by J. E. Cluney
I smiled as I kissed his neck, clinging to him as I caught my breath.
“Fuck, Bee Sting, biting me…” he chuckled before drawing in a few deep breaths.
I knew what he wanted to say as I peered into his mind.
It had been the final push, and he’d exploded inside me from it.
I chuckled at this as I ran my fingers down his arms.
“I love you, Allison,” he murmured as he ran a hand up and down my back.
“I know,” I giggled, and he pulled back to raise an eyebrow at me with a lopsided smile.
“You know I love you too,” I murmured as I gave him a soft kiss.
“I do, but I still like to hear it,” he grinned as he kissed my forehead. “Just so you know, they’re all going to know what we did.”
“Shifters,” I groaned. Damn keen senses.
He chuckled at this as he pulled out, and I sighed as I felt our combined orgasms run down my legs.
“Withdraw the magic,” he instructed quickly, and I did so as he grabbed some paper towels from off the bench.
“Dad uses them when he’s working on the car,” he said when I gave him a curious look.
I shrugged as I cleaned myself up a bit before sliding off the bench and pulling my jeans up.
Skip had only just finished pulling his board shorts up when a shadow fell across the open shed door.
“Well, looks like you guys were having fun,” Matt laughed as he leaned on the shed.
I groaned as heat rushed to my face, but Skip just laughed.
“Of course, just like you are, mate,” Skip grinned.
I wondered what he meant by that as I couldn’t see Matt too well in the darkness.
A peek into Skip’s mind and I was groaning.
Matt had obviously gotten excited while drunk, and he’d exploded all over himself.
“Had a feeling your old man would have rags or something in ‘ere,” he mumbled as he started to come inside.
Skip just laughed again as he grabbed me and whisked me past the drunk.
“Matt, he won’t remember any of this tomorrow,” he grinned at me.
“I can’t believe he gets that drunk,” I said as I shook my head in disbelief.
“He’s our designated drunk.” Skip winked.
I just rolled my eyes at this as we made our way back to the bonfire, where, sure enough, we got sly smiles and thumbs up from the other shifters.
The next morning I offered to accompany Skip out to finish off the drenching of the cattle as his father was too hungover from the night before.
And just like Skip predicted, Matt was passed out in the garden with a picnic blanket thrown over him.
Those with partners who’d remained sober had been driven home late last night, but a few guys were crashing in the backyard, one was on the lounge inside, and one guy had a swag in his ute tray.
I just shook my head and chuckled as I sipped my morning tea while looking out the back window at them. It had been a fun night, and the shenanigans had only worsened as more of the guys got drunk.
Skip ended up in a kangaroo boxing match with one of the guys, besting him easily in his shifter form, then a silly challenge was made to see who could bounce right over one of the ute’s in kangaroo form.
This resulted in many of them banging into the passenger side. The guy who owned the ute ended up being the one to dint his door badly, and one of the others shattered the window, which had Lisa scolding them and ending the challenge.
We ate scrambled eggs, sausages and toast that Lisa cooked for us, and I heard William grumbling and groaning when she took some in for him.
We bailed quickly after while Lisa began checking on all the hungover guys outside and offering them breakfast.
Skip was certain that the throwing up would start, and he couldn’t handle it without getting sick himself.
We bounced along in the old farm ute with the windows down, since the air-con hadn’t worked in years. I grinned as we listened to country songs, stopping only for Skip to open a gate and continue through the paddocks.
We laughed as we sang along to some Johnny Cash, and Skip caressed my thigh the entire way, having the strange need to touch me, which I found utterly adorable.
We got to the back paddock, and I climbed out into the already warm morning air, wondering how Lisa was going with her hungover crew.
“She’ll get them sorted, Erica gave her a large bottle of ‘Aussie Grog Slog’. It’s a potion to cure a hangover. Works really well actually,” Skip grinned as he climbed out of the ute.
“That’s good.”
He nodded as he looked around the paddock and sighed.
“Well, you wait here with the ute, I’ll go open the back yard up. We’ll take the ute down and throw some hay in there with molasses. They know the drill, they’ll all flock to the yard, and I’ll round up the stragglers before I drench them,” he said before heading off at a brisk walk.
I reached back into the ute for the straw hat Lisa had given me this morning at breakfast and put it on as I leaned against the tray of the ute.
A few black cows stopped grazing to give me a curious glance before looking after Skip. They swatted flies with their tails as their long tongues stuck out to clean their noses, which I smiled stupidly at. They were quite cute actually.
I watched Skip walk over to the smaller yard in the corner and open it up before coming back and giving me a grin.
“Wanna climb on in the back and call them as we drive up? They should all start following.”
“What do I say?” I said dumbly.
“Just yell out ‘C’mon’,” he chuckled.
I rolled my eyes before clambering into the tray of the ute and holding onto the metal bar running across the back window.
Skip climbed into the ute and started it back up, and I called out loudly to the cows.
They responded slowly at first as we began our slow drive to the yard, but once a few started following, the rest joined in.
