Finding Home (Being Home Book 2)

by Lissanne Jones

  Autumn never went hungry, though; her mother had long ago ensured she cooked more than enough for every meal.

  The roasted chicken and vegetable meal was delicious, and she ate her fill. She scarfed down her food, anxious to head to Cody’s place. She hadn’t been able to stay over since the previous week and she missed sleeping in his arms.

  Once she was done, Autumn placed her dishes in the ancient dishwasher that only worked half the time and came back to the table, hovering near her chair. “Thank you for dinner, Momma. I’m going out to see a movie.”

  Ruth opened her mouth to answer, but Jed spoke first. “Sit back down. You’re not going anywhere until the meal is over.”

  Autumn froze in place. She saw her mother’s lips thin, the only tell she was angry. “She’s an adult, Jed. If she wants to go to a movie, she can.”

  “While she lives under my roof, she’ll do what she’s told.” He gazed at his daughter, and she couldn’t miss the steely glint in his eyes. “I haven’t finished my dinner. You’ll sit until I’m done. This family eats together.”

  “Jed—”

  Autumn cut her mother off. “It’s fine, Momma.” She slid back into her seat without question, sitting up straight. “I can see the movie another time.” She knew her father would deliberately drag out finishing his meal so she wouldn’t make it to the theater to see the movie.

  She was right. Jed ate more slowly than normal, forcing them both to remain at the table until he was done. While Autumn knew she could have just ignored her father and left anyway—he would not have physically restrained her—he would have turned on her mother, blaming her for raising such a disobedient daughter.

  The thought of him berating her about such a thing made Autumn feel sick, and she loved her mother far too much to allow that to happen.

  Once he was finally done, she left the table and went back up to her room. Picking up her phone, she texted Cody and told him she’d be later than expected. He responded, telling her he’d wait up for her and to come over whenever she was ready.

  She was so lucky to have a partner who was as understanding as he was. He never pushed her to do or explain anything.

  Autumn knew she’d now have to wait for her father to fall asleep, so she spent some time writing in her journal. Once she was done, she stuffed it into her bag and read a romance.

  She hadn’t even realized she’d dozed off until she awoke with a start. Glancing over at the alarm clock, she saw it was just before midnight.

  With a gasp, she leaped out of bed, turned off her lamp, and grabbed her tote. Closing the bedroom door behind her, Autumn looked down the hall and saw no light coming from either parent’s bedroom. Carefully avoiding all the creaky places, she scurried down the stairs and slid out into the night.

  Once she reached Luco Ranch, she drove slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible. The last thing she wanted to do was wake any of the residents, especially Evie.

  She knew her friend already had enough trouble sleeping as it was with her burgeoning belly, so she’d hate to wake Evie up if she was resting. And it was late.

  Easing her car around the side of Cody’s cabin, she parked and slipped inside. He’d left a light on for her in the living room, which she turned off.

  She now knew this place as well as her own, and once she got to his bedroom her heart melted. He was fast asleep, sprawled on his back. The lamp on what had become her side of the bed was still on, and Cody had one arm across his eyes, as though shielding them from the light.

  Autumn could tell that he’d been waiting up for her but must have fallen asleep, because his phone was still in his left hand, which was stretched across the bed.

  Very carefully, she tiptoed over, gently pried the device from his fingers, and skirted around the bed to place it on his nightstand. When she saw the battery was low as she put it down, she plugged the charger in so it would be good to go the next morning.

  After changing into a short nightgown, she turned off the lamp, slid under the sheet, and cuddled up next to him.

  “Hey, Gisele. What’re you doing here?”

  A loud gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it. “Gisele?”

  It was only when Cody started laughing that Autumn realized he was joking. He knew damned well who was lying in his bed with him. “Oooh, you jerk.” She slapped his arm as he put them both around her.

  “There’s only one woman I want sleeping in my bed, and she’s lying in it.”

