RIVAL: An Enemies to Lovers Why Choose Country Romance

Chapter 30

They’re fuckin’ at it again. What the hell is he doin’, the bastard?

After trying to drink away my guilt I’m harboring for how my talk with Edith went yesterday, I ended up playing a silent game of “Who’s going to look away first?” with Griffin Graham. I haven’t forgotten the way he showed up at my place, all hulked out and ready to fight.

So now I’m here, again in the fucking shadows, watching Edith play with my fucking horse.

And he’s loving it.

I put him out in the ring earlier this morning since the weather is supposed to be shit over the weekend and now I’ve got to deal with her playing fetch with him. Fetch. Movement along the ground draws my attention and all three of those kittens are playing in the grass, climbing up the posts as they whack at each other. They don’t leave, though. They never stray far from their adopted mother.

Edith is glancing at them constantly while also trying to keep her head out of range as Austin swings that damn toy around. He’s practically hopping with pleasure, and I jerk when she bursts out laughing as he flops over on his side, nuzzling his toy.

My stomach flips when she sighs and lies on her back near him, staring up at the sky. All the kittens trip and fall as they run over to her, and I watch as they climb over her legs while I absently rub at the ache in my stomach.

I can’t hear what she’s saying, but Austin shifts his body over and lays his head closer, then nips at her shoulder.

She really does have a big heart for animals and it’s the last piece of doubt I was holding on to that she’s maybe like her daddy. Edith Hughes is so, so different.

Quietly, I make my way over with no intentions of ending this little impromptu play session. The first one to see me is Billy. Of course it’s him.

He hauls ass off her body, jumping from her feet as if it was some great cliff, then sprints and stumbles his way toward me. Just as I squat down to greet him, he comes up short and turns his body sideways with an arched back and puffed up tail.

“Are you kiddin’ me, cat?” I grumble at him, and his loud half meow, half groan, draws the attention of both Edith and Austin. Simultaneously, they lift their heads from their laid out positions to witness my emasculation delivered by a ten-week-old nightmare.

Billy whacks at my boots as I step over him and continues to follow me after I slip through the fence to join them. Austin has dropped his head back down, only now he’s fully snuggled across Edith’s chest, and she’s pinned.

“What’s goin’ on here?” I ask with crossed arms, still ignoring the pest currently trying to climb up my pant legs. With a bit of a shake, I dislodge him and smirk when he rolls away, only for him to come back twice as aggressively. “This cat hates me, you know?”

“I’m sorry.” She’s nervously wringing her hands together, then looks up at the sky to blink away her embarrassment over not being able to get up. Not with Austin practically asleep on her.

Lifting my chin toward him, I ask, “Want me to move him?”

“Uhh...” With a quick look at his face, she gives me a hopeful smile. “He’s alright. Unless you needed me to do something? You don’t have to pay me for this hour. I got done a bit early and your mother said I could come out here if I had no place to be.”

That reminds me. “Did you eat lunch with her? I told her you didn’t bring a bag again. She should have fed you.”

Her cheeks pink up as she looks away. “Yeah, she made me. I’m going to make her cookies again as a thank you. They don’t have to feed me. I’m really fine.”

I’m sure her offer got my mom all thrilled and excited. She’s always been a person to express her love through food and the fact Edith seems to do the same is big in her book.

Austin snorts and bumps his nose against her chin. Reaching up, she strokes his head, and he settles back down.

“Ain’t he too heavy for you?”

“No, not at all. He’s really a sweet boy.” Her eyes are closed as she pets him, and I’m almost certain I’ve lost him to the girl. Peeking one eye open, she sees Billy continue to attack my boots, but I’ve done well enough to ignore him. “You can sit down if you’d like.”

Frowning at my new rival, I shake my head. “No fuckin’ way. He’ll eat me alive. I’d like to talk to you. Think we could take these guys back to the barn so they’re not running havoc around this place?”

She sounds so resigned when she gently pushes Austin’s head away and scoots out from underneath him. “Sorry, sweet boy. The boss says I gotta put the babies to bed, but I’ll be back.” With a kiss to his nose, she gets to her knees before scrambling to her feet.

The kittens are meowing like crazy at her, and Austin seems pissed at being disturbed. He hasn’t gotten up, just laying sprawled out with his eyes following her. Edith scoops up Billy and Buck, but Bonnie is at my feet staring up and waiting patiently.

