by Kizzie Hayes
He heard Fanny's voice coming from the kitchen but paused before entering. She was talking to her Nana and as much as Erik hated to eavesdrop on other people's conversations, he couldn't resist it.
"Stephanie, darling, I'm so happy you finally found that peace inside you. It pained me seeing how tormented you were back in the city," Nana said.
"I know... I never thought I missed this place so much and the way I am here," Fanny said.
She paused and Erik almost stepped in, but he heard her start talking again.
"I am not sure what's the right decision anymore, Nana. If I don't sell the ranch, I can't invest in my company and our future depends on that investment. But selling this place means selling a part of our lives and losing everyone that are dear to us. Martha, Green Ear... Erik." He could feel how hard it was for her to speak his name.
Her voice was almost a whisper. He could feel all the emotions she felt as she spoke his name. With him, she could turn into that fragile teenage girl who was terrified of her own feelings for her guy. Erik could not believe his happiness for having back this woman and hearing his name on her lips. He stepped inside and greeted the two of them.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said. He hesitated for a moment but, deciding to push his luck a little bit further, placed a soft kiss on Stephanie's temple. She did not flinch or push him away. Her grandmother gave him an understanding wink. That was quite encouraging.
"I was telling Nana about yesterday night's adventures," she said, leaning closer toward him.
"I've checked on them just now. Both are fine. The foal is so beautiful. You should give it a name," he offered.
"I'm not very talented with horse names. That's why its mother ended up being Green Ear," Fanny chuckled. They used to make jokes about it when they were kids.
"You're talented in everything, Fanny, and you know that," he smiled.
Grandma had moved to the other end of the kitchen busying herself with watering the plants or something to give the two of them some space. It was not enough. Erik needed her all for himself. He needed to feel her body against his again - to believe that last night was not the result of his imagination.
"It's a nice morning for some horse riding. And you haven't seen the new construction we've started on the southern side of the ranch. Wanna go?"
Stephanie's face lightened up immediately. Her grandma nodded happily as the two left the kitchen walking toward the stable.
"It's been a while since I've been on horseback. Ever since I've last been here," she said nervously.
"We can always do it the old way," he took her hand into his. Her palm as damp with sweat - she was nervous. As he laced their fingers, he felt the tension leave her body, she squeezed his hand - trusting him, leaning against him for support.
God, he had missed this. Never Erik felt strong and needed as much as when he was with his Fanny.
"I'm a big girl now, and might be a bit heavy to carry," she gave him a shy smile and bit her lip.
"I'm a strong boy now, and I can always carry you, Fanny. I'll hold you tight and there'll be nothing for you to fear," he promised.
As kids, they loved riding together. She would climb on his lap, usually facing him so that she could look into his eyes and kiss him as he held the reigns and followed to where the horse took them.
Erik was curious whether she'd do the same now - facing him or with her back to him, leaning against him? Both worked perfectly for him and he could get access to her body - to touch and caress her. He wasn't sure how much time he'd get to spend with her but now, as his Fanny was back, he intended to use every moment he got with her to its fullest.
His heart almost exploded with happiness when Fanny climbed on the horse and shuffled into his lap - facing him. Their eyes met and he saw that same trust and devotion that had always been the source of his encouragement. She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a tender kiss on the side of his mouth.
"I'm ready to ride now," she said mischievously and he knew she did not exactly mean the horse that was carrying them on its back.
Once they were in the open field and away from everyone's curious stares, he slowed down the horse. He hoped this ride was never going to end and he'd forever be trapped in her arms, feeling the warm summer wind on his face and her breath against his - so warm and sweet.
"How are you doing, Fanny?" he asked.
"I'm okay I guess," she looked into his eyes again and he knew she needed to talk. He'd rather be doing other things to her right now but he was so damned blessed to have her even want to talk to him again.
"Tell me," he asked in a low soothing voice. He peppered kisses on her jaw and cheeks hoping he could carry away her worries.
"Not so much to tell, Rick," Fanny said. "I'm really confused about what I should do. I was so determined to sell this ranch. I still know that's the right strategy for my business and I've worked really hard to build my own company." Her voice grew smaller and lower with worry.
She tilted her head, leaning on his shoulder. She kissed his throat and Erik groaned feeling the reflections of that kiss in his body. Every nerve ending inside him was now awake and excited.
Her hand slid down his chest and she traced the band of his pants with her fingers, slightly touching his skin underneath the band.
"Fanny," he warned her. He was getting hard. It was hard not to get hard when she was straddling his legs and her soft butt rested on his groin, teasing him. He knew she was as excited as he was. As if on purpose, the woman was wearing a skirt and there was only the thin fabric of her panties separating her skin.
"Rick," she smiled and narrowed her eyes on him. "We used to fantasize about trying this, remember?"
His shaft was first to react, even before his mind was able to process her words. Did she really want this? This woman would never stop surprising him.
Before he could even think about what he could say, her hand reached all the way down there and cupped his already painfully erect cock. Her touch was like a kiss of flames. He let out a groan as his cock jerked under her tender touch.
