by Kinney Scott
She took a few more pictures, then turned back to the truck, “I think I’ve got enough. Thanks for bringing me here. This is a part of Washington I knew very little about.”
Before he got back in the cab, Seth grabbed a couple bottled water from the cooler in the bed. The dry air always left him parched. Natalie settled into the center of the bench seat. He loved having her within reach while he drove.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Oysters lay on the metal grate sizzling in the shell above a fire built down by the lake. Releasing the shell just enough to be popped open, Kelsey squeezed a bit of lemon on top of the mollusk, and tipped the oyster onto her tongue, sliding it down her throat. “Wade, I love you for bringing these to the party, nothing could ever be better.” She wasted no time, immediately sliding another taste of pure ocean into her mouth.
“Anytime an event takes me to the coast, fresh oysters are a must. Hey Seth, when should we put the salmon on the grill?”
“No hurry. Molly and Mandy are still on their way.”
Adirondack chairs circled the fire, as the sun began to dip low in the sky. Kelsey scanned the small crowd, thankful to be home to host a party down at the lake. Kent, Rick, and Justin had set up several tents. No one intended to drive home tonight. Wade brought up a keg of a new batch to test. Molly and Mandy, who would be leaving for fall quarter in a few weeks, wanted to take advantage of every opportunity to hang out before they left.
The connection to Natalie had now solidified Seth and Wade as a permanent addition to these gatherings. Come September, as Nate moved her tiny house to the Oregon Coast, the bonds might weaken, but the small town of Ashwood would always hold the community close.
Seth sat on a large old blanket, spread on the lawn. Natalie nestled against his chest, leaning back between his legs. A light breeze kicked up off the lake. He wrapped her in his arms as she shivered in her tank top and shorts. “Are you cold? I can grab your sweatshirt from our tent,” he whispered.
“No, I’m good. Don’t move. I’m too comfortable here with you.” She nestled into his embrace and he inhaled her vanilla scent.
Molly and Mandy arrived, carrying a large pan of rice crispy treats. “Hey everyone! We cooked. Brought some marshmallow and cereal goodness. Our culinary skills cannot be matched.” They laughed as they added the food to the table.
“I love these, and it looks like you added extra marshmallows.” Kelsey took one and handed another to Nate, sprawling down on the blanket with the couple.
“You read my mind, these are so delicious.” Nate tore off a piece, and fed a bite to Seth. He licked some of the sticky marshmallow off her fingers, moaning a little.
Wade chucked a pinecone at Seth, mocking his cousin for the public display.
“Dude, she was sticky, I was just helping her out.” Seth would not apologize for touching his woman at every opportunity.
“Have mercy on the single guys out here,” Wade laughed. “What do you think of the beer? We are thinking of introducing it in December, but it’s a little lighter than our usual winter brew.” Wade asked Seth as he took another taste.
“I like it, the bite of the hops is nice, what is the other flavor in there?”
“Cloves and just a bit of Cranberry.”
“Perfect for the holidays, but its light enough that it doesn’t taste too heavy on a summer day. I like the different flavors. Its complex. When we grill the Salmon, we could add some sliced orange along with the lemon. It might be an interesting pairing with the beer.” Seth kissed the top of Natalie’s head before standing up. “Let me get you your sweatshirt before I go and prep the salmon.”
“Thanks that would be great. Let me know if I can help with anything.”
He wandered off, and she watched his easy movement admiring the way his jeans hugged his muscular butt and thighs as he bent into their tent finding her sweatshirt.
He tossed it over, when Kelsey caught it she turned to her best friend, “You and Seth make sense. Your relationship seems kind of effortless.” Wade and Seth walked off toward a nearby gazebo and sliced oranges, lemon and onion to dress the salmon.
As her man moved off Natalie whispered to Kels, “I’m trying very hard not to overthink it. Finding Seth this summer has been unexpected. With all of the changes in my life, I don’t want to read too much into how perfect this has been. I can’t spend my whole life on vacation in Ashwood. Reality may change everything.”
