‘We need to tell her,’ Zoe said to Kat, worrying her lip.
‘Tell me what?’ Sasha demanded.
‘We met Taffy and Kevin’s grandparents,’ Zoe said.
‘I know, Mom already said,’ Sasha answered.
‘And Mom was Mom,’ Kat added.
The lonely squawk of a bird echoed over them, giving voice to the horrified feeling that crept over Sasha’s entire body. The dark look in her sisters’ eyes caused knots to form in the pit of her stomach. She looked towards the cabin, imagining Kevin inside with her mother and she had to fight the urge to run and pull him out of there. Kat was right to drag her out of the cabin for some fresh air. The way everyone was getting along, she’d look like a mad woman leaping across the room to knock the teacup from Kevin’s hand.
‘She implied that you and Kevin were serious. Very serious,’ Zoe said, the low words stopping Sasha from running inside.
Sasha took a deep breath and then another. ‘OK. That would explain a lot.’ She endeavored to remain calm. ‘You know what, that’s OK. I can work with this. I’ll explain that Mom was mistaken in her views, that it’s just a misunderstanding. Taffy will have to understand a misunderstanding and Kevin will hopefully get a good laugh out of it.’
‘Mom said she saw it in a teacup and that you two were going to get married in the mountains,’ Zoe blurted. ‘And there was no reason why our two families shouldn’t spend a lot of time together while we’re here since we’re all going to be related. There might have been mention of five grandkids.’
‘Kevin’s mom nearly fainted.’ Kat wrapped her fingers around Sasha’s arm, holding tight as if she expected Sasha to pass out. ‘You know that look Mom sometimes gets from people when she comes off all flaky-crazy? Especially those who don’t have any real belief in the paranormal? It was worse. Mom got excited and was talking a mile-a-minute, hardly making sense. Taffy couldn’t speak. She just kept staring at Mom like she was about to mug her.’
‘We tried to smooth things over,’ Zoe said. ‘Dad hurried her out of there.’
‘I’d hoped you had already told Kevin how you feel about him and that us coming up here was a good thing. If you two were serious, we could laugh off Mom’s over-eagerness.’ Kat looked back at the house. ‘I thought we could come up with a plan.’
‘We have to keep her away from Taffy and the rest of his family,’ Zoe said. ‘It’ll look strange if we force her to go home now.’
‘I can’t believe she’s doing this to me. It’s bad enough that I won’t get any work done with her here. The woman always meddles, but this? She actually mentioned marriage and kids? Taffy will probably tell Kevin and he’ll dump my ass.’ Sasha wanted to cry. Tears pooled in her eyes, threatening to spill. She threw up her hands. ‘I should have known she’d ruin this for me. She always ruins my relationships. It’s why I never tell her about them. I don’t know why she has it out for me.’
‘I think she really believes she’s helping,’ Zoe said. ‘Who knows what Mom sees when she focuses on her tea leaves. We’ve all seen her predict amazing things, but I think her perception makes her so certain of things that she sometimes jumps the gun and expects everyone else to have her certainty and enthusiasm. Mom sees the world as she wants to see it and expects everyone to see it as she wants it to be seen.’
‘Don’t explain or make excuses for her. She had no right to come here. She acts all flighty, but she knows what she’s doing. She just doesn’t care.’ Sasha frowned. The door to the cabin opened and Kevin stepped outside. Their conversation instantly stopped. Under her breath, she swore, ‘Oh, no. She’s already scared him off.’
‘Kat, come on, let’s give them time to talk,’ Zoe said. ‘Sash, don’t worry. We’ll keep Mom busy.’
Sasha didn’t move as Kevin walked towards her. A strange look stretched across his face. What had her mother done now? Was the reading already over with?
‘We need to talk,’ he said, taking her arm as he passed by her. Sasha didn’t protest as she let him lead her into the forest.
Chapter Twelve
The mud thickened as they neared the trees and the light whistle of the wind in the branches carried over them. Kevin kept walking, pulling her behind him into the shadowed canopy of the forest. Each jerking, slippery step drew out the silence. It seemed an eternity before he stopped.
