by C. J. Welles
“I don’t know how your parent’s put up with you while you were growing up,” Casey answers as she jumps down.
I open the back door and pull out a picnic rug and basket. “Neither do I. I lost count of how many times dad threatened to ship me off to boarding school.” After lying the rug on the ground, I begin to pull out the items from the basket.
“Did you leave any food in your mom’s kitchen?”
“She was the one to pack it all. Do you honestly think I’d be able to cook all of this?”
“Well, maybe. You know how to cook”
“Nothing like this.”
We’re both quiet as we eat. After we’ve finished I’m nearly bursting at the seams and there is still enough food to feed an entire family.
“I miss your moms cooking,” Casey says as she lies back on the rug. Seeing her laid back and relaxing reminds me of when we first started dating. Which then reminds me of why we’re here tonight.
“We need to talk.”
*
Casey
I SWALLOW NERVOUSLY as I meet Bryson’ eyes. “What about?” I ask quietly.
“Us.” He reaches over and sits me up so we’re sitting face to face, only a few inches apart. “I have an idea.”
“Please tell me it’s a good one and that you didn’t bring me out here just to tell me to leave town.”
“If I was going to do that, I wouldn’t have wasted mom’s time with cooking for us.”
“I know,” I reply.
“We’ll never be able to forget the past and we’ll never be able to pretend we don’t have a history, but I don’t want to. I know we’ve both been hurt over the years and we’ve both come out the other side as stronger people.” His hand cups my cheek and I tilt my head into his touch. “I want to start again.”
“How can we?” I ask as I pull away from his touch. “Everything you just pointed out means we can’t start again.”
“We don’t need to pretend we’re strangers and do the “meet the family” dinner, but there are things we don’t know about each other anymore. I want to start dating again.”
“You want to date me?” I ask in disbelief.
Bryson lets out a frustrated sigh and stands up, before shoving his hands in his pockets and pacing back and forth. “Do you always have to question what I say?”
“Well no. But…” I stop talking when Bryson chuckles. “What’s funny?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing, keep going.”
I frown at him but continue talking. “But, how do you know that we will work out? How do you know that we will both be happy?”
“I don’t know that we’ll work out because I don’t have a magic ball to see into the future. What I do know, is that I don’t want to not take a chance and miss out on what we could be.”
“But what if it breaks us? If it breaks me? I can’t go back to what I was” I say with my voice getting louder with each word.
Bryson kneels in front of me and cups my face with both hands. “I won’t let you break.”
“That’s where we went wrong last time,” I whisper.
“It’s different this time.”
My eye’s lock on Bryson’s and I can see the sincerity in his eyes. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay, I want to date.”
His lips tip up into a crooked smile before he leans forward and places his lips against mine. I expect the kiss to get hot and heavy, but Bryson ends the kiss when he pulls away.
He must see my lips pouting because a devilish smile spreads across his face. “Casey, this is our first date and I’m a gentleman. All of our clothes are staying on.”
“You don’t need to take your clothes off to kiss me.”
He nods in agreement. “But I know that if I taste you for much longer, I won’t be able to hold back.”
***
Chapter Twenty-two
Casey
“TELL ME WHAT YOU’VE been up to for the last few years,” Bryson says later on when we’re lying next to each other. A little while ago, Bryson packed up everything into the picnic basket, and since then we’ve been lying on the rug under the stars.
“You know most of it.”
“Not really. I know that you’re a realtor and you live in Kansas City but that’s all.”
“Well, I moved there after I… after I left Madisonville. For the first three months, I worked in a little coffee shop. The hours were good but the pay was shit. One day I overheard two customers talking about how they were after a receptionist for their realtor company. When the lady was leaving, I asked her if I could bring my resume in. The next day she hired me on the spot and I didn’t go back to work at the coffee shop.”
“I couldn’t imagine you working in a coffee shop.”
“Why?”
“I know that you would be able to do the job perfectly, but it would have bored you.”
I nod my head as I laugh. “It did. The owners were nice but it was a quieter coffee shop and most of the customers were regulars. After a few weeks, every day become repetitive. I could count down to the minute when the regulars would walk through the door.”
“Do you enjoy your current job?”
I pause briefly before answering, “Yes.”
“What was the hesitation for?”
I sigh as I roll to my side so I’m facing him. I raise my hand and rub my thumb over his beard. It’s not too long today as he only shaved a few days ago. “I do love my job but I wish it was closer to home.”
“You live twenty minutes away.”
“No, I mean here, home.” It’s the first time I’ve admitted out loud that I’m homesick.
Bryson reaches over and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Maybe you might move home one day.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I mumble as his hand slides from behind my ear and down to my jaw.
I shiver as he leans forward, his breath hitting my cheek as he talks. “Maybe you have a reason to move home, now.”
“I always have had. My family lives here.”
“But your demons have been too big. Now that you’re not running, you can come home.”
