47. Hannah
CHAPTER 47
HANNAH
“ H ey, sweet boy,” I say, nuzzling the nose of my old American Quarter horse, Merle. I know I’m already running late to meet the girls for Margarita Monday, but I’ve got to finish checking on Falling Oaks first.
“I know. I haven’t been spending as much time out here since Ruby was born. But she was so little and I needed to make sure she was okay,” I tell him, trying to push aside my guilt at not being as present as I’d like for all the other animals over the last few months.
Merle blows a warm breath into my hand and I hold out a carrot for him. He snatches the treat from me, and I run my hands through his mane as he chomps away at it, clearly forgiven.
“Such a sweet boy,” I tell him, giving him one last pat before turning and heading back to the house. After making sure that Leroy and Ruby are taken care of, I jump in the car and race to Maracas to meet Caroline and Margaret.
I smile as I see my friends sitting in the corner under the “save water, drink tequila ” neon sign when I make my way inside, both of them waving frantically as if I wouldn’t notice them in the tiny restaurant.
“Hey, Han! You okay? We were starting to get worried?” Caroline says, holding out a margarita for me to take as I slide into the booth.
“God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hold everyone up. I was trying to make sure all the animals were taken care of before I came over, and it’s definitely gotten better since the boys finished fixing the fence. But I still feel like I don’t spend enough time with all of them,” I tell them, taking a long sip of the drink Caroline offered me.
Margaret and Caroline both just nod, before Margaret says, “No worries. I was actually running a little late too. I got carried away baking this afternoon and lost track of time. Each day we’re getting more and more visitors at Deer Valley, and I can barely keep up. I’m definitely gonna have to hire more help if this keeps up once I open the bakery.”
“Oh my gosh, it definitely will. I think you’re gonna have more business than you know what to do with,” Caroline tells her, and Margaret smiles at that.
“I sure hope so. I’m so excited to really get to work in a few weeks while y’all are out for school. I’ve been saving some ideas, and I think it’s gonna be so cute,” she says, pulling out her phone and turning it to show us some pictures of what she has planned.
“It’s gonna be adorable. Once Seth and the other boys get all the construction stuff done, we’ll be happy to help you paint or whatever else you need,” I offer, and Caroline nods in agreement. “Now that the farm isn’t falling apart quite as much as it was and I’m not drowning in all the bills like I was a few months ago, I for sure owe you both a couple hundred favors for all the chaos I’ve caused you.”
“Oh my gosh, would you stop? You don’t owe us anything. That’s what we’re here for,” Margaret argues with an eye roll. “But I will take the help if you’re offering.”
We all laugh at that, taking a sip of our drinks before Caroline asks, “So, Han, that payment plan we worked out still helping? If not, you can tell us, and we’ll come up with something else.”
“Nope, it’s still great. Honestly not having to worry about Gramp’s expenses has been a lifesaver. I don’t know how they managed it at the nursing home, but I’m so grateful.”
Both my friends nod at that, before Margaret adds, “You know, I never expected to have people I could call for help, especially this soon after moving to Springside. I’m just really grateful for the both of you.”
“Same,” I say with a smile, holding up my glass to bump it with theirs before taking another tequila-filled sip.
Caroline opens her mouth to say something, but as she does, I feel my phone vibrate with a message. I pull it out while she and Margaret talk, seeing Will’s name on the screen.
WILL: I know you’re out with the girls right now but please tell me I can see you tonight.
WILL: This week’s gonna be wild with the championship, and I’m not gonna last if I don’t get inside you at least once before the weekend.
I feel my face flush at his words before Caroline gives me a questioning glare. “You good, Han? Who is that?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” I say quickly, clicking my screen off before looking up at her.
I can see the suspicion on her face, but I ignore it until Margaret asks, “So, I know it’s been a few months, but did anything ever happen with Kent? Like, do the two of you still talk?”
Her words catch me off guard, having not thought about Will’s assistant coach in weeks, but I just shake my head. “Nah, he’s a really nice guy, but I don’t think he’s my type.”
Margaret nods in understanding, just as our waitress brings our food to the table. With Margaret and Caroline distracted, I pull out my phone and send a quick text before turning back to my friends.