Edith eyes me and I feel as if I’m being tested. Well, jokes on you, girl. I happen to love animals, as long as they aren’t born from the devil.

Picking up Bonnie, I cradle her against my chest and head toward the barn, knowing Edith will follow. I hold the door open since her arms are filled with purring boys while running my fingers through Bonnie’s fur. She’s rumbling so loudly I’m surprised I can hear Edith over it.

“Let’s set them over here. I brought some canned kitten food today and they haven’t even touched it yet.” Setting her boys down, they attack the plate of food with vigor, so I do the same with Bonnie. She’s probably the only one that actually likes me from the litter, so I pet her a few more times and whisper praises before stepping back and watching along with Edith as they inhale their food.

Instead of waiting for her to say something, I wrap my fingers around her upper arm and pull her toward the back where we have an unused office.

Once the door is shut, I face her, then sigh when I see how unsure she is being around me. Stepping into her space, I surprise her and she stares up at me with wide eyes. “I’m pretty certain I fucked up yesterday.”

Her mouth parts in surprise, but she doesn’t answer me.

“I did. You think I was apologizin’ for fuckin’ you yesterday, but that’s not what I meant.”

“What did you mean?” she asks softly, clearly unprepared for me being so forward. Placing my hands on either side of her face, I brush her hair back so the strands aren’t in her eyes.

“I wasn’t sayin’ I’m sorry for fuckin’ you. I was sayin’ sorry for doin’ it in the middle of the road where anyone could have come up on us. And for doin’ it when I was angry.”

She meets my eyes, then lets them roam over my face. Her breath hitches when she asks, “So, you don’t hate that we did it?”

“No. But I thought of something else I was sorry for.”

“What?” she breathes out.

Tightening my hold on her face, I bring mine closer and murmur, “I should’ve kissed you first. Wasn’t real respectful of me, was it?”

Edith’s teeth dig into her lip and I use my thumb to pull it free. Leaning down, I press my mouth to hers, and smirk when she inhales sharply.

Pulling back, I study her. “I don’t think that was good enough.”

“Mason, you don’t have to—”

I slip my hands further into her hair and thread my fingers through the thick strands, tugging her closer. This time, I kiss her harder and when she gasps, opening her mouth, I slip my tongue inside.

Yeah, I really fucked up yesterday refusin’ to kiss her.

Edith tastes incredible, and I release my hold on her to pick her up. Like we’ve done this a thousand times, she wraps her legs around my waist and I step forward to press her against the wall.

Our kiss goes on for a long time, and I’m hard as fuck by the time she rolls her hips against me. It almost seemed like an involuntary thing, as if she couldn’t stop herself.

Quickly, I set her feet on the ground. Without pulling my mouth from hers, we work her pants off until she’s naked from the waist down. I pull my cock out, my jeans only falling slightly below my ass, and I stroke it a few times. Reaching my hands behind her thighs, I pick her up again and this time, her pussy is bare against me.

Absorbing her moan, I continue to kiss her as I line up my cock and slowly press inside of her. As soon as I’m buried, I drag my mouth from hers and over to her ear.

“I know I already said it, but I’ll say it again. I’m not sorry for fuckin’ you. That’ll never be a regret I take to my grave.” Then I pull back and slam my cock into her hard, driving her further up the wall.

Jesus. Fuck, how does she feel even better this time?

I don’t want to fuck her the way I did yesterday, just bent over and taking what I want. Sure, she came, but I had nothing to do with it. Another thing to check off next to my growing “what makes me an asshole” list.

Roaming my eyes over her face, I notice her grimace slightly each time I move within her. Slowing until I’m no longer thrusting, I peck her lips for her attention.

“Am I hurtin’ ya, girl?”

“N—”

“No lies. I don’t like ‘em.” I touch my forehead to hers and rock my head slowly, enjoying how her heat is fucking suffocating me from base to tip. Fuck, I’m in so deep right now. She lifts her worried eyes to mine, so I gentle my words. “Am I hurtin’ ya, Edith?”

“Maybe a bit.” Her voice cracks, half whisper, half cry. “It’s not you, though. Well, not really.”

Readjusting my hold on her, I shift her higher up the wall while gaining a better hold on her thighs. With a slow circle of my hips, I grind against her clit and smirk when she moans loudly.

“So, I’m not hurtin’ ya, but you’re still hurtin’. Explain what my boundaries are right now because I’ll be honest girl, I’m really wantin’ to fuck you hard. It’s actually takin’ a lot of control not to.”

