by Jill Sanders
“Evening.” He'd showered off the stench of gas and was sitting out on the porch trying to muster up enough strength to cook some chicken on the grill. “You look mighty pretty tonight. Would you like to stay for dinner?” He walked over to her and pulled her close as she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I hear you had some trouble out here.” She frowned. “Listen, Grant, I didn't mean to cause…”
“Hush now, you had nothing to do with it and you know it. If you go around making excuses for that sorry sack of…” He shook his head. “No harm was done. Just some soiled hay. He was just being a sore loser. What about staying for dinner?”
She smiled and nodded. “I heard you have some new goats.” He smiled and took her hand and started walking her towards the barn.
“First we'll see the goats, then we’ll go out back and grill us some chicken.” He stopped and pulled her into his arms. “Then I'll take you inside and have you in my bed.” He smiled down at her and was pleased when he saw a light flush on her cheeks. He'd never caused her to blush before. It had always been the other way around. He realized he could get used to having the upper hand.
Chapter Six
Alex's breath hitched. She'd been nervous the short drive over to his place. She knew why she'd taken her time, putting on her prettiest dress, an extra spritz of perfume, and even her brand new pair of underwear. She was going to sleep with Grant Holton, and she was going to enjoy every second of her time.
When she turned down his drive, she stopped and tried to level her breathing since she'd never been this nervous with anyone before. She looked at his house. The place had belonged to several other people in the past, and it was their nearest neighbor. It was a Verde-style stone ranch with a red tiled roof. It looked like it belonged in the hills of California instead of East Texas. He'd changed a few things around the place. He’d added a large wood swing on the front porch and had painted the barn a bright red. There were some new bushes and flowers out front and along the drive.
It had taken all her willpower not to turn back around and just drive home. It had nothing to do with Travis, and everything to do with how nervous she felt about the new experience she was about to have. She knew this was a necessary step in getting over things and moving on. Finally, she drove up. He was standing on the front porch, looking sexy in jeans and a gray shirt. He smiled and everything felt right.
He took her hand, breaking her out of the spell, and walked her towards the barn. There was a faint smell of gasoline lingering in the air. She'd found out what had happened when the sheriff had come into Mama's to question her and Jamella. He'd asked if they had seen Travis hanging around and if she knew if Travis had a matchbook from Mama's.
Jamella had laughed at that one. Everyone in town had a matchbook from the diner. They sat in a huge bowl right by the cash register. Jamella had ordered a thousand of them a few years back from a company in China, but the order had been messed up and she'd gotten ten thousand instead. They couldn't give the darn things away fast enough. There were still ten boxes of them sitting in the attic at the diner.
Alex blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust to the dim barn. Then they walked over to a short, small stall where three new goats were running around, butting each other and playing.
“Their mother is in the other stall. She's pretty much tired of them and needed a break.” He laughed as the three goats noticed them. All were now standing with their front feet on the bottom rung of the gate, their short tails moving fast as they begged for attention.
“Oh, aren't you three so cute.” Alex leaned over and tried to pet all of them, each one pushing the others out of the way. “What have you named them?” She looked up at Grant.
He shook his head. “Hadn't thought about it yet. They’re all females.” Then he smiled. “You always had a way with naming animals. What do you think?”
“Well…” She stood up and thought about it. “Names for three sisters…” She tapped her chin and paced a few steps away, then turned and walked back. “There were the three sisters in the Greek mythology of the Gorgons, but those were evil and ugly sisters.” She looked down at the cute goats. Then a big smile crossed her face. “I've got it! Three sisters, too. How about the Powerpuffs?”
His eyebrows shot up, then he laughed. “Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup?”
When she nodded, he continued. “That's just rich.” He laughed again and nodded to the next stall where a black-headed goat was demanding attention. “Mojo there is their mother.”
She looked at him, then giggled. “Don't tell me you named her Mojo Jojo.”
He smiled. “I didn't, but the daughter of the farmer I bought her had, and well, the name stuck.”
“Then it's settled.” She turned back to the goats. “Now we just need to decide who is who?”
He laughed, then tugged on her hand and pulled her into his arms. “I have a few pigs out back that I haven't named yet.” He smiled down at her and she felt her heart skip. When his head dipped, she enjoyed the feel and taste of his lips against hers. His taste was intoxicating, and she was very thankful that he didn't smoke. Travis had always tasted of cigarettes.
Grant pulled back and brushed her hair aside. “If we keep doing that, we'll wind up skipping dinner all together.”
“I don't mind.” She tried to pull him back down, but heard his stomach growl loudly and smiled. “But I guess you do.”
He laughed. “I've been working hard all day.”
She sat out on his brick patio and watched as he barbecued chicken with some corn and potatoes over the open grill. She realized she'd never grilled out with Travis either. Come to think of it, there was a lot she hadn't done with Travis. He'd never taken her out for an official date. Sure, they'd eaten at Mama's or at his parents’ place several times. They had even driven through a drive-thru in Tyler on multiple occasions, but he'd never dressed up and taken her out for a fancy dinner before. They'd never gone to the movies together, never—
“What are you frowning about? I promise you my cooking isn't that bad.” Grant came and sat across from her.
