Coming Home (The Morgans)

by Savanna Grey

  “Funny, Kev.” Tori snarled at her friend. “It’s not like we are going to jump each other’s bones in the truck.”

  “A guy can dream, can’t he?” Drue asked devilishly.

  Tori blushed. “Let’s go.”

  Drue patted her butt as she passed in front of him for good measure and arched his eyebrows mischievously.

  “Remember what you said about handling matches, Morgan?” Tori asked Drue.

  He just grinned from ear to ear as they headed out of the house to the county fair.

  Tori loved the sensations elicited from the smells at the county fair. Nowhere else were you exposed to vinegar on French fries, fried bologna, Indian bread, corn dogs and cotton candy all in one place. The dings, bells and whistles followed by cheers from the crowds as games were played and lost while shrieks and screams from the occupants of the roller coasters rang through the air as they crested and turned.

  Drue watched Tori’s expression as they entered the fair. Her eyes lit up with anticipation and excitement just like a child. Her natural competitiveness made her adrenaline kick in and her pulse speed up. Her excitement and anticipation was contagious.

  “Where to first?” Drue asked.

  “Cotton Candy.” She answered. Kevin stepped in.

  “Uh, that’s a big fat negative. Not if you plan to ride.” he told Tori.

  “You’re not the boss of me.” Tori answered Kevin playfully. Just as he was about to retort, Drue stepped in.

  “Don’t make me separate you two already.” He picked Tori up and placed her on his left side opposite Kevin and laughed.

  “Stick that lip out any further and I might have to do something with it.” Drue teased.

  Tori thought she liked the sound of that. Drue saw the response in her eyes. ‘Later, spitfire.”

  Drue had never really called her anything other than Victoria, but when he did, she liked it. It fit with him.

  “I’ve got a match…” she said and laughed.

  He smacked her backside just enough so it carried a little sting. “You’ll pay for that.” She told him.

  “Let’s get this dare over with, so I can kick Kevin’s butt at water guns.” Tori grabbed Drue’s hand and led the group to the spinning buckets line.

  “Don’t fail me now, stomach.” she said to herself mostly, but Drue heard her.

  “Worried?” he asked. “No, of course not.” she answered, but maybe she was just a little concerned. She hadn’t ridden a ride like this for several years. Throwing up on your date just wouldn’t provoke a positive response, she didn’t imagine.

  They loaded into the buckets, Drue with Tori and Kevin with Katy. The buckets slowly moved clockwise upward, beginning to swing as they moved. Drue saw Tori clench her fists at her sides. He placed his hand over hers, and as she opened her fist, he clasped it in his.

  She felt her stomach come into her chest as they did the first upside down spin. “Oh, Lord.” she thought. Then they were in full swing- or spin. Round and round they went until Tori wondered if they were ever going to stop and then they did. The attendant opened the cage door and Drue exited helping Tori do the same.

  “I did it, and I didn’t throw up on you!” she said with adolescent excitement and grabbed Drue to give him a celebratory kiss.

  He didn’t release her immediately. He lingered lowering his lips to hers a second time for a more gentle touch. He flicked his tongue out to run along her lower lip and sucked. Her sharp intake of breath and her body leaning closer in to his told him of her reaction without any words.

  They parted slowly and smiled.

  Kevin interrupted by jumping down from the basket with Katy in tow. “What’s next?” How about the Mega Loop?”

  They rode four more rides before grabbing a quick bite to eat. Tori checked her watch. They had fourty-five minutes until the Carolina Moon concert started, so they headed over to the amphitheater to insure they could get good seats.

  “I love these guys. I can’t believe we get the chance to see them.” Katy shared.

  “You’re a country music fan?” Kevin asked surprised. “I would have pegged you for a new ager being such a hip city girl.”

  “Stereo-type much?” Katy mocked. “I may live in Chicago, but I grew up in a small farm town in Indiana. “Is there any other kind of music?” she asked.

  Shaking his head he said, “Guess that just goes to prove you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, huh?”

  The foursome made their way to the theater where they were able to procure fourth row center stage seats. The girls were ecstatic. While they waited for the concert to begin, several people passed that they recognized.

  “Tori Winslow, I didn’t know you were back in town.” A tall lanky woman with pretty blonde hair with a pony-tail, short jean mini-skirt and bright red lipstick stopped beside their row.

  “Hi, Suzanne.” Tori greeted the woman. “Yes, I got back in a few days ago.”

  “Well, you need to come by the diner and catch up.” The girl Tori had been on the cheerleading squad with in high school continued. “I know Mom would love to see you. We were so sorry to here about your grandma.”

  “Thanks, Suzanne. I’ll be sure and do that.”

  Several more friends and acquaintances of both Tori, Kevin and Drue’s stopped by to say hello.

  “We are most certainly not in Chicago anymore.” Katy said smiling. “It’s like being where everybody knows your name, but it’s not a bar, it’s a town.” she finished laughingly.

  Tori thought about what Katy had said as someone came on stage to announce the band. Growing up she’d thought her life had been too sheltered in this small town. She’d wanted to see and do more. That’s why she went to school in Arizona and took the editing job in Chicago. She’d wanted to spread her wings.