He let go of her arm and paced the narrow width of the path. Lights streaked across his face in small moving dots shining in from above. Kevin took several deep audible breaths before he faced her. ‘When were you going to tell me?’
‘Tell you?’ she squeaked, her voice breaking under the fear.
‘Your mother told me, so there is no point in denying it. What I want to know is, when were you going to tell me?’ he demanded. His features were so strained and angry. She’d never seen that kind of raw passion in his eyes before. ‘Don’t you think I have a right to know?’
‘Know?’
‘Yes, dammit. Are you going to answer me or just keep repeating what I say?’ Hands on hips, he towered over her, making her feel very small.
Under the circumstances, she said the only thing she could think of. ‘I’m sorry for my mother.’
‘You should be sorry you didn’t tell me about the baby,’ Kevin quipped.
‘Baby?’ Now she was really confused. Why did he care about her sister’s pregnancy? ‘I thought I mentioned Zoe was pregnant to you.’
‘Zoe? I’m not talking about your sister. I’m talking about you.’ He grabbed her arms. ‘Listen, I want you to know I’m here for you and the baby. Whatever we decide to do. Though, your moodiness makes sense now. I’m sorry I didn’t catch on, but, now that I know, I think we should seriously consider our options. And by options I mean about having it. I’m not one of those guys who want you to have an abortion just so I can evade any responsibility. I want you to have it.’
Sasha opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Kevin’s hands slipped to her face, cupping her cheeks. He urged her mouth to his, closing the distance between them. The warmth of his tender lips calmed her racing thoughts.
‘Kevin, wait,’ she said into his mouth.
‘No, don’t say whatever it is you’re going to say. I’m not going to leave you. I’ll take care of you and the baby.’ He ran his fingers into her hair. ‘At least give us a chance.’
‘I’m not going to have a baby,’ Sasha said, wondering what her mother had told him.
‘You’re not keeping it?’ His hands stopped moving. ‘Shouldn’t we discuss it first?’
‘No, I’m not pregnant. I think there has been a weird misunderstanding. I’ve never been pregnant. I’m not having a baby.’ She wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or cry.
‘But?’ It was his turn to look confused. ‘Your mother looked into the teacup and told me you were with child and that she saw us getting married. I thought it was a hint that she wanted me to do the right thing by you.’
Sasha wanted to strangle her mother. ‘I’m sorry. I warned you she’s eccentric, but this is blatant interfering. I think she’s become obsessed with marrying all her daughters off and getting grandkids. I’m the next in line, very close to graduating and she’s obviously taken the first hint at my having a boyfriend as a sign.’
‘You’re not pregnant.’ Kevin ran his thumb over her mouth. Was there disappointment in that statement?
Sasha shook her head in denial. ‘No. I’m not.’
‘So my proposing marriage was going to be premature?’
‘You were going to propose?’ A small laugh of surprise erupted from her.
Kevin frowned, taking her reaction the wrong way. Sarcastically, he drawled, ‘I’m glad you find the idea amusing. I should think you’d be glad to have a man who took responsibility.’
‘No, I don’t find it amusing. I’m horrified by my mother’s actions and even more horrified by the fact that I suspect she said something along the same lines to your mother. I’m, oh, I don’t know the right w
ord for what I’m trying to say. I’m grateful, honored, happy and proud that you would ask me to marry you and offer to take care of me and a child, but I couldn’t accept even if I was pregnant. I don’t enjoy the idea of being proposed to out of duty like I was some Victorian lady. You don’t love me. You don’t even want a real relationship with me.’
‘What if I did?’ He withdrew his hands, stepping back from her. His face changed, subtly but surely. A fire burned in his eyes, as if it had always been there. How had she not seen it?
‘But you said . . .’ Her heart raced. What if he loved her?
‘What if I lied? What if I wanted a real relationship with you? What if I wanted you to be mine?’
‘Yours?’
He cleared his throat. ‘My girlfriend. I meant my girlfriend. What if I wanted to date exclusively?’
