Family Ties (Hidden Secrets)

by Belden, P. J.

  I shivered a bit when the breeze picked up. “Come on babe, let’s get you home.”

  “I need to actually go to my home Tobey.” I said quietly.

  “Oh.”

  “You can stay with me if you want.” Shifting nervously back and forth between my feet.

  “The idea of sleeping apart kills me. I’ll stay with you. Let me go back and lock everything up.”

  I explained how he can get back to my place and I hopped on my horse and road through our fields to my house. This way didn’t take as long and wasn’t as hard on Secrets as taking the actual roads were. Still even though it was shorter by the time I rode up Tobey’s truck was parked in front of the house already.

  I smiled as I watched him hurry over to help me off the horse and settle him for the night. Taking my hand, we walked back to my house. Warning him that it wasn’t much, I opened the door letting him in. He took a look around and nodded.

  “It’s nice.”

  “I think so too. There’s no heat here other than by the fireplaces, but it can get pretty toasty in here. When I can get the damn things to stay lit that is.”

  Leading Tobey into my room, he walked immediately to the fireplace and busied himself starting a fire. Making my way out to the bathroom, I freshened myself up and changed into my pajamas. When I walked back into the bedroom, I watched Tobey strip his shirt over his head.

  “Damn,” I whispered.

  “That’s reassuring to know I still affect you the same way.” He smirked walking toward me.

  Wrapping me in his arms, he just held me. My arms wrapped around him and I started to cry. It was like the flood gates opened. We were so caught up in our reunion before for it all to seep in, every ounce of pain poured through me before relief that he was back with me in my arms followed.

  “I know baby. I know. I feel the same way. Let’s just go to bed. We’ve both had one hell of a five weeks.”

  Nodding my head in his chest, we walk over to my bed and climb under the covers. I immediately cuddle into his side. With my ear resting to his chest, I listen to his heart beat rhythmically. It was my reassurance that he was really there and I wasn’t just dreaming.

  “I will never do anything to hurt you again Mary. I promise with everything I have. You are my everything.” Tobey said after a moment of silence.

  “I hope so because I don’t know if I could handle losing you again.” I answered sadly.

  We fell into a comfortable silence again. I was running my hands up and down his stomach and he was running his up and down my back. My body started to come alive again. Before was not enough, I needed him at least one more time tonight.

  Lowering my hand, I massaged him through his boxers. I loved touching him. He began to stiffen in my hands. Pressing soft kisses down his chest, stomach, until I reached his boxers.

  He moaned. “Mary, I thought we were just going to go to bed.”

  As I pulled his boxers down, I smiled up at him. “You can sleep if you’d like but I need you at least one more time before I can sleep.” Then I lowered my head down and took him in my mouth.

  “Oh fuck! Baby,” his breath hissed out through his teeth.

  His hands tangled in my hair as he took control of how fast I moved on him and how deep I took him. His hips started to buck up to push him further into my mouth. I had never been more thankful for my lack of gag reflexes.

  “Baby, let me love you. I don’t want to finish in your mouth.” He pleaded.

  Pulling off him, I crawled up over him. Straddling him, I removed my shirt and rested my hands on his chest before slowly lowering myself down onto him. Once he was all the way in, we both let out a loud groan of satisfaction. Tobey ran his hands up from my hips to my breasts where he teased my nipples into hardened peaks.

  Raising up slowly before dropping down just as fast. Tobey’s hands moved back to my hips. My head tipped back as my movements increased. Quickly Tobey changes our position and starts pounding into me with a vigor I’ve never felt from him before. My orgasm began to build. I could feel it almost boiling in my stomach as it neared overflowing.

  Just as I was about to explode, Tobey stopped and started kissing me. His tongue flicking at my lips as I opened to allow his tongue to enter. Our tongues danced their mating dance, then Tobey starts to move again, slow deep thrusts. Before long I was building again only this time we fell together. He moaned into my mouth and pushed into me one last time.

