by Mia Madison
Quint grins as though in awareness and leans in to bite each one, pressing the underside between his fingers to push it up to his lips.
“I like you with no bra,” he grits.
“I like you topless too,” I whine right as the door bangs open and Dallyce bursts in. My god, she could have come in on something much less innocent.
“Edie, thank god you're still here, I need to ask you for a favor,” she says breezily.
Chapter 18
Quint
I don't know what came over me with the spanking I just gave Edie. I've never smacked a woman in my life but she looked so hot when she stormed in, her perfect curves outlined by the summer dress and her cheeks all ablaze with the fire in her eyes hotter than that in my forge.
Every time I fill my fists with Edie's flesh something untamed takes over me. I become a wild man in her presence, wanting her shaking and submitting to me which she does so prettily.
Dallyce rushed in begging Edie for a favor, which was a fortunate interruption. Because my plan to leave Edie hungry for me through the day and half the night while she worked with her cheeks still pink flamed from the spanking was in danger of going astray. Her eyes were pleading, her lips quivering with lust for me and it took all my self control not to yank her dress back up and rip those sodden panties to the side.
But as soon as Dallyce was gone I tipped down and bit her bottom lip, sucking it into mine with the promise of what I was going to do to her later that evening. Then I walked her out to find her car.
“I can't believe you just gave me a spanking,” she whispered as I led her across the yard with my hand in the small of her back like I know she likes.
“Did you like it, Baby?” I huff, although I know the answer already.
Her body was crying out for more and the way she arched her back as she was bent over, tipping her hot pink cheeks up toward me like flowers reaching at the sun.
“Will you come by the bar later?
“All the wild steer on Foxworth couldn't keep me away from you.”
“You're funny. Just make sure you don't bail out on me.”
“You're coming dangerously close, Baby.”
“Good,” she replies, all the feist back in her voice, challenging me.
She is going to take it so hard tonight, she won't walk for a week.
I open the car door for her and help her in, noticing her wince slightly as she settles on those slightly raw cheeks. Then she grins up at me with her filthiest smile and turns the ignition.
“See you later then.”
“Bye,” I gruff out, suddenly aware of how much I don't want to let her go. Wanting to keep her with me on the ranch for good. Whoever is here looking for me is still out there. I can't help feeling Edie's at risk because of me. Only by keeping her close can I ensure her safety.
She drives away leaving me feeling a huge empty space in my gut. She ought to be at my side and even while it's an awkward sensation for me, it feels totally right with Edie.
I build the fire in the forge back up to the correct temperature and try to focus on finishing the shoes for Abel. His horse can't go without shoes for long so they take priority over some bath struts for the little madam of the house. There's another one that needs a good spanking. I'm surprised none of the cowboys has ever seen fit to take it on. Out of fear of old man Foxworth I guess. Chloe being the only daughter, he's very over protective.
Once those are done and Power is shod, I just have one more piece to hammer out – and this one is perhaps the most special of anything I've ever made. I pound it harder and with more precise care than anything that came before, feeling it's a live or death process.
I finish up work early for once and head straight to the shower. I won't be inflicting my sweaty, soot-smeared body on my girl again today. As soon as I enter the shower, my cock sticks up straight as a post in the ground, eager for release from the encounter with Edie's gorgeous cheeks earlier. I stroke the length, thinking of her tits jerking as I spanked her, but resist the relief I desperately need. I'm saving myself for my girl, just like I ordered her to do for me.
Shea and the other cowboys are emerging from the stables, dusty with grit as I emerge from my small house scrubbed clean. I get a filthy smirk from Rafe as they pass.
“Got a date, Quint?” Shea asks with a grin of encouragement.
“Something like that,” I say.
“Don't tell me, you're headed to McDools,” Rafe quips, ever the smartass. “Quint and Edie what a surprise.”
“Only surprise is how long it took,” Shea says.
I don't have time to ask him what he means by that. I'm too eager to get to McDools.
“We're right behind you.”
“Not me, I'm signed up for wedding plans,” Shea shrugs with a grin.
He's taken to this live-in life and it suits him. It was about time for him. I'd have sworn I'd never go there and stay alone even though I'm past my time too. Now I'm not so sure that solitude is the ideal lifestyle.
“See y'all down there,” Rafe shouts, not that I ever hang with that crew but whatever, they're just being friendly.
When I park the truck, the bar's already hopping with guys. I come in and that smug fucker is again in my spot and making eyes at my girl. My blood immediately starts to boil at him moving in on her. No one even looks at the woman that belongs to me. And he's doing more than looking. My fist tightens around the iron, the perfect curve fitting into my grip.
This time Edie's looking a lot less cozy with him. There's no flirtatious laughter directed at him from her and if anything she looks uncomfortable with him staring at her and forcing her into idle bar talk.
I stride over, my clenched fist flexing, just waiting for the chance. Edie looks up and relief washes the strain from her cheeks and eyes when she sees me.
“Hi,” she says perking up for me.
