Love Unclaimed

by Jennifer Benson

  “Let’s go dance.” Ruby took a drink of her beer and hopped off the stool to scoot past Gavin, pulling Audree with her.

  “You go have fun with that.” Audree nodded her head in the direction Clint had gone. She made sure to rub her chest against Gavin as she passed him and followed Ruby to the dance floor.

  She was killing him. If she only knew how much he wanted to take her out to the truck and do dirty, dirty things to her, she wouldn’t be smiling like that at him or tempting him by rubbing her ‘woman parts’ up against him. Gavin watched them walk over to the dance floor and take a spot in the middle. He kept his eye on them as he made his way to the table where Clint was waving. He made sure to take the seat facing the floor since Clint had his back to it. He was clinching his fist on his thigh as he watched the two girls gyrate with each other.

  Gavin tried to keep his attention on the two girls at the table with them. The one closest to him was smiling at him and rubbing his thigh. He tried to focus on her efforts, but a dancing Audree and Ruby had his full attention. If this chick went any higher on his thigh, she might be surprised to find the erection making his jeans tight. But it sure as hell wasn’t a reaction to her; she was all-plastic from her lips down, and she was putting it all on display.

  “So what do you think, you guys want to come back to our place?” the one next to Clint asked.

  “I have to make sure my sister and her friend get home,” he said, glancing over his shoulder to see Audree and Ruby dancing, “I’m the DD for the evening.” He looked apologetically at the two girls.

  “I’m sure they can get their own ride.” The one next Gavin smiled at him and moved her hand a little higher up his thigh before he could grab her hand.

  “They go home with one of us,” Gavin growled at her.

  “They don’t seem to need you.” She smirked and looked back to the dance floor. Gavin and Clint followed her gaze at the dance floor. Audree and Ruby were now sandwiched between two guys, one to each of their backs. Gavin’s body tensed at the sight of the guy with Audree putting his hands on her hips and putting space between her and Ruby.

  I’m going to kill him and then her. If his hands go any higher or lower… Why is she letting him touch her? She is doing that shit on purpose. She knows I’m not going to jump up and go all caveman on her and stop the asshole’s hands from roaming with Clint sitting right there. Where the fuck is Travis? I could get him to stop this shit without making it about me being pissed!

  “You know those guys?” Clint asked, seeing the guy with his hands on his sister’s hips.

  “No, you?” Gavin sipped his beer, thankful that Clint would put a stop to it.

  “His hands move any further than her hips and I’m going to kick his ass.” He chuckled. “Or she had better stop it before it gets that far.”

  “She is a big girl and she has her little friend with her; come on, come back to our place.” The woman next to Clint rubbed her hand over his bicep and squeezed it.

  “That’s my little sister.” Clint pulled his wallet out tossed a ten on the table and stood up. “She can take care of herself, but since I’m here she doesn’t have to.” He turned and walked back to the bar without a backward glance at the table.

  “She your sister too?” the other asked Gavin.

  “No, but she is a lady I do actually care about,” he said snidely and joined Clint at the bar after he tossed his own money on the table. “You know that Audree could take that guy out with one punch?” Gavin said, leaning against the bar as the two trashy women stormed past them and headed to the door.

  “Yup.” He chuckled, draining what was left of Gavin’s beer. “But the bitch insulted my sister and she took a bath in her cheap perfume.” He shook his head. “You could have stayed with her friend.”

  “No thanks, you know I like my women natural.” He snuck a glance over at Audree who was now dancing with just Ruby and the hands-y asshole was making his way toward the door himself, rubbing his stomach, which made both Clint and Gavin laugh knowing one of the girls had put a stop to his handsiness.

  ***

  “Gavin?” Audree whispered from the doorway of his room. “Gavin?” she called again. She knew he was in there sleeping; she could hear his low snore. She locked the door behind her and tiptoed to the end of his bed, watching him sleep. Gavin and Travis had pretty much each taken over a guest room at the Edwards’ house. Talia offered to let them use them whenever they needed to and they were in those rooms more after Lizzy died than at their own house.

