by Kenzie Rose
“I spend my time in a sound booth or going to clubs. No need for a horse.”
I just shook my head. “Come on, let’s get them fed and in the barn so I can fix dinner. There is a meteor shower tonight.” I helped him up. Stopping, I put my hand over his ribs. I could feel the outline of the tape under my hand. “Just promise me you won’t overdo it out there. Please. I feel bad enough for making you climb on the back of Clover yesterday” I grabbed my cowboy hat and an old baseball cap for him that was my grandfathers. With Rufus leading the way we headed out to feed the horses. I handed him the carrots and I took care of the feed. “Hold your hand flat with the carrot on it and then let her eat it. She won’t bite you.” He looked a little concerned so I showed him how to do it and then watched as she took it out of his hand. “See that wasn’t so hard. I took his hand and showed him where to rub. I nuzzled her face and gave her one more before we went to the next stall.
“How many horses do you have?” He asked as he fed another horse.
“Twenty, I used to Barrel Race but now I just raise and breed them. Once we sold off all the cattle it was easier for my dad to run. There are plenty of ranches that are always in need of a horse, Jeff brings his Broodmares over to breed, and by the way he was just messing with you this morning. The guys that live around here love to play big brother.” I felt his arm come around me.
“I don’t want to sound jealous but I was and I know I have no right to be but I still didn’t like it . . .” I place my finger on his lips.
“Stop. Nothing to be jealous about. In fact, that was his wife that was here this morning.” I closed the last stall and took his hand and sat on a bale of hay. “The last guy I dated broke my heart, that was nine months ago, I threw myself into working with the horses and keeping my grandfather’s legacy alive. Building fences and working with the horses, I made this my life.”
“What did he do?” he kissed my hand causing a tingling sensation to run through my body.
“Before he cheated on me he made sure it was someone that would tell me. He kept telling me that he didn’t like the fact that I loved working with horses or that I wanted to work on the ranch. He felt like the ranch and the animals meant more to me then him. And I think he was right. We just never really clicked. I would rather be here then with him in Austin. The guy before that said that I should sell the ranch and use the money for trucks and a boat. He was an idiot. Dad threatened to shoot his truck if he came back on the Ranch. So, you see there hasn’t really been anyone in my life that I felt like sharing this with.” I gestured to the animals.
“Even though they could see this is important to you?”
“It takes a special guy to want to take something like this on. The horses are like my family, my kids and unless the man in my life can understand this, then I don’t have room in my life for that man.” I looked into his eyes. “I made a commitment to my grandfather when he was dying. I told him that I would keep the ranch going, raise the horses and keep the legacy that my great grandfather started. My dad is all but retired so it’s just me.”
“Baby, why are you telling me this?”
“Because if you can’t do it, if this is too much and you need to go back home to Nashville, I would completely understand.” I got up and took his hand. “Why don’t you rest and I will start dinner.” He pulled on my hand and I lost my balance, falling into his arms.
“Are you trying to warn me away from thinking about staying?”
I bit my lip. “No . . .”
“Good, now let me help with dinner.”
“You can’t cook.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t learn.” I just nodded. I am so out of my league with him.
Chapter Eleven
Jeremy—Mason TX.
I SAT ON THE BARSTOOL and watched Kennedy pull the chicken from some liquid mixture, then put the chicken in flour and then in the skillet. She was concentrating on cooking and not really talking. So I sat and watched her, she turned on the music and William Michael Morgan’s I Met A Girl started to play, I remember seeing him perform and I remember thinking to myself that it was a good song but I never really listened to the words until now. As I listened to the words I realized that Kennedy did all of these things to me, she has captured my heart, just like the girl in the song. I slowly got up and walked over to her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and rested my chin on her shoulder, quietly singing the chorus to her.
“I love this song.” she said as she kept cooking.
“I never really listened to it until right now, now I know what they say about songs having real meaning.” I said as I kissed her neck, she leaned her head over to the side to give me better access.
“I feel the words of the songs all the time. To me they all have meaning.”
“Maybe now I will really start to listen to them.”
“Why now?”
“Because they seem to have more meaning when you have someone that you care about.” I took the tongs out of her hand and flipped the chicken. She turned and looked at me and I noticed she had flour on her nose and cheek. It just made her look even cuter. “Do you usually wear the food when you cook?” I asked as I wiped the flour off her face.
Blushing she smiled “Not that I know of.” I leaned down and kissed her chastely on the lips, then kept flipping the food while she watched me.
“Am I doing it right?” I never cared to learn how to cook, but it’s kind of fun.
“Yep, can you watch this while I make the salad?” I nodded and kept watching the chicken, not wanting it to burn. She placed mason jars with salad and drinks in the basket and then came over to the stove and started removing the chicken to drain on paper towels. Then she wrapped them up in brown paper and added it to the basket. “It’s going to get chilly, we should put warmer clothes on and I’ll grab the blanket.”
We walked hand in hand down the hall and I stopped her as she started to open the door. Leaning down I kissed her, softly, moving down her neck, slowly nibbling as I went. She had her fingers woven into my hair, holding on tight. I made my way back up her neck to her lips and took possession of her mouth, devouring her, I reached down and pulled her to me until she was pressed as tight against me as possible. I knew she could feel how much I wanted her. Really wanted her. I pulled back and looked at her.
