by Ali Parker
I slid my hand down and found his cock hard and ready. Centering it at my opening, I inched myself toward it, barely allowing it to touch inside.
David met my eyes and with a sly smile he pushed forward, burying himself deep. Instead of thrusting, he slowly grinded and then reached under my knee and hitched my leg up on his shoulder. I tilted my hips upward allowing his head to brush against my g-spot with each passing movement.
As I clenched myself around his girth, he moaned. “This feels amazing, baby. My cock is so sensitive.”
He quickened his pace and delicious pressure built inside my stomach as my orgasm lingered on the threshold. I splayed my arms out and gripped the sheet, bunching the cotton in my fists as I screamed with my release.
“Hell yeah, come for me, Sarah.” David worked me steadily until moments later his own release came. His cock twitched inside me as it spilled, and his own moan sounded loud into the room.
He pulled away and collapsed to the bed beside me. “I’m so glad you came back.”
Our eyes met and we shared a soft laugh.
“Me too.” I yawned big, feeling like a bag of bones. I melted down into the mattress and for a moment, during the silence, I felt as if only my mind existed. I was that spent and it was amazing.
He sat up and then got to his feet. Then he went into the bathroom again. When he came back I forced myself to go and freshen up. But when I returned I dropped to the mattress like a sack of bricks and didn’t move until he pulled me against him, my back to his front.
He nestled his face against my neck and the soft breeze of his breath soothed me. For once I wasn’t anxious for tomorrow and what would be with our futures and careers. I was simply content to stay in that moment with him forever. I lay listening as his breathing leveled off and waited for sleep to take me.
Chapter 21
David
The first light of dawn hadn’t yet risen when I woke up to the soft breathing beside me. I couldn’t believe how peaceful and sound she slept, and I don’t think she’d moved from my arms the entire night. I had the urge to wake her, but she wasn’t accustomed to being up so early that it didn’t seem fair.
Thinking back to the stories she’d told me about her mother and what a hard life she’d endured, I couldn’t help but feel the need to take care of her. If I had anything to do with it, she’d never have to struggle again, fancy music careers or not. I slipped my arms from around her and tucked the covers up over her shoulder and then crept to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.
My brothers weren’t quite stirring, and I wondered how late they’d been out. With a quick glance out the front window, I counted everyone’s cars and even spotted Cindy’s. Luke had brought the girl home, and I knew it was only to prove he could. I wondered if Ted or Mason had done the same while I went to the kitchen and made quick work of starting the coffee brewing.
I hated the fact that, despite the extra house guests, the house seemed too empty, and I knew it was because I was missing my parents. The smell of coffee would already be permeating the house because Mama would have been up long before us. She’d have a skillet full of bacon and eggs and a whole sheet of toast in the oven.
I searched the fridge and pulled out everything I needed and hoped I had enough to feed everyone. I didn’t know how my mama did it. She worked hard and still managed to take care of us all. Taking on her chores and Dad’s was getting to be a bit rough, and made our days mighty long. I’d have to spend a little time with Sarah out in the coop and garden and that alone would help take a load off.
Footsteps brought my gaze toward the door and I spotted Cindy doing her walk of shame as she headed for her car. Luke followed her out and after a few minutes he was standing behind me at the counter pouring a cup of coffee.
“So what’s up with that?” I gestured toward the window where out in the drive the dust had yet to settle from Cindy’s departure.
“Just a little fun. She didn’t want to drive home so late, so I said she could sleep over.”
“Sleep, huh?” I shook my head and stirred the scrambled eggs one last time before cutting off the fire beneath them.
Luke chuckled. “I got about as much as you got.”
“Fair enough.” I took the last of the bacon from the grease and placed it to drain with the rest of it. I wasn’t sure I’d gotten Mama’s routine down pat, but we’d have full stomachs to start our day.
Ted came down in time to belly up to the table. I waited for Mason, but when he didn’t follow I asked, “Where the hell is Mase?”
