Count on Me (Petal, Georgia)

  Beth gave Anne a look and pushed her sister inside. “I’d say it totally sounded southern. I guess it’s like riding a bike. Before long you’re going to start saying bless your heart when you’re being insulting.”

  “Is that when my transformation is complete?”

  Beth snorted. “Georgia is like the mafia. You can’t ever really leave.” She winked. “Have a good afternoon off.”

  “Thanks.” Caroline waved before she headed to her car.

  Caroline and Royal had been dating three weeks. Long enough for Caroline to be even more certain she really liked Royal Watson in her life. She could be the better woman and step aside to give Anne one last crack at Royal. But fuck that. Royal would have gone after Anne if that’s what he’d wanted.

  That should have settled it and everyone could move on.

  But damn, she hated feeling like everyone around them was just waiting for Anne to get the hell over her pissy behavior so they could open up to Caroline fully.

  Which was bullshit. She wanted to get to know his friends better. They’d gone out on group things a time or two. But she knew they hung out regularly, and other than those few times they all went out, there had been no real movement toward her by any of them.

  She never wanted Royal to feel like he had to choose. But if they kept closed off to her, she and Royal probably wouldn’t last. She wasn’t interested in being made to feel like an outsider as entertainment for other people.

  She headed out of town, toward his house and tried to put it all away.

  He waited for her on his porch, sitting on a rocker, one booted foot on the railing. But when she got out, he was up and moving to her, taking the bags from her arms before leaning down to kiss her.

  “Mmm. You taste good.”

  “If you think I taste like maybe I ate one or two of the chocolate chip walnut cookies, you’d be totally lying. To yourself.”

  He grinned. “Sugar, you can eat all the cookies you want.” He then noted her overnight bag. “Yeah? You want to stay over?”

  “I mean if you want me to. Don’t feel obligated. I wanted to be prepared. Just in case.”

  “Do you want to stay over?” he repeated.

  She nodded, and he kissed her on his way to grab the handles on her bag and hefted it from the trunk.

  “We’ll put this in the house and then head out.”

  She followed him in.

  He handed her the bag. “Put it in the bedroom and meet me back out here.”

  Spike didn’t do much more than open an eye to be sure she wasn’t a serial killer before he went back to napping in a patch of afternoon sun slanting across the bed. She dropped her bag next to what she thought of as her side of the bed and turned to leave.

  Spike made a huffed sound. Outraged she didn’t pause to pet him.

  She shook her head, moving to obey the demand in that feline gaze. “Sorry. I thought you were sleeping and didn’t want to disturb you.”

  He snorted, getting some snot on her and then giving her a look that said she deserved said treatment.

  “You’re a rogue, Spike.” She gave him one last scratch before she headed into the bathroom to scrub cat snot off her arm and hand.

  When she came back out she stared at Royal for long moments. He was on his phone. One hand on the glass, the other holding the phone to his ear. His gaze was far off. Probably thinking in numbers as he apparently tended to do like the crazy smart man he was.

  He spoke a while and then turned to her after he hung up. “Sorry about that.”

  “You’re working. It’s fine.”

  “Good.” He plunked a cowboy hat on her head. “You need to have some protection from the elements. Rain, sun, whatever. Also you look really sexy wearing a cowboy hat.”

  Reaching out, she grabbed him by the belt and the waist of his jeans and pulled him close. “How can I argue when I happen to think you look really sexy in a cowboy hat too? Also, I am a big fan of the new trend in facial hair.”

  “You mentioned last week that you liked facial hair on a man.” He shrugged.

  “It’s bone-meltingly hot.” Both the way it made him look and that he’d done it for her. She kissed a spot where he had some gray. “I can’t even tell you how many truly dirty things you make me feel when I look at this salt and pepper.”

  He tipped her head back and her hat fell as he moved in for a kiss. He caught it, gripping the hat against her butt.

