Dare to Dream

by C. J. Welles

  “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I feel like I failed the girlfriend’s code now.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Everything will work out.” Hopefully. I hope I haven’t fucked things up by being a bitch.

  We talk for a while longer before we drag my mattress out to the living room and watch The Vampire Diaries while eating loads of junk food.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 9

  Jace

  PULLING UP IN the driveway, I see Eddie’s truck out front. I grab the supplies for the stable and chuck them inside. They can be dealt with tomorrow, I can’t be fucked tonight. I grab my clothes and head for the house. Inside I find Eddie and Victoria, Ethan's parents, and Kaylee. They're all sitting in the sunroom talking with mom.

  “Hi Y'all,” I greet, as I walk in the door. Kaylee flashes me a grin and the others all reply with a hello.

  I sit on the couch next to Kaylee and we all talk for a while. I'm too worked up though to be sitting here. Getting up, I stride to the kitchen and grab the bottle of Jack from the cupboard. It's a disgusting habit and mom rakes me over the coals all the time for it, but I grab the pack of Marlboro's as well. I really shouldn’t smoke, but I am too worked up I need a release.

  I'm in the mudroom heading out when Kaylee catches me. "Can I join you?" she asks, sounding hopeful.

  We ain't caught up in a few weeks and she is a good friend. "Yeah Kaylee girl," I answer, and she walks beside me as we cross to the barn.

  Opening the big barn doors, we slip inside. I pull down the ladder that goes to the loft up above. It's just there to store shit when we have too much. When I was younger, I'd come out here to get away from my parents. They were awesome parents and all, but they were typical parents hounding me about school, work and whatever else.

  The loft is where Kaylee and I would sneak out to have sex. Our first time was when I was in junior grade in high school. It was the worst ever. I blew my load in like two minutes. I still shudder thinking of the experience. We were both virgins and didn't have a clue what we were doing.

  I watch as Kaylee climbs up first. Her round ass cheeks in her tight shorts are right there in my face. I climb up and stalk to Kaylee, backing her against the wall. I kiss her hard, shoving my tongue into her mouth as I undo her shorts and push them down. I slide two fingers into her slick pussy and thrust in and out.

  She moans and grabs my belt, undoing the buckle, she fumbles with my jeans as she comes and moans my name. Shoving my jeans down, she fists my cock and pumps up and down the length. I grab a condom from my wallet and slip it on before sitting on the ground against the wall, pulling Kaylee down over me. I hold my cock in one hand and pinch her nipples through her top with the other as she sinks down on my cock.

  I grab her hips with both hands and slam her down on my cock over and over until I'm coming with a groan. I hear Kaylee murmuring in my ear as she comes again. That’s how it is with us, hard and fast. It’s like a release outlet for me.

  Sliding Kaylee off my lap I pull the condom off and tie it before putting it in my pocket and getting dressed.

  I grab the bottle of Jack and sit back against the wall. Kaylee joins me and removes a Marlboro from my packet, lighting it up before passing it to me. She doesn't smoke often anymore. She did when we were younger but cut back a few years ago.

  "What have you been up to? I ain't seen you for a while?"

  "That's because you've been busy here. I've dropped over a few times, but you've been out working. I came by last weekend and your Ma said you were up in Dallas."

  I was with Callie. My chest tightens thinking of her. She's gone now though. I'm not going to pine over her. "Yeah, things have been crazy. You should come out with me some days when you’re not busy. I could use someone to chat with, while I’m out workin’ by myself." I don’t know why the hell I am offering, it’s the last thing I want but Callie has me pissed off.

  Her eyes light up. "Yeah, I'd love that." She places a hand on my knee. "How've you been since your dad passed?"

  I swallow around a lump in my throat. I wish she hadn’t brought him up. I miss him like crazy and wish he was still here with us. But spending time with Callie and talking on the cell with her every night had been distracting me. I was so wrapped up in her that it eased the pain of losing dad.