Sasha’s heartbeat quickened. She forgot all about her mother’s meddlesome tea leaf reading. Was he telling her he loved her? Or had her mind seized upon the wrong possibility? It didn’t matter. This was a step forward and she’d take it.
‘Well? Aren’t you going to say anything?’ he asserted.
‘Yes,’ she finally managed. ‘I’d like to try that.’
The slow curl of his lips drew her forwards. She threw her arms around his neck, happiness bubbling inside of her. Things between them were progressing much faster than she’d hoped. It was only the first day into their trip and already he’d asked for an exclusive relationship. Looking at him, his expression open and accepting, caused pleasure to fill every inch of her.
She moaned lightly, kissing him with all the emotion she felt. The slight chill of the air and the natural surroundings of the forest didn’t stop her passion for him. She wanted him and would have him. The taste of tea flavored his lips, sweetened with a hint of mint. When she deepened the kiss, their tongues danced in sensual circles. His body tightened against her.
Heat centered low in her stomach, accumulating in the moist folds of her sex. She wanted to tear the clothes from his body and make love to him right there amidst the mud and the trees. Their clothing hampered her progress, though she tugged restlessly to free them from it. Kevin ran his hands wherever he could reach, down her back to grip her ass and lift her slightly off the ground. The full length of his erection rocked against her.
Sasha pulled her mouth from his, gasping for breath. ‘I want you.’
‘There aren’t any free cabins.’ His hands shook as if he would push her away from him but couldn’t quite find the strength to do so. ‘Everything’s booked.’
‘I don’t care. I want you.’ Sasha nibbled on his ear.
‘It’s too cold and muddy. We’ll go back covered in muck and looking like we were attacked.’
She sucked his earlobe. ‘Mm, I don’t care right now.’
‘I won’t embarrass you in front of your parents by letting them see you like that and I won’t embarrass you in front of my mother; I’m going back to her house to take a shower there. We can’t do this now.’
‘But I want you.’ She tried to pull him deeper into the woods. He resisted.
‘No.’ The word lacked conviction. ‘The truck’s warmer and cleaner.’
Sasha grabbed his erection, rubbing it through the stiff denim. ‘Then hurry.’
He took her hand and hurried through the woods. Sasha giggled, feeling like a teenager going to sneak off with her boyfriend to make out. Kevin glanced back at her, grinning. As they came out of the trees into the clearing, he paused long enough to gather her next to him as he walked.
‘Sasha!’ Beatrice called, poking her head out the door as if she’d been watching for them.
‘We’ll be back later,’ Sasha answered, not changing course.
‘But your sister is making dinner,’ her mother tried again to stop them.
‘We’ll see you later,’ Sasha asserted, reaching for the truck door.
Kevin went around to the other side, giving Beatrice a small tilt of his head before climbing in to drive. Zoe appeared by their mother, saying something to get her back inside the house. When they’d pulled away, Sasha slid close to him on the seat and began kissing his neck. ‘My mother’s meddling usually causes trouble, but today it’s made me happy.’
‘Has it?’
‘Mm-hm.’ She nuzzled his ear. ‘Not in the way she intended. I’m not married and pregnant, but I’m alone with you.’
‘You’ve been alone with me all day.’ He rested his hand on her leg.
‘Not like this.’
Kevin chuckled. ‘You could have been. All you would’ve had to do was slide next to me and begin kissing my neck. Though I doubt we’d have made such good time. We’d probably be pulled over at a roadside hotel somewhere thinking of excuses to call and tell them we’ll be late.’
Sasha didn’t elaborate that she meant as a girlfriend. The truck turned down different roads, leading them over the bridge and alongside the creek. She didn’t pay attention to where they were going. Instead, she said, ‘Is it too late to do that?’
‘Afraid so. They’ve already seen us.’
Sasha ran her hand over his chest, digging beneath his shirt. The hard flesh of his stomach contracted when she touched him. She unbuttoned his jeans, loosening their hold on his waist so she could venture underneath the denim. She found his cock beneath his cotton boxers and wrapped his fingers around the stiff length. Moisture flooded her sex and she trembled, wanting him desperately.
