Against Me (Cedar Tree Book 3)

by Freya Barker

  Can't hold back the involuntary chuckle at his attempts to loosen me up. With a slap on my shoulder and a push in the direction of the door, Gus leads us back inside.

  "Left them waiting long enough. Surprised they didn't send out a search party yet."

  With Gus staying behind in Farmington for a few days, Caleb is coming home with me.

  Funny, how fast saying 'home' when referring to Cedar Tree or even the small guesthouse has taken over my vocabulary. Not a word I ever remember using without a lot of hurt and anxiety attached to it. Not now though; now it just is a place I want to be; a place I'm starting to belong. Somewhere I am wanted.

  On the verge of tears, again, I force my mind in a different direction.

  "So what happened with you and Gus? For a minute I thought you guys were going to come to blows."

  Caleb shakes his head and chuckles, "He was being a dick and he knows it, but he was also trying to make a point, and he made it. A few reasons he needs me away from the investigation, which makes sense. At least they do now, after he forcefully removed my head from my ass."

  "You're the most even-keeled and responsible person I know, what the hell do you mean you had your head up your ass?" I want to know, ready to turn back and tear a strip off Gus again. Almost did that when these guys came back into Manny's office, but Gus was quick to apologize for his words.

  "Thanks for jumping to my defence, little one, but the boss pegged it. Things were too close for me to see the forest for the trees; one of the reasons I've always been good at what I do is because I've been able to detach myself emotionally. Can't do that here, when everyone I've ever cared for is affected. I needed to step back and he made me see it. Wasn't pleasant, but it did the trick."

  Picking up my hand from my lap, he twines his fingers with mine and rests our joint hands on the centre console.

  "Still," I sputter; not as ready to forgive, but a squeeze of his hand and a quick stern look my way tells me in no uncertain terms that this subject is closed. Fine. I'll just wait to have my own showdown with Gus.

  "Tell me about the house. What has Clint been up to?"

  And just like that I am distracted when I enthusiastically tell him of all the progress that has been made since he's been gone. In fact, he hasn't even seen it since Clint started. He'll be blown away when he sees most of the downstairs done. At least it was when I left last Friday? Christ, I've been gone almost a week already.

  "All of the downstairs had floors poured and was framed in already and they were starting drywall on the weekend. Clint had some guys come down from Durango for the job and rather than sending them back and forth, he's wanting this part done at once. He'll get them back when the time comes to finish the upstairs. Kitchen was next on the list, although I think he said something about putting the heating in before the flooring? I didn't quite get all he was talking about but he said they were on top of things. Of course I haven't been to see it, it's not really my place."

  It's true, I've been itching to go have a look, but it just doesn't seem right to go and drool over a place that isn’t mine. I was hoping to see that dog again too, though.

  "What the hell, Katie? Of course it's your place, as much yours as it is mine. We'll go right away as soon as we get our stuff tucked away. I want to see the progress myself and find out how much longer before we can move in downstairs."

  Warmed at his reassurance, I'm also fighting down the panicked thoughts that this is moving fast. Way fast. Another quick squeeze on my hand has me look up to find Caleb's eyes fixed on me.

  "Thoughts, baby. What is going through your mind?"

  "Just scrambling to keep up, that's all," I admit.

  He lifts our joined hands to his mouth and kisses the back of mine.

  "Don't overthink it, just feel."

  Right. I do more than my share of 'feeling' these days, and old habits die-hard, so I still find myself trying to control every emotion, but it's almost impossible.

  It's late when we finally hit Cedar Tree. Dark already when I open my eyes from a much needed nap after the eventful day and find myself lifted in Caleb's arms and straight into the front door of the guesthouse.

  "I need to practice my muscles, you know," I tell him, secretly loving the way he totes me around like I weigh nothing, especially knowing I weigh more than my share these days. I forcefully silence the other part of me that has always been determined to be independent. The old Katie would've bristled at the thought of being hauled around like a piece of luggage. The new Katie is trying to see it as the loving and protective gesture it's meant to be.

