by Rye Hart
“Oh, wow. I’d guess it wouldn’t be.” She held a hand to her heart, and her mouth turned down in a frown.
“It’s okay. Any of that wicked history happened long before my family bought the place. My grandmother loved its southern charm, and my grandfather loved the price tag. They raised their family here until their deaths and my father took it over to raise me here.”
“Sounds like you had a wonderful family and I bet it was fun growing up in that house.” She had the best intentions I was certain, but she had my family life all wrong.
“Actually, my father was a tyrant, and my mother died when I was young.” She was quiet as I continued. “It wasn’t all bad, I mean, I had Rick. Met him in school and the two of us were thick as thieves. We both thought that we were going to be big rodeo stars, and even wanted to learn team roping, but my father discouraged it. Said it was a waste of time. We still learned a bit, and enjoy watching, so Rick’s grandfather used to bring us out to the rodeo every year.”
“That’s sweet that you’ve been such good friend for so long.”
I nodded. Rick was like my brother for sure. “He’s a good guy. Your friend is very lucky, and I hope she treats him right. I think he loves her.”
“You talk like that’s rare, so I like the sound of that.” She paused a moment, and the silence stretched between us as she watched out the window as we pulled up beside the creek. “Where are we?”
“You ever been to a creek before?” I studied her face as she shook her head. She was so beautiful; her eyes were lit with a certain curiosity and wonder like she was looking at the world for the first time. I was reminded of the man I used to be when I was younger and less jaded.
“So, you mentioned your ex?” The idea of her being with someone else recently hadn’t set too well and not just because I was jealous. I hated thinking that if she were to get knocked up by me, that there might be some question as to whose it was. I didn’t want there to be any doubt.
“Yeah, about him. I maybe should have told you that I’m fresh out of a long engagement. I was set to be married two months from now, but I called it off. Yesterday.”
She’d called it off as she was leaving town? “Was it sudden?”
“It was, and it wasn’t. Like I told you last night, I’m a photographer at heart, and it seemed like everything I put my heart into he’d criticize. I couldn’t take it anymore. I know it might sound selfish, but I wanted some time for myself, and I want to love myself and have confidence in what I do. I couldn’t have that with him. It took a lot, but I packed up and left out with Kayla.”
“Damn, you didn’t even say goodbye or leave a reason?”
“I’ve told him and told him why I was not happy, but he’d always promise to change. I couldn’t handle that anymore. He’d be supportive long enough for me to get comfortable and then he’d return to his old ways. He didn’t want the same things as me. I wanted a family, and he didn’t. I wanted to see the world, and he didn’t. So yeah, I figure a year of warnings was enough. Dealing with it will be his problem. I didn’t want him to be able to reach me, so I cut off my phone.”
“Wow, when you’re done, you’re done.” I had to admire her for that. My mother had taken that kind of abuse from my father for years until it finally got the best of her and then he’d done me the same way. Nothing had ever been good enough. Bella was strong. I liked that about her. I had also liked the sound of her wanting a family. I knew just the man who would give her one.
“Yeah, I hope you don’t think awful of me for jumping right into bed with you. It’s not my style.”
“I had a feeling it wasn’t. You don’t seem like the type.”
“Yeah, and you could tell after knowing me for just short of twenty-four hours, huh?”
I belted a laugh, and she laughed with me. It was a sound as sweet as genuine as she was. She wasn’t like anyone else I’d met.
“What are we doing down here at the creek?” She leaned forward and glanced out the window at the water.
“I thought you might like to see it. It’s one of my favorite places.”
She put her head down and pulled her lips in tight.
“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but I’m only enjoying myself and having a little fun. I’m not ready for anything serious.” She scrunched her nose and then leaned her head to the side.
“No, it’s okay. We can be real with each other. I’d like us to be.” I had something I wanted to be real about, I just didn’t know how. I’d never been intimidated by anyone but something about her, the fact that she wasn’t like anyone else, the fact that I genuinely liked her, made me afraid of how she’d respond.
“I’d like that. I do enjoy being here with you.” She leaned in and kissed me, and I took it deeper, slipping my tongue against hers, caressing and stroking it with hers.
A moment later she was in my lap and rubbing my throbbing cock.
“I wanted to do something earlier.” She unzipped my pants and pulled out my dick, which was already standing tall and proud.
She moved over into her seat and then turned to lean over, taking me into her mouth.
“Fuck, Bella. That’s so hot.” I tried to relax and not think about all the sperm we’d waste, but she’d more than earned her taste. I hoped like crazy that she wouldn’t pull off, but I knew I had to give her a warning when the time came.
She rolled her tongue, pointing it and teasing my veiny cock, and then she licked the rim around my head and popped it into her mouth for a long, hard suck, which caused me to leak and coat her tongue with my pre-cum. I was so worked up when she relaxed her throat and took me deep that I nearly lost it, but I concentrated and pulled her back just enough to catch my wits.
She turned her head, and my thick cock filled up her mouth and throat so much that her hazel eyes were pooling with water and as she sucked me in deeper. Then she spasmed around my cock but pulled back just enough to control herself.
