I nodded. “I see.”
“I like to keep the kids busy while teaching them life skills.”
I chuckled. “I don’t think we’re going to be setting up a coop in the backyard anytime soon.”
Nettie smiled. “No, but it is nice for the kids to learn a little about where their food comes from. The kids love the chickens.”
“I bet they do. I know Abby would as well.”
She led me around the half of the house that had been remodeled to house her daycare. Nettie had her own son, who was seven. She seemed like a nice woman, and with Jenna’s recommendation, I felt confident I could trust her to take care of my daughter.
I filled out the paperwork and secured Abby’s spot at the daycare before heading to the diner. The first person I wanted to tell was Jenna. It was a strange feeling. I couldn’t believe I was starting over. Abby was going to be making friends and would be taking the first step to putting down some roots. She would likely go to school with the kids she met at the daycare. At least, I hoped so. I wanted her to have a friend that first day.
My eyes immediately found Jenna pouring a cup of coffee for a customer. When she saw us, she smiled and waved.
“Hi!” Abby said, walking toward her and wrapping her arms around Jenna’s waist.
Jenna used her free arm to hug her back. “Are you here for lunch?”
“Yes, do you have a minute?” I asked her, anxious to tell her about the daycare situation.
She looked around the nearly empty restaurant and shrugged a shoulder. “Sure, let me get your order in and then I can take a few minutes.”
I could see she was nervous, probably assuming I had something bad to tell her.
Once she got our order into the kitchen and our drinks delivered, she returned about five minutes later.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I wanted to say thank you for putting me in touch with your friend, Nettie. Abby and I went out there today and checked out the daycare.”
“I like the chickens!” Abby volunteered.
“Oh, good,” Jenna said. “Are you going to send her?”
I nodded. “Yep. Paperwork is all done and she’ll start as soon as I get a schedule nailed down with the gym.”
“That’s awesome,” she said. “I’d still be happy to watch her on my days off or when you need me to.”
“I appreciate that. I might just take you up on it.”
“I hope you do. I like hanging out with Abby.” She smiled and winked at my little girl who was glowing with pride. “I better get back to work. I’m off soon and don’t want to get stuck staying a minute later.”
“Thanks again,” I told her.
She delivered our lunches, which we quickly devoured before heading to the local Walmart to pick up some necessities for the house. By the time we got home, Jenna was just pulling into her driveway.
“Fancy meeting you here,” I teased as I walked around to unbuckle Abby.
When Jenna looked at me, I could immediately tell something was wrong. “Jenna?”
She shook her head. I got Abby out of the car and told her stay put before walking toward Jenna.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She sighed, wiping away dried tears from her face. “Nothing. It’s stupid.”
“What’s stupid?”
She looked at me and I felt my heart clench. “Some guy grabbed my ass. I hit him and he complained. I got sent home, which isn’t a big deal because I was almost off anyway, but I hate that I got in trouble.”
“Who grabbed you?” I growled, knowing immediately who it was.
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Bryce or Bryan or whatever the hell his name was?” I asked.
She gave me a small smile. “Bryce, and no, actually it was his friend Aaron. Aaron is usually not the grabby one. It caught me off guard and I reacted without thinking.”
“You reacted exactly as you should have!”
She shrugged. “I should have told him to stop.”
“Where does he live?” I asked, feeling the need to pay the guy a visit.
“No! I’m not going to tell you that.”
“He needs his ass beat.”
She nodded. “I agree with you, but I don’t want you getting involved. Aaron’s dad is obnoxious and he will accuse you of harassment or assault. He’ll probably have me fired.”
“Want to come over for a bit? I just grabbed a case of beer and was ready to kick back and relax in the backyard.”
She hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure.”
I grinned. “Good, you can help me carry in the bags.”
She burst into laughter. “Oh, I see why you wanted me to come over.”
Together, we hauled the bags inside. I grabbed a couple of cold beers and we headed out back. I had picked up some outdoor toy thing for Abby and needed to put it together. Jenna volunteered to help.
“How in the hell do they expect any normal human to understand these pictures?” I grumbled, turning the instruction sheet upside down as I tried to make sense of it.
Jenna held up what I assumed was the door of the plastic playhouse I was attempting to build. “I have no idea. This is why they charge a fortune to come to your house to put this stuff together.”
“I could have built her a playhouse from scratch with fewer problems.”
Somehow, by the grace of god and a couple of beers to help me maintain my sanity, I got the thing together. Jenna had taken Abby inside to open a couple cans of soup and make a few grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner while I finished the project.
“Done!” I shouted with extreme elation as I stood back to inspect my work.
Abby and Jenna came outside. Jenna clapped her hands and did a little dance with Abby in celebration. I watched as Jenna dropped to her knees to crawl inside the little house. Abby was over the moon. There was no way my body was fitting in there.
After some playing, we ate our dinner and I sent Abby off to bed.
When I came back into the kitchen, Jenna was just finishing loading the dishwasher. She looked so perfect standing in the kitchen. I couldn’t resist the temptation another second. I walked behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, kissing the side of her neck.
