“I’ll walk you guys out,” Clay said putting his arm around his mother.
“So nice to meet you both,” Crystal smiled, and with Lucky following her she headed down the hallway.
“Thanks for comin’,” Clay said as the trio walked out the front door. “Is everything okay, pop.”
“Sure, son, she’s a real nice gal. A real looker.”
“Clay,” his mother said softly, “why don’t you bring her to dinner tomorrow night?”
“Yep, I agree,” his father nodded as he started around the car to climb into the driver’s seat.
“You mean, our dinner with Jeremy Parker?”
“He’s bringing his wife,” Martha said, “and I think it’d be nice for you to have your girl there.”
“Thanks. Maybe I will. I’ll let you know tomorrow, and thanks again for the cobbler,” Clay said opening her car door.
“Bye, hon,” she smiled, kissing him on the cheek, then lowering her voice, she added, “I really like her.”
“I’m glad,” Clay grinned.
“Come on, woman,” Kenny called, strumming the steering wheel. “It’s gettin’ nippy and you don’t have your coat.””
Clay watched his mother climb into the car, and closing the door he stood back to wave them off. It had been an extremely pleasant hour, and he couldn’t have been prouder of Crystal. She’d been warm and funny, the perfect hostess, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had been bothering his father. Shaking it off, he walked back into the house and found Crystal wiping down the coffee table.
“You are so gorgeous,” he smiled walking up to her.
“I am? Thanks, cowboy.”
“Put down that cloth and give me a hug.”
“You’re the one in charge,” she giggled, dropping the towel on the table and wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Yes I am,” he murmured, “and I want you to go into the bedroom, take off all your clothes, and get ready for your main course.”
“Ooh, Clay, I would be very happy to follow those orders,” she purred.
“Then get your butt in there, little lady, I’ll be just a minute.”
“Do you want me naked, or-“
“I want you exactly how I left you,” he whispered. “You rub yourself right to the brink.”
“Ooh, Clay.”
“Go on now, I’ll be along in just a little bit.”
Hearing a sharp intake of breath, he felt an unexpected need to clutch a fistful of her hair. Yanking it back he started kissing her ardently, crushing her lips and slipping his tongue between her teeth. He felt her arms around him tighten, and as she pressed her breasts against his chest his cock surged to life.
“Babe,” he panted as he pulled back, “you’re gonna sleep so well tonight.”
“Ooh, Clay,” she moaned, “you make me feel…”
“Feel what?”
“I can’t put it into to words,” she bleated. “So much, you make me feel so much.”
“Back at ya. Go on now, go get yourself ready for me,” he said softly, dropping her hair.
He watched her as she moved away, her perfect ass filling out the seat of her khaki slacks, and as Lucky started after her, Clay stopped him and gave him a pat.
“You’re a great dog,” he said tenderly, “and yes, you go watch over her for me.”
Lucky trotted away, and Clay headed into his garage to search out some soft cotton rope.
Kenny had been deep in thought on the short drive back to main house, and following Martha through the garage door into the kitchen, he walked across to his liquor cabinet, poured himself a scotch and plonked himself down at the kitchen table. Martha checked on the chicken stew she’d left simmering, then sat down next to him.
“She’s a lovely girl,” Martha said gently.
“Yep,” Kenny nodded sipping his scotch. “She is. She’s lovely, and she’s beautiful, and she’s got real class, and you think a girl like that will want to live on a cattle ranch?”
“Maybe she will. She said she loves it here,” Martha offered, doing her best to reassure him. “Kenny, this isn’t like you. You’ve gotta let this thing develop.”
“He’s in love with her. It’s written all over his face,” he grumbled.
“Why are you so sure this is so terrible?”
“Because I am,” he retorted taking another gulp. “Sorry, Martha. I didn’t mean to snap.”
“It’s okay sweetie, I know you’re upset, I just don’t know why.”
