by Emily Snow
Aiden gasps before his eyes narrow. “Get your cute ass in there before I spank it.”
Now it’s my turn to gasp.
Aiden walks around, slides into the passenger seat, and secures his seatbelt as if he didn’t just threaten to mark my ass. As I slip in and do the same, he grabs the handle above his door and says, “Do your worst.”
And just like that: the gauntlet has been thrown.
I start off a bit slow, getting a feel for the big utility vehicle, as I make my way around the barns and along the well-driven paths. As soon as we approach the pasture leading to Aiden’s house, I stomp down on the pedal, throwing grass and leaving a trail of dust in my wake.
The UTV drives like a dream, and I’m having a blast as I make my way down the dirt driveway that I assume leads to Aiden’s house. Since he doesn’t direct me to take another route, I keep going.
When the timber breaks, I’m left reeling once more at the beautiful two-story log cabin situated perfectly within the clearing. A large front porch wraps from one end to the other, extending around the right side of the house towards the back. Aiden points to the carport attached to the garage, so I drive the vehicle around and park it.
“This place is stunning, Aiden,” I tell him as I take in the spacious backyard.
“Come on, I’ll show ya around,” he says as he unbuckles both of our safety restraints.
Walking up the back porch, I hear the unmistakable barks of a dog. When Aiden opens the door without a key, I can’t help but say, “Boy, you sure can’t do that in New York.”
Aiden chuckles. “I’m sure you can’t.”
Throwing open the back door, we’re both greeted by a yellow lab with a wagging tail and floppy tongue. “Hey, boy. Meet my friend Colbi.”
Instantly, I drop to my knees and receive a kiss from the big, hairy dog. “Oh my God, you are too cute!”
“Don’t tell him that. I can barely live with his ego as it is,” Aiden says as he throws on the kitchen light.
“What’s his name?”
“Gus.” As if to answer my question, the dog barks loudly and raises his paw to shake.
“Easy there, lady killer. If you’re not careful, you’ll pull a stitch,” Aiden says to the friendly K-9.
“A stitch? Did something happen to him?” I ask, checking over the big fluff ball with my eyes and hands.
“He had his manhood stripped from him last week. He’s still slow to get around so that’s why I didn’t take him up to Mom’s with me. He also knows that’s where I went which would be why he’s giving me the stink-eye right now.”
As if to confirm Aiden’s claim, the dog glances up and gives him a wary look. “Don’t worry, boy. Mom took care of you, too.” Aiden pulls a baggy from his pocket and produces a strip of bacon, which Gus inhales in one quick bite.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“What do you have?” I ask, taking in the spacious kitchen around me. The entire downstairs has an open floor plan. Just beyond the kitchen is a small dining room, which leads to the living room.
“I have water, diet Dr. Pepper, and light beer. There’s also a bit of milk, but I can’t guarantee its freshness,” he says while taking a sniff from the quart of milk.
“Diet Dr. Pepper? I thought you hated that stuff,” I state, smiling over my shoulder.
“What can I say, it grew on me.” Aiden always scoffed at my choice of beverage when we were dating.
“I’ll have a beer,” I finally say, turning and watching as he retrieves two cans of a light beer from his refrigerator. Aiden pops the top on the first one and hands it to me before doing the same for the second.
“Want that tour?”
I nod as he leads me towards the dining room where a small table sits with papers spread across the top. “Sorry, I was reviewing some notes on a few fillies we’ve got our eye on.” He scoops up the papers into a single pile and sets them aside.
“I’m proud of you for stepping up and taking over operations when your dad died. I’m sure it wasn’t easy,” I tell him, coming up beside him.
His hazel eyes bore into me with so much intensity and appreciation, it almost knocks me for a loop. “Thank you. That means a lot to me, but it was an easy decision to make. Running this farm is the only thing I’ve ever really wanted to do.”
I follow behind as Aiden leads me into the living room. A massive stone fireplace takes up the center wall. A plush brown couch and matching recliner sits in front of it. It’s a beautifully warm and inviting room. I can almost imagine snuggling up on the couch in front of a blazing fire.