She turned to face me and I kissed her once again.
“Thank you,” I said. “I really hate that you clean up my kitchen.”
“It’s no big deal. I used the dishes too.”
I took her hand and led her into the living room. We sat down on the couch, her leaning against me. “What’s the deal with those guys?” I asked her.
“You mean the three stooges?”
I chuckled. “Yes, them.”
She let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. In high school, they never looked at me. I wasn’t in their league. I was a nerd and they were jocks. Now, ever since I’ve been back, they act like that. They are royal pains in the ass, but everyone around here lets them get away with it. It is so stupid! They were great at high school football eight years ago, but they’ve done nothing spectacular ever since.”
I shook my head. “I know the type, and I’m not going to put up with their shit.”
“Please don’t do anything that will get you in trouble. Most of the time, they just say things and are obnoxious in general. I try not to let it bother me.”
“You’re a better person than I am.”
She turned to face me, her shoulder pressed against my chest as her eyes stared at my mouth. I hadn’t invited her over with the intention of sex. Or had I? I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity.
I leaned forward and kissed her before gently pushing her off me and taking her into my bedroom.
Chapter 16
Jenna
I knew from the moment he came across the yard that I was going to be sleeping with him again. I couldn’t deny this man. It was like turning down the most exquisite piece of chocolate when you knew it wouldn’t rot your teet
h or make you gain a single pound.
There was no way I would deny myself the pleasure of him.
He closed the door behind us, turning off the light as he moved toward me. He was different this time. Methodical but just as dangerous. The lust was there, but it was focused. I watched him stalk toward me and felt a hitch in my breath. He looked savage, his eyes barely open as his jaw clenched and his shoulders tensed.
He reached out, one hand gently stroking my cheek as he stared at me in the faint light streaming through the window. I stared up at him, mesmerized by his quiet strength. It was there under the surface, his muscles literally rippling with each move.
I felt him holding back, but I wanted him to release himself and reveal who he really was. I wanted to see him lose that control and strip away all those layers of reserve he held on to so tightly. Despite my sixth sense telling me he was dangerous, I never feared for my own safety. It was a different kind of danger that I sensed from him.
“Take me,” I whispered, feeling empowered and daring.
His eyes dropped to my mouth before he closed the distance between us, giving me a gentle kiss before beginning a slow perusal of the inside of my mouth. My hands moved over his chest and down his back before running back up to his hair that was growing out at rapid speed.
He stepped away from me, pulling my shirt over my head before undoing the belt on my jeans. I kicked off my waitress shoes and helped him slide my jeans down my legs. Then it was my turn to help him strip down to his tight boxers.
I loved his body. I could stare at it all day. It deserved to be worshipped, which was exactly what I was going to do. I stepped close to him, kissing his chest before running my tongue over his nipple. His hands moved to the back of my bra, quickly unfastening it before gently sliding it down my arms. I kept my mouth on his chest the whole time. Then it was his neck that beckoned to me. I stood on my tip toes and fastened my mouth over his neck, sucking in hard, feeling his cock jut out.
My hands roamed over his chest and down his rock-hard abs before I dropped to my knees in front of him. My hands reached up to pinch his nipples as my face aligned with his dick, shielded by his underwear. I dropped my hands, pulling his underwear down and inhaling the masculine scent of him. I could seriously worship his body all day and night.
I reached out and encircled his engorged cock with my mouth, sliding down as deep as I could take him into my throat. I heard him groan and smiled around the dick in my mouth. His arousal was turning me on even more.
I lavished his dick with kisses, licking before sliding down and sucking as I pulled away. I could hear his breath coming in ragged gasps and knew he was close. My hands went to his ass, pulling him closer to me as I attempted to swallow him.
“Fuck!” he growled, stepping away from me. “Not like that. I want to feel your sweet pussy around me.”
He yanked me up, spun me around, and pushed me face first onto the bed, my knees dangling over the side. I was breathing hard, anticipating what he would do next. His large, callused hand reached out and palmed one cheek, then the other, before sliding up to my thong and yanking it down. I lifted my hips, raising my ass in the air.
“Get on your knees,” he ordered.
I happily got on my knees, my elbows pressed into the mattress as his fingers worked over my already wet pussy. He slid the head of his cock down my slit, nearly sending me into a wild orgasm. He repeated the action again and again, making me frenzied with need. I was pushing back, trying to suck his cock inside me. With one hand on my ass, he spread my legs and slowly pushed in just his head.
“Oh God,” I moaned, my body going completely stiff. I couldn’t move. He pushed in a tiny bit farther. I couldn’t stop the explosion brewing inside my body.
I cried out, rocking back against him and swallowing him deep inside my pussy as I convulsed around him. My back arched to the point of pain as every muscle in my body contracted and released over and over.
His hand was soothing over my back, rubbing little circles as my breathing slowed and my body slowly relaxed. He moved his hands to my hips, holding tight as he started to fuck me with purposeful, long strokes before withdrawing and doing it all over again and again.
