Grand Parade (Show Time Fever Book 1)

by Lilliana Rose

  Before she could rest too much, he picked her up. Her legs wrapped naturally high around his waist. Then she lowered herself down and he glided in her, parting her muscles. They groaned softly with delight.

  He rested her back against the wall, keeping himself in her, he pulled out, then thrust back inside of her. Hard and with purpose. Megan groaned, enjoying every sensation the movement shot through her body. He kept moving in and out, hard and quick. She arched into him, allowing him to go deeper, and increasing her pleasure.

  Her breath quickened with his. The pressure built inside of her, harder and quicker, until her body took over and convulsed, tipping over into an orgasm, along with him. He held her for a moment as they caught their breath. He nuzzled his head into her neck, smelling her hair.

  “God, I want you.”

  She laughed. “I want you as well.” She held on to him around his neck.

  He gently put her feet back on the ground and held you. He kissed her. Hot and sweet.

  “Now, if I don’t get you to this meeting in ten minutes, your dad will know why.”

  Jackson laughed. “I don’t care about it, but I have to say the mention of it has killed the mood.”

  Megan’s arms dropped down to his waist. “You’ll see me later.”

  He kissed her. “I’m not letting you go without more.”

  Megan leaned into his kiss. Heat flushing her cheeks. “Good. I want to see you again. And again. And again,” she said between kisses. And I don’t want you to leave in a few days’ time. But, then she knew she couldn’t control that. What she could control was the fantastic time, well sex in particular, that she was having with Jackson. Until her thoughts were more coherent, that was all she’d focus on.

  Chapter 17

  “So, what’s kept you so busy?” Megan licked her favorite, honey ice cream in a cone. Double scoop. They walked back to the grandstand to sit in the shade and watch the last of the horse events for the show.

  “Lots of things,” said Kristie smugly. Her friend wasn’t the kiss and tell sort of person, but Megan had her ways of getting information out of her old school friend.

  “A boy right?”

  Kristie’s cheeks went bright red in a guilty blush.

  “Bingo.” Megan was rather proud of herself. Not that it was hard to guess.

  “Early stages yet, so I’m not getting carried away,” said Kristie.

  “Now, the fact that you had to say that to me, means exactly the opposite.”

  “Does not.”

  “It does, and your defensive behavior isn’t helping.”

  “Harrumph.”

  “What about you? I’ve heard Jackson’s quite besotted with a young city girl.” Kristie raised her eyebrow.

  Megan swallowed the wrong way and coughed madly. How can I be part of the rumor mill?

  “Yeah, who’s lost for words now?” said Kristie smugly. “By the way Jackson’s a very good catch.”

  Megan glanced at her questioningly.

  “I know the family. They are heavily active in the community, and Jackson is as well. They are very supportive of each other. I guess losing Erin in an accident would help bring them together too.” There was a sadness to her voice.

  “Guess you all know of each other one way or another living on the land?”

  “Yeah, and with the Agricultural field days, being involved in the community we sometimes brush shoulders and exchange stories. You know there’s not a lot of things to do in the county.” Kristie paused to lick her ice cream.

  “Are you suggesting what I think you are?” Megan could feel her cheeks getting hot.

  “Remember Jackson’s a good catch.”

  There were lots of things that Megan enjoyed about Jackson. His sexy hot looks, but also the tender way he held her hand, the genuine concern he had for her, and he was respectable towards her.

  “Have you both talked about what you’re going to do after the show?”

  Megan shook her head. She squirmed inside. Kristie had pinpointed her worry very accurately.

  Kristie rolled her eyes. “Really? Come on. You two are both walking around with your heads in the clouds. It’s easy to see that you have it hot for each other.”

  “It’s too hard.”

  “Megan, I think you would love country life.”

  “How do you know?”

  Kristie sighed with frustration. “Well, you like exploring. You love challenges. And you like to learn.” She ticked the points off on her fingers.