  What are you dreaming about, Gavin? You look so peaceful. I just want….

  “Ah Audree,” Gavin called out from his sleep. Audree moved closer to the bed and kneeled down beside it with the realization that he was still dreaming. She watched his hand moving between his legs. Audree had to cover her mouth so her gasp didn’t wake him up.

  Do I jump him? Do I wake him up first? How pissed will he be? I’ve never...

  “Audree,” he mumbled her name again and moved his hand faster. Before she could stop herself, she slipped off her clothes and slid into his bed as gently as she could so as not to wake him. She positioned herself next to his thigh and replaced his hand with hers. She only had sex the one night with Gavin and never had the opportunity to pleasure him in return, so she was going to take full advantage of this opportunity. She moved down between his thighs as he bent his legs in response to the motion of her hand. “God, Audree,” he whispered sleepily.

  Audree looked down at her hand moving over him. She couldn’t see the actual length, but she could feel it and hesitated before she lowered her mouth to him. She knew the basics of what she was supposed to do, but was not prepared for the feeling it stirred inside her. He gasped when her tongue met his skin, and she didn’t stop moving her mouth over him when she felt his hands reach for the sides of her head before burying themselves in her hair.

  ***

  “Shit, Audree… hmmm… stop. Audree…. Ah…oh my…” Gavin woke up shocked to realize the dream he had been having was not so much a dream but a reality. He tried to stop her, but his brain shut off as her tongue flicked the tip of his cock. He lifted his head and watched her mouth glide up and down. He wanted to stop her, but couldn’t find the words. His need for her was in control and it denied his ability to think rationally. Audree moved her hand to the base of his shaft and squeezed him as she pulled her hand up and down. “Audree, you have to stop or I’m going to come in your mouth and I need to be inside you,” he gasped then pulled her up and under him in one swift move.

  “Are you still on the Pill?” He kissed her neck as he slipped a finger inside her, preparing her for him.

  “Yes,” she sighed and moved against his hand.

  “My God, you are still so tight.” He nibbled her earlobe. “I don’t want to ask, but have you been with anyone since we…” he stopped, not wanting to see her face if she said yes, but thankfully she shook her head. God she hasn’t been with anyone, but me. He cursed himself for not being able to say the same. “I have to get a condom.” He saw it in her eyes when the meaning behind his words hit her, but she covered it quickly when she looked down at his naked body above her. “If you want me to stop….”

  “No, I don’t want you to stop; I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered. He was relieved, but felt guilty, nonetheless as he got up and reached for his wallet.

  “I’m going to go slow since it has been a while for you.” He rolled the condom on thinking she hadn’t had sex with anyone in almost a year after their night together while he’d had at least two one-night stands since then. “If you need me to stop…”

  “Gavin,” she moaned and wiggled her body so that he was pressed against her entrance. That was all the encouragement he needed and he moved inside her slowly as her body arched to receive him.

  “God, Audree, I can’t…” he wanted to go slow, but she kept moving against him. He waited for her to come twice before he increased his pace. “Audree,” he grunted her name
with his release, then dropped his head to her forehead and kissed her lips. “You’re incredible,” he whispered breathlessly into her mouth as he kissed her harder.

  “Gavin, I don’t know if…” her thought caught in her throat as he thrust into her again.

  “You drive me absolutely crazy. I could go all night with you,” he choked out as he buried himself inside her again and again.

  “Gavin,” she called out again as she came.

  Much to her regret, Audree woke up in her own bed alone and found out that Gavin was already out at the barn with Clint. He avoided her the rest of the week at the farm. Gavin was never again alone with Audree and he either slept in Travis’ room or passed out on the couch in the living room. They went back to the bar two more times and Audree had to deal with his distance and other women boldly eyeing him. Thank goodness, he never took any of them up on their offers and he always removed any wandering hands from his body, at least while she was around.

