CHAPTER TEN
Rusty
T his was the first time in years that Rusty was looking forward to Sunday lunch. He hummed a tune as he bustled around the kitchen. The chicken was roasted to golden perfection. The table was set with Janice’s favorite dishes he remembered from a decade ago—sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, buttery cornbread, and tender green beans.
As the heavenly aroma of a homemade apple pie wafted through the air, Rusty glanced around the cabin with a sense of pride. The walls were adorned with mementos of his life, showcasing his love for western movies and worn leather saddles that had seen many a cattle drive. A well-used fireplace crackled in the corner. He hoped Janice would find it as cozy as he did.
It still seemed crazy to him that Janice was at Littlecreek Ranch. And any minute, she’d arrive at his door and walk into the cabin he’d spent so many days thinking about her in. This is where he’d moped, reliving memories of when they were together, daydreaming about what it had been like to kiss her.
And now, he was going to kiss her in his cabin.
It was just a shame that kissing was all they could do.
Rusty sighed. Life without Janice had been hard, but life with Janice while not being able to be with her fully was just as tough. Every second he spent with her was testing his willpower to the absolute limits.
Obviously, even kissing her was wrong. He knew that. Rusty had made her father a promise, all those years ago, that he would stay away from her. But it had hardly been Rusty’s fault that she had shown up at Littlecreek Ranch, had it? And there was a big difference between kissing and fucking. At least if they drew the line at no sex it meant that a line existed. The line would protect them. Stop them both from falling so deeply into a hole that they could never climb out of.
There was this devilish part of Rusty, though, that wanted to say to hell with it. Who cared about Angus Jameson? He had already let Janice down beyond words. He had ruined her life so badly she’d ended up running away from him. So, what did Rusty owe Angus Jameson? Not a damn thing. But still, there was that irritating part of him holding him back. His word was his bond, and that felt like all he had sometimes.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Showtime,” muttered Rusty. He glanced at himself in the antique oak mirror near his front door before he opened it. “No sex,” he whispered to his reflection. His reflection glowered back at him.
He opened up the door, and Janice was standing there, looking absolutely stunning in a cute Little outfit—a lemondrop yellow dress with a white lace trim, paired with knee-high socks and shiny black shoes. Her red hair was pulled back in pigtails, framing her freckled cheeks.
"Hey there, darlin'," Rusty greeted her with a warm smile, leaning in for a gentle kiss on the cheek. His heart fluttered as he briefly remembered how good it had felt to spank Janice and make her come in the Maple Cabin the other day. "You're right on time. Lunch is just about ready."
"It smells amazing in here!" Janice exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "I can't wait to taste your cooking again."
"Aw, shucks," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to suppress his grin. "I hope it's as good as you remember. Haven’t cooked Sunday lunch since you and I were last together, so I’m a little . . . well, rusty."
Janice giggled. “Rusty Rusty is how I like you.”
Rusty pulled out the chair for Janice, her face glowing with anticipation. She flashed him a bright smile as she took her seat, the afternoon sunlight streaming through the cabin windows, casting a warm glow on her red hair.
"Shall we dig in?" Rusty asked as he brought out the chicken and then took his seat across from Janice.
"Absolutely!" she replied enthusiastically, her fork already poised over her plate.
As they sat down to eat, Rusty couldn't help but steal glances at Janice, her laughter and joy filling the cabin with life. He silently vowed to cherish every moment spent with her, even if their time together was limited.
"Rusty, I just have to say," Janice began, pausing to savor another bite of the mouthwatering meal. "You really outdid yourself. This is incredible." Her eyes sparkled with gratitude as she added, "And you remembered all my favorites. Including sweet potatoes with marshmallow. You know what I always say. That dish is—”
“—not just for Thanksgiving!” finished Rusty, chuckling. “I remember.”
“Thank you," said Janice, smiling.
"It’s my pleasure, little one," he replied softly, his hazel eyes meeting hers. "I'm glad you're enjoying it as much as I am."
"I can't believe how much I've missed your cooking," Janice said with a sigh.
"Thank you, Janice," he replied, feeling a swell of pride in his work. "I put my heart into it, just like the old times."
