Chapter Fifteen
T he drive out of the city is beautiful, the landscape gradually changing from urban sprawl to rolling countryside. Normally a car ride like this would set me into an anxious panic, but with Ryan, I’m calm and comfortable. I’ve been thinking a lot about where my anxiety stems from and I think it was always feeling trapped in the car and not trusting that the person driving would stop. I don’t have anything to worry about with Ryan. I trust him and I know that he would stop the car if I needed him to. I look out the window, watching as the trees become more bare the further north we get.
As we get closer to his hometown, Ryan points out landmarks and shares stories from his childhood. Telling me about the time he and his friends camped out only to walk home in the middle of the night scared because of howling sounds in the night. I listen, fascinated by this glimpse into his past, each story giving me a better idea of the man Ryan has become. It’s clear how much he loves this place, and it makes me even more eager to see it for myself.
When he tells me that we’re only a few miles from his family’s farm I start to get nervous. I’m nervous about meeting his parents. I want to make a good impression so I flip down the visor and finger comb my hair that’s gotten messy from the car ride.
“Nervous?” Ryan asks.
I bite my lip. “Yeah, a little. I just want them to like me.”
He reaches over and pats my knee. “I’m sure they will, Hailey. You’re perfect and they only care about my happiness so when they see how happy I am, they’ll love you.”
His words put a smile on my face and my nerves start to dissipate. It only takes a few more minutes to arrive, and it’s even more picturesque than I imagined. The house is a charming, whitewashed farmhouse surrounded by fields and pastures. Horses graze peacefully in the distance, and the whole scene is like something out of a postcard.
Before Ryan has the engine turned off his parents come out to greet us, their smiles warm and welcoming. His mother, a petite woman with kind eyes, wrapped in a light blue, knitted shaw gives me a hug.
“You must be Hailey. We’ve heard so much about you. I’m Eloise,” she says, her voice filled with genuine warmth.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” I reply, feeling immediately at ease getting a good feeling about her.
Ryan’s father, a tall man with a friendly demeanor, shakes my hand. “Welcome to our home, Hailey. I’m Ryan Senior, We’re glad to have you here. I might have to put you to work while you’re here, though.”
I look at Ryan wide-eyed but then the three of them all start laughing and I realize he’s joking.
“Thank you for having me,” I say.
“Come on inside,” Ryan’s mother says, leading the way into the farmhouse. “Let’s get you settled.”
We follow her into the house, and it’s just as adorable inside as the outside. It’s got a rustic charm but with modern amenities and the smell of freshly baked cookies fills the air, and the warmth from the fireplace in the center of the room creates a comfortable atmosphere.
We make our way further into the house, Eliose leading Ryan and me down the hall. We stop at a large wooden door and she slowly opens it revealing a charming guest room with a view of the rolling fields outside. “This will be your room, Hailey. I hope you find it comfortable.”
“It’s perfect, thank you,” I say, stepping into the room. Ryan follows in with my bag and places it on the edge of the bed.
“Mom, you could have just let her stay in my room,” he playfully says.
“Ryan Dean don’t start with me,” she replies in a mock stern voice.
“I’m just teasing Mom,” he tells her as he goes to stand next to her and throws his arm around her shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze. Eloise looks at him and gives him a bright smile. I love watching their interaction. It’s so warm and genuine and it makes me feel a tinge of regret that I didn’t go home for Thanksgiving. I make a mental note to FaceTime my parents later.
Eloise’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Why don’t you get settled in? We’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.” She gives me a smile before breezing out of the room, leaving me to settle in.
I take a few minutes to unpack my things, hang up a few sweaters so they won’t be wrinkled, and freshen up. When I’m done, Ryan appears in the doorway.
“Ready for the grand tour?” he asks, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Absolutely,” I say, eager to see more of his world.
Ryan takes my hand and leads me through the house, pointing out family photos and sharing where things are in the house. He makes sure to point out the kitchen and the bathroom off the family room. We eventually reach his bedroom, and he opens the door with a shy smile.
“This is where I grew up,” he says, stepping aside to let me in.
