24. Chapter 24
Chapter twenty-four
Finally, the new buzz in town wasn’t about me or Queen Gaming.
A new business opened in town, a creamery shop.
I wasn’t sure how the community would handle a stranger moving here and opening a store.
I mean, they were generally welcoming and seemed to love Eddy and his business here, but Eddy had a connection—Brock.
I didn’t know anything about this guy, McClain. But he was bringing us this new place to go, hang out, and grab sweet treats. What wasn’t to like about that?
I passed the busy little store on my way home.
I still wanted to squeal every time I thought of home.
That was now Jackie and his place. My center of existence.
I’d always loved his house, but it was even better now with the pool and other little changes we’d started making.
I had to give up my secluded little spot in the woods, but Jackie’s whole house was a secluded spot in the woods.
And of course, I had farther to drive to get to work, but the route took me straight through the center of town, and I needed my daily coffee fix anyway.
Now Main Street was even busier due to the new shop, but I didn’t stop since I wanted a shower and change of clothes first. And I needed to pick up Jackie.
When I finally parked in front of our cute house, I stomped up the steps.
Right after I moved in, Jackie had his friend, who helped with the pool, come over and add decorative trim around the eaves and a fresh coat of paint to the front porch.
It didn’t look anything like the cottage rental I had left, but it was still cute.
He’d done it because he knew how much I liked the outside of that little house.
He even planted roses along one side of the porch.
I’d loved his place before he did all that, but I loved it more now, because of his efforts more than the appearance.
It was still summer and hot as fucking hell fire. I needed to convince Eddy that shorts were appropriate for the office when it was nearly ninety degrees out.
“Jackie?” I pushed the front door open. “I’m home.”
“Hey!” Jackie came barreling down the hall and right into my arms. He planted quick kisses all over my face. “Missed you.”
“It’s only been a few hours.”
“I miss you every minute you’re away. Why can’t you work from home?” He had only asked that a million times, and I suspected he was planting seeds with Eddy on that one, probably via Brock.
“Because I would never get any work done, and neither would you.” It would be tantric sex sessions all the time. Since I moved in, we were constantly touching, which led to sex more times than not. Not a complaint. I loved him touching me. In fact, Jackie grabbed my ass and gave it a squeeze.
“I like these slacks on you.”
“I bet you like them off me better.”
“Yes. Yes, I do. Let’s make that happen.” He leaned closer and kissed along my neck, having discovered my hotspot long ago. But I had zero complaints. He melted me into a pile of goo.
“Okay. A quickie. Then, shower so we can go.”
“Go? Go where? I thought we’d grill some steaks and hang out at the pool tonight.
” Which is what we did nearly every night, though it wasn’t always beef on the grill.
We also cooked chicken and fish, and we’d even skewered shrimp.
Summertime was perfect for grilling, and Jackie was pretty damn good at it.
So suddenly we were eating things other than sticky buns and cupcakes, though we still had those too.
And so far neither Brock or the bakery seemed to be taking a hit to their sales because of the new shop opening.
I hoped it stayed that way, but I was also happy to have a new option.
So, it was another sweet treat I wanted to try now. “Did you already forget? The creamery? Duh.”
“Oh yeah. We’re meeting Nate and Kit there, and he’s one of my best friends. And I don’t have many of them.”
“Sure, you do.”
Jackie shook his head. “Nah. Nate, Brock, of course, and by extension Eddy and Kit.” He kissed me softly. “And you.”
“The whole town loves you. And what about the guys who helped with the pool?”
He shrugged. “I think sometimes this place is like a huge extended family. We come through for each other, even if we don’t like each other much the rest of the time. And there’s all the bickering and shit that goes with family.”
“Well, it isn’t all good but isn’t all bad. And I happen to love my new family.” I hugged him hard. “Now let’s get to that quicky.”
“How about blow jobs in the shower to speed things up?”
“Let’s go.” We pulled off our clothes as we went, and while Jackie dropped them wherever they fell, I followed behind and picked them up to dump them in the hamper. He started the water, and I pulled my hair out of the holder, letting it shake out around my shoulders.
“I love this.” He shoved his hands up into my hair, carding his fingers through the strands.
“And I love this.” I gripped his ass, which made him huff a laugh.
Then we were kissing, and I couldn’t touch enough of his skin. Arms, sides, back, didn’t matter. He wrapped one hand around the back of my neck and the other around my waist, and in a quick second, he had me pulled tight against his body. The warm water poured over us, steaming up the room.
There was no other man I would rather be with. My Jackie. My redheaded lover. Our gentle touching quickly turned heated. Until Jackie dropped to his knees. “Ow. Tile on knees, mother-fucker.” Then he sat on his ass and grabbed my hips, pulling me to him.
I had to spread my legs a little wider, making my thighs flex, but damned if that didn’t up the intensity even more.
I dug into that thick red hair with both hands and held him still while I pumped into his mouth.
He moaned loudly, loving it when we did this.
Hell, we both loved everything we did together.
Sex with him was erotic, and sensual, and sometimes downright dirty fucking.
But it was also loving and kind. In the shower, with all the steam and my legs spread wide, and Jackie’s red lips full, it was everything.
And I came like my life left my body and was slammed back again.
“Hey, Al...don’t fall.” He was up and holding me, keeping me safe and secure. That was what I’d wanted all along but was too afraid I’d never get from him.
“I’m good.” I cupped his face.
There was nothing delicate about him, but he was beautiful and cherished all the same. “Your turn.” I wanted him to feel as good as he’d made me and more.
“You don’t have to. I mean, we always have later, right?”
He proved to me that he wasn’t with me only for the sex every day.
