Crossroads

by K. M. Liss

  “That is the most amazing sunset I've ever seen.” Tiffany lay close to me, her thigh pressed against mine.

  “Lap it up, it's the highlight of the tour.”

  “Maybe,” she said cryptically.

  Philipa sat beside me sipping a Dr Pepper and munching some potato chips noisily. I tugged her plaited pigtail and she poked my arm, then placed her little hand in mine, before she lay down.

  Although I'd had a lot of wonderful and exciting moments in my life, getting wildly drunk; riding my horse hard; tucking down, flying on my bike and not to mention, a shit load of excitement in the arms of way too many women, it all paled in comparison to that moment.

  It was like a light came on in my head. I'd been in the dark, feeling my way around, wondering what the hell life was all about. And suddenly I knew. Here, with these two girls, sitting in the peaceful beauty of nature, stone cold sober, with no bike, nothing of monetary value, I'd found it.

  I don't think I'd ever felt so happy and so contented as I did right now. I wanted a whole lot more of this kind of feeling.

  Tiffany rolled on her side, leaning over me and traced my face with a stalk of grass. She tickled my nose, then placed the end of it on my lips. I opened my mouth, as she probed inside, gently twisting it over my tongue. With a smile, she looked across at Philipa, watching her for a moment. I turned my head. Her eyes were closed.

  Tiffany, bent down and whispered in my ear. “She's napping.” I slipped her hand from mine and turned to face my girl.

  I rested on my elbow and put my hand on the swell of her hip. Heat rushed through me as she started kissing my face. Tiny kisses, fleeting touches of wet tongue. She drew back and we stared in the fading light.

  “Come closer gorgeous,” I said, pulling her tight against the length of me.

  My heart skipped a long beat.

  I sank into her, taking hold of all that I wanted so badly. Fuck did she feel good. Way better than I remembered. I groaned with pleasure at her touch. Her scent was making me high. I stroked her neck with my lips, nipping her ear and squeezed her sweet little ass, pulling her hips against mine, letting her feel my hardness growing fast between us. She wrapped her leg across me, rocking her hips in a way that seemed to be simulating sex. Not that I was complaining.

  I ate her soft moan, devouring her mouth and tongue. My lust-fogged brain filled with pleasure as she kissed me back, enthusiastically, her tongue moving in my mouth in a wildly arousing, hot rhythm.

  I was lost in sensation. I felt like I was floating in her arms, the sound of my blood and the river raging through my head.

  But nothing more than this was gonna happen here, not with Philipa snoozing two feet away.

  I gently caressed her face and body, exploring all her contours. Her hands roamed all over me, and up into my hair, tugging at the roots, sending waves of pleasure cascading through me. We were oblivious to time and the dusk falling all around us.

  I'd never enjoyed a kiss so goddamn much. She kissed me like it was the last one she'd ever have, putting her heart and soul into it. I couldn't help but respond in the same way. We were breathless, but neither of us cared about breathing. Who needed air for crissakes?

  She rolled on top of me, her long hair tumbling all around us like a sensual curtain of silk.

  Images started to flash through my head. Naked, very physical images of us together.

  I'd never wanted anyone this much. And it hurt. Deep in the pit of my belly, a fire roared for her.

  I needed a whole lot more than this kiss; I needed to touch every part of her bare skin.

  I wanted hours and hours of my mouth on her and hers all over me. I could almost taste her coming in my mouth. Heat flooded me and my cock strained, aching for release, in the tight confines of my jeans.

  Her hand slipped down between us, over my stomach. I tensed as she undid the button, unzipped a little and inched inside my jeans, as if she instinctively knew I wanted her to feel me. She gripped me hard, her fingers tight around my erection, and oh fuck, the wild feelings that were pulsating in my groin as she rubbed me up and down, couldn't be described with mere words. Everything screamed inside me to take this further, all the way to the finish line.

  “Josh... oh, God... you feel so hot and so, so good,” she moaned against my ear.