HANNAH: Sure, come over around 9. See you then. :)
After almost two hours of chatting with my friends, we finally start to make our way to the parking lot, and I try to hide my excitement at the fact that I’m about to get to see Will. It’s just sex. Nothing more, I remind myself . You’re just excited to see him, but it can’t be more than just sex. Feelings or no feelings, this is all you get.
“Does my brother not get tired of sitting out here in his truck every week?” Margaret asks, shaking her head as Caroline smiles, bringing me back to the present as we walk up to Theo’s truck where he’s waiting to take Caroline home.
“I’ve told him I never drink enough to not be able to drive, and even if I did, I could just walk to your apartment and stay with you, but you know how he is,” she says with a laugh. “We all know he’s a bit of a caveman when he thinks my safety might be in danger,” she adds, rolling her eyes at her fiancé’s overprotective nature.
“I think it’s sweet. I mean I’m perfectly capable of driving home, don’t get me wrong, but I think it’d be nice to have someone who cares that much about me,” I admit, before noticing Caroline and Margaret’s shocked expression.
“What?” I ask, caught off guard by their reactions.
“I just don’t think I’ve ever heard you say anything that made me think you wanted a man,” Caroline says hesitantly, and Margaret nods in agreement.
I open my mouth to tell her she’s being ridiculous before thinking about what she’s saying and realizing she’s right.
Feeling uncomfortable, I shrug them off, before saying, “Anyway, I’ll see you both later this week I’m sure?”
“Yep, I’ll be at the game Friday if I don’t see you before,” Margaret says, pulling me into a hug.
“And I’ll see you tomorrow,” Caroline says, still looking at me with suspicion as if she’s waiting for me to say something else.
“Sounds good. Good night, girlies,” I say, turning to get into my car and closing my door. Before I pull out of the parking lot, I reach into my pocket for my phone to send off a quick text to Will.
HANNAH: I’m leaving town now if you still want to come over.
I switch over to Spotify, clicking on my favorite 90s country playlist and setting it to random when my phone pings with his response.
WILL: Give me about fifteen minutes or so and I’ll head that way. Are you good to drive or do you need me to pick you up and bring you back to your car before school tomorrow?
I feel a wave of emotion roll through me at his text, but I try to tamp it down. I know he’s just being nice, but God, sometimes it feels like the man can read my mind. But there’s no reason for me to take him up on his offer, and leaving my car up here overnight raises the possibility of someone seeing us together when he drops me off. I type out a quick reply, singing along to the music as I remind myself about the rules of Will and I’s agreement.
HANNAH: I just had the one drink, and that was a couple hours ago now. I’m good. I’ll see you in a few.
As soon as I press send, I throw my phone down and make the drive home. The closer I get to Falling Oaks, the more the butterflies in my stomach multiply at the knowledge that Will’s on his way. As I pull in the driveway, I try to push the thoughts from my brain, smiling as Leroy and Ruby both run to greet me.
“You two are so silly,” I tease, leaning down to pat them both on the head. “I guess we’re just done with the whole pen idea, huh?”
They both wag their tails at me excitedly, and I just shrug, making my way up the steps and opening the door to let them follow me inside. They immediately run over to their new favorite spot in front of the fireplace. Cozying up together, they both collapse, and before I can take my thick coat off, I can hear the sounds of them snoring softly.
Shaking my head at them, I make my way into the kitchen, filling a glass of water before heading into my bedroom. Stripping down, I throw my head into a knot on top of my head and jump in the shower before Will gets here. Once I’m done, I dry off and grab my favorite oversized sleep shirt and some panties to throw on just as I hear the sound of Will’s truck pulling up the driveway.
I make my way to the front door to greet him, smiling as he opens the door and immediately pulling me into his arms and kissing me hard.
“Hey, Han. God, I missed you,” he whispers in between kisses, pushing me against the wall and caging me in with his body.
“I missed you too,” I admit, threading my fingers through his hair and pulling his mouth back to mine.
After a few more minutes of frantic kissing, Will pushes my back so that I’m leaning against the wall, before reaching down and pulling my shirt off over my head. Since I didn’t bother with a bra after the shower, I’m left standing in front of him in nothing but my panties.
