Satisfied that the social convention had been met, his mother said, “Take a cookie and go; we’ll be having dinner in a bit so don’t go far.”
Once they were all seated at the table with a cup of coffee in front of them, his mother brought the plate of cookies over and set it down. “I read that Oreos are vegan, so I picked some up.”
Beth’s mother wrinkled her nose. “Oh, I don’t eat refined sugar.” Then when she saw the look on Beth’s face, she added, “But that was very nice of you.”
There was a long silence then, no one sure what to say, but finally his father turned to George and asked, “Are you a football fan?”
Beth could see the wheels turning in her father’s mind; he loved football almost as much as making money, and the lure of talking about it was strong, but he was trying his best not to like Justin’s family. Finally, his love of the game won out, “I’d better warn you I’m a New England fan, and I know how you Bronco fans feel about our team.”
Justin smiled at Beth, thinking that they were halfway there; now if only they could find a way for their mothers to connect. Beth figured it out before he did, “That’s a lovely quilt,” she said, pointing to the quilt draped across a stand across the room.
Her mother’s eyes followed Beth’s finger to the quilt, and then they lit up; quilting was the only other passion her mother had in her life besides taking care of Beth. She’d taken it up years before to stay occupied in the hospital and doctor’s waiting rooms. She only stitched by hand, never used a machine, and was a bit of a snob about it.
“Oh, thank you, Beth. I only have time to quilt in the winter, but it’s something I really enjoy.”
Her mother was still looking at the quilt, a look of indecision on her face, but finally, she spoke up. “I suppose it’s machine stitched.”
Beth sighed, she’d hoped that her mother would at least be polite, but clearly, she wasn’t going to be. But then Justin’s mother said, “Oh, I never use a machine; I think hand stitching is the only way to do it right.”
Her mother’s eyes got big. “I feel the same way. Using a machine is cheating; only hand stitching shows the artists talent,” she said, then looked over at the quilt again.
“Would you like to see it? There are a couple more in the other room, some better than others, but I’ve only been quilting for a few years,” Justin’s mother said, getting to her feet.
Chapter Thirteen
***Beth***
It was a relief to see their parents getting along, and Beth relaxed for the first time that day. Justin must have felt the same way because he sighed then put his arm around her shoulders, but it wasn’t long before he began fidgeting as if he couldn’t get comfortable. Finally, he got to his feet and went over to the window and looked outside, then came back over and sat down next to her.
He looked around the room, then said, “It looks like they might be okay on their own for a little while. I could show you around the ranch if you want.”
Beth desperately wanted just a few minutes alone with Justin; it felt like an eternity since they’d been alone. “I’d like that,” she said, without even hesitating.
Justin got to his feet and held out his hand, “Then let the tour begin.”
On their way out, he hollered, “Mom, I’m going to give Beth a tour of the ranch.” Then they slipped out of the door without even waiting for a response.
They headed straight for the barn, the wind still howling. When they got inside, Beth hugged herself and said, “I thought you said the wind had died down.”
Justin stepped over to her and wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in his body heat. “I might have lied; I just couldn’t wait any longer to get you alone.”
Beth snuggled into his arms a little deeper, enjoying his body heat and the way he smelled. “I’m glad.”
The sound of horses rustling in their stalls caught Beth’s attention; she pulled out of his arms and looked around, then took a deep breath. “I don’t know why but I love the smell of hay; it makes me think of summer.”
“And I love the way you smell,” Justin said, coming up behind her and nuzzling her neck.
Beth giggled, then pulled away again. “You’d better stop doing that; this isn’t exactly the place to start something,” she said, looking back at the big double doors they’d just come through.
“Are you afraid someone will catch us doing this?” he asked, then lowered his mouth to hers, slipped his tongue inside, and kissed her until her knees were weak.
When they finally broke apart, both panting with desire, Justin took her hand and led her to a ladder that led up to the loft. She climbed it without saying a word, emerging to find that the upper floor was sectioned off, and the front part of it was full of hay. The back half had been divided into two rooms, each with a chair, dresser, and a bed.
She looked over at Justin who grinned at her and pushed her toward the room on the left. “We used to have ranch hands living up here, but no one has lived up here for a while.”
Beth resisted, “Justin, you can’t be thinking what I think you are. Someone is sure to come looking for us.”
“Not if we’re quick,” he said, then unzipped her jacket and threw it on the chair.
“Justin…” she started to protest further, but his teeth had found a sensitive spot on her neck, and the thought disappeared as a huge wave of pleasure washed over her.
He kissed his way up to her mouth, his tongue working its magic, then pushed her a little farther into the room and shut the door with his foot. “They won’t come looking for us for a little while; I missed you, Beth,” he said when he knew that she wouldn’t be able to resist him.
She looked up at him wanting more than anything else to let him have his way, but she was afraid of getting caught. When he reached down and grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it over her head, she started to protest, but one look into Justin’s eyes stopped her. It was stupid to resist the passion between them; this might be the only chance they’d have to be alone, and they probably didn’t have much time.