  "I like having you in my arms," Caleb's voice rumbles from where my hand is pressed to his chest as he walks me over to the couch. With a gentle kiss on my lips, he's back out the door to grab our bags and my chair from the Tahoe.

  "Guess it's too late to head over to the barn now, but you okay going first thing in the morning? We'll have a quick breakfast, check in with Emma and Neil and head out."

  "Sounds good, babe," I say, the endearment slipping from my still sleep muddled mouth. It doesn't escape Caleb, though. He's beside me on the couch, hauling me in his lap right away.

  "Did you just call me 'Babe'?"

  A smug smile on his face, this obviously pleases him.

  "I'm sleepy, can't be held responsible for the stuff that comes out of my mouth," I try to evade, not that I have any illusion he will let me. The low growl deep in his chest only confirms that.

  "I like it."

  "Yeah?" I tease him shifting slightly on his lap when I feel the evidence of his appreciation lengthening under me. "Quite a bit, it seems."

  "Playing with fire, little one," he growls in my ear, making my nipples pucker up and pay attention. His hand slides under my shirt and skims over the skin on my lower back before dipping down in my waistband to palm my ass, and just like that I'm lit up like a flame. I kiss him hungrily while grinding myself down on his lap, the hand on my ass not doing anything to stop my wriggling. His fingers slide down my crack and I involuntarily stiffen. Something that doesn't go unnoticed.

  "Easy," he mumbles, his lips still attached to mine, "going nowhere you don't want me to go, but I suggest we take this to the bedroom. I want to be able to take my time with you."

  "My chair... I'd like my chair," I tell him, before he starts carrying me around again.

  "Later," he mumbles, licking my jaw before settling his open mouth on my neck. My entire body is tingling, but I'm desperate to regain some control.

  "Please..." I'm just about to give in to him when there is a sharp knock on the door.

  "Fuck!" Caleb is just able to pull his hand out of my pants and his mouth off my neck when the door opens and Neil comes walking in.

  Taking in my ass on Caleb's lap and I'm sure my flushed face, his mouth twists into a cocky smirk. Brat.

  "Am I interrupting something? I can come back later."

  "Wipe the stupid grin off your face, kid. Damage is already done. What's up?" Caleb asks as he slides me off his lap and on the couch.

  "Right. Emma sent me over to see if you wanted something to eat, she says she has kept some dinner warm if you're hungry and to come right over." He's about to head back out the door when he turns around. "No pressure, but knowing Emma, she'll be packing it up and bringing it over here herself. Either way, you'll have the company." Chuckling he pulls the door closed behind him.

  "I'm thinking we probably should show our faces," I suggest to Caleb, who doesn't look pleased at all. "She's been stuck here all week without Gus and with only an occasional phone call and besides, she was really upset when Gus sent her home instead of bringing her to see you. Both her and Arlene actually. They seem to have a soft spot for you."

  "Half an hour tops," is his response, "I want back here, with you under me in half an hour tops."

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  "Want some more coffee?" Emma asks puttering around in the kitchen after feeding us some fucking amazing shepherd's pie.

&n
bsp; "No thanks, we should head out."

  We've been here almost two hours now and when I look over at Katie, she is nodding off in her chair. Time to get her home and in bed. I filled Neil and Emma in on most of what I know so far; which isn't saying much. The fire has been confirmed as arson and was started in the mudroom off the kitchen and it looks like they approached the house on foot through the fields in the back. The only evidence found where some size twelve-foot prints at the edge of the property leading to the house. Generic brand of runners so not particularly helpful at this time, until they get something to compare it to. Frustrating as all hell, since I know damn well who was behind it.

  Neil has little to report, other than that things have been quiet in Cedar Tree. Time to take Katie home. She isn't happy when I push her chair along the path to the guesthouse, but only grumbles half-heartedly. She looks exhausted and so I leave her to do her thing in the bathroom and bedroom while I tidy up and lock up. By the time I get to the bedroom she is already asleep in bed. Not gonna wake her up just because I am still walking around with a hard-on. Instead I opt for a shower before I slide in beside her. The warm water and my hand can take the edge off tonight.