Stephanie unzipped his pants and let his now very excited member out. She traced her fingertips over his cockhead and Erik winced. She brought her fingers to her lips and licked thoroughly before sliding them down again and teasing his cock with her slick fingers.
"What would you like now, Erik?" she asked looking into his eyes again and Erik cursed in his mind as he realized he has completely lost the ability to talk. He wanted to do so many things and could imagine much more things that she could do to him. His cock only inches away from her hot pussy, he could imagine that heavenly moment when he'd finally be buried inside her.
But he knew Fanny too well. She was going to tease and torture him until he was insane with need before she let him sink into her velvety depths.
"I wanna taste you," he said. He needed to taste all of them. Lick her lips, suck her nipples, rub her clit with his tongue and drink the sweet juices that her pussy released. He wanted all of it—his mouth everywhere on her body.
Her fingers left his cock and disappeared beneath her skirt. Her eyes closed and her head dropped back as she let out a soft moan. He wanted to rip off her skirt that was blocking his sight. He could only imagine how beautiful was the view of Stephanie touching her sex. Was she rubbing her clit or dipping her fingers into her tight hole?
A moment later, she withdrew her fingers and brought them to his mouth, traced his lips, covering them with her juices. He licked them - cherishing her taste on his lips and groaned again. He was so excited, he could devour all of her. She then pushed her fingers into his mouth and Erik sucked on them, licking them clean.
"More," he breathed.
"Greedy," she grinned but did not refuse to fulfill his wish.
Slowly, as the horse trotted in the vast open field, and the wind shook the hem of her skirt, and Stephanie teased him, shifting her attention from his mouth to his cock and back. Erik sat there lazily holdin
g her and enjoyed all the pleasures she gave to him. He was holding her so tight in his arms as if he was afraid she might get too excited and tip backward, or maybe the wind could steal her away from him... again Safe in his arms, Stephanie took her time to explore his body. Somewhere along the ride, he had lost his shirt and was now enjoying her kisses and bites his chest, her fingers digging into his skin and scratching him, leaving the red half-moon marks of her nails.
"Fanny, I need to be inside you," he begged. A bit more of her lazy teasing, and he'd embarrass himself cumming right there. As much as he loved how she held his shaft in her hands - squeezing his balls and running her fingers up and down his length - he needed to be inside her warm and slick pussy.
Stephanie pulled her skirt up, revealing the perfect view of her wide-open thighs. With two fingers she pushed her panties aside, revealing her pale pink love lips. She rubbed her own finger up and down her clit, teasing herself and moaning loudly and driving him insane. Then, lifting her butt up, she easily pushed his hard cock into her. First, she took in only his cockhead and Erik almost exploded right then and there. He gritted his teeth.
"Fanny," he shook his head. Hardly able to form more words. Her name was all he could whisper between heavy breaths.
He felt her warmth spread all over his cockhead. Her inner walls quivered, welcoming him inside. Wrapping her arms around his back, she took the rest of him in - balls deep. He loved the feel of his balls resting against her soft butt. She leaned closer, crushing her big breasts against his bare chest. He could feel her nipples poking into his skin, big and hard with excitement.
"I'm all yours, Rick," she whispered into his mouth and before he could answer, she silenced him with a kiss.
Erik started rocking his hips. He thrust into her - matching the slow speed of their trotting horse. He was getting harder with every thrust and she was getting wetter. Their hearts were beating as one, as the wind carried away their moans, it felt like riding on the edge of heaven. Nothing more perfect. Nothing could describe the maddening love he felt for this woman.
Everything Erik loved in his life had been combined in this moment. He was making love to the only woman he ever loved while enjoying the thrill of freedom riding on horseback through the fields. Her heart was beating so hard and loud and her moans filling his mouth. One look into her deep blue eyes and Erik knew only now - having her back - life had gotten back its meaning.
Stephanie rocked up and down his shaft, matching his rhythm, and taking him so deep every time, reminding him that this was the only place where he belonged.
He wasn't able to take more of it. Her body crushed against his, her fingers digging into his skin, she drove him to madness and when she came close to his ear and whispered the words he never expected to hear from her again, he lost every last bit of sanity.
"I love you, Rick," she said and Erik's body shuddered. His grip tightened on her hips and he crushed his lips against hers—claiming a kiss that spoke all the words that he was not able to speak.
He felt his balls tighten and a moment later, he groaned into her mouth. He filled her with his essence that kept springing out of his shaft more and more and she milked him until the very last drop. With the last strings of hot cum shooting inside her, Stephanie screamed welcoming her own orgasm. She bit his lip so hard, he could taste blood in his mouth. Her forehead rested against his, and her breath puffed on his lips while she tried to catch her breath.
"Love you too, Fanny," he spoke, when their bodies stopped shaking. "And I will always love you, no matter what. You should remember that when you make your decision." He looked into her eyes so that she knew he meant every single word he spoke. "I'll be there to support you whatever you choose, no matter what. I believe in you. Don't let the emotions blind you. Choose what is really right for you, Fanny."
He knew—most probably—he was asking her to let go of all of this. A ranch that mattered so much to all of them, this piece of land that her grandfather had invested all his life in, the place, where they had shared so many moments of happiness. He'd miss all of it. Still, he'd hate to pull her back. He had once made that mistake and lost her. He'd never do that again.
