by BJ Wane
“Not playing tonight?” Jason asked with a nod toward Crystal who was striding angrily from the room, her look back at Mitch one of pique.
“Not with her. How’s little Diana coming along?” he asked loud enough for the girl to hear.
Jason ran his hand over the red stripes across her white buttocks, smiling when she shifted her hips unconsciously against his caress, her soft moan one of heightened arousal. “Very nicely. She’s a natural, aren’t you, baby?”
“If you say so, sir,” came her soft reply, her thick hair shielding her face from the two men.
“She’s shy, but only until I push her boundaries and have her begging.”
Mitch tried not to envy his friend, but what he wouldn’t give to push Hannah right where he wanted her to go, splintering apart in pleasure so acute she’d never want to be with anyone else.
Chapter Eleven
“Roxy’s going to love it out here,” Hannah commented when Mitch pulled into the gravel parking lot of the McGilley Farm stables and parked next to a large pickup. She had been pleasantly surprised when he phoned her this morning and asked if she was interested in packing a picnic lunch and spending the day out at his friend’s farm, one of the best breeders of American Saddlebred horses in the state.
“And there’s no end to the mischief she can get into, especially if she pals around with Duke. It’s a good thing Ethan offered to watch her while we ride,” Mitch said as he parked and snapped a leash on the overly excited bundle of furry energy.
“Better here than at home. I’ve already got enough explaining to do to Aunt Mary.” Stepping out of the car, Hannah shielded her eyes against the late morning sun and looked out upon acres and acres of rolling green hills topped with large mature trees and surrounded by pristine white fences. Gorgeous, long-legged horses pranced with high stepping gaits or galloped with show worthy strides, their well-groomed coats glistening from their exertions, their long manes and tails whipping around them adding to the picturesque vista and making her wish she had her camera. Her grandmother would love seeing pictures of the prize winning mares, equines so similar yet so different from the draft horses Caleb used around the farm and the pair of American Standardbred they owned for pulling their buggy.
A pang of nostalgia hit her as she turned away and, her hand held tightly by Mitch’s, followed him toward the wide open doors of the stables. The smell of hay and the sound of laughter coming from inside reminded her of home and how much she had enjoyed feeding and grooming their livestock while joking with Caleb and his brothers. Even though Caleb frowned upon spoiling farm animals, which meant any animals because that’s all the dog, cats and horses were to him, she managed to sneak carrots and sugar cubes to the horses, bones to the collie, Max, and set out an occasional bowl of cream for the barn cats.
Even though the day was going to be warm, she wore the jeans she had picked up along with the rest of the new wardrobe Anna, Olivia and especially Kayla had talked her into. Thankfully, Kayla had recognized right away that her conservative taste wasn’t ready to be tested as extravagantly as Kayla’s preferences and she had helped her pick out clothing that was comfortable as well, she was assured, sexy without being slutty. These jeans fit her a little tighter than she was comfortable with, but because of the appreciative look on Mitch’s face, she didn’t mind a little discomfort. She had replaced the shoes Roxy chewed and managed to keep this pair out of the puppy’s greedy little mouth.
Hannah wasn’t sure what Mitch’s invite today meant. Thus far, with the exception of their first meeting, their encounters had all been sexual. She was still battling with her conscience over her behavior last night in the restaurant and she knew she wasn’t ready for another public display today. But so far, other than giving her a very thorough, toe curling kiss before they left home, Mitch hadn’t said or done anything of a sexual nature, which had her a little worried.
She hadn’t understood the obsessive attitude towards sex people in the modern world seemed to thrive on until she met Mitch. The lure of the modern world, which included a freer sexual lifestyle, drew a lot of the young people away from their Amish roots. She had been the exception to the rule because her love for Caleb went way beyond her desire for the materialistic conveniences she was willing to give up for him, but now she was a prime example of such gluttony. Now that she had a taste of what she had been missing, she wanted more, and apparently, if her behavior last night was any indication, she was willing to do what was necessary to get it. At the rate she was going, she’ll probably succumb to all seven of the deadly sins by the end of summer.
That admission didn’t sit well with her and, with a tug of her hand, she asked Mitch, “Do you mind if I walk around outside for a minute?”
Mitch looked down into her face and saw indecision struggling with longing etched plainly on her pretty features. The pale blue of her blouse accentuated her pale blue eyes and the inner turmoil she was dealing with. He had worried her actions last night would plague her in the bright light of day, which was only one of the reasons he had suggested this non-sexual outing today. Although, he might very well regret his chivalry if he had to spend the afternoon looking at how those jeans hugged her ass tightly and the enticing way her breasts filled out her closely fitted top.
“Go ahead, sweetheart. I’ll find Ethan and turn Roxy over to him then see which horses Donovan wants us to take out.”
Turning, Hannah walked towards the pastures instead of entering the stables. Leaning her arms on the fence, she asked herself just how far she was willing to stray from her values in pursuit of pleasure. It was a question she could find no answer to. She had done what she always believed was right and waited until she fell in love and married to have sex, and while she had enjoyed the intimate times in their marriage bed, not one of them had come close to giving her the pleasure she has found being with Mitch. It has taken a man she liked but wasn’t in love with to show her what her husband, who claimed to love her, should have cared enough to do.
