Lacey

ALEX WAS THE TYPE of guy that I would tell all my friends they should avoid—too much effort and not even remotely under the thumb—but I was starting to reconsider my whole previous dating advice. The rewards from a brooding, damaged man who pushed your buttons was worth all the anger and confusion just to feel the way I did right now. Alex was beautiful, his body was to die for and everything he did was so male and overpowering that I wondered how pampered trust fund brats had ever floated my boat? The way he held me, with hands that made things and were rugged from years on this farm, the strength of his arms and the purpose to his kisses, made my insides sing with need.

I moved my hands to touch his wide biceps, and he flexed under my touch as he hoisted me up and I wrapped my bare legs around his waist. His hands found my butt cheeks under my denim shorts and he squeezed me hard. I moaned into his mouth and he marched to my bedroom with me clinging to his front. His lips were seeking me out like a missile and his tongue was coaxing me deeper and deeper into an abyss of pleasure. The urgency of his touch was making my core ache, and I felt alive with the anticipation. I loved the way he held me firmly in his grip.

He dropped me to my feet once in my room and I looked up to his heated stare and smiled at how much he wanted this.

“You need to get naked,” he told me, and I bit my bottom lip. The remnants of my lipstick were evident on his face, but Mac had a no smudge guarantee, so it could have been worse.

“Okay,” I told him, “you too.” I slipped off my sandals and then slowly unbuttoned the front of my shorts just as he pulled his shirt over his head. Yes, I had seen him naked before, but last time felt so fleeting compared to this. I stepped forward and touched his hard body, the ridges of his abs and the perfect domes of his pecs. I had seen plenty of hot bodies before but something about Alex felt much more real, from the smattering of chest hair to the tan lines on his arms.

He pushed me back just as I started to trace kisses on his naked torso, yanking my t-shirt over my head and leaving me stood before him in my lacy, white bra. His eyes roamed hungrily over me and it made me smile and push my breasts out a little further to tease him. Growling, his lips found mine again, harder and more forceful than before as his hands moved down my body slowly to continue what I started with the button of my shorts. He eased them down, and I kicked them away stood before him in just my underwear. He bent to cup my ass again and I moved my hands over his strong, wide back to move down to the cloth shorts he wore.

I found the waistband and reached inside to find him commando underneath. It made me laugh, and I leaned back from him, “No underwear?” I raised an eyebrow.

“You like?” he asked with a smirk.

“Yeah,” I nodded and bent to push them down, faced with his magnificent cock. I didn’t get time to appreciate it last time and so this time I knelt before him as he kicked the shorts away. I looked up at him and his stare was serious and full of lust. He moved his hands to the back of my head, removing my hair tie and letting my hair fall. I leant forward and kissed the tip of his dick which made him gasp. I took it in my hand and he grabbed my hair in his, watching as I took the tip of him into my mouth and pumped him gently.

“Lacey,” he groaned. I moved faster with my hand and took him deeper into my mouth as he held onto my hair like his life depended on it. I knew he was holding back from thrusting himself into my mouth and my body was thrumming with need at how much he was loving this. “Stop,” he rasped a few moments later.

I leaned back, and he smiled down at me, pulling me up to stand with him and bending to kiss me again. “I need you,” he said hoarsely, reaching behind me to free my breasts and then hooking his fingers into my panties and pulling them down.

We fell backwards onto the bed, his hands roaming my body and his tongue sliding urgently into my mouth. I groaned into him as his hand moved down to find my core and he stroked me gently there. I needed him like I needed my next breath and it was no longer to feel good, it was a need that was taking over my whole mind and body.

“Alex,” I said, “I need you.” I took his cock in my hand and he pulled me closer to him with his free hand on my ass. “Condom,” I said, rolling off him and running to the bathroom.

When I got back he was laid back on the bed, the beauty of his whole body on display and I grinned wickedly at the view. He smiled back and reached out to me, grabbing my hips and making me straddle him. I watched as he rolled the condom down his dick and held back a moan of anticipation.