“Reality? What’s not real about Ashwood?”
“I need to work for one thing. The plan to have my own business, my own coffee shop, it needs customers. The coast will be great until winter, but I may need to find another place after Christmas. Maybe Arizona. There are some tourist areas not too far from my Mom that I’m considering.”
“Sticking with your plan seems to be important to you. I get that. At least keep Ashwood on your route in the summer. We get enough tourists up here to keep you busy. Or if you get tired of serving coffee and food, you can take a break and plant yourself on your land at the lake.”
“The thought crossed my mind, but once snow comes, I would not be able to move the house until spring.
“How is she doing with the trailer, Kent?” Kelsey shifted the conversation to safer territory as Kent joined them on the blanket.
Kent leaned over, and wrapped his arm around Kels, “We worked on backing the trailer this week. Her confidence has improved. I know you will be ready by September. Seth doesn’t seem to be in a big hurry to finish your house.”
“Some of the components for the kitchen are on back order.” Nate shared.
“Yeah, right,” Kent laughed, he could tell that Seth was dragging his feet. A build had never experienced so many delays. “Whatever, I’m glad you are going to be around a little longer. I’ll miss you when you leave, Nate.”
“Kent, I have an idea, we could sabotage her tiny house to keep Nate here all winter!” Kelsey tackled Natalie to the blanket, “Please help me kidnap her and hold her against her will.”
“This is all part of your evil plot to increase the population of Ashwood,” Nate laughed. Kelsey effortlessly won the wrestling match, by pinning her best friend to the blanket.
Kent couldn’t help being turned on by the tangle of tanned legs and bouncing tits. He was just a normal guy after all. His best defense was to remove himself from temptation.
As he stood, he tried to adjust his shorts while he wandered down to the lake. Muttering, “Not for you…not for you.” Nate belonged to Seth, and Kelsey had been his best friend forever.
After dinner, two canoes skimmed across the lake staying close to shore as darkness approached. One paddled by Molly and Rick, the other by Justin and Mandy. Kent and Seth discussed a new idea for a loft going into a new home. Wade played his guitar by the fire, strumming a familiar song while Kelsey sang along. Surrounded by friends, lake lapping on the shore, evening sounds of nature emerging, Natalie couldn’t imagine a better moment. She belonged.
The coals had died back, while spending the evening talking by the fire. Natalie and Seth were the first to crawl into their tent, ignoring pairs that emerged among their group of slightly drunk friends. Temptation took over, and Seth could not resist a little make out session with his girl. Sleeping bags zipped together, bodies tangled. They touched, explored, nibbled and kissed while attempting to remain silent. Difficult but not impossible. Unquestionably thrilling.
***
Two nights later Natalie loaded bags of groceries from the Stop and Shop to take up to Seth’s house. She lifted the last bag into the passenger side of her truck. Tonight she planned to make her chicken enchiladas. One more stop, at the farmers market and she would have everything she needed.
Rounding her truck, she was surprised when a tall attractive woman walked up. Dark sleek hair cascaded down her back. With her long manicured nails, she didn’t quite fit in here in Ashwood. Nate figured she must be a tourist who needed directions.
“Hello, do you need help finding s
omething?” Natalie asked.
“Oh, I’ve found it. You’re Natalie.”
“Yes, have we met? I’m sorry, I don’t recall meeting you.”
“No, you don’t know me, but I know exactly who you are. And that you don’t belong here, taking what isn’t yours. I’m Chelsea Michaels.”
Oh, God, she had kept Seth’s name after the divorce. “Chelsea, I haven’t taken anything from you.”
Chelsea pushed forward into Natalie’ space, her hip slightly cocked to one side. “Seth and I may have split up, but he still needs me. He might be temporarily distracting himself with some missionary position summer fling. I understand exactly what Seth needs. I give him what he wants. Seth always comes back to me. He always finds his way to my bed.”
Natalie shook with anger, “I don’t need to manipulate a man to keep him. Seth chooses to be with me. He doesn’t need some kinky excuse to justify it. Get out of my way. Stay out of Seth’s life.”