I swallow slowly as Bryson’s lips meet mine. Our lips gently move against each other’s as he comes to lean over me. My lips part when Bryson flicks his tongue out and seeks entrance to my mouth.
When I feel Bryson’s hand sliding underneath my top and towards my breasts, I reluctantly break this kiss. “Aren’t we meant to be taking this slow?” I ask, my voice sounding breathy from desire. “First date, remember.”
“Have you ever known me to follow the rules?” he asks and I shake my head. “Casey, I’m going to kiss you and it’s going to lead to us having sex. If you don’t want that, you have to say so now.”
I place my lips against his as I move my hands to his belt, letting him know what I want. Bryson lets out a groan as I slide my hand inside his jeans and fist my hand around his length.
Bryson leans back on his heels as he flicks the button on my shorts open. After removing my boots, he slides my shorts down my legs. I expect him to rip them off and to get me undressed quickly but his movements are irritatingly slow. Once my clothes are off and I’m lying underneath him, completely naked, he kisses his way down my body, from my jaw down to my pelvic bone. I feel his beard graze against my opening as he kisses just above my clit.
“Bryson,” I breath while trying to push him down to where I want him.
“I’m getting there,” he mumbles against my clit before he latches his lips around it. My hips buck into him as a light moan leaves my mouth.
I lift my arms above my head and fist the picnic rug, as I try to hold onto my control and not climax within a minute. My control is lost when Bryson slowly pushes two fingers inside my sex. When I feel his fingers gliding over my g-spot I begin to orgasm and let the pleasure take over my body.
Bryson keeps sucking and licking my clit after my orgasm dies and it’s too much. It’s been a long time since anyo
ne has paid it any attention, apart from me and my vibrator.
“Bry, stop, stop, stop. It’s too much,” I pant out as I lean up and try to push him away.
“One more,” he mumbles. He slides his fingers out of me and replaces them with his tongue. Bryson’s never used his tongue inside me like this before. No one has used their tongue inside me. He continues to flick his tongue in and out of my sex as he pinches my clit.
“Oh, god,” I groan as I fling my head back and let my arms fall beside me.
It’s too much.
The pleasure is too much.
The feelings that are swirling inside of me, from Bryson giving me pleasure, is too much.
I need… I just need to come.
“Make me come,” I growl out. “God damn, make me come before I shatter.”
I should have known better than to tell Bryson what to do. He makes me come. He makes me come so darn hard that I shatter.
*
Bryson
I STRIP MY CLOTHES OFF as I watch Casey lying there, trying to catch her breath. Once I’ve kicked off my boots and jeans, I kneel between her legs and come down over her and fasten my lips around her puckered nipple.
“I’m clean,” I mumble around her nipple as I look up into her lusty eyes. “I haven’t… It’s been a long time and I’ve been tested.”
She slowly nods her head as she wraps her arms around my neck. “I get tested regularly and well you know that I can’t…” Her words trail off, but I know what she was going to say.
Not wanting either of us to think about that, I make my way up to her mouth and capture her lips in a deep kiss as I slowly slide my cock inside her.
Being inside Casey feels like coming home.
She’s tighter than I remember, and she lets her knees fall to the side, giving me more room to slide in further.
I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers. As much as I want to feel myself moving inside of her, I want to make sure she’s adjusted to my size.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Mmhmm,” she moans as she moves one of her legs up and places her heel at the small of my back. “Yes. But I really need you to move.”
I don’t wait for her to tell me again. I pull my hips back until just the tip of my cock is inside her tight channel. I begin to thrust in and out quicker as I go but I don’t go hard.
I’m not here to just get off.
I hold back my release for as long as I can until I feel Casey begin to writhe underneath me when she comes.
I rock my hips into her quicker until I can feel my balls tighten. I shoot my load deep inside her with a loud groan before collapsing on top of her.
“That was…” She sounds lost for words.
“Like coming home,” I say, echoing my earlier thoughts.
“Yes,” she quietly agrees.
I roll to my side and pull her into my arms before I drop a kiss to her forehead.
***
Chapter Twenty-Three
Casey
I WRAP MY ARMS around Bryson’s shoulders as he leans down to give me a goodnight kiss. His lips linger against mine and he keeps the kiss light.
“I enjoyed myself tonight,” Bryson’s say as he pulls back and looks down into my eyes.
“Same. It was refreshing and relaxing. It was like… the old times.”
Bryson gives me a happy smile but doesn’t comment straight away. “We were us again.” He pecks my lips before stepping back, causing my arms to slip from his shoulders. “I better get home. I’ve got an early morning with dad, bringing in the cattle to be branded.”
“I didn’t think your dad branded his cattle anymore.”
“He did stop for a few years but then twelve months ago they had some sheep and cows go missing from a few farms around Madison County.”
“Was your dad’s one?”
“No. But a few of them were found at the sales. When they found them, they questioned the people selling them but they were only young punk kids who had been paid to take them. They said they didn’t know who it was that paid them.”
