by Cara North
“Three.” She threw up her hands. “You happy now? Three and then you, so four. Ha!”
“Well, that is a very reasonable number.” He hoped she would let it drop. No way did he want to tell her now. She was right; it didn’t matter. He didn’t know why his ego wanted to know.
“And you? I’m dying to know now. Where do I rank in the list?” Her fierce blue eyes locked him in place.
“Times ten.” He wished he could take it back, take back the questions and the answers and go back to holding her and dancing.
“Ten?” she said as if it were a lot.
“Times ten, you said three. Three times ten.” He looked away from her shocked and appalled expression.
Layla turned away from him and climbed in the truck. He shut the door and got in on the driver’s side. She turned the heat on and the radio down.
“You rank number one though,” he said as he put the truck in reverse. “I mean it, Layla. You are the only woman I have ever been flesh to flesh with, the only one I have tasted, and the only one who has ever really tasted me.”
He couldn’t tell if she coughed or laughed at him.
“Heath made us go to the clinic and watch all of the STD videos. He would do terrible things like put a picture of a penis all distorted on mine and Jack’s dressers and a note with a box of condoms saying double up or die. Hell, the first time I had sex I wore three condoms and kept most of my clothes on.” He laughed at the memory. “Thirty is a big number. I never really thought about it before.”
“So I get to look at half of the women in this area and know they have had sex with you. Great.” She sniffed and he checked to make sure she wasn’t crying. Her nose was still red, and she was hunting through her purse for what he now knew was a tissue.
“No. Not at all. Both girls I had sex with in high school have married and moved away. The rest were scattered around the country. I was a rodeo cowboy when I was younger. I made good money riding Broncos, better money riding bulls. The more I came home, the more time I spent with Jan. The more time I spent with Jan the less I wanted to let women let me take advantage of them. I was full of hormones as a young man, what can I say. But as I got older and Jan got older, I would think about Jan as a teenager, a young woman, and I knew I had to be better than I was being. I couldn’t let her see both me and Jack as wild boys. I mean Heath was always working. Jack did date locally, and I was all she really had as a male role model since my dad and granddad died. I like to think she made a good decision in choosing Buck because she didn’t make bad decisions in high school. I’m pretty sure she walked down the aisle a virgin, at least she better have.” He waited to hear her reply. His hands gripped the steering wheel, and his gut clenched. “Really if you look at the last four years, there has only been two.” Silence. “Are you still mad at me?”
“No.” She sniffed again. “I thought I was going to marry the first guy I had sex with.”
Her statement felt like a kick in the gut. “What happened?”
“My sister married him instead.” Layla shrugged.
Rafe pulled off the road and slammed on the brakes. “What?”
Her nose was still red. Her eyes looked heavy, sleepy. “I never told that to anyone before. It happened once, one time. I was head over heels in love with him. Then he came to pick me up for a date and Lola left with him. He didn’t even realize she wasn’t me until they got to dinner. Of course, she turned on the charm, and that was the end of it. It was like a sick joke that their children became mine, I mean my twin sister. Those children would look the same no matter which one of us gave birth. At first, it was a hard reminder. Of course, I dealt with it. That is why I always said I was divorced. I mean if anyone saw pictures of them, they would think it was me not Lola anyways.”
She sat in silence still thinking. He sat there staring at her. “The other two were just college flings. I was spreading my wings so to speak, testing my boundaries. I’m only telling you because you should know that I have always been careful, too. I wouldn’t go down on a guy unless he had a condom on. I guess in a lot of ways you are my first, too. Does gender count for anything?” She sniffed and then blew her nose. “Ugh. My head is killing me.”
“Gender?”
“The third time there were three of us.” She coughed, put her head to the window and her fingers to her temples.
“Let’s just get you home.” He reached across the seat and offered her his casted hand. She placed her hand in his for a moment, but then had to cough and sniff again. His head was starting to hurt, too. It hurt with processing the fact that Layla had been a part of a threesome and one of the partners was a woman. Of all the things, he never saw that one coming.
