Touch

by Kris Bryant

  “It’s because they don’t know how to cuss yet,” Stone says.

  “Oh, trust me. They do know. They just don’t know how to give up when they are young.”

  “Well, thank you for helping me as much as you have. Gloria, too. Don’t tell her I said this, but she’s tough. It’s a good thing I didn’t start off with her because I would have bolted after the first week. You are more patient and your voice isn’t as loud as hers. She scares me.” I smile at her. She lifts my chin so she can kiss me.

  I feel adrenaline swell. I gently push her back so I’m on top of her. She holds my hair back from my face so I can kiss her better, harder. I lean down and kiss her neck, her collarbone, and the softness between. Her moans encourage me to continue and I make a path of gentle kisses and light touches all the way to the apex of her thighs. She spreads her legs for me, her hands still wound in my hair, holding me close. Stone isn’t shy to share what she likes in the bedroom. I think I’m a fast learner. Judging by her moans and touches, I am.

  “Come here,” she says. I look up at her, confused that she has stopped me. “Turn around. I want to taste you at the same time.” She motions for me to flip around and I don’t hesitate.

  I’m still tender from my previous orgasms, but the second she brings my core to her mouth, my body tenses and starts racing toward another one. I bury my tongue inside of her and drink her up. Her clit is engorged and hard. She pumps her hips. I hold her down, move my mouth to her clit, and gently suck. Her arms wrap around my waist as she holds me tightly against her mouth. I moan when I hear Stone’s noises. Her moans are more like appreciative growls of approval. I run my finger around her opening and gently slip inside of her. She is unbelievably wet and tight. Her walls clench my finger and throb. I know she is close.

  I build my orgasm up while licking and sucking her. She bucks into me and her moans get louder and louder. I press harder and start moving my hips against her. Her teeth scrape my clit and I can’t stop my own orgasm. I try to stay focused on Stone while my body explodes. Within five seconds of my coming, Stone cries out, too. Her rapid heartbeat pulses against my mouth and my finger. It is beautiful to watch and feel her climax. I place tiny kisses on the inside of her thighs and then turn back around. She pulls me into her arms and kisses my forehead.

  “That was fantastic.” She sounds breathless and content.

  I smile because I’m thrilled. “You are fantastic.” I kiss her and twist so I can face her. “My body is drained, yet I feel so alive.”

  “And it’s still early,” she says. I lean up over her to look at the clock. It’s only nine forty-five. “Plenty of time.”

  I smile at her. She locks her fingers with mine and pulls me down for a kiss. “Your appetite is remarkable.”

  “For you? Definitely.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  I’m nervous to meet Stone’s parents. I know they’re going to be there. It is their orchard. They have to know who I am. At some point, I need to pony up and tell Gloria about my budding relationship with our former patient. I’m being a total chicken about it.

  “Hi. Are you ready?” Stone wanted to pick me up even though I told her I could meet her at the orchard. She stands in my doorway and pulls me to her for a promising kiss. It leaves me breathless.

  I’m still reeling over Tuesday night. It’s been my favorite night so far. If we’re just getting started as a couple, I’m excited to see where this relationship goes. We haven’t discussed being exclusive, but I feel like we don’t need to. I know I’m committed and it seems like Stone is as well.

  “I am. It’s so nice to see you again.” I put my arms around her neck and she kisses me again. I love the way she smells and how warm she is.

  “You’re dangerous, Doc,” she says, pushing me back into the house. I know that if we stay here, we might make it back into the bedroom for sex instead of right here in the doorway, but I also know how excited Stone is for the hayride so I stop her.

  “You need to stop touching me and kissing me or we’ll never leave this place and I do want to go on a hayride with you. This will keep.” I moving my finger back and forth between us. She grabs my fingers and brings them to her full lips.

  “I’ll hold you to that.” Her eyes darken and narrow with passion and I shiver knowing what that look means for me. “Come on. Your place is entirely too enticing.” She grabs my hand and walks me to her SUV. I love that she opens the door for me every time we’re together. I notice a thick wool blanket in the back seat.