  She leaned in and brushed her lips against his. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

  “Don’t be.” He gave her a lingering kiss. “What time is it?”

  “After midnight.”

  “Which means you’ll be up in five hours. Let’s get some sleep, darlin’.”

  Autumn kissed his jaw, then turned over and made herself comfortable. Once she’d stilled, Cody wrapped his body around hers, something that always made her feel safe. Comforted.

  Loved.

  She laced her fingers through his, and then let slumber take her.

  When her eyes snapped open again, she blinked rapidly. It was ten minutes to five, which meant she’d have to get up shortly. Autumn yawned, wishing she could stay exactly where she was.

  She rapidly became aware of the long, hard thing pressed against her ass, and it made her smile. Wriggling a little, she rubbed up against Cody’s cock, then yelped when a smack landed on her ass.

  “Stop teasing me.” His breath was warm against her ear.

  In response, she brazenly parted her legs and bunched her nightgown up when he grabbed her right leg and placed it over his hip. It meant that she was fully exposed to him, and he rewarded her by sliding his cock back and forth through her folds.

  Arousal began to pool between her legs, and she reached down to feel the head of his cock as he thrust forward, her wetness no doubt coating his dick.

  When she felt it pushing against her entrance, she murmured assent in the darkness and pushed back against him. Cody sank his cock inside her in one smooth thrust, and Autumn couldn’t help letting out a cry of pleasure.

  He felt so big inside her, so hard. He started to move. Slow, deep strokes. The quiet of the early morning amplified the noise of their coupling, the slide of his cock inside her incredibly wet pussy, and it was so erotic Autumn wanted to scream.

  “Fuck.” He brushed her long hair off her shoulder and kissed the back of her neck. “You’re so tight. So wet. So fucking good. I never want to stop.”

  His hand trailed up her warm skin to cup her breast, his thumb circling her nipple then sweeping over it. The repeated motion made it pebble underneath his fingertips, and her entire body felt like one giant nerve. Desire raced through her blood. “Don’t stop.”

  “I won’t. Not until you come on my cock. I want to feel it, feel you squeeze me with that sweet pussy of yours. Not until I spill myself deep inside you.” He kissed her shoulder as he moved within her, and she reached back to place her hand on his ass, attempting to push him deeper.

  “More.”

  “So greedy for my cock. I fucking love it.” He sped up, thrusting harder and faster, and her cries got louder and breathier.

  When her entire body began to tingle, she knew her orgasm was close. “Cody,” she panted.

  “You ready to come, darlin’?”

  “Yes. Hurry!”

  He slammed into her over and over, and when the head of his cock bumped up against that sweet spot inside her she detonated, choking out a cry as her toes curled and her fingers sank into his flesh.

  Cody stilled, balls deep within her. “Good girl,” he murmured in her ear. “There’s nothing better than feeling you come while my cock’s deep inside you.”

  He withdrew from her and got up on his knees, placing himself between her legs as she rolled onto her back. He pushed her knees open and she spread her legs wide. “Take off the gown. I want you naked.”

  Autumn did as instructed, tossing the material onto the floor. Cody hadn�
�t been wearing anything when he’d gone to bed, so as soon as she had settled back against the pillow, he lifted her hips up and eased back inside her.

  She was still so fucking wet that she took him in easily. Her hand snaked down to circle her clit, occasionally touching his cock as it disappeared in and out of her.

  When Cody moved to lean over her, bracing himself up on his arms, he pushed her legs up and back toward her, exposing her further. The change in position meant he was able to sink even more deeply inside her, and Autumn almost couldn’t stand it.

  He was relentless, driving into her again and again. When his thrusts became erratic, she spoke. “Come inside me, sweetheart.”

  Since her eyes had adjusted to the dark, she could see his mouth fall open, and then he let out a long, loud groan as he came. Autumn could feel his orgasm inside her, and when he reached down to rub her clit, she fell over the edge again.

