The MacBrides

by J. L. Petersen

  Frowning, she turned her gaze to look away from him. “Yeah, so?”

  “Hey, don’t shut me out. I know it’s created a problem for you both. I just want to help even if it’s just to give you a shoulder to punch.”

  “Ha ha.” She grumbled. But it got her to look at him again. “I wouldn’t be so generous about being a punching bag. I might take you up on it.”

  He pushed his dish to the side and wiped his hands. He couldn’t wait any longer to touch her. He reached out to cup her chin. “If that’s what you need. I’m here. It’s okay to lean on someone.”

  She studied him for a long while before her gaze softened. While she’d spent her weekend trying to find a solution regarding her family, she’d actually spent more time deciding what to do with her growing desire for Logan. She was still frightened of what Logan wanted. But what terrified her was her growing need for what he offered. There was something about him that spoke to a missing part of her. It was so tempting she finally decided to try to let go with him and see what happened.

  Now here he was, offering her support. She studied the sincerity in his eyes and took one of the biggest steps in her life. She turned to someone. She turned to him. She turned into his hand and kissed his palm. She watched the look in his eyes turn to molten lava at her caress.

  Logan suddenly rolled onto his back. He pulled her on top of him and captured her mouth in a kiss so deep and hot she felt all her nerves spark. His hands grabbed the back of her shirt with his fist sealing her even tighter to his long body. It was as if he was trying to absorb her into his own skin. She grabbed his hair and sunk deeper into his mouth. Her body was on fire. She squirmed as if the friction against his body would alleviate the building pressure.

  Groaning, Logan rolled and reversed their positions. RJ thrilled at the feeling of his weight crushing into her. He created an ache she’d never felt before. Her skin begged to be stroked. Her hands needed to stroke. Sliding her hands to his waist she slipped under his t-shirt. Her caressing of his skin had him pushing his hips harder against her pelvis.

  When he tore his mouth away from hers, she almost whined aloud. He was staring at her so hard, but she could sense he was asking permission. Her answer was to push his shirt up until she needed his help to remove it. When he sat up to pull it over his head she reached down and pulled hers up and off also. His stare caused goosebumps to cover her skin. In a bold move, she unclipped the front clasp of her bra and removed it next.

  Fire ran rampant through his veins as he stared at Rizz laying there offering herself to him. He felt like a teenager getting his first glimpse of heaven. She was amazingly beautiful to him. Her skin downy soft and glowing. He reached down to stroke her face then caressed his way down her neck. He watched as goosebumps rose on her skin following his touch. When he got to her breast, he gently cupped it and drew his thumb across her already hardened nipple.

  Her hand came up over his drawing his eyes back to hers. “I’m not very good at this.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Rizz, you are exceptional at this.”

  “But I haven’t done anything yet.”

  He sensed she needed something from him that set this experience apart. Taking a risk, he lifted his hand from her breast and flopped over onto his back. Sighing dramatically, “Okay, I’ll try to control myself and be your guinea pig.”

  RJ sat up, crossing her arms over her breasts. Confusion, embarrassment and hurt collided. Anger over all three was her best refuge. “What the hell do you mean?”

  “Sweetheart, if you need practice I’m more than willing to let you use me. Personally, I thought you were doing just fine, but who am I to argue.”

  The pressure that was building in her chest deflated with one long exhale. Squinting her eyes suspiciously at him, she dropped her arms and crawled over to him. “So, you’re willing to let me experiment and practice my womanly wiles on you?” At his nod, she pushed for clarification. “You’re just going to lie there while I do whatever I want?”

  “Well, I can’t promise to lay perfectly still. If you get any better than you are now I have a feeling I’m going to struggle not to take control and have my way with you. But I’m willing to try.”

  The funny way he wiggled his eyebrows broke her tension. Smiling, she sat back on her heels deciding on her best approach. The few times she’d had sex it was fast and less than satisfying. Looking at his body she wanted to touch and taste every part of him. She wanted to make his skin tingle the way he made hers.

  “I’m falling asleep over here.” He murmured. Liar, he told himself. Every nerve in his body was tingling and just watching her, naked from the waist up, strained at his patience.

  Having decided her best attack, she said nothing, taking pride in shocking a jolt out of him with her first touch. She had placed her hand on his thigh just below his groin. Leaning over, she kissed his chest close to his hardened nipple. Both her mouth and hand moved, leisurely, towards their intended target. She loved feeling his body go rock hard all over at her touch.

  “Well, that is definitely waking me up,” he teased through gritted teeth.

  Smiling, she lifted her head to look at him. “I’m just getting started. Be a good boy and let me explore.”

  The woman didn’t understand her own power. With each kiss and caress his skin tightened, and he’d gotten so hard it was starting to hurt with the need to seek release. When he was at the edge of his control he reached for her. He massaged her breasts eliciting groans and wiggles from her. When he tweaked her nipples, her hands clenched and she returned the favor. He trailed his hands down to the top of her jeans and unbuttoned them. Sliding his hands underneath, he pushed them down over her bottom and squeezed.

  She lifted her head panting. “Logan, I think I’d like you to take over now.”

