10: Intoxicating Moments

Feeling his words shoot an arrow of love into her heart, another line of Harper's defenses crumble.

He really was telling the truth about having a home for them. Clyde cares so much about the people that he loves that he would do -anything- to make sure they can thrive. Yeah, he hit her, but he never stopped trying to take care of her in -other- ways.

Harper's fingertips press to her lips, "I can't believe you're doing all that just to try and be like my dad…"

"Chsk," his cheek clicks, "Well, I ain't got a dad no more so I wanna do right by you by tryin' to fix things with your family. They don't see it now but," tending to his cigarette, "They'll see it when we prove 'em wrong. Right, Harp?"

For the first time in over a month, a sense of hope swells deep inside her spirit. Hope that their marriage will get stronger because his love for her runs as deep as her love for him.

Only a -real- man does whatever it takes to provide for his family the way her dad sacrificed countless hours at the office missing pinnacle times in her life to keep them in the best schools and finest clothes. At least, that's what her dad always said…

But, is that what -she- wants? Does she -want- an absent husband in the same way she had an absent father?

Twiddling her thumbs in her lap with her head down, "Clyde, I fell in love with you the way you are…not because I wanted you to be like anyone else–even my dad. I'm going to be making a lot of money when I–."

Distracting her by smothering the cherry tip of his filter in the ashtray, "It's not like that," he cuts her short and she stays quiet; excitement attempts to ignite its way through the goosebumps forming on her skin.

"I'll never be worthy of you in their eyes if -I- can't provide. And I know you don't want to miss everything while a nanny raises our kids OR having to do it all by yourself when you can be home like your mom," stretching his long arm across the back of the bench seat to cup the back of her neck, "I'm going to find a way to give you everything you deserve."

Harper's eyes grow wet as her heart nearly bursts from an overflow of emotion. Not only is he fueled with the fire to be a good man -and- husband, but he also -listens- to her— even when she thinks he isn't.

Raising her left hand to stroke the light hair covering a venous forearm and staring at him, "I love you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me."

The corner of his mouth turns up into a small smile as he caresses her neck, "Love you too, Harp."

Clyde takes his hand away and Harper frowns; the disappointment from a sudden lack of comforting contact fades when he presses the button to shut the sunroof.

Unbuckling her seatbelt, she scoots into the middle seat and straps in so she can sit against him. Clyde wraps his strong arm across her shoulders, pulling her in close to kiss her temple as she cups the hand that cups her right shoulder.

Nestling her head into his shoulder, the truck slows when he needs to turn down a gravel road tucked inside a sizable amount of forestry from the country road they were just rolling down.

Raising her head to examine her surroundings, the longer his truck crawls down a bumpy, gravel road along a semi-hidden path, butterflies swarm inside her belly.

Trying not to let her mind get the better of her by telling her he's driving her to her death, she sits up and places her hands on the dash when the forestry opens to reveal a massive estate with rows of grape vines all around.

Clyde catches her jaw drop and he chuckles, petting the back of her head.

Eyes darting from the well-cared for land to a Clyde struggling to hold in a cheesy grin at her lack of speech from amazement, "No…way… Is this a– you have a–?!"

"Yup," his cheeky grin makes her swoon, "Your boy was raised on a grape farm."

"That's why you were so against drinking when we met..."

Shaking her head no, "Are you sure you want to live here for me? I can't help but feel like the only reason you drink -now- is because of me."

Harper's heart sinks as the compassion she has for him nearly drowns her, "Won't it be too hard living in a place that might've contributed to your mom's death?"

Clyde readjusts in his seat before holding her tight and giving her a gentle shake, "This land ain't ever making wine again. I'll be damned if I'm the reason more drunks are on the road taking away parents or kids."

Snaking her arm around his lower back and holding him tight, she watches endless Victoria Red grapes go by before they come upon the back of a massive complex with separate buildings, a large patio, and a beautiful garden.

Clyde catches her looking through all the windows in confusion as the road transitions onto a paved, concrete slab before he changes gears into Park.

As if he could read her mind through her face, "I took you up an access road. The front's got gates that would've given away my surprise," kissing her temple, the breath from a soft chuckle brushes her ear and she shivers.

Resting her hand on his thigh while looking up into fond eyes, she gives his thick muscle a squeeze. Shifting to cup both sides of her jaw, his lips press gently to the top of her head.

Pecking softly down the front of her face, she covers his hands when their lips finally collide. Breathing in through flared nostrils, she hesitantly pecks his bottom lip and then the top.

Wanting more, needing more, her tongue beckons to slide deeper between tender, pink flesh.

Slashing her tongue with his, they lean into one another; savoring the taste of smoke in his mouth despite hating the smell, roaming hands draw out a gasping moan during the careful search and rescue of her saliva.

Suckling her tongue as she pumps and rolls it between his lips, the sharp edges of his teeth graze her bottom lip before he draws in a short breath then plunges back into the wanton heat of her slick, hot lips.

Harper's hands follow suit, slender fingers exploring the hem of his shirt before finding searing, bare skin under cotton. Kneading and fondling his sides and back, he coaxes another moan from her hungry lips when he cups her breast, massaging her nipple through the unpadded bra.

Pulling back from the kiss with a lustful gaze, Harper unbuckles her seatbelt before climbing into his lap and straddling him.

Clyde groans, snatching her booty to pin her against his hard body while rolling his hips.

Harper glides her fingernails over his scalp, kissing him deeper, harder, until she jumps back against the steering wheel– her back honking the horn.