The sight of a huge black mare meandering up to her made her temporarily shove aside her internal turmoil. “You are definitely not an American Saddlebred,” she murmured as that big head practically knocked her over with a friendly nudge to her shoulder. “Want some attention, do you?” she laughed as she reached out and stroked her velvety nose.
“You think she’s bad, you ought to see her offspring.”
Startled, Hannah turned to see Anna had joined her. “What breed is she? The only breed I know that’s this big is the Clydesdale.”
“She’s a Friesen and about a hundred pounds heavier than our largest stallion. So, a picnic lunch, huh? Mitch surprised us all with that request.” Anna just hoped Mitch knew what he was doing. She had grown fond of her new friend and didn’t want to see her hurt.
“Yeah, surprised me too, especially after last night.” That admission seemed to slip out of its own volition, but Hannah wondered if she hadn’t subconsciously said that to open the door to discussing her misgivings with Anna.
“I’m guessing he introduced you to something alternative, other than going out in public without panties, that you’re finding morally questionable now that the glow of pleasure has worn off. Want to talk about it?”
Hannah was surprised by how much she wanted to do exactly that. Petting the horse, she kept her attention on the mare as she told Anna about their date, and the mind shattering sex that she couldn’t regret no matter how much her mind was shying away from what she had done. “I think that’s my biggest problem. I don’t regret what he did to me or my response. After we got home, well let’s just say I’ve never had anyone want me so desperately, and that alone left me with a heady feeling. As a matter of fact, I’d love to do it again, but what does that say about me? I wasn’t raised this way, to believe that there was nothing wrong with what we did, or have been doing. I’m scared I’m losing myself for the sake of pleasure, and I know I don’t want that.”
“Has Mitch tried to change you? D
id he ask you to dress differently, to speak differently, to give up anything or any part of who you are for him? It could be as simple as you’re finding yourself. Let’s go for a walk, Hannah, and I’ll tell you how Donovan showed me the difference between a moral man and an immoral one, and moral actions versus immoral ones.”
They walked along the fence line and Hannah listened in horror at what Anna had suffered at the hands of her first husband, the very pious son of friend’s in her preacher father’s church and the terrible circumstances surrounding his death. “I’m so sorry,” she told her sympathetically. “It must have been horrible to go through that. I’m surprised you even wanted another relationship after such a betrayal.”
“But, don’t you see, Hannah. If my oh so religious husband hadn’t shown me that he thought beating me and locking me up for eight days was okay but simply researching alternative sexual practices was the sin to end all sins, I may never have met Donovan and known how a man, despite his own demons riding him, could give such pleasure. And when I fell in love with him, that pleasure became twofold. Everything happens for a reason, that teaching I firmly believe. Maybe meeting Mitch was to show you what Caleb either didn’t know or, and I apologize for being blunt, maybe didn’t care to know.”
It was that very thought that plagued Hannah the most. Did her husband not love her as much as she did he or was it simply a matter of ignorance? She hoped, prayed it was the latter. Otherwise, she had given up her youth and a good number of years for a man who hadn’t put her first in his life the way she had him.
“Tell me something,” Anna continued. “How does Mitch make you feel? Keep it simple.”
Hannah took a moment, smiled and replied, “Let’s just say I know what the saying ‘hot and bothered’ means now.” It was more than that, she knew, but how much more she wasn’t sure she was ready to delve into.
“Then just go with that for now.”
“Thanks, Anna,” she said quickly when she saw Mitch heading towards them leading two saddled mares.
Anna’s revelations had been an eye opener as well as a conscience easing revelation. The hypocrisy between her husband’s actions and his beliefs wasn’t lost on Hannah. At least she had that in her favor. She wasn’t a hypocrite.
Mitch stayed behind Hannah as she let her horse out, her long hair flying out behind her as they galloped back to the stables, her laugh echoing back to him on the breeze and making him smile. Her quiet, contemplative mood on the drive out here had disappeared after her talk with Anna and Mitch was grateful for whatever Anna had said that made Hannah feel better.
They had ridden for over an hour, Mitch giving her the tour of the farm that was given regularly to paying tourists. Their ride ended at the five acre lake that glistened like a sheen of glass under the noon sun and made the idyllic spot for their picnic. They had picked up fried chicken and coleslaw on their way but Hannah managed to bake a couple dozen of the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies he has ever tasted before they left. Sitting on a blanket under a Weeping Willow tree eating messy chicken and listening to Hannah talk animatedly about her growing photography business, he couldn’t remember when he had enjoyed spending time with a woman that didn’t include sex more.
Of course, it took most of his concentration and iron determination not to strip her and lay her out on that blanket and feast on her body. As good as their lunch was, the taste of her berry nipples as well as the cream she always had in abundance just for him was better. Images of Hannah at the club, naked, bound and crying out in pleasure were plaguing him more and more, his need to test her boundaries in the hopes that they matched what he needed to give was becoming an obsession. An obsession, he knew, he was going to have to deal with sooner rather than later.