“Clay was always the one with the smarts to take over this place, and not because he was the oldest. It was just obvious. He took to things like he was born to it, and he was. He is. Hell, he’s better at runnin’ this ranch than I am. What’ll happen if that girl takes off and he’s so plumb in love with her he goes chasin’ after her. Mark sure doesn’t have what it takes. I don’t know what he’s gonna do with his life. He seems like a lost boy to me. All he talks about is tourin’ Europe. Why the hell does he has that in his head? John’s good at the practical stuff, the ropin’, the ridin’, handlin’ the workers, but he don’t have a head for business like Clay. Not even close.”
“Are you done?” Martha asked patiently.
“I guess,” he replied, taking another long swallow of his scotch.
“Kenny, I want you to tell me where this is coming from. Why on earth do you think our son would leave his home to go chasing after a girl?”
“Because,” he sighed, putting down his glass and rubbing his face with his hands, “I would’ve.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“Remember when you went off to college back east.”
“Land sakes, Kenny, that was a lifetime ago.”
“Not to me,” he said shaking his head. “It was like yesterday.”
“What about it?”
“You got that job offer, and if you hadn’t come back, I would’ve left here to be with you,” he said gravely. “I would’ve gone anywhere to be with you, Martha. I tried to hide it but pops knew. That last year you were in college and I was back here was the toughest damn year of my life, but it was tougher for pops. Now I know how he felt.”
“You never told me that,” she breathed.
“I couldn’t. I knew how big your heart was, still is! You would’ve given up your dreams if I’d asked you to marry me. You had to come back here of your own accord, you had to come back ‘cos it’s what you wanted. That’s why I didn’t propose until you were already back here and said you couldn’t take that job ‘cos you couldn’t leave the mountains and the, what’d you call it? The gentle life.”
“I didn’t come back because of the mountains, or the quietness of the lifestyle, you ninny, I came back to be with you,” she smiled, “and it’s the best decision I ever made.”
“You did?”
“I would’ve thought it was obvious.”
“Well, I’ll be,” he said shaking his head. “Anyways, that’s it, Martha. If that girl leaves, he’ll go too, and that’s why I know it, cos it’s exactly what I’d have done. It’d kill me if he left here. It’d just break my heart.”
In the many years they’d been married, Martha had rarely seen tears threaten her strong, robust husband, but they were there, sitting, waiting to break.
“What will be, will be, Kenny,” she said softly. “You can’t fight this, but whatever happens, we’ll handle it together, like always.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, grabbing her hand, “like always.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When Clay quietly entered the bedroom he found Crystal naked, her legs spread, the black scarf over her eyes, and her hand resting on top of her thigh. Leaning over the foot of the bed he touched her glistening sex. Her soft moan pushed him to explore further, and sliding his fingers into her golden slit he found her nub and began to circle. As she wriggled against his finger her breathing accelerated. He smiled. She was on the edge, just the way he wanted her.
In his left hand were several lengths of so
ft cotton cord, and with an expertise borne from years of working with ropes, he quickly had both her ankles secured to the footboard. Her gasp of shock sent his half-erect penis to full attention, and he swiftly stripped, releasing it from the uncomfortable confines of his jeans. Running his fingers over her body as he moved slowly towards the headboard, he paused to lower his lips and softly suck on her nipples.
Crystal was barely breathing. Even though he’d warned her that he would tie her ankles apart, she hadn’t been prepared for the shard of energy that had bolted through her body when he actually did the deed, and moments later, when his finger had tickled over her skin, she had shivered with pleasure. Now his warm mouth was drawing in her breast, and she was sure, if he continued, she would spontaneously combust into an orgasm.
“Clay,” she mewled, “it’s so much.”
“What is, babe?” he asked, his voice easy and calm.
“Everything,” she whispered.
“Is it good, this everything?”
“Ooh, yes, sooo incredibly good,” she moaned, “sooo good.”