“Uh, where’s the TV?” I ask after realizing there isn’t one in the room.
“I don’t have one.”
“What? No TV? What do you do at night without one?”
“Actually, I’m rarely in here. I come here to eat and sleep, that’s about it. Between four horse barns and watching for new foals through the winter, I’m only home long enough to grab a bite to eat before falling into bed.”
“Don’t you have help for that?”
“Yeah, but I only keep them on during the day and on weekends. We’ve got three high school kids that come out to muck stalls and help with the feeding and exercise. Another is a junior in college and plans to attend vet school, so she’s been coming out the past couple of summers and helping out.”
“Wow, no television, huh? Do you have running water or did I miss the outhouse out back? What about heat? Does that wood fireplace heat the whole house?” I ask, my voice laced with sarcasm.
Aiden’s laughter is music to my ears. “I have electricity, running water, and propane heat. Though, the fireplace does do wonders in the winter to help with the heating.”
Glancing around, I notice the stairs nestled behind a massive bookshelf. Aiden was always a big reader. Science fiction and military non-fiction, mostly. So I’m not surprised in the least when I see several titles lining the shelves that fall into either genre.
“I saw this movie in the theatre. I bawled my eyes out.”
“Yeah, books about Chris Kyle are some of my favorite. Your brother actually started me on that one,” he says, pointing to a well-worn book with a torn cover. “That’s Marcus’ copy. He brought it over a couple of years back and left it here for me. Every time he was on leave, he’d sneak over and grab it to read. But I always found it returned to the shelf when he went back to his base.”
“That sounds like him.” The air becomes thick with tension. “I miss him like crazy,” I whisper, staring at that worn paperback book.
“Me too. Come on, let’s go upstairs,” Aiden says, drawing a quizzical look from me. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to take advantage of you.” Together we walk towards the stairs. “Unless you want me to.” Then he throws one of those cocky smirks over his shoulder at me and my insides melt. My legs are practically jelly-like as we climb upward, my face flush with embarrassment from his innuendo.
The upstairs consists of a master bedroom and a smaller one that Aiden uses as an office/workout room. Judging by the layer of dust on top of the desk, I’d say he rarely uses the office for its intent. The free weights and treadmill, on the other hand, appear well used and dust-free.
Through the master bedroom, Aiden opens a sliding glass door, which leads to a small deck with two chairs. My first thought is wondering who sits in the other chair beside him? I do my best to shake off the sudden feeling of jealousy, but it just won’t leave. My brain latches onto the image of Aiden and some no-faced brunette enjoying quiet nights under the stars on this deck. Does she like to play his stargazing game with him? Does she ever see a rainbow in those stars?
“Have a seat,” he says, shutting the door behind him, Gus lying on the floor on the opposite side of the door.
“You have a beautiful home. This deck is wonderful,” I say as I look down at the backyard and surrounding timber.
“Thanks. This is my favorite place. I enjoy sitting out here and watching the stars. If I c
ould get away with sitting here year round, I would. It’s a place of solitude. Nothing but peace and quiet.”
“You have two chairs. I’m sure it’s not always quiet,” I say. Open mouth, insert foot. The last thing I want to know more about is Aiden’s dating life. I know it happens–he’s confirmed it–but that doesn’t mean I want to dwell on and talk about it.
“I never use both chairs. No one has ever been up here. Your brother and I always hang out on the deck below.”
I glance over and meet his stormy eyes. They’ve suddenly taken on a molten, smoky appearance and my breath catches in my throat.
“Tell me about Marcus’ trip to New York last winter?” Aiden asks, turning his attention to the beer can in his hand.
“Well, I knew Mom and Dad were coming for Christmas, but I wasn’t expecting Marcus. He emailed me the week before and said he couldn’t get away since they were preparing for deployment back to Afghanistan. When I opened the door and saw him standing there, I knocked him down in a tackle-hug.”
“He was so damn excited to surprise you. He talked about it for weeks.”
