16. John
16
JOHN
A bby didn’t stir as we tucked her in. Quinn bent and kissed her forehead, leaving a small light on in case Abby woke up and was upset.
“Will you leave it on all night?”
“Yes. Even when I’m with her, she sometimes has nightmares in a strange place.” Then she smiled, slipping her arm around my waist. “She’s very happy here, though, so I’m hoping no bad dreams tonight. She isn’t anxious. And neither am I. I always wondered if she picked up on my stress.”
I drew her down the hall to my room. “I’m glad you’re not stressed. But you’re tired.”
She glanced around my room in curiosity. She ran her hands over the twisted wood bed frame. “Did you make this?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Wood from the back lot that I cleared out,” I explained. “I saw one on TV and thought how much I liked the look of it. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and it took me a while, but I figured it out.”
She took in the cream walls, the thick planked floors, and the simple furnishings. She was fascinated by the handmade rug on the floor, bending close to examine it.
“My grandmother made it. It’s been in this house since it was built. Kinda faded now, but I still like it.”
“It’s amazing.”
Her gaze strayed to the big armchair in the corner, taking in the table and pile of books on top. “I like to read,” I murmured. “Relaxes me.”
“Me too.”
I indicated the door on the end wall. “I have something I think will relax you in there.”
She met my eyes, hers dancing. I smirked. “Well, that too, darlin’, but I thought you might like to soak a bit.”
I led her through the large walk-in closet and to the bathroom. A huge, old-fashioned tub sat in the corner, the aged copper gleaming in the lights. She gasped in delight. “Oh my God—is that original?”
“Yep. Pulled it out of the old bathroom and had it replumbed when I added this new section to the house. It’s deep and long, and I knew I wouldn’t find anything like it. The copper holds the heat too.”
She ran her fingers over the smooth metal. “It’s so beautiful.”
“You want a bath?”
“I would normally say yes, but I finally feel as if I’m not on fire anymore. Not sure I want the hot bath.”
I chuckled. “Well, anytime you decide you do, it’s here.” I held out my hand. “Maybe I can figure out a different way to help you relax?” I asked, my voice low. “Something a little more…hands on?”
She let me pull her closer.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day, Quinn. Thinking about how you fell apart the other night so beautifully. How you looked. Tasted. Felt.” I ran my mouth over her neck, sucking lightly on the skin. “Maybe we could revisit those memories?”
I felt her tremble. I pressed my lips to hers. “We can be quiet. Quick. Save long and loud for tomorrow.”
“Just to take the edge off?” she whispered.
I burrowed one hand in her hair, ghosting up her rib cage with the other. “Yes. The edge.”
“Or be quiet and long if she doesn’t wake up?”
I laughed low in my chest. “Now you’re talking.”
Then I kissed her. I claimed her mouth, my tongue twisting with hers. She gripped my shoulders, whimpering in her throat. I lifted and carried her to my room, pushing my door almost shut, then laying her on the bed, following her down to the mattress. We kissed endlessly, our clothing disappearing until our bodies were flush. Every touch was magnified. Every taste an aphrodisiac. The feel of her skin on mine was silk. The scent of her surrounded us.
“John,” she pleaded. “I want you.”
“I want you too, baby. So bad. My cock is aching for you.”
I gazed at her. “I want you to ride me, Quinn. I want to watch you.”
Her eyes widened, doubts setting in. I shook my head. “Stay with me, baby. Right here in this moment. You are so beautiful. Remember that.”
She pushed on my chest, and I rolled over so she could straddle me. She stopped for a moment, listening, always attuned to the other room. But it was silent, and she looked down at me, her cheeks flushed, eyes dazed. Her lips were swollen and wet, her hair in disarray from my hands.
I slipped my hand between us. “So wet, Quinn. You want this. You want me.”
“Yes,” she gasped, rolling her hips, taking my fingers deeper.
“You want my cock to fill you up? You want to ride me until you come? Until you drain me?” I murmured.
She became slicker, her arousal evident. I gripped her hips after I rolled on a condom. “Then do it, Quinn. Take me.”
She grasped me, notching me to her entrance. Then she slowly, carefully, eased down on my length. I watched myself disappear into her inch by inch until we were flush.
I had never seen anything so erotic.
Then she began to move. Leisurely rolls of her hips, one hand on my chest, the other hand bunching her hair. I held her hips harder, guiding her. “Like that, my good girl. Just like that. Faster. Find your pleasure.”
She began breathing faster. Moving quicker. She balanced both hands on my chest for a moment, then leaned back, grabbing my thighs, changing the angle and ramping up my pleasure.
Somehow being quiet made it incredibly intimate. Erotic. The sounds of our breathless whispers danced in the air.
“Yes. Oh God, yes.”
“Move like that. Slide back. Fuck yes.”
“You feel that, Quinn? You feel the way your pussy grips my cock?”
“Oh, that feels so good, John. I want more. Harder.”
She moved quicker, the heat surrounding my cock indescribable. She made low, whimpering noises in her throat. Her hair tickled my legs. Her breasts swayed, and, unable to stop myself, I sat up, pulling her legs around my waist and seating myself deeper inside her. She gasped at the new angle and gripped my shoulders. I sucked one nipple in my mouth, then the other. I had never been so deep inside a woman, the sensations beginning to overwhelm me. I licked and bit the pink points until she was clawing at my skin, begging me. I moved her faster than ever, almost slamming her down on me. I hit her clit with every thrust, feeling her beginning to tighten around me.
“John,” she moaned in a low whisper. “Oh God… Please. Please. Please.”
“I’m coming, baby. I’m going to fucking come harder than I ever have before.” I met her burning, desperate gaze. “And so are you.”