  It covered up the guilt I feel. But Callie is gone now, and I need to face the loss and the guilt.

  "I’ve been okay. It's hard some days, but we're getting by."

  We spend a few hours talking and I drink the bottle of Jack. It’s after nine when we climb down from the loft. I’m feeling the effects from the alcohol and I stumble several times on my way out. All Kaylee does is laugh at me as I crash through the stable doors.

  I head towards the workers’ quarters of the house. Everyone apart from Hunter and Jesse, the mechanics, live on the ranch. I crash through the front door and make my way down the left of the hall to Logan’s room.

  Knocking once, I barge in and hope he ain't doing the dirty with Palmer and her five daughters. He’s lying on the bed watching television. “What’s got you here Jace?” he asks and studies me “Are you drunk?”

  “Maybe a little,” I slur. “Can you get the ranch hands to do the early rounds in the morning?” I ask. Well, I think that’s what I ask.

  “Yeah, well it ain’t look like you’re going to do it.” He sighs and gets out of bed. “You do know they’re just down the hall, you could tell them yourself,” he says, as he walks to the door.

  I go to follow and trip over something on the floor and just catch myself before I crash face first. “Man, your room’s a mess,” I grunt as I amble behind him.

  Logan shakes his head at me. “No, you’re just drunk and can’t walk. Just go home, I’ll let them know.” With that, he walks down the hall.

  I go to follow but decide not to. I make my way to the main house without any more crashes. I stumble into the kitchen and grab a bottle of water. I hear mom come downstairs and she walks into the room, wrapping her nightgown around herself.

  She takes one look at me and shakes her head. What’s with these people shaking their heads at me? “You’ve been out in that barn drinkin’ again.” She states, not asks, in a displeased tone. I don’t know why she does that. Says something I already know and asks questions she already knows the answers to.

  “Was Kaylee with you?” I pause to say no but nod instead. “I can’t believe you had sex with her out there again. Why would you do that?” She shakes her head again. These people are going to make me motion sick soon.

  “Ma, I’m twenty-seven. I can do what I want.” Is she really talking about sex with me? Dad already did that years ago, she’s a bit late.

  “What about Callie? Aren’t you with her?”

  “Ahh, no, Ma. It was just a fling.” A fling I didn't want to end.

  “Are you sure about that. It didn’t seem like a fling. I saw the both of you together. She makes you laugh. You ain’t done much of that since your injury.”

  “Ma, it’s over. It was just a fling. She basically said today I won’t be hearing from her.” I head for the stairs but stop. “How did you know about the barn and Kaylee?”

  “Do you think your Pa and I were blind? We knew about you sneaking out there with her.” My mouth drops open. We thought we were so stealth. “You’re just lucky that we’ve known the Millers long enough that Eddie didn’t come here with a shotgun. If it was anyone else, he would have. You should have seen that poor Chester boy, who came to pick up Makayla for a date one night. Eddie was standing on the front porch with a 30-30 waiting for him.”

  Walking into my room I strip off before getting into bed.

  Parents know too much. Well, my parents do.

  *

  I FINALLY MANAGE to drag myself downstairs at eight the next morning. Mom gives me a disapproving look when I find her in the sunroom reading a book. “Weren’t you meant to be out working hours ago?” she asks, in a grumpy tone
.

  Oh, dear God. Is she still peeved at me? Callie was the one who said it was over. But not quite with those words.

  “Logan organized for the others to start early. I saw him last night.” She raises an eyebrow at me. How does one little look make me think she really is pissed. How does she do it?

  “So, you can do more than just entertain ladies in your drunken state?” she grumbles.

  Is she for real? I love my mom. But seriously. “Are you still stuck on that? Mom, I’m nearly twenty-eight, Kaylee is even older than me and we can do whatever we want. And frankly, I don’t like talking to you about it.”

  “Well don’t do it, it’s that simple, Jace. Did you think of Callie at all before you went off with Kaylee?”

  “Mom we are over.” But I wish we weren’t. “It doesn’t concern Callie what I do.”