Ted spooned jelly on his toast and shrugged. “My guess is he’s gnawing his arm off over at Lucy’s house.” I choked on my coffee and Luke dropped his fork.
“Lucy?” The shock and horror that my baby brother might be snuggled up with Kinsey’s head waitress made my skin crawl.
Ted belted a laugh. “Heck no, but her niece,” Ted whistled, “she’s gorgeous. Mason left Kinsey’s with her and left me his keys. I thought she’d bring him home, but I guess they ended up at Lucy’s.”
Luke left the table to pour himself another cup. “Great, let’s hope that he’s not gone all day. We’ve got enough work.”
Ted’s eyes met mine. “City Girl gonna sleep in?”
“She’s not used to such early mornings. I’ll get her up in a bit and introduce her to the chickens and show her how to work the garden too.”
Ted snorted. “Great, so we’re going to have to do your workload while you show the City Girl how to play farmer’s wife.”
“No, I’m going to do both. It won’t take but a minute to show her around and I’ll be back at it in no time.” I didn’t know why they had to be that way, knowing I’d never left them hanging before.
Luke spoke up. “I think it’s best you show her around, the last thing we need is her upsetting the chickens and killing the garden. Hell, it ain’t rocket science, she’ll get the hang of it pretty quick. She seems like a quick learner.”
“Yeah, she’ll do great, and later I’m taking her with me to the hospital to check on Mama and Dad. I want to tell them we’ve got everything under control here. That’ll give them one less thing to worry about.” I hoped it did, too.
Ted and Luke finished their breakfast and hurried out to the barn and I fixed Sarah a plate and because I didn’t know if she drank coffee or not I poured her a glass of juice and brought it all upstairs to wake her.
I tried to keep my stubbly chin away from her soft face as I kissed her. I wanted the morning to be as pleasant as possible as well as her assimilation to the work I’d give her. She wanted to help, and the best and easiest way she could, would be to take on Mama’s chores. I leaned to her ear and whispered, “Sarah.”
She moaned and opened her eyes, squinting at the sun that now shone through the window. “What time is it?” She blinked and then her eyes fixed on the tray I’d set on the bedside table. “You cooked breakfast?”
I nodded. “Yes, and though I heated it up for you, it’s getting cold again so you better eat.”
She sat up and I placed the tray in her lap and then sat beside her as she made quick work of the dish. “I would have cooked.” She covered her mouth, chewing around her words.
“No, it’s fine. I know you want to help and I do have a few things to show you if you’re up to it. But don’t think you have to earn your keep or anything like that. You’re welcome to stay around just for some time off.” I didn’t want her to think we were taking advantage, especially once she found out the chores I had lined up.
“No, I want to help. I’ll even make dinner again. So, what do I get to do?” Her eyes widened and she spooned another forkful of food between her pretty lips.
I stood. I wasn’t going to give it all away so quickly. “Finish your food and I’ll be downstairs waiting. I have a few things to do before I can take the time to train you.” I leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her lips were much too busy chewing.
“Fine, but I’ll be right down.” She
quickened her pace and smiled and I was happy to see her so eager to help.
“Take your time. I need you to pace yourself today.” I had a feeling that things were going to be a little more challenging than she thought.
I went downstairs and outside to the barn to check the schedule for the day, then I lined Luke out with some of Dad’s duties as Ted headed off to start his and Mason’s. Mason still hadn’t shown up and it was times like this that I wished he had a phone where I could reach him. This ranch was going to have to get up to date if it killed the old man. His stubbornness was only making things worse.
A feminine scream brought my head around to see Sarah dancing around in the yard swatting at what I suspected was a horsefly. I waved her over, but she took off in the other direction. I ran to help her and swatted the pesky insect with my hat, knocking him to the ground where I stomped him dead.
Sarah held her arm wincing in pain. “That thing had fangs.”