  Bucking up underneath, she shuddered as pleasure coursed through her body in wave after wave, and her cries were swallowed as he kissed her. Their tongues slid against each other’s as she clutched him and he eased down over her, keeping his weight on his forearms so he wouldn’t squash her.

  Once they’d both stilled, Cody tore his mouth away from hers and slid down a little to suck first on one nipple, then the other. “I love your tits.” His tongue played with one, circling around her areola before flicking back across the hard tip. “They’re so round and soft.”

  Autumn let out a satisfied sigh, running her fingers through his hair as he toyed with her. “I love your cock.” Her voice had taken on a dream-like quality. “It’s so big and hard. I love the way it feels inside me.”

  He kissed his way back up to her face before slanting his lips over hers in a long, hot kiss. “Happy to be of service.”

  She laughed, but soon stopped as she glanced over at her phone and saw the time. “Crap! I need to shower and get out of here or I’m going to be late.”

  Getting up off the bed, she glanced over her shoulder and saw Cody rising up, too. “Don’t even think about it, mister. You are not showering with me.”

  He flicked on the lamp and pouted at her. “But I wanted to wash you in all those hard-to-reach places.” His mouth then curled up into the grin that always melted her heart. “Maybe make you come again a few more times.”

  Her pussy seemed on board with that idea, arousal flooding between her legs again, but she stood firm. “You’d make me even later than I’m already going to be.”

  “Then go. I’ll make you some coffee.”

  She blew him a kiss and hotfooted it to his fabulous bathroom. As much as she might have liked to linger in the large shower, she washed, dried, and dressed herself as quickly as possible.

  Once she entered the kitchen, she found Cody dressed in a pair of shorts and holding a travel mug out to her. “Have a good day. I love you.”

  Autumn stepped as close to him as she could, giving him a long, soft kiss. “Thank you. I love you, too. You going to swing by on your way to work for breakfast?”

  His face lit up. “Will you make me some of those delicious bacon and egg thingies?”

  “I will. Just a couple for you.”

  He kissed her again. “Excellent. I’ll see you around eight thirty.”

  After one final kiss, she hit the road. As she drove toward the family store where she spent her weekdays, Autumn couldn’t help but wish she could spend every night in Cody’s bed. In his arms. Being woken up with him easing his hard cock inside her.

  It had become increasingly clear to her that she wanted a life with him.

  Not just for now.

  Forever.

  13

  June

  Cody sat forward and picked up the phone. “Deputy Whittaker speaking.”

  “Hi, Cody, it’s Joy.” Joy Westerfield owned the town’s gift store, and she sounded a little breathless.

  He straightened in his chair. “Everything okay?”

  She let out a long sigh. “Bessie’s outside the store again.”

  Cody groaned as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

  “Thank you.”

  He hung up the phone, went over to the doorway of the sheriff’s office, and rapped on the frame. “Joy just called. Bessie Preston is window-shopping again.”

  Gus Collins muttered a curse. Everyone in town knew the oldest of Mac Preston’s cows on sight. She was notorious for escaping the farm and going for a jaunt around Aurora Springs. “Didn’t you tell him last time to fix that goddamn fence?”

  “Yup.”

  “I’ll call Mac now. Can you bring Bessie round back?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Cody grabbed the lasso they kept in the office and headed down Main Street to Joy’s Gifts. He spotted Mac Preston’s old cow as soon as he stepped outside the building which housed the sheriff’s department.

  He jogged down the street, pedestrians giving the cow a wide berth, and slowed down as he neared the store.

  “Hey, Bessie.” He kept his tone soft. “Doing some window-shopping, old girl?”

  The cow turned her head toward him and let out a loud moo.

  “Uh huh. Did you bring some money with you this time?”

  Bessie flicked her tail toward him before turning back to the window and pressing her nose up against the glass.

  “We talked about this. Joy isn’t going to just give you something for free. You’ve got to bring some cash with you.”

