A Taste of Country

by Vicki Green

  “Whoa, girl!” Trevor stands there holding up Colby, who’s obviously drunker than a skunk. Colby looks up from under his long lashes and smiles, swaying in Trevor’s arms. Trevor brings him over to the bed and plops him down onto the mattress. I turn and watch, backing away with the bat still raised in my hand, but I release Ditto’s collar. Trevor walks to me. Hands held up, palms out, like he’s surrendering. “It’s just us, honey. Give me the bat.” I put my other hand around the base, tightening my grip.

  “I want to hit you so hard right now.” He nods, his eyes soft. He continues to take steps towards me, slowly. “You scared the shit outta me, Trev. Why would you do that? You know I would have been scared thinking…. Thinking….” He reaches me, placing his hand on the bat. He pulls it down slowly, nodding at me the entire time, and I let him. Once it’s down, I release my grip, letting him take it and then fall into his arms. He lets the bat fall to the floor then holds me tight, rubbing my back with his hand.

  “I’m sorry I scared ya, girl. I wasn’t thinkin’. Shhhh, I’m here,” he murmurs in my ear, my face burrowing into his chest. My heart rate begins to slow as he continues to hold me. He releases his hold and puts his hands on both sides of my face, pulling it back so he can look at me. There’s no tears in my eyes, only the fear that was instilled in me. “God, I’m fuckin’ sorry, Shiloh. I was just tryin’ to get him up here to bed. The guy is two sheets to the wind.” His eyes search mine as I nod faintly. “He loves you, ya know?” My heart that finally had slowed to a normal beat speeds up again. “He does. Told me at the bar. But who couldn’t love you?”

  My chin quivers, hearing this out loud. “I love him too,” I whisper. “That’s what scares me.”

  He pulls me back into his strong arms. “I know, girl. I know.” He knows that I worry about everyone I love, more than myself. Their safety is in my hands, and God knows I can’t even take care of myself when it comes to him. He knows that I feel like everyone who comes into my life is at risk and that falling in love with a man is the worst thing. He’ll come after him before he does me, end his life and make me watch. I know how his mind works. He’s sick, evil, and wants to torture me any way he can but being made to watch as he kills someone I love would be a worse fate than killing me. To make me see the life being pulled from him, his beautiful blue eyes turning lifeless…. I shiver, and Trevor’s arm tightens around me. “Fuck! I seriously wasn’t thinkin’. Damn, I’m an asshole.” I shake my head into his chest, and we stand there for I have no idea how long.

  I pull away from his arms and look at my man sleeping away in bed. I look back into Trevor’s eyes. “Don’t do it again,” I say seriously. He nods then leans into me, kissing my forehead. He turns, holding my hand and not releasing it until he steps away. I watch him walk out of the room, taking Ditto with him, then closing the door slowly. I let out a deep breath and look over at Colby. He’s out cold, sprawled out on the bed, legs hanging over the side. I knew he’d get wasted, wanted him to get that much needed release. I need him to be alert and thinking logically from now on. His life may depend on it.

  I walk over and tug the covers down on the bed from under him then pull on his boots, one by one, until they are off. I bend and pick up his legs, swinging them onto the mattress. He didn’t stir once. After going into the bathroom, changing into a long t-shirt, brushing my hair and teeth, I flip off the light and walk to the other side of the bed, climbing in and pulling the covers over me. I lay on my back, thinking about everything that happened tonight. I turn my head and look at him. He’s even more gorgeous as he sleeps. His lips are slightly parted. His facial features relaxed, like he has no cares in the world. I know you’re supposed to call men handsome but truly, he’s beautiful. I try to stop thinking so hard so I can fall asleep, but I’m afraid it won’t be coming for a long time.