* * *
“Rafe, where’s mommy?” Brice asked as he stretched and walked into the living room.
“Still asleep.” Rafe smiled at the little man. “I can make you breakfast, and mommy can rest.”
“She’s not in there,” Savannah said as she walked in behind Brice. “Her blanket and pillow is gone, too.”
Rafe stood quickly and fought the panic rising inside him. She wouldn’t leave them. Certainly if she would leave him, she wouldn’t leave the children, so where was she and what had happened? “Layla!”
He walked and called her name through the house. As he passed the hall bathroom, he heard his name. He opened the door and found her on the floor, under the blanket with her head on the pillow. “Layla?”
“I’m sick.” She sniffed and closed her eyes. “I got tired of running back and forth. I’m exhausted.”
“Mommy?” Savannah started toward the bathroom.
“Stay back, sweetie.” Layla held up her hand and Savannah stopped. “I have a cold, and I don’t want you to get sick. I love you, Savannah, but mommy is really not feeling good right now, and I don’t want you to catch it if it’s the flu, okay?”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Ms. Chester told us about the flu. We squirt our hands with bacteria all the time in class.”
Rafe and Layla both shared a smile at Savannah’s understanding of antibacterial gel. Layla’s smile faded quickly. “Close the door.”
Rafe stepped inside the bathroom and shut the door, so Savannah couldn’t see. Layla looked so weak as she tried to get up enough to vomit in the commode.
“Leave, Rafe, please,” she pleaded but he didn’t listen to her.
He held her hair back as she heaved. Nothing was in there, so he knew it must have been painful. Her tears confirmed it as she lay back down on the bathroom floor.
“You need a doctor.” He covered her back up with the blanket. “I’ll be back.”
She tried in vain to protest.
“Is mommy okay?” Brice asked.
Rafe squatted down to look the boy eye-to-eye. “No, cowboy, mommy has the flu. She has a very sad tummy right now, and she is afraid you and your sister will get sick too if you get too close, and that would make her very sad if you got sick because of her. So as much as we all want to make mommy feel better, we have to give her some space until the doctor gets here and can get her better, okay?”
“Okay.” He nodded then hugged Rafe tightly. “I’m glad we’re here.”
The boy’s words sunk in. If they were still in the apartment and Layla was sick, they wouldn’t have another grown-up around to take care of things. They would have had to call him, but if he was gone with the rodeo… his jaw clenched and he decided one way or the other he would not leave them to face these things alone ever again whether it worked out with Layla or not.
* * *
“That hurts,” Layla said as the doctor gave her a shot in the ass. Heath and Chance had come over and picked up the kids, so they didn’t have to sit at home and be worried and bored all day. Rafe had carried her, against her will, and his arm’s protest to his bedroom. The bathroom in his bedroom was closer than the hall bathroom near hers.
“The shot should help ease the nausea,” the doctor said and then looked at Rafe who was holding
his casted arm and in obvious discomfort. “Let’s take a look at that arm next week. I’m afraid to take the cast off. You don’t seem intent on letting it heal.”
“I’m working on it.” The doctor shook his head and walked out. He turned his attention to Layla, sprawled out in his bed, her left butt cheek exposed with a band-aid on it. A bucket next to the bed just in case she needed it. “Can I get you anything?”
“No.” She pouted.
He sat beside her on the bed, so he could rub her back with his left hand. “You’ve gained weight since you’ve been here.”
“I’m sure I gave up a few pounds last night.” She groaned. “Way to tell me I’m getting fat, Rafe, when I’m sick and puking my guts out.”