  “So, you think that because you have an argument you can go running off and have sex with another girl?” Her tone is cold. I rarely see mom worked up like this.

  “Mom what’s goin’ on? You’re a little emotional about this.”

  “I just feel sorry for Callie, for how quickly you have turned your back on her.” She shakes her head and goes back to reading her book. “Now go get some breakfast before you head out.” I stand there and stare at her for a minute, before going straight outside. I’ll probably vomit if I eat.

  I find Jackson in the stable feeding Duke, dad’s Friesian. He’s a stallion and the only two people he has ever let ride him have been dad and Jackson. He’ll let me close enough to feed him, but that’s all.

  “How’s the head? Heard you had a few last night.” Jacks’ says,

  I roll my eyes, “Not you as well. Mom just scolded me for it. Don’t people have better things to do than gossip?”

  He holds his hands up in a surrender gesture. “I wasn’t gossiping, just chill. I only asked Logan where you were. You were nowhere to be found when I showed up this morning.” He gives Duke one last pat then walks out of the stall. “Since I’ve got you in a great mood and all.” He laughs. “I’ve had some ideas about new business ventures we could consider.”

  “What kind are we talkin’?”

  “Well as you know, I used to train racehorses before I come to work for your dad. He was very set in his ways and wouldn’t consider the idea.” I nod because I totally agree. As much as he was a great businessman and a great father, he was so bloody stubborn. “I’ve had a few people mention to me about training their horses. It wouldn’t be too hard to set up. We have the room and most of the resources. We just need to do it.”

  “Okay, if you get some contacts for people who are interested and may be interested, we can look further into it. If it will definitely pay off, I’d be happy to. But not so much if there’s no market for it.”

  “It’ll take a week or so to contact everyone, but I can do that.”

  “Awesome,” I answer, as I walk into the stable office and go over today’s tasks. “Anything new that needs to be done?”

  “Nah, Logan and Hunter have it all sorted. Take the day off while it’s quiet.” He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I walk to the barn and climb upstairs, where I fall asleep.

  *

  BEAUTIFUL CORNFLOWER BLUE eyes looking up at me, long blonde hair flowing around her face. Callie. This is Callie with me now.

  I groan. Nothing is working.

  Gripping Kaylee’s hips harder, I thrust up into her as she screams from her third orgasm. She has tried everything, but I just can’t come. Last night I was angry at Callie for just dropping me and having sex with Kaylee wasn’t a big deal. But today, today it feels so wrong.

  I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again, but I just can’t get her out of my head. Picturing her face hasn’t even helped. It’s as if my body knows it’s not her.

  “Are you serious Jace?” Kaylee whines at me. “I can’t take anymore.” I don’t blame her it’s been over an hour, but it’s just not going to happen. She keeps moving up and down but seems to be losing interest.

  “I’m just not in the mood,” I say in a frustrated tone. Straight after I say it Kaylee slides off me and starts dressing.

  I sigh in relief. Which is a total dick move. “I’m sorry I’m not good enough for you today.” She says, in a pissed off tone.

  “I’m just too hungover.” I lie. It’s that she’s the wrong person. “It’s nothing you have done.”

  I am a real cockhead today. Kaylee deserves better than how I’ve treated her. She doesn’t say anything else before she leaves. I pull my jeans up and flop back onto the floor.

  What the hell has Callie done to me? She’s only been in my life for three weeks and I just can’t get her out of my head. Pulling out my cell, I go to call her. Maybe today she is over it and will at least listen to me.

  I bring her number up and go to press call but looking at her beautiful face on my screen, I just can’t do it. I can’t hear her sweet voice when I’ve just had sex with another girl. I feel like I have cheated. How the hell could I do that? I push my cell back in my pocket and close my eyes hoping for sleep to come take over.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 10

  Callie

  IT’S BEEN THREE days since I saw Jace. He hasn’t called at all and I think it’s time I call him. I see now that I was sort of in the wrong. He didn’t do anything wrong, but he should have told me. Hopefully, he’ll answer. It’s not as if we are a couple, we’ve only been, whatever we are, for three weeks. He can just ignore my stubborn ass if he wants.

