Chapter 21
Juniper’s pout makes me want to kiss her all over again, but I don’t want the shower to run out of hot water.
Gently gripping her wrist, I tug her under the spray of the water and let it saturate her hair again before pumping some shampoo onto my hands.
I lather it up until it’s sudsy and gently massage her scalp.
Once that’s rinsed, I comb the conditioner through her ends, letting it sit while I soap up a washcloth.
As I run it slowly over her body, goose bumps erupt over her tanned skin. I like knowing how much my touch affects her. I raise her arms, making sure to get every inch of skin I can, then I kneel to do the lower half of her body. With my face level with her mound, I place a gentle kiss against it.
After rinsing off the soap and conditioner, she wordlessly moves me under the shower head and mirrors what I did for her.
I have to bend down so she can reach the top of my head, which puts us almost eye level.
Her face is flushed, and I know some of the redness is from being in the shower, but I think it’s mostly the effect I have on her.
Does she know she affects me, too? That having her run her hands through my hair is making me fall even harder for her? I don’t remember the last time a romantic partner washed my hair. Sure, I’ve showered with people, but it wasn’t so… sensual. So intimate.
When she kneels to wash my legs, her face is level with my pussy. She looks up at me through her lashes, the picture of innocence as she leans in and flicks her tongue against my clit.
“Juniper,” I warn.
She doesn’t seem to care about the hot water running out because she leans in and does it again. Her shoulders prompt my legs to part, and she buries her face in my core, lapping at my wetness like she’s been starving for it.
I thread my fingers through her wet hair, keeping her where I want her. She moans against me and spears her tongue inside me as her nose bumps against my clit. I’m so worked up from the week apart, I quickly fall apart for her, a shiver running down my spine as she works me through my orgasm.
I pull her away from me and help her stand, immediately taking her mouth. The flavor of me on her tongue mixed with the taste that is inherently Juniper has me tempted to send her back down there.
“You’re not very good at listening right now, sunshine.”
“You didn’t seem to mind.”
“I’ll never complain about coming on your tongue, but you know I like to give you orgasms first.”
“Maybe I wanted to take the lead.”
I hum, kissing her again. “Then take it. Tell me what to do.”
I can see the hesitation in her eyes, and I wonder if this will make her anxious. I don’t want to do something that will make her uncomfortable, but if she wants to explore being the one in control, I’m not going to stop her.
She takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders. “Dry off, then go get on the bed.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
I turn off the shower and hand her a towel while I use another to dry myself. After hanging it back on the rack, I head toward the bed, but Juniper stops me.
“Wait! Let me brush your hair so it doesn’t get too tangled.”
“It’ll be fine.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and tries to give me a stern look, but it comes across as more of a pout. She’s trying, though, so I step in front of her and let her run the brush through my hair until she’s satisfied.
While she brushes hers, I lie in the middle of the bed, propped up on my elbows, eager to see what she has in mind. A glance at the clock tells me we only have half an hour until we need to head to dinner, but I don’t care if we miss it.
I’ll eat Juniper instead.
When she comes out of the bathroom, her hands are behind her back, and something plastic crinkles in her grasp.
“What’ve you got there?” I ask.
She moves the pale orange box in front of her body, but there are no pictures or words, so I have no idea what could be in there.
“What is that?”
“I bought this for myself a while ago, but haven’t had time to use it with business picking up and you…” She opens the box and pulls out a pale orange silicone… thing. It’s got an open hole on one side, then it curves into a hook with a ribbed bulb on the other. “I thought we could try it out.”
Oh… it’s a vibrator. It doesn’t look like any I’ve ever seen before, but I can’t say I’m not intrigued.
“You want me to use that on you?”
She shakes her head. “No, I want to use it on you.”
Oh fuck.
I can picture it now, Juniper using that on me while she sucks my nipples, bringing me over the edge repeatedly. She doesn’t really talk during sex, but maybe that’s only because I do. Would she praise me? Tell me how pretty I look writhing on a toy?
I can’t wait to find out.
“I mean, if you want,” she blurts. “It hasn’t been used yet and—”
I don’t like it when she questions herself like that.
“Yes. You can use it on me. But… only if I can lick your pussy while you do.”
“I’m supposed to be in charge.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t get off unless you do, and you’ve already given me an orgasm. So, I need to give you one to even the playing field. And we need to get to dinner soon—unless you want to skip.”
Juniper groans, tossing the toy and herself on the bed next to me. “No, I don’t want to skip. Landry is making his Cajun-inspired chicken alfredo. And you’re not very good at handing over control.”
I move so I’m hovering over her. “I’ll try better. Let me give you an orgasm before we go. When we come back, you’ll have all the time in the world to use the toy on me, and I’ll let you take control. Promise.”
She playfully sighs like it’s a burden to be pleasured, but her eyes glimmer with humor and lust. “I guess if you really want to, I can’t deny you.”
“I really do. It’s been far too long since I’ve felt your pussy squeeze my fingers.” I kiss one cheek, then the other, before I press my lips against hers.
Juniper cups my face as our tongues dance together slowly. We kiss like we have all the time in the world, even if that’s not the case.
She’s already so worked up that when my fingers slide between her legs, I find her pussy wet and clit swollen, begging to be touched. I circle it with two fingers, building up to the pressure and speed I know drives her wild.
She moans against my lips, and I take the opportunity to nip her bottom lip between my teeth, soothing the ache with my tongue.
When her hips start to lift off the bed, seeking more friction, I slip two fingers inside her.
Her arousal coats my fingers and makes for an easy glide as I curl them up to find her sweet spot.
“Fuck, Addison,” she moans, throwing her head back and exposing her throat.
