Break In Two

by Summers, MJ

  "I have to run down to the office for a bit. Your cell phone is right here if you need me. You're supposed to take your pain meds at 2 p.m. I'll be back in time just in case you fall asleep." Cole gave her a quick kiss, "Will you be okay while I'm gone?"

  Claire nodded, "Yes I will. I'm just so glad to be here instead of in the hospital."

  Cole smiled and touched her cheek with the back of his hand, "I'm so happy you're here too. See you in a bit."

  August

  Over the next few days, as Claire stayed in bed, they made some plans for the ranch. All the extra downtime had given her time to think. She had some new ideas to increase business during the slow seasons, including hosting weddings, reunions, a girlfriend's getaway weekend as well as romantic couples’ weekends. Cole's face was full of excitement to hear her ideas when he would pop back in to see her during the day.

  In the evenings, he would curl up with her in bed and watch movies and they would talk late into the night. All the talking with no opportunity for sex somehow created a new level of intimacy between them. They were growing closer each day.

  The days dragged, feeling lonely and boring for Claire. She tried watching daytime television, but quickly grew sick of it. She used the time to catch up on her reading, and researched marketing ideas for the ranch as well as new recipes on the internet.

  One morning, Cole brought Trey over to ask for Claire's help. He had decided to apply for college, having seen what he was missing when the volleyball team came to the ranch.

  "I would LOVE to help, Trey! I am bored to tears," Claire smiled, getting up from the couch and walking over to the kitchen table.

  "Thanks, Claire. I've been finding all these forms pretty confusing actually," Trey admitted.

  The two got straight to work, filling out the forms. After a few minutes, Cole left to get back to work, giving Claire a peck on the cheek before he left. He looked over at his younger cousin, "Now, don't stay too long and tire her out, Trey. She needs to get some rest."

  "I won't, Cole," Trey replied, "Don't worry."

  A couple of hours later, Trey received a text from Cole telling him to get back to work and let Claire rest. As he started to pack up his things, he shook his head at Claire, "My cousin sure has it bad for you, Claire. I've never seen him like this before. He guards you like you're made of china or something."

  "He certainly takes good care of me," Claire smiled.

  "Yeah, he does. Sometimes he goes a little overboard with the whole protective thing though. When we went on that trail ride with the volleyball team, he wouldn't let any of us guys anywhere near them. He spoiled what could have been an epic time."

  "He did, did he?" Claire asked. She wanted him to say more, but felt wrong asking him about Cole.

  "Yeah, he pulled us all aside before we rode out and made it real clear that we'd be fired if we were caught messing around with them," Trey replied, putting his boots back on. "Then the whole time, he acted like he was their dad."

  "Well, he won't be at college with you, so I guess you can have some fun. Just make sure you get your butt to class. I didn't do all that paperwork just so you can get laid."

  "Oh, yes you did!" Trey said with a loud laugh, as he walked out the door.

  As Claire made her way back up the stairs to go lay down, she thought about what Trey had said. It put to rest the nagging questions that had plagued her mind about Cole's trustworthiness. Before she took a nap, she sent Cole a quick text, "Just going to take a little nap. Cant wait to see you tonight! XOXO"

  * * *

  The rest of the two weeks crawled by for Claire. She was healing quickly, her bruising now a faint yellow colour and the bump on her forehead was finally gone. As she healed, she started to feel more energetic, which made it all the more difficult to lay around doing nothing.

  When Cole would get into bed at night, they would cuddle and kiss, but he would put the brakes on as soon as Claire would try to grope him or would seem to get a little too aggressive with her kisses. One evening, Claire took Cole's hand and placed it between her legs.

  "No Claire, we have to be patient," he groaned. "After your follow up visit with Dr. Olsen, okay?"

  "But this is killing me to be so close to you and not be able to touch you and feel you inside me," Claire pouted.

  "Believe me, it's killing me too. But I just can't be with you that way until I know I won't hurt you somehow," Cole kissed her forehead, "How about we watch a movie?" he asked.

  "Oh all right. Let's see if we can find something dirty on Netflix."

  * * *

  The next morning Claire got up early with Cole. "I want to work today. I'll promise to sit down while I chop food and I won't overdo it okay? I just can't lie here anymore."

  Cole gave her a concerned look. "Claire, the more you rest now, the quicker you'll be back to 100%. Alicia's fine. We have my aunt coming in to help out, remember?"

  Claire growled at him in frustration, "Seriously Cole, I'm a grown woman. I make decisions for myself. Now I appreciate how you've cared for me more than you can know, but I really need to get out of here for a few hours and be useful. I'm doing it," she slapped him on the ass as he bent over to pick up his jeans.

  Cole flinched, "All right, all right. There's no need to get violent about it....but hold that thought for after your appointment."