  We collapsed to the bed in a tangle of limbs, both trying to catch our breath. Cuddling into him, I kissed his chest.

  “I love you Tobey.”

  “It is indescribable how I feel when I hear you say those words again. I love you, Mary.”

  We fell silent for a moment before I spoke again.

  “Tobey?”

  “Hmmm,” he answered sleepily.

  “Can we not tell anyone we are back together?”

  He stiffened beneath me. “Why?”

  “Because their heads will get so big if they think that their plan is what did it. I really don’t want to hear that for the rest of my life. Believe me you don’t either.”

  He relaxed beneath me and laughed. “Okay. We’ll keep it a secret, for now.”

  Another silence fills the room for a moment. “Tobey?”

  He chuckled. “What baby?”

  “Was the past five weeks really as bad for you as Jackson says? Were you hurting as bad as me?”

  “Baby,” he lifted my head to him. “Can we forget the past five weeks? I don’t want to go back there again. Let’s just move forward okay?”

  I nodded and he kissed me lightly on the mouth. When he pulled away, I could see the question in his eyes. He was contemplating on whether he should ask me or not. If we were going to actually move forward we both needed reassurance.

  “Ask me Tobey.”

  “Are you back with me because you want to be or because of the baby? Believe me, at this point I will take what I can get but not if you aren’t actually happy.” He stated sadly.

  “Tobey, I’ve known for a couple of weeks that I was pregnant. If that was what this was about don’t you think I would have went to you sooner. I definitely wouldn’t have run from you today.”

  He nodded his head slowly. “Good point. Are you happy about being pregnant? I’m sure that will put a kink in your career.”

  “The only part about finding out I was pregnant that I was upset about was that I wasn’t with you.”

  “What did bring you back tonight? You ran from me at the reception. When you left me there everything inside me shattered. Why did you come back?”

  Moving I sit up on the bed, wringing my hands in my lap. “Jake said something to me before he stepped aside and showed me you were there. It got me thinking about everything. Every moment we had together flashing in my head. I realized that even though we met on a false pretense, everything after was real. It was your eyes that made me realize that your feelings for me are real.”

  “My eyes?” He asked confused, sitting up and leaned against the headboard of the bed.

  “Yeah, every time we started getting close-especially that first week- you seemed to be warring with something. I could see it in your eyes. When you and I made love for the first time, I could see the emotion underlining the whole moment, but then the struggle came back when you ran from the room and started treating me differently. Even when you were being an asshole with a capital dick, I could see the regret and sadness creep in your eyes. It was those moments that caused me to see that you never wanted to hurt me and every time you did,” I shrug, “it hurt you too.”

  “Wow, so I’m going to have to learn to close my eyes when talking to you huh?” He joked for only a second before turning serious. “I’m sorry that I believed Alex and Dani. I’m sorry I never checked up on their stories before. You know what though?”

  “What?” I asked nervously.

  “I can’t say had time rewound and gave me the opportunity to do it differently, I
would.” When my face dropped in shock, he hurried on to complete his thought. “It was because of that decision that I met you. If I had said no, I never would have met you. Yes because of that decision I lost you for a while and everything around me didn’t matter anymore. But I met you because of them. Because they were pissed they got caught. I can’t be sorry about that. I can’t regret that.”

  Tipping my head side to side as I contemplated what he said, “Yeah I guess I can see your point there. Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything. Always.” He answered.

  “At the restaurant, was that on purpose? To hurt me?” I asked unable to meet his eyes.

  “Look at me Mary.” I looked up and met his eyes. “That was not planned nor meant to hurt you. I had made a decision to give you one night to be adored. Then that waitress came up. When I looked up at her, I saw your face. I refused her, Mary. She didn’t take it well but I did. Sadly the cameras caught it and spun it out to make you…well me look bad.”

  I nodded my head. “That was just a horrible night until the end.” I smirked.

