by Noelle Adams
“What?” The one word was no more than a breath.
“He got me into it. He got involved with Jones for some extra money, but then he ended up owing him money and came to me for help. Of course, I was going to help him. But…”
“But what?” Ashley breathed. Ethan’s face, the whole world, seemed to spinning around her.
“He was in pretty serious trouble. They were threatening him. And the only way to get him out was for me to be…to be part of the distribution route. I think Jones planned the entire thing. He’d always wanted my boat dock, and so he used Mark to get to me.”
It took a full minute for the meaning of the words to register. “So…so it was Mark’s fault?”
“Yeah. Please don’t be too mad at him. He was just stupid. He didn’t set out to get any of us involved in something like that. But I didn’t drag him into this. I was trying to get him out.”
She could barely breathe. Her whole body was shaking.
Ethan stepped over and took her face in his hands. “Ashley, are you okay? Do you believe me? Mark was always my best friend. I tried to live up to that trust. Just like I’ve been doing everything I can to live up to your trust in me. I know being with me would change your plans for your life. I know it will make things harder and messier for you. But I didn’t make the really bad decisions you think I made. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but I hope you can trust me.”
Tears were streaming down her face. “So why did you stop talking to him?”
“I was caught in this net, and I didn’t want him anywhere close to it again. Plus, he felt guilty. That’s why he moved, I think.”
She was shaking so intensely that her teeth her chattering.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Do you believe me? I know there’s more than this. I didn’t realize before how you were feeling about…about my bulldozing.”
“I tried to tell you.”
“I know you did. I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you. I do trust you. You’re the strongest, bravest person I’ve ever known in my life. I have a bad habit of taking control when I get worried or scared, and I’ve been terrified about you getting hurt this whole time. That’s why I’ve been a jerk. But I’ll work on it. I promise I will.”
“You’ll…you’ll work on it?” The world was spinning around her even faster than before.
“Of course, I will. Did you think I care so much about being a pushy asshole that I wouldn’t try to change, even if it meant losing you?” He frowned at her, almost indignantly.
She could barely take in a full breath. “I don’t think you’re an asshole. I didn’t mean to make it sound that way. I know I have some annoying qualities too.”
“So you can work on some things too. We both can. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? I do trust you. I think I’ve always been in love with you. I can’t imagine my life without you. You’re…you’re everything to me. Please say you trust me too.”
Ashley literally started to choke. Thought she might pass out. “Oh, God,” she moaned, moving a hand to her stomach to try to hold back some of the raw emotion that was threatening to spill out. “Oh, God.”
“What is it?” Ethan asked urgently, his face transforming in an instant. “Are you going to be sick again?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. But I might just die from too much…happiness.” She was still holding her glass of lemonade, but she felt it start to slip from her hand. Ethan stepped over and took it from her, setting both glasses on the dirt.
“We’re okay then,” Ashley whispered, shocked elation in her voice.
“We are?” He spoke slowly, as if he were too scared to let himself believe it.
“Yeah. If we’re both willing to work on things. Oh, Ethan, I love you so much.” She wanted to go over and embrace him and feel his arms around her, but she wasn’t sure if her trembling legs could take her there.
He came to her instead, pulling her to him, taking her in his arms. “God, Ashley, don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I won’t,” she promised, sliding her hands up his damp chest to link them around his neck. “Can you please kiss me now?”
“I’m all sweaty, and you’re wearing that pretty dress.”
She giggled at hearing Ethan talk about her prairie-dress that way. “This pretty dress is already sweaty from just hugging you. So we might as well go all the way.”
“All the way?” Ethan asked huskily, lowering his face toward her.
“Maybe not all the way. At least, not in front of Mrs. Tate. She had a lot to say about relations between unmarried persons. She’d have a heart attack if we made love in her front yard. How about just a kiss for now?”
So Ethan kissed her, and it was deep, warm, and tender—and just a touch too arousing for Ashley’s comfort. She felt her body wiggling against him, felt a familiar ache between her legs.
When their lips finally parted, Ethan didn’t let her go. He dropped little kisses on her forehead, her temple, along her hairline. Ashley felt him hardening against her middle. “Do you think Mrs. Tate would let us take a little walk in private?” he inquired softly, his voice at her ear.
“I think we’d better ask her.”
Before they could go through with this plan, a voice called out from the front porch. “Yoo-hoo! I’m so glad you kissed and made up. But I think that’s enough kissing for you two. Come and help me make dinner, Ashley. You both clearly need a chaperone.”
They both groaned softly, but Ethan released her. “Are you coming in?” she asked him.
He shook his head. “I think I better work on the fence some more. I have a lot of frustration to work off right now.”
“Me too,” she replied mournfully. “But I guess I’ll have to work it off by peeling potatoes.”
***
On the dinner table, Mrs. Tate had set a small bud vase, holding a couple of stems of Queen Anne’s Lace, each with a deep red heart. She moved the vase to the living room afterwards, as the three of them settled in for the evening.
The Tates didn’t own a television, so she played the piano for a while, then suggested that Ethan read aloud from a book. The book she chose was Little Women.