  While she loved her life in Chicago with her friends and her job, she never realized or maybe admitted how rooted she was here, and how coming home this time had felt as natural as if she had never left.

  She looked over at Drue as he sat beside her saying something to Kevin. Things can change in an instant, and they had. With her grandmother passing, she and Drue sparking off each other from the moment she had returned, and the news her publishing company was taking on her book, she felt overwhelmed. Quite frankly she was scared, especially when it came to her and Drue. She’d thought she’d buried her feelings for him and now having the seams of her emotions burst wide open at his very touch was like riding over the edge of a waterfall. It’s beautiful while it’s happening, but at the end of the ride will it end safely or will it end in disaster? Tori wasn’t afraid of taking risks in search of true happiness, but she was afraid of losing the Morgans all together if this relationship with Drue didn’t turn out as she hoped.

  The lights dimmed and the music started as the band appeared on stage. A cool breeze blew Tori’s hair across her face and she stood and cheered the band on. Drue watched the delight she expressed in listening to the band. She sang along as they played one of her favorite songs, swaying back and forth with the music.

  She was a beautiful sight, her auburn hair curling down her back and blowing in the slight wind. Her cheeks were blushed from the chill and her eyes were sparkling. She looked happy, thought Drue and that made him smile. He’d been doing a lot of that since she’d come home. It made him happy just to be around her. If he were really being honest, he had to admit it had always made him happy to be with her, except for the inner battle he’d waged through his teenage years to ignore the attraction he felt for her.

  Even now he couldn’t quite believe that he had given in and that it was him and not Kevin that she wanted. He wasn’t going to try and figure it all out. All he knew is he wanted to be with her, and he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He was accepting it, and he had no intentions of giving it back.

  The band played for almost two hours and came back for two encores.

  “That was a fantastic show!” Katy said with exub
erance. ‘Now where do you all go to have some fun around here?”

  “I thought we were having fun.” answered Tori.

  “You know what I mean.” Katy continued. “To have a drink and celebrate your book being published.”

  Tori looked at her watch. It was after eleven o’clock. She knew Drue and Kevin didn’t have to get up as early tomorrow as it was Sunday morning, but she also knew they were tired from working all day today. Katy also had to drive home tomorrow.

  “It’s late, Katy.” Tori replied. “How about we take a rain check?” she asked.

  “I’ll agree to that, but only if you make your famous enchiladas.” Kevin chimed in as he grabbed Tori by the waist and swung her around as if they were dancing to a Mexican corrida dance.

  She laughed and extracted herself from his arms crying “Uncle! You win. Enchiladas it is.”

  Drue couldn’t help but frown at the two as they danced around. He knew they both said they were just friends, but everything flowed so easily between them. His subconscious just wouldn’t let go of the possibility of the two of them together, and that was what caused him to frown.

  He walked over to Tori and slipped his arm around her waist as if he were staking his claim.

  He kicked his thoughts to the curb and smiled down at Tori, not wanting to ruin a good night.

  “Ready to head home?” he asked.

  “Yes, let’s go.” She answered. “I’ll see you back at the house, Katy. Keep your hands to themselves.” She winked at her friend and hugged Kevin good-bye.

  Tori and Drue walked hand-in-hand toward the exit in companionable silence, his thumb caressing the inside of her palm.

  They were greeted by several neighbors as the made their way to the truck.

  “It’s as if I had never moved away from here.” Tori told Drue.

  “Is that a good feeling or a bad feeling?” Drue asked uncertain.

  “Oh, definitely good.” she replied. “It’s like being a piece of a puzzle that fits no matter how many times you take it apart and put it back together. It belongs.”

  Smiling she snuggled closer as they walked. Drue’s arm held her closer around her waist.

  “You do fit, Tori.” Drue answered seriously. “This is your home.”

  They reached Drue’s truck in the parking lot field that was starting to empty out after the concert.

  He opened the passenger door and helped Tori climb in, lingering just a whisper holding her hand.

  Drue crossed around the front of the vehicle, and as he slid into the driver’s seat, Tori smiled up at him.

  “Thank you for tonight.” she started. “I haven’t had that much fun in a long time.”

  “Me either.” Drue replied. “I don’t think it would have been half as much fun without you here. You’re pretty fearsome with a water gun in your hand.” he said teasingly as he remembered her slaughtering Kevin in the water gun horse race three times in a row.

  Her laughter mingled with his as he started up the truck, and they pulled out of the lot towards home.

  Tori yawned and Drue pulled her to him.

  “Slide on over and lay your head on my shoulder.”

  There was plenty of room in his dual cab truck. As she moved over and laid her head against his shoulder, Drue placed his hand on her thigh protectively.

  The radio played soft country music and as they drove the thirty-minute drive back to Oak Creek, he absently caressed her leg.

  Tingling sensations traveled up her body at his touch. In response Tori’s hand had begun caressing his chest in small circular motions.

  “Keep that up, and I’m going to have to pull over.” Drue said as he cleared his throat.