“I was completely blown away. Mom and Dad stayed at the hotel down the road that they always stay at, but I convinced Marcus to stay with me. I tried giving him my full-sized bed, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He slept three nights on my old, uncomfortable couch and never once complained.
The memory of my six-foot-four brother sleeping on my five-foot couch brings a smile to my face. He could have easily stayed at the hotel with our parents and had a good night’s sleep, but he didn’t. He chose to stay with me, taking four-minute speed showers to ensure we each had enough hot water to get clean.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why haven’t you ever come home for Christmas? Why do you stay in New York by yourself? I’m sure your parents would have loved to have you with them on Christmas morning.”
I exhale deeply. We’re getting closer and closer to the invisible line I drew in the sand when I left Pleasureville for the Big Apple. “When I left for New York, I just wanted a clean break. I wanted to start over, fresh. I was determined to make something of myself and I was afraid that if I returned, someone would try to convince me not to go back.”
“I don’t recall anyone trying to convince you to not go in the first place, Rainbow.”
“No, you’re right. I could tell my parents were saddened by my decision but it was only because it was so far away. It had nothing to do with me wanting to spread my wings.” Becky’s words come back to me with force. “And you. You encouraged me to go.”
“Is it because you were afraid someone would talk you out of it or because you were afraid you’d talk yourself out of it?” His question hangs heavily between us. An anvil of reason and logic ready to slice and dice at me.
I’m not ready to say the words, but I’m sure he can see them in my tearful eyes. Aiden is absolutely right. I was terrified that if I returned home, I’d give up and never return to New York. That I’d walk away from my dream and settle for a life in Pleasureville. I’d settle into a life with Aiden, and even though a life with him surely wouldn’t be anything less than amazing, I was afraid. I was afraid that I’d lose myself–or worse yet, that I’d never even discover the real me. And then I’d resent him.
And that thought is unimaginable.
Aiden leans forward, sets his beer down on the deck, and reaches for my hands. “I’m very proud of you, sweetheart. I only ever wanted you to live the life you wanted and be happy. If that happiness took you a thousand miles away, then that’s what I wanted. As hard as it was to let you go, I knew then that it was for the best.”
As a tear slips down my cheek, I whisper, “Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that.”
“I should have said it a long time ago, but I’ll admit that I was still a little upset. Not at you, but at the situation. I was heartbroken and sad for a long time after you left. I missed you like crazy. I went from having one of my best friends with me all the time to not having her in my life at all. It was a big adjustment for me.”
“I never meant to hurt you, Aiden.”
“I know that, Rainbow. And I never meant to hurt you either. I loved you more than life itself, and if letting you go was what you needed, then it was what I had to do.”
The tears fall in earnest down my face. So many years of pent-up emotions and unsaid words finally spill from my eyes. “I missed you so much.” I choke on the words, almost unable to get them out.
Aiden moves quickly, squatting between my legs. He pulls me into a fierce hug, letting my tears soak into his navy blue shirt. “I missed you every moment of every day. I still miss you.”
Using the pad of his thumb, Aiden catches a few of my falling tears. His eyes hold so much sadness–sadness for the love we once shared and then lost. But also in those hazel eyes, I see desire. Sparks of heat begin to replace the sadness until there’s nothing left but an inferno of raging lust and yearning.
My breathing is ragged as Aiden leans in. His lips seem bashful at first, but turn ravenous quickly as he takes me in a bruising kiss. There’s nothing sweet in this kiss. No, it’s firm and devouring as his tongue slips between his lips and glides along the seam of my mouth.
As soon as I part my mouth, he overtakes me. His tongue plunders and plunges, leaving me breathless and wanton. I grip his neck, fearful that he’ll pull away or slow down the kiss. Slowing down is the last thing I want right now. I want to forget. I want to feel. I want to be worshipped in a way that only Aiden can provide.
Only him.
I move forward until my ass is barely sitting on the chair and I connect with his midsection. Tugging his t-shirt until it’s pulled from his jeans, my hands connect with his taut abs. The hard, unforgiving muscles that can only come from years of manual labor and hard work, jump beneath my touch. His skin is hot, scorching my fingers as I explore the man he’s become.
