by Rye Hart
I worked on the ranch, breaking sweats like never before just to keep my mind off her. Most communication was via phone calls and emails, but I redirected her to Hank as much as I could so I could get her voice out of my ear.
I couldn't fall for her. Nope. I needed to keep my distance. For her sake and mine. A guy like me would fucking destroy a sweet girl like that. She deserved better. She was different than all the groupies. They threw themselves at me. Delia was smart and fiery, sassy and strong. In many ways, she reminded me of Shannon, and that's what scared me the most.
I tossed around bales of hay like I was throwing sacks of feathers. I chased calves for the hell of it to try and erase her from my mind. I worked on the tractor with Paul and even got started working on some of the other broken-down equipment I’d told him I would repair over the years.
I even rode every horse around over the course of the weekend.
Anything to put that woman out of my mind.
But now, she was on her way to my house. Monday morning at fucking six, like none of us had a damn life to lead. The band and I had a short tour to go on. A few stops here and there, some awesome fucking shows to put on for women who adored us. That was what I needed to be thinking about. I needed to be preparing for these damn shows. Running sets in my head and belting lyrics in the shower. That was what I needed to be doing.
I headed to the shower, hoping to clear my head. I washed off the sweat from the day, scrubbing my body with soap and trying to clean out the memory of Delia screaming my name. As I ran the soap over my groin, my cock perked to life. My balls were begging for release, and I thought maybe if I could jerk off, it would clear my head. Might as well try.
Leaning forward, I held myself up with one hand while taking my cock in the other. I stroked my dick, closing my eyes and trying to imagine anything but Delia's tight, virgin pussy.
It didn't work. That's all I could think about.
“Fuck, yes,” I groaned, imagining that first thrust into her tight little hole. It would hurt her, but I'd be gentle. I'd move slow, at first, just like my hand moved on my cock. Slow and steady, guiding it between her pussy lips and filling her up. I could still hear her calling my name, and damn, it sounded so sexy. The way she moaned and writhed on the bed, it would feel fucking fantastic if she were beneath me, letting me pummel my dick into her.
Her long, slender legs would wrap around my body, pulling her into me. I'd try to prevent myself from coming too quick, but with a pussy that tight, it would be hard. I'd want to make her come, hard, though. I'd want to make her scream my name over and over again as I bury my shaft deep inside of her, all the way to her fucking cervix.
Once she climaxed, I'd go all the way. Maybe bend her over and take her from behind - that tight little ass wiggling against my body as I fucked her.
“Oh God...,” I groaned.
Streams of cum gushed from my dick, landing on the shower walls and dripping down. So much hot seed came spilling out of me, I wasn't sure it would ever end. My orgasm rode through me like a wave, crashing into me and causing me to shudder until every last drop of cum was clinging to the walls of my shower.
God dammit. I'm a fucking screw-up. Can't even work with my personal assistant without yanking my cock and cumming all over the shower tiles.
I finished up and dried off, and from down the hall, I heard Paul's voice.
“Whatcha readin’?” Paul asked.
“It’s a book I got her this weekend,” Tammy said.
“I finished my human behavior book, so now I’m reading on human interaction,” Elsie said.
“Found anything interestin’?” Paul asked.
“I only started it last night,” Elsie said. “But the first chapter was—interesting.”
“How so?” Tammy asked.
“There are certain human interactions I don’t understand yet. Some I do, but some I don’t. Like the idea of kissing. This book outlines the reasons and behaviors behind kissing. But I don’t understand it.”
I grinned as I listened to Elsie talk to Paul and Tammy about the basics of interacting with another person.
“Elsie, are you okay?” Tammy asked.
I heard the couch squeaking as Elsie rocked back and forth on it.
“Els? Can ya tell us what’s goin’ on?” Paul asked.
“She’s here,” Elsie said. “She’s here.”