  “Is that for us, or just something you always have just in case?” A twinge of jealousy pinches my heart.

  “It’s definitely for us. It’s not the softest, but it’s the best for a roll in the hay.” She wags her eyebrows at me. I shake my head, but laugh nonetheless, relieved that it’s for tonight and not for some fan looking for a good time with her. There are certain things I wish I never knew about Stone.

  We arrive at the orchard and Stone drives us to one of the barns. The wagons are lined up, ready for this weekend and every weekend until Thanksgiving or the first big snow. It’s romantic and beautiful. Stone said that a few years ago, the family even helped plan a wedding proposal.

  “I’m going to start up the tractor and bring it around. Hang tight, okay? I’ll be right back.” She winks and disappears into another part of the barn. I look around. It’s very clean and well lit. Obviously, the Stones take great pride in their place and their business. I hear the roar of a diesel engine and see Stone rounding the corner on a beautiful red tractor. It doesn’t look like it’s been used out in the orchard ever. She backs it up and hitches the wagon to it like a pro.

  “How are we going to enjoy the hay if you have to drive us around? I don’t want to sit back here by myself. That’s no fun. Well, it could be, but I would definitely have more fun with you.” That perks her interest.

  “Oh, I will make sure we have some alone time. Have a seat and let’s get out of here.” I adjust the hay into a tiny pile and after spreading out the blanket, I get comfortable. I frown at her when she turns to ensure I’m safely sitting. “It will be totally worth it.” I nod, but keep my fake frown on my face. She jumps down to plug something into the tractor and I smile when the wagon lights up. There are strands of tiny white bulbs along the outside of the frame giving it a warm glow. It’s beautiful.

  “Oh, Stone. This is perfect. It’s so pretty and romantic.”

  “Come on. Let’s go somewhere secluded.” She climbs back up into the seat and we head out. It’s the perfect night. It’s dark, cool, but not chilly, and I can see the stars. I put my hands behind my head and stare up at the night. Stone drives us deeper and deeper into the orchard. I sit up to see how far we are away from the farm.

  “You know, if you’re going to kill me, you could’ve fed me first,” I say. She tosses me an apple. I laugh. “Something more substantial than one apple.” She throws me another one.

  “That’s the Red Delicious. The one you like snacking on. It should tide you over. Plus, I have a protein bar in my jacket if you’re that hungry.” It’s hard to hear her over the sound of the engine, so I stand up in the wagon and lean forward so that I can talk to her.

  “I’m hungry, but not for food.” I place a tiny kiss on her neck. I can feel her growl at me, the vibration tickling my lips. I scrape my teeth on her skin.

  “In about two minutes, I’m going to pull over and have my way with you.” She leans her head back so we can kiss and I feel my body instantly heat up. I’m trying not to make our relationship about sex, but it’s so much fun learning her body and opening myself up to her. It’s hard not to be turned on knowing what we’re capable of. Fantastic things. I wonder if sex is even on the table tonight. Maybe Stone is just doing something nice and romantic.

  “One hundred and nineteen, one hundred and eighteen, one hundred and seventeen…” My countdown makes her laugh. She pulls over and I shudder when she shuts off the engine. She climbs over the back of the tractor
to hop into the wagon. Her long legs make it look easy. I would have fallen over and busted my head open. “Hi,” I say right before she kisses me.

  “Hi, yourself. Are you comfortable or should we rearrange things?” I shrug. She’s the expert here. She moves some straw around and lies next to me, slipping her arm under my head. We’re quiet for a few minutes. “What do you think?” She leans up on an elbow so that she can look down at me.

  “This is beautiful. Thank you for tonight.” I reach up and touch her chest, right below her collarbone. She leans down and kisses me softly.

  “It’s the perfect time of year for a hayride. It’s cool out so you’ll have to snuggle with me to stay warm, but it’s not so cold to where you need anything more than a jacket. Plus, we have warm cider in that thermos over there.” She points beside me. I didn’t even notice it nestled in the hay a few feet away. My eyes light up. Their cider is yummy. Stone laughs and sits up. “I guess you want a sip now?”