Sitting on the side of the bed he moved his mouth to hers with a slow, lingering kiss, gently sucking on her upper lip as he tweaked her nipples. She wanted desperately to bring her arms around his neck, to cling to him with the urgent need rippling through her, but she knew it was against the rules.
“You’ll get rewarded for that,” he crooned as he broke away. “I know you wanted to hold me.”
“I did!” she whimpered. “I do!”
“I’m going to tie your wrists now. You won’t have to fight those impulses. All you’ll have to do is feel.”
“Clay, I’m loving this, I’m loving this so much.”
Her words sent a rush through his body. They were in sync, they were kindred souls, and it filled his heart with joy.
“Go ahead,” he whispered. “Put your arms around me, go ahead and hug me.”
He heard a soft, grateful moan, and felt her arms come around his neck. A deep, enveloping intimacy engulfed them, and closing his eyes, he knew in that moment he loved her. He wanted her to share his life, to be with her always. It was a feeling beyond sex, beyond friendship, beyond anything he’d felt before. He wasn’t sure for how long the embrace lasted, but when he heard her sigh, and her tight hold relaxed, he pulled back, softly kissed her, and sat up.
“Are you ready for me to tie you?” he murmured.
“Yes,” she breathed, “I’m very ready. I want to feel helpless. I want to be at your mercy.”
Rising from the bed he looped the rope around each wrist, bringing them together, then threaded it through the heavy brass headboard.
“Comfortable?” he whispered, dropping his lips to nuzzle her neck.
“Uh-huh.”
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
He started from the room, but paused at the door to look across at her. She was testing her binds, and smiling, he headed down the hall towards the kitchen.
Crystal listened to his footsteps fade away, and letting out a breath she sank into her bondage. She’d never been tied up before, and she found it indescribably delicious. To be completely out of control was, ironically, giving her a sense of freedom, one she’d never imagined. When she heard him returning her pulse ticked up, and a fresh set of butterflies fluttered to life. The mattress dipped as he sat beside her, and expecting the chill of ice cream, she was surprised when something warm smoothed itself over her breasts.
“I promised I would eat the apple pie off your lovely body,” he purred, “and as you so rightly said, I keep my promises.”
“Ooh, Clay,” she mumbled, “please touch my pussy.”
“In a minute, but hush now, hush and feel.”
Clay had smeared the thick syrupy apple filling across her luscious mounds, and stretching out next to her he sent his tongue to work. He lapped and licked, sucking the syrup and apple chunks into his mouth, occasionally sharing the sweet goodness with her in a deep, tonguing kiss. Her moans and gasps were like a creamy topping as he fed, and when there was nothing left on her skin to gobble up, he slid his lips down her torso until he was buried between her legs. Sending his tongue to circle her clit, he slipped his finger into her depths, moving it gently in and out.
“Clay,” she wailed, “Clay, I can’t stand it. I’m already so close.”
Her declaration didn’t surprise him, and as she writhed against his face he slowed down and stilled his finger.
“Not yet,” he replied, “but soon.”
Returning his mouth to her soaked pussy, he drew her clit between his lips and gently sucked, eliciting a loud groan, then used his tongue to tease and twirl.
“I’m there,” she suddenly howled. “I’m there.”
He immediately lifted his head and slid up her body, and raising himself up on one arm he placed his rigid cock against her drenched channel and thrust home. She let out a cry, and as he slowly pumped with hard, forceful strokes, he watched a red flush begin to move across her chest. His cock was ready to burst, and laying his full weight on top of her, he reached under her hips and clutched her bottom. Her wonderfully sticky breasts were pressed against him, her pussy was hot and amazingly tight, and he buried his head against her neck, sucking in her skin.
“Harder,” she bleated, “fuck me harder.”
With a groan he accelerated, pumping his piston with as much speed and force as he could muster. He felt her body grow taut, and a moment later she let out a wail. Her orgasm had her in its clutches. She was shuddering underneath him, her pussy walls were pulsing against his cock, drawing out his essence, and letting go he buried his face in the mattress to muffle his groans as the intense release swept him away.