  He inched closer as he talked to the animal, and once he was within touching distance, he stroked her gently. She mooed again and shuffled backward before cramming her face into the glass once more. “Come on, old girl.” He spoke to her soothingly. “Let’s get you home, eh?”

  Eventually, she allowed him to slip the lasso around her neck and lead her to the back of the sheriff’s department, where the parking lot was. Cody kept her calm, patting and talking to her, until Mac Preston pulled up, a trailer attached to his truck.

  The older man stepped out and came over to them, regret obvious in his features. “Cody, I’m really sorry.” He held out his hand and Cody shook it. “I don’t know how she managed to get out again.”

  The look on his face told a different story, however. Although Cody was sure Gus had already said something, he wanted to drive the point home. “Mac, Bessie could get hurt if she was struck by a car. She can’t just be wandering around Aurora Springs. It’s not safe for her.”

  He saw the regret in the old man’s face. “Did you fix the fence like we asked you last time?”

  Mac removed his Stetson and smacked his leg with it. “Haven’t had a chance to yet. I’ve needed to replace a lot of my equipment this summer.”

  Cody understood exactly what the farmer was saying, and his heart went out to him. Running a farm or ranch was long, hard work, and the income didn’t always come pouring in. Mac did it alone, having been widowed a decade previously.

  “Okay, Mac. Why don’t you get Bessie home, and be sure to fix the fence when you can.”

  He shook Mac’s hand and watched as the old farmer murmured lovingly to his favorite cow while he coaxed her into the trailer. Once they were gone, he went back to his desk and finished up his paperwork, his thoughts never far from the older man.

  The entire town had checked in with Mac after he’d lost Helena, but as the years had gone by, Cody was sure the visits had become few and far between.

  His mom popped in every couple of weeks or so to take Mac a meal and see how he was doing, and he knew Ruth Grant also dropped by every now and then with a pie, but that was probably the extent of it.

  Since that Friday had been quiet, he got permission to take off early when he told Gus about his plans. He made a beeline for the Grant family store, where he found it devoid of customers. Which suited him just fine, since he was there to see the woman who always made his heart beat faster.

  Autumn was behind the counter, and a beaming smile spread
across her face when she looked up from the ledger she’d been writing in and saw it was him. He leaned over the counter and met her halfway in a quick kiss.

  “What are you doing here, handsome? I thought I was coming over to your place for dinner.”

  “You are, but I need to go over to Mac Preston’s for an hour or two.”

  She frowned. “Is he okay?”

  “Bessie got out again and did some window-shopping outside Joy’s store.”

  “He didn’t repair the fence after her last escape?”

  Cody paused for a few moments before answering. “I don’t think he can afford to.”

  Her face softened. “Oh. What can we do to help?”

  Of course her first response was to offer assistance. Her compassion and kindness were so genuine, and he fell in love a little more with her at that moment. “Got any Palisade peach pies left?”

  She glanced over at the large glass display case that held all the pies and baked goods they sold daily. “I think there might be one left, let’s take a look.”

  Skirting around the counter, they wandered over to the display. After examining the top couple of rows, she leaned over. “Yep, there’s one left.” She slid open the door on the right and extracted a pie on the bottom shelf. “Let me box this up for you to take to him.”

  Cody followed her back around the counter and grabbed a box from underneath it. Once Autumn had deftly slid the pie into it and taped the box shut, she turned to him. “Please tell him to call me if he needs anything.”

  “I will.” He reached into his back pocket and extracted his wallet.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Paying you for the pie.”

  Autumn gave him a look. “I’m not taking your money, Cody. It’s no good in this store. Put your wallet away and kiss me instead.”

  He did as he was told, pulling her into his arms and treating her to a slow, hot kiss that left them both breathless when they finally parted.

  She ran her hands up and down his arms. “Shall I bring a pie for dessert tonight?”

  He tutted loudly. “Shall I bring a pie for dessert, she asks.”