  He needed no further encouragement. He sat up, fumbling as he removed his boots and pants, pulling a condom from his back pocket before tossing them aside. Turning to Rizz, he laid her down, kissing and caressing his way down as he pulled her jeans and shoes off, before working his way back up her lush body.

  “You’re so beautiful. I can’t wait. I need to be inside you.”

  She pulled his head down and arched up into his hard body. “I ache and need you too.”

  He slipped on the condom and positioned himself. “Hold on, baby.”

  He entered her in a swift move. She was so tight he paused to let her adjust. When she started to move, he took over, driving into her, demanding her response. When her breathing accelerated and her body pushed harder against his, he reached down to help her over the edge. They both exploded in an orgasm that drained his entire body.

  RJ was in shock. She had never experienced anything like that before. Logan’s weight felt comforting as she tried to gather her wits. Is this what she was missing before? Or was it something she could only feel with Logan? She felt him stir and slowing lift himself away from her. She wanted to hold on longer but was afraid to ask. When he was on his back, he reached over and pulled her tightly to him, soothing away her insecurities.

  “Damn. If that was the practice round you’re going to kill me when you get good at this.”

  RJ’s insecurities and indignation flared. She tried to sit up but he wouldn’t let her by tightening his grasp. Looking up at his face, she saw a silly grin on it and realized he was teasing her. She tweaked his nipple, and at his yelp, kissed it better. Oh, how marvelous she felt.

  “I’d love to lay here all day with you in my arms,” Logan said into the silence, kissing the top of her head.

  “Mmmmm. Me too.”

  “However,” he paused for effect. “Don’t look now, but you’re getting a little pink from the sun.”

  RJ shot up out of his arms. “Oh, shoot!”

  Laughing, Logan got up and tossed her clothes to her.

  After getting dressed and cleaning up the picnic site, they spent the next few hours exploring the ranch. They got back to the cabin by early evening.
>
  “Would you like to stay for dinner?” RJ asked, somewhat shyly.

  “I’d love to,” he whispered as he nuzzled her neck.

  “Why don’t you grab a beer while I figure out what to make.”

  RJ remained relaxed as they made small talk. She threw together a simple pasta dish. Sipping a glass of wine from the bottle they had opened on the picnic, she absorbed the moment. It was nice. It was comfortable. Maybe she could do this relationship thing with Logan. Looking at him over the rim of her glass, she enjoyed watching him. The way he talked captured her attention. The way he moved, well that just captured her imagination.

  Growing up in Booneburg, she was surrounded by people who were so unhappy that they didn’t want anyone else to be happy. If she had a crush on a guy at school, it seemed a so-called friend or even cousin would go out of their way to draw the guy’s attention to themselves. As an adult, she understood those guys were just trying to grow up, but it hurt.

  Now getting to know the MacBrides, she was starting to see just how dysfunctional her childhood really was. She was proud of Sandy. She was brave enough to risk a lot in marrying Clay. She could also see how much he loved and supported her sister. This past weekend she talked herself into trying to become more open with Logan. After this afternoon, she was glad she did. She wasn’t one to have sex indiscriminately, but she seemed to lose all reason when she was around him.

  Smiling, she reached for their empty plates. Before she could stand with them, Logan reached over and laid his on her arm stopping her.

  “Let’s talk about your mother,” he said gently.

  She strained against the instinct to shut him down. “This is hard. I don’t share very easily.”

  He just sat there looking at her, stroking her forearm with his thumb.

  “Mom and I are always at odds. I would become aggressive and demanding when I thought she was putting us at risk, and more so if it involved Sandy. It got to the point where she accused me of undermining her role as mother.” RJ flattened her lips adding defensively, “I suppose she was right about that. But you had to be there to know why I stepped in as I did.”

  “Rizz, I don’t doubt for a moment you did the right thing. Sandy has shared stories about things I don’t think any kid should be subjected to. If your mother wasn’t going to stand up for, or in front of you girls, then I can only admire the fact you did. That shows strength not spitefulness.”

  RJ felt a wave of dizziness at his words. The support in his words were a balm to her heart. She thought she could actually feel it soften.

  “So how are you and Sandy going to handle this?”

  “Sandy should do what she feels she needs to, and not worry about what I think. I realized she has something now that she never had before.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Clay.”

  11

  “So?” Sandy asked when she caught up with RJ the next evening.

  “So, what?”

  The family was having dinner at the main house and this was the first-time RJ and Sandy were able to connect other than text since last week. They both pulled up to the house about the same time, and Sandy had shooed Clay to go on ahead of her.

  Sandy rolled her eyes. “So how was yesterday with Logan? So what do you think we should do about mom? So why are you blushing?”

  RJ’s felt the heat on her face get hotter and the blush grew even deeper. Last night she told Logan she was leaving the decision about what to do about their mother completely up to Sandy, and that it was because she trusted Clay to make sure Sandy wasn’t hurt. After Logan told her he would do the same for her, she felt her heart melt just a bit more. When he proceeded to make love to her again, she relinquished all need for control. Her reward was a night of passion unlike any she’d ever imagined.