“I missed you too,” she said, unzipped his jacket, then started on the buttons of his shirt.
They tumbled onto the bed together, their weight making it groan, then undressed each other hurriedly. Justin’s hands seemed to be everywhere at once: on her breasts, on her back, brushing the inside of her thighs, and soon a delicious coil of pleasure began to build deep inside her.
She could feel his erection pressing up against her leg, so she took him in her hands. He was rock hard, and a low moan escaped his throat when she began to stroke him, sending a thrill straight to her core. Unable to help herself, she opened her legs, whimpering with need until Justin slid one hand between them and began to stroke her swollen nib.
Pleasure shot through her, and she gripped his swollen member so tightly that Justin growled deep in his throat. Encouraged by his pleasure, she continued to stroke him, as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her, when she tumbled into ecstasy, her hand was still firmly gripping him.
When her body began to relax, he rolled on top of her. But instead of parting her legs and entering her, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him. Suddenly on top, Beth wasn’t sure what to do, but Justin lifted her hips and pulled her up until she was straddling him. His erection was nestled between her folds, the tip teasing her button as he gently slid her back and forth, her moisture soaking them both.
Beth welcomed the pleasure blossoming deep inside her, the pressure that was building, because she knew that Justin was feeling it too. His breathing was ragged, his body tense, each movement of his hips restrained. Then, with a deep growl, he lifted her off him, then back down, burying himself deep inside her.
His body filled hers perfectly, the immediate fullness making her throb deep inside and instinctively move her hips to make him slide in and out of her pulsing core. Justin covered her breasts with his hands, teasing her stiff nipples, creating another layer of pleasure that left he
r breathless and panting.
She rode him, driving herself onto him over and over until the tight knot of pleasure began to unravel. Each wave of pleasure grew, radiating out from deep inside her until the biggest wave pulled her over the edge, her body clenching and trembling. Justin drove himself deeply inside her once more, then cried out her name as his body stiffened and he tumbled over the edge with her.
They lay entwined together, Beth’s body still partially draped over Justin’s. “I missed you,” she mumbled into his chest.
“I missed you too,” he answered, “I wish we didn’t have to be apart. I don’t want you to go home after Christmas.”
“I don’t want to either, but it won’t be for long. I already told my mother that I was going to go back early,” Beth said, hoping that Justin would do the same.
“That sounds like an excellent idea, but what about spring break and summer? I don’t think I can go months without seeing you.” Then he got a crazy idea. “Beth, let’s get married. I love you, and I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Why wait? Let’s do it now.”
Beth was surprised but not against the idea. “Now? You mean like right now?”
Justin laughed. “Well, maybe not right this second,” he said, “But how does spring break sound? Will you marry me, Beth?”
Beth didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, Justin, I’ll marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
***Justin***
It was another half an hour before they headed back to the ranch house, so excited by their decision that they both wore huge grins on their faces. But when they walked into the kitchen, the sight that greeted them wiped those smiles away. All four of their parents were sitting at the kitchen table in silence, each staring down at the table in front of them.
Justin’s mother was the first to break the silence. “Well, it’s about time. I thought we were going to have to go looking for you,” she said, getting up from the table. “It’s almost dinner time.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Beth’s mother piped up, “I brought a few things in case you weren’t prepared; we don’t eat any animal products you know.”
“Yes, I—” Justin’s mom began to say, but Beth’s mother cut her off. “I’ll just send George out to get them.”
Justin could see Beth getting frustrated, so he grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze, then smiled at her. When her father came back into the house, he was loaded down with bags of not only food, but cookware. Her mother rushed over to help him, then turned to Justin’s mom. “I hope you don’t mind, but I need to take over your kitchen for just a few minutes.”
By the time they finally sat down to eat, the dinner his mother had made was ruined, and she was not only angry but insulted, and Justin couldn’t blame her. Beth’s mother seemed to be deliberately going out of her way to be difficult, and Justin was a bit sorry he’d invited them, especially since they’d be staying for several days.
Shooting his mother an apologetic look, he tried his best to keep the conversation going and the topic off hunting and ranching, which his father kept bringing up. He knew that he was doing it on purpose, but no matter how many times he shot him a dirty look, he just kept doing it. Finally, he’d had enough; the four people who were supposed to be the adults in the room were behaving like children, and he was tired of it.
He slammed his fist down on the table. “That’s enough from all of you; stop behaving like children and try to get along. Whether or not you like it or not, Beth and I love each other and want to spend the rest of our lives together. I was going to tell you this on Christmas, but we’ve decided to get married in the spring, so you better learn how to get along, and fast.”
There was complete silence in the room before the four other people at the table erupted. “You are too young to get married,” his father shouted.
“I’m not letting you marry that boy,” Beth’s father said, pointing to Justin. “He’s nothing more than a farmer.”