But damn, it was always so good. “We can. We will. But you’re getting your turn now.
” I sat on the floor the way he had, but it was a better angle since his legs were shorter.
He still had to spread them, only not as wide as I had.
Too bad for him, because it had been phenomenal.
Licking the water off his leg, I mouthed over his groin and rubbed his cock. That thing needed to be in my mouth fast. I sucked him in with a hum that was rewarded with a moan. My slurping noises faded behind the running water, but everything about this sounded exactly right.
His cock hit the back of my throat, nearly gagging me, but he pulled out fast. I tugged his sack, knowing he loved it.
“Fuck me, Al...” He made unintelligible sounds as I sucked him and grabbed him around the waist to control his thrusts.
That was what he needed. I’d found he liked to be held down a little, controlled in bed.
It was completely opposite of his normal persona, but maybe that was why.
In life, he was go-go-go, but in bed? Not so much.
He was leisurely, wanting to savor every second, which actually made us perfect for each other.
And then he came down my throat, and I swallowed all of him, wanting every drop he gave me.
“Fuck...that was...” Jackie leaned back against the tiled wall.
“Fast.”
“But good. Come here.” I stood and moved closer, letting him kiss me. “Let me wash your hair.”
“Okay.”
He turned me to wet my long strands—getting longer by the day. As he lathered me up, he hummed a little.
“This feels nice.” There was nothing like someone else washing your hair.
“Good.” He held me back to rinse. “This is kind of an awkward time, but I love you so much, Al. I want you to know that. Always.”
I swear his words made my heart do that bump and grind thing against my ribcage.
Maybe it was like the Grinch figuring out Christmas.
I don’t know but I was full of love for him.
Why had I held back for so long when I could have had this sooner?
No use worrying over it. “I love you, too.” There was nothing else to say.
We walked into the brand-new store, the smell of vanilla lingering in the air.
This was nice. A perfect addition to our small town.
A handsome man with a day’s growth of beard and a super-friendly smile was busy behind the counter.
That must be this McClain guy, since he was the only one around who seemed to be working.
And when did I start thinking of Foggy Basin as our town?
Probably sometime after I moved in with Jackie.
“I have to have vanilla but maybe pralines as well?” Jackie practically salivated as he eyed the counter.
“That sounds perfect.”
“Huh. Kind of like us. You’re vanilla and I’m nuts.”
That one got an eyeroll from me.
But someone behind us said, “You’re nuts alright.” It was Nate who owned Pints ‘N Pool, where I’d stayed when I first moved to town.
Jackie stuck his tongue out at him. “Maybe that makes this town a fun-ner place.”
“Fun-ner?” Nate shook his head. “Aren’t you an English major or something?”
Jackie pointed at Nate. “Alright. Alright. None of your snark today. We’re here for the goods.”
Nate smiled then, softening his normally stern features.
“You’ve come to the right place for goods.
This stuff is going to make me fat. I’m already going back for seconds.
” He looked over his shoulder at Kit. “And one for my husband.” That was Kit, who I’d met Kit a time or two; he was a cute, bubbly blonde and a really friendly guy.
And more approachable than Nate. Brock and Jackie said Nate was the best, but he was kind of scary to me.
Even scarier than Brock. Hell, they could start and motorcycle gang together and scare the whole fucking county with those burly physiques and scowly mugs.
But they really were sweet guys. And Queen Gaming had an ongoing relationship with Nate.
Several of our employees were now more permanent residents in his RV park behind the bar.
We all ordered and then hung around the store chatting while we ate our treats. The place was packed with people laughing and talking. Then my friend from work, Remy, walked in with Ash, Kit’s brother. Remy was staying in the RV park, so I wasn’t surprised to see them together. But.
Someone snorted when they came in, and I didn’t know who. Then someone else said, “How does that even work? Are they for real?” I didn’t understand what they were talking about.
“Remy!” I waved to get his attention, and he waved back but didn’t come over to talk.
Instead, he put his arm around Ash’s shoulders as they moved through the store and to the back.
The next thing I noticed was that both of them slid behind the counter and helped McClain, but they didn’t work here.
Remy worked for Queen Gaming. And I thought Ash was working at the hardware store and helping out at the bar.
McClain sure needed the help since the place was packed, but it seemed like more than them simply being nice.
Near the door, Evelyn laughed and loudly said, “Foggy Basin is turning into the rainbow coalition. In a happy way.” She hugged Brock as he walked in. “I’m so happy our town is growing like this. All are welcome here.”
“This is how it should be.” Eddy followed right behind them.
“Don’t forget it, either.” Evelyn glared at the area where the other comments had come from, but no one said anything else.
So it seemed they were talking about Remy, Ash, and apparently, McClain.
All three were new in town, so I was impressed at how fast they moved—if all that was even true.
Well, it looked like it might be, and they were good together with Remy’s dark, dreamy looks, Ash’s wildness, and McClain, well, he was dashing.
They didn’t deserve to have jerks speculating about them and making stupid comments.
And then it hit me. I wasn’t exactly sure why this moment, or why I hadn’t quite realized this before. Maybe it was the thought that they were worthy of respect simply because they were people. And maybe so was I . “That was half my problem. Or more. All along.”
“What?” Jackie put his arm around my shoulder and looked at me as if he really wanted to know. And yes, I was going to tell him.
“I didn’t ever think I deserved this.” I swept a wave, encompassing the store, but more than that. “Friends, family, acceptance. What have I done to earn this? A good life.”
“Hm. Well, that’s crap. You deserve all of this and more, and I want to give it to you.” Jackie kissed the side of my head in a sweet gesture. Damn. He was totally getting lucky later.