by Louise, Tia
“She’s real excited to see how your line sells.”
“Me too.” I give her a hug and dash up the back steps, going straight to my room and hiding the pills in my nightstand.
From there, I head to the kitchen, bringing in baskets of bruised peaches and putting them beside the sink. I spend all day cooking them down for preserves and jelly or cutting them up and throwing bags in the freezer for ice cream and sorbet.
The festival opens Wednesday night, and it’ll take me all week to make enough for selling at Miss Jenny’s table. It’s my last chance to prove to Sawyer a store is a good idea before he leaves, and I’m hoping to make a killing.
That night, after stir-fry beef and peach salad, Taron recruits my brother to help clean up and appears as always at my window, affectionate as ever and ready to say goodnight before things get too hot between us.
It’s the worst.
The next morning, I dutifully take my pill before heading to church. I’m not even discussing this with Jesus. He put this gorgeous man in my life, and I’m not wasting the opportunity.
Another night of chaste kisses and Taron’s early departure from my bedroom has me almost ready to climb the walls. I’m not worried, though. I have a plan, and the next morning, I get up and take my pill.
Leon takes over supervising the high school team while I prepare for the festival. In the afternoon, when the men are tired, I carry a silver metal pail out to the shed with peach ice cream in it.
Digger is standing at the back, looking over a ledger with Jay, and Taron is sitting on the flatbed watching me like he wants to have me for dessert. I’m convinced this distance between us is killing him as much as it is me. Soon…
I walk right up to him, confident after all we’ve said and done. “See what you think.”
Holding out the spoon, I watch as he slips the bite of peach ice cream between his full lips.
They curl into a smile that reaches all the way to his pretty eyes. “Delicious. Did you dip your little finger in it?”
That makes me laugh, and he catches me around my waist. For the first time in days, I feel light.
“Taron, put me down!”
Digger watches us with a scowl. “What’s that, Noel? Peach ice cream?”
“Yeah.” I give Taron a nudge with my hip and walk to where Digger is standing.
He takes the spoon, dipping it in the pail I’m carrying. “Not bad. You used your momma’s old recipe.” The way he says it, using that know-it-all tone, makes my skin crawl.
I look over my shoulder, and Taron’s frowning as well. “How could you remember that? We were just kids when Momma passed.”
“I remember when you were Princess Peach.” Digger taps me on the nose. “I remember when I took you to your first Peach Festival Ball.”
“You got that wrong. I was never Princess Peach. It was the one time I let my momma down… that I know about.”
“You never let your momma down.” He gives my cheek a little pinch, which irritates me more. I see a light flash in Taron’s eyes, and I know it irritates him. “It’s nice to be with people who know your history and share your values.”
I don’t like his implication. I don’t like his ideas about my place in society. “Just because somebody is from your hometown doesn’t mean that person shares your values.”
“Nonsense. Besides your brothers, nobody knows your history better than I do, Noel.”
“I doubt it.” Does he sit at home at night studying my past?
“You’re so adorably stubborn. Go with me to the peach ball again this year. It’ll be just like old times.”
I’m caught off guard by his invitation, but that doesn’t mean I’m not prepared. “I’m not going to the ball. We’ve got too much to do with Sawyer leaving and needing to prepare and all.”
“Nonsense. You have to go to the ball. It’s tradition. You’re the co-owner of one of the largest peach orchards in town.”
“If it’s a tradition, it’s one I don’t know about.”
“I told you.” He takes my arm in his. “It’s time we re-establish your family’s place in society. This is one of the ways to do it, by going to the ball and showing your interest.”
Reaching back, I pull my arm out of his. “Everybody knows us. I appreciate your invitation, but I’m not in the mood for a ball this year.”
Taron stands up, and Digger releases me.
Digger crosses his arms over his chest, stretching that seersucker blazer. Who wears seersucker to a peach shed? “I’ll talk to Sawyer about it.”