  A little while later Claire hurried over to the restaurant with a skip in her step. She took pleasure in the feeling of the warm breeze blowing that morning, the sun shining down, and the peacefulness of the lake framed by the beautiful mountains. She took deep breaths, filling her lungs with fresh air and smiling as she went. She was happy to be out of bed, but most of all, grateful to be alive. Otis was following her, having spent most of his time by the bed for the past couple of weeks. Claire crouched down to pat him and touched her forehead to the top of his head, "Thanks, buddy for keeping me company. You're the best."

  When Claire stepped into the kitchen, Alicia and Cole's Aunt Fern were already there working.

  "Good morning!" Claire called.

  "Claire! You're up and around!" Alicia came over and gave her a big hug.

  "I am and I feel great. It's good to be alive," she smiled.

  Fern wiped her hands on a dish towel and walked over with a smile. "Claire, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard such great things from everyone." She shook Claire's hand warmly. Fern looked to be in her fifties, she was short and a little plump, with a big smile and short, curled blonde hair, with little bits of grey mixed in.

  "It's so nice to meet you, Fern. I am so grateful for you stepping in to help out while I've been off. I would have been really worried about Alicia if you hadn't been here."

  "I'm happy to help," Fern said. "Besides, I've seen a whole lot more of Trey and Dustin than normal, which is every mother's wish. Those boys are almost never home other than to sleep."

  Alicia gave Claire a concerned look, "I hope you are here to visit. I don't know if you are supposed to be working just yet."

  Claire gave her a confident smile, "I'm here for both. I promised Cole I would sit down as much as possible. I just had to get out of that bed and back to being productive again. I swear I'll go back if I start feeling even a bit worn out. Now, what can I do?"

  Chapter 31

  Three hours later Claire was back in bed, propped up against some pillows, reading. Cole came by to check on her. "How you doing?"

  Claire grinned, "I feel great. I'm a little tired, so I thought I better quit while I was still ahead. It was so nice to be with Alicia and your Aunt Fern. She's a sweetheart. I'm going to start helping out for breakfasts for a few days and then breakfast and supper."

  Cole sat next to her on the bed, "Okay, as long as you don't overdo it."

  "I won't, I promise," Claire gave him a long, lingering kiss. "I'm going to have to find a way to make all of this up to you. You've been amazing."

  She kissed him again and ran her index finger down his shirt until she reached
his belt buckle. Cole didn't stop her, so she reached down further and placed her hand over his groin. Cole slid his tongue into her mouth for the first time in weeks. Claire shuddered with pleasure at the feeling and opened her mouth a little wider, inviting more. When he stopped, she bit his bottom lip gently and gave a little frustrated moan. She could feel his cock was hard and ready under his jeans and could feel herself becoming wet.

  "I want you, Cole, I need to have you inside me," she whispered, "please fuck me."

  Cole moaned, "Oh Gorgeous, I want you so bad."

  He slid his hand under the sheet and into her panties, rubbing her with long, slow strokes. "You're so wet," he murmured.

  "You get me like that. I just have to look at you and I'm ready," Claire sighed, kissing him on his neck.

  Cole pressed his fingers into her pussy, rubbing her in unhurried circles. Claire arched her back against the pillows and spread her legs open. Cole kissed her mouth with such tender passion that she was almost ready to come. He pulled his mouth away from her and for one horrible moment, she thought he was about to stop. She let out a little cry of desperation. Cole lifted up her shirt with one hand and pressed his lips to her nipples, one at a time. He cupped her left breast with one hand, working her nipple with his teeth and fingers until it was completely hard, then he slowly moved over to her right breast to give it the same attention. He could feel how slick her pussy was becoming and his own cock ached with desire.

  He slowly moved his way down to her waist, taking his hand out of her panties and using both hands to slide them off as she lifted her hips to help him. Cole kissed her navel and then spread her legs with his hands, kissing her inner thighs and her core gently. Claire made a fist around the sheet with one hand and caressed her breasts with the other hand. "Oh Cole, yes, yes," she repeated.

  Cole slid his tongue into her pussy with a deliberately careful movement, sending a rush of passion through her entire body. He put his hands under her ass and lifted her hips up as he continued pressing his tongue into her. He reached around behind her, rubbing her ass with the tips of his fingers as he hungrily licked and urged her to come with his tongue.

  His own excitement was becoming uncontainable. His need to feel her tight, wet pussy around him, squeezing his cock as she was doing to his tongue. His cock felt trapped in the confines of his jeans, and it was almost more than he could take.

  He continued working her pussy with his mouth and fingers, increasing his pace and force until he could feel her coming on his mouth, her liquid gushing around his chin and lips.

  She cried out with the pleasure of it and her entire body was caught up in the orgasm, shuddering as she grabbed his hair with her hands and pushed his face further inside her until every last pulse was over.

  When she stopped and released him, he kissed her inner thighs and made his way back to her face stopping to pay homage to her tummy, breasts and neck on the way up. She kissed his lips and could taste herself on him, sending a flicker of excitement flowing through her. She could still feel his tongue inside her, thrusting and licking. He used one hand to prop himself up and the other to hold her cheek and jaw as he kissed her.

