WhiskeyBottleLover (17 page)

Two thick fingers eased inside her as his palm pressed
against her clit. She spread her legs, giving him better access and letting his
fingers delve deeper. Her heart raced as her hips pumped.

“You make me happy, angry and horny all at the same time,”
he whispered, letting his lips trail down the column of her neck. “I don’t know
which emotion to go with.”

“Horny,” she panted, pushing against his palm and delighting
in the quick pleasure that raced through her body. “Definitely like horny.”

“I wanna watch you come,” he told her, pulling back from her
neck. “I wanna see it in your eyes.”

He wouldn’t have to wait long. She cried out as his fingers
rubbed against that sensitive spot but kept her gaze locked with his. If he
kept that up she’d rocket into space.

“You’re so beautiful, Chance. Inside and out.” Hayes
continued to pump his fingers. “I can feel you clampin’ down, your wet heat
draggin’ me in further. I want to feel that on my cock before I have to leave.
Just once so I can remember it forever.”

His words pushed her over the edge. She opened her mouth to
cry out but he used his free hand to stifle the sound. As the pleasure raced
throughout her body Hayes held her gaze, his softening slightly with awe and
wonder.

“Annie.”

“You left me.” She heard the words, knew they came from her
lips, but didn’t understand what they meant. “I came back and you were gone.”

“I couldn’t help it,” he replied. “I was tricked.” Hayes
removed his fingers, letting them slide gently from her sensitive core. He held
them to his lips and sucked her juice clean.

Even through the weird words and the fact that Hayes
appeared to know what was happening now, Chance still wasn’t finished with him.
She slipped down the tree, opened his jeans and released his heavy erection.

“Who am I, Hayes?” Her mouth enveloped his cock, taking him
all the way in. His hips bucked, a garbled curse tore from his lips and he
grabbed the tree to steady himself.

“Chance.”

She released him. “Who do you see when we’re together?”
Chance licked his shaft, letting her tongue slide effortlessly up and down.

“I see you and Annie.”

She rewarded him with a quick swallow and hard suck. That’s
all she wanted to know right now. She feared any more would confuse him. It
only took a few minutes of sucking, lapping and pumping before he came. Hard.
He filled her mouth to overflowing with salty, musky semen. When he finished
fucking her mouth he stumbled backward, tucked himself back inside his jeans
and turned away.

Chance sat down, let him have his moment. It became obvious
that something bigger was happening between them. She may not understand it but
he did, now anyway. Her time would come. It occurred to her she should be more
than a little freaked by all this. Yet she wasn’t. Somewhere deep inside she
knew it had to play out.

“Come on, Hayes.” An idea popped into her head. He seemed
happiest when he worked with his hands and while he carved away, he could
think.

“Where we goin’?”

A mile or two down the road sat an old family farm that
filled its fields with pumpkins. If she bought a few he could work his carving
magic on them. “It’s a surprise.”

Chance headed back down the trail at a fast pace. Hayes
muttered something about her never walking anywhere but managed to keep up.
Once he had himself in the car she headed straight for the farm. The vast
fields came into view along with the old-style barn that stood proud and
majestic against the landscape of high mountains.

She spared a glance over at Hayes. He bent over, looking out
the windshield with excitement plastered on his face. That’s what she wanted to
see, him forgetting about his go nowhere life for a while. Taking this
opportunity and enjoying it.

As they neared the farm a field of orange came into view
along with three tractors pulling wagons full of kids. This family loved
bringing in the children of the county and for a small fee allowed them to pick
their own pumpkin. They offered cider, cold and warm, and had a small market
you could shop at. Country living at its best.

Chance parked in an empty field along with everyone else
enjoying the beautiful fall day. She grabbed Hayes by the hand. “Come on. Let’s
have some fun.”

Hayes held tight as she led him toward the wagon loading
area. After a brief chat with one of the workers, she pointed to the wagon.
“Hop on. Let’s go find us some pumpkins.”

“Are we going to carve them?”