“We’re leaving,” Beth’s mother said, trying to pull Beth to her feet.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Beth said, clinging to Justin. “I love him; we’re going to get married, and I’m going to live on the ranch with him. It’s been decided, mother, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Her mother stormed off and slammed the door of the room they were staying in. Her father stared at her, his mouth hanging open. “After all we’ve done for you, this is the thanks we get,” he finally said, getting to his feet and stomping over to the door. “I need to get out of here; I’m going to go for a drive.”
Justin looked out the window and saw that it had begun to snow, the kind of snow that promised to be deep and wet. On top of the snow, the wind was still blowing, making it almost a blizzard outside, and he wasn’t sure that Beth’s dad should be going out into it.
“Um, Mr. Norton, maybe you should stay in the house; it’s snowing pretty bad out there and the wind is blowing; the roads are going to be terrible,” Justin offered.
He turned on Justin so fast, it caught him off guard, “The last thing I need is advice from some kid. I’m going to drive into town, and when I get back, I expect you to be packed and ready to go, Beth.”
When the door slammed behind him, there was a long silence in the house, but they could all hear Beth’s mother crying in the bedroom. “Okay, let’s sit down and discuss this like adults,” his mother said, sinking into her chair as if she’d just aged ten years. “Are you sure this is what you both want? You’re awfully young to be making such a big decision; I’d hate it if a few years from now you changed your minds.”
Chapter Fourteen
***Beth***
Justin pulled her down onto the couch directly across from his mother, “I’m sorry I lost control, but everyone was behaving like children except Beth and me,” he said, looking from his mother to his father.
His father had the good grace to look a little bit guilty. “I shouldn’t have pushed it so hard, but that woman…” his words trailed off before he could finish what he was going to say, clearly it was not going to be very nice.
“My mother can be a bit difficult, and I promise you I had no idea she was going to do all that. I guess it was a mistake to bring them here. I’m sorry. We just wanted you all to meet,” Beth said, looking down in her lap.
“I think this has been too much of a shock for us all,” Justin’s mother said, “so the engagement announcement was just too much on top of everything else. I just want to know if you two have thought this over.”
Beth could feel Justin’s eyes on her, she looked up at him, smiled and nodded her head. “We have, and this is what we want to do,” he said, squeezing her hand. “I love Beth, and she loves me; we don’t want to wait; we want to be married in the spring.”
Just then the bedroom door came open, and Beth’s mother came stomping out. “That’s never going to happen,” she said, then headed straight for the kitchen.
They could hear her banging pots and pans around, and an occasional muttered word but no one moved for a long time. Finally, Beth got to her feet and went into the kitchen; she had no idea how she was going to calm her mother down, but she had to try.
“Mom, I—” she began, but her mother cut her off.
“I don’t want to hear a word out of you; we’re going home, and we’re not going to discuss this any farther. You’re only eighteen years old; I’m not going to let you marry that boy because he’s not good for you,” she said, then added, “Your father will be here in a few minutes. I suggest you go get packed.”
Beth sighed, “I was hoping we weren’t going to have to do it this way, but you’ve left me no choice. I’m staying here with Justin. As you pointed out, I’m eighteen, so I can make my own decisions. I’m sorry you don’t agree with this one, but I’m not surprised. I love Justin, and I want to be with him. I like it here, mother, and I’m healthier than I’ve been for a long time. I just wish you could be happy for me.”
“Happy,” her mother practically screeched. “All I’ve tried to do is make you happy. I’ve spent the last six years of my life thinking about only you; now suddenly I don’t count anymore, and all you want to do is get away from me.”
Beth hated to see her mother so upset, “Of course you still count; just because I want to be with Justin doesn’t mean that I don’t still love you and dad. But it’s time for you to let me go, let me live my life. There’s still plenty of room for you; we just need to figure out where that room is.”
Her mother sighed. “I don’t know how to do that when you’re so far away.”
Beth crossed the room and took her mother’s hands in hers. “We can figure it out together if you let it happen,” she said, looking into her mother’s eyes, which were filled with tears.
“Maybe I can talk your father into staying a while longer,” she finally said.
***Justin***
When Beth and her mother came back into the living room, Justin looked at the clock and realized that her father had been gone for longer than he should have. “Your dad’s been gone for a long time; it’s only a few miles to town. I hope he hasn’t gotten lost or something,” he said, when she sat down next to him.
Beth pulled out her phone and tried to call him. “I’m sure he’s fine, probably just needs a little time to cool off,” she said, listening to the phone ring. Finally, she gave up. “He’s not answering.”
They all sat in silence, watching the minutes tick by; after another half an hour had passed, Beth’s mother said, “I don’t think he meant to be gone this long. I’m beginning to get worried.”
“I’ll go look for him,” Justin’s dad said, getting to his feet.
“We will too,” Beth said, getting up as well.
FairPlay Shifters Prequel: (A Paranormal Romance Story) Page 8