  I started to lose control, moving against her hand, my breathing fast and urgent, my mouth finding hers in a frenzy of lips and tongues.

  Fuck, I need to stop this right now.

  I extracted her hand, while I still could, and pushed her off me, a little roughly and abruptly. I rolled up and fixed myself, then took the few steps to the river side of the rock, staring down at the ripples of water in the soft moonlight. The gentle bubbling sound of untamed water soothed me, not much, but it was something.

  “Josh, baby,” She came to stand at my side, picking up my hand. “Are you okay?”

  “No, I'm not. I want you like fucking crazy, babe” I turned away, raking my hair with my hands in severe frustration. “Shit!”

  She circled me and stepped into my arms, resting her head on my chest. My heart was pounding out of my body. I stroked her hair, grabbing gorgeous thick handfuls. She looked up at me, her face shadowed, so beautiful and desirable in the dusky light, that I almost lost my mind.

  “I'm sorry, that was my fault. I shouldn't have done that. Not with my sister here. I got carried away. You seem to have that effect on me.”

  “Yeah, likewise,” I understood completely, I wasn't really capable of thinking straight when she came onto me.

  “I want you to know, that I'm going to trust you.”

  “Well that's good, I guess?”

  She ran her fingertip around my lips and jaw. I stopped breathing with the way she was looking at me, her eyes so full of desire. She wanted me just as bad as I wanted her.

  “Yeah, it is. Today I've seen so much more to you than the tough guy I met in the bar. That act of yours is a sham, sweetie pie. I like this you, the real you, so much better, Josh. I'll remember this day forever. It's been the best. A wonderful date. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.” She leaned in and kissed the side of my mouth.

  “Hell no, you've seen through my tough bastard? Fuck that's bad! Keep the sweetie-pie between us, okay? Got a rep to maintain.”

  But they were sweet words, from a sweet girl. It was touching in a way I couldn't describe. I felt a warm glow filling my chest, a sensation I'd never had before.

  Our eyes met, comfortably, in a long, mutual stare of deep admiration.

  “I like the real you too, babe...give me more of it, and less of the smart mouth.”

  I hugged her to me, pressing kisses all over her head.

  “The two of us are pretty full on, can we try to take it slower, d'you think? Get to know each other some more?”

  “You think you can keep your hands off my dick, do you?” I reminded her of what she'd been doing, which almost sent me crazy a few minutes ago.

  She giggled sexily. “I'm going to make sure I manage that, for a while.”

  “Then I have no choice, do I?” I smiled, resigned to my frustrated fate.

  “Not really.”

  “Cool. Blue balls here I come.”

  I lit a cigarette and we both sat on the rock, hanging our legs over the edge, arms around each other.

  “Horrible habit, smoking, you ought to quit,” she grinned.

  “Tell me about it. The bastard things are killing me.” I took a long drag on it and stubbed it out. Maybe I'll try quitting again, for her sake. It couldn't taste that great, kissing a smoker.

  Her hand gently stroked my side, and I hung my arm over her shoulder, playing with her hair, winding it round my fingers.

  I turned to her and we both broke into a smile.

  “What does your mom do, babe?”

  “She works in a laundry in Manhattan.”

  “No dad around?”

  “No. My Mom hasn't had a lot of luck in that respect. He
r three guys haven't had much staying power, family-wise.”

  “That's a shame.”

  “Mom's had a hard time. She admits some of it was her fault, her lack of schooling didn't help, and she made bad decisions; chose the wrong men. That's why I'm like I am. I've learned by her mistakes. I don't want to struggle like she did. Neither do I want to rely on anyone and be let down. I want my own money and a good job. I don't want to work in a laundry, that's for sure, it sucks the life out of her. I want to get her out of there asap.”

  I understood her motives and focus in life very well. It must have been hard to see that happen to her mom. It would mold her way of thinking about her life.

  “How are you doing, studying the law?”

