Break In Two (9 page)

After finishing the dishes, Claire turned out the lights and locked up for the night. She looked wearily in the direction of Cole's cabin. It was completely dark. She sighed heavily and headed in the direction of the barn instead, hoping to catch him getting ready for the trip the next day. When she got there, she found him brushing Dudley, his back turned to her. She watched him for a long moment. He seemed so calm. She would have done anything to erase what had happened at supper.

She finally got up enough courage to speak, "Hi," she said quietly.

Cole stood frozen for a minute and then continued to brush Dudley without turning around, "What's up?" he replied impassively.

"I'm sorry Cole. I was being completely unfair and irrational earlier," her voice broke, "I embarrassed both of us and I would give anything to take it all back."

Cole turned to her and tossed the brush down on a table nearby, then leaned against the gate on the nearest stall and folded his arms. The sight of his muscles flexing as he moved made her ache with desire.

Cole's eyes were cold as he looked at her, "Yeah, what the hell happened there?"

Claire leaned her body against the barn door, "I lost it. Those girls are my worst nightmare. Antonio, my ex, was cheating on me with a very young, tall, skinny girl from my restaurant. It had been going on for months before I found out. Turned out everyone else there knew."

She sighed, "That was why I left Seattle. He made a fool out of me and now I've let him do it again, by lashing out at you in front of everyone. It's no excuse though. I know I'm responsible for what comes out of my mouth. It's just an explanation, I guess," she said shaking her head. "I felt so threatened when I saw them get off the shuttle this afternoon. It’s just that you’re so hot, you could have any woman and I don't measure up to any of those girls. They all have legs that go on for miles and they are so athletic. They probably look so graceful riding and I doubt any of them will fall in the river. And then when I saw you walk in to the restaurant with that girl, I thought, 'well she looks more like who he should be with.' I'm not fit like them and..."

Cole interrupted, "Stop it. That's enough."

Claire gasped at the harsh sound in his voice. Her heart jumped to her throat. She had fucked up this relationship before it could get started.

Cole looked her dead in the eyes, "I'm not going to stand here and listen to this."

Claire's eyes filled with tears as she turned to hurry out of the barn, "I understand," she whispered.

A moment later, Cole caught her by the elbow and spun her around, "I'm not going to listen to anyone talk shit about you, not even if the words are coming out of your mouth. I can stand up for you against anyone - and I intend to - but I can't protect you from yourself. If you want to tear yourself apart, I can't stop you. You can see where that's got you, so you are going to have to figure out a way to trust that I am right when I tell you that you are beautiful, smart, fun and sexy as hell. You are also going to have to find a way to learn to trust
me
or this will never work. I'm not your ex. I have never fucked around on anyone and I would never do that to you. You are the only woman I want to be with, but if you push me away, I will go."

Claire stood in front of him, tears streaming down her face, "Okay," she nodded, "I'm a bit fucked up right now, but I'm not broken beyond repair. Do you think you can be patient with me while I work this out?"

Cole reached out, taking her hands in his, "That depends, Claire," he paused for a moment and looked at her with a little gleam in his eyes, "Are you going to finish your striptease for me or not? I couldn't think of anything else all afternoon."

Claire gave a little laugh through her tears, "You've got yourself a deal, Cowboy. Can I give you a rain check on it though? I'm still feeling really embarrassed, which would come through in my performance, making the whole thing awkward rather than sexy."

Cole nodded his head, "Good point. What if we just go back to my place to grab something to eat? I'm starving."

"Sounds perfect. I forgot you didn't have supper. I actually didn't eat either. There's leftover salmon in the fridge at the restaurant. Do you want to stop in and pick it up?"

"Mmmm, yes," Cole took her hand and the two walked over to the restaurant.

Claire unlocked the door to the kitchen and flipped on the light by the backdoor, "Okay, let's get some food into you." She reheated the salmon and some rice, and put together a salad. Cole opened a bottle of wine from the cooler and poured two glasses. He took them into the seating area and lit some candles to brighten the nearly black room. He hooked up his phone to the stereo and selected a Coldplay album for background.

When Claire walked through with their plates, she stopped and smiled at him. How could he be so romantic after she had been such a shit earlier?

They ate quietly, both needing the nourishment after such an emotionally draining evening. Cole spoke up first, "This might be the best salmon I've ever eaten. Even if you weren't the sexiest woman on the planet, I would want you for the food alone."

Claire smiled at his compliment, "Well, thank you sir. I'd keep you around just to watch you eat."