His tone implies my older brother tells me what to do, but instead of letting him get under my skin, I turn on my heel toward the house. I’m not wasting time on Digger Hayes.
“My ice cream is melting.” I trot down the steps and jog up the hill toward the house.
I’ve never been more annoyed in my life. Digger Hayes thinks he’s going to tell me what to do? He’s got another thing coming.
I’m at the door when I realize a tall figure is right behind me. Taron’s large hand covers mine, and I turn as I step into the kitchen. “You startled me.”
“Sorry. I figured I’d better follow you before I did something I’d regret.”
“Regret?” I take down a freezer-safe container and spoon the rest of the ice cream into it.
“Something Sawyer wouldn’t like is more what I meant.” He catches the back of my ponytail, twirling it around his hand. “You really dated that guy?”
“People thought we were a good match.” Shoving the ice cream in the freezer, I’m still pissed at the implications of Digger’s words.
“You didn’t win Princess Peach?” I look up and Taron’s smiling down at me. It melts the anger I’m feeling just a little.
“I never liked pageants. Momma won every pageant she ever thought about entering, but it just wasn’t my thing.”
He leans against the bar with a chuckle. “No wonder you’re so pretty.”
His compliment is like tingling electricity in my veins, and I admire how the sun has put gold highlights in his dark hair. His skin is tanned, and if it’s possible, he’s even more handsome. It’s time, and I’m more than ready.
“I’d better get started on dinner.” Rising on my toes, I kiss his soft lips.
My insides are humming just thinking about the special dessert I have planned. It won’t be long now…
9
Taron
I don’t know how she does it. For Sunday dinner, Noel served us braised brisket with bourbon peach glaze. Tonight, she gave us pork chops with grilled peaches, and when I stop by her bedroom before saying goodnight, she’s back to mixing up her homemade organic beauty products.
She’s amazing, and she dismisses it all out of hand.
“Cooking is just practice. I’ve been whipping up those same meals a couple times a month for as long as I can remember.”
It’s after ten and we’re in the kitchen whispering. I stand behind her watching as she carefully pours candle wax into small, labeled jars.
“You should write them down and sell a cookbook along with all this other stuff.” I kiss the side of her jaw, and she lets out a little noise that registers straight to my cock.
“You’re going to make me spill wax everywhere.”
“Am I distracting you?”
“You know you are.” She lifts the pan and turns her face to kiss me gently on the lips.
I swear, leaving her alone in her bedroom these past few nights has been about the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. It’s taken many cold showers and much jerking off to relieve the pressure.
“So I was thinking about what you told Digger in the shed—about how you don’t want to go to the ball with Sawyer leaving and everything happening…”
Her lips tighten, but she doesn’t respond. Her eyes are focused on filling the small jars.
“Did you just say that to put him off or did you mean it?”
She finishes the last pour then her whiskey eyes me
et mine. “What’s it to you?”
Clearing my throat, I look down at my shoes, remembering all the reasons I’ve been doing my best to keep my distance. In a few days I’ll be gone… Is it fair to keep pursuing her?
“I was wondering how you felt about all that stuff he said.”
“He knows a lot about the business. I guess that’s why my brother hired him. Is that what you meant?”
“Are you interested in him?”
“I never have been.” She carries her candle supplies to a large pail in the sink and carefully places each item inside. “Still… He’s not a bad-looking guy. I guess if I were on the market—”
“You’re not on the market,” I snap.
Fuck fair. Hearing her say those words stirs something deep inside me.
Something primitive.
“I’m not?” Curiosity is in her eyes now, and I’m pretty sure a little mischief. “How come?”
“You’re going to the festival with me—and to that ball. If you want to go.”
“I usually go to the festival with Leon. It’s his birthday.”
“I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow. He can ride with us if he wants.”
“Okay.” Her voice is soft and a hint playful.
I’m still riled up and angry, but I don’t know why. We’ve settled it. She’s going with me to the festival and not that asshole Hayes.