“Steak, boiled potatoes, and a slice of bread. That’s all my father wanted every single night. I swear if I never eat steak again, I’ll be happy.”
Rusty smiled. “Steak has its place. But variety is the spice of life.”
“Amen to that, Sir,” said Janice, and they clinked water glasses together.
As they finished their meal, the shadows grew longer outside the cabin, and Rusty couldn't help but feel the weight of the impending night. He wanted to hold onto the warmth of the day, and the best way he knew how was by suggesting they sit near the fire.
"Janice, would you like to join me on the couch?" Rusty asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Sounds lovely," she agreed, her eyes sparkling.
They settled onto the plush couch, the flickering flames casting a soft, shifting glow on their faces. Sitting so close, their bodies seemed to naturally gravitate toward each other, their fingers intertwining as if they belonged together.
"Rusty," Janice whispered, her voice almost lost in the crackling fire. "Being here with you, sharing this meal . . . it's been wonderful."
"Same for me, Janice," Rusty admitted, his heart racing at her touch. "I've missed this more than I can say."
The dancing flames cast playful shadows on the walls, reflecting in Janice's emerald eyes. Her red hair glowed like embers, and he felt a warmth deep within him that went beyond the heat of the fire.
"Do you remember the snowstorm that hit just before Christmas? We were snowed in at your ranch for three days."
Janice nodded. "We made the best of it, though. We built that huge snowman, drank hot cocoa by the fire, and made up festive stories. It was one of the coziest times we ever had."
Rusty smiled. He remembered telling Janice he loved her for the first time while they were snowed in. There were so many first times that he remembered with Janice.
"What about that time we went horseback riding up in the Rockies?” Rusty said, a small smile playing on his lips. "I swear, your horse had a mind of its own."
Janice laughed, her eyes twinkling with the memory. "Oh, yes! What was his name?"
"River."
"Right! Your memory is so good. River was always going his own way. I was convinced he wanted to head back home, and you had to come to the rescue when he started trotting off the trail. We ended up finding that hidden waterfall, though."
"Rivers always lead to waterfalls, I guess."
Janice giggled. "It was totally worth almost getting lost."
"It was indeed," Rusty replied, remembering vividly how passionately they’d made love beneath that waterfall. That was the first time they had sex without using a condom. It had felt like the most intimate moment of Rusty’s life back then. "It's been hard without you, Janice,” he blurted. “I've missed our connection, our laughter, and our love."
"Rusty, I've missed it too," she admitted, her voice choked with emotion. "I never stopped loving you, even when we were apart. Even thought you left me."
Rusty swallowed hard. That was a brave admission. Janice was so good at being vulnerable. He'd forgotten. “I’m so sorry, Janice. I’m so sorry for all the hurt I caused you.”
Janice squeezed his hand. “It’s all in the past now. Hey, remember the times we had to rescue that calf stuck in the creek."
Rusty smiled. “How could I forget? We were covered in mud by the end of it, but the look on your face when we finally got it out was priceless. That calf became the healthiest in the herd."
They sat in silence for a moment, the comforting weight of their shared past settling around them like a warm blanket. Rusty felt so full of emotion that he could hardly bear it. He tried to change the subject so that he could keep it together.
"You know, ever since you helped Snickers with her pain, she's been making progress," Rusty said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I'd really appreciate it if you could come by again sometime and make sure she stays comfortable."
"Of course," Janice agreed. "I'd love to help."
"You know, when Midnight first arrived here he was troubled. It was a long road, but now he's the trustiest steed a man could have."
Janice looked out the window and admired Midnight's strong, sleek form. "He's beautiful, Rusty. You've done an amazing job with him."
"Thank you," he replied, his chest swelling with pride. "You always believed in me, Janice, even when I didn't believe in myself." He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, taking a moment to smell her intoxicating smell.
Heather and wild honey.
Just as she’d always smelt.
Janice sniffed Rusty back. Then, leaning into his ear, she murmured: "You know, Rusty, our Sunday lunches used to have another tradition. . . . A couple of hours after we ate, we used to have lots and lots of sex."
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. Trying to maintain his composure, he said, "I remember, darlin'."