  He held her fast against his body, sending a thrill through her. His mouth wandered from her lips to her ear until she hissed at how good it was and tugged his hair.

  “Okay, okay. Come on.” He groaned as he broke away from the kiss. “I need to do this, and after I’m done it’ll be just me and you.”

  “You have a deal.”

  “Are you okay to ride on your own ATV or on mine?”

  “I’m fine on an ATV. I promise not to four wheel all over your vegetables.”

  He grinned. “All right then. Follow me.”

  He led her out along the northern edge of the property. He liked this part of the land. His house was on a similar rise down to the south. But back here he could see out over the lake in the distance, some of the smaller rivers and creeks. It was still wild, and now that it was late March, life had burst up over the landscape as far as the eye could see.

  Wanting to share it with her, he pulled over and parked.

  She did the same, and when he got off his four-wheeler and turned to speak to her, he had to pause, stunned into silence at the sight of her on an ATV. She still wore the hat and goggles, but it was her smile that made him go weak.

  So much joy on her face. He made her feel this way. She felt that with him and around him, and damn it felt good.

  “I figured you might want to look.”

  He tipped his chin at the view.

  She hung the goggles on the handlebars and headed to where he stood. Suddenly he felt shy. Maybe she wouldn’t care about that. He was already dragging her down to look at carrots.

  But her smile remained at what seemed like ten thousand watts. “Wow. What a view.”

  “You should see it at the change of the seasons. Scratch that. I mean, I can’t wait to show you what it looks like as the seasons change.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, that was better.”

  They headed down to his carrots and she got her hands in the dirt. She wasn’t afraid to put her back into something, and damn if she didn’t fill out her T-shirt just right. He spun her, pulling her close. “Thanks for helping out. I didn’t intend inviting you out here to put you to work. Got some mud on your shirt and jeans.”

  She blushed. “I’m washable. So are my clothes. Anyway, I liked it. Like I’m part of your everyday life.”

  He liked that too.

  “Come on back to the house. Dinner and some beer too, I think.”

  She nodded and followed him.

  He guided her to his bedroom. “Get changed. I’ll get cleaned up quickly so I can throw the ribs on the grill.”

  She put on a new shirt and soft yoga pants before padding out to the kitchen, dodging Spike as she went.

  She hadn’t been in the kitchen since he’d put the food she’d brought away. She paused as she took in all the flowers.

  “I was down at the flower market. I saw them and thought you might like them.”

  “Thank you. I do, and I love cornflowers most of all.” She brushed her fingertips over the lush blue/purple petals. “So much pretty blue.” She pointed to the iris. “The creamy white of the magnolia, it’s the perfect combo of color in here.”

  “The cornflowers remind me of you.” He stepped closer, his thumb sliding over her bottom lip. He smelled like the castile soap he used. Clean and simple.

  “Me?”

  He nodded. “They’re wispy and lacy in parts they can look nearly delicate, but overall they’re strong. A little sharp edge here and there, but none of that detracts from the total beauty of the flower itself. You have sharp edges.
You have spots that look so strong and unbreakable from a distance, but when I focus I can see how hard you’re working to keep it together and build something here.”

  “I come with baggage. Death-row-shaped baggage.” She tried to shrug if off but he stopped her.

  “Don’t belittle it. This isn’t a fad for you. You’re doing what you absolutely believe is the right thing, and you do it without apology, even when you catch shit from people who don’t know a damned thing.”

  “Okay. I won’t belittle it. But it is what it is. It’s not easy. But it’s worth doing either way. All I can do is live the way my parents taught me. I’m sorry it’s been weird for you with your friends and people in town.”

  “I don’t give a fuck about that.”

  “You don’t?”

  “Nope. I’m all in, Caroline. You get me? Those idiots who cause a fuss don’t mean a thing to me. Because they don’t know you. But I know you.”

  She pulled him down for a kiss. “I think you might, yeah.”

  “I’m going to boil the ribs first and then barbecue them.”

