by AJ Adaire
Zeke pulled back so there was barely a breath of air between their lips. “I love you Allie. I’ve felt that way from the first minute I laid eyes on you and every day since.”
Vapor from their heated breathing joined in a cloud surrounding their heads. Allie reached up and touched Zeke’s cheek. “I love you, too.”
He dipped his head to take her mouth with his, this time with more confidence. He slowly pulled away. “Let’s get to my house, I can’t wait to show you my surprise.” He gave her a quick peck and waited for her to adjust her position and face forward so he could pull the blanket up again.
Allie leaned back and snuggled against him. He felt sure he could hear his heart beat above the sound of the engine. The warmth between them already had driven away the cold night air. Zeke pulled into his yard and stopped in front of the new wooden structure. They got off the snowmobile and he took her hand in his.
Allie focused on the building behind his cabin. “This barn is new. What’s it for?”
Zeke tugged her forward. “Come inside, I’ll show you.” Stepping inside, out of the wind, the temperature felt appreciably warmer. The structure wasn’t large, but was sufficient for Allie’s small herd. He pointed to the door on the right side of the structure. “There’s a solar heated office back there.” He looked up. “There’s plenty of good ventilation in here. The walls and floors are insulated, and the floors are doubled. In the back, there’s more storage for the hay and grain.”
Allie walked over to the rack on the side of the structure and picked up one of the woolen goat coats. She ran her hand over it. “Where did you find these? They’re beautiful.”
“Farmer Bailey. It was part of that trade I got for the truck.”
“Are you planning to buy some goats in the spring?”
Turning Allie to face him, Zeke’s gaze softened, as he looked deep into her eyes. Zeke dropped to one knee. Kneeling, he was only a fraction of an inch shorter than Allie. “I was hoping that, by spring time, you and your goats will be making your home here with me. I’m asking you to marry me, Allie.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes. She reached out, took his face in her palms, and leaned in to meet his lips. Pulling away, she leaned back. “You’re a sneaky devil, Zeke Tremaine.”
“I figured it was my only chance.” A smile played on his lips.
“So, let me think about this. I think I’ve figured out your premise for courtship. I suspect you believe that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and the way to a woman’s heart is through her goats.”
He grinned. “I’ve bet everything on it. Did it work?”
Before proving his theory true with a kiss, she leaned forward to say, “It does for this woman.”
“So, that’s a yes?”
She nodded.
He stood up, lifting her with him. She wrapped her legs around him and kissed him deeply.
Chapter Thirty-seven
“I CAN’T BELIEVE WE have the house to ourselves. With the way it’s snowing out there, Allie won’t be back tonight.” Paige tossed two more logs into the wood stove and smiled as they immediately caught fire. “What do you want to do now?” Paige wrapped her arms around Peri’s waist and pulled their hips together.
Peri kissed Paige on each cheek and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “More than anything else in the world, I want to make you moan.” Peri unbuttoned the first button of Paige’s shirt. “Not one of those whisper moans we’ve always had to do.” Another button opened. “Nor one of those bite the pillow moans we’ve had to make do with.” She trailed her finger from the V where Paige’s collarbones met, down between her lover’s breasts to her navel. “I want to make your toes curl and I want to hear you howl.” The last button holding the shirt closed surrendered to Peri’s fingers. She slipped her hands around Paige’s torso, untucking the shirt as she went. She used a light touch of her nails on Paige’s back. She drew them around and up Paige’s sides, eliciting a shiver.
Paige closed her eyes. “Umm. I think I’m going to like this.”
“Oh, I like that. Keep your eyes closed.” Peri slipped the shirt from Paige’s shoulders and quickly removed her bra, dropping it on top of the shirt on the floor. She pulled Paige to her and kissed each eyelid. Her tongue traced the outline of Paige’s mouth, before she claimed it with her own. As they kissed, she worked the belt buckle loose and popped the top button of her fly. She took a small step back. “No, keep your eyes closed.” She bent and freed the laces of Paige’s shoes and helped her step out of them. The sound alone turned Paige on, as Peri lowered the zipper on her pants one tooth at a time. She slipped Paige’s jeans and panties down.
