“I’ve got more where that came from, but you’ll have to wait until tonight.” His voice was deep and raspy, laced with seduction. He had me at “more.”
“Deal,” I smiled. “You better put me to work, or else I might be forced to accidentally close those doors and lock us inside,” I admitted. I don’t know where those words even came from. He made me a very brave woman.
“Oh, I wish.” His hand reached for mine, holding it loosely. “How do you feel about horses?”
I shrugged. “Fine. I don’t know how they feel about me though.”
He snickered. “They’re going to love you.” He shook his head. “I’m going to load the Ranger outside with some extra feed, and I’m going to let you be in charge of feeding them, if that’s okay? It’s really easy, and they won’t give you any trouble.”
“Sure. Just call me the horse whisperer,” I grinned.
“Come on, O’ Gentle One,” he commanded as he led me out of the barn.
I was happy to do something with the least amount of manual labor as possible. I had zero muscles, so I would be zero use, unfortunately.
This was going to be one long, drawn-out day.
After I figured out how to drive the Ranger, the feeding part was actually a breeze. The horse stables had about twenty stalls inside and there were at least a dozen horses. I felt a bit out of place at first, but I followed Jude’s directions and started to really get the hang of it. Once I realized the beauties weren’t going to kick me into oblivion, I was flying through it with a breeze. I felt like Cinderella singing to her mice, only I was me and they were horses. Same thing.
I continued my Christmas carol medley as I fed every last one of them. It was kind of fun actually. I could see why his family loved horses so much. They were sweet, beautiful creatures. I already had my favorite one picked out. It was solid brown all over except for a little white speck on its head. It seemed to like me too, since it kept lowering its head for me to rub it.
“You’re a sweet girl.” I told it as I rubbed its head.
Wait. I bent down to look underneath.
Shew.
It was a girl.
The time got away from me at the stables. I found myself in a full on conversation with the horses. They were the best company ever, since they didn’t talk back.
“She likes you.” I heard Jude say, as his footsteps grew closer.
“I like her too. She’s beautiful.”
“Her name is Echo, and she’s my momma’s favorite horse too.”
“She’s such a sweet girl. I can see why your momma loves her,” I admitted still rubbing her neck.
“My trainer didn’t want her because she’s deaf, so we took her in several years ago. She’s an amazing horse. Being deaf doesn’t hinder her at all,” Jude explained, totally engrossed. There was a carefree look in his eyes. His voice was calm around the animals, almost soothing. You could tell he liked the peace that they brought him.
“Wait. I’ve been singing Christmas Carols and telling my deepest secrets to a horse that can’t hear.” I noted, shaking my head. “I guess I won’t have to worry about her telling my secrets.”
Jude’s arms wrapped around me from behind, and he rested his head on top of mine. “At least she couldn’t tell how bad your singing was.”
“Hey,” I swatted his hand. “You’ve never heard me sing.”
“Josh told us all about it.”
That little bastard! “Fine so I can’t sing, but the horses didn’t seem to mind.”
“She’s deaf,” he said again with a snicker.
I moved my head to the side so I could give him an evil glare over my shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he said, though his smirk told me otherwise. He pointed to Echo. “She may not be able to hear you, but she can see you. That’s all that matters.”
I ran my hands down her face, and over her muzzle. “Can you see me, girl?” I whispered to her. Jude was right. It wasn’t about her hearing me. She knew that I was there. I officially wanted that horse. We bonded. “How long have I been down here?” I asked Jude.
“A couple of hours or so. I was starting to worry.”
“I’m sorry. I liked being here at the stables. It’s the most relaxing place ever, once you realize the horses aren’t going to kick you or bite you.”
“It’s definitely my favorite place.” Jude admitted. “This is where I used to run to when I wanted to get out of chores as a kid. Then it just became a place that I felt like I belonged. It’s easy for the time to slip away from you here.”
I sighed and relaxed in his arms. “I don’t ever want to leave.”
“I don’t think the horses would mind.” I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke. It made me smile too.
“Not the stable.” I said. “I meant your arms.”
He leaned down and whispered into my ear. “Then don’t.”
His warm breath sent shivers down my arms. I wanted to tell him in that moment that I loved him, but I didn’t.
We stood there holding each other for a while and I let those words of his soak in. He needn’t ever worry about me leaving. I was right where I wanted to be.
Nine
Jude
I couldn’t believe how much we got finished.
The guys spent the entire day working their butts off, and it showed. We were ready for the rebuild. Just a week ago, I would’ve never thought it was possible. Without the help of my friends, I don’t know what I would’ve done.
“Can we eat, and maybe get a beer?” Garret asked.
“YES!” Paislee called out. The poor girl was probably starving. I was used to working daylight until dark before eating a good meal. She wasn’t. “I think we should all go out to eat. We’ve earned it, don’t you think?” She gauged my face for a reaction.
“You’re right.” I nudged her.
