Country Wishes

by RaeAnne Hadley

  Patting Max, he continues, "Sorry, Tessa, didn't mean to scare you."

  I sit up, leaning across the headboard with my hand on my chest. "That's okay, I didn't realize you would be back today."

  Noah raises his eyebrows. "Did you miraculously heal in the last ten hours?" he asks.

  "No." I shake my head.

  "That's why I'm here, and I brought food too." He wiggles his eyebrow, making me smile.

  What is it about Noah that always puts a smile on my face?

  Leaning over to reach for my crutches, I realize they must've fallen.

  "I've got them," Noah says, placing them out of my reach against the wall. He doesn't let me talk, he simply picks me up, so I'm in his arms again.

  "Noah, I don't need you to carry me anymore; you got me the crutches."

  "I know," he replies, not putting me down but walking out my door. "But I kinda like having you in my arms." He smirks as he sits me down on the sofa. The scent coming from whatever is in the bags shifts my focus. My stomach rumbles in anticipation.

  Seeing my excitement, he opens the bags as he takes the seat beside me. "I stopped by Jake’s Bar & Grill since I finished late and Spencer was there. He mentioned this was your favorite."

  What does he mean late? I was only reading for a short while. Looking around the windows, I notice that it's dark outside.

  "What time is it, Noah?" I ask a little confused how late it could be.

  "Just after seven," he replies.

  "Wow, I didn't realize I was reading for so long.”

  Patting Max on his face and rubbing behind his ears, I say, "You didn't move from the bed for food either, did you, buddy?"

  "With the snow falling outside, he knows it's better in here. Let's eat and then I'll feed him and let him out for a bit." He passes me a container of Lamb Stew, and I practically inhale it, totally unladylike, shoveling it in my mouth. I guess I was more than just a little hungry.

  Looking up at Noah, I see him eating but his eyes are on me.

  "Nice to see a woman with a healthy appetite."

  "Is that your way of saying I'm fat?" I scoff.

  "No, it means it's nice to see a woman eat. These days women tend to order a salad and then just play with it. Heaven forbid they should eat in front of a man."

  We continue eating, making small talk, and if I let myself think about it, I have to admit, it's nice sharing dinner with someone.

  After dinner, Noah cleans up and looks after Max. He surprises me when he takes his jacket off and sits on the couch with me again.

  It's only then that I see that he has a bag by the front door. Is he planning on staying over again?

  Following where my eyes have gone, he answers before I have the chance to get the words out. "Yes, I'm staying again. I promise I will leave when you are better, just let me do this. I'm enjoying hanging out here. You are an interesting woman, Tessa." His expressive eyes show that he means what he is saying, and there's something about his tone and this familiar setting that has me opening up for the first time in a long time. It feels nice.

  Chapter Four

  NOAH

  “So, let me get this straight. Online you have a huge following under this persona Rose Drake, yet you hide yourself in here from the real world,” I gesture out wide. Tessa has opened up about her love of writing turning into a career she adores.

  “That’s the joy of the internet; you really can be anyone you like. Having the pen name allows me the freedom of making friends, speaking to like-minded book nerds like me, without them seeing all of … me” she says, hugging the cushion tight.

  “Tessa, you have to know that you are pretty inside and out,” I start.

  “Have you not seen these?” She points angrily to her scars, cutting me off. “You can’t miss them, they’re glaringly obvious!”

  “Sure, I see them. But they aren’t all I see. I see your golden skin that makes your green eyes pop, and I see your cheeks glow as they redden every time you’re in my office—”

  “I do not—”

  I wink at her, making her cheeks flush, and I’m not sure if it’s from my wink or because she is getting mad. But I damn well plan on getting to know all her tells.

  I continue, “And you have the fullest red lips, that I’m sure every man alive would dream of after meeting you. Your face is very expressive too. Your eyebrows do that thing you’re doing now when you’re unsure if what I’m saying is true or not.”

  “It’s not true; you’re just trying to—”

  “Trying to what?” I goad her, wanting to hear her say the words.

