TIA'S MATE (Shifters of the Bulgarian Bloodline Book 1)
Page 52
Ben thrust into her again. Another gasp passing through his lips.
Another wave of pleasure rippled through her body, this time softer- the next so soft she hardly felt it.
Her eyes opened as Ben slid out of her. His eyes sparkled as Jasmine blinked a couple of times, adjusting to the light.
He slipped off the bed, pulling the condom off him and heading towards the bathroom.
Jasmine stared after him. She swallowed, licking her dry lips. What now? She wondered. She was still due to stay a couple days. Was there more in store for them? God I hope so.
But what if there wasn’t?
Would she leave early if things got awkward?
She heard movement coming from the bathroom. Well, here’s the first test. Was he just going to leave without saying goodbye? Or would he, at least, say goodbye before ditching?
Ben moved towards the bed. Jasmine hadn’t been expecting him to actually stay.
Jasmine lay there as Ben made his way back from the bathroom ass naked. Her eyes roamed over his body, taking everything in from the abs to the scars on his face. As he crawled into bed she reached out and touched his face. “What are they all from?” She asked, knowing he may turn her away.
He shrugged.
“Nothing interesting,” He admitted. “Mostly it’s all just from working around the grounds. You get scratched, you get hurt, get kicked, run into trees.”
Jasmine snorted.
“You’ve ran into trees?”
“Not the proudest moments of my life.” A wide grin spread across his lips. “But yes. I have.”
Jasmine’s phone buzzed. She glanced down at the email- then clicked the link on it and then handed the phone to Ben.
“What do you think?”
He stared at it with wide eyes.
“Y-you did this?”
“No!” Jasmine laughed softly. “I have a friend who works wonders with a little time though. He designed it for me.”
“It’s amazing. When you said a new website... I wasn’t thinking…” He trailed off. “How much do I owe your friend?”
“Nothing.” Her eyes sparkled. “He owed me a favor anyways.” She shrugged it off.
“Then how much do I owe you?”
Jasmine considered it for a couple of seconds. “How about a place to crash? For a couple weeks I mean.”
Or maybe a little longer.
Four Weeks Later
Okay, maybe it hadn’t been a little bit longer. Jasmine could work on her blog during the evening, and it was actually thanks to a raving review she posted on her blog that the ranch started to see a little more activity. Between the new website, and a few carefully placed sentences about using local farmers, and working the abused horses the place was starting to get busy again.
Jasmine was beginning to find out what it was actually like to be a cowboy- not that she was anywhere close to a cowgirl, but she watched how hard Ben worked every day.
She had the books managed, and with a little bit of an investment on her part (in return for a free place to stay) she even had them balanced.
When a black truck pulled up one day Ben didn’t rush off, or even try to hide it from her. He came into the office, grabbed his chequebook and wrote out a payment to Kerry- all the money he owed her.
His eyes sparkled as he headed to the door, opened it and stopped there.
“Here ya go.” He sounded so happy. “Should be all of it, and I promise the money won’t bounce… Er, it shouldn’t at least.”
The woman laughed. “So, does this mean I can’t drop off horses for you anymore?”
“Actually, with business picking up I might need a few more.” He turned and caught Jasmine’s eye. He motioned for her to come over.
Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat, but she pushed herself up from the desk and came over. Everyone turned to look at her. The woman was a couple inches shorter than Jasmine, and like Ben, she had rough hands and tanned skin.
“Ivey, John, Mark; this is Jasmine.”
The woman extended her hand. “So you’re the one Ben’s been talking about. The bookkeeper.”
The two women shook hands. “That’s me.”
As soon as she released Ivey’s hand Ben reached out and took it, their fingers tangling together.
Jasmine could feel her cheeks burning. Ivey glanced down at it, then looked up at Ben.
“So, when do you need those horses?”
Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat.
That was it? Horses? That’s what they cared about? Jasmine had spent four weeks worrying about what anyone would say if they found out about Ben and her. But so far no one batted an eyelash. More than anything they were just impressed that Jasmine was helping him out with the ranch- and the progress that they’d made.
Ben squeezed her hand gently before letting it go. He gave her a quick wink. “Alright, we gotta go out and take care of some stuff.” He glanced at the clock. “Meet me out by the spring later, alright?”
“Sure.” She nodded before heading back to her desk. He took a couple seconds to watch her perfect ass before he forced himself outside with his three friends.
“You didn’t tell me she was more than a bookkeeper,” John said, the second the door was closed.
“Didn’t want to ruin the surprise.” Ben shrugged giving his friend a wide grin. Ivey’s brow furrowed. He could feel it coming. He took a deep breath trying to ready himself.
It’s not that he thought her appearance would be an issue- he knew his friends well enough to know her skin tone wouldn’t affect their opinion of her, unlike some people around here.
“So, she’s just helping out… she is the one who gave you a bunch of money, right?”
“It’s an investment.” Ben tried to shrug it off.
He’d fought her tooth and nail about it. They even had a contract done up, saying that for the next 5 years she got a percentage of the ranch’s income until she was paid back for every cent she gave him- not to mention her weekly pay.