I settled over his cock and steadied myself with my hands splayed on his hard body. He kept his hands on my hips and watched my face and then my body as I took all of his hardness. It felt achingly awesome after wanting him for what felt like forever. He took a deep breath as I found my rhythm, moving his hands to my ass and urging on with thrusts of his own. He watched me with wonder as I rode him, and I bit my lip with a shy smile as I fell apart on top of him. Once I had claimed my orgasm he rolled us over so he was on top, losing control and pounding into me with wanton abandon. I held onto him tightly, digging my fingernails into his back and his mouth claimed mine like I was the answer to all of his prayers. It was hard and unforgiving, and I needed everything he was giving me.

He rolled away from me and scooped me next to him. I laid my head on his chest and took deep breaths to regain my composure. Last time Alex couldn’t leave fast enough, and it crossed my mind that he might not be so happy afterwards this time either. It was as if he were warring with what he wanted and what he knew was right. I had lost all my morals years ago and so quite frankly I pitied him for still having some.

“You got any beer?” he rumbled from underneath me and I looked up to him with a smile to see his eyes shining with mischief and thankfully a relaxed expression.

“I have wine?” I sat up and he watched my breasts as they bounced when I moved.

“I’ll take it,” he nodded, also sitting up and leaning back on his hands. He was gloriously naked and there wasn’t a hint of modesty. I liked that.

I stood, walked to the bathroom to clean up and then grabbed my robe off the back of the door and threw it on. I was pouring the wine when he appeared in the kitchen behind me, dressed in only his shorts. “Commando again?” I raised an eyebrow and passed him a glass of wine.

“Of course,” he nodded, “out front?” he asked, and I nodded.

I followed him to the veranda and took a seat in the old, refurbished wooden chair and him in the matching one the other side of the small table. “You not running off this time?” I asked. Yes, I had a problem with saying inappropriate things when they were not called for and also to actively test people’s boundaries until I had them figured out. I was still trying to get Alex.

He gave me a cool look and sipped his wine, “I guess not.”

I looked out to the starry night and took a glug of the chilled, dry, rosé and appreciated the alcohol as it hit my system. I still felt jittery from the sex and the wine soothed me. 

“I like you, Lacey.” Alex said, looking over to me, “I guess I decided you were more than just a nosey, unwanted guest.”

“I like you too,” I smirked, “you impress me, Alex Miller, and it helps that you are hot as all hell.”

He let out a laugh at the last part, “I bet every guy you have ever met has tried to get into your pants, right?” he shook his head with a tight smile. Maybe not quite believing that he too had fallen for my charisma.

“I wish,” I sighed, “before I had money I didn’t look this good.” I glanced down at myself and realized I didn’t quite look my best right then.

“Get lost. You have this huge personality, you’re driven more than anyone I’ve ever met and money doesn’t buy natural beauty.” He narrowed his eyes and ran his tongue over his bottom lip.

“Money enhances everything,” I threw my head back and closed my eyes, “some guys think I’m pushy.”

“Pushy,” he shrugged, “or forthright?”

“Some guys think I’m fat,” I widened my eyes at him and pursed my lips.

“You are far too thin,” he sipped his wine and watched my confession with mirth.

“Some guys think I’m cuckoo,” I sighed.

“Yeah, that’s part of your charm.” He nodded.

“So why have none of the girls from town been sniffing around after that girl cheated on you with Tyrer?” I narrowed my eyes awaiting his reply.

“I don’t smile,” he shrugged, “I don’t mix well, and I guess since my grandpa passed the Millers have a bad name.”

“But they must see how hot you are and surely hot guys with issues are like off the charts in demand? All girls want to fix someone.”

“Do you wanna fix me?” he turned and narrowed his eyes on me, awaiting my reply intently.

“You don’t need fixing, Alex,” I told him in a sultry tone, “you just look like you do but you got it all figured out.”

“It doesn’t feel like it some days,” he ran his hands through his hair, “can’t even stop myself from sleeping with the boss.”

I stood to get a refill of wine, “Well for that your boss is super appreciative. More wine?”

“I guess I better get going... the kids.” He nodded towards his house and finished his glass.

“Yeah, um, see you in the week.” I told him, with a curt nod.