Ethan had seated himself on the loveseat, and Mrs. Tate urged Ashley to go and sit next to him. So Ashley had quite an evening—cuddled up on an old-fashioned loveseat with Ethan, while he read aloud about the trials and joys of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March. All the while, a sweet, old lady beamed at them proudly.
Mrs. Tate cried and laughed at all of the appropriate places. Ashley tried to pay attention, but was very distracted by the warmth of Ethan’s body and delicious vibrations of his voice.
After a couple of hours of this, Mrs. Tate was ready for bed, and Ashley was ready for something entirely different.
But Ethan and Ashley dutifully got ready for bed at nine o’clock, which was evidently Mrs. Tate’s customary bedtime. “Now, you get a good night’s sleep, my dear,” Mrs. Tate said kindly to her. “There’s a nightlight in here. I have them in all the rooms. I just don’t like the dark. But you can turn it off if it bothers you.”
“It will be fine,” Ashley said, smiling at her gratefully. “Thank you so much for all that you’ve done for us.”
“My pleasure, dear, my pleasure. And I’ve laid out a nightgown for you to wear. Now, you say goodnight to your young man, and then I’ll make sure the house is all shut down for the night.”
And the message in that was very clear. So Ethan and Ashley said a very brief goodnight, complete with a chaste peck on the lips. Then they went into their separate rooms and closed the doors.
Ashley changed into the nightgown and got into the high, twin bed. Covered herself up with the hand embroidered sheets and homemade quilt. Then lay in the semi-darkness, listening as Mrs. Tate locked the doors, puttered around, and then went into her own bedroom, closing the door loudly behind her.
Then Ashley lay awake for an hour, feeling restless and aroused, but not quite having it in h
er to just take care of herself with her hand. It simply felt too dirty to do such a thing with Mrs. Tate three rooms away.
Just when she was starting to feel desperate enough to try anything, she heard her door open softly and saw a figure step into the room. A very familiar, attractive figure.
Ethan took a few steps in and looked down at Ashley in the bed, an obvious question on his face.
She didn’t say anything, just folded back the bedcovers for him and stretched out her arms to welcome him in.
He silently lowered himself into the small bed beside her, taking her immediately in his arms. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I couldn’t stay away. I know it seems disrespectful after everything Mrs. Tate has done for us, but I had to be with you tonight. We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.”
“Shh. I need you tonight. We’ll just have to be very, very quiet.”
Ethan kissed her deeply and so passionately that Ashley was shaking when he finally pulled away. “You’re the one who likes to yell and scream,” he drawled, his voice barely a breath. “Do you think you can be quiet enough?”
“Don’t be smug,” she murmured. “Now let me see your pajamas.”
Mrs. Tate had, of course, very kindly provided Ethan with a pair of Mr. Tate’s old plaid, cotton pajamas. Ethan was only wearing the pants. “I wasn’t intending to sleep in them, but it just seemed to wrong to walk around someone else’s house naked.”
Ashley peeked under the sheet, glad of the nightlight that allowed her to see Ethan in all his plaid-pajama glory. She also noticed something else while she was under there.
“How long have you been hard?” she asked quietly, stroking him through the pajamas with her hand.
He sucked in his breath sharply as she touched him. “For way too long. What about you? Are you ready?”
She slid her hand from his crotch up his belly and then to his chest. “Feel for yourself.”
His warm fingers found her right leg, trailed up her thigh, and explored the warm space between her legs. She gasped in pleasure as one finger slipped inside her, spilling the wet proof of her arousal.
Ethan kissed her again, as his hand continued to fondle her. “Good,” he whispered. “Tonight, it’s quick and quiet. I’m a little embarrassed as it is, knowing Mrs. Tate is snoring three doors down.”
He pulled off his pajama pants and unwrapped the condom he had brought with him. They’d found an unopened package in the sex-mobile, since the sleazy owner evidently had high hopes but little action. Ashley took off her white, cotton nightgown while Ethan rolled the condom on.
When he was finished, he started to position himself between her legs.
“Ethan?” she began.
He mumbled an inquisitive response over the nipple he was sucking.
Ashley arched her back into his mouth when he started flicking the sensitive flesh with his tongue. “Would it be all right if I was on top tonight?”
Ethan lifted his head from her breast, moved until his face was hovering over hers. “Honey, you don’t even have to ask.” After a pause, he added, “I’m so sorry I made you think I’d never budge on the controlling.”
She kissed him for that. And then she let him roll them over so she was on top. A little uncertain about how to begin, she straddled his middle and lifted up, but hesitated before the final step.
It wasn’t as easy as it looked. What if she missed? What if she lowered the wrong part of herself on top of him? What if she actually hurt him?
She poised her body over his erection, but then hissed, “Help me, Ethan. I’ve never done this before.”
So Ethan used his hands to help guide her onto his erection, and Ashley inhaled slowly as her slick inner muscles clung to Ethan’s hard flesh as she descended.
“Okay?” Ethan breathed, his eyes shut and head turned away.
It was okay. It hurt much less than it had the previous time, although this new position made her feel even more full and tight. “Good,” she breathed. “It’s good.”
