by Jamie Begley
26
The dream struck as soon as he wearily lay down on Jessie’s bed to sleep. His brain became alert, freezing him so that he wasn’t able to move as, in his mind’s eye, he was the shadowy figure entering Jessie’s bedroom. He wanted to put out a hand to protect her, but the paralyzing immobility that always accompanied the dream wouldn’t let him.
As the shadow drew closer, he began counting backward, trying to calm his churning fears for Jessie, despite knowing the spirit entering the room wasn’t there to visit her.
The dark figure bent over him. When he was close enough that Dustin was able to see the fires of Hell within his eyes, Dustin felt a burst of pain in his skull. The pain was so intense he wanted to reach out and grab his head.
He lost count of the numbers he was reciting backward, the pain so intense he moaned in his sleep. The death he was experiencing was so devasting that he wished he would die to get away from it. His wish was granted a second later when he blacked out, finding himself pain free, floating in the dark labyrinth aimlessly until he felt his soul drop back into his body, where Jessie was frantically calling his name.
“Dustin, wake up!”
Wheezing as oxygen filled his lungs again and trying to catch his breath, he jumped out of bed to stand beside it, seeing Jessie’s terrified gaze.
“I’m … okay,” he panted. “Just give me … a minute.”
The bedroom door smashed open, and Dustin nearly jumped out of his skin when Asher and Holt stormed inside with rifles in their hands.
“What in the fuck is going on in here?” Holt yelled at Jessie.
Before she could answer him, Asher started grabbing Dustin, trying to pull him out the room.
Jessie ran from the bed and started hitting Asher on the back. “Let him go! He didn’t do anything! He was having a dream, and I was trying to wake him up!”
Still feeling suspicious, Asher released him.
Holt didn’t seem convinced. “He’s awake now, so he can go on home.”
Jessie put her hands on her hips. “It’s the middle of the night. He’s not going anywhere. The only ones leaving are you two.” Going to the door, she motioned for them to leave. “Out!”
Holt gave him a threatening look before going through the door.
Asher balked. “I ain’t leaving.”
“If you don’t leave, Dustin and I will go sleep at his house.”
Dustin gave Asher a shit-eating grin when the other man reluctantly went to the door.
Jessie slammed the door in his face when Asher pointed to his eyes, then at Dustin.
“Your brother is a pain in my ass,” Dustin said, sitting down on Jessie’s bed.
“I think the feeling is mutual.” Jessie moved to stand in front of him, placing comforting hands on his shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Once the dream is over, the effects are gone.”
“You scared me to death.”
“I get scared, too,” he admitted, circling his arms around her waist and drawing her closer so he could rest his head on her breasts.
She let him rest for a minute before she shoved him back, so he was lying on the bed with his legs still on the floor.
Folding his arms under his head, he watched as she planted a knee on each side of his hips, sitting down on his waist, then placing a hand on each side of his head.
“I didn’t know anything could scare a Porter.”
Dustin’s lips twisted in a self-effacing smile. “I’ve been scared a lot in my life.”
Curious, she tilted her head to the side. “I don’t know if I believe that.”
“It’s true. Your pa sacred the bejesus out of me a couple of times.”
“He did me, too.” Her eyes darkened at the memories.
“Did he ever hurt you?”
“No, he was never nice, but once Ma left, he was even worse. All three of us walked on eggshells around him whenever he was sober. When he was drunk, Holt, Asher, and I would go stay at my uncle’s house until he sobered up.”
“Why didn’t Holt and Asher leave when you did?”
“They couldn’t turn their backs on him. The Hayes might not have much money, but we’re loyal.”
He stared up at her. “Yes, unless they’re talking about your cooking. Holt told everyone at the diner that you couldn’t boil water. Asher didn’t even give you that much credit.”
She gave him an impish grin that had his dick hardening. He grabbed her hips, tugging her higher onto his waist and clenching his fingers to keep her in place.
“They like to keep my cooking all to themselves.”
“I can see why. I think I gained five pounds tonight.”
He groaned when she folded her arms over his chest to rest on them.
“Did you mean what you said tonight before you left?”
“I forget.”
When she started tickling him, he flipped her over until she was underneath him.
“Woman, behave.”
She looked at him with slumberous eyes that kicked his arousal up another notch, not to mention his dick.
“You look like you’re wanting a little something something.” Teasing her, he lowered his lips to her jawline, tracing the smooth flesh to her chin before going up a scant inch to her mouth, letting her feel him hovering over it.
“I don’t want food. I’m hungry for a sexy Porter man.”
“Tate and Greer are both taken. Will you settle for me?”
Jessie gave a disappointed sigh. “I guess … if I have to.” She lifted her hand to behind his head, pulling his mouth down and kissing him with a passionate potency that was hard to resist. When her tongue entered his mouth, he didn’t want to.
Taking the kiss over, he parted her lips with a quick thrust of his tongue that only whetted his appetite more. Then, grasping for his sanity, he tried to pull back before it was too late.