  “Trying to get in my pants. You must be hard-up, Noah. Or do you sleep with everything that has a pulse?” she says, trying to hurt me.

  “You wound me, Tessa. First off, I’m never hard-up; if I wanted someone in town, I’d have her. And that’s not me being cocky, that’s fact. But your car breaking down was my way in to get to know you, and now that I’m in, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve waited a long time for a chance to get to know the real Tessa Martini. And trust me when I say, I do want you in bed.” Tessa’s mouth drops open in shock at my directness. “But I’m a patient man.”

  Standing up, I head to the bookshelf on the other side of the room. “Can I read one of your books?” Now that I am looking closer, I see that half her bookshelf is filled with what looks like her books and the other with obviously well-loved books.

  “Nooo,” she screeches, and I turn my head to see she’s leaning over the back of the sofa. “They’re not something you would read, please, Noah. Come back here,” she says, patting the seat next to her.

  I head back over to the sofa. “Oh, so you do want me too,” I say taking a seat, grabbing the remote as she throws the cushion at my head, muttering “ass” and making me laugh.

  Turning on the TV to watch a movie, I can see Tessa is not in a comfortable position. Swinging her leg around, I place the cushion on the coffee table to elevate her ankle.

  Before the movie is finished, her head droops on my shoulder, her painkillers making her drift off.

  I keep her there, enjoying having her near me. All her visits to the clinic with Max, I would try to get her to open up, but it was clear she was not letting anyone in around the wall she had built up.

  I know her scars bother her, and I’m sure that something terrible happened to her if her injuries are still visible, and her being a hermit is anything to go by. But damnit, the more time I spend with Tessa, the more she has me wanting to get to know more about her.

  She’s gone from a sexy woman who graces my office from time to time, to a woman I think I want to make mine. Permanently.

  What the fuck? It’s like she has me under a spell, wishing for things I haven’t wanted for in the past.

  Shaking myself out of these thoughts, I turn the TV off as I stand to lift Tessa into my arms, waking her up.

  She’s so beautiful with her half-open, half-asleep look. Her lips slightly parted has me staring at the mouth I have dreamed about for such a long time. If I wasn’t so sure she was half-asleep, I’d almost think she wants me too with the way she’s looking at me.

  I must be seeing things; it’s been a long day.

  Walking to Tessa’s room, I pull her close as she snuggles into my chest, making me harder.

  She needs to stop wriggling like that.

  It’s like she heard my thoughts as she moves even more.

  “Shit,” I mumble as I pull back her blankets, needing to put some distance between us.

  Doing this brings her face closer to mine, her lips close enough that I could…

  Tessa closes the distance, her lips grazing mine, making me freeze.

  But my body has a mind of its own and responds to her sweet lips. Her hand rises to the back of my head just as she deepens the kiss, her tongue seeking out mine.

  My brain knows that she is half-asleep and doped up on painkillers and that I shouldn’t take advantage of her like this, but my body is putting up a b
ig fight to overrule my brain.

  Somehow, after enjoying her lips way too much, I manage to pull back, knowing this isn’t the right time.

  Our time will come.

  Tessa whispers “mmmm” before snuggling back into my neck. Wishing I could hold her like this through the night, I place her on her bed. Tucking her in, I place a kiss on her forehead, switching off her lamp. Before I close the door, I hear her murmur my name.

  At least I know it’s me she wanted and wasn’t kissing me while picturing someone else.

  Letting Max out one last time, I decide to take one of Tessa’s books to read.

  Pulling the blanket up once I let Max into Tessa’s room; I start reading. And love it. Who thought chick books could be so good? This one is about an ex SAS soldier returning home to his high school sweetheart being single again. They start a relationship, but things go wrong when some ghosts from his past come back to haunt him.

  Tessa is one talented writer. Staying up way too late, I read half the book before I fall asleep, the book still in my hand on my chest. My dreams are filled with the sex scenes I just read, only instead of the heroine, I’m with Tessa.

