of his shirt like I’m holding on for dear life.

A moan escapes me, and I feel his lips form a smile against mine, but he doesn’t stop. I think I would kill him if he did. I never want this kiss to end.

His free hand snakes around my waist and grabs my ass, bringing me closer. I want to climb him. I want him to lay us down in the fucking dirt so I can ride him. I want every piece of this man, and I want to give myself to him in return.

But when he finally pulls away from my mouth, I know that’s not going to happen today.

I’m breathless as he studies my face, trying to gauge my reaction. I hope he can see how badly I want him.

“That was one hell of a first kiss, Landon,” I manage to say.

“There’s plenty more where that came from, sweetheart.” He chuckles, his lips swollen from our kiss.

“I want more. Right now.” My body is on fire with need. I can’t imagine not experiencing all of him.

He gives me a gentle peck. “That’ll happen soon enough. Trust me, I want it just as bad as you do. But I’m not fucking you for the first time in the dirt.”

“Why not? I don’t care.” Is that true, or am I just in a kiss-induced stupor? Dirt and I don’t usually mix. I’m not sure why I think I would enjoy having sex in it, but that should tell him how badly I want this.

“Olivia, you know you don’t want that. I’m doing things right with you. I just couldn’t wait another two days until our date to kiss you,” he explains.

I groan and put my forehead on his chest. His heart is pounding almost as fast as mine. He kisses my head. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. It’ll be worth the wait.”

For some reason, I really believe that. I think Landon knows exactly what my body wants, and that’s why I want it so damn badly.

“Come on. I’ve got to get you home. Dottie’d kill me if I had you out here after the sun goes down.”

Reluctantly, I let him lead us back to our horses, and we make our way back to the main house.

CHAPTER 15