by Cat Johnson
FOURTEEN
Red
I grabbed Cash’s hand, marveling at how big and strong it felt in my smaller one.
Pulling him up the rickety wooden stairs, one hand on him, the other on the railing, I couldn’t get into my apartment fast enough.
I managed to get the door open, but he’s the one who closed and locked it behind us. Then he stood there, his green and gold-flecked hazel eyes focused intently on mine. In those eternally long few seconds I feared he’d change his mind. That he would leave.
But I didn’t worry for long.
Gripping my face between his palms, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.
He kissed me, deep and enthusiastically. His tongue breached my lips and rubbed against mine in a motion that simulated what I’d like another part of him to be doing to a part of me.
One muscular leg nestled between mine. Shamelessly I enjoyed the friction it caused at the juncture between my thighs.
We might as well have been in high school again, making out while standing up, dry humping fully clothed. But with one huge difference. In high school Cash and I never did anything like this together.
Another difference—back in high school I had yet to experience my first orgasm. But I had a definite feeling I was about to have a doozy of one now.
My breath came fast and hard, but breathing wasn’t easy since Cash continued to completely occupy my mouth.
When my thighs tightened around his and I started to shake and ride his leg like a pony, he pulled back and met my gaze.
Breathless himself, he asked, “Are you—”
“Yes,” I gasped.
“Fuck,” he breathed, his eyes narrowed with need.
He kissed me again, until the spasms had passed. Until blindly, I reached between us and started working on unfastening his belt buckle.
His throat worked as he swallowed. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes . . .” I’d never been surer of wanting something in my life. “Why? Aren’t you? Don’t you want to—”
Cash let out a breath tinged with a short laugh. “Fuck yeah, I want to.”
He blew out a breath and stared at the ceiling for a second before focusing back on me.
His hands covering mine at his waist, he said, “I’m trying to be a gentleman here, Red. But you’re making that real hard.”
“Well, stop trying. And for God’s sake, for once stop talking.” There was something hard between us and I wanted it.
I dropped to my knees, pushed his hands aside and finished the task of opening his jeans myself.
I freed him from his briefs and engulfed him between my lips. His mouth opened on a gasp and his eyes closed. He plunged the fingers of both hands into my hair and held my head still.
“I’m not gonna be able to hold on with you doing that.”
“Then don’t.” I’d pulled off his length just long enough to say what I wanted, but I was already back to my task.
I must have been doing a good job at it too. Cash’s breathing got more intense with every stroke of my hand and mouth over his cock. So did his cussing, intermingled with my name as he thrust into my mouth.
“Red, stop. I’m gonna come.” He moved to pull out of my mouth but I gripped his ass and held him right there, swallowing down every drop that pulsed into my throat.
Still panting, Cash pulled me to my feet then pressed my head to his chest, wrapping both arms around me tight.
“Jesus, Red. You didn’t have to do that.”
I felt as much as heard the words vibrate through my ear. “I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to,” I replied, pulling back far enough I could see his face.
He glanced down at me. “I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything just because I hid that calf for you.”
“I don’t.” I shook my head.
Did he not see that I’d been half in love with him since middle school? Were men really that blind? Were they all idiots?
Cash let out a breath. “I hate to say this, but I should go.”
Go? I guess I had my answer. Idiots. Most likely every one of them, but certainly this one.
Taking a step back from Cash, I said, “Okay.”
What was I going to do? Question him? Argue?
I wasn’t in the position to do either. We were just casual friends . . . who’d recently happened to have seen each other orgasm.
He had asked me if I was sure. And I’d said yes. I couldn’t blame anyone but myself.
He was simply acting like typical Cash. Here one moment, gone the next. Swooping in and back out again just as quickly, just like he did at my shop so often.
I turned to unlock the door for him, swinging it wide.
He stood a second in the doorway. “So, uh . . . thanks.”
I let out a short laugh. “You’re welcome.”
He met my eyes then turned and trotted down the stairs.
Thanks?
In all the many, many times I’d imagined being with Cash, I’d never pictured it ending like this.
FIFTEEN
Cash
Minutes after saying goodbye to Red after our mind-boggling encounter in her apartment, I pulled into the driveway at home. Still feeling her mouth on me. Half hard again from the memory alone.
I’d left because people shouldn’t see me spending hours with her since I was hiding her calf. I’d left because I needed to get home and feed that calf. But I’d mostly left because I was completely confused.
We had a good friendship, Red and I. One I valued. And I’d just fucking come in my friend’s mouth.
There was no doubt I wanted her. And definitely no doubt I really didn’t want her dating Carson or anybody else for that matter.
Where did we go from here?
Backwards would be more than awkward. Forward seemed frightening as hell.
Yup. Confusing as hell.
And now, I had to sneak out to the old shed on the other side of the property to feed the calf without any of my family noticing.
I had just parked my truck next to Stone’s when the man himself walked out of the house and made a beeline toward me.
Fuck. There was no escape now.
“Good. You’re just in time,” Stone said.
“Just in time for what?”
“Meetin’.”