  Warmth all around me. Strong arm encasing me. My eyes flutter open, and I look down to see his arm around my waist, his hand covering mine. I can feel his warm breath against my head, his leg thrown over mine. I suddenly realize I’m on my left side. I’ve never slept on this side since that almost fatal night. I turn my head slightly and see he’s still sleeping heavily. I turn back and look at the clock. Only three in the morning and not really time to get up yet, but I need to use the bathroom. I slide out from under his strong arm and quickly walk into the bathroom, not turning on the light, and relieve myself. When I walk back to the bed, hoping I can fall back to sleep for a while, Colby’s leaning up on his arm, wide awake and watching me. His hand pats the mattress as I get closer, and I climb back under the covers and roll onto my right side, force of habit, but I also want to cuddle. I missed that last night.

  He lays back down, pulling me into his arms as he kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry I got so wasted last night. I don’t know what came over me, darlin’.” He breathes against my head. I snuggle more into his side and sigh. “It won’t happen again.”

  “It’s okay. You needed it. I know it was hard for you to finish reading that. I knew you needed something to help you get it out of your system.” I look up at him and see him staring at me. “Don’t be sorry. I expected it. That’s why I asked Trevor to take you out.”

  “He’d do anythin’ for you, wouldn’t he?” His eyes search mine, but I think he really knows the answer.

  I nod, my chin moving the skin on his firm chest with my movement. “He would and that’s what scares me about him being here. He’s like a brother to me and I’m afraid he’ll get in the middle when he comes for me.”

  He breathes out another long breath. “Do you really think he’ll find you?”

  I nod again, slowly. “He always does.” I wait a few moments, both of us staring into each other’s eyes. “That’s why I think I should leave.”

  “No!” He says rather loudly, panicked.

  I lean up on my elbow, his arm loosening but not leaving me. “Colby. I’m afraid for all of your lives. I can’t take the risk anymore. Especially not now.”

  He doesn’t skip a beat. “Why now, Shiloh? What’s changed?”

  My eyes search his. Do I tell him? Confess? I know what Trevor told me but what if he said that because he was in a drunken state. Although for some people who can’t be honest normally they say what they really feel when they’re drunk. I don’t know him well enough yet to know if that’s true for him. I’m not sure my heart can take it if he really didn’t mean it, doesn’t feel that for me. I guess then I’d know for fact and could leave easier. It would still kill me.

  He lifts my chin up, holding it gently. “Tell me, darlin’. Please?”

  I take a deep breath, unsure if I should or not. The decision is hard, and I’m scared for the first time about something that isn’t the same fear I’ve had for so long. This one might end my life before he has a chance to end it for me. My brows lower with my thoughts. Then again, he’d never know how I feel, if I don’t tell him. It will tell me once and for all. I look deep into his eyes and place my hand on the side of his face, feeling his soft stubble against my skin. “I love you, Colby Carter. I see you in my dreams now. I feel you even when you’re not near, my breath leaves me when you look at me. And when I wake in your arms, I feel more alive than I ever have in my entire life.” The silence is deafening. The waiting is crippling. Before I can say another word, his mouth crushes against mine, knocking me over onto my back. His body hovers over mine as his hand cups my face, his fingers move into my hair as his tongue dives into my mouth, tangling with mine. I can taste the stale alcohol on his breath, but I don’t even care.

  He leans up abruptly, his hand still on my face, and his eyes are bright, gleaming into mine. “God! I’m so glad to hear you say that, darlin’.” My heart beats hard against his chest. My breathing ragged from our kiss. Hope is sitting on the edge, praying to fill me. His face is so serious that it begins to scare me, but then it softens. His thumb rubs against my skin. “I love you, Shiloh Willson. So fuckin’ much it hurts when I’m not near you. You’re my first t
hought when I open my eyes but not the last when I close them at night because you’re in my dreams.” The tears I always try to keep at bay leak readily from my eyes. He wipes some away with his thumb then leans down kissing me tenderly. He moves back again but only a breath away. “Real romantic when my breath smells horrible.” A laugh bursts from me, and his gorgeous smile appears. He leans down and kisses my forehead softly. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back. I don’t wanna miss out on any cuddlin’ this time.”

  I nod so eagerly I feel like one of those bobbleheads as the mattress dips and he leaves. I watch him walk to the door and then out. I let out the breath that was stuck in my throat and smile. He loves me. I throw myself down onto the mattress, smiling wide, my heart soaring.