“You think you know him? Seth and I have a history.”
“From how I see it, you are his past, and I am his future.” Nate opened the door to her truck, turned on the ignition, and drove out of the parking lot. Once she could no longer see Chelsea in the rear view mirror, she pulled over to calm down before driving to the farmers market.”
Chelsea thinks she can scare me away with that load of crap? Game on.” Natalie hurried home after the market. She had work to do.
***
Hot spicy scents greeted Seth at the door. Natalie had planned to make dinner tonight and his mouth watered. A pitcher of margaritas was ready on the counter. Where was Natalie?
Upstairs he heard her moving down the hall. Looking up he thought he had been hungry for dinner, until he spotted her. Red high heels, long tan legs, the shortest black skirt he had ever seen. She had her button up shirt tied tight to push her tits out of a red lace bra. His breath caught as he spotted the soft mounds peeking from the open neckline of her skimpy top. The matching thong was under that skirt. Natalie’s hair was in that messy bun he loved, giving him access to her neck.
His mouth went dry, and Seth could not form a sound while she moved like a cat to the bar and slowly poured him a margarita. She held it out for him to retrieve, waiting for his senses to return. “Thirsty?” She purred, when his hands reached out to take hold of the cold glass.
Draining half of the tequila laced elixir, Seth set down the glass, lifted Natalie to the counter, and parted her legs stepping between them. His lips scrambled her senses with a bone melting kiss. While her tongue slid along his lower lip, she pulled his shirt up, snaking her nails up his abs lightly scraping his chest, and sensitive nipples.
“Natalie, I’m peeling all of this off. Slowly. But not the heels, the heels stay on.” He groaned.
“Whatever you say Seth. Whatever you want.” Natalie promised.
“Mine.” his simple growled response. He had never meant anything more.
Seth took his time removing her clothes, savoring every layer of eye candy. First, he slipped two fingers under her skirt moving aside the thong, until she rode his hand to her first release.
Next, he revealed her body, clad in only the red bra, red thong and red heels. That image nearly had his cock exploding in his jeans. Carrying her from the kitchen, he only made it as far as the stairs, before placing her down, legs spread wide, while he tasted, licked and feasted. Tearing the thong from her body, Natalie moaned and writhed, while his tongue explored. Dipping deep into her channel, lapping her pussy as she climbed to a second orgasm. Yet, Seth still controlled her pleasure. It was his to own.
Entering his bedroom, with Natalie still trapped in his arms, Seth stopped cold. Arranged on his bed, laid out like an invitation, ropes, and straps neatly coiled on each corner of the bed. The clasps attached to the bedposts, he had designed specifically for this purpose. How did Natalie know? Seth’s cock pulsed. The summons to share this part of himself brought a growl of anticipation. “Natalie, I need to please you.”
“Yes, please,” her whispered response.
***
The following morning Seth ran a bath for Natalie, adding vanilla and orange blossom scented oil that he had made specifically for her at a shop in Portland. She slowly slipped in, allowing the warm water to soothe muscles that ached in the best possible way. “I’ll be back, in a minute.” Seth ran downstairs, and brought her fresh squeezed orange juice, “as much as I want to join you, I know if I slip in the water with you, we won’t make it out of this house today. Let me make us breakfast, take all the time you need. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Natalie soaked, feeling cherished and wonderfully tender. Seth had teased, tied and satisfied her, while making her feel completely claimed by his powerful need.
Later bare feet, toenails painted bubblegum pink, padded silently down the treads of the stairs. Seth had cut up peaches from the farmers market, and poured batter into a waffle iron, “damn” he muttered when he burned his finger on the hot metal edge. Sticking his finger in his mouth, he looked up to see Natalie watching him and smiled. His index finger still in his mouth, “I burned myself, waffle iron injury.”
“Let me see” she said, as she pulled his finger from his mouth, placed it in her own and lightly sucked.
