Those words unlock the beast as his pace increases, driving into me each time with more force. Each thrust pushing me higher onto the blanket until his hands lock my hips in place. He growls out words my scrambled mind can’t make out as his hips move back and forth. All of a sudden, I can feel my body responding to his, each thrust of his hips bringing me closer, both of us seeking that moment of complete bliss in each other’s arms.
With a final powerful thrust, he buries himself deep inside me, his body shuddering as he finds his own release, then with the flick of his fingers, my own body spirals out of control once again. As I feel the heat of his seed filling me, Grant collapses against me, but he’s careful not to crush me with his weight.
He rolls over, settling me on top of him as he goes, but is still seated fully inside of me, before kissing me gently. “Did I hurt you?”
“If that was pain, let’s hurt each other often. I had no idea it could feel like this. Never have I felt more cared about.”
“That’s what love feels like, Little Mouse. A man who loves a woman always puts her pleasure before his own, not just in this act, but in everyday actions. I had no idea I needed you but a greater power did, and I have never been so grateful. Holding you in my arms every night, not being able to show or tell you how I truly felt was becoming painful. I love you, and that’s not just the lovemaking talking, it’s the man that’s still inside you. I hope and pray we have a long, happy life together with little ones to carry on our love story when we are gone.”
“Grant, I was scared to say those words. Terrified that if I pushed too much, I would lose you or you would turn from me or worse, feel pressured to return the sentiment. I love you, Grant. I think I have, from the moment you left me standing behind the wagon, giving me the choice to stay there or run as you walked up to the house. You’re still aroused??”
“Yes, and I have a feeling it’s going to remain that way for quite some time. You see, there is this stunning set of breasts in my face that are feeling left out, and I think they need some attention.”
We spend the rest of our day playing in the water and making love. It’s the most magical day of my life. I’m lying on the blanket, now late in the day, both Grant and I dozing off on the blanket, when an odd noise has me looking around.
“Grant, do you hear that? It sounds like hammers.”
“It’s probably your wood sprites building a winter fortress. If you can think that clearly, I apparently have not done my job well enough.”
By the time we’ve picked up all our things and are on Rebel on our way back home, I realize I’m thoroughly sore in all the right places.
CHAPTER 17
LAUREN
Summer passes quickly, but we try to make it more than just work. We plan lots of trips to the pond, a place that comes to represent passion and long talks. True to his word, once a month Grant takes me to town, treating me to breakfast and sometimes dinner at the inn. We also shop and talk about the tasks for the coming winter.
But there are days like today when he acts strange. I have come to recognize his moods and I know he’s hiding something from me. I simply can’t figure out what.
In the last two weeks, he’s told me twice he was working in the mine, only to come home covered in sawdust. When I asked, he said he was cutting support beams for the mine but that doesn’t usually involve taking Star and Bolt with him. He said he had loaned them to a neighbor. That wouldn’t be so odd, but if he’s here every day, how did he talk to a neighbor?
I know my mind is just taunting me, but I’m terrified that things between us may not be as good as I believe them to be. It’s not like he’s treating me any differently and if anything, he seemsmore attentive, if that’s even possible. But there’s an underlying current of something else.
Reaching down for the laundry basket, I laugh when I find Blue sitting on the wet shirts. “What are you doing, silly? You better not poop on those because I just washed them.”
Gathering him up, he clucks pitifully before rubbing his face against my arm. Setting him back down, Lucy waddles up and I swear they’re having an entire conversation. I manage to get two shirts hung on the line before he’s back in the basket. “Blue … ughh.”
Because I’m paying attention to him, when I turn back around, I scream when I find a huge man walking toward me. I grab the only thing nearby, a shovel — but before I can react, Blue and Lucy are between the stranger and me. Blue’s wings stretch out as he stomps aggressively. The stranger backs away, holding his hands up.
“Sorry, Miss, I thought you heard me coming up the road. Can you call off your attack chickens?”
“Depends … what do you want? Who are you?” The entire time I’m talking to him, I could kick myself for not bringing the rifle out with me.
“My name is Reginald Tomas Kerns but my friends call me Reggie. I’m looking for my cousin, Grant Hayes. I was told in town that he lived out this way. Please put that down. I will not harm you, I give you my word.”
He is as big as Grant for sure, but his coloring is entirely different. Long blond hair, a beard, and bright blue eyes stare back at me as he rolls his hat in his hands.
“May I ask who you are?”
“Lauren Hayes. You said that you’re Reggie?”
“Yes, been writing Grant back and forth these last few months and decided to come out and met the woman who finally landed my cousin.”
When he takes a step closer, Blue attacks his boots until he steps back.
“I will say, ma’am, I have never seen a chicken so loyal.”
“Grant says he’s confused, but I love him because of his differences. Grant is at the mine today. Did he know you were coming?”
