Keeping Him

by Kennedy Fox

  “God, Jackson.” She moans, increasing the speed of her hips. “I’m so wet.”

  “Come against me, Kiera. I wanna watch you.”

  “Kiss me,” she demands.

  Pressing my lips to hers, I slide my fingers up her body, pull her dress down just enough, and squeeze her breast in my hand as she releases another sultry moan. Kiera has the best damn tits I’ve ever felt. I’ve seen them plenty of times when she’d wear low-cut shirts or bathing suits, but nothing compares to feeling them in my palm.

  As her body tightens again, I grip her hips and push her back and forth against me to help build up her orgasm, and within seconds, she’s shaking against me and releasing the sexiest moan I’ve ever heard. When she throws her head back and arches her back, I dip my head and wrap my lips around her taut pink nipple. It’s hard, and I swirl my tongue around it before sucking it between my lips. Fuck, they taste good too.

  Sixteen-year-old Jackson would be coming in his pants by now. However, this is all about Kiera and her pleasure—not mine. Another first for me.

  Her eyes meet mine as she’s trying to catch her breath. I keep my gaze on her as I glide my hand down her body and inside her panties. She gasps when I slide a finger against her slit, then bring it up to taste her arousal between my lips.

  “Goddamn.” I moan. “You taste so fucking sweet, Kiera.”

  “That was intense…” she admits. A cute blush on her cheeks tells me she wasn’t expecting that. It’s actually adorable on her, and I love that I’m the reason for it.

  “It was a true testament to my willpower, that’s for sure.” I chuckle, wrapping my hands around her ass and hauling her body up higher on my hips. My dick is screaming at me for not giving in. “But I can wait. I’ll just start taking some very cold showers.”

  Kiera laughs, biting her bottom lip as if she’s contemplating something. Before she can decide, I shift out from under her and set her back down.

  “Okay, let’s watch a movie before I change my mind and fuck you against this couch.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Kiera

  It’s been three weeks since the wedding failure of the century, but it seems like a lifetime has passed since then. I help Alexis feed the horses, and then we do a quick rundown of what we plan to accomplish this week. Every Monday we meet so I can make sure we’re on the same page, but Alexis is great because she doesn’t need to be micromanaged. I should probably give her a raise after everything she’s done in the past month. Once I go through my list, she reminds me I need to deliver a horse over to the Flitwicks.

  “Shit, I totally forgot about that,” I tell her. “I’ll do it first thing this morning.”

  She gives me a smile, and before she walks away, I stop her. “What is it?”

  Alexis shakes her head. “I don’t even want to say.”

  I place my hands on my hips. Though she’s worked for me for the past five years, we’ve had a pretty open relationship. We don’t hang out outside of training, but we usually get straight to the point.

  “Fine,” she says. “I was at the feed store yesterday and Sandy, the woman who works the counter, asked me when you were going to announce your pregnancy. Of course, I was completely confused by her statement, but then she said something about you being pregnant with Jackson’s baby, and that was the reason you walked out on the wedding. Because you couldn’t face being under the eyes of the Lord knowing you were carrying another man’s baby.”

  “Oh for fuck’s sake. Seriously?” I shake my head; the rumors are getting more ridiculous with each passing day.

  “That’s what I said, but she was pretty convincing. I can’t go anywhere without someone wanting to know what you’re up to these days. But trust me, I haven’t said a word. It’s no one’s business what you’re doing,” Alexis adds.

  “I’m not pregnant with Jackson’s baby unless it’s an immaculate conception. Not sure if they realize this or not, but two people have to have sex for a person to get pregnant, and we’re not.” I’m so damn frustrated and humiliated. My reputation has been dragged through the mud, and when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, this happens.

  “I believe you,” she says. “I do. I know y’all aren’t anything but friends.”

  I don’t correct her. I don’t tell her that Jackson and I are secretly seeing each other since we promised not to tell anyone.

  “Thank you.” It’s all I can offer right now. I give her a smile, and we say our goodbyes. I head to the barn and load up the Flitwicks’ mare, then drive it across town. Lately, small things have been slipping my mind, and I know it’s because of everything that’s happened. After I drop the horse off, I decide since I’m so close to the Bishops, I’ll head over there, hoping Jackson doesn’t have any last-minute lessons. I’m already addicted to him and can’t seem to get enough.