“Good, now lift me up.” She smiled. She was a tiny little thing compared to all of us guys.
I bent down lending her my back so that she could hop on. She did, and I lifted her up off the ground.
“I have an announcement!” She shouted, and the guys whistled. “I’m buying supper for everybody. Let’s go to Racks. I need a burger.”
The guys roared and cheered, and she leaned in to kiss my cheek.
“You sure know the way to a man’s heart.” I told her.
“What? A cheeseburger?” She laughed.
“With extra cheese,” I joked. She had a hold of my heart long before she mentioned food.
In this big ol’ devastating world, it made me happy to know that I had this one, sweet, beautiful, girl on my side. I may not have been lucky when it came to the trials of life, but she didn’t walk into my life out of pure coincidence. I was head over heels for this girl.
I couldn’t wait to show her just how much I loved her.
I couldn’t wait to press my lips against every square inch of her.
I couldn’t wait to hear her call out my name as I devoured her.
This needed to be the fastest meal we’ve ever sat through.
I lowered her back to the ground.
“Listen,” I told her. The darkness had begun to fall and there was barely enough light to see her face. “Is there any way we can get our food to go?”
“Yeah. Why what’s going on?”
I glanced around making sure no one was paying attention to us. It was dark, so no one could see what I was about to do. We never talked about sex. We never mentioned when we’d take that step, and I was in no way rushing her. But she had to know what kind of effect she had on me.
Taking her waist, I pulled her gently against me until our bodies were touching. “Do you feel that?” I questioned, knowing perfectly well that she could feel my hard as steel erection. It was pressing so hard against the zipper of my jeans that I thought they’d burst at the seams. I leaned down next to her. “We don’t have to do anything, but I want you curled up next to me. I want to kiss you so bad right now.”
“What?” He asked her.
“My bag is in your car, and my wallet is inside. Take my credit card and buy everybody’s food and drinks. Make sure you leave a hefty tip,” she told him.
“Where are you going?” He asked, and I was curious what she was doing too.
“Jude and I are staying here,” she told him in plain, recognizable English. She wanted me just as much as I wanted her.
She yanked my arm and led me across the gravel towards the barn. She was sexy as hell when she was in boss mode. I freaking loved it.
“Wait, don’t you want to eat?”
She shook her head no. “Do you?” She asked.
When she looked back over her shoulder, there was a sly grin on her face. God, I loved her.
This was a side of her that I’d never seen before, surprisingly seductive. My pants were growing tighter by the second.
I grabbed the light that hung on a hook next to the ladder, and flipped the on switch, illuminating the room. She made the last few steps stopping just at the bottom of the ladder. Her eyes looked into mine, and the smile on her face was breathtaking.
I inched my way slowly and stopped right next to her. “What are we doing?” I asked. I wanted to be damn sure that the two of us were on the same page. “If you’re not ready, it’s okay.” I tucked a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear.
“I’m ready,” she promised. Her words never faltered. I felt her fingertips as they gently caressed my stomach. “I love you, Jude.”
Those words.
My heart stammered inside my chest. I thought that one day she might say those words to me, but I wasn’t prepared for the way they made me feel. It was incredible.
“I love you so much, Darlin.”
She closed her eyes, only for a brief second. “Then show me.”
She didn’t have to say another word.
She took the steps up to loft as I followed closely behind her. I left the light sitting on the floor below so that it would appear it was dusk and it wouldn’t be too bright.
“You want to do this here?” I asked. It didn’t seem like the best place for our first time. It was not at all what she deserved to have.
“It’s perfect.”
I pulled the throw blanket off of the couch and laid it on the old, dusty, wood floor. There was no way that the two of us were fitting on the loveseat. I could barely fit there by myself.
Snaking my hands around her waist, I leaned in to kiss her lips. Her hands fisted the front of my shirt, pulling me in closer to her. I deepened the kiss, savoring every single taste. She was sweeter than honey.
Her fingers moved quickly undoing each and every one of the buttons on my shirt until it hung loosely at my sides and was wide open. In turn, I held the hem of her shirt and waited as she lifted her hands above her head. Lifting slowly, I pulled it off her. I let my shirt slide off and hit the floor.
Her fingers gripped my sides and she kissed me again.
She was an amazing kisser. I could get completely lost in it, in her. The way her tongue matched mine, made it impossible for me to keep control. It was taking everything inside me not to devour her.
I reached for the button of her jeans, and unclasped it. Her big doe eyes were locked on me, watching my every move.
“You are so beautiful,” I whispered, as I slid her jeans down her legs.
Her chest rose quicker as her breathing picked up.
I slid the belt out of my jeans and slung it towards the couch, before lowering my pants to the ground. Reaching for her hand I led her down to the ground. Her back was against the floor, her hair spread out across the blanket, and in that moment I’d never seen anything more perfect. I thanked God for my sight. If I never saw another thing in this world, it was okay, because seeing her that way was everything.