  “I dunno.” And that was just it. Megan didn’t know if she could. Even though things had been smoothed over with Julie, what she said about not been able to live in the country still haunted her.

  “How about you just try it?” Kristie looked at her seriously. “You always like to give things a go. So how you do just that?”

  “How?” All Megan could think of was that she needed to stay close to her dad, now that her mum wasn’t around and that her photography was beginning to gather speed.

  “Really, Megan.” Kristie gave her a stern look. “What about working in the country for a few months?”

  “Photography jobs are hard to come by,” Megan answered quickly.

  “So, look for other jobs. It’s for a few months. Wouldn’t it be worth it to find love?” Kristie raised her eyebrow.

  Megan paused. She didn’t have to think long about that one. “You’re right.”

  “About bloody time. Give it a chance, Megan, promise me.” She held out her pinkie.

  “Promise.” Megan pinkie swore.

  “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing back in the city. I know how you hate it down here with the busy pace.” Megan bit into the side of the cone of her ice cream.

  “Well, now, you’re going to have to move to the country and then we can catch up for a coffee so I can tell you.” Kristie smiled.

  “I know it has something to do with a boy,” said Megan.

  “You worry about snagging your farm boy proper, then we can sit down for a real catch-up over coffee, in the country.”

  Megan laughed. “You’re on.”

  Jackson put his arm around Megan. They had made good use of the locker again since the other guys had gone home and he had the small space to himself. Now, they sat in the member’s stand, watching the evening’s entertainment. The Fords and Holdens were racing around the track. All he could think of were two things. Megan and how sweet she was even when horny, and how the hell was he going to pluck up the courage to ask if she’d had enough time to think about whether or not she would come down to his farm.

  Megan nestled in closer to him. The sun had set giving a chill to the spring air. She hadn’t a jumper. He turned and kissed her on the top of her head. Her hair smelt fruity fresh. He noticed some hay caught in her strands.

  “I think we’ve spent too much time in the hay.” He untangled the piece of straw and showed her.

  Megan laughed. “Or not enough?” She leaned into him with her body, sending a bolt of hot pleasure straight to his cock.

  He groaned softly. “I’m going to miss you.” He wrapped his arm around her, keeping her close. He was also trying to make his peace about this with her, especially when she didn’t respond. Everything told him that she was interested in him. The way she cuddled into him now, their sex together, she trusted him, allowed him to open up new worlds for her, and he could tell that she was enjoying it. Just like he was. The silence, the non-commitment made his heart ache. It’s too soon. He reminded himself. This was only meant to be a fling. He guessed. A bloody good fling. But, it had gone on to more than that, even in such a short amount of time.

  “What time do the fireworks start?” asked Megan.

  “Haven’t I given you enough?” he whispered in her ear.

  “More than enough.” She giggled. “I could always do with more.” Her response lightened the knots in his belly and settled the tangle of nerves.

  “Good. Hate you to go away displeased
with me.” He didn’t risk looking at her. Instead, he focused on the arena. The racing cars went out of the ring and entering were small train-like carriages filled with fireworks.

  “Not a hope of that happening.” She kissed him gently on the cheek. The heat of her lips sent a shudder of hope through his body. He wanted to ask her if that meant she wasn’t going to go away from him. The words clumped in his throat. The last thing he wanted to do was to push her. He hardly knew her, though it did feel like they had always known each other.

  “We need to scream loud to turn off the lights for the fireworks, kids.” The voice over the speaker interrupted them.

  Jackson knew the routine of the evening performances. They might change from year to year, but the essence was still the same. “You’re going to scream?”

  “I’m not a kid.”

  “I know how to make you scream.” He winked, running his hand down her legs that he was now very familiar with.

  She put her hand on his to stop him from moving too high between her thighs. “All right, I’ll scream.”

  “Three … two … one …” came the countdown through the loud speakers.

  Megan let out a loud, long scream.