Reaching out, I catch her by the waist and pull her to me roughly. Her body is pliant under my grip. She lifts her chin and threads her fingers into my hair when I find her mouth, pushing it open and tasting the sweet mint on her tongue. Desire is in her kiss, and it makes me feel even more frustrated.
Pulling back with a growl, I turn for the back door. “I’d better head on.” Tonight, I don’t know why, but I don’t feel like I’ll leave as easily if I don’t do it now.
“Sleep well,” she calls after me, a lilt in her tone.
The way she’s being tonight, playful and teasing, has me wound up tight, and even though we worked harder today than we did any day last week, I’m not sure I’ll fall asleep.
Frustration courses through my limbs as I lie on the bed on my back staring at the ceiling in the darkness. I have the window-unit on, but this fire is in my veins, it’s in my blood. It’s like a force driving me.
Glancing at the clock, I see it’s almost midnight. I’ve got to sleep.
Pressing my bent arm over my eyes, I try to think of soothing things… Noel’s silky hair, her gentle smile, the way she concentrates when she’s reading a recipe for peach lotion or peach ice cream or… peaches.
Her soft, round ass floats through my mind, and my dick hardens… Soft as a peach. A peach I want to taste, lick, suck, eat… I want her crying out my name like she did in that pond.
The small hairs prickle on my skin when I realize I’m not alone.
Dropping my arm on the bed, I squint into the darkness. The door is open, and in the glow of the moonlight, I see the one thing that can give me relief.
“Noel?” I sit up, letting the sheet fall to my waist where I’m sporting some serious wood. “What are you doing here?”
She doesn’t speak. She closes the space between us, reaching up to push the robe she’s wearing off her shoulders. My forehead collapses, and I let out a low groan. She’s standing in front of me completely nude, and the light from the telephone pole across the yard casts a soft glow around her curves.
“I’m ready now.”
“Close the door.”
All my thoughts of waiting, my concern about leaving her disappear in the face of Noel straddling my lap, cupping my cheeks in her hands, saying how much she wants me.
“Kiss me, Taron.” Her voice is a rasp, demanding, and my hands clutch her soft ass that I’ve dreamed of every night.
I’m hard as a rock as she drags her nails through my beard, as our lips seal together.
She pulls my lips with hers. She bites and exhales a soft purr. “Don’t you want this?”
Her lips move to my cheek and up to my eyebrow before she pulls back to meet my eyes. Her beautiful, whiskey eyes… intoxicating.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” It’s a strained whisper, the last of my resistance.
“Then don’t.”
She moves on my lap and the moonlight glows on her skin. I whip the sheet away and catch her around the waist, turning her so she’s beneath me. She exhales something between a laugh and a sigh, and I cover her mouth again with mine.
Our kisses are hungry, demanding—fueled by every touch denied, every tease wasted, every time we’ve come so close only to push apart.
My mouth moves from her lips to her chin, to her neck, down to the soft curve of her breast. Rising up on my heels, I look down at her small breasts rising and falling rapidly. Her gorgeous body is spread out before me on the bed like an uncharted land I want to claim. Her hair ripples around her shoulders in dark, silky waves. My mouth waters. My dick aches. I’ll never forget this night.
“You’re so beautiful.” My voice is quiet awe.
Her knee bends, and she rubs her thighs together. “Do something.” Her whisper is laced with nervous laughter.
It makes me smile.
Leaning down, I touch my lips to her flat belly, and her fingers thread in my hair. I follow a line to her hip, grazing my teeth over the soft skin there. I’m rewarded with a whimper.
She’s a virgin. I’ve never been with a virgin, but I’ve been thinking about it ever since she told me. I don’t want to hurt her. I want it to be as pleasurable for her as possible.
My lips move lower, to the top of her pubic bone, and she trembles.
“Will you… Ahh…”
Her question disappears as I cover her with my mouth, sweeping my tongue inside to taste her innocence. She’s sweet, delicate, ocean water and soft musk. I’m ravenous, tracing my tongue around her clit, pulling and sucking the tiny bud hidden there.