When the meal was over, Claire got up to clear the table. Cole stood and took her hand.

"Come here," he said, taking her in his arms, he danced with her slowly to
Fix You
. He held his head low, so his cheek was touching her temple.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, tearing up again at his tenderness.

"It's over. Let's move on. It was a learning experience for both of us. It will be a long time before I try to shush you again," Cole said, looking down at her with wide, teasing eyes.

A loud laugh escaped Claire's mouth, "You learn fast."

Feeling a wave of relief, Claire reached up on her tippy toes and planted a solid kiss on his lips. Cole returned her embrace, at first tentatively, opening his mouth slightly over her bottom lip. She opened her mouth and he accepted the invitation to let his tongue slide in between her lips, tilting his head to the side a little.

Claire's hands moved down to Cole's ass. She cupped his muscular bottom with her hands, feeling it flex with her touch. Cole mirrored her actions with his own hands and then slowly slid one hand up and into her shirt. The touch of his fingers against her skin sent a ripple of arousal through her and she became hungry to have him inside her.

Cole moved both hands to the bottom of Claire's shirt and pulled it up over her head as she lifted her arms straight up. He undid her jeans, pulling them down roughly to her ankles. He kissed her chest over her bra then moved slowly to her mouth again.

"Hmmm, I believe I've seen this bra and panties somewhere before. From what I recall, it made quite an impression on me." He kissed her full on the mouth, while using one foot to hold her jeans down so she could step out of them.

He took her hand and moved it down over the front of his jeans, "Oh yes, same reaction as before."

"Why Mr. Mitchell, are we going to have make-up sex?" Claire was breathless as Cole ran his hands over her bra.

"Yes, and I believe we are about to violate all kinds of health codes as well," Cole answered, giving her that sexy half grin again.

Claire pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it aside, then grabbed him by the waistband of his jeans and pulled him toward her, kissing him again, their tongues colliding as she struggled to undo his buckle. Cole helped her with his belt and pulled his button fly open in one quick motion. He took his index finger and his thumb on each side of her panties and pulled them out to the sides and dropped them down to her feet.

Claire pushed his jeans and boxer briefs down to his knees in a frenzy of movement.

Cole sat down on the chair behind him. "I should take my boots off," he said.

Claire climbed on top of him with her knees resting on the sides of the chair, "I'm not interested in your feet," she said, pressing her lips to his earlobe and sucking gently.

Cole closed his eyes for a moment and moaned. His cock was rock-hard. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra, then slid his fingers over her shoulders to slide it off, gazing straight at her breasts. He took her breasts in his hands, leaving her nipples exposed so he could suck each one slowly until they were rigid. He pulled her closer to him so their chests were melded together, skin on skin. He breathed in her seductive perfume, caressing her back and her hips with his fingers.

"Mmmmm, my sexy Claire is back," he murmured, sending a thrill through her entire body with his words.

Claire climbed off the chair, putting one foot on the floor at a time, keeping her lips to his. Cole groaned with displeasure at her pulling away, but when she dropped to her knees in front of him, his complaining stopped.

Claire looked him in the eyes seductively as she settled her body between his knees, her breasts pressed against the inside of his thighs. She took him in both hands and slowly lowered her mouth over his length. Cole let out a groan, thrilled at the sight of her naked body pressed against his legs and her mouth over him, her delicate hands stroking his cock as she sucked. Moving her head up and down in a slow rhythm, she moved one hand in unison with her mouth and used her other hand to massage his inner thighs and testicles.

She lifted her mouth off of his shaft and licked him from the base to the tip in long, slow movements. She then pressed her hands to the sides of her breasts and lifted them around his cock, enclosing it in the silk of her skin. She arched her back to rub her full breasts up and down his smooth wet skin, her peaked nipples rubbing against his lower abs as she moved. The sight and the feeling of it was too exquisite for Cole; he needed to stop her before he came.

"Wait, wait, wait. Come here," he took her hand and pulled her up to him, "I want to be inside you."

He drew her close to him, kissing her breasts and sucking on her nipples again. With one hand he rubbed her pussy, now wet and plump with desire. She turned her back to him and lowered herself onto his lap, using her hand to guide his cock inside her. He kissed her back and her neck as she lifted herself up and down on him, moving her hips in slow circles, filling herself completely with him. Just a couple of hours ago, she thought she would never have him inside her again and the incredible relief that she could touch him now made the moment all the more erotic.

Cole reached in front of Claire with his hands, using one to explore her breasts while the other pressed firmly against her clit, tightening her around his cock. Claire gasped with pleasure, "Oh Cole, yes, just like that," she said breathlessly.