I press my mouth against her pulse point and breathe her in as my fingers pick up speed. The heel of my palm rubs against her clit with every thrust, and she turns into a whimpering, writhing mess.
“That’s it, say my name, sunshine. I love the way you sound. Your greedy little cunt is squeezing me so tight. You gonna come for me already?”
“Mmhmm.” Her pussy starts to clench as her pulse races.
“Give it to me.” I scrape my teeth over her neck gently, and that sets her off.
A fresh wave of wetness coats my fingers as her orgasm sizzles through her. She turns her face and captures my mouth, moaning as we trade sloppy, heated kisses as I work her through it.
We kiss and kiss, long after her orgasm has subsided. By the time we break apart, we only have ten minutes to get dressed and get to the mess hall.
“Come on, let’s go get dinner, then we can come back and try out that new toy of yours.” I give her butt a light spank before rolling off the bed.
We dress in silence, exchanging longing looks and sultry smiles. I think we’d both prefer to stay in the comfort and privacy of Juniper’s room all night, but that would look suspicious.
Once we slip our boots on, we head out the door. Giving in to my instincts, I intertwine our fingers as we walk down the path. I know once we round the main house, I’ll have to let go, even though I don’t want to.
Keeping this a secret is becoming more difficult, especially when I still have to hide my true feelings from Juniper. Just because I know why we need to, doesn’t mean I like it.
Halfway through dinner, the conversation takes a turn most twenty-somethings dread when in the presence of the older generation: relationship statuses.
Shane casually brings up if anyone in town has piqued Rusty’s interest, and with a red face, he shakes his head.
I swear, Briggs rolls his eyes at Rusty’s response. Briggs barely says anything, and I think Shane knows he won’t get any information from him, so he doesn’t ask.
When Shane turns to Oakley to ask her, Oakley gives a slight shrug. “I thought I was, but he turned out to be kind of a jerk, so. I don’t have time for dating anyway. Not when I need to learn everything I can from Landry so he can retire in peace.”
“Plenty of time to date after the busy season,” Shane says. “What about you, Addison? Anyone you’re interested in? I think Cillian is single. I can put in a good word for you.”
Juniper chokes on her sip of water, sputtering and covering her mouth. “Sorry. Wrong pipe,” she says through a cough.
“No, I’m not interested in Cillian, or anyone else. Thanks, though.”
“Probably for the best, since you’re leaving in a little less than two months,” Rusty says. “Wouldn’t want to get attached to someone just to have to leave. That would be a helluva heartbreak.”
“Right. Wouldn’t want that.”
As the conversation moves on, I glance over at Juniper and find her gaze firmly fixated on her plate as she pushes around the remnants of her pasta.
Rusty’s words echo through my mind for the rest of dinner. I really thought I could go through this without attaching myself to Juniper. I thought we could fuck and have fun and not be anything more than coworkers, and by the end of the summer, I’d be ready to move on to the next thing.
I’ll have enough money to take some time off from work and train with a new horse so I can be ready to race come spring. Finding a horse I connect with should be my priority, but I think I’ve found one already.
I just need to ask Mr. Calhoun if he’d consider selling her.
Who would have thought that something that was supposed to be just a summer job would lead me to find two very significant things in my life?
I wish I could take both of them with me when I leave.
After dinner, I stay at the main house to make it seem like I’m sleeping there. I swear time moves more slowly, and only a few minutes have passed each time I look at the clock. I stand and pace the room, listening for the telltale signs that the Calhouns have gone to sleep.
By eight thirty, my restlessness gets the best of me.
“Fuck this,” I mutter.
Cracking open the door of my room, I peer down the hall to see if any light is shining from downstairs. When I don’t see any, I grab my boots and tiptoe down the hall. A dim light under Oakley’s door has me on alert, and I glance back with every step I make, hoping she doesn’t open it and see me.
When I make it down the stairs and out the back door, I slip on my boots and let out a sigh of relief. My thumping heart doesn’t slow down as I make it to Juniper’s house, knocking twice before twisting the knob and pushing inside.
I find her pacing her living room, her fingers tapping against her thighs. She spins my way, and my heart breaks when her bottom lip trembles and a tear slips out.
I rush to her, wrapping her in my arms and swaying us gently as she starts to cry in earnest.
“What’s got you so upset, sunshine?”
She lets out a stuttered breath, shaking her head against my chest. Is she thinking about what Rusty said, too? Did his words feel like throwing salt on a wound for her as much as they did for me? I don’t want to ask outright, in case that’s not why she’s upset, but I can’t help but wonder.
She pulls away from me, swiping at her eyes. “Dinner was overwhelming, is all. My social battery is drained, and… I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m up for anything sexy tonight. If you want to go—”
I place a finger on her lips. I don’t want to hear her tell me I can go. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than with her, especially if she’s drained. I’m not convinced that’s the whole story, but I won’t push the subject.
“I’m not going anywhere. We don’t have to have sex to spend the night together. Let me hold you tonight. We can talk more in the morning if you want.”
“You’re sure? I know I talked a big game about the vibrator, and I feel like I’m disappointing you by not being in the mood.”
I cup her face, making sure I have her eyes when I say, “You could never disappoint me. I’m not upset that you’re not in the mood. Maybe we’ll never get to the vibrator, and that’s okay. Being with you is the only thing I care about right now.”
A singular tear slips from the corner of her eye, and I wipe it away with my thumb. I swear I can see the words she wants to say swirling around in her sapphire depths. I know why she’s scared to say them, but what I wouldn’t give to hear them, at least once.
She lifts onto her toes and presses a sweet, tender kiss to my mouth. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being here.”
I want to tell her I’ll always be here, but that would be a lie, so I say the only honest thing I can without scaring her: “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”