Page 81 of The Vineyard Crush

I turned my head, pressing a kiss to her palm. “I don’t deserve you,” I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Emma’s brow furrowed, a flash of frustration crossing her features. “Don’t say that,” she admonished gently. “You deserve love, Ridge. You deserve happiness. And I’m going to spend every day showing you just how much, until you believe it too.”

Her words, spoken with such conviction, such unwavering certainty, threatened to unravel me completely. I surged forward, capturing her lips in a kiss that was equal parts desperation and gratitude. Emma met me eagerly, her body arching up to press against mine.

We lost ourselves in the kiss, in the heat that built between us, threatening to consume us both. Hands roamed, exploring and teasing, stoking the flames of desire ever higher. She unbuckled my belt and I let out another groan as she cups my cock though my briefs. I softly grind my hips as I got working in unbuttoning her jeans. “I can’t wait to sink into this perfect pussy.” I whisper against her lips as I tease her with my fingers on her clit. I pulled both out jeans and underwear enough to comfortably sink into her.

When I finally sank into her, it was like coming home. Emma gasped, her head thrown back, exposing the elegant column of her throat. I couldn’t resist the temptation, leaning down to trail kisses along the sensitive skin there as I began to move.

We found our rhythm easily, bodies moving together in perfect synchronicity. It was a dance we’d perfected over time, each of us attuned to the other’s needs and desires. Every gasp, every moan, every whispered plea spurred us on, driving us higher and higher towards that elusive peak.

Emma’s nails dug into my back under my shirt, leaving marks I knew I’d wear proudly in the morning. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me deeper with each thrust. The room filled with the sounds of our lovemaking - breathless moans, skin against skin, the crash of river behind us.

I could feel myself getting close, the familiar tension coiling low in my belly. But I was determined to bring Emma over the edge first. Shifting my weight to one arm, I slid my free hand between us, my fingers finding that sensitive bundle of nerves.

Emma cried out, her back arching off the ground as I began to stroke her in time with my thrusts. Her inner walls clenched around me, a delicious pressure that threatened to undo me then and there.

“That’s it, baby,” I murmured, my voice rough with exertion and desire. “Let go for me. I’ve got you.”

As if my words were the key to unlocking her release, Emma shattered. Her body went taut, a keening cry escaping her lips as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her. The sight of her coming undone beneath me, coupled with the rhythmic pulsing of her inner walls, was enough to send me tumbling over the edge after her.

My hips stuttered, my rhythm faltering as I spilled myself inside her with a guttural groan. For a moment, the world fell away, narrowing down to just this - Emma and I, connected in the most intimate of ways, riding out the aftershocks of our shared pleasure.

As the intensity of the moment began to fade, I became aware of Emma’s fingers tracing lazy patterns on my back. I lifted my head from where it had fallen to rest in the crook of her neck, meeting her gaze.

The love I saw reflected in her eyes, soft and warm and utterly unconditional, threatened to overwhelm me once more. I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, trying to convey even a fraction of the depth of my feelings for her.

When we parted, Emma smiled up at me, her expression one of pure contentment. “I love you,” she murmured, her voice slightly hoarse.

“I love you too,” I replied, the words feeling inadequate in the face of the emotion that swelled within me. “More than I could ever hope to express.”

Thirty Three

Ridge

The late afternoon sun painted the ranch in hues of gold, long shadows stretching across the weathered boards of the porch. I nursed a cold beer, the condensation slick against my calloused palm, as I watched Lily and Cody ride their horses in the corral. Their laughter danced on the breeze, a melody sweeter than any I’d ever known.

Ethan lounged beside me, his own beer dangling precariously from his fingers. We’d shared countless evenings like this over the past three years, but something in the air felt different tonight. Heavier. More significant.

I took a long pull from my bottle, letting the bitter taste ground me before I broke the comfortable silence. “We’re gonna tell the kids,” I said, my voice low but firm.

Ethan’s eyebrows shot up, his gaze sharp as he turned to me. “Damn, you guys are getting serious.”

The words hung between us, charged with unspoken implications. I watched Lily execute a perfect turn on her pony, her pigtails bouncing with each movement. Pride swelled in my chest, quickly followed by a wave of anxiety that threatened to drown me.

“You sure you’re okay with me dating your sister?” The question tumbled out before I could stop it, nerves evident in every syllable. I’d faced down angry bulls and unpredictable stallions, but this conversation had my palms sweating like a teenager asking for his first date. “I mean, I think… I want to ask her to marry me. Would it be too early?”

Ethan was quiet for a moment, his silence stretching taut as a bowstring. Then he turned to me, his expression serious but warm. “You’re my best friend, Ridge,” he said, each word measured and sincere. “In the three years I’ve known you, I can say this: if there was a guy I’d want Em to date, it would be exactly like you.”

Relief crashed over me, as refreshing as diving into a cool stream on a scorching summer day. But before I could fully relax, Ethan slapped my shoulder, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.

“Now, I don’t think it’s too early to propose,” he continued, “but I’ll just let you know that Leo was a boxer back in the day. Still has some sort of boxing bag in his cabin. So I’d be careful if I were you.”

I chuckled, but there was a nervous edge to it. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the ranch. Ethan’s words hung in the air, heavy with implications I hadn’t considered.

“Also, Mom’s not going to be real happy about this,” he added, concern coloring his tone. “She’s always had some sort of impossible standard set for Em. It’s a Brown mom thing, I guess. She’s harder on her than me or Leo, so prepare for some backlash there as well.”

The nervous pit in my stomach grew, threatening to swallow me whole. I’d faced down angry bulls and unpredictable weather, but the thought of disappointing Emma’s mother made my palms sweat anew.

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