“As much as I would like to pick up where we left off last night, I’m putting your comfort before the ache in my balls. You need some recovery time.”
Releasing his finger, she whispered, “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” he said, kissing her forehead.
“I guess that is probably a good idea. I think you have a client coming in today around eleven. That young couple from California.”
Then she stole a kiss as he lifted her to the kitchen counter, “You taste like peaches, delicious.” She moaned, and snuck her tongue in for another sweet taste.
Seth reluctantly backed away, “Why don’t you watch me cook your breakfast from a safe distance?” He finished making her meal.
Seth took a golden waffle out of the iron, topped it with juicy peaches, and gave it to Natalie. She ate the breakfast he had prepared, her eyes never leaving him as he moved around the kitchen.
***
“My feet are killing me,” Molly complained as she loaded the bags of clothes into the trunk.
First, the twins had bought new bedding and basic kitchen supplies in a store that housed a maze of home goods, décor and furniture that seemed to stretch forever.
Next they all found shoes and boots at a discount store. The buy one-get-one half price sale took longer than expected, but who could pass up deals on new shoes?
Last, a stop for jeans completed the long day of shopping. Kelsey and Nate located a nearby restaurant with an outdoor patio. “Thank you for shopping with us, we wanted to get as much as we could done before heading to Seattle next week.” Mandy slammed the trunk shut as all four girls piled into the car.
Nate’s mouth was already watering thinking about dinner and margaritas as they parked. “I’m starved, thank god the restaurant will have chips and salsa right away. “They found a table under a bright red umbrella and began to talk as soon as they sat down, munching on salty chips dipped in spicy fresh salsa.
Kelsey sipped her margarita, continuing the conversation centered around Seth’s ex-wife. “I can’t believe Chelsea got in your face in the grocery store parking lot. What a supreme bitch. It’s been over four years since their divorce. You think she could move on with someone in Portland. She will have to move on now.” Kelsey had never understood the hold Chelsea had on Seth.
“What did Seth say about it?” Molly asked.
“I decided not to tell him. What difference would it make anyway? If I said something to him, he might just call Chelsea. I won’t give her the satisfaction of thinking she pissed me off.” Nate added, taking another drink.
“I never thought of that, you made the perfect call.” Mandy went on, I’m sure one of her friends from high school told her that you and Seth were t
ogether.
Chelsea probably couldn’t wait to sharpen her nails and come up to Ashwood to claw her way back to Seth. I hope she just stays in Portland where she belongs.”
Natalie would never share the details of her night with Seth. Just thinking about Seth’s control of her pleasure, his dominance and power, caused Natalie to blush in front of her friends.
She popped a jalapeno in her mouth to disguise her rising heat with a fire of the spicy pepper, chasing it with another drink of tart lime margarita.
Intentionally shifting the subject, Nate asked Molly and Mandy about classes and their plans to decorate the tiny dorm the girls would be sharing. Soon the twins would be leaving, and her tiny house was almost complete. Summer was winding down, changing life for everyone.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“That’s right, just a little more to the left, slowly, and now stop. Put the truck in park. Perfect, the trailer is exactly where you planned to put it. Tomorrow we can take your home for a test run.”
Kent had been taking turns teaching Natalie to pull a large trailer on the roads surrounding Ashwood. Confidence building maneuvers on narrow roads and backing into awkward spaces had her driving like a pro. Handling her tiny home was no longer an obstacle. She knew she could manage it on her own.
“Thank you so much Kent, honestly I like driving lessons better with you. Seth makes me nervous. He gets so worried, that he won’t let me learn from my mistakes.”
“Seth worries, but not just about driving. He is concerned about you living on your own. Promise us that if you get in a bind you will give one of us a call. Kelsey, Seth, and I, we all want the best for you, Nate. We’re going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss all of you too. If I don’t see this through, I will feel like I failed somehow. I need my life to be more than a series of predictable safe decisions. I never minded being in Seattle with my grandpa, he was my rock. Now that he is gone, I need to take risks.” She hugged Kent before they exited the truck.