“Hi Baby.” I hitch onto the stool beside the asshole. “How was the rest of your day?”
“Okay. I'm glad you're here though.”
“Yeah, I missed you too.”
Let him look askance at the intimacy between us. He looks even more discomfited when I set the iron bar down on the bar, keeping one fist wrapped around the handle, the other free for the beer Edie sets in front of me.
“Must be nice to roll into a place where a bartender this good-looking knows what you want before you order.”
“Yeah Edie knows what I like.”
“What's that,” Edie asks, indicating the sculpted bar.
“Just something I fired up this afternoon after you left. Something to keep you safe from whoever was taking pot shots at us.”
“That was you?” the dude says in deep shock.
No one ever said gangsters were smart. I see Edie's eyes get wide with shock and hatred.
“Yeah that was me,” she snaps at him.
“A bar against a gun?” he says with a smug grin, not an ounce of shame at being caught out. That makes me want to hurt him even more
“Yeah, don't worry I know who's got it coming and I ain't afraid to use it. Might be best you hitch on out of town and stop making wolf eyes at my girl,” I snarl.
“I haven't yet completed my business in town,” he resists in that accent of his.
“Your business is complete,” I inform him. “You go back to the city and tell your boss he better not send any more thugs looking for me.”
The stare down between us looks like turning nasty and my fist tightens on the pole, ready to knock his head off if necessary.
“You aren't planning to threaten me with that little blacksmith's rod are you?” He snarls with a venomous smile. Then our eyes jolt at the sound of a cartridge being cocked. Across the bar Edie's pulled out a shotgun from somewhere and is pointing it directly at the dude.
“Baron, I think it's time you got the hell outta my bar. This gun big enough for you?”
“I got this, Babe,” I tell her, putting my hand on the barrel and tipping it down. Last
thing we need is Edie in the injustice system.
“You tell her, keep the little girl in line,” Baron snipes, then he notices the gathering of cowboys from all sides of the bar, guys from Foxworth as well as the other ranch we traditionally compete with. They all saunter over to surround my back and stare down the stranger.
“You only had to say,” he says to Edie.
“I did say and now I'm making it plain,” she says, her hand still on the shotgun.
He heads for the door and kicks it open with those shiny new boots that weren't fooling anyone.
Chapter 19
Edie
Quint leans across the bar and takes the gun from me, putting the safety back on.
“I don't need my woman protecting me,” he says.
“Your woman?” I say, in mock surprise, but I can't stop grinning so hard it hurts.
“Yeah mine. You got a problem with that?” he gruffs.
“No problem,” I say, still smiling at his scowl.
“Good, because Baby you are coming dangerously close to another spanking and I doubt your cheeks have lost the pink tinge from this morning yet.”
“You've turned into a wild man,” I tell him. And I love it.
“You've turned me into a wild man. I feel like a beast when I'm with you and no animal allows any other dog to come sniffing around his mate.”
“Is that what I am, Quint? Your mate.”
I notice how my voice drops low and kind of girlish sometimes when I'm talking to Quint. It's funny because that never happened when we used to talk as friends and I've never been like this with my ex, or any other guy for that matter. It's just a thing Quint brings out in me.
“Shea said something weird to me as I was heading down here tonight. That only thing that was a surprise about you and me getting together was that it took so long.”
“Dallyce said the same thing to me when she gave me a ride out to the ranch, that they've all been waiting for you to come to the realization that -”
I can't say the word. It's too soon and too huge. Quint's holding my gaze trapped though, waiting for me to finish. His mouth turns up in that sexy grin of his.
“Say it, baby. You always want open honesty.”
I can't force myself to do it. It's too presumptuous and cheeky to tell a man that everyone knows he's in love with you but him.
“Okay, allow me. They've all been waiting for me to come to the realization that I'm in love with you. Is that what you meant?”
My cheeks fill with blood, no doubt as bright pink as my bottom still was last time I checked in the washroom. The tingly heat has been driving me insane all evening. All I wanted was for Quint to get here as soon as possible and take me upstairs to relieve me.
“Look at me, Baby,” he insists.
I lift my eyes up from where I've lowered them and find him grinning with a satisfied smile.
“A man should love his mate, right? You and I are clearly made for reach other. Just let me take care of the threats and protection from now on though.”
“I'm not used to a man doing all that for me. I've had to take care and protect myself for so long.”
“Yeah, well get used to it cuz you've got me now.”
Shea and the boys arrive and come right over to where Quint is sitting to clap him on the back, which is a first in all the time he's been coming to McDools.
“So it's official at long last?” Shea says, more of a statement than a question. “Dallyce said she told you to be Edie's date for the wedding.”
“Yeah she did although I'd have got around to that myself.”
“We can see how long it takes you to get around to something though and the wedding's in four moths so we don't have that long.”
“She asked me to be maid of honor as well,” I say, although I guess she knows that. I'm just surprised she didn't ask Chloe now that they're working together on the new business venture at Foxworth. Maybe it would be too weird having your boss as bridesmaid.