We drove right into the yard, and Skip pulled the ute up and jumped out before joining me in the tray.
“Just throw this over, break it up a bit if you can and spread it out around the ute,” Skip said as he began cutting the baling twine off the bales of hay.
I pulled the biscuits of hay apart and tossed them onto the ground around the ute as the cows swarmed in, and Skip drizzled some molasses on it from a brown milk bottle.
The cows loved it as they shoved one another to get to the hay, and I looked out across the paddock to find there was only three stragglers who were apparently not too enthused on joining their friends.
“Wait here, don’t want them knocking you over,” Skip said as he jumped out of the ute and carefully maneuvered through the cattle.
I did as told, leaning against the back of the cab and watching the cows eat and moo softly.
One was looking over the tray at me right by my left side, so I leaned down to pat it, and he licked my hand, making me grin at the rough texture.
Skip rounded up the three stragglers, urging them into the yard whilst waving his arms and whooping at them.
They didn’t seem overly fussed by this, instead looking bored as they slowly joined their companions.
Skip struggled to find a way back to the ute as the cows milled around it, and he had to shove a few aside before clambering up with me.
“We’ll let them finish it off before I spray the pour-on on their backs,” he said as he sat down on one of the remaining bales of hay.
“So another paddock after this?” I asked as I joined him, the hay stabbing me through my jeans.
“Yep, then I’ll check the far fence-line before we’ll head back for morning tea. We’ll hang around for lunch since mom said she wants to do a potato bake, and I do love it. She makes a wicked potato bake,” he said with a grin as he pulled me into his lap.
I sighed as his strong arms wrapped around me, and his lips danced across my neck.
‘There’s
a picnic blanket behind the seat, we could have some fun here,’ he thought to me as his hands began to wander under my shirt as he suckled my neck.
“Definitely not!” I gasped as I turned in his grip to give him a shocked look.
“No one will see us,” he frowned, but he was giving me a mischievous, gorgeous grin.
“They will,” I hissed as I waved my hand at the surrounding cows. A few were chewing away as they gazed at us with those huge, adorable eyes.
“They don’t care,” Skip murmured as he kissed the edge of my jaw and worked his way to my mouth.
“I do,” I mumbled against his lips before relaxing and letting him kiss me.
‘Fine, but we will have sex tonight before we leave,’ he sighed as he pulled back to stare at me.
I felt his mental walls go up as he gave me a toothy grin. He was having an idea that he wanted to keep from me, and I just rolled my eyes before giving him another kiss and hugging him.
I wouldn’t look into his mind, it was probably something sweet he was planning, since he’d been rather cute lately, constantly showering me with affection in front of his family.
I loved it.
Chapter 13
Skip.
Morning tea was some fruit, cheese and crackers as per usual, and I sat with mom and Allison on the verandah. Dad was currently napping, and Samantha came out to put a plate together and retreat inside, which Allison felt a little funny about but kept quiet. No point in saying anything, we just had to hope she’d outgrow this phase.
The three of us laughed about the guys who’d crashed for the night. Most of them had headed off, but even with the hangover cure potion, Matt was still zombie-like and struggling as he sat in a camping chair in the shade of the frangipani trees with a bottle of water and a sandwich.
He had a cap on and a towel over his face, and mom said he even had his sunnies on under that.
He’d thrown up a few times, groaning and complaining when my mother had given him the ‘Aussie Grog Slog’. Now he was quiet but apparently incapable of movement.
Allison felt sorry for him, but I told her not to, he’d brought it on himself, as he always did. I couldn’t help but grin and head down to check on him after morning tea.
“How you feeling?” I asked as I sauntered over, eyeing the dead bonfire pit and assorted camping chairs scattered around along with beer cans.
I’d help clean that up in a moment.
“Fuck off,” Matt groaned, his voice muffled under the towel.
“Getting a nice burn on your feet,” I noted as I eyed his red feet. He’d obviously left them jutting out of the shade while he died inside.
This was met with a groan and incomprehensible grumble.
“Want anything?” I offered, struggling not to laugh at how he was slumped back in the chair, his arms spread out on either side of him as he rested his chin on his chest.
“A bullet,” was the disgruntled response.
“Sorry mate, can’t help there. The Slog should kick in soon, you must’ve had a heap, all the others have gone home,” I chuckled. Typical Matt.
He couldn’t even manage to give me the finger as he just swayed his hand and groaned.
“Yell out if you need anything,” I said as I shook my head.
Allison joined me, and we got to work tidying up the yard while my mother started on the potato bake.
“Poor thing looks like he’s dying,” Allison murmured as we folded up the scattered camping chairs and carried them to the shed.
“He’s like this nearly every time. He’ll probably stay for dinner. Normally mid-afternoon the Slog kicks in and he’s good again, but he’ll hang around for free food before heading off,” I said with a shrug. I’d grown used to his antics over the years I’d lived here and on my odd visit when everyone was invited over.
“Why does he still do it if he ends up like this?” Allison said, completely stunned by his poor decisions in life.