“Oh, God… oh, it’s so… Oh…” She jerks, twisting and pulling in the sheets.
Lifting my chin I look up and see her back arched and her skin flushed. Her hand goes to my face, and I’m back on her, hungry for her orgasm. I want her drenched in desire when I take her for the first time.
Another pass of my tongue, and I slide my finger inside to test her. She bucks and whimpers, and she’s so wet. I slide another finger inside her…
“Taron… Oh my God.” Her knees rise, and I feel the small shudders rippling in her legs.
I lean down to kiss her again, deeper, tonguing her again and again, and on the final pass, she breaks. Her body rises, and her legs clench. She moans my name, writhing in the sheets as I grab a condom and quickly roll it on.
Kneeling above her, I move her thighs apart. “Open for me, baby.”
She tries to do what I say, but I know she doesn’t understand how far… “Do you trust me?” It’s a gentle, loving question.
Round eyes are on mine, and she nods. Her soft neck is at my lips, and I kiss it, pulling the skin between my teeth gently, making her shiver. I hold her thighs, parting them more and lining my cock up with her dripping core.
“Hold onto me.” My lips graze her ear and my voice breaks.
Her hands grip my shoulders and I thrust completely, all the way inside her and hold. Fuck me, she’s so fucking tight.
“Ahh…” She cries out, and I wait, feeling her body moving slightly, dying inside as I hold back my instinct to take her.
She feels so fucking good.
It’s been so long.
I’m overwhelmed by the intensity of my feelings for her.
Through the fog of it all, my brain manages to form a coherent sentence. “Are you okay?” It’s a strained whisper at her ear.
Her hands move to the tops of my shoulders, and she nods. “Yes… yes, it’s so… Big.”
My hips move, slowly at first. The first thrust makes her cry out, a shaky whimper, and I hold still again, fighting every natural urge in my body.
“Stil
l okay?” Lifting my head, I see her eyes are closed.
She nods. “I’m good… It’s good. Keep going.” Her golden-brown eyes open, and they’re heavy with lust, with longing.
“You sure?” I lean down to kiss those rosebud lips, her bottom lip bigger than the top.
“I’m sure. I want this… I want you.”
It’s all I need to hear. My arms go around her, gathering her to me as my hips rock harder, thrusting in and out, sating my consuming desire for her.
My eyes squeeze shut, but I feel it when she joins me. I feel her hips beginning to move, rocking in time, taking me in, meeting my thrusts with her own.
Releasing her from my embrace, I rise up to kiss her, to claim her mouth and stroke her tongue with mine.
She grasps my cheeks, kissing me back with equal fervor, and I’m lost to my orgasm. Thrusting again and again, I’m driven by how good she feels, so tight, so wet. My ass clenches, pleasure snakes up my thighs. It all centers where our bodies are joined. Sweat drips down my cheek, and I come with a loud groan, hard and long.
Holding deep inside her, I groan again as my dick pulses, as I fill the condom. I hold onto her as my anchor to this world. My mind is blank, and all I know is her and me sharing this experience. It’s incredible.
Gradually, the world starts to come back in focus. I’m breathing hard, and I blink my eyes open to see her smiling up at me. She rises up to kiss my neck, and I cup the back of her head, holding her to me. I wrap my other arm around her upper body, flattening her soft breasts against my chest.
I understand the concept of two becoming one in this moment. I feel like she’s become a part of me. I’m her first, but she’s my first virgin. I feel protective of her, like she belongs to me now, as fucked up as that might sound.
Something inside me clicks, and I’ll never let anything bad happen to her. I never want to let her go.
She starts to wiggle, and I loosen my grip. “I’d better get cleaned up. I might bleed all over your sheets.”
I want to say I don’t care. Then I realize these sheets actually belong to her—as does the bed. “Sorry.” I stand and help her to the bathroom. “Can I get you anything?”