“I want to touch you so fucking bad,” Aiden groans between kisses he places on my chin and neck.
“Then touch me, Aiden.” His golden eyes meet mine as if seeking confirmation. I see his passion and desire for me laced in those beautiful eyes. “Please. Touch me.”
Aiden reaches down and grabs the hem of my shirt and pulls it over my head. The cool night air chills my exposed skin, causing goose bumps. My nipples pebble through my pink lace bra and seem to draw his attention. He dips his head down and takes one lace-covered bud between his lips. I can’t stop the moan that erupts from somewhere deep in my throat. His mouth is like a direct line straight to my core. My entire body is alive and yearning for this man and his magical mouth. He’s the only man to ever make me feel this way.
I continue to stroke the planes of his chest beneath his shirt as he devours my chest with his lips. Giving the material a push, he finally removes his shirt. And holy hell. I could tell Aiden was cut, but seeing him without a shirt, the ripped muscles and that sexy V dropping into the top of his Wranglers, leaves me speechless. I summon up every bit of my restraint to keep from humping his leg like a dog.
Without saying a word, Aiden unsnaps my shorts. I lift my hips, never once taking my eyes off him. He’s devouring me with every inch of flesh he exposes. His eyes are primal and raw as he takes in my little scrap of pink lace panties. There’s nothing sexier than slipping on a pair of scandalous panties then seeing the reaction to said panties through the eyes of the man you crave.
“Jesus, Colbi, I’ve died and gone to heaven,” he says as he runs his hands slowly up my thighs.
Reaching up, I wrap my arms around his neck. “Well, not yet, you haven’t.”
I pull him forward until our mouths are together again. Our tongues duel in the most erotic way, lips nipping and sucking at each other until neither of us can take it any longer. Reaching forward, I pull the button of his jeans, my hands anxiously dropping the zipper and diving beneath the coarse denim.
Aiden stands up quickly, pulling my
hands free from his pants before I can cop a feel on the goods. In one quick well-rehearsed move, Aiden pushes his pants down. Fortunately, his boots are slip-ons so it only takes him a second to lose them and his jeans. When he stands up, he’s wearing a pair of sexy black boxer briefs and sporting the biggest erection I’ve ever seen. Oh yes, time has been very good to Aiden Hughes.
I inhale sharply at his thick, hard cock. My mouth salivates to taste and my fingers tingle to touch him. As I reach forward, however, Aiden swats my hand away. “Not yet, sweetheart. I won’t be able to withstand one touch from you before I explode, and I’m not lookin’ to embarrass myself.”
Instead, Aiden returns his attention to the junction of my legs. His deft fingers glide over the lace panties, which, to my mortification, I realize are practically dripping wet. Moving the material aside, Aiden exposes my throbbing core. The cool air against the heated flesh is sweet torture as he lowers his head to the apex of my thighs.
The first swipe of his hot tongue almost does me in. Aiden lays his hand across my stomach to keep me from jackknifing off the chair further. His mouth devours my core, licking and sucking at my swollen nub as if it were the best tasting lollipop he’s ever experienced.
I should be embarrassed at how quickly Aiden brings me to orgasm. With a few fixed swipes of his tongue, I’m flying over the ledge and diving headfirst into total oblivion. “More,” he says firmly without lifting his mouth from my wet flesh.
Before I can even formulate a response, Aiden slides two fingers into my body and curls them upward, deep inside of me. His mouth latches onto my pulsating clit again and, once more, I see stars. I didn’t even know it was possible to orgasm back to back so quickly, but apparently it’s very possible. Aiden makes it possible.
Practically lying atop the wooden chair, I find myself completely spent, unable to move. My eyelids are heavy, but the sound of Aiden’s movement causes me to open them. And what a show I am treated to! Aiden is sliding the briefs down his powerful legs, dropping them onto the deck with the rest of our clothes. His erection jets straight out from his body, large and very proud.