  Grabbing my cell, I dial his number and cross my fingers that he will answer. After four rings, I hear someone pick up and my body sags with relief when I hear his sexy voice. “Thompson,” he says.

  “Ahh, Jace. It’s Callie,” I say. When he doesn’t reply, I continue. “Are you busy, do you mind talking to me?”

  “Yeah, I can talk,” he says in an even tone.

  This is awkward. He doesn’t sound excited to talk to me. Maybe I should hang up and just count my losses and move on.

  “Okay, awesome. Well, Ahh… I’m just seeing how you are,” I stupidly say. Oh, my God, Callie, totally lame. What the hell am I doing? He probably thinks I’m a loser.

  “Things are good, have been better, but are good. How’s your week going?”

  Phew. He’s asking questions. Hopefully, he wants to talk, and he isn’t just being polite. How do I answer that though? My week has been shit. I’ve only known him for three weeks, but I’ve missed not talking to him every night for the past few nights.

  “Yeah, good as well,” I say and briefly pause. “Look, I’m just going to get it out there.” Here it goes. Big breath. “I really fucked up the other day. I shouldn’t have turned on you. I should have let you talk before I stormed off. I’m sorry.” Jeez, I’m even surprising myself. I never say sorry to anyone. I’m getting soft.

  He blows out a breath. “Don’t stress, I should have told you the first day, but well, it shocked the hell out of me. Then when we got down home I just forgot about it. It was a dick move.”

  “No. The whole thing was just blown out of proportion.” At the time, it wasn’t. But I won’t be saying that out loud. I feel my actions were justifiable. I had just had sex with him, then found out he had sex with my friend in the past. Yep, a full-on freak moment was warranted.

  “Don’t stress, I probably would have done the same. I promise I will try to not be an asshole again in the future if you agree to see me again.”

  Oh, yes, please.

  “Well,” I drawl out “I guess I can agree to that. I don’t think it will be too hard of a task.”

  “Good, because I will be at your apartment in five minutes.”

  “Serious?” I squeal, and I can hear him laughing through the cell. “Are you for real?”

  “Yeah, Angel, I was on my way to see you today.”

  “Well hurry up and get your fine ass here.” I hang up and wait for him at the door. I so totally sounded way too excited and
keen, but can anyone blame me?

  It’s Jace fucking Thompson.

  Okay, okay, calm down with the fangirling ways.

  Only minutes later there is a knock at my door and I fling it open to see Jace standing there with all his sexiness. “Hey Angel,” he manages to get out before I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. He walks to my room with me still in his arms, kissing me the whole way.

  Oh, these kisses, how I have missed them. “I’m glad you’re happy to see me.” He slides me down his body until my feet touch the floor. “Now get those jeans off. I didn’t get enough of your sweet pussy the other day.”

  He removes his clothes until he’s standing naked before me. His body. Oh, God his hot body. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of it. I shake my head and lower to my knees. “My turn this time.” With that, I give him a head job he’ll never forget. Which he returns by blowing my mind away with more pleasure than I could have ever imagined.

  Bliss. Total bliss. I am in pure heaven and loving every moment of it.

  *

  Jace

  WHEN MY CELL lit up on my way to Callie’s and I saw her face on the screen, I was hoping she wasn’t ringing up to have another go at me. I was only two minutes from her apartment block. When she apologized for the other day it was a major relief. I was expecting to have to deal with a pissed off Callie when I knocked on her door, but she beat me to it.

  Lying in bed with her now, I’m thinking over and over whether I should tell her about Kaylee. Once again, I haven’t cheated on her, but I think I need to tell her, otherwise, we could have a repeat of last Saturday.

  I am still kicking myself for doing it. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. Obviously, I wasn’t thinking with anything apart from my dick.