“Jessie, we need to stop.”
“Why …? I don’t want to.”
“Are you sure?” His breath caught in his throat as he waited for her answer.
“I’m sure.”
Lifting himself off her, he started putting his boots back on. “Get your shoes on.”
“Why? We have a perfectly good bed here.”
“Because the first time I make love to you, I don’t want your brothers in the next rooms.”
She went to her closet, taking out her tennis shoes. When she had them on, he reached down, sliding the blanket off and bunching it under his arm before going to the window and raising it. Throwing the blanket out the window, he then lifted himself to the windowsill and jumped down.
“Come on,” he called up to her softly.
She poked her head out. “Why didn’t you go through the door?”
“Because it’s not as much fun.”
“Oh.”
When she lifted herself to the window, Dustin caught her before her feet could hit the ground. He picked up the blanket and took her hand. They ran into the woods, both sets of feet moving in unison, knowing where they were going.
The air had gotten chilly. While it didn’t bother him, he didn’t want her cold. Stopping only long enough to wrap the blanket around her shoulders, he took her hand again.
When they reached the fence that separated their properties, he opened the gate, then closed it once they were through.
The wind picked up as they walked through the field that Greer had cleared for his wedding. Then they were walking under rustling tree branches before coming out onto his backyard. Instead of going into the house, they made a beeline for the new barn.
Unlocking it, he opened the door, letting Jessie go in first before following, closing them within.
Flipping the light switch, he turned the flashlight off. He saw her eyes crinkle as she looked around.
Striding toward the ladder, he waited expectantly for her to climb. He was behind her as she went up.
He grinned at her amazement when they reached the top.
“I told you that I wanted to make it special for you,” he said, measuring her reaction. “The air mattress might not be as comfortable as your bed, but at least I won’t have to worry about Holt and Asher coming in, waving their guns at me.” Bending down at the low ceiling, he went to the old crates that he had set candles on.
Jessie stood silently as he lit the twenty candles.
When he was done, he walked back to her, taking her hand.
“Are you sure, Jessie? We don’t have to do anything. We can sleep here, or I can walk—”
“Shut up, Dustin.” Kissing him, she led him to the bed that he had made, tugging him down. Toeing her shoes off, she then knelt at his feet, taking his boots off.
“Do you love me, Dustin?”
He told her the truth. “More than the air I breathe.”
Jessie gave a sweet smile that he felt in his soul.
“If I lived a thousand lifetimes, in a thousand different bodies, you would steal my heart every damn single time.”
“I would?”
“You would,” he told her.
“You said something before you left to go home about me breaking your heart.” She started to unbutton his shirt, parting it when she reached the end.
Dustin gave her the partial truth. “You broke my heart every time I looked at you but couldn’t have you.”
Jessie took his hat off that he had put on before jumping out the window, tossing it aside. “Mr. Porter, you sure know how to sweet-talk a woman.”
Taking her by the arms, he fell back to the bed, pulling her over him. “I love you, Jessie.”
“I love you, Dustin.”
Dustin had kissed so many women he had lost count long ago, but he could remember every single detail of the few they had shared.
Jessie was playful and sensuous, arousing a passion in him that only she could quench. She brought out carnal longings that had him wanting to rip her clothes off and fuck her until she screamed for mercy.
Turning her until her head lay on the pillow, he shrugged out of his shirt before moving to her side to stare down tenderly into her face.
He wanted the shade of hazel ingrained into his memory, as well as the way she was staring back at him—her love shining out of their depths, her lips begging for his. The beguiling expression on her face showed no fear or hesitation.
Unbuttoning her pajama top, he watched for any reaction that she would want him to stop. Helping her rise, he took it off before gently easing her back down.
Placing a kiss on each of her strawberry-colored nipples, he rose to his knees to slide her bottoms off, seeing the tiny green panties. He didn’t take his eyes off hers as he slid them down her hips, laying them on the rest of her clothes.
Moving back up to her side, he trailed a finger across her collarbone until he reached the brown leather cord, hooking it over his finger to raise the beads from her chest.
“I see that Holt found some more.”
“He didn’t. I did.”
Dustin counted them. She had eight beads on the cord.
“You find them at the same spot he did?”
“Yes.”
Studying the small beads, he narrowed his eyes, making out miniature designs on them. “I wonder what they were used for?”
“Some of the beads were used for trade, but those were glass, and the government commissioned them from Italy. These are just clay. I think they were used for ornaments to sew on their clothes.”
“I was such a dick back then. I regretted it as soon as I did it.”
“I hope you’re not expecting me to give them to you again. I’ve gotten used to wearing them.”
He shook his head at her. “I don’t expect anything from you that you don’t want to give me.”
Jessie placed a fingertip at the pulse beating at the base of his throat. “What are you thinking about? Your heart is beating like a hammer.”
“I’m thinking about how much I want you, and I don’t want to scare you.”