Cole took his hand off her breasts and reached up for her chin, turning her neck to face him. Their mouths met and they kissed with urgency. Claire reached around behind her head and grabbed the back of Cole's hair with her right hand. She took his left hand in hers and held it to her breasts, pushing it firmly against her skin.

The moment overtook them both and they came together, with Claire crying out, "Yes, Cole! Oh, yes! Just like that."

Their bodies shuddered as waves of ecstasy moved through them. Claire could feel him coming inside her pussy and squeezed him tight with each new burst of liquid. When it was over, Cole wrapped her naked body in his huge arms and held her against his chest for a long time, kissing her neck and cheek.

"I don't want anyone else, Claire. Only you."

Claire nodded, "Me too." She sat against him for a long while, loving the tenderness of his embrace, before slowly leaning forward to lift off of him.

As they got dressed, Claire said, "You know, back home there was a country bar that claimed to be 'the most fun you can have with your boots on'. I think we just proved them wrong."

Cole laughed, "Sexy and funny - double threat girl." He pulled her in to him and kissed her again.

The next morning Cole got up early, as usual and made a pot of coffee. He took a quick shower while the coffee brewed and then put on a towel and took a mug up to Claire.

"Good morning, sexy girl," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek.

Claire, who was sleeping on her tummy, turned over to face him. "Mmmm, that's my second favourite look on you. Maybe just throw your hat on so I can decide for sure."

She sat up and took a sip of her coffee, "Oh, on second thought, let’s try hat, belt and boots, lose the towel."

"You are objectifying me in a way that is making me feel really uncomfortable," he gave her a mock serious look.

Claire laughed out loud, "You do realize I am only with you for your body, right? So if this is going to work out, you're just going to have to get used to being objectified." She got out of bed and walked casually across the room wearing only Cole's t-shirt as a nightie.

Cole watched her walk over and pick up her jeans, slipping them on, "You know what I could get used to? Seeing you in nothing but my t-shirt. On second thought, lose the shirt."

Claire laughed, "Like this?"

She turned away from him, lifting it over her head revealing her naked back. Cole watched her as she put her bra on and slipped her own shirt back on.

Claire walked over to the bathroom to brush her teeth and put her hair in a ponytail. Cole threw on his jeans and a white t-shirt and followed her into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

"What time are you heading out today?" Claire asked.

"After lunch. We're doing a three hour ride today, and the girls wanted to stay here and hang out at the pool for the morning instead of doing the hike once we get to the first campsite," Cole said.

"All right. I should run back to my place to shower and get dressed. It's going to be a busy morning." Claire gave Cole a long kiss and smacked him on the ass, "See you later, Cowboy."

She took a few steps, then turned back to him, "Oh Cole... I think I'm going to hide out in the kitchen and see if Alicia minds serving the guests today. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, including myself."

"Sounds fair. I'm really going to miss you, you know," Cole gave her a serious look.

"You too."

Claire walked back to her cabin, feeling happy. She took a quick shower and put her hair up in a loose bun at the back, with hair spiking out to give it a funky look. She threw on her makeup, a flirty A-line mini dress in white with a delicate floral pattern, a skinny brown belt and her mid-calf slouched dark red cowboy boots. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she bolstered her courage. "There. That ought to leave him with a good impression," she said to herself.

As Claire hurried down the path to the restaurant, she saw Brittany and her friend jogging down the path in their boy shorts and sports bras. Both were tanned with not even the slightest hint of cellulite.

"Shit," she sighed, feeling as though they had trampled her confidence with their size nine trainers.

The morning was a blur, with Claire and Alicia serving breakfast and lunch to everyone as well as preparing all the food for the three day trip. The two worked at a furious pace, double and triple-checking the lists as they went.

Cole had popped in to eat a few minutes before noon. He gave Claire a long look up and down when he first saw her, "I haven't eaten all day but seeing you in that little outfit makes me want to forgo lunch and take you back to my place."

Claire glanced at him with a nonchalant expression, "Oh this old thing? I only wear it when I don't care how I look."

She had gotten that line from the movie
It's a Wonderful Life
, but he didn't need to know that.

He ate in the kitchen so he could spend some time with Claire before getting back to the barn to finish loading everything up.

"What can I ta
ke down with me now?" he asked.

"Oh, if you can grab the big cooler, I'll bring the others over to the barn with Ben and Alicia once lunch is served."

"Sounds good, Gorgeous," he said, with a quick peck on the cheek.