Paige desperately wanted to open her eyes. She smiled as she waited for Peri to kiss her again. “What are you doing?”
“I’m looking at your body. I’ve never really studied it from this position of advantage.”
Peri traced Paige’s cheekbone with her finger, and watched the rate of Paige’s breathing increase. Removing her finger, she leaned forward and licked one nipple. She stepped back to enjoy watching both of them react to the unexpected. She smiled when Paige whispered, “Oh God, Peri, you’re making my knees weak.”
“You have the most amazing body I’ve ever seen.” Peri placed a palm on each of Paige’s thighs and slowly drew them upward, returning to her starting point. “Spread your legs just a little, please.” First with one and then the other hand, she brushed her fingertips up the inside of Paige’s inner thighs. She paused and watched Paige push forward, offering herself to Peri’s tender touch. She brushed her fingertips across Paige’s core, drawing the first moan from her lover. Peri had to listen carefully to hear Paige’s whispered words.
“I want you, like never before. I love you so much.”
Peri knelt before her lover and with her tongue and lips followed the same path her fingers had followed only seconds before. Peri smiled as Paige broadened her stance in expectation. She inhaled Paige’s arousal. Instead of doing what Paige desired, she reached up and cupped Paige’s breasts. Peri drew her nails down the soft skin to the aroused nipples. She circled them in her palm, drawing another moan from Paige.
With Paige’s focus on the sensations of Peri’s hands on her breasts, Peri quickly withdrew contact. Paige jumped when Peri’s fingernails traced down her sides to her waist. Grasping Paige’s hips, Peri took her into her mouth. Paige shuddered and came immediately, her breath coming in near gasps. Peri stood and wrapped Paige in her arms.
“Bed. Now. Before I fall down.”
With Peri’s arm across her stomach, Paige breathed in a huge breath of air and slowly expelled it. Peri curled on her side next to Paige and kissed a still erect nipple.
“Feel my heart. Just hold your hand there to keep my heart in my chest.”
Peri chuckled and did as requested. She began to use her fingertips on Paige’s chest and stomach, while she waited for Paige’s breathing to quiet.
“My whole body feels like jelly. As soon as I regain some strength, it’s your turn to moan.” Following another deep breath that she slowly exhaled, Paige opened her eyes and turned toward her lover. “I’ve lived nearly forty years and I’ve never been loved like that. I love you Peri. I don’t think I ever needed anyone before. I don’t mean for sex, I mean…”
“I know. I feel the same way. You’re the first thing I reach for in the morning, and the last thing I want to touch at night. I love you, Paige. I love everything about you. I especially love the way you moan.”
Their laughter blended together.
“Now,” Paige said, turning toward Peri. “What’s wrong with this picture? I’m as naked as the day I was born, and you’re fully clothed. Let’s take care of that and see what we can do about making you feel good.” She chuckled. “It’s my turn to make you feel like jelly. Close your eyes.”
A smile curled Peri’s lips as she complied with Paige’s request.
“I love to make you smile, because I get to see your dimples.�
� Paige kissed each indent in Peri’s cheeks. She reached for Peri’s belt and began to keep her promise.
***
“That was amazing.” Peri reached down to grab the comforter to pull it over them. “Listen to the wind. Allie definitely won’t make it home tonight.”
“I suspect that’s true on any number of levels.” Paige pulled Peri to her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Our new life together is an amazing adventure, isn’t it?”
“Yes. A year ago it would have been an inconceivable journey. What are the chances we’d meet in the middle of a forest and end up together?”
“Probably so small as to be immeasurable.” Paige turned to face Peri.
Peri draped her arm across Paige’s side.