  "Cole," she whispered, "fuck me now. Please, I need you inside me."

  Cole rolled off of her suddenly and stood up, "I can't, Claire. I want to so much that I'm physically in pain, but I just can't until I know you're okay. Please don't ask me again."

  With that he walked into the bathroom and shut the door. A moment later, Claire heard the shower go on. "Shit," she muttered under her breath. She had asked him for something that wasn't possible and made him feel like a failure for not giving it to her.

  Cole stood under the tepid water with his head against the shower wall. The thought of her pretty mouth begging him to fuck her was all he could think of. His body was raging with lust, his cock as hard as stone. He took it in his hand and started pulling with force. "Fuck me now Cole, please, I need you inside me." He didn't hear the door to the bathroom open, and was startled to feel her behind him, her body pressed up against his, her hands reaching around his waist.

  "I'm sorry Cole. Let me at least help give you some of what you've given me." She put her hand over top of his, lacing her fingers through his. Together they stroked his length slowly and firmly. Claire used her other hand to hold and massage his testicles as the water cascaded over their bodies. They stayed there like that for a long time together. She kissed his back and let out a sexy sigh, "Just think of all the things we are going to do to each other soon. I want to feel you come inside my pussy and my mouth. I want you to fuck me until I can hardly stand."

  "Oh Claire! Fuck!" he moaned as he came, his orgasm coursing through his entire body. Claire held him tight to her and felt his body shudder with pleasure.

  When it was over, he turned around to face her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to his chest, "Only you can do that to me. You can bring me to the edge with one word, the slightest touch. Promise me you'll never leave. I need to be with you, only you."

  "I promise Cole. I promise I will stay," Claire whispered. He tilted her head back with his hand and they kissed again, this time with pure emotion instead of lust.

  Chapter 32

  A week later, Claire finally had her follow-up appointment. They had managed to keep their hands off each other until that day, although it had been excruciating. They had busied themselves with detailed plans for marketing the ranch; setting aside dates for the Girlfriend's Getaway Weekend and the Couple's Romance Weekend. Cole decided it might be a good idea to build a gazebo on the lakeshore for weddings and other events. They shopped online for a do-it-yourself kit, settling on a large cedar package. It would be lined with benches on the inside with room for a table and chairs for romantic dinners for two or for a small wedding party to gather under. Claire's car came back from the shop, all repaired and she had to spend some time dealing with the insurance company.

  On the afternoon of Claire's appointment, Cole drove her to the hospital. The ride over found both of them feeling a bit nervous. Claire had another MRI the day before and she was going to get the results. They tried to make small talk but both were having trouble, thinking about what the test might show.

  "Maybe we could go for supper after to celebrate?" Cole said.

  "I was hoping you'd ask," Claire said. "I realized you and I haven't really gone out on a proper date yet, unless you count fridge shopping."

  "Wow, I can't believe that's true. I'm going to have to step up my game, pull out the romantic Cole."

  "You've been extremely romantic. What do you call taking care of someone when they are sick?" Claire asked.

  "I don't know. Not romance. Love, maybe?" his heart skipped a beat as he said it.

  Claire's face flushed and she felt her stomach flip with excitement, "Would you call it love, Cole?"

  He pulled into a parking stall in front of the hospital and looked over at her. "I would," he said.

  Claire unhooked her seatbelt and lunged across the seat to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him hard on the mouth. They lingered there for a few beautiful moments before Cole stopped and said, "You're going to be late and I don't know about you, but I don't think I can wait another minute to find out when we can finally do all those things you've been talking about."

  "Good point, Cowboy. You know, you are more than just a handsome face," she said, giving him a playful look, "Let's go get this over with." Her anxiety had suddenly been replaced with the rush of exhilaration from being told he loved her for the first time.

  An hour later, they walked out of the hospital. They only made it a few steps before Cole spun Claire into him and kissed her with wild abandon. He grabbed her bottom and hoisted her up around his waist without their mouths parting.

  A security guard watched them for a minute and then walked over with wide eyes, "Okay, you two, you are in front of a hospital. Can you take it home please?"

  Cole set Claire down on the ground
and the two apologized sheepishly before hurrying to the truck with red faces.

  They drove for a few blocks and then suddenly Cole turned off the road into the parking lot of a large hotel.

  "Where are we going?" Claire asked.

  "I don't want to wait 'til we back to the ranch. Let's spend the night here," he said pulling up to the front entrance. He looked over at her, "Okay?"

  "I like how you think," she said, pulling him by the shirt to bring his lips to hers.

  The two got out and practically ran to the front door, with Cole tossing his keys to a valet, who wore a knowing look on his face.

  Cole could hardly keep his hands off of Claire at the front desk. When the clerk asked for their names, Cole told her, "Cole and Claire Mitchell."