The childlike anticipation and wonder in his voice and face
thrilled her. Who would have thought a buff, sexy as sin man would get so
excited about a round, orange squash? “Nope, you are.”

They walked to the flat, hay-covered wagon. Hayes gripped
her around the waist and lifted until she could clamber up. The excitement of
him touching her fluttered in her stomach as if she were a teenager being
looked at by the cutest boy in school. Next Hayes jumped up and let his legs
dangle over the side. Chance scooted next to him and took his hand in hers. He
stared down at that, their fingers clasped together, for a moment. She wondered
what thoughts were swimming inside his head but then he lifted his face into
the sunshine, took a deep breath and let a smile spread across his lips.

They bounced and giggled through the field, Hayes pointing
at pumpkins on the ground and marveling at their size and shape. The wind blew
his shoulder-length hair around his face. Every time he pushed it back she
watched how his thick arms moved. Chance found herself mesmerized by how at
home he appeared to be. Maybe he’d have the opportunity to live this life. All
she had to do was figure out how to free him.

“I’d like to have a farm someday.”

It wasn’t hard to miss the sadness and longing in his tone.
He’d make a good farmer. She knew it without a doubt. “Maybe you will.”

The tractor came to stop, jarring her into his side. Hayes
let loose a deep, rich laugh that warmed her from the inside out. He hopped
down onto the ground, gripped her by the waist and lowered her to her feet.

“Grab as many as you’d like,” she told him, still standing with
her body pressed against his. Why did it feel so right to be close to him? Why,
when everything inside her normally would push away, did she feel the need to
climb his body and wrap herself around him?

“Does it matter what size?” he asked, pushing a few stray
hairs out of her face.

Chance shook her head, loving the feel of his fingers
skimming over her cheek. With his arm around her, they walked the rows until he
stopped, knelt and inspected an oblong pumpkin weighing about forty pounds.
Hayes rolled it over, brushed off the dirt and looked up at her.

“We found our first one.”

“Good. I’ll put it on the wagon while you keep looking.”

“Uh, how ’bout I carry it?”

“I’m capable of carrying a pumpkin. Hand it over.” She stood
there with her arms out. Hayes shrugged and gently laid it in her arms. She
almost collapsed to her knees. Holy cow, what grew inside these things,
boulders?

“Sure you don’t want me to carry it?”

The cocky look on his face only strengthened her resolve to
prove she could do this. “I got it. Go find another one.” Even she could hear
the strain in her voice. With each step she took, it seemed the wagon got
farther away. Finally she heaved the monstrosity onto the wagon and groaned as
her arms trembled.

After catching her breath, she turned to find Hayes coming
toward her with two equally big pumpkins in his arms, walking as if they
weighed no more than a pound each. Showoff, but a sexy showoff. The pride on
his face at finding such prizes warmed her heart.

“That makes three,” he said, dropping them onto the wagon.
“How many more?”

“Keep looking,” she said with a laugh. “We’ll get as many as
we can before the tractor leaves without us.”

They wandered around the field for half an hour before the
man shouted it was time to go. To her surprise, Hayes joined the kids in song
during the ride back. When they finished the children showed him their pumpkins
with pride. Hayes made a big deal over their choices. So she learned something
else about the man. He liked children and knew how to communicate with them.
Another impressive quality to add to the growing list.

After paying for their haul they began the task of carrying
them to the car. By the time they made their second trip the bruised muscles in
her back began to protest in a very loud way. Her attempt to hide her
discomfort failed miserably. Whether she gasped and grimaced too loudly or
Hayes had been paying attention, it resulted in her getting a tongue lashing.
And not the kind that made women scream in pleasure.

“Damn it, Chance,” he groused, slamming the car door shut.
“Your body is bruised deeply and carryin’ these is only gonna make the pain
worse. Stop bein’ so stubborn and let me do it.”

She would have argued but a spasm hit that stole her breath.
“Okay.” She opened up the driver’s door and sat down, bending over to stretch
the muscles.

Hayes squatted down in front of her. “That’s it? No fight?”