  “It's real hard. Much harder than I imagined.”

  “You'll do fine, you're a smart girl.”

  “I do my best. I may not be top of the class, but I'm not bottom either. I won a scholarship, or else I couldn't afford to study. All my tuition fees are paid. Mom helps me out, when she can, and now I have my job at the bar, but it's a constant struggle financially.”

  “Tell me about it. My rich pa don't pay me much cash either. My Harley is on five year finance. And, no kidding, it's all I possess.”

  She turned toward me, her eyes widening in surprise.

  “Really? I imagined you'd be quite well paid.”

  “Uh-uh,” I shook my head, “so if you're expecting expensive jewelry and designer gear, you'll be waiting a while,” I snorted a laugh.

  “I'll ignore that comment. I don't expect anything, from anyone. But you head the Riders team don't you?”

  “Unofficially, yes. But I have issues with my dad. He treats me like shit. I'll tell you about it sometime, right now I don't want to spoil my evening.”

  She hugged me tighter and kissed my cheek.

  “Yeah, another time. I'd like to know about you. All kinds of things.”

  I don't know why, but something totally random sprang to mind.

  “While I remember, I noticed your mom's truck needs attention. If your mom brings it to the ranch, I'll get one of my guys to take a look, and that'll be no charge, just in case you were wondering.”

  “That would be great. The garage quoted us four hundred, labor and parts.”

  “Col will take a look and go from there.”

  “Thank you. My mom will be pleased to hear that.”

  There was a noise of movement from Philipa, a yawn and a rustling sound.

  We turned as she stretched. “We'd better get going. It's getting kinda late. Let's get the little lady home to bed. All this fresh air has knocked her out.”

  I packed up, gathering the remains of food and drink, and turned on the LED night-finder torches, fixing them on the horses tack. It was amazing, the amount of light they threw out. Horses could travel the route back in the pitch dark, but I liked to see where we were going.

  We set off on the return journey.

  Half way back to the ranch, my cellphone rang. I took a quick look.

  Kicker...?

  I'd left him in charge, while Col went for a drink with a few of the guys in town.

  “Hey man, everything cool?”

  “Uh-uh, 'fraid not pal. Sam and Pete just got back from riding the perimeter at Daisy. There's four Angus shot in the head. And one... listen to this... one was only set alight. Fucking half the grazing field has been razed!”

  “No? But how? No one but the ranch hands knows they're there Kicker... What the hell...?” My whole body tensed with a surge of frustrated anger. I felt sick to the pits of my stomach.

  “And that's not all. Col and Lucky are in the slammer.”

  “Jesus fucking Christ!”

  “Sheriff Jenkins just called your old man. Charlie told me... and you ain't gonna like this... Tell my useless bastard of a son to deal with this, if he can spare the time from getting drunk.”

  My whole body was riled up with my father's words. Wasn't I allowed one day off a week? And all I'd drunk was Pepsi Max. Shit!

  Fuck him, FUCK HIM. The bastard!

  I bit hard on my tongue, trying not to explode in a rage of the worst kind of expletives in my present company. “Look, I'm forty minutes away, coming back with the Johnson girls from the creek. I can't do anything about the cattle until morning, but I'll get to town soon as I can.”

  “I was about to leave, to go see Cherry at her place, but I'll hang around. I guess you need some support, huh?”

  “Thanks Kicker. I'd appreciate that.”

  I put my phone away, staring ahead in the dark.

  “Trouble?” Tiffany asked.

  “There's always something. Four cattle down―shot. One burned.”

  “Really? Who'd want to do that?”

  “I don't know, but I plan to find out, starting tomorrow.”

  We arrived in the yard in thirty minutes, after quickening our pace.

  Kicker came out of the bunk house and I introduced him to the girls.

  “What happened to your head?” Philipa asked, pointing at his scar.

  “Don't be so personal, sweetie,” Tiffany admonished..