  A slight shift in the mattress wakes me up the next morning and I can just see Katie slipping into the bathroom. Lying there contemplating how I can get her back in bed, I hear the shower turn on, which immediately creates a new possibility. I'm out of bed in a flash and with a quick grab from the bedside table, I slip into the bathroom, just in time to stop her from sliding the shower door closed on me. Startled she tries to cover her body and looks up from the specially installed seat that folds out from the wall.

  "What are you doing?"

  It takes me less than a second to step out of my boxer briefs and slide into the extra large shower stall.

  "I woke up alone. That messed with my plans this morning, so I am adjusting to the new situation."

  From her position, Katie is eye level with my cock and damn if that is not a huge turn on. Already hard with morning wood, her close perusal of my crotch only makes me harder.

  "Mmm, last time I found myself in this position you didn't know how fast to get away from me," she says with a teasing smile on her face, "I just don't know if I can take the risk."

  "Maybe I can convince you?" I sink to my knees in front of her, letting the hot water run down my back. Holding on to the back of her knees I pull her forward to the edge of the seat, I spread her legs and move in between while pulling them up on my shoulders and pushing the front of the seat up, so her pussy is lined up with my mouth―just where I want it. With one hand holding on to the grab bar on the side and the other the seat under her butt, Katie's head falls back against the wall while she bites her bottom lip. When I blow on her distended clit, just visible as I spread her open with my thumbs, I can see the goose bumps rise on her skin and a sharp hiss escapes her. So fucking beautiful and responsive. Her heavy-lidded eyes never leave mine as I put my mouth over her and slide my tongue into her entrance.

  "Ahh," she breathes out with a slight shiver running down her limbs.

  "I could live off you, you know that?" I mumble, lapping at her arousal that is now thickly coating her swollen lips. With one hand I reach and twist one of the showerheads so it is pulsing a steady stream just above the hood over her clit and her mouth falls open as her body is starting to ready for relief. By raising and lowering the seat I control the angle of the pulsating water and tease her mercilessly, keeping her teetering on the cusp of an orgasm.

  "I need to come, please, Caleb,"

  Both her hands are clawing at my hair in desperation, so I plunge and twist two fingers inside her while sucking hard on the little nerve cluster. With a high-pitched scream, she finally finds her release and I can't take my eyes off her. Her mouth wide open, panting and with a high flush on her cheeks she is the most beautiful thing I've seen. Lowering her legs and the seat, I put my cheek on her thigh, looking my fill while lightly stroking my fingers over her softly curved stomach. So soft. Her fingers drift through my hair as she comes down from her high and smiles.

  "I can't reach you when you're down there."

  No need to tell me twice. I've imagined her mouth around my cock for years. I'm on my feet in an instant, making her chuckle.

  "Eager much?"

  "Baby, have mercy," I smile down at her, her short hair slicked down like a helmet on her head, her eyelashes clumped together under the downpour of the water. Eyes bright and challenging as she leans forward and holds my eyes as that little pink tongue peeks out and licks the bead of pre-cum off the crown of my dick. When her hand folds around me with a firm grip and she slides me into the warm heat of her mouth, a low groan escapes me.

  "Won't take much, little one. Your mouth feels amazing on me," I grunt out. Unable to hold back my hips start surging forward, fucking her mouth, and when she swallows on the tip of my cock all control slips away. I struggle not to pound out my release and her hand wrapped around the base of my shaft is the only thing protecting her from my cock being buried balls deep down her throat. Her other hand anchors on my hip, both encouraging my movements and holding me back from going to deep.

  "Fuuuck, Katie!" I bellow as I try pulling out. I feel my balls drawing up tight and my orgasm surging through me, but she sucks me deep without spilling one drop.

  "Morning!" Beth greets us as we enter the diner. "Early lunch or late breakfast?"

  Katie snorts when I say, "Had a late start."

  We had moved our activities from the shower to the bed after Katie gave me that earth shattering blow job, and I was surprised to find myself ready to go almost immediately again. Maybe it's the years of drought, or maybe it's just Katie, but I'm insatiable around her.