“You are far from fat. I was just noticing that you look a lot healthier. Well, not at this moment, but in general. You look healthy and happy here,” he whispered as he continued to make gentle strokes up and down her back. He gathered the blonde hair with a hint of red in it and twisted it before laying it aside. “If things don’t… I mean if we don’t… I don’t mind things the way they are. I’d like all of you to stay here, even after I get my cast off. I mean I still have months of rehabilitation to go through.”
“I’ll stay as long as you need me to.” She sighed as her eyes closed.
He let out a breath. It was a step in the right direction. She at least saw the value of staying with him. He could settle in to the idea of living as roommates for a while. Obviously, he didn’t want to share a bedroom without being married, especially when he had Savannah to think of. Brice too for that matter, he definitely didn’t want that boy to grow up to become a heartbreaker.
* * *
Rafe slept in Layla’s bed that night. It was a whole new torture for him to be wrapped in her sweet scent all night long. He caught himself more than once reaching for his cock. He would get up then, go check on her in his bedroom, and then return to a restless sleep. He wanted so badly to crawl in bed beside her and snuggle up to her. He wanted to stroke her hair and place his nose in her neck. He wondered if this was how she had been feeling all that time. He wondered if her nose was clear enough that she was affected by being in his bed.
Morning came entirely too early, and the children came down the stairs and were ready for the day to begin. They started by bundling up and heading down to the barn. It was good for them to start learning a few things about the ranch. It also allowed Layla more time to rest. By the end of the night, they were exhausted and so was he.
Rafe sat on the edge of his bed and watched her sip the soup he had made. She was keeping liquids down now. “You amaze me.”
“It’s soup.” She lifted an eyebrow and looked at him. Of course, she had no idea what he was talking about.
“I mean you did everything while I was in bed, and I had no idea what all that entailed. I mean I knew what the kids were like in the morning before school, or when they got home, but day in and day out all day without you has opened my eyes to a whole new side of them.” He watched her face slowly fade to a frown. “What’s wrong?”
“You don’t want us here?” Her eyes were so sad he wanted to lean in and kiss her face all over and tell her he wanted them there now and forever.
“Of course I want you here. I was just trying to tell you I’m exhausted. They are kicking my ass, and I had no idea how much you did when I was out of it. That’s all. I’m just trying to tell you…” He thought for a few moments, gathered his words. “I just want you to know that I understand now, and I appreciate everything you did. I had no idea.”
A bit of sparkle came into her sapphire blue eyes and she smiled.
* * *
Crazy. She decided the man’s mission in life was now to drive her crazy. Rafe had started doing work around the ranch again. Layla contented herself with tailoring clothes and personalizing them, not just for Bethany, Chance, and Jan, oh no, she was now a regular tailor in the area, except she was more creative. Bethany had agreed to give her half of the salary instead of the full salary. Layla just didn’t feel right taking the money when Rafe was almost as good as new again.
“Rafe,” she scolded him as his fingertip just so happened to trace the line of her spine while she did the dishes. They had been going out every other weekend when Buck had duty. Jan had a blast with the children, and they adored her. Rafe made it his mission to torture Layla all week long; day in and day out. Then when they went out, he was the perfect gentleman. “You’re going to keep doing that and then…”
“What?” He smiled in triumph. They had agreed it was too risky to do anything with the children home, even tucked away in bed and fast asleep. Layla reasoned she wouldn’t want to leave his bed if she were there at night, and they both agreed that was not the relationship they wanted the children thinking it was okay to have. It was complicated. More complicated than either of them expected things to be.
“We have an agreement.” She turned to face him. It was rare they had any time alone. Now that Rafe worked, she didn’t see him in the day. Sometimes she was in the loft where she had set up all of her sewing equipment and fabrics until the late hours of night. Though he would come sit and talk with her, she was working, and he knew how important the work was, so he didn’t tease her then. But now...
“Yes.” He nodded and then tugged her into his arms. She stepped closer and let him hug her. “I know we do.”
“So why do you do this to me?” She looked up as he looked down.
“Do what?” He bit down on his lower lip and let it out slowly.