  I pull up to the B&B and park in the back. Of course, if anyone sees me here with the trailer, they’ll just assume I’m picking up a horse, which is normal. It makes it hard to sneak around the place when most people’s families stay at the B&B, so I never know who’s on-site or who’s watching me.

  I park, get out of the truck, and walk toward the barn. As soon as I enter, I see Jackson carrying a bale of hay over his shoulder. I place my hands on my hips and watch his every move. Eventually, he notices me, drops the bale on the ground and brushes the extra hay from his shirt before taking off his work gloves. He comes to me, pulls me into his arms, and kisses me sweetly.

  “I’ll never get used to that,” I say across his soft lips.

  Jackson grabs my ass, and I yelp. “You’ll never get used to that either.”

  “Mmm,” I hum against his lips. “Why did we wait so long to do this?”

  He pushes back and searches my face with a shit-eating grin playing on his lips. “Because you’re stubborn.”

  I scoff. “Oh, whatever. You’re the stubborn one with impeccable timing!”

  “Better late than never, sweetheart.” He pulls me back into his arms and kisses my forehead. “You always smell so damn good.”

  “Just imagine how I taste.” I brush my lips against the softness of his neck and tug his earlobe into my mouth and suck.

  “I already know. But damn girl, you play dirty. And as much as I want to get in your panties, your ploy isn’t going to work.”

  Jackson has been holding himself back from me since we agreed to do this, and I’m getting impatient. Just having him touch and kiss me is driving me mad, and based on the bulge in his pants, I know he feels exactly the same.

  I hear chatter behind me, and I rush away from him. A few guests from the B&B walk into the barn. My lips are swollen, and my hair is a mess, and Jackson looks just as guilty as I do.

  “Howdy,” he says to the older couple, bending over and picking up the bale of hay to cover the anaconda in his pants. I hold back laughter as the couple peeks in the stalls and pets one of the horses.

  “If y’all want, I’m doing a few lessons this afternoon. I think there’s room on the schedule,” he tells them. I stand back and watch him work his magic until they agree. Eventually, they walk back to the B&B, and I rush toward Jackson.

  Heat courses through me, and I need him like I need sleep. Forcefully he presses me against the stall door, his warm hand slipping under my shirt until he’s palming my breast. I let out a desperate moan, wanting him more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

  “Fuck, Kiera,” Jackson whispers across my lips, devouring my mouth with his. “You know I have zero self-control when it comes to you.”

  I fist his messy hair, and the only thing that breaks us apart is a throat clearing behind us. Jackson glances over his shoulder, then stiffens, lowering his hands from my body.

  John shakes his head, but the smile on his face doesn’t fade. “Whatcha doin’ in here?”

  Jackson narrows his eyes at him. “I wanna ask you the same question.”

  “Oh hey, Kiera. Didn’t notice you there with my brother’s
face eating yours.” He chuckles as Jackson grows frustrated.

  Jackson grunts, annoyed. “What’d I ever do to you?” It’s a rhetorical question that has me laughing.

  “Remember that time you caught Mila and me in the barn, and you just stood around awkwardly?” John smirks at his own smartass comment. “Payback’s a bitch. Take care, Kiera,” he says before walking away.

  “We’d probably be banging on the barn floor if he wouldn’t have walked up,” Jackson says adjusting himself.

  I let out a sigh, trying to catch my breath. “Damn him then.”

  “Waiting is going to be worth it, sweetheart. I promise,” Jackson tells me, taking my face between his hands, then kissing me gently.

  My eyes flutter open, and I take a moment to study him, noticing how happy he is with me. The feeling is mutual. Being with Jackson like this is a dream come true, and while I want him now, I know waiting is the right thing to do.

  “I have a lesson in thirty minutes, but I’m free for a few hours afterward,” he says as he opens my truck door for me. I climb in and roll down the window.

  “Have you ever thought about us training together? As a couple?”

  Jackson smirks and lifts an eyebrow, then glances down to his junk. “You want me to teach you how to ride bareback?”