Moments later, limp from her climax, his heavy weight on top of her, for a moment Crystal felt as if they had melded together. She wanted him to stay buried inside her, never to leave. She wanted to be tied up and at his mercy for endless hours, and when she felt him slip out of her she let out a soft moan of disappointment. As he slid the scarf off her face she kept her eyes closed, when he untied her wrists, she left her arms above her head, and as the ropes were removed from her ankles, she didn’t move her legs.
“Hey, babe,” he purred laying alongside her. “I’m gonna bring your arms down real slow. Tell me if your shoulders hurt.”
“Nothing hurts,” she sighed, “everything feels amazing.”
He began by bending her elbows, then slowly crept her wrists towards her body, but before he could finish she rolled over and nestled against his chest. Filled with emotion, she wanted to sink back into him and never leave his engulfing hug.
“You okay?”
“I’m so much better than okay,” she breathed.
“We need to rest,” he said softly.
“I’m all sticky. I should shower.”
“Later,” he purred, holding her tightly. “Right now we need to rest and recharge. You sure you’re okay? No muscles cramping?”
“I’m in heaven,” she murmured, and I’m falling totally in love with you. I never want to leave here, I never want to leave you.
It was sometime later that she blinked open her eyes. Clay’s heart was gently beating against her, and as she breathed in his scent, she was reminded how she had loved his spicy aroma when they’d first met at the diner. Still groggy, she vaguely remembered being woken by a sound, and as her eyes focused she saw Lucky with his paws on the side of the mattress. Delighted to see she was awake, Lucky whined, then dropping down he walked to the door and looked back at her.
“Clay,” she murmured, “I think Lucky needs to go out.”
“Hmm, what?” he asked, his voice filled with sleep.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” she said softly.
“No, don’t leave.”
“I have to, I have to take Lucky out,” she yawned, trying to move his heavy arm draped across her waist.
“Lucky?” he said, opening his eyes.
“Yes, he needs to go
out.”
“Do you want me to-“
“No, it’s fine,” she interrupted, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll only be a minute.”
Rolling off the bed she padded into the bathroom and slipped into the heavy robe he left hanging on a hook by the shower, then quickly dampened a small hand-towel and wiped her face. Her feet were cold, but not wanting to make Lucky wait while she ferreted out a pair of socks, she hurried back through the bedroom. As she approached Lucky wagged his tail.
“You need to go out, sweetie?” she asked, patting his head.
When the opened the door he immediately scampered into the hallway, a spring in his step she’d yet not seen, and as he headed for the kitchen she had to hurry to keep up. They stepped outside, and she was instantly hit by a wave of icy air. Hugging the robe around her she stared up at the sky. The moon was bright white, speckled with patches of grey, and looked close enough to touch. The mountains seemed to be glowing under its silver light, and a thousand sparkling pinpricks were like freckles on the face of the charcoal sky. She thought it one of the most hypnotic scenes she’d ever beheld, but the porch lamp suddenly flickered on, startling her, and turning around she saw Clay dressed in a black sweatsuit ambling towards her.
“There are two porch-light switches,” he said as he neared. “One as you enter the kitchen, and one right by the door here.”
“Thanks, I didn’t even think about it,” she smiled. “You’re dressed.”
“Someone took my robe,” he winked.
“Sorry about that. I’ll fetch mine tomorrow. Could you turn the light off? This sky, the mountains, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It’s God’s beauty,” he said softly, flicking the light switch, sending the yard back into darkness.
“I feel drawn to them,” she murmured. “It’s as if I want to be a part of them. I want to embrace them.”
“I understand,” he sighed, putting his arms around her so she could lean back against his chest. “I feel the same. There’s something compelling about them. I could never leave this place.”
“I can see why,” she whispered, and I don’t want to either. I want to stay here forever.
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