“Yeah she's real pleased to have a girlfriend to talk to instead of just burly old me.”
“Where is the young bride?”
“She got called over to talk to Chloe so she said I should come down to McDools for a quick beer.”
“I haven't seen you in here for ages it seems.”
“I got all I need at home now.”
He picks up his beer and joins the other guys at the dartboard.
“If Dallyce is inviting you to be her maid of honor and partner me at her wedding, that makes us mates in the eyes of everyone that matters. Foxworth is my family now.”
“So you won't be running away,” I ask, needing to be sure he won't vanish on me if we get into this.
“I ain't going anywhere and definitely not without you at my side.”
Quint doesn't leave like he normally would and that feels new and strange but so good. To have a man lock up and haul out the heavy garbage is a blessing.
I'll be able to get the clean up done double quick with Quint helping me although he's already done his own work, it seems wrong he should have to do more.
“Why don't you sit and relax,” I offer. “You've had a long day.”
“Why don't you come over here and kiss me?” he replies.
“I've got to get this done. If I kiss you, you know I won't finish the -”
I don't get to finish because Quint's behind me and his hands slide up from my hips to cup the undersides of my breasts.
“When I tell my mate to kiss em, she better do it,” he grits in the back of my ear.
“Okay, I'll remember from now on.”
I turn around and he crushes me to him, taking my mouth like he wants to devour me. His hand moves down my back to squeeze my cheek and when I gasp from the tender pinch of the spanked skin he moves back up to mound my breast. It's like he wants all of my body at once but I want his too. So bad, I've been half crazed all night, snapping at customers especially that mobster character I'm sure took the shot at us.
I slide down Quint's solid body, dropping to my knees. I tug his belt loose then his zipper and dip into his jeans, finding no briefs to deal with. It shouldn't surprise me that Quint goes commando nor that he lets out a chuckle at my squeak of surprise.
I guess he's proud of his strapping huge cock, the girth of which is pressing at the skin, growing wider with every pulsation. I take the tip in my mouth and lick along the top until Quint groans with need. His hands wrap around my head, edging me down and I don't need any encouragement. Relaxing my lips to stretch as wide as possible I slide down his length until he hits the back of my throat with another deep groan.
“Oh Baby,” he rasps out.
I absolutely adore having Quint in my mouth and focus on moving smoothly back and forth, rubbing with the flat of my tongue, even working from side to side with the point along the rough underside to change up the pressure and direction. When I hold him deep inside my throat he cups hos palms around my head with so much affection it almost brings tears to my eyes. When I let out a moan of a sigh Quint can't restrain himself any longer.
After he lifts me in his arms, still strong despite the depletion he's just been through, and carries me up to the bedroom.
“I guess I'm not ever going to walk up the stairs to bed ever again,” I say stroking the side of his head and rough stubbled cheek.
I can't stop looking at him and feeling amazed that this man is mine at last. At last because he's the one I was waiting for all along and he was right under my nose.
“Not as long as I have arms to carry you with,” he says.
He sets me down on the bed then lowers his massive wide chest to cover me.
Epilogue
Six months later
Quint
I've somehow become one of the guys. Since Edie. Don't ask me how that happens, that people suddenly pull you into their circle and make you a part of their group. I never would have thought I'd be anything more than a gruff, somewhat surly, hermit, but Edie changed ever
ything.
“So Quint what's it like being an old married dude?” Jessop asks one night they've drawn me into sitting at the fire with them.
I'd just gotten back from the bar with Edie. I drive into town every night and sit at the bar, same as before, only know I'm making sure no one so much as looks at her the wrong way. Some nights I help her clean up, even though she insists I should relax and let her take care of it, then we go up to sleep in her little apartment above the bar.
I say sleep but very little sleeping is getting done. Like I said maybe a dozen times, I can't get enough of her body, I'm in love with the shape of her, her aroma, how impossibly silky her skin is.
While she sleeps I often trail a finger along her lines and then all day, I hammer out the burning hot steel with only those in my head. My metal work has taken on the curves of the feminine. Even banging out a horseshoe, I have Edie's hot pink buttock in my head.
Most nights she wants to come back to my house at the ranch.
“It's not any bigger than your apartment when you get down the meat and bones of it,” I tell her.
“It's not about size,” she says with a dirty little smile. “I like feeling like we have a home. I like your work all around and the fireplace we can cuddle up in front of.”
“Babe, you don''t need a fire lit in Texas.”
“It can get chilly here. Anyway it's not about need, it's about romance. Plus I don't want you to have to drive all the way out to the ranch at five in the morning.”
“I get it,” I tell her, hands up in surrender. “Whatever you want. But I think truth is you want to come to my forge when you wake up and watch me hammer some hot metal.”
“You know I love a soot-smeared sweat-glistening bicep.”
“Yeah,” I gruff out at her in a throaty growl and pull her to me so she goes crashing into that solid chest she's got such a thing for. “I do.”
Age difference? What's that?