When I step inside the room, it smells exactly like Ryan, clean soap and sandalwood. The room is decorated simply but filled with his personality. Posters of bands and sports teams adorn the walls, and a well-worn desk sits in the corner, covered in notebooks and papers. A few tall, gold trophies sit in one corner propped up against a wall.
“What are those for?” I ask pointing to the trophies.
“Mathematics mostly but there’s a few in there for little league and soccer,” he says.
“Well…” I say, looking around. “The room feels very… you.”
Ryan laughs, pulling me into a hug. “I’m glad you think so. I spent a lot of time in here dreaming about the future. It’s nice to finally share it with someone special.”
“Do you mean to tell me the gorgeous and charismatic Ryan Fontane has never had a girl over before?” I ask him in somewhat of a shock.
“Nope. Not unless you count my cousins and family coming over for birthday parties. And I don’t because we don’t have that kind of relationship,” he laughs out.
We sit on the end of his bed, and Ryan wraps an arm around me. “I’m glad you came. It means a lot to me. I’ve never invited a girl to my house, let alone a woman that I care about. My parents understand that too.”
“I’m happy to be here,” I reply, resting my head on his shoulder. “This place is beautiful, and your family is so welcoming.” And they have been. I can tell that Eloise and Ryan Senior are good people and I want to get to know them more.
Ryan kisses the top of my head. “I’m glad. I want you to feel at home here. It’s going to be your home for the next two weeks as well.”
As we sit there, I feel a deep sense of contentment. This Thanksgiving is going to be different from any I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to see what it brings.
Over the next few days, I experience the simple joys of farm life. Ryan takes me horseback riding, shows me around the fields, and introduces me to the animals. We spend our evenings by the fireplace, talking and laughing with his family. It’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of college life, and I find myself falling in love with it. I also get to experience the downside of living on a farm. I haven’t been able to FaceTime my parents because the WiFi is so spotty and then there’s the responsibility of getting up at sun up each morning to help tend to the animals. I’ve learned that Ryan’s parents tend to the farm themselves and they have two full-time farm hands that assist them.
After a week at the farm, Thanksgiving Day arrives and it’s everything I imagined it to be when I agreed to Ryan’s pleas that I come spend it here. It’s filled with warmth and togetherness. We gather around the large worn dining room table, enjoying a delicious feast prepared by Ryan’s mother. I volunteered to help her no less than five times before she finally agreed to let me. Before we dig in, we tell each other what we’re thankful for and it warms my heart when Eliose mentions seeing her son so happy and that she’s thankful for my presence.
As the day wears on, we check up on the animals because work doesn’t stop on a farm. Then we spend the remainder of the day playing board games in the house. When Ryan and I get into a heated game of Monopoly we decide it’s time to cool off with some pumpkin pie and whipped cream. It isn’t until later, as Ryan and I sit on the porch, watching the stars, he takes my hand in his and whispers softly to me, “Hailey, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
I’m so overcome with emotion my throat feels too thick to swallow and my eyes immediately glass over with unshed tears. When I can finally speak, I tell him, “I feel the same way, Ryan,” squeezing his hand. “This has been the best Thanksgiving I’ve ever had.”
I lean in, kissing him gently.
When we pull apart Ryan smiles, his eyes shining with affection. “Want to do it again at Christmas?” His smile is wickedly handsome but we both know I’ll need to go home to Phoenix for Christmas. My mother’s text made it very clear this morning that in her words: I won’t be pulling this stunt at Christmas . But I let those worries go for another day and simply smile back and tuck myself under his arm to stay warm.
He rubs his hand over my arm to warm me. “It’s getting cold, let’s go inside and get warmed up.”
We stand and make our way inside hand in hand. A lamp has been left on in the living room as the fire dies down in the fireplace. When I look over at Ryan he takes the hand that’s not intertwined with mine and puts his index finger over his lips indicating for me to be quiet. We quietly make our way through the house, going down the hall opposite of my bedroom. When we get to his room, he opens the door and ushers me in. Once he closes the door behind us, I turn and he’s already stalking towards me.