  “It’ll warm me up since your skills are lacking.”

  She narrows her eyes at me, but still pours me a cup. I sit up to take it from her.

  “Those are fighting words. Just so you know,” she says. She hands me a glass, but not before licking a tiny drop off of the lip of the cup. I can’t help but watch her.

  “Your tongue,” I say, shaking my head.

  “What about it?” The innocence in her voice is enough to make me roll my eyes at her.

  “Everything about you is delicious. Especially your tongue.” I will always be completely honest with Stone. It’s the best way to be after coming out of a relationship that didn’t involve a lot of sharing of feelings, thoughts, and dreams.

  “You like my tongue, huh?”

  I nod. “Very much. I like your full lips and how soft they are, how you kiss, how your mouth can be so gentle and hard at the same time. And the things you do with your tongue.” I’m rewarded with a Stone smile. It makes me weak.

  “I loved our last date. Not just because we had sex, really good sex, but it’s nice to be close to you and touch you the way I want to. Thank you for making this special for me.”

  “I like how we’re happening,” I say.

  “I know you think we rushed into this, but I hope you feel differently now.”

  “I should feel guilty about jumping in, but I really don’t. My relationship with Alison was over a long time ago, I just didn’t know how to end it.” I take a deep breath. “Just so you know, I’ll have to tell Gloria at some point. I mean, she knows your parents and I’m sure they either know about us or will soon enough.”

  “I could tell her with you,” she says.

  “No, I can do it. It should come from me anyway.”

  “I don’t mind going with you. We can tell her together. You’re important to me.” She smiles sheepishly at that last sentence, her voice dropping low, but I still hear her.

  “You’re important to me, too, Stone. Okay? I’m having a great time with you. I knew I would. Our chemistry is off the chart.” I realize that sounds like it’s all about sex so I quickly adjust my words. “I mean, we have a lot in common and we’re looking for the same things.”

  “Hurry up and finish your cider. I want to kiss you again.”

  I tip my cup back and finish it in five seconds. I’m not about to miss the opportunity to be thoroughly kissed by this woman. I playfully toss the cup over my shoulder and pull her to me. She kisses me softly at first, but deepens it within seconds. We both moan at the same time. Kissing Stone makes me forget about everything. Time, conversation, reality. Right now it’s just the two of us underneath these stars and tiny white lights. She takes her time with me. We both know what’s going to happen. She slips her hand under my sweater to lightly touch my stomach. I moan my approval. Chills race across my body in anticipation and I arch into her, urging her to continue. I rake my nails lightly at the nape of her neck, something I’ve learned she likes. My hips automatically push into hers, slowly at first, until we find a steady, deep rhythm. I almost whimper when I feel her hand slide lower and slip between our bodies. She brazenly rubs my mound through my pants and I greedily lift my hips into her touch. Her breath hitches. She quickly unzips my pants and slides her hand between my legs.

  “You’re so wet already.”

  I already know this. I’m swollen and slick and I need her inside of me. I’m considering pushing my pants down to my knees, but I like how she is controlling the pace. She leans up on her elbow and watches me. Her eyes widen when she slips inside of me. I can’t help but moan and tighten around her. I know she can’t get the angle we both want so I push my pants all the way off to give her full access to me.

  “Deeper,” I say. She leans up over me and pushes two fingers inside of me as deep as she can go. It takes my breath away.

  “Is this okay?” she whispers.

  I nod, my mouth open, but I can’t speak right now. The feeling is so intense and incredible. I pull her to me so I can kiss and moan my approval against her mouth. She speeds up and my hips buck against her. I try to keep them from moving, but I can’t. She climbs between my legs and leans over me, her fingers still pumping in and out. Her thighs are keeping mine from jerking around and she is able to go deeper and faster.