  ***

  “So are we going to talk about what happened or are we going to go on pretending we didn’t have sex, again?” Audree asked, walking up behind Gavin who was brushing down his horse. It looked like he had been out riding already this morning.

  “Audree, you climbed into my bed,” he huffed. “I was sleeping.”

  “You were dreaming about me. You were touching yourself while you were dreaming about me.” She blocked his path to move around the horse.

  “So that gives you the right to come into my room and fuck me? What if I did that to you?”

  “I’ll leave my door open,” she snapped.

  “Ugh, Audree. I told you that night that we couldn’t happen, that it would only be that night.”

  “Then why didn’t you stop me from fucking you! You are a big strong man. You could have picked me up and moved me. You’ve done it before. You could have pushed me away. You could have told me to stop,” she stomped. “But you didn’t, because you wanted it as much as I did. You want me, Gavin, but you won’t take me. I have made a complete ass out of myself for years. I have thrown myself at you because I feel what is between us. I want to be with you. I want to be in your arms, in your bed, in your fucking heart.” She refused to let the tears banging against her lids fall in front of him.

  “I know you have been with other women, but I want to be yours. I want you to be mine. I am standing here before you making the biggest fool of myself; telling you that all you have to do is say the word. Tell me I’m yours and you have me.”

  “Audree, I can’t! I won’t…,” he barked harshly.

  “You can’t. You won’t. Well, fuck you, Gavin Montgomery. Next time you see me I might not be available and I sure as hell won’t be climbing into your bed again. So you enjoy those dreams about me and you remember the feel of my body on top of you, underneath you and in front of you. Remember how you feel being inside of me, because it can’t and won’t happen again!” She stormed out of the barn and heard the clanging of metal hitting the barn wall, but refused to turn back to him. This time it wasn’t him leaving without a word; she was the one leaving. She called Ruby to tell her she was heading back to school, and if she wanted a ride, she needed to be ready in twenty minutes.

  Present Day…

  “Audree, are you sure you are okay with him staying here?” Travis asked as he carried a case of beer to the barn.

  “He’s your brother and he doesn’t want to stay with your dad or in town, so where else would he stay? Clint’s place is all locked up and the utilities are off,” she said, looking over her shoulder at him. “Besides, I have the room. If the guest house wasn’t under construction, he would be staying there.” She hoped the nervousness was apparent only to her ears.

  “You are a shit liar, Audree. You always have been.” Travis shook his head. “If it makes you uncomfortable he can always stay with me.”

  “You have a one room studio with one bed. Where exactly would he be staying?”

  “He could sleep on the floor.”

  “Yeah, okay. That sounds totally like something he would do. More like you would be on the floor and he would be in your bed, which I don’t he would do. God knows what goes on in your bed.” She knew there was no way in hell Gavin would be staying with Travis or sleeping on any floors or the bed. He would sleep on the barn floor before he slept on Travis’ floor or bed.

  “After all, he is a silent partner in all of this wonderfulness around us,” she said, raising her hands in the air around her.

  “Are you going to call him out on the silent part crap, too?”

  “Nope, let him think he is still getting away with fixing things behind my back. He has been doing it for years, why let on now?” She laughed.

  “Momma?” a little voice called from the inside of the barn.

  “Yes, Eva?” Audree put down the tray of plates, cups, and plastic silverware she had brought down from the house.

  “Why can’t I stay for the party? I don’t want to go to Grammy and Grandpa’s, I want to stay and dance with you and Aunt Ruby,” she said with a wiggle of her hips.

  “We already talked about this. You may stay for a little while and then you are going to spend the night with Grammy and Grandpa. This is a big people party.” She scooped Eva up in her arms. “I promise you can dance with me and Aunt Ruby before you leave.” She kissed her daughter’s forehead and swayed her hips back and forth.