Shit. It seemed like there was a meeting every frigging night of the week in this town. Planning board, zoning board, town, Grange, Rotary, Chamber—it was insane. And Morgan Farm was represented by at least one of us at them all.
I’d conveniently forgotten about this one.
Since I’d skipped last night’s meeting because I’d been at Red’s for dinner, I’d told Stone I’d go with him to tonight’s.
“All right.” I cursed my bad timing and sighed.
I needed to get out to the shed and feed that calf sometime soon but it wasn’t going to happen now. I’d hoped to do it before dark, but it looked like I’d be sneaking out there with a flashlight later tonight, after the damn meeting. I just hoped no one saw me.
“Get in. I’ll drive.” Stone hooked a thumb at his truck, which meant I’d be at his mercy.
I wouldn’t be able to slip out and escape big brother until we got home later. And cripes, I only hoped we were coming straight home and he wouldn’t want to stop and toss a couple back at the bar first.
A brainstorm hit me. “My truck’s already warm. Get in. I’ll drive.”
Stone nodded, seeing the value of a warm truck on a frigid winter evening.
We arrived just in time. The mayor banged the gavel for order just as Stone and I slipped in through the door. We stood along the back wall, our favorite place for these meetings. It would make for a quick escape the second this thing was over.
Settling in for an hour or so of small-town politics and griping by the old folk, I leaned against the wall and pulled out my cell. I figured this would be the perfect time to multitask. I could scroll through Facebook to see if there was anything new being said
to Red while this bullshit meeting got underway.
“Cashel . . . I saw your truck parked there today. Did you see the calf?”
The sound of Mary Brimley saying my name had my head whipping up.
Absorbed in the black hole that was social media, I didn’t know how long I’d been scrolling on my phone or what I’d missed.
Why was I suddenly part of this meeting? I was confused.
“Uh, what?” I asked.
I sounded like a dunce I’m sure but she’d not only taken me unaware, my mind was spinning wondering if it was obvious to everyone here that things had changed between Red and me.
Were my very vivid memories of what we’d just done written all over my face? Funny that I was most worried the town would find out about my fooling around with Red, when I should be more worried about the calf I’d taken and hid in the shed.
“I saw his truck at Red’s too,” Alice Mudd chimed in. “Did you see the calf while you were there?”
Stone turned toward me and waited for an answer along with the rest of the room.
I glanced at Stone, then addressed to two old biddies directly. “I stopped by the shop to see what was new on the mark down table. I didn’t see the calf. It must not be on clearance yet.” I lifted one shoulder and grinned.
Half the assembly chuckled at my attempt at a joke. The other half sent me dagger-filled glares. Yup, that seemed about right. Normal. Good. Nothing amiss here.
“Good excuse,” Stone said low.
“Not a fucking excuse. It’s true,” I mumbled.
I had gone inside the shop. I had stood and pretended to look at the clearance table while that local piece of work laid into Red. No lie about all that.
“And how the fuck did they know it was my truck anyway and not yours or Boone’s?” I continued, grumbling softly enough that only Stone could hear.
Dad had negotiated a deal with the local car lot and bought the three new farm trucks at the same time for a pretty nice savings. He’d cut a similar deal with the guy who lettered the Morgan Farm name and address on the doors. But that meant all three vehicles were nearly identical.
Stone cocked up a brow. “You’re the one who put on that stupid bumper sticker.”
Fuck. I’d forgotten about that. It said Condoms prevent minivans. I loved that sticker. It was both funny and true, but I might be willing to sacrifice it to get back my anonymity. I’d have to think about it.
Now that I was aware they were discussing Red and that calf, I pocketed my cell and paid some attention to the conversation.
“I have something to say.” Old Buck raised his hand in the front row.
“Yes, Buck,” Mayor Picket said, not even trying to hide his exasperation with the old man and his frequent interruptions and complaints at every meeting.
Being from the older than dirt generation, Buck always felt he needed to stand to officially address the assembly. The problem with that was it took him so long to get out of the chair we were all getting old just waiting on him.
“Burning daylight here,” I mumbled under my breath as I waited what seemed like forever.
That earned me a wide-eyed censure from Stone as he hissed, “Shh.”
I rolled my eyes at my shushing from big bro.
Finally, Buck was on his feet. “I don’t agree with backyard livestock within the village proper. Never have, never will.”
We all knew what that was about. Buck fought tooth and nail to keep Agnes from being able to keep Petunia at her house.
Rumor had it Buck had been sweet on Agnes many, many years ago. Folks said she’d spurned his advances and that caused hard feelings between them that lived on to this day.
“Buck, we’re not reversing the ruling on Petunia so don’t even suggest it. But I do agree with you on this matter. Backyard chickens and even the pig were one thing, but a cow is a different story.”
As I listened, I considered how ridiculous this conversation was. The calf in question was no longer at Red’s place and no one in this room knew where it was so it was a moot point.
In the meantime, Boone slipped in the door and said, “Hey.”
“Hey,” I returned as Stone nodded to our tardy little brother.