“I umm should go and get changed.” but she made no move to open the door.
“So should I.” But I didn’t move either. I leaned my head against her forehead. “Go and change.” she nodded and backed into her room. I smiled and went into mine, changing into a long sleeve shirt.
I went into the living room and looked out at the barn. I would have to be lying if I said I missed the ringing phones and the text messages. I love my artists but I don’t miss the stress of the industry. Before I came down here and saw how slow life was I thought I craved it but now I know that it is just a job. What I seem to crave now is Kennedy’s touch, I need to see her and know where she is. I have never had that feeling before, for anyone. I sighed, I could have let her slip away, never would have known what it was like to kiss her sweet lips. I could have been like my friends and moved on to the next girl and missed out on so much. She wrapped her arms around me. Laying her head on my back
“Is everything alright.” I place my hand over hers and squeezed it.
“Everything is wonderful.” I turned to face her. “I was just thinking how empty my life was until I came to see you.” She moved onto her tiptoes and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close to me.
“Really?” She bit her lip.
“Really.” I kissed her again, if having her in my arms like this is amazing what would it be like to making love to her. I felt myself getting harder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Umm nothing.”
“Jeremy that wasn’t nothing, is it your ribs?” She started moving her hand down my ribs and I stopped her. “What?”
“It’s not my ribs, baby.” I pulle
d her closer and she gasped.
“Oh,” was all she said as her face turned an adorable shade of red.
“Why don’t we go and have that picnic, maybe continue this conversation out there and just see what happens.” She smiled and backed away just a little before making her way to the kitchen. She handed me the blankets before picking up the basket and walking outside. We walked hand in hand out to the pasture that is to the west of the house. We walked to this small hill and about five hundred yards away from the lights of the house and barn before she sat the basket down. She placed one of the blankets on the basket and then we spread the other one out.
“Sit.” she said as she sat down next to me, our legs touching. She handed me a plate with chicken on it, then a mason jar with a green salad and another jar with sweet tea. I handed her the silverware. We enjoyed the food while we ate and talked.
“This chicken is really good.” I said. “Reminds me of my mom’s cooking.
“It was my grandmother’s recipe. I used to love to help her in the kitchen, especially when she was baking.”
“I never had the desire to learn, my mom didn’t like it when we were in the kitchen. I guess my brother and I made too big of a mess.” I took a drink of the tea, something else I was never a fan of until now. “So, this is your favorite place to come and be alone?” I asked as I cleaned up the plates and placed everything back in the basket except the jars of tea. She nodded. I moved my legs and pulled her over to sit in between them. I pulled her back so she is leaning on me. I wrapped my arms around her and leaned my chin on the top of her head.
“Growing up I would come out here and look at the stars, I loved to look at the constellations and this was the best place on the ranch to see them. There isn’t any glare from the lights but I can hear Mom and Dad if they called my name. I would spend hours out here reading until it got dark, then I would wish on the shooting stars, wishing and hoping that my grandpa would get better. After he died, this was where I came. I needed to be alone and no one would bother me out here.” I squeezed her tighter, I could feel the sorrow coming from her as I held her close. “I think he would have liked you.”
“Really? He wouldn’t have thought I was a pain in the ass with an even bigger ego for coming all this way and thinking I could change your mind. To talk you into coming back with me?”
“I’m sure he would have sent you packing but he also would have tried to take you under his wing and make you a cowboy.” Chuckling I kissed her neck.
“I think I would have liked to have met him. He sounds like a character.”
“Oh he was, he didn’t take crap from anyone but he also had a heart of gold, a soft spot for anyone that he thought had a good heart. He worked hard, from before dawn to sundown and some days longer. He would either stay up all night or sleep in the barn next to a horse that was in distress. He built this Ranch house so he could ask my grandmother to marry him. Her father refused unless he had a house and a working ranch. So, he made it happen. That is why I work so hard to make sure that I keep the ranch running, because it’s his legacy.”
I sat and listened to her talking and I realized that I lost my heart to her as soon as she walked in my booth. I was a goner and didn’t even know it. I slowly started to lean back, taking her with me.
“Hold on.” I said as I rolled over on my side and turned her over. “There now I can see your beautiful face in the moonlight.” I leaned over her body and stared into her eyes again, the moon was overhead and we had a blanket of stars above us but she was the only thing that I saw. She licked her soft lips and I couldn’t wait any longer, I lowered my lips and captured her mouth with mine. We kissed, like we were starving, devouring each other. I felt her hands move inside my jacket, I could feel her hands moving under my shirt. Making contact with my skin, I moved my hand up her side, letting it roam. I moved down her neck and bit her earlobe. Causing a whimper, I ran my tongue back up her neck and I felt a shiver run through her.
“Are you cold?” I asked against her lips.”
“No.” she said breathlessly “I’m actually really hot.” she smiled and I saw a gleam in her eye.
Chapter Twelve
Kennedy—Mason TX.