  Jackson jumped, pulling away to cover his ears. “Bloody hell,” he said, when she finally stopped. “I’ve got to be working you harder.”

  Megan poked out the tip of her tongue to him. “Dare you.”

  “You’ll have to come to my place for that then.” He winked back.

  “Maybe I will.” She tipped her head down towards her shoulder. The seductive look flared the heat between his legs.

  “I hope so.” He more than hoped so. He was going to be very uncomfortable if she chose not to visit. Jackson reached forward and kissed her. She responded, moving her lips with his, slow and gentle.

  The first of the fireworks exploded in the sky. He kept kissing her, not really wanting to let her go. But, then she pulled away.

  “I love fireworks.” Megan shimmed close to him on the old wooden slat seat. “Ohhhh.” Her face reflected happiness, and contentment, and the light bursting in the blackness above them.

  He squeezed her close. This could be the last night with her. He planned to simply enjoy it with Megan. Making new memories that would keep him company when he returned home.

  It was a crazy idea, but Megan had a few moments to spare while waiting for Jackson. She got out her phone, and clicked on Job Seek. She looked for jobs up near Clare. She was a little under-qualified for a job as a Junior Photographer. She still had some study to do, but she figured she could do that externally, or something.

  One thing she was sure about was that she wanted to give this a go with Jackson. She scrolled through list of jobs. There weren’t many. But, there was one. For a few months, in Clare, for a photographer. It would be competitive. Her heart increased in speed. It was a possibility. And it opened things up for her with Jackson. A few months in the country would be enough time to know if there was something long lasting between them.

  She clicked on the link and read through the criteria. Her hand shaking slightly, she dared to wish for some happiness for herself. They had spent the night together, and she’d managed to get home before the sun rose, got a few hours sleep, then pulled herself back to the show for the last day. She had to get some good photos of the Grand Parade. And she had to decide whether or not to take Jackson up on his offer. Maybe I’ll apply for the job and if I get it, I’ll go and see him. She didn’t want to think what would happen if she didn’t get the job.

  “Ready?” asked Jackson standing next to Bruce.

  Megan nodded her head. She wasn’t. Standing so close to Bruce again brought back her fears. Her head began to hurt. She was also surrounded by other cattle and started to feel claustrophobic.

  “It’s easy.”

  “Yeah.” She didn’t believe him. Should I tell him about the job? She didn’t think so. Not until it was certain. First, she had to put in an application. To do that, she had to survive the Grand Parade.

  Jackson held out the lead to Megan. “Come on, city girl.”

  There was no option. She took the rope. Butterflies bursting inside of her. Jackson stepped away from her, leaving her totally alone standing next to Bruce.

  “Don’t go that far from me.” Bruce didn’t move. Just stood there as if he didn’t care who held the lead. There was a lot of power in Bruce, pure muscle, and she wasn’t sure that she could control such a huge animal.

  “You’re fine.” He didn’t come any closer. Instead he pulled out his phone from his back pocket. “Smile.”

  Megan didn’t manage to grin before he’d clicked a photo of her. “I wasn’t ready.”

  “You looked great.” He showed her the photo.

  “Something to remember me by?” She asked.

  “I hope I’ll get the real thing.” He wrapped his arm around her.

  Megan could feel the strength of him vibrating near her, which sent her mind foggy. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to get a grip on reality and shoved the fantasy away from her mind. She wanted to go and visit him on his farm. She was certain now.

  The line of cattle in front of them started moving. Jackson’s hand slipped from her waist causing a shiver to extend from his touch, even through the woollen jumper she wore. Her pulse increased again and she swallowed, her mouth dry as she soaked in his features, the impure thoughts back in her mind again. His country style was attractive with his blue-striped shirt and pale-colored moleskin jeans. Everything about him screamed, ‘kiss me’.

