19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Blue
“What kind of pizza do you want? I’ll call it into Hilltop and we can pick it up on the way home.” I had big ideas of taking her all the way to town for dinner, but I’d rather get her back to my house.
The overwhelming need to hold her naked body against mine is winning, even if I know that’s as far as it’s going to go for tonight.
There’ll be plenty of time to explore when she isn’t sore anymore.
“Hmm, Canadian bacon and pineapple.” She purses her lips and watches me.
“Huh, I knew you were a wildcard.” I flash her a smile and dig out my phone.
Her fingers work up the inner seam of my jeans. “I bet you thought I’d say ‘sausage’?”
When she laughs, it sends a tingle of electricity up my spine .
“I just know how many times your dad and I caught a pizza at Val’s. He is a staunch pepperoni man.” I cast her a sideways glance.
“Yep, so is Devon. It’s exactly why I made myself like something different. Otherwise, I’d never get more than one slice.” Her blue eyes roll.
Not only is she scrappy, she’s clever as hell.
“I’ve gotten good at cooking shit they don’t like,” she laughs. “I mean, I make stuff for them too, but sometimes it’s nice to know I’ll have leftovers the next day.” She tilts her chin. “Ya know?”
For some reason, I can’t picture Clay in the kitchen. What would he do without Libby there?
I have this insane urge to move her in, just so she can get the break she deserves. Except I don’t think she wants it.
While I’m on the phone with Val, it vibrates with a notification
Mason: You and Lib? Better not fuck that one up, she’ll shoot your ass!
Seconds later, another appears.
Dixon: Char told me about you and Libby? You know I’m going to have to kick your ass when you break her heart .
Oof. Do I really have that bad of a reputation?
“Is everything okay? Your jaw muscle looks like it’s gonna pop out of the skin.” Her warm finger reaches up to poke at my cheek.
Ford won’t say anything, but if Wade finds out, I’m sure I’ll get his two cents as well.
Did I fuck up by doing this?
“Yea, Mason’s just giving me a little shit.” I grin down at her. “He doesn’t have any room to talk though.”
“Wait, he’s giving you a hard time about our ages? That makes no sense. I’m pretty sure Lori isn’t that much older than I am…” Her right brow raises.
“Ah, well, no. Not about that. Just warning me not to screw up.” I see how I rate, though.
They’re all quick to jump to her defense.
What about me? What if she’s the one who moves on? Outgrows me?
It’s like I swallowed a rock, a knot forms in my gut. That’d be karma I’m sure for the women I’ve left behind.
Her throaty laugh catches me off guard. “Mason’s probably worried about his investment.
He doesn’t want some sappy girl crying in her Cheerios.
” She shifts so her blue eyes fix on me.
“I’m not delusional. I’ve been well warned about you.
” Her mouth tilts in a mysterious smile before she settles back against me.
“Hey, wait a minute. Who’s talking smack about me?” Now I’m really starting to feel like I’m getting a bad rap .
“Just—” Her arm makes a broad sweep towards the windshield. “—everyone.”
I let out a long groan.
Why does that make me want to stubbornly prove them all wrong, including Libby?
By the time we get back to my house, the smell of the pizza is making my stomach rumble.
She walks ahead of me, heading directly to the first cabinet near the microwave. Her midriff shows when she reaches up to open it. Then again on the second.
“Where are your plates?” She flips the third open.
I nod towards the cupboard at the end. “You’d get there eventually.”
I like that she isn’t shy. She just dives right into the stack and pulls out two.
Sliding them onto the table next to the box, she doesn’t pause before turning to the fridge.
The round heart shape of her ass sticking out makes my cock twitch.
“Do you have any bottled water?” she asks as she saunters back carrying two beers.
“No, just the tap.” I hold out my hands for both, opening each, then pass one to her.
“Oh, nice. Our well has sulphur. Tastes faintly like rotten eggs.” She frowns as she sits on the chair next to me. “The barn has a fancier filtration on it than the house does. ”
I grab her plate first, making sure her slice gets every piece of pineapple that might possibly be touching my pepperoni side.
“Do you think this will really work? I mean, what if my dad absolutely loses his shit? I don’t want him to hate me.” She takes a long swallow before setting her bottle down. “Maybe I really should just let him sell it all.”