Soon she was bobbing her head so fast that I could tell she was working hard for something, and I decided to let her have it. I relaxed as she sucked me, and I stroked her hair. As she pulled back a little, my nuts tightened and my thick, pearly seed filled her throat. She gulped and caught her breath before taking down more. She paused and suckled a moment once she was done swallowing, and then she pulled away licking her lips and wiping her chin.
The next load I gave her wasn’t going to waste. It was going to be worth billions.
CHAPTER NINE - BELLA
In the span of twenty-four hours, I’d sucked and fucked like a rock star, and I could hardly believe it. Something about this man made all my inhibitions disappear. I was determined to stay out of my head and enjoy what little time we had together.
Reed put his arm around my waist and drew tiny circles on my back. “You want to get out and stretch our legs for a minute?” When I nodded, he opened his door and took my hand. I slid across the seat, and he helped me out of the truck.
We walked closer to the water and stood on the bank, and Reed picked up a couple of pebbles and tossed them across the water. I hadn’t ever been able to skip rocks, so I watched and enjoyed the view. Reed was stone-faced again as if there was something weighing heavy on his mind. I didn’t feel comfortable asking because I wasn’t sure just how intimate our relationship was supposed to be.
His eyes, while bright and sexy blue, were darkened by his thick black lashes which gave them a natural heavy liner effect that any rock star would envy. He was beautiful and fierce, rugged and intimidating, and extremely hard to read, but he didn’t seem judgmental, or critical like Gavin had been.
“You said earlier that you wanted a family?” Reed tossed another rock, but this one plopped and sank like he made no effort to skip it.
I felt a little strange wondering if he’d be like Kayla and think I was crazy. “I did. I mean, someday I do. I thought about becoming a mother when my mom passed away. I felt alone in the world and— I know it sounds crazy, but I though
t that a child would make everything better. Now, I’m going to focus on me for a while, my art, and talents.”
He considered my answer. “What do you take photographs of? Landscapes, people?” He kicked a stick at his feet and then picked up more pebbles.
“I do a little of everything. I like vibrant colors. I did a series of photos that featured my mother during her cancer battle. She would wear the brightest colors, so I used that, plus lots of beautiful nature scenes. After she died, I put them together in a journal that I published. My mother wanted the images to show that death and disease didn’t have to mean one could no longer appreciate beauty in the world. As a matter of fact, it would give people an even deeper appreciate of everything since it has a time stamp on it.”
He glanced over his shoulder, and I caught a look of pain flash across his face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a Debbie Downer.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance to add to the mood.
“No, I think it’s pretty amazing really. You think about things and you use your camera to see things on a deeper level. Most people take the world at face value, and half of them don’t even see or appreciate what’s right in front of them.” He tossed his last stone and turned to face me. “It’s like this place; my father didn’t understand why I liked coming here. He thought I was up to something, and I’ll admit there were a few times I came here to drink or make out, but for the most part, I spent more time here thinking and enjoying the sounds, smells, and the scenery.”
“Did you ever try to photograph it, or capture it?”
“No, that’s never been my thing. I think I’m content to let it be. It’s always here when I want to see it, and I like the way it fills up all my senses. If you close your eyes, you can smell the dirt.”
“And the fish.” I let loose a giggle, and he nodded.
“Exactly. It’s a full experience.” He grinned and put his hands in his pocket as if to keep himself from taking more pebbles from the ground.
Suddenly, the sky opened up and the rain fell hard and steady in fat drops. I held up my hands and laughed as he shook his head. “Here’s your full experience, Mr. Harrington.” I grabbed his hand, and as the rain grew heavier, we took off for the truck. He lifted me up and into the seat and then hurried in behind me as I scooted over. I situated in the seat, sitting by his side, and once he started the truck and aimed us toward home, he placed his hand on my thigh.
The rain poured down we ran into the house, both dripping wet. As the cold air hit my skin, I wrapped my arms around myself, and my teeth began to chatter.
He went to the couch across the room and took the heavy throw off the back and brought it to me. I went to take it, but he wrapped it around me and pulled me close. My face pressed into his chest as he rubbed my arms. “Let’s go upstairs and dry off and then I’ll order lunch.”
“Sounds good.” We walked upstairs, and I went to my room where I’d left my things, and after I had dried off I decided I better turn on my phone. I wasn’t worried about Gavin as much as I wondered if Kayla had tried to leave me a message about where she and Rick had gone.
Sure enough, my phone was full of texts and missed calls from Gavin, and I knew that I’d have to talk to him eventually. While in the shower, the phone started ringing and I hurried and shut off the water and wrapped a towel around me. I stepped out to see that it was Gavin, and I had a feeling, by the number of missed calls, that he was going to keep harassing me until I talked to him. I took a deep breath and answered, knowing things would get ugly, but prepared to handle him.
“Yes, Gavin?”
“It’s about time you answered your phone. I was about to call the police. I’m worried about you.” His tone was full of anger, and I knew him well enough to know the line about his concern was pure bullshit.
“I told you I was leaving you. It’s not like I’m a missing person. I’m trying to have some space, so this isn’t more difficult than it already is.” It wasn’t as difficult as he wanted it to be.