  “You’re so damn dirty.” I swallow hard, wanting to give him a kiss, but knowing anyone could see us without the barn shielding our secrets. “I want to kiss you,” I admit.

  “I know,” he whispers. “Soon.”

  I drive around the pasture and reposition the truck and trailer. Instead of giving Jackson a kiss, we do a side friend hug thing that’s awkward through the window, and I drive away. Before I pull out of the B&B, I realize I don’t have my phone. I park in the front and walk back toward the barn with a smile on my face that quickly disappears the moment I see Nicole.

  “Fuck,” I whisper under my breath. I’ve done my best to avoid her because I know I won’t be able to keep my thoughts to myself. I really try to bite my tongue.

  “Whore,” she says under her breath as I pass her, and that’s all it takes to set me off.

  I turn around and walk back toward her with a purpose in my step. She mouths off something else, but I’m already pushing her to the ground. She falls so easily, or maybe I just have too much pent-up anger inside me.

  “Say it again, but to my face this time,” I say above her, cracking my knuckles. She’s already started way too much shit with the Bishops and needs to learn how to keep her mouth shut. It’s one lesson I might teach her today.

  “You're just pissed because I fucked your boyfriend. How does it feel to have everyone else’s sloppy seconds?” Nicole seethes.

  I lose control. She tries to push me away, but I topple her, fist in the air ready to beat her face in. “Maybe you should learn how to shut the fuck up.”

  Moments later, I feel strong hands pulling me away from Nicole.

  “Whoa, girl,” Jackson says, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, lifting me off her, and holding me back. I let out a loud groan, and Nicole stands up, brushing dirt from her clothes.

  “Trent’s lucky he got rid of you when he did,” she says.

  “Nicole!” Jackson yells and points for her to go on. She rolls her eyes then walks away. Once she’s out of sight, Jackson releases his strong hold on me.

  A smirk plays on his lips. “You don’t have to fight for me, Pippi. I’m already yours.”

  I shake my head, not amused. “She called me a whore.”

  Jackson tucks loose strands of hair behind my ear, and I look up into his blue eyes. “And we all know that’s not true. Don’t worry about her. She’s just trying to make things messier than they already are, and she’s jealous. But you can’t be acting all cavewoman, okay? I don’t want her to drag you through the mud, too, baby.” He quickly leans in and kisses my lips, helping me relax.

  I sigh and release a breath. “You’re right.”

  His eyebrow pops up. “I’m always right.”

  How does he have the ability to make me laugh when I’m raging pissed? “Shut up. Oh, I forgot…”

  Jackson holds up my cell phone. “I found it on the barn floor. Thankfully, I did. You might have destroyed Nicole if I wouldn’t have shown up.”

  “She needs to watch her ass.” I grab my phone, then quickly look around and plant another quick kiss on his lips. He pulls me back and kisses me again, much longer this time. I melt into his touch and don’t want to leave, but I know his lessons are starting soon.

  “I’ll call you later,” I tell him, holding up my phone before I walk away. “Go be a cowboy.”

  He chuckles. “I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave,” he shouts the corniest line I’m sure he could think of, yet I think it’s stupid adorable.

  “You’re relentless.”

  Just for fun, I make sure to shake my ass just a little extra for him as I walk back to my truck. After I leave the Bishop ranch, the anger is streaming through me. Nicole better be glad Jackson broke us apart because I would’ve gouged her eyes out. I can’t believe she’d say those horrible things to me. I always liked her, well, until she started all this stuff with Jackson. Now she’s on my shit list, which seems to be pretty long these days.

  As I’m traveling down the old country road, my phone buzzes, and I see it’s Mom, so I hurry and answer it.

  “Hey honey, can you stop by the store and pick up some hamburger buns? I just noticed the ones I have are moldy,” Mama asks.

  I feel like a teenager doing my parents bidding again, but I don’t mind. “Sure. I’ll stop on the way back to the ranch.”

  Considering I still have the horse trailer on the back of the truck, I park on the side of the grocery store, then walk inside. Dixie Chicks blares on the radio, and a smile instantly touches my lips as it brings me back to my teenage years. I walk through the store until I find the bread aisle, then stand there for a second listening to the song as I look over the hamburger buns. I’m lost in my thoughts when I’m interrupted by the sound of a throat clearing beside me. I didn’t even realize Trent’s mother was in the store. Fuck.