Ryan and I have been pretty good about not fooling around in his parent’s house for the past week. There was an episode or two of heavy petting in the barn earlier in the week but other than that we’ve been very reserved. I can see now there’s no reservation. He looks hungry as he stalks towards me. When he gets within arms reach, he pulls me toward him and I know this isn’t going to be a quick groping in a barn. My heart beats wildly in my chest and my blood burns hot through my veins.
The warmth of his touch sends a shiver down my spine, and I respond eagerly, wrapping my arms around his neck. We begin to kiss and it deepens, becoming more passionate. I feel a surge of desire run through me. I have never wanted anyone like I’ve wanted Ryan.
We make our way to the bed, never breaking the kiss. Ryan’s hands roam over my back, pulling me closer, and I can feel the intensity of his emotions mirrored in his touch. When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathing heavily, our foreheads resting against each other.
“I’ve wanted to do this for days,” Ryan whispers, his voice filled with longing and desire.
“Me too,” I reply, my fingers trailing down his chest. “I want you, Ryan.”
Ryan’s eyes darken with desire as he gently pushes me further down onto the bed. He lies beside me, his body pressing against mine, and we lose ourselves in each other. His hot kisses trail down my neck, and I gasp at the sensation, my hands tangling in his hair.
We take our time exploring each other’s bodies, savoring every touch and kiss. We haven’t had a lot of uninterrupted time so to have this moment where it’s just us—it feels like heaven. I can feel the deep sense of intimacy and trust between us. It makes the moment even more heightened. Ryan’s hands are firm as they caress my skin, and I respond to his every touch with a fervor that conveys how much I want this.
“You’re so beautiful,” Ryan murmurs against my skin, his breath hot and tantalizing. “I can’t get enough of you.”
His words send a thrill through me, and I arch my body closer to his. “I feel the same way about you, Ryan. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.”
We continue to kiss and touch, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. There’s a natural rhythm to our movements as if we’ve been made for each other. Every kiss, every caress, deepens our connection, and before I know it we’ve stripped each other’s clothing and discarded it all over the bedroom floor.
Our breaths come faster, our touches more urgent, and I can feel the heat between us growing.
“Hailey,” Ryan says my name, his voice thick with emotion.
I look into his eyes, seeing his desire, and I know that this is exactly the moment I want between us here and now. “I want you. I want this.”
With that, he’s let go of whatever restraint he was holding onto and surges into me. The world fades away, leaving just the feel of him. Our bodies move together in pleasure, his hands roaming over my shoulders, my neck, and then back down my arms as he thrusts in and out of me. With each thrust I start to feel myself building higher and higher, winding up for that ultimate release.
Ryan palms my breasts rolling his thumbs around my nipples and I almost come from the overwhelming pleasure but when he hikes my legs up higher, holding them to put my hips at an angle that I really start to see stars. His perfect cock, hitting in just the right spot. Even though I wish it could last, it only takes a few more seconds before I’m soaring as my orgasm hits.
Ryan is perfect, he continues to thrust in a slower motion as I ride out my orgasm. My fingernails dig into his shoulders and even though I know I’m leaving nail marks on his shoulders, I can’t stop myself. As I start to come down, Ryan’s thrusts begin to become more erratic. He grunts out, “I’m going to come,” only a second before I can feel his hot seed coating the inside of my walls.
The intensity of the moment takes my breath away, and I lose myself to the sensations and emotions that flood through me. Ryan gently pulls out of me and lays down beside me. We lie in each other’s arms, our breaths gradually slowing as we come down from the high of our orgasms. Ryan’s fingers trace gentle patterns on my skin, and I feel a warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the physical act we just shared.
“I love you, Hailey,” Ryan whispers. “I think I started falling in love with you from the moment we met.”
Tears threaten to fill my eyes as I look up at him. “I love you too, Ryan. More than I ever thought possible.”
We hold each other, basking in the afterglow. For a fleeting second, I wonder if I should get up and go to my bedroom, but if Ryan wanted that then I’m sure he would say something. His silence is my answer. As I drift off to sleep in his arms, I feel so much joy and happiness that this man is in my life. That he loves me and that I made the right decision in coming here. This has been the best Thanksgiving.