  Stretching awake, I remember that I am sleeping for a second time on a couch too small for my six-foot frame. My muscles will remind me of the cramped conditions throughout the day, no doubt.

  As I open my eyes, I realize I forgot to close the blinds, so I am rewarded with a winter wonderland view of the snow-topped mountains. It really is a view like no other.

  The mist of snow glitters in the sunlight as I swing my legs around to sit up. The sweet smell of coffee assaults my nose.

  Shit, I think, making my way to the kitchen. I slept in. Halting before walking through the door, I take in the beautiful sight of Tessa. She’s wearing pajama pants with coffee cups on them, and a fitted cami, hugging her in all the right spots.

  What is she doing on her feet? She’s infuriating. I search for her crutches and don’t see them nearby.

  My eyes wander back to Tessa and see that she has spotted me.

  Her eyes are perusing my body as she bites her lip. In my haste to come to see why she was up on her feet, I didn’t bother with putting on any clothes.

  Dressed only in boxers, I wait for her to finish, a grin forming on my mouth by the time her eyes meet mine.

  “Like what you see, Tessa?”

  Her cheeks flush red as she waves me off. “Go put some clothes on and get rid of that.” She waves down at my morning wood.

  Laughing, I walk back to the couch where I threw my pants last night.

  Deciding I like her eyes on me, I choose not to put on my top.

  Walking in, I have to force her to take a seat as I take over in the kitchen.

  “I can put more pressure on my foot now.”

  “That’s great you are feeling better. Another day or two of rest, and you will be back to normal.” I pass her a cup of coffee as I lean back on the counter, taking a sip of mine.

  Lifting the cup in both hands, she grumbles, “Couldn’t you find a shirt?” She takes a sip of her coffee, her lips hovering and sucking the mug as she moans when the first liquid runs down her throat.

  Fuck, I have never wanted to be a mug more in my life. What is this woman doing to me?

  “I kinda liked having your eyes on me,” I somehow manage to reply as I spin around, so my back is to her.

  The last thing I need is for her to see how much she affects me.

  I busy myself with making breakfast. “I’m going to take Max today. I know now that you can put more pressure on your leg, the temptation to do things with Max will be too great.” I pass her her plate as she tries to say no, but then she looks at Max at her feet and reluctantly agrees.

  “I’ll get the girls to groom him; he’ll have a blast.”

  We eat breakfast silently for a while, and then I hear softly, “So what did you think?”

  I tilt my head, slightly confused as to what she’s asking.

  “The book…”

  “Oh,” I say, and she drops her head, her hair covering her face.

  Pulling her hair back behind her ear, I turn her chin to face me.

  “I loved it. You’re an excellent writer. I only got halfway through, but I plan on finishing tonight.”

  Shocked, she asks, “How long did you stay up for?”

  “Long enough to get hot and bothered,” I joke.

  Her mouth forms a perfect O shape as she touches her lips, remembering our kiss, no doubt.

  Her tempting lips are all I’m going to be able to think about today.

  Needing to get out of here before I devour her lips again, I get dressed, warn Tessa to stay off her feet, and take Max to the office with me, stopping at my place for a shower on the way.

  Word has obviously spread of me helping Tessa as all the town’s gossipers have been in yesterday and today. At all my appointments I have had questions, and I try to deflect but won’t be able to for long. The joys of small towns are everyone knowing everyone’s business.

  My last appointment for the day is Mrs. Ezra. She’s a seventy-year-old mother figure to the town. She brings in her tabby every couple of weeks, complaining about some non-existent problem. She’s just a bit lonely, so the girls at the front have been told no matter when she comes, we will always see her. She loves a good chat. Today she has brought in a basket with a checkered cloth and chocolate chip cookies.

  “What are these for?” I ask as she shoves them in my hands.

  “These, my dear,” she says, squeezing my arm, “are for you and Tessa.”

  “Thank you,” I say, unsure of where she is going with this.

