by Vivian Arend
“What about the truck coming in from the south?” Melody asked, raising a finger to point at the dust trail marking its approach.
“Matt.” Allison lifted her chin. “Your cousin called earlier to see if it was okay for him and Hope to stop by.”
“So much for our quiet evening,” Gabe grumbled.
Steve knew the complaining was a fake—his cousin always had the energy to help out, and he never turned away a person in need. Thank God, because Steve had received more than his own share of pep talks from the man.
Rafe was greeted enthusiastically by his older brother, and extra chairs were brought out for the others. Melody gestured for Allison to stay put, and she and Hope disappeared into the house, returning with drinks for everyone. Conversations grew noisier, and the laughter just got louder.
Steve found himself sitting next to Allison as she stared past the fire to where her husband was talking quietly with Rafe. He studied her expression, but she didn’t seem upset that her house had a revolving door on it. “Do you ever get any peace and quiet around here?”
She turned her gentle smile his direction, and warmth washed over him like the glow of the fire.
“It’s a part of who Gabe is. I don’t want that to change.”
On his right, Melody’s fingers around his arm remained a small reminder of the new promise they had made to move forward together, even as she laughed out loud at something Matt had said.
He wasn’t sure what he was trying to ask, but he said it anyway in the hopes Allison could figure it out. “And you never want to put up the No Trespassing sign and lock the door?”
Allison’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Good question. There are times, yes, I wish the world would go away. That the things we have to deal with would just stop, because frankly? Our troubles, Gabe’s and mine, aren’t usually as hard as the ones we get handed to deal with.”
“But you don’t hide.”
“Nope.” Allison tilted her head toward Melody for a moment before leaning closer. “Hiding doesn’t work to deal with most things. And with Melody—you can’t hide away or keep your entire relationship in the bedroom. No matter how fun that part is.”
His cheeks were heating up. For fuck’s sake—what had the girls talked about while they were setting up the dinner date?
“Ummm—”
She took pity on him, or maybe it was because the conversations behind them were getting too loud to ignore, but Allison hurried to finish. “She needs family. Always has, always will. And hey, that’s one thing you have in spades.” Allison knocked his arm with her fist. “Don’t try to lock that part away from her. It didn’t work last time, so don’t be selfish. Share what you got.”
“Yeah, share that bag of marshmallows,” Matt demanded, overhearing the last part of the discussion. “Greedy. Didn’t your mama teach you any manners?”
Melody caught the bag in mid-air, pulling it to herself and dragging out a fistful before passing it on to Matt. “There you go. Your share.”
Matt stared into the bag in mock disgust. He pulled out what was left, opening his palm to reveal…not much. “Three? You left me three?”
His wife snatched one from his hand and popped it in her mouth, licking her fingers innocently. “Two. You counted wrong.”
Matt growled and curled his arms around her, kissing her soundly as everyone laughed.
Being there felt good. It felt right, and the heat of Melody’s hand in his as they finally made their farewell and headed for the truck—that felt even better.
They were partway home, sitting in a companionable silence, when she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. “That was nice.”
“Good. I had fun too. And congrats on your promotion.”
“Oh, God, you had to remind me.”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about.” Steve slowed for the corner before heading down a narrow gravel road. “You’re going to do an amazing job. You’re good at what you do.”
She tilted her head back, and their eyes met for a second before he focused on the road.
That’s when she clued in he’d turned off the highway. “Umm, Steve?”
“Yeah?”
She scooted upright, edging forward to stare out the front window as they topped the crest of the hill and he turned toward the bluffs. “Where are we going?”
He took a quick glance over the open room at the top of the lookout, planning carefully for maximum distance between them and the next vehicle. “Parking.”
She laughed lightly. “You’re kidding me.”
Steve turned off the truck and locked the brakes before reaching for her seat belt. The instant she was free he scooped her up and arranged her over his lap, knees on either side of his hips. “I told you we were going to do this up right, and we’re gonna. Now—shut up and kiss me.”
Melody draped her arms around his neck, adjusting her position until she nestled tighter to his rapidly expanding cock. “You’re bossy tonight.”
“Every night.” He put his fingers to her shirt buttons and undid the top three. Just far enough that her bra showed, and the faint light from the dash made her bared skin glow. “There. Perfect.”
“Not going to strip me down and have your way with me?” she teased.
“Nope.” She may have pushed his buttons with the vanilla comment, but he refused to give in to the urge to keep upping the ante. “First base only.”
“Really.” The total disbelief in her tone went well with the flirty expression in her eyes.
He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and moved her toward him, close enough that their lips brushed as he spoke. “Really.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Then why is my shirt open?”
“Because I like the view.” He traced her lips with his tongue, exploring as he held her in place, the back of her head cradled in the palm of his hand. “Melody—the next time we have sex, do we need condoms?”
Her voice trembled as she answered with a question of her own. “You been with anyone since last fall?”
“Nope. You? During your time at school?”
It took a while for her to admit it. “…no.”