I heard a knock on the door that signaled to me that Delia was here. I got up from the kitchen table and sighed, knowing what I had to do next. Elsie was getting uncomfortable with Delia’s presence. Especially since she didn’t know who Delia was. I’d have to introduce this woman to my sister.
But my fear wasn’t that my sister wouldn’t like her. There were ways of getting around that.
My fear was that Elsie would get attached. Then I wouldn’t be able to get rid of Delia that easily.
I opened the door and took her in, raking my eyes down her form. She took my breath away.
Delia was wearing another pair of tightly-formed jeans but had on one of her nicer blouses. It fell around her breasts perfectly but left something to the imagination with the dip in the waist. She still had on those scuffed boots, though, and I grinned as I took them in.
But before I could walk my eyes back up her body, she pushed through and headed straight for the kitchen.
She set a bag on the table and pulled out her laptop. Before I could even get in a word, she already had my itinerary popped up and ready to go. I leaned against the doorway as I continued to listen to the couch squeak. My sister’s movements were getting more volatile, and I knew I had to do something to diffuse the situation before it got any worse.
“You ready to work?” Delia asked.
“Yep. Just got one thing, not on that itinerary that I need from you,” I said.
I could see her shuffle a little in a nervous fashion. “What that?” she asked.
“Gotta meet the baby sister,” I said.
She looked up at me with a quizzical expression but stood up from the kitchen chair. I turned and left, listening for her to follow me without speaking a word to her. We rounded into the living area where Paul and Tammy were sitting, their eyes filled with worry as Elsie continued to rock and fiddle with her fingers.
“Elsie honey, this is Delia. She’s my personal assistant. She’ll be around here a bit when I’m not on tour. Delia, this is Elsie. My sister,” I said.
I watched as Delia broke away from me and stood in front of my sister. She held her hand out to her and Elsie looked at it. Her body was still rocking, and her hands were still fidgeting, but Delia was patient with her. I could see Delia’s eyes looking around fluidly, trying to discern the type of situation she had just landed in.
And I nearly grinned when she put the pieces together.
“Hi Elsie, it’s really nice to meet you.”
Tammy and Paul were both trying to settle Elsie down as Delia kept her stance soft and still.
Elsie’s rocking slowly stopped, and I saw my sister stand to her feet. She cleared her throat and placed her hand in Delia’s, shaking it with a firm grip. I saw Elsie studying the contact, taking in the way their hands molded together. The way Delia’s fingertips folded over her hand. That was the thing with Elsie. Once she engaged in something, she had to have the time to take it in fully.
And Delia was giving her that time. Damn this woman was full of surprises. I pushed myself away from the door, trying to hide my relief. I could feel my nerves settle down, but a drink would be the perfect remedy. I heard the two of them talking as I made my way into the kitchen, searching for the bottle of booze I used to fill up my flask.
My pocket felt lighter than normal. Which meant I was almost out.
Soon, people were departing and settling down. Paul went to start his work for the day, and Delia made her way back to her laptop. Tammy and Elsie were sitting in the room, talking about that damn book Elsie had picked up. I filled up my flask before I tipped the bottle back, feeling
the burning alcohol slide down my throat.
“When you’re done, come sit. We’re going over dates,” Delia said.
“Yes ma’am,” I said.
“You have four concerts laid out over the next two weeks. Your hotel rooms have been confirmed, and the tour bus has been cleaned for you and your band. You have two interviews outside of the concerts, one before the second concert and one before the third. I’m in the process of handling the media in all the towns to give you as much peace as possible but be ready to be bombarded.”
“I’ll make sure to hold my tongue,” I said.
“I was thinking more along the lines of finding a different place to store your flask.”
“My ass pocket doesn’t work?”
“Not when your fans are constantly staring at it.”
“What is it with you?” I asked, as I turned around. “What do you have to be so offended about?”
“Besides the fact that you literally think you can take what you want without repercussions?” she asked.