  He smirked. “Yeah but again we were interrupted before the good part.” He laughed.

  “What are you going to do about your brother and cousin?”

  “Well they aren’t my family. Family wouldn’t do that to another family member. But I plan on breaking the news in person,” he said with an evil grin.

  “Oh can I come with you?” I asked eagerly. “I don’t want to miss it.”

  “Sorry my love. You are pregnant and no way am I risking either of you. I know they are going to go postal.”

  I pouted. “P-p-please.” I batted my eyes at him.

  He laughed and pulled me into his arms. “Not changing my mind baby. You guys mean too much to me to risk over something like them.”

  “Fine, but it still stinks I can’t see their faces. Especially after the way he treated me in the courtroom. I would love to see him get knocked down a peg or two.”

  He tensed. “How did he treat you?”

  “He was vulgar towards me. I decked him in the courtroom. You really need a television babe. You’d know all this if you had one.”

  He laughed. “What was it Jake told you?”

  Pulling back, I looked at him confused. “Huh?”

  “You said he said something to you that made you realize things about us. What was it?”

  “Oh,” I leaned back into his hold, cuddling closely to him. “He said that fate tests us with rough roads to make sure we can handle the journey. Or something like that anyway.”

  “Wow,” he whispered.

  “Yeah. Jake is pretty inspirational when he sees cause for it.” I mumbled. “I’m very tired.”

  Tobey scooted us down into the bed, covering us. “Okay baby. Let’s get some sleep.”

  With that I fell asleep. It was the best sleep I’ve had in a while.

  ** *** *** ** *** *** **

  I woke the next morning to the sun shining in the windows and an empty bed. Shooting up to a sitting position, I worried I dreamed it all. Then I saw the note on my end table.

  It took so much for me to leave this morning. I wanted so much to wake up to you and spend the day with you. But because you wanted to keep us a secret I had to be home in time to work on the ranch. I haven’t actually been doing much on the ranch lately. Please try and take it easy today. When I take a break I’ll call you. I love you. Talk to you soon.

  Take it easy my ass. I had shit to do and I wasn’t depending on anyone else to do it.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tobey

  I had just pulled up in my truck when I saw the guys walk up to the barn. With still being in the suit from yesterday, I had to tell them to hang out a minute.

  “I’ll be right out. Just need to change.” I yelled as I hurried inside.

  Once I got back out, the guys were staring at me like I had lost my head. Well if my eyes were as expressive as Mary says they are then I was going to have to try and fake my way through my orders.

  “We’ve got to get the rotations complete today. Spitfire needs ran today too. The fence lines need to be checked. There’s a lot to do and catch up on. I know that I’m the reason we are behind, but I’m here now so let’s get this back to running smoothly like it was before.”

  Turning I made my way into the barn, pulling Spitfire from his stall. “I’ll run Spitfire and check the fence line. It’ll kill two birds with one stone. Joel and Scott, start rotations in the east pasture. John, clean out the stalls and clean the horses hooves. Harry, run into town and check on the orders I placed this morning and bring them back then help with the rotations.”

  I took off and ran the fence lines. There were several sections I had to repair on the fly and made a mental note to go back and repair properly. The day was zooming by. By the time I finished with half the fence line, it was about lunch. I rode back to the barn, put Spitfire away, feeding and watering him. None of the guys were back yet. So I sat up on my porch swing and texted Mary.

  Tobey: Hey beautiful. How are you doing?

  Mary: Hey sexy! I’m doing great thanks to you. Been busy with the barn. The people before me didn’t take care of this thing at all.

  Tobey: I told you to take it easy.

  Mary: Since when have I ever listened? Besides I got a great night’s sleep.

  Tobey: Me too. You want to stay here tonight?

  Mary: It feels so dirty sneaking around like this. But such a turn on too.

  I smiled at that.

  Tobey: I know what you mean. So you never answered me. Where do you want to sleep tonight?