“That sucks. I can’t believe the things that some people do and think they will get away with.”
“They just don’t care that others have worked hard to get to where they are. These thieves just want the big dollars without all of the efforts.”
“That’s the stupid thing, stealing cattle is an effort and it’s risky. And it’s just wrong to steal.”
“I know that baby and you know that. These people just don’t care.” He leans in and drops one more kiss to my lips. “I gotta go now. If not, I won’t be able to leave you and my dad will be ripping me a new asshole in the mornin’ when I don’t turn up.” He gives me a panty-melting smile before he turns and walks down the garden path. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I stand, leaning against the porch banister, as I watch Bryson jump into his truck then drive away. Once his taillights have faded away, I quietly head inside and to the kitchen. As it’s just past midnight, I expect everyone to be in bed asleep but as I reach the doorway between the living room and the kitchen, the lamp next to the couch turns on.
I jump and turn around as a small squeal leaves me. I place one hand over my heart and one over my mouth but relax when I see my mom sitting there.
“What are you doing awake ma?”
“My ankle is throbbing and I couldn’t sleep.” She pats the sofa cushion next to her. “How was your night?” she asks once I’ve sat down.
“It was… good.” It was more than good but mom doesn’t need to know about those details.
She nods her head up and down, slowly, as if she can tell what is going on inside my head. “I’m not going to tell you what you both should or shouldn’t do. Both of you are old enough to make your own decisions.” She stops talking and takes my hand in hers. “But please make sure that both of you are happy and want this.”
“We do…. Well I know I do. Going out with Bryson tonight wasn’t just something I decided to do off the top of my head. We’ve been talking. We’re now dating because we don’t want to jump in too fast.”
Mom nods her head again as if understanding what I’m saying. “I’m glad you’re being smart about it. I had hoped that you would come back to Bryson but after a conversation, we had a few months back, I gave up hope. But seeing you now,” she waves her hand in my direction. “you look happy again.” Her lips transform into a smile before she leans over and hugs me. “I love you, you know that.”
“Yes, ma. I love you as well. Some days I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I’m the same, as much as you girls are causing me to go grey.”
“We’re not that bad.”
“You’re not. Your sister, though…” She shakes her head. “I’m surprised I’m not in a straitjacket.”
I tip my head back and laugh as I stand up and walk to the fridge to get a glass of iced water. Jolene has always kept mom and dad on their toes. Since the day she learned to walk she’s been full on.
“Your life would be boring without us.”
Mom gives me a warm smile. “It would be. As much as I enjoy talking with you, I really need sleep.”
I help mom to her room and into her bed before switching off the lamp next to her bed. “Night mom,” I say when I reach the door.
“Night darlin’.”
Walking into my room, I notice a spring in my step that’s been missing for a long time.
***
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bryson
“QUIT YAWNIN’ AND HELP Tony bring in the rest of the cattle,” dad calls out as he and Benson move another cow into the cattle crush.
We’ve been out here since 5:30 am, branding the cattle. Usually, an early morning doesn’t bother me, but after being with Casey last night, sleep didn’t come easy. Every time I closed my eyes her face would be there in my dreams.
“Keep your pants on, I’m going,” I mumble as I amble over to Cyril before mou
nting him and heading over to Tony. After four hours, we’ve only got twenty cattle to go and I can see the end in sight.
“Big night?” Tony questions as I round the back of the cattle and start pushing them towards the cattle yard. Once they’re all in the yard and lined up, I’ll be able to get out of here.
“Just late.”
“Thought so. You’re usually the first to be out here and the last to leave.”
He’s right. Usually, I’m eager to be here working on the ranch. It doesn’t get my heart pumping like being on the back of a bull, but working long hours used to keep my mind from Casey.
An hour later, the cattle are all branded and Cyril is back in his stall and I’m brushing him. He’s always looked after well, but recently I’ve been neglecting him and Tony’s been looking out for him. “Sorry, boy,” I say to him as I brush his hind leg. “I’ll be around more often from now on. We’ll be able to go out for a ride most days.”
“Why is that?” I turn around when I hear my mom’s soft-spoken voice.
I shrug my shoulders as I turn back to Cyril. “Just thinkin’ of spending more time ‘round here.”
“It wouldn’t have something to do with a certain dark-haired beauty?”
“Possibly.” Mom raises an eyebrow as if she knows why. She’s right, it is because of Casey but it’s more than what she thinks. I just want Casey to be the first one who I tell.
When I don’t say any more, she sighs in frustration. I hear her shuffling around and I look over my shoulder to see that she has moved into Cyril’s stall. “You make sure to bring her here for dinner one night.”
“I will do mom,” I answer as she grabs another brush and begins brushing the other side of Cyril. “I’m going to do it right this time.”
Mom pauses and looks at me with a sad face. “You didn’t do it wrong last time. It’s a horrible thing to experience but it does happen every day to people all over the world. And what’s even worse, is that there is not a lot we can do.”