He stepped to where I stood and took a lock of my hair between his thumb and forefinger. I noticed he liked my hair, he liked to touch it. I smiled at the contact. “Thank you for last night and for dinner.” He bent to kiss me, and I hummed as his lips touched mine, “how about you come for dinner tomorrow? I’ll cook.”

“Oh,” I was surprised, “yeah, sure.”

“Okay, I need to get my shirt and I’ll see you tomorrow,” he jogged inside and came back outside, patting my butt as he kissed me again and I watched as he ran down the lane home.

 

“So you slept with the cowboy again?” Jessa asked the next morning as I lay in bed chatting to her. She was always up at the butt crack of dawn since she’d pushed that baby out, and so it was something to do when I couldn’t sleep in.

“Yeah,” I sighed, “he’s like a little firecracker, so much energy and his body is like oh my God, amazing.”

“Lacey,” she whined, “he is your employee and also how old is he?”

“Oh God, do not give me any grief about the age factor after you were boning that toy boy Ken doll, Manson.”

“Jeez, Lacey, that was forever ago, and I always knew he was too young,” she moaned.

“Well this guy is the oldest twenty-five-year-old you could ever meet. He’s serious and driven and he makes furniture.” I said with whimsy.

“God, you sound like a deluded teenager. Jesus, Lacey. What has come over you? You never get like this over guys,” she sounded concerned. “That farm is making you desperate, you need to get home.”

“I’m not desperate,” I snapped, “I’m just spending time with real people for a change.”

“Do not for the love of God fall in love with a cowboy and move to Montana, Jesus.” Jessa admonished.

“Jessa, I’m not even divorced, I’m jobless, and I told Alex he could buy this farm back off me. I’m not staying but I’m... enjoying my sabbatical.” I smirked.

“Good,” she said with relief, “have fun with your little farm boy but do not mix business with pleasure and make a plan, please.”

“I’m making a plan,” I lied. “Once I add what I want to here, I’ll be home and setting up my own equities firm.”

“Okay, good, so just remember don’t get too involved. These people have issues that are none of your concern.”

“Since when did you get so bossy?” I moaned, “that’s my job.”

“Since you moved to the middle of nowhere and started sleeping with a guy that doesn’t have a modeling contract or a Master's degree.”

I smiled to myself at the things I used to care about when it came to men. “I guess I realized that my lists are shallow.”

“Lacey, you’ve been gone six weeks,” she sighed.

“Well it’s like being on one of those retreats here where you soul search and figure out the meaning of shit.”

She laughed, “Oh, Lacey. Do I need to remind you that the nearest Mac store is like a state away and I bet they don’t serve frozen yoghurt in that one-horse town, do they?”

“I just called to tell you that I’m getting regular sex, I haven’t gained any weight and that I’m alive, all other issues are immaterial.” I said glibly.

“Fine.” I could hear the laughter in her voice, “if your eyebrows get out of control and you can’t find decent laser removal to tame the summer bush then don’t come crying to me.”

“Cold, Jessa,” I smirked, “real cold.”

 

I went to Alex’s house at dinner time as we discussed the night before. I almost chickened out at one point and wondered if maybe he’d changed his mind. Maybe I should have stayed away, and he invited me out of some misguided sense of manners. I decided to stop being a pussy and just go spend time with the family who live down the street. I took ages to decide what to wear and decided on an off the shoulder, pink sundress that I had never worn but bought just before I left the city. I walked down and knocked on the door, Sara answered.

“Hey, Lacey, you look pretty,” she said with a smile. “I need more dresses,” she sighed and walked ahead into the house without asking me to follow but I did.

I found Alex in the kitchen wafting a smoke-filled stove and looking stressed. “Hi,” I said as I stepped up behind him.

“Hey,” he turned around and looked serious, his hands on his hips. “I may not be great at this,” he motioned to the stove.

“What was it supposed to be?” I bent to look inside the now open, smoking oven door.

“Pot roast,” he gave me a tight, knowing smile. “I suck.”

“We can eat leftovers,” I shrugged.

“Or,” he stepped forward and gave me a once over, “we go out for burgers?”