  Mary: Naked and in your arms sounds good to me.

  I laughed.

  Tobey: Yes, that is a given. The variable in the equation is where.

  Mary: Hmmm do you think it’s safe for me to sleep there.

  I thought about it for a moment.

  Tobey: You may be right. I’ll be at your house once I finish up here for the night.

  Mary: See you then. Don’t work too hard. I plan to work you out really well…all night long.

  Tobey: Behave or I’ll be over there now.

  Mary: Promises. Promises.

  Looking up I spotted the guys glaring at me.

  Tobey: Uh oh, busted being happy. Gotta turn my grump back on. See you tonight. Love you!

  Mary: Can’t wait. Love you more!

  Putting my phone back in my pocket, I walked off the porch past the glaring quartet and take back off on Spitfire to run more of the fencing. Running the fencing, was a tedious and time consuming job. But it was also critical in making sure that the animals were safe while they roamed.

  The day dragged on. I temporarily repaired far too much fencing for my liking and I was still only about halfway done as it was. From the way it looked, I would be spending the next week at least repairing fencing. It was going to be a two person job. Which meant I was going to have to work next to one of the guys who still hated me.

  Once the night ended, I snuck off in my truck to Mary’s. Neither of us had any energy to follow through with our promises on the phone and ended up showering and falling asleep in each other’s arms. It was okay with me. Just having her in my arms again was fine by me.

  Each morning, I’d wake and head home leaving some kind of note on the pillow next to Mary. We’ve managed to make it through both of us getting calls of apology from one of her siblings or another and the guys haven’t figured anything out either.

  It has been almost a week now, with us secretly sneaking around. Tonight Mary said she wanted to stay at my house for a change. She said she felt bad that I was leaving her house so early and I had more to maintain than she did.

  She was waiting at the tree overlooking what turns out to be her property. Once the guys have left for the night, I text her letting her know I was on my way to get her. This was so she didn’t get scared when she heard someone riding up. Then I snuck her back to my house. It was like we were teenagers again and tryi
ng not to let our parents find out that we were having sex. Some days it was comical, but others it was just exhausting.

  Once inside and the door shut, Mary apparently had plans for us tonight. She pushed me against the door and held my hands against it, kissing me. Of course I could have easily switched our positions, but I was curious as to what she was going to do.

  “Leave your hands here. If you move them, I go home,” she whispered against my lips.

  Fuck me if my hands were moving even a centimeter.

  Moving her hands from my wrists to the buttons on my shirt, she slowly began unbuttoning them kissing me. Once all was unbuttoned she pulled my shirt apart and trailed kisses down my neck to my chest. I groaned loudly as she gently scraped her teeth across my nipple then the other. As she trailed her kisses down my chest, she moved her hands to my pants pulling them down as she lowered herself to her knees.

  My cock sprang free from the confines of my pants and boxers. I moaned again as she wrapped her hand around the girth of my shaft. My head hit the door as she began to slowly stroke it. Looking down at her, she held my eyes as her tongue darted out and swirled around the head of my cock before she fully wrapped her mouth around it. It was the sexiest sight I’ve ever seen.

  “Oh fuck! I love you being in charge.” I groaned.

  She hummed around my cock sending a delicious sensation straight to my balls. It was taking so much effort not to move my hands from the door. Sweat beaded across my forehead with the effort to refrain from grabbing her.

  Mary stood then. Slowly she stripped out of her clothes, and then stood before me completely naked. Playing with her breasts, Mary slowly walked toward me. My cock was so hard it was painful. This was the sexiest thing I’ve ever experienced. She was driving me completely wild. When she was only a few inches from me, she stopped making no attempt to touch me or kiss me. Then she stepped back.

  “Strip.”

  It was all she had to say. My clothes were off faster than they have ever been before. When I started to move toward her, she held up her hand.

  “Go sit on the couch.”