  He'd spent the night, leaving at the crack of dawn to start working. Kissing her goodbye, he promised to see her that evening for dinner. She had snuggled back under the covers and fallen asleep with a smile on her face.

  “Oh, boy,” Sandy whispered fanning herself as RJ’s blush deepened. “Having experienced my own MacBride man, I can only say, wow!”

  “Yeah, let’s just leave it at wow for now.” Taking her sister’s hand, she pulled her to the porch steps and sat down. “Let’s talk about mom.”

  Scrunching her nose, Sandy sighed. “Well, that’s a buzz kill. So, what do you think we should do?”

  “I think you should decide what feels right for you. This is your day, not mine.” She raised her hand when Sandy tried to interrupt. “I know we’ve always dealt with this together but you’re about to take a husband and start your own family. You need to make your own separate choices on how you want our family to fit into your new life. Clay is the one who should be part of how you make your choices and in setting boundaries.”

  “It’s changing, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, but in such a good way. Clay is a good man and will stand by you.”

  “You know this would be easier if you just told me what to do.” Sandy teased.

  “I know. Sucks to be you right now.” RJ laughed as they stood up and went to join the others.

  Turning, they found Clay and Logan standing in the doorway waiting for them. Sandy skipped ahead towards Clay and with a little wave went into the house. RJ stood looking at Logan. The butterflies in her stomach took flight. Odd that she was nervous after being so intimate with him yesterday. Those nerves rattled a little more when he took the few steps needed to reach her. His smile brought a slow one to her lips just before he leaned down to kiss her softly.

  “Missed you today,” he whispered as he reluctantly lifted his lips from hers.

  RJ leaned her hand against his chest and muttered, “I missed you also.”

  He tucked his fist under her chin forcing her to make direct eye contact. “I didn’t hear that.”

  Deciding he was entirely too arrogant she lied without remorse. “I said I didn’t even notice you were gone.” At his raised eyebrows, she chuckled. “I missed you also.”

  Resting his forehead against hers he smiled. “How did it go with Sandy?”

  “Good. She and Clay will decide. The one thing I know is I won’t give any of them money to get here. If it’s that important to them, they can figure it out.”

  Drawing back sharply Logan looked aghast at her. Did he think that made her hardhearted and mean? Straightening, she drew away.

  “They want you to pay for them?”

  Taken aback by the harshness in his voice, she took a step backwards. “Mom gave me her standard spiel about how I’ve been alienating Sandy from her and its now my responsibility to help her get here. I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks, I’m not giving her, or anybody else from the family, money.”

  “Oh, baby,” he said, softening his tone and pulling her stiff body into an embrace. “I’m on your side.”

  “What?”

  He felt her body soften slightly. “Look, most families would help each other out. I would help my family get to wherever I was if I was getting married. But, I understand your family is different. If you wanted to help them, I would find a way to make that happen for you, but I accept and respect your decision to not send them money. You have reasons, very valid reasons, for your decision.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes. “It makes me sound so mean.”

  “You’re not mean, Rizz. You’re protective. Remember, I’m on your side.”

  Something broke inside RJ. How was it this man could reach inside her to see what she needed so clearly. Desperate for his warmth, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

  Logan held her firmly, letting her absorb his strength. Standing here, holding her, he now knew what it was that drew him to her. Love. This prickly woman, with a soft heart underneath worked her way into his heart as swiftly as an arrow lancing its target. He vowed then and there to be the protector she didn’t think she needed.

  “Hey, you two,” Sarah c
alled from the doorway.

  RJ pushed back from Logan, turned to face away from the front of the house and brush away the tears on her face. Logan cast a look over his shoulder at his little sister, already missing RJ in his arms. “Did you want something? Other than to be a pest, that is?”

  His sister raised an eyebrow at him. “Mom wanted you guys in here. Jacob’s about to FaceTime us.”

  “Okay, we’ll be there in a minute,” Logan told her. She didn’t move, just stared at them. “Did you want something else?”

  “Nope. See you inside.” Then turning, she went back inside.

  Logan turned to RJ whose back was to him now. Stepping up, he rested his hands on her shoulders, feeling them bunch tightly under them. He gently turned her to face him. If he thought he could understand what she was feeling by the look on her face he was gravely mistaken. He wanted to understand and be there for her. But in the short time he spoke with Sarah, she was able to reconstruct her barrier again.

  “Are you okay?”

  RJ nodded. “I’m fine. Really. Just a little embarrassed.”

  Confused, he asked. “Embarrassed by what?”

  RJ tilted her head towards him. “That your sister found us like that. She’s probably wondering what’s going on.”

  Not sure if he was pissed off or just plain hurt, he frowned. “You’re embarrassed that Sarah saw us together?”

  “Yeah,” she mumbled cautiously.

  Logan dropped his hands from her shoulders and stepped back. “You need to tell me now if being with me is an embarrassment to you. I’m not embarrassed about how I feel about you or wanting to be with you.”

  RJ felt her temper rise along with a lot of other feelings. Temper was winning. “Look, bub. I’m a guest in your mother’s home, I barely know your family whom I’m living amongst, and my sister wants to make a good impression on her future in-laws. So, yeah. I’m embarrassed that I may be making the wrong impression with them.”