  He held his hands up. He loved telling his tale.“No, it's okay. I'm proud of it―I got kicked by a cranky old bull who was having a real bad day.”

  “Oh no! Did it hurt?”

  “Yeah, a whole bunch of hurt. Knocked me out cold. Concussion for two days,” he chuckled.

  “Where's the cranky bull? Can I see it?”

  “No, he's gone, been moved through my system.”

  “Where's he gone?”

  “Every last steak and rib, gone to the Great Valley of Consumption, girl.”

  “Where's the Great Valley of Consumption?”

  “You're looking at it.”

  We all sniggered but Philipa looked confused. Probably for the best. Kicker had had the last laugh with the bull. Insisted he ate it all. It had taken quite a while, and the meat was dead tough, but he'd got there in the end.

  We sorted out the horses quickly and left the stable, making for the barn where we left our bikes.

  I had my little passenger gripping on for dear life, digging her nails in my stomach quite painfully, all the way home, and squealing loudly and excitedly in my ear. It was dead cute.

  We dropped the girls at their place. Philipa insisted on kissing me goodnight. Hard, full on the lips. Kicker sniggered at my side until he had to have his turn. He got a much bigger smacker than me. I guessed she was sweet on him.

  “Now Tiffany's turn,” she said, looking at me.

  I got off my bike and kissed her cheek. I felt her smile as my lips touched down.

  “There, happy now?”

  “That wasn't a proper kiss. Do it again, on her mouth.” Philipa demanded, crossing her arms and frowning.

  “It's okay, take no notice,” Tiffany whispered. “She can be a little precocious. It's not her fault, but she has boundary issues.”

  But at the end of the day, I wasn't having her disappointed. “It's no problem, let's satisfy the little lady's request.” I took hold of my girl, wrapped her arms around me, and gave her a long, sexy, knee-weakening kiss, that left us both gasping. “How's that?” I turned to Philipa, feeling lightheaded.

  “That was a lot better. I'm tingly all over, are you?”

  “Hell yeah, sweetheart, I'm definitely tingling somewhere I could mention.”

  “I like that feeling,” she said. It was so innocent and yet so funny, we couldn't help but laugh.

  “I bet you do. Don't like it too much, it'll get you in all kinds of trouble,” I warned her.

  “Come on you,” Tiffany said tutting at her good-naturedly, “enough with the tingling kissing. Go cuddle Harry bear, you can kiss him all you like. He's safe enough.”

  Philipa's wide smile beamed at us. I guessed she'd loved her outing. “Night Josh, night Kicker. Have a nice ride home. I had a lovely time. Lovely horses, Lovely food. Lovely bikes. Lovely. Thank you. And bye bye.”

 
“Night guys,” Tiffany took her sisters hand. We waved as we watched them go inside. Tiffany waved once more from the door, popping her head back and blowing me a sweet and very hot little kiss, before disappearing.

  I sighed like a stupid love-struck idiot.

  Maybe I was a love-struck idiot?

  Nah...not quite yet anyways.

  “Jeez, what a doll.”

  I know, keep your eyes off my girl.”

  “No, I meant her sister.”

  “Oh ha ha... she's thirteen years old, man. Shit.”

  “Yeah,” he scratched his jaw, “maybe I'll come back in five years or so.”

  “You've got Cherry. She's goddamn beautiful!”

  “I know, just kidding around. You know me.” he grinned, his usual carefree grin.

  “I suppose we'd better go. Col must have a fucking good reason for being in jail. But as for Lucky, I've a good mind to leave him there.”

  “Do everyone a lot of good. Getting shot of that know-it-all sarcastic mouth of his.”

  “You sucked the words right out of my mouth.”

  “That sounds pretty damn disgusting. Keep your words in there. Want me to plug 'em?” He grinned.

  “You know something? Maybe you can go in the slammer, I'll swap you for Lucky.”

  “Aww, you're my best pal. Don't you love me?”

  “Fuck off . . . you know I do.”

  Part three coming soon :) !!

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