  "How's the house coming along?" Beth inquires. "That Neanderthal of a contractor, Clint, comes in regularly, but he rarely does more than grunt at me. What an ass. Good thing he does good work, at least he did on the diner."

  Beth hands us menus as soon as we take our seats.

  "We haven't actually been to see it. Plan is to go after breakfast."

  "I had no idea you felt so strongly about Clint, Beth?" Katie teases, "Not that I haven't had my run-in with him, but after our initial clash, I've actually found him to be not too bad."

  "For all his looks, he has the personality of a primate," Beth returns through tight lips. "Anywho, coffee?"

  After she pours us a cup and we put in our orders, she goes to check on her other tables.

  "Interesting," Katie observes, looking after her, and I agree. Methinks the lady doth protests too much.

  When she comes back with our breakfast, I ask how things have been at the diner.

  "Actually, pretty busy. We're getting a lot of 'new' regulars from the Cortez area coming in since the re-opening. This past week we've had another few new faces, although only one less friendly. On Tuesday he was downright rude. He just wanted a coffee and must've sat at that window table for about two hours straight. Every time Julie or I would check to see if he wanted something else, he'd just glare until we walked away. The next time was over the dinner rush on Thursday and at that time at least he ordered a burger, although he hardly ate a thing. Sat at the same damn table though."

  Katie throws me a look, obviously having similar thoughts.

  "Other than that he was rude, did anything stand out about him?" I ask Beth calmly. She puts her hand on her hip and tilts her head when she looks at me.

  "Something going on? I can't help noticing the gathering of the GFI team. First Katie here moves down, then you take off and Neil comes down, following Katie around like a puppy. Now you're back, but I haven't seen Gus in a while and Arlene mentioned something in passing about a fire at your parents?"

  Should've known nothing much would go unnoticed or stay quiet here for long. So I give her as much as I'm comfortable with. "Yes, we're working a case that may draw some unwanted interest to Cedar Tree, which is why I'm kinda interested in any new faces."


  "Oh, wow. Well, I can tell you the first time he was well dressed, shoes polished, creased slacks and an earring in his right ear. Brown eyes and clean-shaven, I'd say about thirty-five years to forty years old and likely Hispanic from his coloring and his initial order for coffee. Not married that I can recall, at least he wasn't wearing a ring and it didn't look like he'd worn one for any length of time. The second time he was more casually dressed, jeans, work boots and had I not seem him dressed up before, I would've pegged him for a working man because he appeared to have some kind of injury on his hand. It was bandaged up. Curiously, this time I couldn't detect an accent but I'm sure it was the same guy. You think that is significant?"

  My mouth is literally hanging open. This woman is amazing. She had pretty complete descriptions for both times the man was in. I see Katie with the same stunned look on her face I must be wearing.

  "Wow, that is quite the party trick, Beth," Katie manages, "why the hell aren't you working for GFI yet?"

  Beth lets out a bark of laughter, "You kidding me? Arlene can barely handle me, what makes you think Gus can?"

  "Got a point there," I agree, surprised and impressed by Beth's observation skills. "If I leave you my phone number, you think you can shoot me a text or give me a call if you see anyone else who seems out of place?"

  Big grin on her face, she answers, "Abso-fucking-lutely! This is so cool. Wait 'til I tell my son."

  "Yeah, perhaps keep the whole investigation bit to yourself for now, okay? I don't want to alert everyone."

  The barn is not the quiet place it was before; trucks and piles of building materials are littering the front drive and it's clear activity is at a high level when we drive up. Both barn doors in the front are open and a crew is busy installing massive curved windows in the openings. It looks fantastic. When we get out of the truck Clint, who must've seen us coming up the drive, comes out to greet us.

  "You came at a perfect time. Big glass doors in the back went in this morning and we're just doing these ones now. Floors were finished yesterday and we can finish cabinetry in the kitchen as soon as the window is placed. Top cabinets are in, and we were waiting for the flooring to go down for the bottom ones. Give us another day or two and the downstairs will be habitable."