I CAREFULLY PUSHED HIM OVER and looked down at him. His dark eyes staring back at me and his short curly hair was screaming for me to run my fingers through it.
“I closed my heart off to any thought of loving anyone ever again. But then you came driving down my road, scaring the crap out of me when you hit that tree. I thought you were crazy, flying all the way down here to bring me a CD that I never really wanted. But there is something about you. I am drawn to you, can’t keep my eyes off you. I feel calm yet electrified when you touch me. That has never happened to me before.” He ran his finger down my cheek, tracing my lips. I flicked my tongue out to touch his finger. I can feel his erection against my leg. I leaned down and kissed him, running my tongue over his lip then biting down on it.
“Let’s go inside where we can get more comfortable.” I smiled and slowly stood up, and he followed. I grabbed the flashlight out of the basket, we folded the blankets and headed into the house hand in hand.
The door wasn’t even closed before we were taking each other’s jackets off. Walking backwards we headed down the hall, kicking off our shoes. I took his hand and lead him into my bedroom. I lit candles while he stayed right behind me, running his hand down my back.
“Are you sure about this Kennedy?” he asked in a deep voice. I felt his breath brush against my neck. I turned around and looked into his eyes, that were dancing in the glow of the candlelight. I slowly unbuttoned my shirt, letting it fall open to show my black lace bra. He placed his finger on my lips, tracing them before running it down my chest to the front clasp of my bra, before unhooking it. I looked up and watched his face. He was just staring at me. I let my shirt fall to the floor before reaching up and carefully pulling off his shirt. I stared at his tattoo while I traced it with my finger.
“Maybe some day you will tell me about this?”
“Someday, but baby you are killing me by going so slow.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me towards him. I reached up and caressed his cheek, feeling the stubble under my hand.
“This might be fast and it might be crazy but it feels so right.” He captured my lips in a searing kiss that I felt all the way to my toes. His hands were in the waistband of my jeans, cupping my ass and lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, bringing me closer to his hard length. God, he’s so big. It’s been a long time since I had sex.
He stopped kissing me and looked into my eyes. “What’s wrong?” I looked away, “Baby, tell me what’s wrong. You just got tense.” He walked us over to the bed and carefully sat me down before sitting next to me. I fell back on the bed and covered my eyes.
“It’s so embarrassing.” I couldn’t look at him now. I reached for the blanket that was across the bed and tried to cover myself up but he stopped me.
“Don’t feel embarrassed with me.”
I looked at him and saw so much compassion in his eyes. “It’s umm been a while.” I said as he caressed my face and kissed me so softly.
“I don’t ever want to think about you being with anyone else but me. I don’t care if it’s been months, or years. I promise that this time is the only time that will matter for both of us.” I felt the tears building in my eyes.
“Are you for real? Do guys like you really exist?”
“Oh baby, I’m real. The only other guy I know that fell hard for someone was my brother Eric and I watched him pour his heart out to Avery. I thought he was crazy but now that I have found you, I see why he put it all on the line for her.”
I felt his hand move against my stomach, I reached up and brought his mouth down to mine. His fingers traced around the tip of my nipple, causing it to pucker. I ran my other hand up his bicep and across his chest. Flattening my hands on his pecks. I could feel the muscles rippling under my hands. When the
need to breath overtook us, we ripped our lips apart and he started on my neck, nibbling and soothing with his tongue. He ran his tongue over the slope of my right breast before taking my nipple in his mouth. Sucking and swirling his tongue around it until it popped out of his mouth. He did the same thing to the left breast, causing me to arch my back this time. He took the opportunity to reach under me and squeeze my ass again. My nipple popped out of his mouth and he ran his tongue down the center of my body. Over my stomach to the top of my jeans.
He tugged on my pants with his teeth until they popped open and then he slowly moved the zipper down. Looking back up at me he smiled. Trying to gage my reaction, I bit my lip and nodded. He peeled my jeans off me revealing black lace panties. He moved his hand up the inside of my leg just stopping short of the fabric. He stopped, got off the bed and took off his jeans. He pulled a condom out of his wallet, placing it on the bed and then he came back to me, he dipped down and touched my clit with his finger. I raise my hips off the bed, needing more. He kept running circles around my clit which is now throbbing I watch him lower his head. Oh god, no.
“Jeremy, I’ve never . . .” He looks up at me, still playing with my clit and smiles.
“You never what Kennedy, tell me.”
“I never let a guy do that.” Bending his head, he runs his tongue over my clit and then down.
“That?”
Oh My God, I can’t believe he just . . . he did it again but this time he sucked my clit between his lips. I couldn’t talk or breathe.
“Baby, breathe . . .”
Chapter Thirteen
Jeremy—Mason TX.
“BABY, BREATHE . . .” SHE IS SO perfect. She took a deep breath and looked at me with a shocked expression on her face. “What’s wrong?” I don’t want to do something that hurts her or scares her. I mean I know she isn’t a virgin but she sounds like she has only been with assholes.
“I never. . . . What you just did, I never.” She looked at me with so much want in her eyes. I climbed back up her body, hovering over her . . . my ribs didn’t seem to hurt so I was going for it. Ribs be damned.