“God, you’re so freaking perfect,” he groans, running his hands over my body in a slow caress.
I’m still caged in between the wall and his body, and I’m about to pull him closer so that I can wrap myself around him like we did in the shower, but before I can Will leans down and picks me up, carrying me to my bedroom.
As soon as we reach my plush, white bed, he throws me down gently, leaving me to sprawl across the comforter as I wait for him to join me. Deciding he needs a little encouragement, I rise from my position on the bed, reaching out and starting to pull off his clothes until he’s standing naked in front of me.
“Somebody ready to get to the good stuff tonight, huh?” he teases, and I reach out and trace my fingers lightly down his already hard cock in response.
He hisses a breath through his teeth, pushing his hips toward the direction of my hand. I can tell he’s about to tell me to stop, knowing he usually won’t come until I’ve finished at least once. Deciding to push his resolve a little bit, I lean forward, sinking to my knees on the floor in front of him and running my tongue across the head of his dick before teasing my tongue down his shaft.
“Holy shit, Hannah. You have no idea how incredible you feel. But we need to stop if you’re gonna come on my cock,” he insists.
Looking up at him, I pretend to consider what he’s saying before whispering, “Maybe later,” and taking his cock down my throat.
He lets out a moan of surprise, shifting his hips to give me better access. “God,” he mutters, as I find a rhythm and start to take him deeper each time.
“So pretty when you’re on your knees for me,” he praises, running his fingers through my hair and rocking his hips to lightly fuck my face. I look up at him from my position on the floor while he slides in and out of my mouth, and as soon as we make eye contact he lets out a curse, before pulling back and reaching down to pull me up off the floor.
I debate arguing with him, but before I can get a word out, he reaches around, lying me face down on the bed with my ass up in the air in front of him. “You look so fucking perfect sucking my dick, but I told you I need to be inside you,” he explains, lining himself up and sliding inside my pussy.
I moan at the feeling of him starting to fuck me, immediately starting to writhe under him, desperate for him to find the spot inside me that drives me wild. After a few gentler strokes to make sure he’s not hurting me, he starts to build a rhythm, kneading my ass with his hands as his thrusts get harder.
I’m lost in the sensation, bucking my hips against him and chasing my release when his fingers reach around, pulling my back to his chest. He wraps one hand around my neck, not hard enough to hurt, but more in a show of dominance that has my pussy clenching around him.
Using the other hand, he reaches down and flicks my clit over and over, mixing up the intensity and frequency until I’m a babbling mess. “That’s right, baby. Come for me and squeeze my cock with that perfect pussy,” he praises.
The combination of his words, the possessive way he’s holding me, and the hand teasing my clit as he fucks me hard pushes me over the edge, and my orgasm slams into me, causing me to scream at how good he feels. As my climax starts to fade, Will’s fingers press into my hips, his motions becoming more and more frantic until I feel his cum filling me.
“So damn perfect,” he mutters, reaching down and twisting us so that we’re both lying across my bed. After a moment, he slides out of me and wraps his arms around my shoulders, letting me rest my head on his chest.
I cuddle next to him for a minute before he brushes his fingers through my hair. “God, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this. Pretty sure I could hold you every night for the rest of my life with no complaint,” he mutters, dropping a kiss on the top of my head and pulling me closer.
I nod in agreement without thinking, before I realize what he just said. Alarm bells start going off in my head. This was not a part of the casual, just sex relationship we agreed to. I tell myself to calm down, but instead, I feel my heart start to race and I start to panic.
I realize with a start that, despite my best efforts, there’s nothing casual about the relationship Will and I have. I’ve sworn up and down that he means nothing to me, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
God, I already walked away the first time when we let ourselves believe in a future we’d never have, and it damn near broke me. My heart breaks at the realization that I’ll have to do it again, despite the fact that a future with him is all I’ve ever wanted.
I feel my eyes well with tears as Will lays beside me with his eyes closed and his arms wrapped around me. Knowing I can’t let this go any further without losing even more of my heart, I push the tears down and steel myself to get this over with.
“Okay, so this has been fun and all, but I think it’s time you leave. We can’t keep doing this, Will.”