“Yeah, they really hurt. You get used to them. If you see another one, swat it with this.” I handed her a handkerchief and she tucked it into her back pocket. “Come on, I’ve got a few animals I’d like you to meet.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Animals?”
“Yes. I figure the easiest thing you can do to help is to take on a few of Mama’s chores. Since you’ve volunteered to cook, you’ll need stuff to cook.”
“You’re not going to have me kill something, are you?” Her eyes were full of horror and she took two steps back as if she might break into a run.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, nothing like that, silly. But you can collect the eggs from the chickens and milk the cow. I’m also going to show you how to tend Mama’s garden. We still have plenty of vegetables growing, and frankly these chores just add too much to us but cannot be ignored.”
Sarah clutched my arm as I led her off to the coops to fetch a basket. “I guess I could do that. Do the chickens bite?”
I glanced around and hoped like hell that Ted was out of earshot. I’d never live that one down. “Chickens peck. But these probably won’t get you. They never get Mama.”
I took her down the line of hens and showed her how to slip her hand in and gently snatch the egg. She didn’t seem too scared. She kind of hesitated a few times, but bravely stuck her hand in and collected her part of the eggs.
She smiled at the basket. “That wasn’t too bad.”
I headed over to the shed to get the wagon that Mama used to carry everything as she collected it. “No, it’s not. You’ll do it tomorrow by yourself.”
I led her into the barn and showed her to Bernice’s stall. Her eyes widened when she saw the big bovine, but I gave her a gentle pat on the back to assure her it would be okay. After showing her how to clean and dry the udders, we were ready to start. “I’ll show you how to do this and you can get a feel of how it’s done and then we’ll go to the garden.” She nodded as I patted the stool letting her have a seat. I knelt and leaned in to take the udders into hand. I squeezed into the waste bucket first and showed her how to milk. “Here, you try.” She took the teat and tugged and after a few tries she got the hang of it.
“This isn’t so bad.” I took the first extracts and set them aside, replacing the pail with a clean one.
“No, it’s not. Here, we’ll fill this up and take it inside. I’ll filter it out later.”
She tugged the teats, doing it just how I’d showed her. “My hands are going to be so sore.”
“And strong.” I sighed. “I think I could watch you do that all day.” I gave a wink and she blushed, shoving at me playfully until she lost her balance and turned over the little stool landing on her ass in the straw.
“Dammit.” She stood and dusted off her pants as Bernice let out a grunt of disapproval. We finished up and while I sent her inside with the milk, I pulled the wagon to the garden.
Mama’s vegetable garden needed daily attention and Sarah was perfect for the job. She joined me outside and I led her through what needed picked and what could wait a day, taking her row by row but only through one of each plant. She had rows to pick and it would take her a good part of the morning.
“I guess this will give me a good idea of what’s available to cook for dinner.” She stood with her hands on her hips and surveyed the job ahead.
I walked to the fence and took Mom’s hoe from where she kept it propped. “Yeah, and it’s the fresh vegetables that need to be eaten first. Mama won’t be canning for a while, so we’ll save what’s in the pantry for later.”
“What’s that for?” She gestured toward the hoe.
I prepared myself for her reaction, knowing my next words might not go over too well. “This is for snakes.” I let the words sink in and her eyes widened.
“Snakes?” She glanced down to her feet as if one was there coiled to strike.
“Well, sometimes Mama gets a snake or two in here.” I glanced to the hoe imagining her trying to kill a snake with it. “On second thought, just holler. I’ll come kill it.”
She glanced out to the acres and acres of pasture behind the house. “Where will you be?”
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll leave you a walkie so you can radio me if that happens.” Dad kept them in the office, but we hadn’t used them too often. They were Dad’s idea of high-tech.
“Okay.” The word scampered out of her like a scolded dog, and with the pained expression on her face I thought she might be second-guessing her desire to help. “I’m okay,” she reassured.
After getting her situated with the walkie and showing her how to use it, I headed off to the field to find Ted. He and I had our own load of things to get done and with Mason still gone we had to pick up his slack.