“Because he’s Matt, and he’s a go big or go home guy,” I chuckled. “I’ve never not seen him get fucked at any event he’s been at with us.”
“Is he okay?” she asked softly.
I frowned, peeking into her mind and softening. She was worried he was doing this to himself as a form of punishment or to forget.
“He’s fine. Always been a party boy. Maybe because he’s had trouble with women, but apart from that, he’s actually got his life together pretty well. Works full time, has a mortgage and a dog,” I said in an attempt to reassure her. She had such a tender heart.
She just nodded as we continued making our way around the yard, and I checked in occasionally with Matt as we tidied the place up. We tossed all the cans into the recycling, cleaned out the bonfire pit and restocked the wood pile near it from the pile behind the shed.
After that, we sat with mom on the verandah, and we had a light conversation as we enjoyed some cold, fresh juice.
Dad even joined us after a short while, the Slog having gotten him back together.
“Get all the cows done?” he asked before downing half a glass of juice quickly.
“Yep, all sorted. Tightened the fence too along the far left paddocks,” I nodded.
“Good, good,” he murmured as he closed his eyes. “Interesting night, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, Matt’s still down there,” I chuckled as I flicked my head at the frangipani trees.
“Don’t doubt he’ll be here for dinner, we got enough for ‘im?” my father asked as he opened one eye to gaze at my mother.
“Yeah, steak and veggies tonight with mashed potato,” she smiled softly.
“A meal for kings,” my father sighed contentedly. Steak and veggies or chips was always his go-to. “Need to get some kangaroo steaks again.”
Allison shot me a disturbed look, and I laughed with my mother as my father grinned.
“I’m kidding, although I have tried the odd one. They’re good, but it is a little weird considering we turn into them,” my father shook his head as he clasped his hands behind his head. “So, Allison, what do you intend to do once you finish your studies?”
“Well, I want to be a vet. Maybe have my own practice if possible,” Allison answered before sipping her juice.
“Think you’ll stay in Maple Grove?” my father asked.
“I’m not sure, I’m just seeing where it goes really.”
“That’s the way to do it, have plans, but have them so they’re a little flexible. Never know what life will throw at ya.” My father nodded.
‘Like a ghost inside you,’ I thought to her, and she cracked a grin, but it faltered.
She’d spoken to him yesterday, and I knew she was a little concerned by what he’d said. That Walter’s father had been planning something more to do with his son than just turning him into a wendigo. But what could be worse than that?
I had a feeling he was just overthinking it. He probably just wanted more of an explanation for his father turning him into a monster.
‘You’re probably right,’ Allison agreed.
I moved my hand under the table to rest on her thigh, stroking her gently to help ease her worries.
Life was going great now, things were good with all of us, nothing was nipping at our heels.
I wanted her to not stress, even if Walter was a part of her now. Still a little weird, but I was getting used to it. He was off in the spirit world most of the time anyway, so that was good.
“So, you guys think you’ll hang around for dinner too?” my mother asked as she stood up and refilled everyone’s glasses.
“Yeah, we’ll stay for dinner, aiming for six, right? We’ll head off afterwards so we don’t get home too late,” I said as I squeezed Allison’s leg, making sure my mental walls were up.
I had a little treat for her that I wanted to do while we were here.
I smiled as she laughed at one of my dad’s dad jokes.
I hoped she loved it.
“Where are we going?” Allison giggled as sh
e shuffled in her seat in the farm ute.
I’d blindfolded her after dinner and said I was taking her for a drive in the ute. She’d allowed me to lead her to the vehicle and sit her in it, and then we were off. I’d already loaded up the tray with everything while she was in the shower with my mom’s help, and my father liked my plan.
We’d gone shopping in the afternoon with my mother to get groceries and some more veggies for dinner, and Matt had cracked jokes and asked what had happened the night before since he had a shitty recollection of it.
Now I was taking her out into one of the back paddocks, loving how she squirmed and wondered what we were doing. She didn’t pry into my mind, but I kept my walls up hard just in case.
She kept her blindfold on as I opened a few gates, making sure to get us to the best spot.
I’d intended to take Selena up there all those years ago, but had never gotten the chance.
I wanted to take Allison there and show her the view.
The ute struggled up the incline as I pushed the pedal down to force it up the hill.
“Better not be some stupid prank,” Allison groaned.
“Definitely not. I promise,” I murmured as I reached over to stroke the side of her face.
Mmm, blindfolding her for some fun would be good too.
I forced the thought out of my mind, knowing sexual thoughts could link to her easier.
She remained quiet as I reached the top of the hill, and I reversed the ute into place before shutting the engine off.
“Just stay here for a few minutes, don’t take the blindfold off, okay, beautiful?” I murmured as I leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Okay,” she breathed, and she turned her head to capture my lips gently.
I forced myself to leave her, using my phone torch to open the back of the tray and climb in.
I worked quickly, lighting the small lantern and hanging it from the bar across the back of the cab and getting everything set up.
I scrambled out of the tray, smiling in delight at my quick work.
I hoped she liked it.
No, I knew she would.
I strode around the passenger door and opened it up.