  “Hey, what about me? Don’t I rate a dance with my favorite niece in the whole world?” Travis scooped Eva out of her mother’s arms and started moving around the barn.

  “You are very silly, Uncle Travis,” Eva laughed.

  “I know, but that is why your momma loves me so.”

  “She loves you because you are her best friend, like Carrie is my friend, but she is a girl,” Eva laughed as Travis dipped her back.

  “Okay, you sillies, let’s get the rest of this place together so we can go for a swim before the crowd gets here.” Audree watched as Travis swung Eva around onto his back.

  “Giddy up, Uncle Travis.” Eva tapped his shoulder and he trotted off, with Audree trailing behind, shaking her head as the two played.

  “Momma, I heard Aunt Ruby telling Grammy that Uncle Gavin is coming tonight and that he is staying with us,” Eva stated, as she bounced up and down in the water in front of Audree.

  “He is supposed to be here tomorrow. He is helping Uncle Travis clear some land out by his daddy’s house so Uncle Travis can live there after the wedding.” Audree swam over next to her daughter.

  “Momma, can I tell you something?”

  “Always.”

  “Promise not to get mad?”

  “No, but I promise to listen before I decide if I should get mad.”

  “I don’t like Uncle Travis’ girlfriend, Trudy. I don’t think that Uncle Travis should marry her.”

  “Oh.” Audree held back a chuckle and tried to hide her smile. Audree was in no way a fan of Trudy’s either, but Travis was the one marrying her and Audree had already expressed her concerns about his choice for a wife.

  Trudy Meager had not gone to school with Audree, Ruby, and Travis, but they had all known each other. Trudy always expressed a great deal of interest in Gavin. Audree wasn’t aware of them ever actually meeting each other, but Trudy had definitely seen Gavin around. Trudy was a boarding school kid, so she was only home for summer vacations and holiday breaks. She had seen Gavin, along with everyone else in town, playing football and baseball, as well as around town and at parties after they were older.

  She had tried her best to get his attention, but to no avail. Gavin probably wouldn’t know her if he tripped over her. They hung out in different circles.

  Audree knew Trudy’s father was a very rich and powerful man around the county and that Travis and Gavin’s father wanted to share in the wealth. Mr. Montgomery had made sure that, since Gavin had not been available to schmooze with Trudy during their school years, Travis would be. Travis was, of course, hooked by her big boobs and
little waist. She had the uncanny ability to get him to do almost anything while giving him very little in return. Audree and Ruby tried to point this out to him on more than one occasion, but he was blinded by her “charms”.

  “I’m not mad at you for not liking Trudy. She is not one of my favorite people either, but for Uncle Travis we have to keep our opinions about her to ourselves and just hope for him to be happy.” Audree swayed in the water with her daughter in her arms.

  “I think he would be happier marrying you, not as happy as Uncle Gavin would be, but happier marrying you instead of Trudy” Eva shrugged.

  “What? Uncle Gavin! Why would I marry Uncle Gavin?” Audree nearly choked on her nervous laughter.

  “Because you look at each other like Grammy and Grandpa look at each other. Even the way Daddy looks at Marissa,” she shrugged again, “all gooey eyed and junk.” She laughed.

  “You are eight, do you know that? You are not supposed to notice things like that.” Audree reached for her daughter and playfully pulled her across the pool.

  “Grammy says I have an eye for happiness and love.”

  “Well, don’t be running off and getting married the first chance you get. I’d like you to stay my little girl for as long as possible and talking like that…”

  “I know, makes me sound too big for my britches. Daddy says the same thing.”

  “Does he, now?”

  “Yup.”

  “He is very excited you are going to see him. He and Marissa have all kinds of things planned for you guys to do.”

  “Do you think he will marry Marissa?”

  “I don’t know, maybe. She’s a great lady, and she loves you very much.”

  “I know. I love her, too.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Is this private party or can anyone join in?” The voice had Audree nearly jumping out of her skin and out of the pool.