  I don’t want to come yet. I want to stare at her intense face, her blue eyes blazing with determination, and feel her weight on top of me. I want to remember the stars above her, the lights around us, and my heart pounding in my chest. I feel the first quivers and I squelch them, praying my orgasm will hold off. I wrap my hands behind her neck and pull her down to kiss me. I scratch her neck, her back, her waist, trying to get her closer to me. When I finally do succumb, I cry out and ride it for as long as I can. Each orgasm is more intense than the one before. I can’t imagine feeling any better than I did Tuesday, but tonight topped it.

  “Every time feels different. Better. Does that make sense?” I finally find my voice after several seconds. Stone rests her forehead against mine. Her breath is ragged and her body is brimming with the need to release. I reach down and slip inside of her jeans. She helps me by unbuttoning them. She wants this as much as I do.

  “I need to taste you again,” I say. She slides off me and leans against a pile of hay beside her. She wastes no time in taking off her boots and jeans. I know she has to be cold so I pull the blanket over her legs, over me, and crawl between her legs. She pushes the blanket off of my head to watch me. That’s sexy as hell. I want to please her as much as she has pleased me. Between the angle she’s sitting at and the fact that she’s so tight, I can really only use my mouth. I hold her open and bury myself in her wetness. She holds my hair and moans as she watches me. It’s only a matter of minutes before her hips rock against my mouth and she climaxes.

  “I really just wanted to hold you under the stars, but you are too damn sexy and tempting.” She’s still breathing heavy.

  I lean up, scoot closer, and kiss her. “Likewise.”

  She pulls me gently into her arms. It’s tender and romantic, but awkward at this angle. Seemingly sensing my discomfort, she lets me go and hands me my jeans as she reaches for her clothes.

  “Just in case somebody shows up,” Stone says.

  “Well, they’re in for a treat if they do.” I’m embarrassed, but empowered at the same time.

  Stone readjusts the hay and the blanket and turns off the tiny lights. We’re submerged in darkness with the twinkling stars above us. It’s romantic and somewhat chilly. She pulls the sides of the blanket over us so we’re covered. “How well do you know your constellations?” she asks.

  “I only know a few. My head was always buried in books and Astronomy wasn’t my favorite science.”

  “I don’t know a lot of them either, but different worlds fascinate me, you know?” She points out a few of the popular star clusters. We spend another hour discussing possible life elsewhere and I snuggle deeper against her. I’ll always love the smell of Stone. Warm and spicy. “I should probably take y
ou back. It’s getting late.” I sigh and nod against her. This is nice. I miss her warmth the second she gets up. “Want to sit with me up on the tractor?”

  “Is there room for both of us?”

  “Sure. Grab the blanket. We just have to make sure it doesn’t get caught in the tractor wheels.” I shake the blanket of most of the hay and climb on Stone’s lap. She doubles the blanket over so it doesn’t hang over us and turns on the tractor. I playfully grab her face and hold it against mine.

  “Thank you for tonight. It’s nice to have a romantic night with you under the stars.” I place a tender kiss on her lips to let her know how I feel.

  “No, thank you for coming.” She smirks. I shake my head at her.

  “Brat.” She kisses me again.

  Chapter Thirty

  I want Stone to know that she’s on my mind so I text her before her game starts. Good luck tonight. I’ll be thinking of you.

  Thanks. I’m excited to get out there and show them who’s boss.

  I smile. Stone’s energy before a game is off the chart. I know it’s just as powerful after a game, too. I’ll spend my Friday night with fast food and bad movies. Maybe even a marathon binge of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With the weather changing, I want to hibernate until spring. Stone was lucky she got me out last night. Thankfully, it wasn’t too cold. Today, the temperature dropped and I had to dig out my winter coat.

  “Hey, you got a minute?” Gloria stands in my doorway looking concerned about something. Shit. She found out about me and Stone.

  “Sure. What’s up?” My palms are sweating.

  “So, you know the Holiday fund-raiser isn’t too far away, right?” I breathe out. This isn’t about Stone. “Well, I know you want to get more involved in the process since you have more time to yourself, but I just wanted you to know that our point of contact is Alison.” The cringe is frozen on her face as she waits for my reaction. Shit.