  “Works for me. Want a beer?”

  After dinner and kitchen cleanup, they settled in his bed to watch a little television. It had been a really long time since she’d cuddled up to someone in bed and caught up on shows.

  Her secret joy was that she and Royal had two shows they watched together. It was silly she knew. Shallow too. But it made her happy. It was normal and fun.

  Spike was pretending to be sleeping instead of waiting for one of them to accidentally move a toe so he could repel the alien scum trying to get into our universe through a space-time rift in the bed.

  Royal, the big goofball, kept jiggling his foot and then cursing when the cat bit his toe or caught it on some claws.

  “Good Lord, between the two of you.” She shook her head, neatly avoiding a lazy swipe from a furry paw.

  “We’re cute.” He picked the cat up to cuddle and smooch Spike’s head. But Spike growled at him and glared until Royal put him down. “Fine. Some people love me!”

  Yeah, some people did.

  Spike jumped from the bed and left the room in a huff so she took that opportunity to shut the door.

  Royal snorted. “He’s gonna take his ire out on me, you know.”

  She remained leaning against his door for a while, just watching him. Then she pushed to stand and whipped her shirt off.

  “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  He went to his knees and got rid of his clothes as she quickly finished undressing. She took a running leap into bed and into his arms as he laughed, pulling her close to kiss her senseless.

  Soon enough he’d levered her so she was on her back. “You’re so good at that. My God I can’t even imagine what you were like in high school. It was probably a good thing you never noticed me. I’d have turned to cinder if you’d kissed me like this back then. And you’re far too good at your romance moves, mister. You’ve been working on it since you were a teen, haven’t you?”

  One of her brows rose and he winced.

  “I suppose,” she said, wrapping her legs around his thighs, “it’s a good thing I like how smoothly efficient you are at getting me on my back and naked within mere minutes of being alone with one another. I love how hot you are for me all the time.”

  “Oh. You do?”

  She rolled her hips, brushing her pussy against his cock. Knowing he’d feel how wet she was just from kissing.

  “Yes I totally do. I love it when you’re staring off into space when we’re out in public and you get some look and I know you’re thinking about fucking me. It’s pretty hot. I like it.”

  “Good, because I do it pretty much every three minutes or so. Imagine fucking you, I mean. Or your mouth wrapped around my cock. Or my lips on your pussy. Your taste.” He kissed her, slow and drugging until she’d relaxed beneath him utterly. Her fingers were twisted in his hair, holding on, keeping him close.

  The knowing of it settled in. He’d be in her. On her or under her. He’d make her feel good. His hands all over her, his taste in her mouth as he kissed past her mouth and down her throat.

  He was so good at this whole sex thing. He touched her with a kind of naked greed, watching her reactions as he licked, bit, pinched and sucked on all parts of her. Learning her.

  And he was a really good learner.

  They had major click, that shockwave of physical and chemical reaction that seemed to heat them both up just when they were around one another.

  Another knowing had begun to form in her belly. A deep sort of connection to Royal that astonished her. Filled her with joy and anticipation but fear too. He was the real deal. The kind of man who’d be not just a boyfriend but a mate. He was a man she could see herself with in a year, five, ten.

  His mouth found her nipple, and she sighed, arching her back, her nails digging into his shoulders.

  “Oh! Stubble.” She gasped at the rasp of it against her nipple. The kiss had been hot enough but the feel of his beard against the sensitive skin of her breasts and nipples was beyond description.

  “Should I go shave?” He paused, the tip of his tongue flicking her nipple.

  “No. It’s hot.” It nearly hurt but not quite, so she let herself enjoy it. Enjoy him.

  “Gotta admit I like the idea of you having some beard burn underneath all your work clothes.”

  He kissed down her belly, and she luxuriated in the feel of him, so sure, so long and lean, his hands large and strong. His mouth was full, most usually turned up into a smile. He could be very serious too, but his mouth wanted to smile. His mouth totally deserved to be that cocky.