Her eyes sank hard into mine, and I felt the tension growing between us. I knew what she was talking about and I knew she was angry. But damn if that emotion didn’t look good on her. I walked over toward her, bending over her shoulder so I could see my schedule. I groaned at the sheer amount of it all and sighed, noticing that Delia didn’t move away from me. No matter how much I wanted to stay away from her, I wanted Delia. I wanted her untouched body. I wanted her fiery mouth around my cock. I wanted the whole of me to silence the sass that poured from her lips. I was perched above her, one hand behind her chair and the other on the table, with a perfect view down her blouse.
Fuck. She could drive any man wild.
“You done?” she asked.
She looked up at me with those fiery eyes, all wide and brimming with hidden want.
Damn it. I was in so much fucking trouble with this one.
CHAPTER 10
Delia
I hated how aware he made me feel. Aware of all the things I still had yet to experience in life. It was easier when I didn’t know what I was missing.
Now, I did. Thanks to what happened on the bus and the way he looked at me after he caught me. I knew what I was missing. How wonderful someone else’s lips tasted on mine. The way a man looked at you in the throes of lust. I was painfully aware of the heat he generated against my body, and I was helplessly aware of how much my body had wanted to lean into it.
Not to mention, he'd caught me calling out his name. It was painfully awkward to be around him after that.
I was here to do a job and nothing else. I was here to pave a way for my life that would sustain me after college. I wasn’t here to fall in lust with some asshole of a man who thought he was God’s gift to women. He was cocky. He was arrogant. And I wanted him.
“You done?” I asked.
I was aware of the fact that he was staring down my shirt. I could see his reflection in my computer screen. He looked like a fucking idiot, but my cheeks still flushed. Almost like it felt nice to have him staring at me
“Yep,” he said, as his eyes moved to the computer screen. “I’m done.”
I gritted my teeth and shook my head.
“Hank and I will be on the same floor as you and the band for the tour. I will be traveling behind in my truck and Hank will be on the bus with you guys.”
“Seriously? Hank’s riding on the bus?” Drake asked.
“He is.”
“And you’re sure that beat up truck can keep up with us?”
I drew in a deep breath as I closed my eyes.
“If it can’t, I’ve got the addresses for all the hotels. I’ll survive off my GPS,” I said.
“Fine. Suit yourself. But the party would be better if you were on the bus.”
“No thanks. I don’t feel like experiencing your rendition of any other picturesque fairytales.”
“Suit yourself,” he said, with a shrug.
It was easy to tell myself he was just an asshole, but when he pushed away from me and walked back toward the coffee pot, I caught the outline of the flask pressed against his pocket. He was a man that was struggling. Dancing with his demons while trying to keep his head above water. I knew he had a heart, somewhere down deep. He was once a family man. He gave a free concert to a charity that was close to his heart. After meeting his sister, I now knew why. I saw his eyes light up when he looked at her. That sister of his was his world. He was single-handedly taking care of a ranch, a music career, and an autistic sister.
Hell only knew the pressure he was under on a daily basis. Along with dealing with the loss of his wife and daughter, hell, that would drive any man to drinking.
It was hard to be mad at him when I saw the heart of him shining through. All the pain he was experiencing and all the booze he was using to cover it up, and he still had a soul he allowed out. It was hard for me to hate a man like that. Especially when I was supposed to be helping him.
I sighed and closed my eyes, resolving myself to work through the morning.
There were meetings to plan and interviews to confirm. There were hotels to talk with and concert coordinators to double-check on. Drake and his band liked things a very specific way whenever they arrived on site They each had their own pre-show rituals that needed tending to, and I found that the concert coordinators were willing to bend over backwards for them.
But the hardest thing to wrangle was the press. Four concerts in four different cities meant four different media escapades. Each wanted their own official press release from Drake Blackthorn himself, and it fell onto my shoulders to get those to them. Plus, there was figuring out how to get the tour bus cleaned down between cities and researching spots to gas up where the guys wouldn’t be bothered.