“Nope. I’ll wait here.” A twisting pain cramped her
shoulder, making her wince.

“Let me help,” he whispered. “I can take it away.”

“No. I just need to rest a moment.”

“It’s okay for you to heal me but I can’t return the favor,”
he snarled.

“It isn’t the same thing, Hayes. I’ll be fine. I promise.
Bring the rest of the pumpkins and by the time you’re done I’ll be ready to
continue with our day.” She tried to project through her voice the illusion
that all was fine while her muscles tightened and knotted into fists of agony.

“It won’t take me long,” he grumbled and then hurried back
for the rest.

She waited until he was halfway to the barn before groaning and
falling forward, bending in half and doing her best to release the cramp. When
she thought nothing would give her relief, the cramp finally let go. Even as
Hayes headed toward her the gripping discomfort relaxed. Plastering a smile on
her face, she stood.

“See, told you I’d be fine.”

He made a harrumph sound, put the last pumpkin in the car
and closed the door. Stepping in front of her, Hayes jammed his fists on his
hips and stared at her. After long moments of him studying her face, he rubbed
his chin.

“Okay, now what?”

“Now we go see the horses.”

“Horses?”

“Yep, they have horses that they sometimes let visitors
ride. I thought you might like to take a look.” The beaming smile on his face
suggested she thought right.

As they neared the field, Hayes rushed toward the gate. Like
a child, he gripped the metal with his hands and scanned the area. Eight horses
grazed without a care, but then something odd happened. All eight, at the same
time, lifted their heads and gazed back at him. Chance eased up beside him
quietly.

In unison the horses moved, heading straight for them. While
she watched with her mouth gaping open, Hayes grinned and reached out with his
hand, almost beckoning them to him. One by one the horses approached, nuzzled
his face and then stepped aside for the next to extend greetings.

“What’s happening?” She’d never seen anything like it and
apparently neither had the owner. The odd welcoming attracted him.

“Um, Hayes. I don’t know what you did but I’m not sure this
guy likes it.” She hoped whatever hocus-pocus he used would vanish before they
were joined by a scowling, older man. Nope, no such luck.

“You have a way with horses,” the older gentleman commented.

Each animal made a grunting noise while jerking its head. If
Chance didn’t know any better she’d swear they were asking Hayes to come into
the field. Very, very odd.

“Would it be all right if I step inside with them?” Hayes
asked.

The older man glanced between Hayes and the agitated horses.
“Why not?”

Hayes hopped over the fence. As soon as his feet hit the
ground the horses circled and continued nuzzling. Hayes laughed, patted their
necks and rubbed their sides, each one demanding more attention from him as the
seconds passed. Hayes talked softly to them, murmuring how beautiful they were.

“Not as beautiful as she is,” he said, jerking his thumb
toward her. “But close enough.”

Those words alone shocked her. Add in the fact that each
horse came toward her, greeting her with the same affection they did Hayes,
Chance thought she’d stepped into a parallel universe. After a few moments she
couldn’t help but giggle and return the affection. Big, fat horse lips tickled
her cheek and neck as they gave their version of kisses.

Hayes urged her into the field, helped her over the fence
and kept her close to his side as the gentle animals surrounded them. One
sniffed at her back relentlessly, putting its nose right between her shoulders
where her body had taken the blunt blow. After a moment the mare snorted and
then stomped her foot.

“What’s she doing?” Chance whispered the words, clinging to
Hayes.

“She senses your injury, darlin’. Probably knows it happened
with violence.” Hayes laid his hand on the mare’s neck, calming her. “There,
she knows I didn’t do it.”

“How?”

“I told her.”

Hayes continued fawning over the animals as she tried to
absorb that. He told her? As if the horse understood human language?

“Don’t go spoiling my horses,” the old man told them. “I
have to get back to work.”

“Thank you, sir, for allowin’ us to visit them.” Hayes gave
a graceful bow from the waist. The old man probably didn’t see it but she did.

“Take as long as you want.”

With the owner gone now, Chance wanted answers. “What’s
going on, Hayes? Are you actually communicating with them?”