  He kissed over her hipbones and down her thighs, making his way to her pussy. Her body tightened with anticipation, and when he blew over her labia she nearly came up off the bed.

  He nipped the inside of her thigh and then pushed her thighs open wide, holding them in those palms of his.

  He took a lick, and she sighed, feeling as if she melted into the mattress. The man knew what to do, that much was blatantly clear. He had just the right pressure of lips and tongue, keeping her on the edge but not making her wince.

  She’d had some pretty decent oral sex in her life. There had only been two men who’d hemmed and hawed about going down on her, and they didn’t last long after that. But she’d had some master-class-level head and some bargain-basement head, and Royal was in the former camp. Like at the top of the class or maybe the graduate program was named after him because holy hell did he know what to do with his tongue and her clit.

  She came hard. So hard her jaw ached a little from clenching it to keep from yelling.

  “That’s more like it. I missed seeing that.”

  “It’s only been four days,” she mumbled.

  And then he was pressing into her body. Slow. Inexorable. Filling her up. He was on his side, behind her, holding her thigh where he wanted it as he thrust into her.

  “You may not realize this, but you are so damned beautiful when you come. Like a perfect sunset. It builds slow and smolders until you just full-on dazzle and then fade slowly.”

  “I’ll be adding that one to my all-time-favorite Royal compliments folder.”

  He laughed, kissing her shoulder and getting even closer. He braced his foot against the footboard of his bed and pressed in hard. So deep it stole her breath. And pulled out slowly only to do it again, a little harder the next time.

  Caroline reached back, the tips of her fingers grazing his temple and the softness of his hair.

  He slid his hand from her hip to her lips. “Lick them for me.”

  Holy. Crap.

  She breathed out in a shudder of sensation at the tone of his rough words. It worked. Hell yes it worked. She licked his fingers, reveling in the way he gasped, feeling all the right kinds of dirty.

  When those slick fingers moved again, it was to her clit where he slowly squeezed it in time with his thrusts.

  This time climax slammed
into her, sharp and hard. Nearly painful, but then the pleasure bloomed super hot over her, and she moaned.

  “Jesus,” he muttered, never losing his rhythm until he held her still with the press of his palm right below her belly button. Just a few more harsh breaths and he came, his teeth grazing her ear as he leaned forward. “So. Good.”

  He rolled from bed as she flopped onto the pillows, catching her breath.

  On his way back from the bathroom, she called out. “You may as well open that door or he’ll pout.”

  Royal laughed as he opened up, and Spike raced into the room, making sure he hadn’t missed anything really good.

  He jumped up, chittering at her in his purry tone.

  “I know. It’s comfortable in here and we’re always handy to pet you when you want love and I shooed you out. I’m sorry.”

  He headbutted her lips, and she gave him the kind of brisk petting he liked. Until he didn’t and got up to stalk off.

  “I’m getting used to this,” Royal said as he got into bed and pulled Caroline close. “You here with me. Your stuff around. Waking up to you in my bed all warm and amenable to morning sex as long as I make coffee.”

  “It’s an important quality in a person, right?”

  He kissed her soundly. “It’s a very important quality in a person. It’s up there along with will help move irrigation hoses and not afraid to get dirty.”

  That was a great compliment. She knew she was pretty enough, and men loved boobs so she was good in that department. Knew she was smart. But that he knew she’d chip in and work alongside him if he needed it, well that meant a lot.

  Chapter Eleven

  Caroline indicated Ron take a seat as she smiled at both him and the police officer from nearby Millersburg.

  Elliot Charles was a police officer there and had gotten in contact after Ron had made a visit.

  No shadows in his gaze or hard lines at his mouth. His grip was strong but not sweaty or too hard.

  “I just made a pot of tea. Would either of you like a cup?”

  “Tea would be good, thanks. It’s wet out there today. Goes straight to my joints.”