He knew it. Inside his ego gave a fist pump that her little I experimented while at school had been for effect. “Good.”
She opened her mouth and he snuck inside. Tasting her delicately but without hesitation. Her breath fluttered past his cheek, a warm rush that along with the kiss sent heat racing over his nerve endings.
Melody wasn’t protesting anymore, threading her fingers through his hair as she got into what they were doing. Even as he kept the kisses soft, it was clear she was getting just as turned on as him, moving in slow undulations against him as their breathing picked up.
It took some doing, but he pulled them apart, kissing her jaw and cheek. Nuzzling against her neck with his lips. “I’m headed to Red Deer tomorrow. You want to come?”
She purred as if he’d petted her. Stumbling for words as if she was surprised at the question. “Oh. Oh, I can’t. I’m booked to supervise at the 4-H rodeo.”
“Damn. Okay—next time then.” He drew her earlobe into his mouth and bit down, and a shiver rocked her. “Next time we go parking you can bring the new truck.”
The noise escaping her was somewhere between a sigh and a gasp as he focused attention on the tender spot at the base of her neck. “Sure. New truck.” She shuddered. “Dammit, Steve. Only first base? I want your mouth on my breasts.”
“I want that too. And my mouth on your pussy. And my cock buried deep inside you while you come around me, squeezing me tight and getting me wet.” The whimper that escaped her didn’t help. He wanted it so much he was ready to burst out of his jeans and stab her onto his length right this instant. Control. “But that wouldn’t be following the rules for tonight.”
She swayed above him, lips curled into a pout as her blue eyes caught his. “Who the hell set up rules saying you should drive me crazy with lust?”
“Just prolonging the anticipation,” he murmured, sneaking in for another quick kiss. “And I’d totally leave you hot and bothered, but I’ve seen your toy collection. I bet if I dropped you at home right now you’d have the batteries roaring on high within three minutes.”
“Thirty seconds,” she gasped, clutching his shoulders. Her breath escaped in short puffs, chest moving rapidly. “Ten, maybe. You don’t want that, do you?”
He caught her by the hips and slid her higher, rubbing the seam of her jeans over his impossibly hard length. “Hell, no. So, let’s do this instead.”
It took a couple tugs to get her lined up right. He was going to lose his mind, along with his load, but the escalating moans escaping her lips told him they were paying enough attention to her clit to make her come.
Steve tightened his grip for a second and locked her in place. Melody used his name like a rather nasty curse, and he laughed, catching hold of her chin. “No, sweetheart. First base is all I’m giving you.”
“Bastard—”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t take your pleasure,” he interrupted. “Do it. Get yourself off on me while I watch.”
Those perfect lips of hers formed an O of surprise for a second before her tongue darted out, and she licked them.
“That was…dirty,” she moaned.
“Do it,” he ordered, his voice just above a growl. “Now.”
The slight hesitation that followed was her adjusting position, rising on her knees and leaning over him. Her lush breasts swayed as she rocked, her hair swinging around her shoulders as she held on tight and rubbed her clit over his cock. Slowly at first, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as she found the right alignment. Lashes fluttering as she stared into his eyes and the pleasure built.
His cock swelled harder and hotter, and not being inside her was fucking killing him. But watching arousal streak over her face, a flush rise to her chest—the way she could barely keep her head vertical as she sped up, grinding harder now—amazing to witness.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Get yourself all heated up. Feel how hard you got me? My cock is like a fucking rock, and that’s because of you.” His mouth was going dry, he was breathing so hard, but the passion in her eyes urged him on. “I bet you’re tingling everywhere—like there are a million sparks about to explode into a flash fire racing through your veins. Your pussy’s jealous because your clit is pounding so hard.”
She came, shuddering over him. He caught her chin and stared into her eyes, and that was what sent him over. The pure bliss washing over her face, satisfaction in every bit of her expression was too much to resist. His cock jerked in the confines of his jeans, her hot pussy separated from him by too many layers, but hell, yeah.
They’d as good as fucked their brains out.
He pulled her mouth to his and kissed her while they fought to regain their breath. Open mouths, sucking for air. The faint lights of the truck interior blurred against the foggy windows.
Melody cupped his face as she pulled away, smile settling into place as she glanced around and laughed softly. “We steamed up the windows.”
“You’re hot stuff, sweetheart. Next time, your truck, right?”
She crawled off him and curled up on the bench at his side, waiting as he rolled down the windows and turned the fan on high to clear them. “Next time, second base or farther. Promise me?”
Steve raised a hand in the air and solemnly swore, “Next time, I will not neglect your breasts.”
Another laugh escaped. “You’re a goof.”
“You’re the one who just rode me like a pogo stick.” He winked, then put his arms around her waist and tucked her in tight for the ride home.
Three months of this? Rocking her world while he proved he’d changed?
Not a sacrifice at all.
Chapter Ten
Of course, after weeks of nothing but sunshine, on Monday the skies were overcast and grey. It seemed appropriate somehow. Worry hovered like a carrion bird, ready to see what the day would bring—feast or famine.