  Chapter Ten

  Colby

  I run down the stairs then the hallway, slidin’ into my room and almost fallin’. I make it into the bathroom and get all things done and then run back upstairs, not wantin’ to waste even a minute of some alone time with my girl. My girl. She loves me. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life than I am right this minute. My head begins to pound from my exertion, but I don’t care. Nothin’ can take away from my happy mood. Nothin’. I run into her bedroom, stubbin’ my toe against the top step and screech to a halt as I look around. She’s gone. What the hell? I wasn’t gone that long. I turn my head when I hear footsteps and see her walk in, carryin’ a bowl of grapes. She stops and stares at me. I must look like a lunatic, worried she’d already changed her mind and left me.

  “Are you okay, baby? You’re really pale.” Her face is full of concern.

  My mouth opens to answer when it hits me. Baby. She called me baby. The only time any woman called me that was to try to get me to have sex with her. I always cringed when I’d hear it but coming from her mouth, the sweet sound of her voice, it makes my heart beat harder, fills me up with love. I take a step, taking the bowl from her hand, and kiss her hard. I move back a little and look into her eyes. “You had me worried. Thought you’d left me.”

  She leans up on her toes and gives me a quick kiss. “I’d never leave you.”

  Just hearin’ those words makes my heart flutter. God, I hope she means it.

  I put my arm around her as we walk back and get into bed. Once settled under the covers, she snuggles into me and I place the bowl on my lap. She grabs a grape, holdin’ it against my lips. I pull it into my mouth along with her finger, sucking on both of them. She smiles, her eyes darkenin’. I reach down and pick one up but barely put it up to her mouth when she sucks it in. She not only sucks on my finger but nips at it too.

  I immediately capture her mouth with mine, picking up the bowl and setting it on the mattress as I push her back. My hands begin movin’ her t-shirt up then my mouth leaves hers and suck a nipple into my mouth. I settle in between her legs. Her moan spurrin’ me on. Heat envelopes me as I pull down her panties, my mouth suckin’ harder and nippin’ her very perk nipple. I love the taste of her and can’t get enough. I remove my shirt, pulling it over my head from behind, then struggle to get my pants off but finally manage. I move back up to her luscious lips, tastin’ grapes as our tongues intertwine. I don’t waste any time, not being able to hold back, and thrust into her, the movement makin’ her gasp into my mouth. I feel frenzied but can’t seem to stop myself as I push into her deeply, then pull back until only my tip is inside, then slam back into her. The feelin’ that she’d left me or the fact of our confessions makin’ me want her in the worst way. Her fingernails dig into my arms as we move as one. Her movements as fast as mine, keeping up with my eagerness. Or maybe she’s just as eager.

  She moans, pushing her head back into the pillow as her legs begin to shake. I reach down and start rubbin’ her clit, helpin’ her to get there easier. Her fingernails embed into my skin as she screams out my name. Fuck! That’s all it took for me, and I begin releasin’ inside her. I buck my hips a few more times until it’s completely expelled then I collapse half off of her sweaty body, careful not to crush her. Even though that was only the second time we’ve made love, the orgasm was so much more intense. Maybe it was because we now know we love each other making this the first time we’ve really made love. I turn my head as she turns hers towards me, and we both smile, lookin’ into each other’s eyes.

  “Can I just say how amazing that was? Not like last night it wasn’t but…. Just wow.” I reach over and push some of her soft, long, damp hair away from her face. Her cheeks have a bit more color than normal, almost like it’s glowin’.

  “I was thinkin’ the same. I think it’s because it was actually love we were makin’ and not just our desire for each other. Does that make sense?” Her smile broadens.

  “Perfect sense.” She stretches her legs out and then intertwines them with mine. I rub her leg with my foot, lovin’ the softness. “Can we just stay in bed all day? I’m sure the animals won’t mind.” She giggles. Music to my ears. Suddenly, all I can think about is that she’s still in grave danger. I reach up and cup her face, her smile disappearin’ slowly. “What’s wrong?”