I grinned, I liked being under his gaze and I liked being so close to him that I could smell his sweet cologne. I wished he would touch me, grab me, kiss me, but we were in the kitchen and his siblings were buzzing around. “Yes,” I nodded, “but let’s get the shitty burnt stuff out of the oven first.”

“Good plan,” he turned and bent back over the oven. He wore blue jeans and a black short-sleeved button down tucked in at the waist. His broad shoulders were highlighted by the tightness of his shirt as well as every muscle he had pumped over the years. His butt was accentuated by the tight jeans and I struggled to recover myself as he turned around.

“You checking me out?” he teased under his breath.

“You commando?” I whispered back.

He laughed, “Maybe later you’ll find out.” He winked, walking with the burned pot roast to the sink and chucking the whole thing under the steamy, running faucet. My heart leapt at his comment and my stomach thrummed with want.

“You go get the kids together, let me help clean up.” I stepped to the sink just as he turned, and we were flush against each other. He didn’t budge, and I looked up at him, his nostrils flared and his face remained serious. He wiped his hands on his jeans and then placed them tenderly on my shoulders, bending to kiss my head.

“This is my mess,” he said quietly, “I’ll clean it up later. Let’s go.”

He squeezed me lightly and then as I turned to walk ahead of him he patted my ass playfully. I liked this version of Alex and I needed to calm the fuck down about how much; my heart was beating out my damn chest, and I wanted him to kiss me, damn it.

“Guys we're all gonna go to the diner for dinner,” he yelled into the house. I wasn’t sure where the kids were holed up. “I burnt the dinner.”

“Duh,” Sara appeared from the living room. “I could smell that smoke a mile off.”

“Logan!” Alex yelled from upstairs.

“Just finishing my game,” he shouted down, then something else about getting to some point or other in the thing.

“Save it and let’s move!” Alex boomed again up to Logan. Bear looked at us expectantly as we prepared to leave.

“Sorry, buddy,” Alex petted him, “no dogs allowed but we’ll bring leftovers.” Bear groaned but laid down in the hallway as we left.

Soon we were all sat in the pickup on the way to town and it felt like the most normal thing in the world, me and the three Miller siblings. We got to the diner. It was a little busy, so we sat in the waiting area and ordered drinks until we got a table for four.  People looked over at us—I’m sure the new woman in town garnered some interest—but Alex didn’t seem to notice. In fact all he did was read his phone and give me the odd smirk which make my body heat up like a lovesick teenager.

We ate, we laughed. Sara sassed Alex and Alex did his best not to get aggravated by her. Logan left too much food to be allowed dessert, and I felt sorry for him and so shared my ice cream; well he ate the majority of it as I only ordered it for him. We talked about the farm and Alex asked me more about the bakery idea and how we would get it off the ground.

Alex got the check although I tried to pay again, and he gave me a glare. “I was supposed to cook remember?” We got leftovers boxed up for Bear and I held them as we walked outside.

We drove home and had a drink on his veranda as he ushered the kids upstairs and we sat in the quiet twilight, like there was nothing at all strange about what we had become. Like I was just a girl that he liked or a girl who liked him. We sat in comfortable silence and I wondered if he wished that things were less complicated like I did. Hoping I had met him years before, when my life was more about living, loving and being happy and less about money. When I looked ten years younger and was trying to fill an empty void that I had no idea had appeared until it was searing a hole in my chest. If I had met him then, maybe he would have been the person to make it all make sense. I bet he didn’t have the same thoughts. I bet he barely thought more than what we were doing at all.

“Lacey,” he said with a grumble.

“Yeah?” I turned to face him.

He leaned forward, so I did too, and he whispered, whilst holding his beer in mid-air, “You think when these kids are in bed I can sneak you up to my room and you can keep your sex sounds to a minimum whilst I have my wicked way with you?”

My tummy somersaulted at his words and I swallowed hard, watching as he bit his lower lip and took a sip of his beer from the bottle, “I could definitely give it a good try,” I grinned, and he let a sinful smirk cross his face as he swallowed a mouthful of beer.

“’Atta girl,” he added with a wink.