He was in no hurry as he slid in and out. I felt as if he was taking a slow walk through the park, enjoying every step. It was a lazy fucking. I was surprised at how good it felt. It dragged out every divine second and resulted in the slow building of an orgasm. Instead of one amazing pop of ecstasy, it was extended for several minutes. I heard myself moaning as my body rocked and rolled through another orgasm until I could support myself.
Dropping to the mattress, my body was shaking and quivering with aftershocks. Colton sat down on the bed, his hand stroking up and down my side. I rolled over and quickly climbed on top of him, straddling him and sliding over his cock.
I kissed him, plunging my tongue inside his mouth as his hands ran up my thighs. I rolled forward, taking him deeper. I loved the power rush I got with him between my legs. I couldn’t get enough traction to really ride the man like he deserved. He must have sensed my frustration. With me on top of him, he lifted his hips, using his arms to slide backward on the bed, bringing my knees onto the mattress, right where I needed them.
I couldn’t help crying out as the movement drove him deep inside me as he scooted back a few more inches. My hands reached out to grip his rigid arm muscles.
“Oh,” I moaned from the pleasure of touching him while feeling him inside me.
He was flat on his back and I got to work, capitalizing on that new sensation, finding it again and again as I used the angle to push him much higher into my body. I rocked back and forth, deciding this was my new favorite position. My hands roamed his chest and arms, the hardness of his body an aphrodisiac.
When one of his hands reached up, grabbing my nipple and pinching it between his fingers, I nearly exploded. The combination of pleasure and pain was exciting and stirred up all new virgin sensations that I really, really liked.
“Again?” he asked.
I panted my answer. His other hand came up and he simultaneously pinched both nipples. My head dropped back as my chest thrust forward, pushing my breasts against him. I could feel another beautiful orgasm building and prepared myself to hold on tight. His hands dropped to my hips before one pressed against my belly, pushing me back a bit more. I leaned back, my hands on his thighs. His finger reached between our bodies, touching the area where we were joined, sending shockwaves through my body.
“That’s it, one more, baby, one more,” he encouraged.
He rubbed harder and faster as I rocked forward. He touched the right spot, sending my body shattering into what felt like a million pieces. My back arched to the point I felt as if I would snap in two. My thighs squeezed together as my pussy seized around his length buried deep inside me.
“Fuck!” he cried out as his own release rocked over him, his fingers digging into the flesh on my hips as he jerked me back and forth over his hard length.
I collapsed on top of him, unable to support my body another second. He had wrung me dry. My mouth lay open on his chest as I sucked in air. I felt myself jerk with aftershocks fueled by the tip of his finger trailing up my spine and then lazily gliding back down.
Groaning, I rolled to the side. He moved to put his head on the pillow, dragging me with him. I snuggled against his chest, never wanting to let go of his body.
“When do you start at the gym?” I asked, my eyes feeling very sleepy as I cuddled next to his warm body.
“I don’t know for sure. I’m going in tomorrow to meet with one guy. I asked if I could drop Abby off tomorrow for a trial run at daycare since I’ll only be gone a couple hours.”
“Has she ever been in daycare before?” I asked, hoping to get a glimpse into his past.
“Not really. I had people I knew watch her.”
“What about when you had fights?”
He chuckled. “No, she didn’t go to the fights. I�
�m not ready for her to be exposed to that. She’s seen me train in the ring and has a general idea about it, but to her, it’s playing.”
“That’s good.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Do you work tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’m supposed to.”
“Do you think they’re going to give you any shit?” he asked, his fingers gliding up and down my forearm making me feel incredibly relaxed.
“I don’t know. Hell, I don’t even know if I still have a job.”
“They can’t fire you for defending yourself. Can’t you claim sexual harassment?”
I chuckled, loving how naïve he was to the innerworkings of small-town life. “Not really. I could, but then I’d never work in this town again.”
He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating his chest. “That’s a little cliché.”
“But true.”
We lay there, both of us lost in our own thoughts. His fingers kept running up and down my arm, lulling me into a state of deep relaxation. I sighed against him. I knew how dangerous it was to sleep with a man I knew so little about. I was convinced he wasn’t married, having now stared at his ring finger so much I’d memorized every little wrinkle and groove on the thing. Abby never talked about her mother and his furnishings did not scream of a woman’s touch.
Maybe I was trying to convince myself. I didn’t know. For now, I just wanted to enjoy the moment. I would do the regret and I’m not going to ever do it again drama tomorrow. Tonight, his body was mine to do with as I pleased.
I had a fleeting thought of seeing if he was up for another round. I’d ask him in a couple minutes. First, I needed to rest for a minute and then I’d take him for another long, slow ride inside my body.
Chapter 17
Colton
The horrible, obnoxious beeping of my alarm yanked me out of the lovely little cocoon of female body I had been dreaming about before I was rudely woken up. My hand slapped at the alarm on the nightside table. Once the noise was gone, I made a move to stretch.
Going After What’s Mine Page 10