“Sure am.”

She waited for an explanation. None came. Frustrated, she
stomped her foot. “Tell me.”

“Animals sense magic, just like they sense the good and bad
in people,” he explained.

“So they’d react like that to another genie?” Interesting.

“Not necessarily. If the genie were bad, carried the stench
of evil, they wouldn’t come close. Hell, they’d be on the other side of the
field in a rampage.”

“Okay, but that doesn’t explain you talking to them. Can you
really do that?”

“Yeah. I think, they hear. It isn’t so complicated, Chance.
Hard to believe for you, yep, but I’ve been livin’ this a long time. It’s the
only perk I’ve found.” He patted a mare on the rump and she leaned against him
heavily, nearly knocking him over.

“Does this work with all animals?”

“Yep. Insects, birds, rabbits. I can even communicate with
nature.”

“Get out! You talk to plants and trees?” She had her own
nature whisperer here.

“Not so much talk, but feel. It’s complicated to explain.
Magic touches everythin’, darlin’. Mortals simply choose to be blind to it.”

She wanted to see, feel, hear. “Teach me.”

“Don’t have to. I didn’t tell these beauties to make up to
ya. They sensed who you are, felt your compassion for all livin’ things.” When
she frowned, he continued. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed how small animals
don’t scurry away from ya when they should?”

No, she hadn’t, but then she always had her head elsewhere,
thinking about the next project or if she’d be able to get her bills paid for
the month. Even trying to live simply distracted her, it seemed. Chance frowned
at her lack of observation. Perhaps if she paid closer attention the situation
with Bill wouldn’t have escalated.

“Ah, I didn’t mean to upset you, Chance.” Hayes strolled
over and cupped her cheek in his palm.

Out of nowhere one of the mares shoved his back, pushing him
right into her. To keep her from falling, Hayes wrapped his arms around her.
“You okay?”

Was she okay? Standing here in his embrace? Feeling his warm
body pressed tight against hers? Yes and no. It felt right. It primed her up
but for the first time she had the awful feeling he’d leave her. Where did that
come from? “Yeah. I’m good. You say they sense things, right?” He nodded. “I
guess they sense something about us?”

He turned his head away, clenched his jaw and blew out a
frustrated breath. “Did you say they had a market? I’d like to see it.”

She wanted to scream and pound on his chest. He’d have sex
with her over and over but when they finished he returned to the all-proper
genie. She hated that. She wanted the real Hayes, not this stiff, play it by
the book robot. Chance shoved away from Hayes, gave each horse a tender pat and
climbed back over the fence.

“Chance, wait.”

She could hear the metal gate clank as he climbed over and
then his hard footsteps racing up behind her. “They sell a lot of homemade
canned goods. I think I’ll take a look around and see what I can find,” she
said without looking at him.

“You’re angry with me.”

His low voice rumbled across her flesh, making the tiny
hairs on the back of her neck prickle, causing her to feel the chill in the air
that much more. Not sure how to respond to him, Chance shoved her hands into
her jacket pockets and picked up her pace.

“Look, they even have decorative gourds for sale. I think
I’ll take some back to the shop.” She could use them to decorate with and even
sell them and yeah, she was ignoring Hayes. This wasn’t the time or the place
to discuss personal issues.

They both wandered through the tables of homemade jams,
canned peaches, pears, hot peppers, everything she could think of. Chance made
some selections and noticed Hayes eyeing some jeans and shirts hanging on a
used clothing rack. Suddenly Chance felt awful. He’d been with her what, four
days, and had been wearing the same clothes. She should have thought about
that.

“What’d ya find?”

Hayes dropped the sleeve of a shirt he’d been rubbing
between his fingers. “Nothin’. Just lookin’. What all did you find?” His sudden
interest in the jars loaded in her arms made her grin. “Here, let me help you
carry those.”

“That shirt would look good on you.” Chance lifted the
hanger off the makeshift rack. “Looks like it would fit.” She found two more in
different colors and the same size. “What size jeans do you wear?”