Selfishly, I wouldn’t mind. I could spend more time with her, and Clay could only hate me for fucking his daughter instead of that and helping her take his dairy out from under his nose.
Damn.
I am a shitty person.
“What do you really want to do?” I don’t want to get my opinions involved.
It might be coming from my dick. And we all know they don’t make very good decisions.
She lifts her pizza in the air until the cheese dangles, then uses her tongue to twist it between her wide lips.
Blood rushes to my crotch.
Yes. Definitely not the brains of the operation. If I listened to my stiffening cock, I’d be slamming it down her throat.
Instead I let my palm grip her thigh, and nest her knee between mine.
With her thumb, she pushes a stray strand of mozzarella into her mouth and chews thoughtfully.
“My grandpa is the one who started it. Dad wanted to leave because he always fought with Grandpa on how shit should run. Mom made him stay because she loved it. Everything about it. We had dairy cow decorations all over the house. She was on like three different committees for it and agriculture. I think when she got sick, it really soured Dad.”
“So he blamed the farm?” It isn’t exactly the picture I’ve gathered from Clay through the years. But I do know he’s gone through a lot of bitterness since his wife passed.
Libby’s nose wrinkles. “I’m not sure? I think he just has a lot of regrets.
He thinks he should have made her leave.
” She starts to take another bite, but pauses to laugh.
“Mom woulda left him. He’s all about trying to find the next best thing.
She was happy with what she had.” Her focus shifts to me.
“I like what I have. I get to see my friends whenever I want. I love the cows and knowing I’m making something worthwhile. I mean, what’s better than milk in cereal?” She picks up her drink and tips it up.
“Me…in you.” I wink at her as she chokes, dribbling beer down her chin.
A flush of red rushes up her cheeks. Giggling, she wipes her mouth with her knuckles. “You got me there. I would agree with that assessment.”
Her wrist flops as she shoves the last bit of crust into her mouth.
It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for .
She lets out a tiny squeak when I scoop her up to carry her against my chest.
“Where are we going?” She doesn’t struggle, but her fingers cling to my shirt as I make my way to the master suite.
When we get to the bathroom, I let her slide to her feet.
“There’s a guy code I have to follow.” I give her a little smirk before framing her face with my palms and pressing my lips to hers.
“What does that mean?” she breathes, her eyes half-lidded when I pull away.
I hit the hot water to start filling the tub. “It’s an unspoken rule,” I say softly, peppering her neck with light kisses. “If we’re lucky enough to be a woman’s first, we have two options.”
Her cheek tugs up. “I like this line of bullshit, keep going.”
Fuck, this girl has me pegged.
“Well, it’s either set the bar very low, make it an awful experience so there’s nowhere for her to go but up. Or—” I run my fingers through the tap to check the temp. “—we have to set the standard so incredibly high, we ruin her for any other man.”
Her lips form a perfect “O” before she starts laughing. “That explains so many stories I’ ve heard.”
She lets me pull her shirt over her head, and steps out of her sweats when I push them over her hips until she’s standing naked and beautiful in front of me.
Unbuttoning my own flannel in record time, I manage to get my jeans pushed down, freeing my semi-rigid cock to bounce between us.
“Come on, baby. Let me spoil you.” I step first into the steaming basin, then hold out my hand to help her in.
With a sharp exhale, she shimmies herself lower until she’s sitting between my legs, my stiff length wedged between my belly and her back.
Cupping tiny pools, I pour them over her body until her skin glistens, then follow the rivulets with my palm.
“Mmm, that feels good.” She leans her head against my shoulder making pleasant little moans as my hands work over her in long smooth passes.
When the water passes the inlet, I flip on the jets. Rapid pulses massage my spine, and flow a steady stream over her belly and thighs.
I’ve rarely used this, and often wondered why I opted to spend the extra money on it.
But tonight, it’s worth every penny.
She’s right. Life is appreciating what we have.
Like this moment.
No where else in the world would I find this kind of satisfaction.
“Blue?” Her voice sounds relaxed, almost sleepy .
“Yes, my little rebel?” I can’t stop myself from nibbling gently on her neck.
She tilts her head, exposing more of the long lines of her throat.
“Hmm,” she sighs lazily. “You’re ruining me.”