"Good," Janice replied, her eyes downcast but a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Needing something to keep his hands busy and his mind off temptation, Rusty stood up. "I'm going to do the dishes. Let me find somethin’ nice for you to do." He got some paper and colored pencils out for Janice and set them down on the coffee table, then walked over to the kitchen, trying to ignore the deep ache in his groin.
Fuck, he was hornier than a mountain full of goats.
The warm soapy washing up water helped to calm the arousal that burned inside him. He scrubbed at the dishes as hard as he could, trying to wash away his desire.
Once the dishes were done, Rusty dried his hands and took a deep breath before walking over to see what Janice had drawn. His heart leaped at the sight: a beautiful picture of the two of them riding their horses side by side. In the air above them, a heart connected the two riders.
“That’s you riding Midnight,” she told him as he sat on the couch beside her, “and I’m on Snickers.”
"Wow, Janice, this is amazing," Rusty said, his voice thick with emotion. "What do you call it?"
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and sadness. "I call it 'If Only,'" she whispered.
Rusty felt a lump in his throat. He knew there were obstacles keeping them apart, but at that moment, all he wanted was to be close to her again. They had both been through so much, and yet their love for each other remained strong.
"Janice," Rusty began, his voice barely audible. "I . . . I don't know what the future holds, but this picture means more to me than you'll ever know."
His eyes lingered on the drawing, his heart pounding, and he knew he couldn't hold back any longer. With a surge of determination, he leaned in and pressed his lips hard against Janice's, kissing her deeply and urgently.
"Rusty," Janice whispered against his lips, her surprise quickly melting into delight as she returned his kiss.
The passion ignited between them like a long-dormant flame roaring back to life. Rusty's hands cradled Janice's face, his thumbs tracing the curve of her cheeks as their bodies drew closer together.
"Janice, I can't stand it anymore," Rusty murmured between kisses, his voice thick with desire. "I've been thinking about us, about everything we had . . . and everything we could have again."
She looked into his eyes. "Rusty, I feel the same way. I don't care about the obstacles or reasons we shouldn't be together. I don’t care about what happened in the past, or what’s going to happen in the future. Right now, all I want is you."
Their breaths mingled, hearts racing in unison as they embraced the truth of their words. The cabin seemed to fade away around them, until all that was left was the flame of their rediscovered love.
"Let's make new memories together, Janice," Rusty said softly, his voice filled with hope and determination. "No more 'if onlys.'"
Rusty scooped Janice up in his strong arms, her body feeling weightless against his broad chest. He carried her through the dimly lit corridor to his bedroom, their hearts beating in unison.
Rusty’s bedroom was cozy and inviting, with a wooden bed, navy blankets, and a skylight window above it, offering a view of the vast evening sky.
Rusty laid Janice down on the bed. She looked perfect there, blinking up at him in her gorgeous little lemondrop dress.
"Are you ready for this, darlin'?" Rusty asked, his voice husky with desire. “I want to eat you up like candy.”
Janice nodded. “I’ve been ready for the last decade, Rusty.”
In seconds, his clothes were off, then, moments later, hers too. He marveled at her body, the smooth plane of her stomach, the gentle curve of her hips, the full, heavy shape of her breasts. Images and feelings came rushing back to him as he drunk her in, like a man stranded in the desert for a decade, finally able to lift cool water to his parched lips.
"God damn that's a sight for sore eyes."
Her eyes lingered on him, too. He wondered whether she felt the same hunger as him.
“Now, remind me,” he said. “How did we used to do it? The ol’ Sunday routine? We used our mouths first, right, and then—”
“Then we made love,” said Janice with that beautiful, life-affirming giggle she had.
"That's right." Rusty nodded, a smile spreading across his face. He leaned down and captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. The taste of her was like a drug to him, intoxicating and all-consuming.
He moved down her body, trailing kisses along the way, savoring every inch of her. It all came back to him; that alabaster-smooth skin, the warmth of her, the constellation of freckles over her perfect body.
Finally, he reached the apex of her desire, and he looked up at her, his eyes filled with love and longing.
Kneeling before her, he carefully probed between the lips of her sex, bringing her to life with his tongue. He kissed her, loving her, tasting her, and feeling her tremble in response.