“I'm sorry.” She shook her head clear of Travis and his many faults, then smiled at Grant. “It's so hard, thinking of all the things I've missed.” She took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair and looked around.
He tilted his head. “Yeah? Like what?” He took a drink of his tea and watched her.
“Like dates. Real dates.” She got up and walked to the edge of the grass. “Hay rides in the fall, making out in a movie theater. Stuff like that. Travis never wanted to do anything with me, not anything in public, anyway.” She blushed, realizing what she'd just admitted to. “Sure, he liked to go to the Rusty Rail and hang out with his friends.” She turned and frowned. “I always imagined I'd have a long line of guys waiting to take me out.” She sighed and looked off into the distance.” She chuckled, then turned again. He sat there, looking at her with a slight smile on his face and she felt like a fool. She hadn't meant to tell him all that.
He stood up and walked towards her. “I always imagined you'd have a long line of guys beating each other up just to win your hand.” He picked up her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles. It was the most romantic thing that had ever happened to her. Her breath hitched and she actually felt light-headed with the simple light contact of his lips against the back of her hand. Then, to her enjoyment, he turned her hand over and placed another kiss on the inside of her wrist, sending heat up her arm and all over her body.
“You smell so good,” he said against her skin, then nibbled on her wrist. “Maybe I'm not so hungry after all.” He pulled her closer.
“Oh, no.” She pulled away playfully. “That food smells too good.” He chuckled and tried to pull her closer, then nibbled on her neck as she held onto his shoulders. If someone had told her a year ago that her knees would get weak from someone just kissing her below her ear, she wouldn't have believed it.
During dinner
, she looked at him across the small table and had never felt more nervous in her life. She tried to talk herself out of feeling that way. After all, she'd had sex before, plenty of times, with Travis. She didn't see what the big deal was. Although she liked to think she enjoyed it, half the time she'd just wished it would end. But Grant's kisses had awoken something in her that Travis never had. She knew there was a lot more to be experienced and wondered how much she didn't know when it came to romance. Would Grant see through her? Would he be able to tell that she still didn't quite know what men liked or wanted? She was pretty good at faking things. Maybe he wouldn't be able to tell.
She was so nervous that she hardly touched her plate. Grant frowned and asked, “Was there something wrong with the meal?”
She tried to smile and flirt her way out of answering the question, but Grant just looked at her, his eyes focused on her lips, waiting for the truth. She shrugged and sipped her tea, then blurted out.
“I'm nervous, okay?” She thought she could see understanding in his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. He almost looked like he was gloating.
“You?” His smile got even bigger. “You're nervous about what, exactly?”
She felt her face turning pink. “Us. You. This.” She motioned with her hands towards the house.
He stood up quickly, then walked over and took her hands. Pulling her up next to him, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I'm so glad.” He kissed her softly on the lips. “If you weren't nervous, then it wouldn't mean as much.”
“What?” She tried to pull back and look up into his eyes, but he shook his head and rested his forehead against hers.
“You aren't the only one that's nervous.” His lips came back to hers in a slow, gentle kiss that made her knees shake. “You do something to me, always have.” He started to nibble slowly down her neck. “You make me weak. Make me feel like I can't control myself.” His mouth was leaving a hot trail down her body as his hands started running up her sides and back. “There is so much I want to say and do, but I've never had the guts to.” He started walking them slowly backwards, towards the sliding glass door. “It's okay to be nervous.” He pulled back and smiled at her. Then in one quick motion, he pulled her up into his arms as she squealed.
It was another first in her book. She'd never been carried to bed by a man who was about to make love to her. Her smile spread as she thought about all the excitement that had been hiding right in front of her for years. Grant was more than just the town's Goody Two-shoes. He was more complex than she'd ever imagined. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held on to him as he walked in the house, making his way back to his room. She rained little kisses on his neck and nibbled on his ear as he went.
At one point, he stopped walking and took her mouth with his, causing her head to spin. Then he moved more quickly and his breath was more labored. His hands shook as he set her gently on the bed and looked down at her. “You're so beautiful. I can hardly believe that you're here with me.”
She felt heat spread throughout when he looked at her like that. He stood next to the bed, then slowly put a knee next to her hip and hovered over her. His hand came up slowly, running his fingers down her cheek, her hair, her neck. She closed her eyes to the gentle touch. She'd never been treated like this before, like she was fragile. She wished he would speed up and just finish so these mixed feelings she was having would ease. Then he lay down next to her and started kissing her again, and she forgot all about speed. Instead, her mind was filled with what his mouth and hands were doing to her, consumed by him, only him, as he slowly undressed her, using skill she'd never experienced before. Little fires started on every inch of her skin he touched. Her knee came up as he ran his hands over her legs, hiking her skirt up until his hand rested on her thigh. Her fingers were holding onto his hair, but when he pulled away, her hands dropped to her sides.