***
Mason made it home just as I was leaving with Sarah. I shook my head at him as we drove away behind the skinny redhead that peeled out ahead of us. I’d have to talk to him later. He couldn’t leave us hanging like this. I’d given up my dreams and sacrificed my career opportunities with Sarah to stick around for the family. And now with Sarah helping out, it wasn’t fair to have her working the ranch while he bedded down every other new hot thing in town.
We pulled into the hospital half an hour later and held hands as we went upstairs. Her hands were so soft I made a mental note to get her some gloves. The work she was doing wasn’t too rough, but I wanted to feel the soft touch of her hands for as long as possible.
When we ended up in the elevator alone, I stepped in close and hiked her up on the handrail, kissing her deeply. Her lips parted, welcoming my tongue, and I obliged as my hand trailed up her front, feeling her perky breast beneath her shirt. I couldn’t wait for the night to be over so I could get her back in my bed, but we’d have a long wait with me singing at Kinsey’s.
The elevator stopped and I helped her to her feet. She whispered in my ear, “We’ll have to finish this later.”
I was about to say something inappropriate when the door opened revealing four random people waiting to get on. I took her hand and pulled her out into the hall. Mom’s room was just two doors down.
I knuckled the door. “Knock, knock.” I heard my dad on the other side of the door calling me in.
“Hey, son.” My dad stood and welcomed Sarah with a smile. Mama lay still with her eyes closed but opened them as we sat down in the squeaky pleather furniture.
“Sorry to wake you, Mama.” I felt horrible that we’d disturbed her. She lay there hooked up to her IV looking pale and weak. I gripped Sarah’s hand.
“Don’t you worry about that. I’d be so mad if I missed a visitor, especially one of my baby boys. You come give me a kiss.” I hurried to her bed and leaned down to kiss her soft cheek, and hugged her gently.
Dad’s cough brought my head around. “How are you feeling, Dad?”
“I’m fine.” He gave me a hard glare and nodded toward Mama as if he didn’t want her to know he was feeling bad. I hoped he was okay. Dad could be as stubborn as a mule and it wouldn’t be good if he g
ot down, sick too.
“Can we get you anything?” Sarah asked. I stroked my hand across her back as Dad gave her the same hard glare.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Mama, Sarah’s been staying with us. She’s been cooking dinner and she’s helping out in the coop and garden.” Dad scoffed, but Mama smiled a warm smile then sank down lower in her bed. Sarah glanced toward Dad. Her posture deflated but mother’s voice caught her attention.
“I’m sure sorry about before. I didn’t realize how special you were to my son and I’m afraid I acted so impulsively that—”
Sarah leaned over and patted Mama’s hand. “You think no more of it.” Sarah was so good-hearted and I hoped that she and Mom could be friends. That would sure make things easier, and I wanted her to have a better relationship than she had with her own mother, which seemed strained from what she’d told me.
We made small talk for a bit, but Dad seemed wore out and Mama had started to doze off. Dad said she still had a few more days up to a week in the hospital, but she was doing so good, he hoped it would be sooner.
As we said our goodbyes, Mama clutched Sarah’s hand. “Thank you for taking care of my boys.”
“You have a fine family, Mrs. Dawson. Now you don’t worry about a thing and just get better.” Mom’s eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep, a sweet expression that seemed to show her content still on her face.
Sarah patted her hand and we said our goodbyes and headed out to the elevator.
Chapter 22
Sarah
My emotions were mixed as I left the hospital with David. On the one hand his mother was being very apologetic and appreciative, but his dad didn’t seem too happy that I was there. Maybe he didn’t like the idea of his son bedding down his women out of wedlock under his roof, or perhaps it was just that he didn’t want me encroaching on his family and into their ranch business. I tried to keep my head high as I held David’s hand in the truck on the way home, but I felt my silence was probably more telling than I wanted it to be.