  My patience is really being tested today. First Nicole running her mouth and now this? I put on a fake smile and tell her hello because my mama taught me manners, and that’s the nice thing to do. Hopefully, she’ll grab what she needs and move on, but I have a feeling I won’t be that lucky.

  “Kiera.” If looks could kill, I’d be lying dead on the grocery store floor. She looks so disgusted as her glare meets my eyes, and I’m not really sure what else to say to her.

  “How’ve you been, Mrs. Laken?” I’m trying to make small talk so I can excuse myself from the awkwardness and get the hell out of here. Sometimes, living in a small town really sucks. It’s hard to fade into the background when everyone knows everything. Then, of course, there’s always awkward encounters like this one.

  “After you broke my son’s heart? Can’t say I’ve been good at all.”

  The answer I was expecting. She’s never treated me like a part of the family, and I always felt weird around her. I’m sure she’s glad I didn’t marry Trent; she never thought I was good enough.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, grabbing some sesame seed buns.

  She looks me up and down. “I heard about your pregnancy. I’m not sure if I should say congratulations or not.”

  My mouth falls open as I stare at her. “I’m not pregnant.” My voice seems to echo through the grocery store. Heat hits my cheeks, and I’m so embarrassed. I hate that I’m in this situation.

  She gives me a sarcastic smile and nods. “But you’re already showing.”

  I huff, and just as I’m getting ready to tell her where to go, a familiar voice interrupts us.

  “Nancy,” I hear Mama Bishop say. She’s smiling big, showing her teeth, but she’s eyeing Trent’s mom like she might rip her hairpiece out. I look up and say a little thank you to God because I’ve been rescued by a
Bishop—again.

  “Rose,” she replies in a voice laced with venom.

  “How’ve you been?” Mama asks as sweet as can be as she pushes her buggy closer to us. The tension in the room is suffocating.

  “I can’t say it’s been rainbows and butterflies. Not since this one ruined my son’s life,” she replies.

  Mama Bishop laughs, and her smile never fades. “Pulling out all the dramatics, are we? Well, see, if your son would’ve been taught how to control his temper, then maybe Kiera here wouldn’t have been so worried about what he was capable of especially after he gave her a black eye. I’ve always said, when men can’t control their actions, it’s because of the way they were raised.” Mama Bishop sounds like she’s speaking sweetly to a child, but her words are so damn salty that my eyes go wide with shock.

  “Don’t you even,” Mrs. Laken says, huffing, pushing her buggy away.

  “See you around, Nancy. Take care, ya hear?” Mama Bishop says, giving Trent’s mother a five-finger wave.

  I cover my mouth, trying to hide my shock, but it’s impossible. “Thank you,” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her neck. “She cornered me, and I… I didn’t know what to do.”

  “She’s a snake. Trusted that woman about as much as I trusted her son,” Mama Bishop says, looking me up and down. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I smile. “Just shocked by how she acted. I’m not used to being the center of all this attention and the rumors.” I shake my head.

  Mama Bishop’s sparkling blue eyes meet mine. “And now you see where her son gets it from, don’t you? About the rumors, that’s exactly what they are. I’ve heard half a dozen of them, and honestly dear, I’ve never rolled my eyes so hard. You live your best life, sweetie, and don’t worry about all the people running their mouths. Time will prove them all wrong. Keep your head high. You made the right decision. Also, you should come by for dinner sometime this week,” Mama Bishop offers.

  “I’d love that.” I smile, and we exchange another hug. I love Mama Bishop. She’s always had the best advice for me and treats me as her own. Today she rescued me from the wicked witch of East Eldorado, and I’m so damn grateful at least a few people in this town still have my back. After we say our goodbyes, I rush to the counter with my hamburger buns. Even the woman at the counter treats me strange, but I’m sure she’s heard the rumors as well. Although it’s not true, I’m sure my name has been added to a handful of women’s shitlists because they want Jackson. Well too bad; he’s mine. I smile at the thought and walk to my truck.