  My brows lower. I don’t want to worry her, but the situation is still so serious. We can’t lose sight of that, but I’m sure she hasn’t forgotten. “It’s just…. I love to see you so happy. I love to hear your sweet giggle. I want you to always be this carefree but….”

  Now her eyebrows lower as well. “But he’s still out there.” She looks down, her long lashes creatin’ a light shadow underneath her eyes. Then she looks back up and into my eyes. “It’s always on my mind, has been since I’ve been here. Do you think if I lea….”

  “No! No. But I would like to get my friend, Henry, involved.” Her eyes widen in panic. “Darlin’. He’s the sheriff and has high tech equipment. Maybe he’ll be able to help. Can’t you please accept some help? Your life depends on it and I’ve only just found you. I never want to let you go.” My eyes sting with the wetness that develops when I think of her being hurt or worse, killed.

  She reaches underneath my arm and places her hand on the side of my face. “I’ll do it for you. If it will help give you some peace. He’s very intelligent, sly, and won’t stop until he has me, Colby. He always finds me. If your friend can help, it will give me peace of mind to know that you and my new friends will be protected as well. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to any of you.” We stare into each other’s eyes for a few seconds. “Especially you. I love you. So much.” We both move simultaneously, our lips finding each other’s. There’s no frenzy, no heated desire, only love, and caring.

  We stayed in bed for another few hours, made love again, slowly, lovingly. Then I started feelin’ bad that Trevor was out doin’ chores, so I took a shower and grabbed my coat but when I stepped out onto the deck I had to remove it as it was unseasonably warm. I really need to start keepin’ an eye on the weather better. I set it on a chair and walked down to the barn. As soon as I walked in, Ditto came bouncin’ up to me, waggin’ his tail. I bent down and pet him, then played with him for a bit. I worked until afternoon, sweatin’ as I mended some fences. By the time I got back to the barn, I’d taken off my damp shirt and decided to take a breather. I sat down on the hay next to the barn in the sunshine, pushing up the bill on my ball cap, takin’ a piece of straw and puttin’ it in my mouth. I used to do this all the time, when I was younger. Chewin’ on it and just starin’ out into the land, thinkin’. Back then, everythin’ I used to consider so important seems so insignificant now.

  Ditto finds me and runs over, ploppin’ down next to me. I reach down and stroke him as I continue to think. So much has changed in my life. I went from being a smart ass kid to pretty much a womanizer in college to a land owner, and now I have the girl of my dreams. Funny how things happen and in the strangest ways. I think back when Memphis found Sadie from an online ad for hired help, thought that was a bit crazy until I got to know her. I’m brought out of my thoughts when I hear the crunching of hay and look up, shielding my eyes with my
hand. Shiloh stands there smilin’ down at me. “Hey, darlin’. Come here.” I reach out my hand, and she takes it, sittin’ down next to me. Her face lifts, the sun restin’ on it making it glow. God, she takes my breath away.

  “So warm today. I had expected snow by now.” She smiles, her eyes close as she raises her face up, the sun shining brightly on her skin.

  I lean back on my arm and pull the piece of straw from my mouth. “Have you seen snow?” My brows lower when I realize I really don’t know that much about her, only the bad things that have happened. “Tell me about you. I want to know everythin’.”

  She looks down, her long hair falling around her, shielding her face from the sun. She leans down on her arm, mimicking me, her fingers picking up the hay and playin’ with it. “I have seen snow, briefly. I didn’t know my dad. Mom wouldn’t tell me about him. She was a drug addict so I basically took care of her. She almost overdosed a few times and when I was fourteen, she kicked me out of the house. I lived on the streets, finding food in restaurant trash cans, sleeping in alleys. When I was fifteen and a half, I found a diner that took me in to wash dishes and help out in the kitchen so I was able to make a little money but not enough to live on. Then about a year later, I met him.” She looks down and sighs. “You pretty much know the rest.”

  I reach over and cup her chin, pullin’ up her face until she looks at me. “What’s your favorite color?” I’m trying to get us out of all the serious talk, lighten the mood.