Melody shoved aside her misgivings and tried to focus on the good parts of her position as she parked her new truck at the side of the road and headed into the café.
She was in charge. That deserved a celebratory breakfast before heading into her day.
She waved to the girls behind the counter and settled on one of the barstools as a familiar waitress stepped forward, coffee carafe in hand.
“Want a hit?” Stacey asked.
“Plus the breakfast special, please.”
She added a little cream to her coffee and took the first sip, hot liquid rolling down like molten satisfaction. Only then did she look around to check who else was in the café.
In the far corner of the room, local farmers had pulled together two of the square tables, surfaces now littered with coffee cups and plates.
She grinned. Just like hobbits. That was probably their third breakfast—but she would never tease them in public because she knew how hard and how long most of them had already worked.
Sean Dalton was in the group, which solved one of her most current problems. She rose from the counter and headed to the table, nodding at people who acknowledged her.
Masculine laughter broke off as she paused beside the joint tables.
The group of men glanced up at her, some smiles fading, a couple a touch too familiar for her liking. Still, she gave them all the benefit of a doubt, offering greetings to everyone before focusing on Sean.
“I’m headed your way to do some inoculations later this morning.”
His smile froze between one heartbeat and the next. “Why isn’t Mathis coming out?”
“I thought you’d heard. He’s taking time off, so I’ll be your contact for the next while.” She tilted her head toward Justin Williams. “You’re on the list for later this week. Depending on how things go at Sean’s, I’ll give you a call to let you know when I’ll be out.”
He didn’t seem nearly as concerned as Sean. “Just let me know.”
“What’s Tom doing?” Sean demanded.
Melody worked to keep her polite face firmly in place. “He’s taking care of things at the clinic. Anyway, I see my breakfast is ready. I’ll let you finish your coffee in peace.” She made direct eye contact with Sean. “Call and let me know where you want me to join you. Or leave me a voicemail, because the notes don’t say where you want the job done.”
“I’ll get my lead hand to call,” Sean answered briskly then ignored her, which was fine because her plate of food was being laid on the counter, and nothing was worse than eating cold eggs.
So. It had begun.
She tried to enjoy her breakfast, but the meal sat heavy. She was pulling open her truck door when her phone rang. A familiar tone. A guitar riff that made her smile, especially remembering their explosive adventure two nights earlier.
It had been far more pleasurable for how unexpected it was.
“Steve. How are you doing this fine day?” she teased, crawling in the cab and switching the phone to hands-free so she could hit the road.
“I want to see you,” he started with no preamble.
“That won’t be for a few hours. I have a date with a herd.” Her fingers crossed involuntarily that everything would go well. “I’d love to see you tonight. I don’t know what time I’ll be done, though.”
“Hell, I know what it’s like,” he reassured her. “Sweetheart, it isn’t as if I haven’t dealt with your schedule before, or you with my last-minute cancellations. Neither of us is working a nine-to-five office job.”
No, but that didn’t mean she had any intention of being delegated to the back burner like in their previous dating lives. She was enjoying the attention he’d been paying her.
Although…they didn’t have to spend every waking moment together. She didn’t expect him to hold her hand and fawn over her.
“I should be able to see you this evening. If it works, you want to try for dinner?” After poking animals
with sharp objects and having them object, she would enjoy not having to cook. “My treat.”
He growled, the sound raising goose bumps on her skin. “Now, don’t you start that. I can afford to buy you a burger.”
The highway flew by as she talked with him, finding out what his plans were for the day. She turned down a side road that was a shortcut to her first job of the day, thankful for the new wheels underneath her. “I’m loving this new truck,” she mentioned to Steve.
He hummed in approval. “I look forward to taking her for a drive.”
She opened her mouth to answer him, stopped by his low chuckle of amusement coming over the phone line. “Grow up,” she teased.
“I can’t help it,” he insisted. “There are so many things I want to talk to you about. So many things I want to do with you.”
A heavy pulse of heat struck between her legs, and she smiled that he could have such an effect on her so quickly. “You’ve got a damn dirty mind, that’s all I can say.”
“I think you like my dirty mind. And my dirty talk, and everything else about me that’s dirty.”
“Not true. I’m not going near you after you’ve been cleaning stalls.”
He full-out laughed, and the sound was contagious. Melody caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror, an ear-to-ear grin stretching her cheeks wide.
Past the mirror, a decrepit horse shelter caught her eye. Weathered grey boards were tucked against the mixed spruce forest. She remembered seeing the building before, but what was new were the horses wandering in the small yard outside the shelter.
“Hey, Steve. Who owns the land just off of 532?”
He paused for a moment before answering. “Dalton. He bought during the last spring auction after Jensen passed away.”
Melody slowed her truck and pulled to the side of the gravel road even though there wasn’t another vehicle anywhere in sight. “Did he buy animals as well?”
“I didn’t think there were any animals left. Jensen sold off most of his stock years ago, and his kids sold the rest when he moved into the Seniors’ Home.”