Then I slammed my mouth over hers, and we climaxed. She screamed her release into my mouth, and I swallowed it down, my own roar silenced by our lips.
It felt as if the pleasure went on and on. As if we would never stop.
Until we did. Trembling, gasping, shaken, and exhausted. I wrapped my arms around her, pressing kisses to her head, lifting her face to mine and dropping small pecks of adoration all over her skin—cheeks, nose, chin, and eyes.
“Amazing,” I breathed out. “You were amazing.”
“ We were amazing together,” she replied.
I kissed her again, unable to stop myself. “Yeah, we were.”
For a moment, neither of us moved, then I rolled her over, disposed of the condom, and grabbed my sweats, pulling them on.
Quinn sat up. “I should go sleep with Abby.”
“Stay a bit.” I handed her a T-shirt. “I want to hold you.”
She slipped it over her head, and I crawled in beside her, pulling her into my arms. “Just for a little while,” I added. “I like having you close.”
She snuggled in, resting her head on my chest. “I like it too.”
I shut my eyes with a contented sigh. Quinn laced our fingers together, and I lifted her hand to my mouth, kissing the soft skin. We didn’t talk, each lost to our own thoughts. I was reeling from the way it felt to have her here in my bed. To know I would see her over my cup of coffee the next day. Hear her voice in the house. Even for a short time.
Or forever , a voice in my head whispered.
Somehow, that voice didn’t bother me.
Something woke me, and I was instantly on alert. Quinn was beside me slumbering, her hand on my chest. I slid off the bed, listening, then heard it again. A quiet call coming down the hall.
“Momma?”
Abby’s little voice was nervous. I hurried down the hall, going to the door and peeking my head in. She was sitting up in bed, looking around, clutching her doll.
“Hey, Pumpkin.”
“Farmer John, I can’t find my momma.” She wiped her face, and my heart broke at the worry on it. She patted the bed. “She’s supposed to be here!”
I walked in, sitting beside her and taking her hand. “You woke up and were scared?”
“Not scared. I like it here, but I can’t find Momma.” Her voice trembled. “Did she leave?”
Before I could answer, I heard Quinn’s voice. “I was just in the kitchen getting water. You want some?” She padded in, holding out a glass. “Sorry, baby. I didn’t hear you call. I was looking at the stars.”
Abby took the glass, instantly relaxing when she saw Quinn.
“Stars?” she repeated.
Quinn gave her the glass, and Abby sipped from it. “Big stars?”
I exchanged a glance with Quinn, then stood. “You wanna come see, Pumpkin?”
She held out her arms, her worry gone, excitement in her voice. “Yes!”
I lifted her, and she nestled in my embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck. She talked to Quinn as we headed down the hall. “Why are the stars different here? How come you don’t have a shirt on, Farmer John? Are you hot?”
“It’s darker here,” Quinn explained. “No pollution like in Toronto.” Then under her breath, she muttered, “And yes, he is hot. Way too hot.”
I tried not to grin.
“Oh.”
Outside, I patted Abby’s back. “Look up, Pumpkin.”
She gazed upward in rapture. The sky was clear, and the stars shone brightly as if putting themselves on display for her.
“So pretty! Look at all the stars, Momma!”
“I know, baby.”
“Can we look for a while?”
“Sure,” I agreed easily and sat down on the porch, letting Abby settle on my knee. She peered at the sky, then gasped. “What was that?”
“A falling star,” I explained.
“Ooh.”
A moment later, she tilted her head toward me. “Farmer John, did the star fall to the bushes over there?” She pointed toward the boxwood.
I narrowed my eyes, looking, then chuckled. “No, Abby, those are fireflies.”
“Fireflies?” she repeated. “What are those?”
“Little bugs. Their belly lights up as they fly.”
“Why?”
“To help them find friends,” I fibbed slightly. “It’s their way of smiling.”
“I’ve never seen one,” Quinn said beside me.
“Me either,” Abby agreed, leaning back into my chest.
“Big night for my girls. Bright stars, a shooting one, and fireflies.” I pressed a kiss to Abby’s head and grasped Quinn’s hand, squeezing it.
“I like being your girl,” Abby murmured.
That made me smile and I held her closer. “Maybe we can catch some fireflies one night, and you can see them up close. Then we can set them free.”
“Okay,” Abby whispered, relaxing even more into me. Quinn peeked over at her and nodded. She was falling back asleep. We stayed silent, and soon Abby was out, her breathing deep and even.
“I fell asleep,” Quinn said. “Your mattress is too comfortable.”
I kept my voice low. “My mattress or my chest?” I teased.
She hummed. “Same for both. I’m so glad you heard her.”
“You did too, about thirty seconds after me. Don’t beat yourself up over this, Quinn. She’s fine. All she’ll remember in the morning are the stars and the fireflies.”
“Still, I better join her this time.”
I understood. I carefully stood and carried Abby inside. Quinn lifted the covers, and I slid Abby in. Then I did the same for her. She hesitated. “Should I change?” she asked, fingering my shirt.
I shook my head. “It’s a nightgown on you. Don’t overthink. Now, in.” I winked. “Besides, I’m too hot.”
She blushed, making me snicker. “In,” I said, indicating the bed.
I waited until she was settled, then bent and kissed her. “Sleep well, darlin’.”
She smiled, cupping my cheek. “Probably not as well as when I was with you.”
I winked. “Same.”
I turned out the light and headed to my own bed. The sheets smelled like Quinn. Like us. I liked it, but I had to admit, it felt empty without her.
I was already looking forward to the next night. If Abby was able to spend the night at her friend’s place, I’d get Quinn all to myself for the whole night.
I fell asleep with a smile on my face.