“That day we met, I had no idea where I was going. I was just…”
“Running away?”
Paige nodded. “I guess so. I prefer to think of it as running to, as in running to you.” She gave Peri a quick kiss. “That day we met, I came to an intersection and had two choices. One went northwest, and the other northeast. I’ll be forever grateful that I chose the right path for my journey to you.”
Murdoch scratched at the door to go out.
Paige groaned. “Oh no. Really Murdoch? Didn’t anybody tell you there’s a blizzard out there?” Reluctantly, Paige sighed and dragged herself from the warm bed and dressed. She opened the door and stepped onto the porch. Murdoch made quick work of doing his business. “Good boy. Let’s go get warm.”
Paige let herself in and quickly rejoined Peri in bed.
“Oh my God! You’re so cold.”
“A few minutes ago, you were telling me how hot I was.” Paige stuck her cold leg between Peri’s warm ones and laughed.
They lay silent, listening to the wind howl. Peri slid her hand down over Paige’s back and rested it on her hip. “We’re set for this winter. I could get used to taking care of you and keeping warm. What do you see happening in the spring?”
“We have any number of options. We learned so much from Allie this summer. We might be able to stay here and grow enough to sustain us. I’m guessing Allie and Zeke will end up together. If we band together, we could farm on a larger scale on Allie’s property. It won’t be too much longer until the towns are under militia control and safe. The people there will need food. We could probably do well selling to them.”
“Are you sure you have no desire to go back to the city, to your old job?” Peri rolled onto her back and pursed her lips, as she studied the ceiling.
“Of all the options we have, it would be my last choice. If you tell me it would make you happy to go back to living there, I’ll do it. It would not be my first choice.”
“You needn’t worry, then. I’ve no desire to go back. There’s nothing to go back to, or for. Everything I need or want is right here under my hand.” Peri enjoyed the sensation of Paige’s rippling muscles as she ran her palm across Paige’s stomach. “As long as we’re together I’ll be happy.”
“Then you’re destined to be the happiest woman left on earth.”
A kiss sealed their promise of a future together.
The End
About AJ Adaire
Let me tell you a little about myself. Twenty years ago, I wrote my first book just to see if I could do it. The novel occupied space on my bookshelf, unread for nearly twenty years until one day, while in a cleaning frenzy, I considered disposing of the neatly stacked but now age-yellowed pages. As I began to read the long forgotten work, I was surprised to discover that the story was enjoyable!
Editing and retyping the first book provided a new sense of accomplishment and additional tales followed. Completion of This is Fitting encouraged me to write five more romance novels all of which have been published. Sunset Island, first book of the Friends Series was released in September 2013. Sunset Island was quickly followed by the remaining books in the Friends Series: The Interim (a novelette), Awaiting My Assignment, and Anything Your Heart Desires and three stand-alone novels One Day Longer Than Forever, It’s Complicated, and I Love My Life.
Now retired, there is all the time in the world to write. I live on the east coast with my partner of thirty years. Because we love a challenge, we provide a loving home for two spoiled cats instead of a dog. In addition to writing, any spare time is devoted to reading, mastering new computer programs, and socializing with friends.
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Desert Palm Press
Other books by AJ Adaire
Friend Series
Sunset Island
ISBN: 9781301136629
Ren Madison is certain her life couldn't be more perfect. She owns a private island with an Inn off the coast of Maine. She treasures her loving relationship with her older brother Jack, his wife, Marie, and dotes on her niece Laura. She has a passionate and supportive relationship with her partner, Brooke, and a successful business that doesn't require her undivided attention allowing her ample time to pursue her true passion, painting.
Ren's idyllic world crumbles when Brooke dies. Friends and family worry that Ren may never fully recover from her loss.