“An investment?” Mark raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
Ben walked towards the bar without another word. He knew they weren’t going to be pleased about the money Jasmine had contributed to the ranch, but they’d talked long and hard about it. They decided together that it would be best for them.
His three best friends followed him. “Hey!” John called after him. “We’re not saying there is anything wrong with it, we’re just a little worried about you. That’s all.”
I know that. He thought. “But don’t you get it? I’ve finally got the place going again. The three of you know how long that has been and we’re finally bringing money in. I can finally afford to feed the horses you drop off here.”
Ben rounded on his friends. They all stood there.
They didn’t get it, and he knew that. They’d never realized how much he was struggling; they’d never seen the numbers. He knew he couldn’t be mad at them for not understanding it. In took a deep breath, this time when he spoke he made sure to keep his voice calm.
“For the first time since before dad died the place is looking up.”
Jasmine waited until just after lunch before she stood, headed over to the beer fridge and pulled out the lunch she had waiting for them both.
It wasn’t uncommon for them to go for a walk around lunch when the ranch wasn’t busy.
It had had its fair share of customers over the past couple of weeks. Jasmine tucked two water bottles into her backpack along with the lunch and headed out the door, down the trail and towards the pond Ben had taken her on the first day she’d arrived here. Of course, she hadn’t expected to be here for more than a couple of days.
“Hey!” He smiled widely as he looked over at her.
Julia was standing beside him, grazing.
She was recovering fast, but she still wasn’t rideable.
“Hey there, cowboy,” Jasmine called, grinning widely as she came to a stop in front of him. “I brought you something.”
Jasmine's cheeks flushed as they sat down together to eat their lunch.
“So… Ivey seems nice.” She said, trying to start a conversation about her.
Ben saw right through it. A grin spread across his lips. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous!”
“Of course not!” She lied. She wasn’t going to admit it.
“Good! She’s my best friends’ wife, after all.”
Jasmine hated admitting, but it made her feel a little better.
Ben finished his lunch faster than her, she watched closely as she took every bite of her BLT.
“What?” She finally asked before taking the last bite.
“Come with me.” Ben stood quickly. He held his hand out for her. She took it and he pulled her to her feet without a word.
He grabbed a brown paper back and pulled her along the riverbank until they came to the three trees- the two from when his father proposed to his mother, and the smaller one marking him.
Jasmine’s brow furrowed.
“You know, my daddy always told me not to get involved with girls who came to the ranch.” He said. Clearly, he hadn’t listened. “It wasn’t until a few years back when I learned about this spot that I learned something else about him. He met my mom because she and her family were staying at the ranch for a week.”
Jasmine stared at him with wide eyes.
“He said she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. His dad always told him the same thing he told me- don’t get involved with the girls who stay here. But my dad didn’t listen. He fell head over heels in love with my mom.”
Ben looked down, reaching into the white paper back. He pulled out two tiny pots. Each one had a tree started in it.
Jasmine’s eyes widened. Her jaw dropped. “I….”
A smirk spread over his lips. “Don’t worry. I ain’t proposing to ya.” He handed her a plant. “But I wanted to plant these with ya, as a thank you. For saving this ranch and for savin’ me.”
He stepped towards her, his scarred face turning up into a smile.
“I never thought I’d never want someone to leave. But as soon as I spent that night with you I knew I’d give anything to keep you around me longer.”
Jasmine’s cheeks flushed.
“I guess it’s a good thing I’m not going anywhere.” Ben stepped away from her, his eyes sparkling. “Now come on, cowboy, let’s get these planted.”
Jasmine stepped past him, trying to decide where they would plant their trees.
Ben’s hand touched the small of your back. “Just one thing, sweetheart. I’m your cowboy.”
His silky soft words stayed with her for longer than Jasmine liked to admit.
My cowboy.
***The End***
Forbidden Love Affair
By: Stephanie Hunt
Chapter 1
When Marta went to the grocery store she only expected to pick up a few household items. She did not expect to find her high school sweetheart, the man she thought she was never going to see again, the man she had once sworn she would marry. She never expected to see him again and yet there he was in the produce section, picking out the best apples.
Was it even him? Maybe she was just imagining the whole thing. Maybe this was just some mind trick. Marta thought back to the days after he had left. She thought she had seen him everywhere, in the school halls, the park, everywhere. She had spent those days blaming his parents for their separation. Why had they moved their business to Japan? Why couldn’t Stephen have stayed?
Marta was about to move away, about to escape her past when Stephen looked up and their eyes locked for the first time in ten years. Stephen felt his world stop for a moment. Was that really her? She had a different hair color, a different hairstyle altogether, she looked much curvier and sophisticated now, but there was no denying those eyes. It was her. He could feel it in his chest. He had thought a lot about her over the past ten years but had enjoyed his single life and wasn’t sure if she had still thought about him.
He smiled brightly at her and walked towards her with a purposeful step, each step filling him with excitement. He finally reached her and his smile got brighter as she seemed to be even more beautiful now.