  Megan struggled to keep herself composed, despite all their passionate releases with each other. She blushed, knowing she’d been staring at him, soaking in his strength, tanned skin, tight pants, and smooth jawline. He radiated masculine prowess, yet his blue eyes sang a softer tune. He was an image she wanted to capture but one in real time and real life, not for a fleeting moment.

  She cleared her throat trying to get a grip on reality and held out her hand to him. “How do I do this?”

  “Just walk forward, he’ll follow.”

  “Can’t be that simple, can it?”

  “Try.”

  With no other option Megan pulled Bruce forward with her towards the arena. The bull followed along next to her as they walked around the outer perimeter.

  It’s like walking a dog. She found it hard to concentrate. She was leading a bull that had to weigh at least a ton, and there was a sexy man walking next to her, and it was almost too much to deal with. Almost. Especially when her mind returned to the fantasies that she wanted to do with Jackson, who radiated an easy and relaxed appearance that counter balanced her usual up tight mannerism.

  “He’s well-trained,” said Megan, in an attempt to get her mind off of the thoughts about unbuttoning his shirt, running her hands over his chest.

  “Doesn’t take much, besides he’s got his eye on his own prize.”

  “What prize?” She glanced up at Jackson. Her breath caught in her throat. He looked hot. Sexy. More so than the past few days if that was even possible.

  “I think he’s in love with the cow in front.”

  Megan’s cheeks reddened. She turned to the bull. “Is that right, Bruce?”

  Bruce snorted, keeping his pace as if she wasn’t there.

  “He’s got girl troubles already,” said Jackson.

  Megan caught his wink and heat washed up her neck and to her cheeks again. She moved with the whirlpool of excitement created by so many animals in one place as they circled into the center of the arena and then began to make their way back out. Megan didn’t know what to be excited about, that she was leading a bull in the Grand Parade, or that a hunky guy was walking next to her. She squared back her shoulders, lifted her head and soaked up every second of this primal energy.

  Somehow walking around, surrounded by animals, with Jackson by her side, her thoughts settled. The butterflies in her belly stopped moving their wings. Walking back to the cattl
e shed, Bruce lumbered on her right side and Jackson on her left.

  “I’ve applied for a job,” she started.

  “Good for you.” He scuffed his boots as he walked along. Megan could tell he was disappointed. I’ve taken too long. She felt bad for making him wait for her decision. But, it wasn’t easy. Still wasn’t. And she was scared as hell inside taking such a risk, because she even knew now that if she didn’t get the job she was going to go and visit him. Being in the arena, surrounded by country folk, and animals, a big part of her had felt at home. More than she had even done in the city.

  “Don’t know if I’ll get it but it’s up in Clare. Junior photograph. Bit of a long shot.”

  “Clare?” Jackson looked up surprised at her. “Does that mean?”

  “Yes. I’m coming to visit you.”

  “That will be great.”

  “Who knows where that will lead to?”

  “Exactly.” Jackson dipped his head and kissed her.

  Megan closed her eyes, wishing that the job would work out, and more importantly, that the two of them would.

  Epilogue

  After working all day at Clare in the office, Megan drove down the dusty roads. Being Junior Photographer provided valuable on-the-job training. The three months had gone quickly. Then the job was extended, and she was staying on indefinitely, which suited her because things couldn’t be better with Jackson. It also meant she caught up with Kristie for coffee regularly helping her to have a friend as she adjusted to country life.

  She pulled up at the back of the house. She spotted Jackson walking from the cow shed. He looked as hot as the first day she’d met him over six months ago. Her dad was coming to visit next weekend. He was also bringing his new girlfriend. Megan still worried about him, but she knew now that he was also moving on with his life, and she was happy for him. Warmth spread in her heart. Her mum would’ve been proud of them both.

  Megan stopped the car by the gate of the yard near the house, and got out. Before she could gather up her camera and bag, Jackson arrived, scooping her in his arms. He kissed her long and sweet, his arms tight around her waist. She’d never felt so happy in her life, living in the country with Jackson. “I love you.”