I kneeled down between her legs, and let my hands rest next to her head. I liked looking down on her. She was so sexy beneath me.
She held her bottom lip tightly with her teeth as I inched my way closer and closer.
I kissed her cheek, slowly letting my lips linger there.
I kissed the side of her neck, letting my warm breath make her sigh.
I kissed the swell of her breast, letting my tongue lightly touch her skin.
“Jude,” she said breathlessly.
I kept my lips on her skin but glanced up at her to be sure that she was okay.
Her chest rose and fell and I could hear the loud intake of her breath.
“What is it, Darlin?”
“I need you.”
I smiled. “I’m going to take care of you. Don’t you worry.”
I hooked my fingers onto the sides of her white, lacey underwear and slid them down gently. I was teasing her now, as I took my sweet time. She was ready to explode. I could see it.
I kissed her knee, and watched as she trembled below me.
I kissed her thigh, and heard a moan escape her lips.
I kissed her hip, and felt her hand grip my shoulder.
She was coming undone.
I slowly let my tongue trail between her legs.
She cried out, and it was a sound that made me barely able to hang on.
I kept my mouth on her, and let my tongue do all the work. She was seconds away from losing it. She shook, she called out my name, and she made me love her even more.
I slid my boxers off my legs and let myself spring free. I watched her as she took every inch of me in. It was the sexiest thing ever.
I reached for my wallet and grabbed a condom, before opening her legs a little wider. She looked gorgeous lying there, ready for me. I moved quickly because I had no more patience left inside me. This was going to be quick, because I was past the point of worked up and well on my way to explosion.
“I love you, Paislee,” I told her as I inched my way inside her.
She took in a deep breath feeling every last inch of me. Her body was tight and I felt her fingernails dig into my back.
“Open your eyes, beautiful.” I told her, and she listened.
“I love you.” She mouthed the words as if it took too much breath for her to say them.
I was gone.
I moved harder and faster, and the two of us melted together as one.
I dug my head into the crook of her neck as my body shook with hers. It was total, and unrequited love.
She had every bit of my heart, my mind, my soul, and me.
“You have a great ass,” she spoke breathlessly, and out of the blue.
“You have great tits.” I countered.
Did I mention that my girl had a great way with words?
The two of us shared a laugh and talked as we spent the rest of the night wrapped in each other’s arms.
Ten
Paislee
A couple of weeks had passed since Jude and I shared our first night together. Honestly, it was the best night of my life. Who knew that Jude was so passionate? There was no way that it could ever be better. I’m not sure what I was expecting. There were nerves, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit scared, but I had no reason to be. He loved me gently, and made me feel like a queen. I thought that maybe having sex would change things. I wouldn’t be a girl if I didn’t. But it changed nothing. If anything it heightened my love for him. I never felt more alive than I did while in his arms. There was no other way to describe it.
The moment we had another chance, it was happening again.
Oh, it was sooooo happening again.
Things finally seemed to slow down for Jude, once the builders officially broke ground. It took a few blueprints but they were eventually able to come to an agreement. They couldn’t make it exactly the same, but pretty close. At least that’s what Jude said. Building homes in the twenties compared to building homes now was a lot different. I couldn’t wait to see the finished product. If
it was anything at all like the original it was going to be perfect, picture perfect.
There wasn’t much left for Jude to do, other than a little supervising. The builder had everything covered. I promised Jude that once it was finished I’d help him decorate, since his mom wasn’t able to. If I learned anything from my mother Andee Marcum, it’s the importance of being well decorated.
She’d be proud. Which was all the more reason not to tell her.
Speaking of the devil…
My phone rang just as I was leaving my second class.
I thought about not answering, but she was my mother. She’d continue calling until I did.
“Hey Mom,” I answered.
“Paislee,” she said cheerfully. “How are you sweetheart?”
I knew that tone. She wanted something.
“I’m good.” I lied. The last time my mother wanted something from me it didn’t end well. So, I thought all favor asking was over. I guess I was wrong.
“Good,” she said, not caring to hear anymore. Instead she proceeded, “Your father’s birthday is just a couple of weeks away and I was thinking about throwing him a surprise party. What do you think?”
Cleary, she wasn’t calling to ask me my thoughts on the matter. “Sounds fine to me.”
“So,” she paused for a brief second. “I was thinking that we could get together for lunch this week and do some planning. I was hoping you could help me with the guest list, and maybe we could go shopping to get you a new dress.”
Ah ha! There it was. I was getting roped into sending all the invites and she needed some excuse to go shopping.
I couldn’t possibly wear a dress that I already owned.
No.
That would be too easy, and far from “in season.”
“I think I have plenty of dresses, Mother.”
“Nonsense,” she quipped. “We will find you something new, and a great new bag. The invites will need to go out soon, so maybe I can just bring your Dad’s datebook with me, and let you do an email invitation.”
Can you see me? Page 6