All he wanted to do was reach out and touch her, to make sure she was real, to make sure this wasn’t just another dream, that this wasn’t just his mind playing some cruel trick. He wanted her to be real. He needed her to be real. He had been quite the ladies man in Japan. Girls naturally flocked to him because of his charm and his good looks but they were no Marta. She was his weak spot. Seeing her made him want more than to be with her, to wrap his arms around her and make her his again. After all, he was used to getting what he wanted with women, and this time wouldn’t be any different.
“M… Marta, is it really you?” Marta didn’t say anything for a while. What was she supposed to say? She wasn’t expecting to find her high school lover when she had made her grocery list this morning. All she wanted to do at that moment was walk away and never come back. She had buried his memory, the memories of them being together a long time ago and now it seemed cruel to dig them back up again.
Marta stood quietly for a very long time and finally Stephen realized that maybe he confused this woman with someone else. He felt stupid for his mistake and was about to walk away when Marta finally responded. She nodded her head and it was all that he needed to turn his whole world upside down.
Suddenly his arms were wrapped around her tightly. He squeezed her tight to his chest and held her close, lying her head on his shoulder. He could feel himself shaking, but he couldn’t stop himself. He had waited for this moment for so long and now finally she was in his arms again. It was like a dream come true until she pulled away from him.
He looked at her confused. Wasn’t she happy to see him? It had been ten years, why wasn’t she as excited as he was? It seemed unfair that she was pushing him away that she had such a cold look on her face like she wanted him to leave. What was going on?
“Stephen… we can’t… things can’t be like they used to be.” Marta held up her left hand and Stephen’s eyes locked onto the ring on her finger. His whole world dropped out from under him as he looked at that ring. He couldn’t believe it. Was she married? This couldn’t be happening. His desire to be with her again and have her for himself consumed him and he didn’t know what to do. He had to find a way for her to be his again. He wouldn’t admit to her that he still had love for her from so long ago, but all of the buried emotions flooded to him. This was an emotion he hadn’t felt since he’d been with her in high school. All of the one night stands were just play toys to him.
“Oh…” Marta could see the downcast look on his face. She knew she had just crushed his entire world, that she had just ripped out his heart and stomped all over it, but what was she supposed to do? She was married. She had tried to wait for him, but ten years was a long time to wait for someone.
“But… people have affairs all the time…” Stephen said. Before running into her, he didn’t even know that he wanted her back in his life, and now he couldn’t afford to lose her when he had just found her again. He didn’t mind keeping a dirty little secret for her.
“You… your…” Stephen paused before saying the next word, “husband… doesn’t need to know. I don’t want to ruin your life, but you know how much I care about you. I just want one night… that’s it, Marta…it’s been ten years.” There was something in his eyes, something that told Marta that he was sincere. All this man wanted was one night. He just wanted to see if that old love was still there.
“I… I don’t know Stephen. I don’t think I could cheat on my husband…” She said softly looking at him, but there was something in her voice that sounded unsure. She seemed to be contemplating the idea. Would it be worth it? As she looked at Stephen she noticed that he had gotten sexier with age. He wasn’t the t
all skinny kid he used to be, but now he was well toned and handsome. REAL handsome! The kind of handsome most women fantasize about. She looked at his tanned skin and full lips and bit her lip. Deep down there was no denying that she wanted to be with him.
“Your husband doesn’t need to know.”
Chapter 2
Despite the old emotions running through her Marta had ultimately turned down Stephen’s request. There was a part of her that desperately wanted to be with him, that had wanted to rip off his clothes right then and there and kiss him, but she had stopped herself. Somehow she had kept down the old emotions threatening to boil out of her.
No, she had a family now and she couldn’t go around having an affair. Who knew what that would do to her family? It could tear them apart and she couldn’t bear to let that happen. She had a little girl to think about.
Still, throughout the duration of her shopping trip she couldn’t get her old lover out of her head. She couldn’t get over how handsome he had gotten with age. She wondered if he had been with anyone else or if he had waited for her. Guilt started to fill her mind as she thought about this. When Stephen had left with his family for Japan she hadn’t waited for him, she instead filled the void he had left behind with other men.
Eventually one of those men, Cole, became her husband and got her pregnant. She didn’t want to marry Cole but year after year it seemed like Stephen would never come back. Marta had already assumed that Stephen had found a wife of his own across the ocean, but it seemed like he had waited for her. Marta felt guilty. What was she supposed to do?
Eventually, Marta finished her shopping and made her way home. She had told her husband she would be home by four and it was already seven. She knew he would be angry. It was already past dinner time and he would be angry. He was always angry.
Marta dreaded what was about to happen when she brought the groceries inside. She didn’t want to face Cole but what other choice did she have? She slowly opened up the door and placed the groceries on the kitchen counter. Cole was already in the kitchen looking at her. There was a disappointed look on his face and his eyes glowed, almost red, with a simmering anger as he crossed his arms and glared at her. She knew he was angry.