Break In Two (18 page)

Dinner started off well. Claire had set up a long table on the restaurant patio so they could eat outside and enjoy the lake view. Everyone complimented her on the food and as the evening wore on, Claire started to relax. It felt like a nice family dinner to her, something she hadn't realized that she'd been lacking for a long time. Around the table sat Jake, Mary, Ben, Alicia, Cole and Claire.

By the time Claire brought out the dessert, she was feeling much more relaxed, having had a couple of glasses of wine before dinner and one with the meal. The sun was starting to set and as everyone dug into the chocolate mousse the view became the topic of conversation. The table went quiet for a moment, taking in the sunset while enjoying the creamy flavours of the mousse.

Mary decided that this would be her chance to find out more about this woman who seemed to have her talons in her youngest son, "So Claire, have you been married before?"

Claire looked up in surprise, feeling her cheeks flush, "Ummmm, no I haven't actually. I was in a long term relationship for four years but it didn't work out," she replied, hoping to put an end to this discussion.

"Oh, so were you giving the milk for free to that guy too? You know they never marry you if you do that," Mary gave her a cold, hard look.

"Jesus, Mom!" Cole snapped, "That's enough."

"That's okay, Cole." Claire said, not breaking eye contact with Mary. "She's your mom and she has the right to worry about you," she paused and took a sip of wine, fortifying herself.

"I would worry too if the first time I met my son's new girlfriend she had her assets on display. I've only been here a couple of months and it's a big gamble for you and I to be romantically involved since I am your chef and you are trying to make somewhat of a risky change to the ranch. If things don't work out between us, you'll be stuck trying to find a new chef at what could potentially be a disastrous time for the ranch. Am I right so far, Mary?"

"Yup," she said, still staring straight at Claire.

"I'm also from Seattle, a big city on the ocean so maybe I'll get sick of living in the country near the mountains and just up and leave. Maybe that concerns you too?"

"Should it?" Mary answered in an even tone.

"I can see why it would. You don't know me at all. Cole has only known me a matter of weeks and he's putting a lot of faith in me. I can tell you I love it here, I feel alive here, and that running my own kitchen has always been my dream. I can tell you I love your son and all of that is true, by the way," Claire said, as she poured herself another glass of wine, "but only time will tell, right?"

"Right," Mary said.

"I think you must be a good mother. Offending a stranger is irrelevant if it means protecting your son and possibly your ranch. I get that. Give me a chance, though. I will prove that you can trust me and that I'll be good to your son."

Jake spoke up, "Claire, I like you. You took the high road just now which shows me two things. You are smart, because you can see the bigger picture and how getting drawn into a fight tonight would have hurt things long term. It also shows me that you care a lot about Cole, because it matters to you if things are good for the long haul. Besides, this was one of the most delicious meals I've had in a long time, so you get my vote right there."

"Thank you," Claire said quietly, giving him an appreciative look.

Jake smiled at her and then turned to his wife, "Besides, honey, maybe Cole takes after his old man and he will actually buy the cow after getting the milk free."

When Cole and Claire got into bed that night, Cole leaned over and beamed at her, "You impress me - and I mean
really
impress me. The way you handled my mother tonight was amazing. Most women would have either wilted under that kind of pressure or would have gone on the attack. But not you. You stood up for yourself without being unkind or sarcastic in anyway. I hope this doesn't sound condescending, but I was so proud of you tonight."

Claire turned on her side to face Cole, leaning on one hand, "I know, right? I actually surprised
myself
with how I handled that. It was what you said this afternoon about being pretty sure you want to marry me that did it. I had a snippy retort on the tip of my tongue and then I thought
'this woman might be my mother-in-law'
. I tried to put myself in her shoes and I could imagine if it were my son with some no-panty-wearing floozy, I would have some tough questions too. And making what you and I have work and making your life easier, after everything you've done to take care of me, is far more important than telling your mom that you don't buy a car without test driving it first."

"Oh, so I'm a car in this scenario now?" Cole asked, trying to look hurt, "I tell you I'm proud of you and I want to marry you and you compare me to a car you could either buy or leave on the lot?"

"Well, I can tell you the test drive has gone really well up to this point, so there is only a very slim chance I'll leave you on the lot," Claire said with a grin.

Cole reached around behind her and slapped her on the ass, "You're a bit mean, Ms. Hatley, you know that?"

Claire laughed, "I never claimed to be nice, Cowboy," she said, climbing on top of him, straddling his waist, "But I think I should go for a test ride again just to be sure."

"Oh I see. So you think you can just climb up on me and go for a ride whenever you want?"

Claire lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it on the floor, "Pretty much," she said as she moved her hips in a long straight line back and forth over his erection.

Cole's eyes shifted to her breasts and his hands soon followed, "I'll let it go tonight, but the next four nights, forget it," he said, lifting his head up to give him access to her luscious curves.

Claire giggled, "So you're putting your foot down? I can't have you while you're on a cattle drive?"

Cole paused from sucking on her nipple, giving her a sexy little half-grin, "That's right. A man's got to have some self-respect."

With that, he rolled them both over in one swift move making Claire gasp in surprise as he landed on top of her, the full weight of him pressing into her. His body felt warm and smooth and hard in all the right places as he lowered his mouth to hers. He nipped at her top lip with his teeth, causing Claire's eyes to fly open in surprise as he sucked where he had bit, to soothe her. Lifting himself onto his knees for a moment, he used both hands to take hold of Claire's hands, bringing them up over her head. He kissed her mouth, then moved his lips down to her breasts again, now heavy with desire. He took hold of both of her wrists with one hand and keeping them over her head while he settled back onto her, her legs opening wider, almost on their own accord, to welcome him in.