  “I’m glad Tessa has you to help her. Poor thing tucked away in her house all alone. It’s a terrible thing that she went through, but you, my man, are a perfect fit for her.”

  “Is that so?” I grin.

  “Yes. Spencer here has told me all about the beautiful young woman up there. And I’ve known you for a long time. Those floozies that try to latch onto you are no good for you. A night, yes.”

  I spit out the water I had just taken a sip of.

  “Oh, you. I had a house full of boys for years; I know you all have your needs. But Tessa is the type of girl you settle down with. So, you be nice, you hear? Or you will have to answer to Spencer and me,” she says, standing up.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I reply. For a hermit, Tessa sure has a lot of people rooting for her.

  “Now you be sure to share those with her, they aren’t all for you.” She smiles as she walks out of my office.

  Chapter Five

  TESSA

  Taking a bite into the scrumptious chocolate chip cookies Noah left here last night I go back to typing on my keyboard.

  I lift her leg up higher, spinning her around to lean against the wall. She wraps her other leg around my waist allowing my hardening member to rub her heat in the right place. I push my hips even harder into her, making sure she can feel just how ready I am for her. A moan escapes from her lips, as I rain kisses down her jawline to her neck. A loud ding makes us both look up, and Mia tries to drop her legs, but I stop her, giving her legs a little squeeze.

  “Mia, if you get down right now anyone walking past will see the tent in my pants. This is my floor. I’m giving you one chance to stop this because once you’re in my room, I won’t be able to stop. I want you too badly.”

  This makes her giggle as she places a hand to grip the back of my neck while the other cups my face, wiggling her hips.

  She gives me a quick kiss then whispers, “I’m all yours,” before biting my ear lightly. That’s all the encouragement I need. I put my hands on her cute behind and walk out toward my room. Luckily at this time of night, there is no one around.

  “Mia, the room key is in my back pocket, can you—” She doesn’t even hesitate to quickly pull out the card so I can unlock the door. Nice to see she is just as eager as I am. I open the door and throw the key inside somewhere. I kick the door close
d with my foot, spinning Mia around and propping her against the door to find her lips again. I place my knee between her legs and move my hands to wiggle her dress up, feeling her silky-smooth skin underneath. I don’t break the kiss until she starts helping me shrug the dress off over her head.

  “Mia, you are beautiful,” I say, placing my hands on her bountiful breasts, rubbing her nipples with my thumbs. Her nipples are rock-hard and begging to be sucked. I lower my head, pulling her bra down and giving me access to do just that. She tastes so sweet. I switch to her other nipple. Looking up, I see Mia with her head tilted back and her hand pushing my head even closer. I give her what she wants, sucking her nipple and giving it a gentle tug.

  “Beau,” Mia pants, pulling her hands behind her back to release her bra. “I need to feel you too,” she says, tugging my shirt up. I help her to pull it off, throwing it behind me and then leaning back in to kiss her swollen lips. Her breasts press against my now-naked chest and her hands rub down my back.

  “I need you now, Beau,” she begs, unbuckling my pants.

  I grab her hands together in one of mine, placing them above her head while the other slowly goes down to her now-free breasts.

  Rubbing her nipple with my thumb, I whisper in her ear, “As hard as I am right now, Mia,” I emphasize by rubbing up on her, making her gulp, “I plan on taking my time with you. I’ve had a hard-on for you ever since I bumped into you at the airport.”

  “But I—” I cut her off with a kiss, my fingers making their way to her center, finding her panties soaked. I pull them aside and run my fingers through her wet curls, slipping my finger in and out, our tongues dueling in tandem. I drop her hands and unwrap her legs, making sure she finds her balance before dropping to my knees. I need to taste her. Placing one of her legs on my shoulder, I rip off the scrap of fabric she calls panties and dive right into heaven.

  Every now and then I leave myself notes like that and go back to these scenes at a later time. I have to be in the mood to write sex scenes, but right now, instead of seeing my characters, all I see is Noah and me.