“I’m not scared. I don’t remember anything he did to me—thank God. At first, it almost made me crazy, but now I hope I never remember. I know you, Holt, or Knox will find out who did it, but I’m not going to live my life afraid anymore. I’m not going to let him scar my soul, and I’m not going to let it spoil our first time together thinking about him. Okay?”
“It’s more than okay for me. The only memories I want on your mind are the ones that we’re going to make tonight.”
She teasingly licked her lips. “Are they going to be good?”
“Baby, they’re going to blow your mind.”
Dustin went slowly, kissing her until she was clinging to his shoulders. Then, covering her body with his, he had to grit his teeth to keep from coming in his jeans when her breasts cushioned his chest.
“Lord, have mercy,” he groaned, nuzzling the side of her neck. Dragging his lips to the cleft between her breasts, he turned his head to the side to glide over the mound of her breast to her strawberry-colored nipple. Twirling his tongue along the peak, he then sucked the tender bud between his teeth.
As she arched under him, he had to start counting backward to remain in control. He didn’t want to take her in a frenzy of heated need. He wanted to introduce her to lovemaking gently before showing her the wanton woman she could be under his hands. For now, he would entice her with words, kisses, and gentle touches. When she became more comfortable with making love, he would show her the lust that would have her begging him for the release he could give her.
He sensually released her nipple to sweep his mouth over to her other breast, sucking the nipple into his mouth to turn it into a nub like the other one. Releasing it with a pop, he met her luminous eyes as he played with it with his tongue before pushing her breast up and raking his teeth down the slop to the sensitive underside.
Using his teeth, he sucked on a small section of her skin for a couple of seconds before releasing it. Laving the small red spot, he then moved downward, sliding his mouth to her bellybutton, then farther down to the curls that guarded the portal he was trying to find before he felt her tugging at his hair.
“Dustin ….”
“I need to taste you.” Dustin slid his tongue down the fleshy lips as he parted them wider with his fingers. His legs were hanging off the mattress as he scooted down farther. Going to his knees on the floor, he hooked his hands under her knees and lifted her to his rapt gaze.
“You’re beautiful,” he breathed out in awe.
Jessie raised her eyebrows. “Why is the first time you call me beautiful, you’re not looking at my face?”
“Because I know what’s important.” Raising her hips, he ran his tongue along the length of her pussy, stopping at her clit to taste the juicy center. That she was wet made his movements bolder as he lashed at her clit with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth in a sensuous move that had her nearly arching out of his hands.
Holding her tighter, he played with the responsive nub until he felt her thighs stiffen and begin to tremble. Her gasps of pleasure as she shook in the throes of her orgasm were more than he could take.
Removing his hands from her pussy, he reached for the condoms he had left on the crate by the candles. Unbuttoning his jeans and sheathing himself, he saw her beginning to come out of her pleasure-induced haze.
He started tugging her downward until her ass came off the end of the mattress, gently poising her over his cock.
She blinked her hazel eyes, realizing what he was about to do. With trust, she placed her hands on his shoulders as he lowered her over his dick.
Clenching his teeth, he let her sink down; her pussy enveloped his cock in its silky warmth as he slowly sunk deeply within.
“Lord, have mercy,” he moaned. Jessie was tight, stroking his cock with his small thrusts that had her rocking over him.
She fluttered her hands against his chest as if she didn’t know what to do with them. Catching them, Dustin pulled them behind her back, using his chest to pre
ss her upper body backward, allowing her to arch into his thrusts. A small scream tore from Jessie’s lips.
Dustin started counting faster to take his mind off coming. His restraint was breaking at the feel of her clenching pussy. If he weren’t so determined for it to be an experience Jessie would never forget, he would have come and taken the edge off before making love to her again. But this was their first time together, and no one forgot that first time. He wanted it to be one that was special for her.
“Dustin …,” she gasped out when he slid his full length inside her. “You’re killing me … Maybe we should slow down.”
He chuckled, her breasts jiggling against him when he did. “It’s a little too late for that.”
He stayed still for a second, trying to give her time to adjust to his dick and to delay the climax that he was fighting hard not to pound into her.
“It’s never too late.”
“Sometimes it is, and this is one of those times,” Dustin grunted out, moving in small increments.
She arched her hips higher to make it easier for her to handle his size.
“Better?”
“Maybe I’m too small down there.”
Dustin gave her a saccharine smile. “Or maybe I’m too big for you.”
Jessie rolled her eyes. He knew it wasn’t because she was in the midst of orgasmic bliss.
“Somehow, I knew you would go there.”
“Well, a man always likes to be appreciated for his best physical asset.”
“Your dick isn’t your best physical asset.”
Gauging that she was relaxing as they talked, he started moving again, gradually gliding his cock back and forth, loosening her so he could move faster, build her desire so the only thing she could think about was having more of him.
Unable to resist the temptation of a jiggly breast, he sucked a nipple into his mouth. Her gasps became pants as he rocked against her and sucked more of her nipple into his mouth. Releasing it with a wet pop, he switched to her other breast, maneuvering it into his mouth, then released it when she started trembling in his arms.