His blue eyes were cloudy as she looked deep into them. His voice was coarse as he whispered to her, telling her how beautiful she was, how much he wanted her. Slowly, he reached up and started undoing the small buttons at the front of her dress, his eyes hungrily watching every inch of skin he exposed. When the front of her dress was completely opened, he pulled the two sides away to expose her skin. Her eyes closed as she felt his heated gaze on her bare skin. She couldn't have explained it if she'd tried, but just having Grant look at her like this caused her to feel something she'd never felt before.
“Please,” she moaned as she looked up into his face. Reaching up, she took his face in her hands. “I need you.”
He smiled as she tried to pull his shirt over his head. He leaned back and quickly disposed of the shirt. “I want to enjoy every inch, every moment.” His eyes heated as he continued to pull her dress down.
Her eyes explored his chest and arms. He was so tan and toned; she'd never imagined he'd look like this. She ran her fingers slowly over him until he stopped moving and closed his eyes. Pushing on his shoulders until he rolled onto his back, she came over him, straddling him with her legs over his hips. She felt his desire rub up against her core and moaned at the hardness and length. Her hands held her up so she hovered just above him. Her dress was hiked up, exposing her legs. Her top had been opened and she was fully exposed. Her lips were only inches above his, and she felt a little more in control. Then she closed her eyes and kissed him, his hands moved high on her legs. His coarse hands gently rubbed against her soft skin. His fingers played with the silk of her panties, played with the hem of the elastic until, finally, he pushed it aside and touched her bare skin.
Her hips jumped then started to pump with his movements as he continued to touch her. His kiss became more forceful as she moved above him. She felt her arms shake, then he quickly reversed their positions again, pausing to remove the rest of her clothes, then his own. Her smile faltered when she saw him standing next to the bed, fully ready for her. Part of her mind screamed that this wasn't going to work, that being with him shouldn't work. But something inside was determined beyond all reason, wanting him completely. He leaned over and pulled a condom from his nightstand, then came back next to her, running his eyes over every inch of her exposed skin.
When his hands ran gently down her side, she closed her eyes as his fingers once again found her sensitive skin. His mouth moved slowly over her chest from peak to peak as he lapped at her soft skin. Her fingers wrapped around his length and she smiled when she felt him jump in her hand, his entire body tensing as she stroked him slowly. She felt him shift, spreading her legs with his knees as he hovered above her, taking the kiss deeper than she could have imagined.
When he slid slowly into her, she felt something shift and knew that she never wanted the feeling to end, never wanted the moment to end. Her fingers dug into his hips and shoulders as his movements sped up. Her mind spun with the wonder, the feel of him filling her completely. She'd never experienced anything like it.
The feel, the smells, and the taste of him filled all of her senses until she felt complete. For the first time in her life, she knew what she wanted. She had never been more afraid than she was at that moment of discovery. Then he touched her bud as he moved inside her, and her whole world exploded as she died the sweetest death she'd ever experienced.
Grant felt Alex shiver with release, but he wasn't done with her yet. She wasn't getting off this easy, not after all the years of teasing him, of torturing him. Pulling her legs closer, he continued to move, her hips in his hands, as his mouth traveled over her skin, causing little bumps to form all over her. Her entire body was relaxed after her release, but he could feel her building again. Her hands had gone lax on the bed next to her body, but were now moving over his hips and butt, holding him to her, pulling him into her deeper. When she moaned his name, he kissed her until he, too, moaned with pleasure.
The tension in him transferred to her, and he could feel every inch of her burning with the same desire he felt. The slickness of their skin caused even more sensation as they moved over one anot
her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and he could feel himself building too fast. He wanted to slow down, to torture her, to keep her going. He wanted it to last forever, but when he felt her convulse around him again, he lost his own control and followed her. There was more power here than even he had expected, and when he rested his head next to her shoulder, he thought he felt his heart skip.
He lay there listening to their hearts beating together and wondered what he'd have to do to convince her to stay the night. He felt their bodies cool and moved to pull a blanket over them. She groaned and tried to hold onto him. He chuckled. “I'm just covering us up. I left the window open and it feels like rain.” He looked out the window and saw that the sun had gone down, and he realized that he'd totally lost track of time when he'd been with her. She snuggled up next to him, and he buried his face in her hair and took a deep breath of its soft scent. Her skin felt so soft as he ran his hands over her shoulders and arms. Her breasts were pushed up against his side, and he could feel every breath she took. Her long legs were wrapped around his. He closed his eyes, wishing they could stay like that forever.
“Can you stay?” he asked, placing a kiss on her hair.
“Hmmm.” She snuggled closer to him and shook her head. “I'd better not. We start getting the cattle together tomorrow for auction. This time of year is busy.” She turned her head and looked up at him. “If you have time, maybe you can swing by for lunch.”
He thought about it. It was the beginning of fall and it was a busy time for him as well, especially since he had animals that needed tending and his father's business to start. “How about dinner instead?”
She looked down at him. “Fine, but this time I'll cook. Of course, you'll have to deal with my sisters and Chase.” She frowned a little.
He ran his finger over her lips softly. “What's wrong?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I guess I was just realizing that it's probably time for me to move out. Since…” She shook her head, then continued. “It's funny; I never realized how little privacy we actually have around there.” She smiled at him. “It must drive Chase crazy.”