*****
It had been hard getting back to the office work. Stephanie missed the freedom she felt while on the farm. Her office seemed too small, the building too high and intimidating, and the walls towering over her. Most of all, she missed the one person who could stir all the contradicting emotions in her heart.
The city looked different. With the weight of heavy guilt lifted off her shoulders, everything around seemed had changed its meaning.
The whole past week she had spent in the office figuring out the paperwork with her business advisors trying to find a way to keep the ranch while securing money for her IT business. It looked like Grandpa and Erik had done really good work and turned the ranch into a valuable asset. She'd hate to lose it now and break the hearts of all those people who lived there.
On the other hand, it seemed like a great way for herself and her team to escape the busy city life and spend some time in the countryside. The more she thought about it, the more attractive her new plan seemed to her.
"I think moving your head office to the countryside won't be very wise, Stephanie," Roy, her CFO, told her. "We can move the HQ to a smaller office here in the city, and build another office and campus on the ranch, where we can relocate most of the talent, while the executives remain here."
"As long as I spend more time there and less here, I'm happy," Stephanie said. She couldn't believe she had managed to spend so many years in her self-imposed exile. All she could think about now was getting done with all of this and rushing back to the ranch and into the arms of her man.
A couple of days later, she was back on the same road. This time, she did not make any stops for coffee or for any other silly reason. She needed to be there as soon as she could.
During the past weeks, Stephanie had been thinking about her grandpa a lot. She was glad she had found a way not to let him down. She wondered how he would've reacted seeing his ranch suddenly inhabited by dozens of tech guys sitting in the shadows of tall trees and working on their codes.
She immediately pictured the frown on another handsome face—her beloved cowboy was not going to be very happy with it. She could picture him walking about the place in his high boots and straw hat -smirking and shaking his head at the sight of her programmers sitting in a corner, listening to music through their huge headphones while staring at their laptops with some unreadable face. This was going to be a strange mix of nature and tech.
In a way, this new remodeling of this ranch was going to bring together everything that made Stephanie who she was—her team and her friends, her geeky side and the country-girl side of her that she had been keeping hidden, and finally, her love for Erik, the old flame that had sparkled with new passion now.
As she turned from the main highway toward the road that led to the ranch, she noticed a galloping horse and a very familiar tall figure riding toward her.
"Rick," Stephanie knew she was beaming like a fool. She couldn't wait to see him a minute earlier.
Stephanie felt tears in her eyes. She remembered her grandma's story about how her grandpa used to meet her half-way on the road every time she visited him on the ranch.
"You can be happy now, Grandpa," she hoped he could hear her, "I'm finally with a man who is worthy to take charge of the ranch you've invested all your life in."
She knew there were still hardships ahead. The road to success was as rocky and tough as the one to happiness. Yet, Stephanie had never been surer that she could overcome all of it, especially when there was a strong hand holding her tight.
Pulling the car to the side of the road, she jumped out with her heart beating hard in her chest. In less than a minute he'd been wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close for a kiss. In less than a minute she'd be where she always belonged—with her true love.
THE END
Bonus Story 27 of 44
A Soldier’s Love
Description
The story is set in the aftermath of The Jacobite Rebellions, just after the bloody conclusion of the Battle of Culloden. As violence and terror seize the land, a young widow banished from the clan due to the traitorous actions of her husband. She finds the wounded son of their laird, a man she used to hear about when she was young. From the moment she decides to nurse him back to health, she is hunted by English Soldiers until an enigmatic deserter from the English Army save them.
Bringing with him stories about her husband’s bravery, and his dying words, what secrets does he have about her husband’s death? How is the laird’s son involved? And will she be able to escape the carnage of the rampaging English Army and start a new?
*****
A heavy morning mist cloaked the long wild grass of the glen. Alice followed the rough dirt path that descended into the bowels of the misty valley. A thunderous peal of musket fire echoed off the looming grey crags. Startled, she dropped her empty wooden bucket she was carrying to the ground. The whole country had been plunged into chaos since the defeat at Culloden. The sound of firing squads executing “rebels” who had escaped the battle were becoming more common place. Whispered tales about the savagery and butchery of English Army dominated the local gossip circles.
Alice couldn’t help but think this country was in its death throes. Last night the peals of musket fire were non-stop and a red, raw fire from the direction of the laird’s castle scarred the sky heralding the death of her clan. Alice felt a tinge of sadness in her heart for her people. But were they still her people? She was an exile in all but name since her husband had betrayed the Jacobite cause. She was as much a topic for disgust as the English Soldiers in the gossip circle.
“That’s her, the one who was married to the traitor,” they’d whisper just loud enough to make sure she heard. And that’d just been the start. Soon she had to pay double for any sundries, she’d been spat at, and even reprimanded by grieving widows about how her husband’s cowardice had caused their husbands death months after his betrayal. She knew they just needed someone to push their grief on to. The sad part was that had it been someone else she might be doing the same herself without really realizing what she was doing. They hated her and she had no real idea what her husband had really done. She wondered if any really did.