Dr. Lindy Caprini, a multi-lingual professor, is looking for an artist to illustrate the book she is writing comparing fairy tales from around the world. To make working together on the book easier, Lindy takes a year sabbatical and leaves friends, home, and boyfriend in Pennsylvania and moves to Ren's island. Ren soon discovers that the beautiful and mischievous Lindy is a talented author and a witty conversationalist. Their collaboration on the book leads to a close, light hearted, and flirtatious friendship. Will their collaboration end there?
The Interim (a novelette)
ISBN: 9781311099051
Devastated that her partner cheated, Melanie flees to a new job in Maine, where she meets Ren Madison. Ren is dealing with issues of her own after losing her partner Brooke in a plane crash
What happens in the interim after one relationship ends and you’re really ready to love again? For Ren Madison, Melanie was what happened.
The Interim fills in the details of Ren Madison’s life on Sunset Island after Brooke but before Lindy.
Awaiting My Assignment
ISBN: 9781310825248
Bernie was a liar. Amanda learned that much when she caught her lover cheating the first time. Upon discovering a second indiscretion, Amanda vows there will never be another. She leaves the relationship, fleeing to her friend Dana in New York State. While staying at Dana’s home, Amanda meets and falls in love with a wonderful woman named Mallory.
Amanda is ready to move on. However, the consistently surprising Bernie isn’t finished yet. Amanda learns of Bernie's rudest betrayal yet when she receives a package from her recently deceased ex-lover. A very surprising revelation and one final request are contained therein. The favor comes with a gift that delivers dramatic and life-altering changes, not only to Amanda’s life, but to the lives of her closest friends and new partner as well.
Anything Your Heart Desires
ISBN: 978131163912
"Whoa—lesbians!" That was Stacy Alexander’s first thought as she observes the group of women in the new shop across the street kiss each other in greeting. Stacy had been staring out her apartment window trying to think of a motive for the death of the character she’d killed off in her mystery novel. Ah ha—extortion! What could be a better reason for the murder of my heroine than being blackmailed because she’s a lesbian? Now all I need is a lesbian to teach me about the ‘lesbian lifestyle.’
That’s where policewoman Jo Martin enters the picture. Jo has two rules by which she religiously lives her life: never get involved with someone already in a relationship and never, ever date a straight woman.
As Jo and Stacy collaborate on the novel, will Stacy want to gain a more intimate knowledge of the topic, and will Jo hold steadfastly to her rules?
One Day Lon
ger Than Forever
ISBN: 9781310847738
Dr. Kate Martin needs a vacation after a failed romance with her business partner nearly ruins her. Lee Foster is recovering from her first lesbian relationship that self-destructed when her partner moved several states away, leaving her behind.
Two failed romances, a double booked vacation cabin, and a blizzard—will fate intervene again and turn a passionate affair with a stranger, into something more?
It’s Complicated
ISBN: 9781311122964
Victoria Brannigham had a guilty pleasure. Every day she would take a detour, sit on the boardwalk, and wait. She tried not to covet what could never be hers. Beverly McMannis was lonely, until she discovered another lesbian on the island. Bev eagerly embraced the growing friendship with her neighbor. Victoria was honest with Bev right from the start; explaining that she wasn't free to explore their attraction. Bev promised to honor the boundaries. Love isn't always easy, sometimes it's complicated...especially when she doesn't know you're still being faithful.
I Love My Life
ISBN: 9781311310002
Betrayal by her former partner sends Chris Baxter fleeing to Maine. To escape the monotony of staring at the four walls of her isolated cabin, she enrolls in a sailing class. A chance pairing with Stephanie Kincaid and her cohorts, Tina and Terry, offers an opportunity for new friendship. Their shared homework assignment might offer Chris the potential for more than just knowledge of navigation.
An urgent message interrupts the classmates’ sailing vacation along the coast of Maine. While Chris rushes back to her twin’s bedside, the others remain onboard to sail back to their homeport. Will the revelations from her ex, her sister, and her family, change everything in the new life that Chris has rebuilt?