Kevin made a small noise of excitement, pulling the truck over to the side of the road. The engine rumbled, left on so that the heater would continue to blow. Patches of snow covered a rocky incline along one side. Everywhere else, they were surrounded by trees, the dense cover hiding them from easy view. It was impossible to see beyond the thick evergreens and wide brown trunks.
Sasha unfastened her jeans and slid them down over her hips, feeling a sense of urgency as she unzipped her boots and stripped her lower half. Kevin did the same. He moved from behind the steering wheel, chuckling as they fumbled to find a position.
‘Is this how you wooed the girls growing up?’ she asked, laughing.
He glanced out the window. ‘Nope, you’re the first girlfriend I’ve ever brought here.’
‘I thought all you country boys had your way with girls in pickup trucks.’ She straddled his naked legs, their flesh touching. His erection grazed the sensitive skin of her stomach.
‘I’m hardly a country boy.’ He touched her face. ‘We moved here when I was about eight. I graduated school when I was seventeen. I’m now thirty-one, so I’d say on average I’ve lived more in the city than the country.’
‘Well, that’s only because you’ve never made out in a truck before,’ Sasha whispered, kissing him.
Kevin lifted her up. ‘I guess I never had a girlfriend I wanted as much as I want you.’
‘I like the sound of that,’ Sasha admitted, her expression becoming serious. Her hands ran along his neck and shoulders as she wiggled on top of him. The tip of his cock found her moist folds. ‘I like hearing you call me your girlfriend. This might sound corny, but I’d hoped you would.’
‘Really? Since when?’
‘I was going to tell you I wanted something exclusive that day you said you wanted an uncomplicated affair. You beat me to it.’ She stroked his hair, gasping as she lowered her body onto his. He filled her and she rode him slowly, relishing the feel of him inside her.
‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ He closed his eyes, leaning his head back.
‘Because I didn’t want to chase you away.’ She kissed him lightly, brushing her lips over his as she continued to ride him. ‘You don’t want to take it back, do you?’
‘Of course not. I only said what I did so I wouldn’t chase you away. I want you any way I can have you.’ His eyes opened and he stared at her face from beneath the lowered lashes.
Sasha moaned. A brief smile crossed her face, but she couldn’t hold the expression as the tension built between her th
ighs. His fingers ran up her spine. The aching rhythm of their hips overtook all thought. Throaty growls mingled with the heavily rasping breaths hitting her neck. She kept her eyes on his, liking the primitive connection between them.
She started to shake, her body tingling and tightening. He gripped her waist, thrusting deep and sure. Her fingernails gripped into his shoulders as she came.
‘Kevin,’ she breathed, her mouth opening wide. He jerked her off him, coming hard between their pressed bodies.
She stayed straddling his thighs, liking the intimacy of their close position. Love welled inside her, but she bit back the words. Today, she’d be content with her new status as his girlfriend. Things were moving forwards and she didn’t want to jinx them by rushing him. For now, she’d keep her love to herself and focus on winning over his family. ‘What are we going to do about this week?’
‘We’ll think of something. We can stay in my old bedroom. I’ll put an air mattress in there for appearances if you’re worried about it.’
‘Your mom seems to want me in the cabin,’ Sasha said. ‘Maybe it would be best to respect her wishes and stay with my family. We can still spend our days together working. Though I have a feeling we’re not going to get nearly what we wanted to done.’
‘There’s no reason we shouldn’t stay in my old room to work and—’
‘I think it’d be best if we slept apart at night. Zoe is cooking dinner. I’ll eat with my family. You go with yours. Your grandpa is already expecting you. We’ll catch up tomorrow and set some sort of schedule.’
‘But—’
‘I want your mother to like me and we didn’t seem to get off on the right foot. I know how important family is to you. You’ve mentioned it on several occasions. I know you would never keep a girlfriend who wasn’t liked by your family and I completely understand that. Family is important.’ Sasha kissed his lips, pushing up so he could slide over.
‘Fine, but just so you know I’ll be pouting tonight as I think about you.’
Degrees of Passion Page 20