  Tori grinned. “Why?” she asked. “Do you need to check the tire pressure?”

  “More like my blood pressure.” Drue growled.

  Tori lifted her head and twisted slightly in the seat.

  “Really?” she asked. “Well let me just look you over and see if we can identify the problem.”

  She leaned into him and flicked her tongue against the inside of his ear, blowing lightly against it.

  Drue shifted in his seat, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

  “Victoria, I’m warning you.” he said through clenched teeth.

  A thrill ran down her spine as she witnessed the effect she was having on him. How many times had she wished she could be this close to him?

  She continued her attentions by nipping at his neck and licking each spot as if to soothe where her teeth had just been.

  Her tongue seared his skin. Heat spread to his mid-section and his jeans became unbearably tight as the evidence of her effect on him could not be hidden. He had the hard on of his life.

  “Hmm…” Tori whispered into his ear. “Definitely sensing an increase in the pulse at the base of your neck.”

  Drue’s knuckles were now white wrapped around the steering wheel.

  “You seem a little tense.” she said as she gently massaged his shoulder.

  She couldn’t believe she was pushing him like this, watching as his control slipped little by little.

  Drue always held on to his control, and to know she was the cause of his reaction right now drove her excitement up another level.

  Suddenly the truck took a hard left and slammed Tori against Drue.

  She managed to sit upright and looked up confused at what had just happened.

  “Was there an animal in the road?” was her first thought.

  Then she saw they had turned onto a dirt road in between two cornfields. Where was he going, she wondered?

  “Taking the scenic route home?” she questioned.

  Drue didn’t respond. He drove a few miles down the dirt road and came to a clearing underneath a large oak tree.

  He pulled the truck beside the tree and put it in park.

  “Drue, What are we…?”

  She got no further with her question as Drue turned to her, wrapped his arms around her and assaulted her lips with a molten kiss.

  Her response was instantaneous. Her arms wrapped around his neck as her fingers tangled in his hair.

  His hair had grown a little longer this summer and looked slightly unkempt in a sexy kind of way. She really liked it.

  His hands roamed her back down to her bottom and cupped her, molding her even closer into him.

  Opening up to him, his tongue invaded her mouth as he drew in her sweet taste.

  He pushed her back down to the leather seat as he struggled to be closer to her.

  He needed to be close to her, couldn’t think of anything else at this moment. He just plain needed her.

  Need intensified as she rubbed her body against his, sensations overtaking them both.

  Heat pooled between her legs. She wrapped her ankles around his legs pushing into him, his erection digging into her through their jeans.

  As his hand cupped her breast kneading the taunt nipple as he kissed her neck, she reached for him.

  She rubbed against his manhood and felt him jerk in his jeans.

  Was she really being this bold? God help her because she couldn’t help herself.

  She loved this man. Oh, God! She loved him.

  That thought was like an icy bucket of cold water to Tori’s libido.

  She had never stopped loving him. She had been fooling herself for so long that the feelings she had for Drue had been buried and gone.

  All it took was a week being home and she was in over her head.

  She knew he had feelings for her too, obviously, but love?

  If she put herself out there like this, it could lead to heartbreak again just like six years ago.

  It took a moment for Drue to realize she had pulled back from him.

  His head came up and he looked into her eyes.

  “Drue, we need to slow down.” She said into his passion-filled gaze.

  She knew the same emotions were reflected in her eyes along with something that probably looked like fear. She hop
ed he wasn’t that perceptive in the dark.

  They broke apart, needing to take in air, their chests heaving, but Drue did not lessen his hold.

  He turned his head into her neck breathing in her fresh scent. He touched his forehead to hers as he had done before, trying to get his lust-filled body under control.

  “God, I’ve wanted to do that all night.” Drue said as he brushed his hand along her cheek.

  “Guess things were getting a little out of hand.” he continued. “But don’t expect me to apologize this time, because I’m not going to.”

  He stared at Tori waiting for her to say something.

  She smiled up at him.

  “I’m certainly glad of that, because I’d hate to have to water you down again.”she teased.

  He chuckled as he untangled his body with hers and sat upright.

  He helped her come back to a sitting position beside him.

  Both were drawing in deep breaths of air, trying to calm their heated bodies.

  “What are we doing, Drue?” Tori asked quietly.

  “I would have thought that was pretty obvious, but if I need to explain it…” Drue teased.

  He then saw the trepidation on hers face and sobered instantly.

  “I’m serious, Drue.” she continued, twisting the flap of her blouse in between her hands looking down to avoid facing him.

  “Do you know that every time you walk into viewing distance I can’t think of anything else except getting my hands on you, even if it’s just to hold your hand.” Drue admitted to Tori.

  “It’s never been like that with anyone else. Only you. I want to be with you, talk with you, share my day, but most of all I want to hold you, to love you Tori. I’ve never wanted anything more.”

  He tipped her chin up to force her to look him in the eye.

  “I never dreamed it possible to be able to hold you like this, to tell you how I really felt.” he said as he rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip.

  “I let Kevin be my excuse, because I was afraid to find out otherwise, so I told myself that you were off limits.”