She tasted like home, like the place he'd always known he belonged. As he licked and kissed her, he felt himself slipping back into the rhythm of this dance they'd once shared. It was as if the years had never passed, as if they were still the same two young lovers who'd first stumbled into each other's hearts on a hot summer day.
She cried out softly, her body arching upward as she felt his mouth consume her, her pleasure building within her.
He continued, his fingers gently massaging her clit as his tongue delved deep inside her. The taste was paradise and as he probed her more deeply her moans grew louder, more urgent, and she thrust her hips upward, meeting his mouth with eager abandon.
Finally, she cried out in ecstasy, her body shuddering as she came hard against his mouth.
He released her, watching her shudder and pant as she rode out the aftershocks of her orgasm. He smiled up at her, his eyes filled with tenderness.
"Are you ready for more, darlin'?" he asked, his voice rough with desire.
She nodded, her eyes shining with anticipation. “Yes,” she whispered. “It’s my turn to taste you.”
“Good girl,” said Rusty, his erection already pressing thick and hard against her thigh.
He guided her in position, her face hovering over his erection. He was ready, anxious for her, and she hesitated for just a moment before she took him into her mouth. Her tongue swirled around his head, her lips parting to accommodate more of him.
"That's my good girl," Rusty breathed, his hands guiding her head and his hips moving in time with hers. He felt his orgasm building, the pleasure.
"Oh, Janice," he groaned, feeling his release close. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."
She moaned around him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes locked on his. She loved the feeling of him in her mouth, of the way his body responded to her.
He thrust harder, his pleasure now impossible to ignore. He felt the pressure build, his orgasm threatening to burst free.
“Stop,” he commanded her, barely able to get the word out. “Stop right now.”
Janice looked up at him. “You don’t want me to finish?”
Rusty shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “No, not today.”
She pouted. “Why not?”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Because I want to be inside you. I want to feel you around me. I want to make love to you again. And most of all, I don’t want to come until I’ve seen you come all over my cock first.”
Janice smiled, her eyes shining with happiness. “Then let’s hurry. I'm desperate for you.”
He rolled on a condom then laid her down on the bed, her legs apart, and positioned himself between them. He kissed her deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth, and she responded eagerly. He could taste the sweetness of her mouth, and it made him ache even more for her.
He slid inside her slowly, filling her up and feeling the tightness of her body around him. She moaned softly, her hands gripping his shoulders as he began to move inside her.
She was tight, so tight, and it was a feeling he had missed more than he could have ever imagined. He felt the heat of her body around him, the wetness of her, and the pressure of her muscles clenching around him. It was even better than he remembered.
He thrust harder, his hips pumping into her, and she moaned, her head falling back in pleasure. He could feel her body beginning to tremble, and he knew it wouldn't be long before she came.
He reached down and began to stroke her clit, the moisture between her legs already soaking his fingers. She gasped, her eyes wide with pleasure as she felt the first waves of her orgasm begin to build.
He drove into her harder, the sound of their bodies slapping together filling the room. She cried out, her back arching off the bed as she came, her body shaking with pleasure.
The moment he felt the wetness pour out of her, he followed her over the edge, his own release flooding the condom as he thrust into her one last time. He collapsed on top of her, his heart pounding in his chest.
He kissed her gently, her sweet breath on his lips. He couldn’t hold back from telling her the truth anymore. That hole he didn’t want to fall into in case he never climbed out? He was already deep down inside it. He always had been.
"I love you, Janice," he whispered. “And I love how hard and wet you come.”
“I love you too, Rusty,” Janice panted. “Forever and always.”
Exhausted and sated, they lay back on the blanket, their fingers still intertwined. Gazing up at the starry sky through the skylight window, the warmth of their connection enveloped them.
Janice snuggled into Rusty's chest and yawned. “I feel so safe here,” she said. “I feel like I could just . . . drift off.”
“Then do it,” Rusty told her softly. “Take a nap with me. In a little while, I’ll wake you up and we’ll do this again.”
Janice smiled, blinking up at him. "Okay. Goodnight, Daddy."
Hearing her call him by that name made him almost explode with happiness.
"Goodnight, my sweet girl," Rusty responded softly, planting a tender kiss on her forehead.
Daddy. She'd called him Daddy.