There was so much that went into just four shows. I could only imagine what it took to get an entire tour on the books and situated.
I expected Drake to go out and help Paul, but he didn’t. He bounced between rooms as I worked, not really sitting down or being of use. I had no idea what his issue was, but I was here to work.
Once I had everything confirmed, I gave him the rundown.
“Okay, I think I have everything confirmed,” I said.
Drake grunted as he stood at the window, tipping up his flask to his lips.
“Four cities, four concerts, four hotels. Four different press releases already sent out as well as backstage necessities confirmed. Gas stations have been vetted as safe spaces to fuel up the bus, cleaners in all four cities ready to clean it down, and concert times are all confirmed. I sent the itinerary to Landon and Stone, as well as all the confirmed times and addresses of places we will be. Is there anything I’m missing?”
I looked up and waited for his input, but he stayed silent as his eyes gazing out the window.
“Drake?” I asked. “Did you hear me?”
But all he did was turn his body and walk out of the kitchen.
Was he fucking kidding me? I tried not to grind my teeth as I slammed my laptop shut. Fine, I could take a hint. If he didn’t want to talk about work, then we didn’t have to talk about work. But anything that was out of place or not right when he got into the cities was on him.
I heard his boots pounding up the staircase.
I got up from the kitchen table and walked into the living room. Elsie was still sitting there, in her same position with the same book. Tammy was working on some sort of needlepoint as I came into the room, sitting on the opposite couch as I sighed.
“Don’t worry. He gets easier to work with,” Tammy said.
“Uh huh,” I said, with a huff.
“Doesn’t seem like it now, but he warms up to you.”
“Not what I’m concerned about,” I said.
I could see Elsie eyeing me carefully from her book and noticed her body beginning to tense up. I didn’t know much about adults on the spectrum, but I knew when I was making someone uncomfortable. I averted my gaze and cleared my throat, trying to loosen up my
body, so I didn’t make Elsie feel stressed.
We had a good first encounter, and I didn’t want to ruin anything.
“So, Tammy. Are you a live-in caretaker?” I asked.
“I am, but Elsie and I don’t live here. Elsie’s got her own place, courtesy of her part-time job and some money set aside from her parents,” Tammy said.
“Is it far from here?”
“Just a couple of miles. It’s routine for Elsie to be here in the mornings during the week, so we come over and stay until lunch. Once in a while, we spend the night here.”
“I work on the weekends,” Elsie said.
“Do you enjoy it?” I asked.
“I do. I work in the back at a bookstore. It’s quiet, and I don’t have to deal with people.”
“That sounds like a very nice job.”
I don’t know how you’re surviving my brother,” she said, suddenly.
I bit back a giggle as a grin crossed my cheeks.
“I read these books because of him,” Elsie said.
“Oh really?” I asked. “Why is that?”
“Drake works hard. But he’s not like most people I’ve encountered. I want to understand why.”
I nodded and cast my gaze into my lap as Tammy studied my reaction.
“Tammy, do you enjoy the ranch?” I asked.
“I do. Though I haven’t let Drake rope me into doing anything around here. I’ve got my hands full with Elsie.”
“I like letting the horses out,” Elsie said.
“It’s always nice to watch them run free,” I said.
“And the sunsets here are spectacular. Whenever I can get Elsie to stay, it’s my favorite part of this place,” Tammy said.
“Well, maybe I could share it with you guys one night,” I said.
The three of us sat there talking, and I found it to be therapeutic. Between my classes and my work, I didn’t have much time to socialize. In fact, I didn’t have time to socialize at all. I studied, I worked, and I turned in schoolwork online. That was the extent of the past three and a half years of my life. It was nice, talking with them. Elsie was refreshingly honest, which I figured was probably a part of her being on the spectrum. Tammy was laid back. Someone I could see myself getting to know if I had the time. She wasn’t high strung, and I could tell she cared about Elsie.