“Difficult? What’s difficult is coming home to find my house cleaned out and my fiancé gone after leaving me nothing but a note. A fucking note, Bella!”
“I didn’t have time to write a letter, Gavin. I’m sorry I didn’t end things to your satisfaction.” My voice was rising so that my throat was starting to tickle. I went to the counter and put the phone down, turning on the speaker so that I could rinse my mouth at the sink.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Precisely what it sounds like. I am sick to death of you putting me down. You might think you love me, Gavin, but be honest with yourself. You barely like me. Not to mention, I don’t like you when you’re critical of my talents and—”
“Talents? You point a fucking camera, Bella. It’s not like you’re making a living from that weak attempt at art. You’re making a huge mistake and acting like a little, spoiled bitch. Where are you?” I picked the phone up off the counter, and as I turned to walk out into the bedroom, Reed was standing in the room, his eyes were hard and focused on the phone as if he’d heard every word. His jaw was set and his fists where balled up at his sides.
I was going to take the call off speaker mode, but he snatched it from my hand as Gavin continued.
“Bella, I don’t know where you’ve gone, but I suggest you get your fucking ass back here before you regret it. We can still move forward together, and I’ll overlook this.”
“I’m not coming back!” I held my finger to my mouth as Reed opened his mouth as if to speak.
“You get your ass back here, Bella. I won’t have you make a fool of me to my family. I’ve defended you and entertained your useless pipe dreams.”
Reed couldn’t hold back any longer. “Fuck you, man. Bella’s not coming back to your abusive, sorry ass. And if you ever call her again, I’m going to show up on your doorstep and feed you your tongue.” Reed’s voice roared through the room, and his eyes were so red, so hard and focused, that I thought they might bleed.
“Reed!”
“Who the fuck is that? So that’s what this is? You’re with someone else, you fucking slut! You’ll pay for this! Where are you?”
“You come near her, and you’ll be the one who pays. Stay away from Bella and forget you ever knew her.”
I tried to get the phone away from him so he would stop, but when Gavin hung up, Reed threw the phone on the bed.
“Why did you do that? Now he’ll think I cheated on him.”
“Who cares, you’re done with him, right? You’re not thinking about going back?”
“Of course, I’m not, Reed! I just don’t need him slandering me to everyone because he thinks I was unfaithful.” I hadn’t wanted to hurt him that way, either, but I wasn’t going to tell Reed that. He would take it the wrong way.
“He’s an asshole, and I can’t believe you expected me to sit there and let him talk to you that way!”
“You being an asshole too wasn’t going to help anything!” I was near tears from anger and couldn’t believe he’d interfered.
“I’m the asshole? Then I’ll leave you alone too.” Reed’s glare pegged me hard, and without another word, he shook his head and left.
Things were getting too intense too soon.
CHAPTER TEN - REED
I stormed into my room and sat on my bed thumbing through my phone. I had to do something to get my mind off wanting to kill her fucking ex with my bare hands. The asshole reminded me of my father and the way he’d yell at my mom. Being a kid, I’d sat idly by and let him talk to her that way, and I’d lived with the guilt that maybe if I had done something, anything to help my mother, to stand up for her, that she’d still be with me.
A moment later Bella walked into the room. “I think it might be better if I go.”
“Why, because I won’t treat you like shit and let that asshole talk down to you? I’d never treat you that way.”
A sarcastic laugh bubbled up from her and anger flashed in her eyes. “Because you
’re such a saint? You manipulated me to get me to sleep with you by threatening to have my best friend arrested!”
I tossed the phone aside and stood up meeting her eyes. “Yeah, I made an asshole move but I told you before you climbed into my bed that it was your choice. Don’t act like I had a gun to your head when you sucked my dick either.”
“You can’t think there’s more to this. I mean, it’s not like you want a relationship and it’s not like I’m ready for one anyway. So, what difference does it make if I stay or go?”
“Because I want you to stay. And don’t tell me what I want.” I walked back to the bed and took my phone. “If you want to leave I’ll call you a cab. You can wait downstairs so you don’t get soaked.”
She glanced back to the window behind me and frowned at the sight of the rain. It had grown even worse since we’d been at the creek.
She raked a hand through her long hair and sighed. “I’ll call Kayla when it stops raining. Until then I’ll be in my room.”
“Do whatever you want sweetheart.” I breezed past her and headed down to the living room bar and poured myself a drink. I shouldn’t let her go; I should do whatever to takes to make her stay, to make her want to be here.
It wasn’t that I wanted a relationship either, though with her, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. I shook my head at the thought of it. No, she was a free spirit with a dream, that was best for both of us.
I threw back the drink and sat near the big front window to watch the rain.
Hours passed, and I’d dozed off on the couch.
A soft voice woke me.
“The weather isn’t letting up anytime soon.”
I opened my eyes and I saw that she had her phone to her ear.
“I understand. I’ll be fine here, no need to worry. You and Rick stay dry. No, he’s asleep on the couch. I was thinking about going back to the hotel.” She paused and turned back to the window. “It’s not like that, Kayla. I just ended things with Gavin; this is supposed to be my time.”