Claire rested her feet on the back of his ass, with her outer thighs resting on the mattress, and she tilted her hips as he rocked the length of his cock up and down her sex. She was wet with arousal and this slow movement of his cock felt so good and yet made her so urgent to have him inside her that it was almost taunting in nature. She tried to reach down with one hand to steer his cock inside her, but he held her wrists firmly.

"Not yet, Gorgeous," he murmured, causing her to whimper in spite of herself. He smiled a little as he kissed her long and hard, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and then pulling out. She nipped at his lip, trying to urge him to come back but he moved his mouth over to her ear lobe again, sucking on it in the most deliciously slow way, flicking it carefully with his tongue.

Claire tilted her body up and tried moving in circles over his cock to bring him inside her, but each time, he would pull back or move forward, avoiding her attempts. She felt desperate with need, her clit throbbing so hard she could barely take it.

Cole propped himself up on the arm that was holding her wrists and used his other hand to trace her collar bone and then move down to her hips while he kissed her neck. He moved his hand back up lazily brushing against her with the tips of her fingers and then gliding his fingers over to her nipple, to tug on it a little and then lick it. She arched her back at his touch begging for some small relief from this torture in the form of him sucking on her nipple. He moved over to the other nipple and gave it the same careful treatment.

The whole time, he continued moving with the same long, slow drags, feeling her become more wet and engorged. Claire moaned and whimpered again. She had lost all restraint now. Cole was in complete control of both of their bodies and was taking his time in getting them to the end. He was so turned on by how shamelessly she wanted him and how she responded to each touch of her body. His cock was thick and hard with the pleasure of it all, getting wetter and wetter from rubbing against her ready pussy.

Claire finally managed to grab hold of his cock with her sex and used tiny back and forth and side to side motions to bring the head of his cock into her. "Yes," she moaned at the feeling of it.

"Please, Cole, now," she whispered, looking into his eyes with such yearning and pleading that he couldn't deny her any longer. He pushed his way inside her, bringing her the relief she so desired.

As he rocked himself back, Claire tightened around his length in a vice-like grip in case he decided to slip out again. He pulled out almost to the head of his cock and then plunged himself in all the way again. Claire could feel her orgasm coming on in one strong wave as he pushed into her further, grinding his hips into her core when he was in all the way. Keeping her arms pinned over her head, Cole was in complete control of both of their bodies. Claire squeezed him with her tight pussy as she moved in frenzied circles around his cock. She locked her feet around the inside of his thighs, holding him firmly with her powerful runner's legs.

Cole could feel her coming on him, drenching and squeezing his cock. He watched her face as she came, her beautiful, kissable mouth as she bit her bottom lip and then held her mouth open, breathing heavily. He had never seen anything sexier in his life. Her eyes opened and locked with his as she came again. She lifted her head up trying to reach him, he lowered his mouth over hers, closing his eyes as their tongues and lips joined. He had to fight with all his will power not to come just then. He could feel her body tremor with each wave of her climax.

When she was finished, she opened her eyes again, trying to catch her breath. Cole let go of her wrists and she moved her arms down, gripping his back with her hands and pulling him down to rest on her, embraced by her legs and arms.

Cole's cock twitched inside her, still hard and ready. He pulled out of her, kissing her on the mouth as he did, and then lay beside her, giving her a moment to breathe. He caressed the length of her body with his fingers as he kissed her shoulder and arm nearest him.

Claire looked him up and down, seeing his erection waiting. It was her turn to torture him now. "Well, that was definitely passable. Thanks for that. Good night, Cowboy," she said, giving him a quick peck on the lips as she rolled over away from him and settled into her pillow.

Cole groaned, loving her playfulness, "If that was only passable, I better keep going."

He slid his hand in between her legs and lifted her top leg, holding it up and bringing his body to line up with hers. He brought his top leg in between hers and rubbed her pussy with his thigh, rocking her back and forth. He took hold of his shaft with his hand and guided it back inside her, still with one leg in between hers, their bodies interlaced. Leaning on one hand, he was able to shift his body so his chest and head were angled over hers, giving him access to her mouth and breasts while he continued to fuck her from behind.

He watched her, taking in the sight of her, with her long, brunette waves of hair falling just to the top of her breasts, brushing against them. Her cheeks were pink with arousal, her eyes were closed and her mouth was open as she breathed in time with his movements.

"You're so beautiful," he said, as he used his hand to brush her hair off of her neck so he could plant kisses from her ear to her shoulder. Her eyes opened as he spoke and she watched him, reaching behind his neck with her hand to touch the back of his head and pull him into her even further.

She suddenly felt a preview of the longing she would have over the next few days, with him away. She wouldn't be able to touch him or feel him inside her and it made her heart ache and feel desperate in her lust for him all at the same time.

Cole seemed to sense the shift in her. It was as if he could read her mind, "It's going to be so hard for me to leave tomorrow knowing exactly what I'll be missing."

Claire kissed him, "I don't think I could ever get enough of you."

Their bodies moved together, hungrily, full of passion, perfectly in sync. Cole held her face with his hand, locking his mouth over hers as he drove himself inside her over and over until he finally gave in to his need for release.

"Oh fuck, Claire, you're so sexy," he growled as he felt his orgasm rip through his body. Claire squeezed his cock as she felt him start to come inside her, the sensation of it bringing on her own climax. Cole reached down and pressed firmly on her sex, making her tighter and causing her to come so hard everything went black for a second.

They lay there, bodies intertwined and holding each other until they fell asleep with Cole still buried inside Claire.