Ethan too had made a quicker recovery than he had previously. He turned back to her and opened his eyes. “You’re amazing, Ashley. Maybe we can be careful about how much we shake the bed. It’s kind of creaky, and we don’t want to wake up Mrs. Tate.”
Ashley raised herself experimentally, then lowered herself again, placing her hands on Ethan’s chest for leverage. She tried out a few different angles, watching Ethan’s face carefully as she did so. She was delighted to discover that the angle that made Ethan gasp in startled pleasure was the same one that sent a burst of rich sensation through her own body.
She decided she’d go with that angle.
She had to move fairly slowly to avoid too much noise from the bed. But soon she felt the gradual development of an orgasm start to build, and she began to pant very softly.
Ethan had moved his hands up to her breasts and was cupping them protectively, keeping them from slapping against her chest from the motion.
But after a minute, her mounting climax seemed to have plateaued out, and she couldn’t risk accelerating her movements. “Feels good,” she sighed. “Really good. But I need more.”
So he started thrusting his hips up as she descended. It shook the bed a little more, but the noise was still barely noticeable. His thrusting changed the experience entirely, and she felt the pleasure start to grow once more.
“Yeah,” she groaned, barely audibly. “That’s good. Just like that. Love that, Ethan.” She continued to ride him steadily, her thighs beginning to feel the strain.
“Love you,” Ethan grunted, his face tight with what must be an internal struggle to control himself. “Beautiful. Love how you move. Love to watch you.”
His words enveloped her like a shelter, like a blanket. Her head fell back, and she released a low moan. She was almost there. Her body started automatically preparing itself for the release.
Instinctively, uncontrollably, her motion became more urgent as she chased after the coming climax. She started bouncing on top of him more rapidly, chanting a succession of soft “yeah”s in time with her rhythm.
But the bed started creaking rhythmically at her intensified momentum, and she knew she had to slow down, restrain the motion. She almost sobbed with both frustration and relief when she felt Ethan’s strong hands on her hips. “Honey, it’s too loud,” he whispered gently. “She’s been so kind to us. We can’t flaunt this in her face.”
Ashley was glad he had stopped her—she would be mortified if they disappointed and embarrassed Mrs. Tate—but she slumped limply down on his chest. “Yeah. You’re right. But I can’t come by going so slowly.”
“Start up again. Let me try something different.” He stroked her damp cheeks and urged her back into position.
She started riding him once again, with the original, slow, steady rhythm. Only this time, Ethan's hand moved to explore between her legs, very close to where he was pumping in and out of her body.
And then he found the right location. Ashley had to stifle a cry of pleasure at the feel of that pressure on the so sensitive spot. “That might work. Keep doing that.”
So she rode him, and Ethan thrust into her from below at each descent, while he massaged her clit with his fingers.
“That’s working,” she panted. “God, Ethan. So incredible. Love you so much.” She was almost there. Almost at the edge. Had to make sure she didn’t cry out loudly in response to the building sensations.
Ethan must be almost there himself. His own motion had grown more urgent, his body was slick with perspiration. “Yeah, honey. Love you. Come. Come soon.”
Inhaling harshly, Ashley raised and lowered herself a few more times. Met Ethan’s loving, completely vulnerable eyes. Felt his flesh inside her. His touch intimately. His love everywhere.
And it all started to crest. Approaching. Right before her. It was...here.
And waves of pleasure overtook her, starting at her center and radiating outward. Her orgasm was so overwhelming, so b
eautiful that Ashley nearly bent in half backwards at the power of it. Her mouth fell open in a silent scream of completion.
And Ethan was right behind her. He jerked a few more times into her spasming body, and then his hands clamped down on her hips as he let out a long, low, throaty moan as he came.
The ripples from their climaxes lingered for a silent span of time. Then Ashley collapsed forward onto his chest, limp and replete.
They clung to one another for a few minutes. Not saying anything. Not needing to say anything. But finally, Ethan started shifting underneath her.
“Honey,” he whispered. “I should go back to my own room. And I need to take care of the condom.”
Ashley didn’t move off of him, didn’t stop clutching him.
“Ashley, can’t you let me go?”
“No. Never let you go.” And then she pushed some wet kisses into his neck.
He got some leverage with his legs and rolled them both onto their sides. Then his voice was in her ear. “After tonight, you won’t have to let go. I promise, Ashley. I’m in this with you forever.”
And somehow, that was what she needed to hear. And she wasn’t overwhelmed or scared or uncertain. She just felt right and a little bit mushy. She moved her arms from his body and folded them in front of her chest.
Ethan started to pull out of her at last. He moved very carefully, protecting both Ashley and the condom.
When he got out of bed, Ashley got up with him. She put back on her nightgown as he put back on his pajama pants. She walked to the door with him. Kissed him once more before he left.
Ethan silently opened the bedroom door and started to step into the hall. Then he stopped abruptly and bent down to pick something up from the floor of the hallway.
He was holding it delicately, and his face was bewildered as he showed it to Ashley.
They had been wrong. Should have known better.
There was such a thing as wisdom in the world. And eighty-year-old women were seldom as naïve as they appeared.
Mrs. Tate had blessed their union by laying something on the floor in front of the door.