“What’d I miss?” Boone hissed softly.
“Old man Buck is against keeping backyard livestock in the village,” I filled in Boone as old lady Trout stood.
“I agree with Buck,” Margaret Trout said. “If we let Red Meyer have a cow, what’s next? Horses on Main Street?”
“Exactly. Or those alpacas that people are keeping nowadays,” Alice Mudd agreed.
“Yes, I can see how it would be a slippery slope,” Margaret commented. “Who knows what else people will want to keep in their yards next.”
“Like llamas?” Boone suggested, loud enough for the old folks in the front to hear.
God, how I loved my little brother and his quietly rebellious streak. Following his lead, I said, “Or goats.”
“Right.” Boone nodded. “Or monkeys.”
“Or emus,” I added.
“What about ostrich?” he asked. “Wait. Are they the same as emus?”
“Not sure. I’ll have to Google.” Happy to be shining a light on the absurdity of this meeting, I whipped out my cell and made a show of googling the answer.
As I did Boone said, “You know, I read you can buy a zebra online.”
“Really?” I exclaimed as I glanced up from my phone. “That’d be awesome.”
The crack of the gavel ended our fun.
I glanced at Stone’s face as he sighed, as if he were regretting our shared DNA.
Too bad. He’d get over the embarrassment. Besides, Stone should be on our side. On Red’s side.
Sometimes the people in this town were ridiculous. Somebody needed to slap them, even if it was verbally. I was happy to be the man to do it.
Boone felt the same. Grinning, he bumped my fist with his, down low at my side where no one else would notice.
Let Stone be a fuddy duddy. The younger Morgan brothers were on the case.
The meeting continued. They talked ad nauseum about Red’s calf. About how she’d illegally had it in her carriage house. The fact it was missing again and there was now a reward. And what would happen when it was found.
I didn’t let it get me mad because they weren’t going to find it. Not as long as I was around and I wasn’t going anywhere.
The discussion moved to some other business, but it never got as interesting or amusing again as the backyard barn animal discussion had been earlier.
Next to me, Boone yawned, only covering his mouth after a glare from Stone.
Finally, the crack of the mayor’s gavel shot Boone and I into motion. He made it through the back door first only because he was standing between me and it. But I was hot on his heels, skidding to a stop by the truck parked just down the block. He stopped too and we both glanced back to see Stone following behind at a little more leisurely pace but still striding away from the meeting fast enough to avoid getting caught in a conversation with one of the gabbers.
“Wanna hit up the bar?” Boone asked.
Shit. Exactly what I’d feared.
“I gotta head home. I’ve got some chores I didn’t finish.” I slipped in my lie before Stone reached us and might have questioned me.
Lucky for me Boone didn’t question what chores or why I’d be doing them in the dark. Good boy.
“All right. Well come meet me later if you want,” Boone offered.
“Sure. Maybe I will,” I said.
Stone’s arrival had me asking, “Ready? Don’t wanna get stuck talking.”
“True that.” He glanced behind us at the oncoming hoard of shuffling seniors who would soon reach us on the sidewalk and want to talk. And talk. And talk some more.
Boone nodded and said, “See you later.”
He took off at a trot to his truck parked a few spaced back from mine.
I skidded around the hood to the driver
side as Stone climbed into the passenger seat and soon, we were on our way, veering into Main Street and hanging a tight U-turn to head for home.
“So Red have any idea where that calf got to?” Stone asked.
I glanced over to see if he was asking because he suspected, or simply because he was wondering. I didn’t want to admit I’d just been at her place, any more than I wanted him to figure out I’d been the one to take the calf.
“Don’t know. She say anything to Harper?” I asked.
Answer a question with a question—it was the best way to deflect Stone’s trajectory. And mentioning his girl would only add to the smoke screen.
“All she said was the door was open so Carson thinks it got out.”
Carson. Just the name had my grip tightening on the steering wheel.
Did he never have a day off? The damn deputy seemed to have taken Red on as his personal policing duty. It seemed any problem she had, he came running. I didn’t like it. But I had to get over that and look at the bigger picture.
I glanced at Stone. “I guess if the sheriff’s department thinks it escaped out the open door, then that must be what happened.”
“But I mean, it escaped in the middle of the village. How long can it be before somebody sees it?” Stone asked.
“It could have worked its way down the side street and be hiding in the bushes along the river. I mean it needs water to drink. It might head that way.” I was happy with my theory. It seemed conceivable even if it was complete bullshit.
But one thing was true. That calf was going to be hungry and thirsty by now and I needed to get rid of Stone, fill a bottle and feed her.
Luckily the fates were with me and Stone hopped into his own truck the moment we got home and headed out to see Harper. His being in love was making it a hell of a lot easier for me to get away with doing shit he wouldn’t approve of. I liked it.
Yay, for love . . . for Stone, at least. Not for me.
In my observations, the L-word came with the R-word, as in relationship, which almost always led right into the P-word—pussy-whipped. Stone driving to Vestal so Harper could buy pajamas was proof of that.
I wasn’t ready for any of those letters yet—