“That was so much fun!” Hannah exclaimed when she slowed her mare and trotted up to the stables at a more sedate pace. “I haven’t ridden like that in years and I forgot how exhilarating it can be. Thank you, Mitch.”
He could drown in the happiness glowing in those blue eyes, Mitch thought, and for a man who never waxed poetic, that thought startled him. Her face was flushed from the sun and the ride, her hair in wild disarray and she had a spot on her top from eating juicy chicken. Fucking A but he had it bad for this woman. “You’re welcome. Shall we take care of these girls and see what mischief your baby’s been up to?”
Hannah cringed, hoping Roxy hadn’t ruined any chance of getting to come back. “May as well. We can’t put it off forever.”
As it turned out, Roxy had kept not only Ethan and Duke thoroughly entertained, but Keith too, the other student employee working that afternoon. After being assured the feisty, daring three legged mischief maker was welcome back any time, Mitch drove them home then reluctantly left Hannah alone to spend the evening catching up on paperwork. The surprise and disappointment on her face would have been comical if he hadn’t been having such a hard time sticking to his intent to make this day about spending time together that didn’t involve sex. He didn’t know if keeping Hannah guessing was going to work in his favor or not, but he did know it was going to wreak havoc on his own desires.
Hannah spent most of Monday on her computer editing pictures and returning inquiries, breaking only to entertain Roxy periodically. She was grateful for the work, which, thanks to Aunt Mary’s social networking skills, had already brought her enough business she was going to net a profit this first month. Not much of one, but then, she didn’t need much. She knew she had a free room with her aunt for as long as she wanted and with the money she had saved from her ten-year marriage, she was financially stable.
She had work she enjoyed, a beautiful place to stay and an adorable companion with Roxy as well as an exciting sex life for the first time in her thirty-one years. Maybe it was because her birthday was tomorrow and she was officially ‘over thirty’ that she had the urge to do something daring, something unlike her, something that would not only surprise Mitch, but please him as much as he has been pleasing her. For the first time since they met, her conscience was clear and she wasn’t second guessing her actions. Hearing Anna’s story had been an eye opener, how she had married her first husband because she thought it was the right thing to do to please her parents and how she had paid dearly for that choice. Unlike Anna, Hannah loved Caleb and didn’t suffer from their union, unless she counted the pain of losing him at such a young age. She still missed her husband, and probably always would in some way, but she didn’t regret moving on and forging a new path for her future.
Now, the only question remaining was how far along that path was Mitch going to travel with her. She had been hoping he would want sex again yesterday when they returned from their outing, had been eager to feel him filling her so fully again, shredding her control with another one of those powerful climaxes he was so good at giving her. But, after giving her another toe curling kiss that ratcheted up her already simmering arousal, he had returned to his house, a simple ‘see you later, sweetheart’ as a farewell.
As Hannah checked her calendar for tomorrow before shutting down her computer, an idea began to form. Since her day was clear, she decided the best way to get the birthday gift that she wanted was to go get it herself. The idea forming had her giddy with both excitement and a little unease. She really had no clue what Mitch’s reaction will be, but she hadn’t entered into this relationship or agreed to this affair only to back down when he wasn’t forthcoming. What she was planning wasn’t on his terms, but she figured if he didn’t like it he would simply take over. That thought had her shivering with excitement and so aroused at what he might do that she spent a long night tossing and turning over his possible reaction.
The high rise Mitch was building was currently a skeleton of iron and cement beams holding up concrete slabs that will one day be floors. Hannah saw Mitch’s truck as soon as she pulled into the construction site and parked next to it. With her window down, she could hear the steady beat of hammers hitting their targets, men calling out to each other and the
grind of a bulldozer clearing away debris. It was almost noon and she was hoping to catch Mitch in the trailer marked office in front of her, but a visual sweep of the men scattered around the site found him coming down the side of the building in a makeshift lift no one could ever talk her into getting on. She held her breath as it swayed precariously, looking weak and fragile and way too far from the ground. When it creaked to a grinding halt at the bottom and Mitch stepped off, laughing and slapping his companion on the back, she was able to breathe again.
Dressed in jeans, work boots, a white, shoulder hugging tee shirt and hard hat, she had no trouble picking him out among the men swarming around him at the sound of a bell. Only a few of his crew were as tall as he and none of them packed a punch like just the sight of him did for her. Her mouth went dry as she watched him joke around, pulling off his hard hat to run his fingers through his damp, coal black hair. Any second thoughts she had been harboring about coming here flew out her window as he sauntered slowly towards his trailer in that loose limbed stride that emphasized his long legs and the thick muscles that had developed naturally through hard labor.
Quickly, before he saw her and those pesky second thoughts blew right back at her, she got out of her car to greet him with a smile, her lunch basket clutched in one hand while the other remained on the door handle. Catcalls and whistles rent the air, making her shift uncomfortably at the attention she was all of a sudden getting from his men. Then those dark brown eyes zeroed in on her, widened in pleasure and lit with a smoldering fire she could detect even though he was still several feet away. His immediate, unguarded reaction calmed her nerves and boosted her confidence as well as igniting a similar fire within her, one that had been mere smoldering embers ever since Sunday.