“You are always touching me, and then when we go out, you don’t… you know.”
“Well then, when we go out this weekend, I will… you know.” He leaned in and kissed her. She opened her mouth and accepted his tongue. Her leg lifted and wrapped around his. Her arms clung to his back, and though he had a boner the size of Texas, she knew they were not going to have sex.
When he let her go, it was too soon. She frowned up at him.
“Night, Layla.”
“Night, Rafe.”
And so, they went in opposite directions again.
* * *
“So this is the big move?” Layla was going to tear his clothes off when they got back in the truck. She was sick of going to the movies, going out to dinner, and not getting naked. If this was a game, he was winning.
“You don’t want to see this movie?” He smiled with his eyes full of mischievous delight.
“This movie is supposed to suck. There are like eight people in here including us.” She followed him into the practically deserted theatre. They could have sat anywhere, but Rafe took them down a side row, stopped at the middle seats while everyone else was in front of them seated in the center seating section. “Why are we sitting in the nose bleed section?’
“You’ll see.” He took his seat next to her.
Layla was beyond frustrated. As the lights went down, she was aware of him instantly. The light from the film reflected gently on them. Everyone was watching the movie. She turned her attention to the movie as the theater went completely dark except for the screen. It was then she realized something. Rafe had insisted she wear her jean skirt. It was chilly out. Hell, it had snowed, but the theater was a nice warm temperature, and as his fingers slipped over her kneecap, she began to feel a bit hot.
“Rafe,” she whispered.
“Shh. Watch the movie.” He didn’t look at her, but his hand slid farther up her leg.
Layla wasn’t sure if it was a conscious decision she made as her legs parted enough for his hand to reach her panties. They were in a public place. At any minute anyone could walk in, walk past, or catch them. She realized why he chose this movie. His thumb stroked her gently over the cotton panties, and it wasn’t long before she was wet enough he could feel it.
He stroked and stroked, slow, constant, tirelessly. She was ready to climb out of her skin by the midpoint of the movie. She couldn’t tell anyone what had happened so far. She made a move to return
the favor, but he wouldn’t allow it.
“I’m watching this,” he said.
She gripped the armrests and tried to resist his touch. It was useless. The constant stroke had turned her into a bundle of nerves. She needed to come in the worst way. Then he slid his fingers under her panties, and the moment his skin touched her clit she broke in convulsive waves. She tried to stifle the moan but failed. He pressed into her with one long finger and held there as she pulsed around him.
She was burning up in that theatre now. The movie was ending, and Rafe turned to look at her. He pulled his hand away from her sensitive flesh then pushed the finger he had in her pussy past his lips and then pulled it out. “You taste amazing, Layla.”
It was all she could do to keep her eyes open. Her legs twitched, her pulse throbbed, and so did her clit.
“Rafe,” It was a breathless plea.
“You ready to go?” He stood as the lights came up. He was hard, that was for sure.
Layla stood on wobbly legs as he escorted her to the truck. Once inside she was determined to get more. She wanted to taste him. She wanted him to taste her, and not just one lick. She was wanton, reckless. As he pulled down the long road toward the ranch, she took action.
“Go to the lake.” She sounded more demanding than not.
“It’s late. We should probably head home.” He bit his lip, and she knew he was testing her.
Layla slid her hand up his thigh and over his crotch. The man was as hard as an ancient boulder. He needed relief and she needed more. “Rafe, take me to the lake.”
“You plan on swimming? I mean it might have a layer of… oh, mmmm, okay, we’ll go to the lake.”
The moment she had her bare hand around him he became much more agreeable.
Layla stroked his shaft as he pulled down the road leading to the lake. Once they were there and he had stopped the truck, she wasted no time in bending over to consume him in her mouth. Rafe tasted amazing. She pushed farther down on him than she thought possible, and he let out a groan of approval. She could feel him growing impossibly harder and then she pulled back and sat up.
