I must say, having the freedom to try whatever we want without the burden of embarrassment or worry for the relationship is invigorating. I’ve never explored a woman’s body the way I have Joanna’s, and it’s brought out a new side of me I haven’t seen in sixty years.
For the past twenty-four hours, I’ve been caught inside a whirlwind, but it feels like a dream. Now, standing on the dirt driveway that leads to Joanna’s property, reality has woken me up. I don’t know what I imagined, but it certainly wasn’t this. Three large buildings stand in front of me in a semicircle, one closer to the east and two on the west side. From where I’m standing, I can see the beginning of what looks to be open land behind the east building and running parallel with the woods. I hear dogs barking, so I follow the noise to the back of the building where I find a tiny dog with a long body waiting for me.
The thing barely reaches my shins, but it’s looking at me with fierce determination. It sniffs the air and grits its teeth.
“Not a fan, are you?” I say under my breath.
The barn doors are wide open, letting in the sun and fresh air for about twelve other dogs in kennels. They’re very spacious, with food and water bowls, toys, and beds so comfortable-looking I wouldn’t mind them. Across from this is a double paddock for two horses, only they’re not inside. I glance around looking for any other animals, and hopefully Joanna, but I find nothing.
I wander further between the building and find a large grass field surrounded by a wooden fence. Inside are the missing horses, and further out, I spy a handful of cows grazing. My eyes land on a large beach ball covered in mud next to a trough and a massive pot-belly pig, and then Joanna pops up from behind them, carrying a turtle.
The scene before me stops me in my tracks.
She sees me straight away, and at first, she looks a bit shocked, like a deer caught in headlights, then her surprise fades to shyness as her shoulders raise to her ears. She looks like the turtle she’s holding, only it’s managed to fully duck its neck inside the shell. From the look on Joanna’s face, she wishes to do the same.
“Hey!” Her tone is overly cheerful, and a bit forced. “You’re early.”
I glance at my watch. “You told me to come at six. It’s ten after.”
Joanna hangs her head and groans. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time.” She holds the turtle up for me to get a closer look. “I found this guy in the road out front. I couldn’t let him get run over, so I brought him here.”
Joanna’s love for animals couldn’t be more clear, and I feel a pang of guilt at knowing I sacrifice so many on a regular basis. Right now, the rabbit blood I drank two nights ago is pumping my heart, and I feel like a monster. I shouldn’t be moved byJoanna’s caring nature, but I am. I want to please her, but even more than that, I don’t want her to hate me. It’s something I’ve been grappling with from the moment we kissed.
Perhaps there is a way for me to survive on just my donor’s blood. I would need her more often, but if it meant less killing, then surely it would be worth it.
Joanna places the turtle down gently on the grass, and his head pops back out of its shell. He turns at a slow and steady pace until he’s facing the opposite direction and heads back toward the pigs.
She props her hands on her hips. “I keep trying to put him with Franklin, but I guess he’d rather hang out with her.” She tosses her thumb over her shoulder, gesturing to the mud puddle and large pig now lying in it. “Doesn’t get along with his own kind, I guess.”
“Sounds familiar,” I tease, and Joanna’s face softens with an amused smile.
She glances down at herself and scrunches her nose. “I should probably take a shower.”
I’m not sure what’s come over me, but I don’t mind her filthy appearance one bit. In fact, I quite like it. “Why don’t I join you?” I suggest, reaching for her hips and pulling her close.
I kiss her deeply, and she sighs against my lips. I’ve never known such peace, and I’m desperate not to lose it. Fuck my own nature; if I have to sacrifice a little blood to hold onto this feeling, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
In Joanna’s bedroom,I take my time undressing her, removing every layer of clothing starting with her adorable brown overalls, then her long sleeve top, her bike shorts, and the polkadot socks inside her boots. I pull her hair from its bun and detangle the strands with my fingers. Together, we barely fitinside her small shower, but there’s just enough room for me to wash her hair and lather soap all over her body. I don’t bother washing myself, I just stand out of the way of the water and focus all my attention on Joanna.
My erection slides along her ass as I move, the skin slick and soapy, but I don’t go any further, though it’s hard to ignore how magnificent it feels. Once she’s clean and free from suds, I reach around her and turn off the water. I kneel in front of her, drying her feet and calves, then work my way up her thighs. I slide the towel between her legs, and I hear a small moan escape her. I get to my feet and run the fabric over her hips and stomach, making my way around to her back. She wrings her hair out in the sink, and it leaves little droplets on her shoulders. I lick them away as she cups the back of my neck.
I kiss her feverishly, pressing her into the edge of the sink, then she hops onto it while holding my shoulders for leverage. She spread her legs, and I take a good long look at her glistening pussy, pink and pretty and slick with arousal. I don’t bother prepping her or wasting time with foreplay. Instead, I line myself up with her heat and sink inside her. Her arms wrap around my neck and cling to my shoulders as I pump in and out of her steadily. I’ve learned that she likes it slow at first, dragging out the buildup until the last second, keeping her on her toes without knowing when I’ll finally pick up my pace and finish her off. I’ve followed this same pattern each time, and by the end, Joanna is clinging to me with heavy breaths and shaking legs. She does the same this day, only she kisses the line of my jaw sloppily while she comes, biting my bottom lip when her release finally comes to an end.
I clean her with a rag afterwards, and instead of our typical casual goodbye, I pull her to me for one more kiss, savoring the taste of her and inhaling her precious scent. She watches me getinto my car with her thumb resting lazily on her lips, and I can’t help but smile knowingly.
That woman’s just as doomed as I am.
Chapter Thirteen
JOANNA
I’m having the most sensational dream when I wake up and realize I’m being licked on the forehead by Thumper. I stretch and soak in the feeling of utter relaxation that lingers over me. I’ve never slept this well before, and there’s only one thing I can think of that might be causing it.
So far, I’ve been extremely pleased with my and Aidan’s arrangement. Ten out of ten, would definitely recommend making a no strings attached sex plan with your enemy. Not that I consider Aidan my enemy. I disliked him, only because he got on my nerves, and he seemed to always come off as superior around me, but now that I’ve spent more time with him, I get the feeling he just doesn’t get a lot of social interaction. Before Jamie and Raegan introduced him to me, I’d never even seen Aidan around town, and the rumors about him being a hermit speak for themselves.
Ever since our first encounter when I called him a vampire as an insult and was embarrassingly put in my place, we continuously butted heads. His attitude might have previously rubbed me the wrong way, but after having slept with him, I can say with confidence he’s allowed to rub me whatever wayhe wants from now on. These small yet physically demanding interactions we’ve shared seem to have opened him up a little, like a clam allowing just the tiniest peek into its shell. If anything, my outspoken personality might be just the right grain of sand he needs to irritate him into opening up completely.
I know I made it clear in the agreement that I wanted no emotional strings, but getting to know him better doesn’t count…does it? It’s just like solving a puzzle, and I like helping other people. This could be yet another distraction to keep my own loneliness at bay.
