Page 12 of Teach’s Hayride with the Baller

“Count your steps.” I grabbed the horse’s bridle, pulling him to a halt.

“Thanks, Zack. He’s been turning around so long, I thought I’d—uh, hi,” Caleb stammered, looking somewhat lost between staring at my date and not knowing what to do with himself now that his horse was under control.

“One hayride please, Caleb,” I said firmly.

“Yes. Of course. Hop right on.” He gestured at the back of the cart as his horse took a testing step forward.

Hazel watched the horse, who ignored her. My hands found her waist and I relished the super sweet sound she made when I lifted her clean off the ground and deposited her butt first in the hay at the back of the cart.

“Oof,” she whispered, though I was fairly sure I hadn't put her down hard at all.

“Too rough?” I rested my hands on her thighs.

“No,” she breathed as I leaned in.

“Good.” I squeezed her velvet bat covered knees just where her skirt stopped, and jumped up next to her. “We’re good,” I called back to Caleb, thumping a fist on the wooden cart floor.

“So what happened no–ow!” Hazel rocked forward.

I grinned, hauling her backward a few inches to a safer space from the edge. We settled in the hay that jabbed through my shirt as the cart rocked forward at a sedate pace.

“Now, you get to see what Broomcorn Hollow can really do.” I rubbed my cheek against her hair and she let me. “This is one of my favorite rides.” My hand rested just under the edge of her knitted top thing, against the t-shirt she wore under that. And beneath, when I made long strokes over her spine, she had on…

Nothing. Her skin felt smooth. I kept my face clear of expression as I rubbed there with light fingers, waiting for Hazel to push me away.

The cart bumped over the uneven ground. Her hand gripped my knee through my jeans.

“I think I need a seatbelt, Mister Sports Jock,” she mumbled.

“Mhhm.” Soft glows from tiny solar lights wound through the corn led the way. Some were directional. Others were shaped like bats to match her tights, and others were ghosties.

“Cute,” Hazel murmured, wiggling slightly in my hold, though she didn’t push me away. A tiny sigh left her as I brushed the swell of her breast.

“Yeah. They are.” I let her wiggle for a little longer as the cart led us deeper into the maze.

After a moment, Hazel looked up at me. “How long is this?”

I counted off in my head. “About three miles.”

“Three miles?”

I shrugged. “It’s easiest when the turns are evenly sp⁠—”

“Fuck!” she shrieked as one of the not so glowing ghosties detached from the corn maze wall and launched toward, gurgling ominously.

Even I jumped, not quite ready for that surprise. “Damn,” I muttered, gathering her closer. “I had no idea you had such a filthy mouth, woman.”

The ghost retreated, cackling. The sound echoed weirdly then cut off as we made a sharp right hand turn behind a thick layer of stalks.

“Not funny.” Hazel twisted, looking around. “This going backward thing sucks.”

“Does it?” I caught her chin and tipped her head back. Before the thought fully formed in my mind, though I gave her time to shove me right off the edge of the cart if that was to be my destination for the night, I cupped her jaw and lowered my mouth over hers.

The sound she made for me was soft and sweet and sexy as fuck, especially when the tip of her tongue touched mine. I nearly groaned and pushed her back into the hay, but the bumpy ground reminded me that we had an audience. Instead, I wove my fingers through her hair, gliding my tongue along hers. Light hands pressed to my chest. Too fast. Damnit. I swore my heart stalled in my chest until her fingers curled in my shirt and she pulled me closer.

Her little moan obliterated the scream from the next ghoul who leapt out at us. Hell, I doubted she even noticed. What I did find when she let me curl my fingers around her breast to tease the hard peak of her nipple over her t-shirt, was the metal piercing that lanced straight through it. I gave an experimental tug, and was rewarded with another moan.

Miss Hazel had some naughty secrets hidden away. I couldn’t wait to discover them all.