Her hand is trembling as she reaches for me but hesitates, as if she doesn’t know if she should touch me. I nod my head once to let her know I’m alright with anything she wants. Trailing her fingers over my shoulder, she hugs herself against my chest, clinging as if I might drop her, when she says, “All of this is fairly new and maybe two days in a row is a lot. I’m not hurting, I’m sore.” Her nails tickle the tiny hairs at the back of my neck when she whispers, “You don’t need to hold back. I’m not that sore.”

Surging up, I slam her against the wall, fucking her hard, driven by her making those sweet words sound sinfully delicious.

We’ve barely begun when I hear my dad calling for me. He’s not in the barn, but he’s somewhere between us and Austin. With an apology just at the tip of my tongue, ready to pull away, she tightens her hold and looks pleadingly into my eyes. It’s as if she’s afraid this isn’t going to happen again if we end now. Hell no, girl. This is only the beginning.

“Wrap your arms around me, girl. I won’t drop you, but I’m gonna need to brace myself.” Covering her lips with my mouth, I kiss her hard and pick up my pace, rocking in and out of her with as much pressure as I can muster. “You’re also gonna have to stay real quiet for me. Don’t need my dad walkin’ in here, do we?”

She shakes her head quickly, causing her lips to brush back and forth over mine, and I grin widely at how much she’s needing this right now.

Our bodies grind together, every grunt and moan covered by lips and hands as we both drive ourselves closer to that release we’re desperately chasing. I don’t know if it’s possible to push her harder against this wall, but fuck if I’m not doing my best.

Slipping a hand between us, I stroke my thumb over the hood of her clit. She shrieks, but like the good girl she is, her lips stay pressed together to keep her noise hidden. Her slick arousal makes is so easy for me to work her further toward her orgasm and within moments, both of us are exploding. Barely a buildup, but by God, I see fucking stars.

Her clenching and shaking body as she comes was all I needed to pour myself inside of her, gritting my teeth as I fight my need to roar into the space with my release. I cover her mouth roughly as she screams against my palm.

My dad’s voice rings out more loudly this time, hollering my name. With so much willpower I even impress myself, I keep my voice as even as possible. “Be out in a minute, dad! Go check on Austin for me, would ya?”

With my cock literally still pumping cum deep inside her pussy, my mouth drops open in relief when I hear him grumble but leave.

Edith’s body is shaking slightly, and her eyes are half-lidded. She almost seems as if she’s totally somewhere else.

Easing from her body, I look down and bite my lip at the sight of my cum running out. When I glance up, she’s studying me, and I force a smile.

“I didn’t suit up.” Might as well get it out in the open.

Confused, she tries to catch her breath and asks, “What do you mean?”

“Condom. Didn’t put one on and I came inside of you. You on birth control or anythin’?” I keep my voice non-aggressive because this isn’t her fault. There’s no way she’d have been carrying a condom around in her pocket just in case we had an unplanned hook up in the barn.

Digging her teeth into her lip, her easy, relaxed body starts to stiffen under my hands, and I quickly soothe her. “I’m not.”

Sighing, I nod once and let her know it is what it is. Not like we can undo it now. She seems worried about my reaction, so I smile gently.

“I’m not angry. We just gotta make sure we don’t do that again.” Her eyes flash with pain, and I hurry to explain. “I mean not use a condom. I definitely want to fuck you again, girl. I’m sayin’ we gotta be smart about it, yeah?”

“You’re not gonna tell me we shouldn’t have done this?” It’s probably because I saw how she reacted yesterday to my apology, but I recognize now that Edith Hughes has some pretty deep insecurities over being pushed away.

I’m not going to contribute to that any longer.

Kissing her softly, I cup her face. “No, girl. I’m not gonna tell you that. Can I also say that I’m sorry I didn’t allow us to kiss yesterday? Cuz fuck, your lips are heaven.” I kiss her again, then help her ease her legs down to the ground. “I don’t wanna just leave, but my dad—”

“You need to go. I know. I’ll sneak out of here. I have to go to my volunteer job, anyway.” With trembling hands, she drags her pants back on, and I cover her hands with mine until she meets my eyes.

“Next time I fuck you, it’s not gonna be so quick. Be ready for that.”

Swallowing deeply, she nods once. I hurry and right my clothes, then kiss her temple before slipping out of the room.

Only to find Billy sitting outside the door and immediately he’s attacking my feet as I stumble my way outside.