Chapter Sixteen
Lainey
The whole day had been completely surreal. First, Calvin agreed to come with me to New York, and then I was sitting in First Class with him sipping champagne. I could hardly believe it was happening. I wished the flight from Texas to New York had been longer so I could bask in the luxury of it all just a little more. It was so exciting sitting among the exquisitely dressed business people and rich passengers and being there with Calvin made it more so.
“So, I guess your farm is doing really well then?” I asked, astounded at how he could afford to pony up for two of the most expensive seats the airline had to offer. On the face of it, he seemed as rugged and hard-working as any other rancher I’d seen. Outside of his incredible good looks, he was what you pictured as a man of modest means.
He laughed somewhat nervously for a moment before answering. “You could say that,” he said quietly.
“So, you’re not a real cowboy? You’re some rich rancher guy who’s sticking it to the poor people?” I teased, taking another sip of champagne.
“Oh, hey there, partner. I’m very much a cowboy. Just because I have enough cash to float a trip in First Class, doesn’t mean I’m a hoity-toity, snooty patootie.” He feigned an expression he thought looked rich and snooty and I couldn’t help but laugh at his tirade. Oh my god, he looked so funny.
“A what?” I could barely talk over my laughter.
“A hoity-toity, snootie patootie,” he said proudly.
“Where’d you get that from? A country and western song?” I said with a Southern drawl, mocking his accent.
“It’s someone who doesn’t know how to kick the shit off their boots,” he replied, using an even deeper Southern accent than his own.
“So, what are you, a millionaire?” I teased.
“Not a million.” I could tell he was being vague.
“Ah, well, someday you’ll crack that million, but only if you invest well and stop buying extravagant plane tickets,” I advised.
“Who says I haven’t cracked it?” His broad smile widened.
“Seriously?” I playfully punched his shoulder, “You lucky skunk!”
He smiled, and we finished our bottle of champagne and watched a movie together. It didn’t change things. So, he had money. Great. It didn’t make me like him anymore, or any less than I already did. I was already hooked on him before he even told me, and even though it had only been a week, I was pretty sure I was falling in love.
***
We had a connecting flight, so we browsed the Phoenix airport for a while. He found a cowboy hat which made me roll my eyes and cringe at the same time.
“Gotta look the part,” he said as he tried it on.
“You already have a hat. Where’s the one you wore to the airport?” I asked.
“Oh, that ol’ thing? I left it in the truck. That’s my working hat. We’ve been together for, oh, three years now,” he smiled.
It reminded me that I’d gotten used to him wearing cowboy hats and they suited him well. He didn’t like it, however. It wasn’t the $200 price tag that had him frustrated, though. It was the fact that the hat looked too new. God forbid that he should look like a tourist.
“This hat hasn’t got any personality. It’s just a fraction of what it could be with a little dust, sweat, and grime in it,” he frowned.
“Eeeww! That’s pretty gross so I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it, but when we get to our hotel, you can take it around the back and roll in the dirt with it. New York streets are plenty dirty, so it’ll be grimy and just how you like it in no time.” I gave him a crooked smile.
Actually, I was hoping he’d buy a new one, because the one he usually wore was pretty soiled and had seen better days. We spent about an hour bumming around the airport then we were off to another plane and another set of luxurious First-Class seats. The whole experience was amazing, and we got to New York later that evening and checked into the hotel without a problem.
I’d stayed at the Wythe Hotel once before when a girlfriend and I had a girls’ night on the town, but nothing had prepared me for what we walked into this time. My friend and I just got a room with bunk beds and it was pretty cool, like we were kids sharing a bedroom. I knew that wasn’t going to work for Calvin and me, but I’d already booked a king room, anyway. He insisted on doing the checking in, which made me suspicious after the last surprises and I let him know it.
“It’s my hotel reservation, I get to check in.” I pouted.
“Not this time,” he winked.
Damn, I knew that man had something up his sleeve and when I walked into the room, I saw exactly what it was. A loft suite at the top of the building with a dining area, floor to ceiling windows with a view of the Williamsburg waterfront, and an upstairs terrace with a view of the world. I was giddy with excitement.
“Oh my god, this is incredible. Wow!” I said like a teenager on crack.
“I thought you’d like it. Luckily, they still had this room available,” he said proudly.
“Have you stayed here before?” I was starting to wonder what was going on with this guy. He had an entire life I knew nothing about.
“I haven’t stayed here, but a friend has and recommended this room specifically,” he said as he walked up the stairs. “Let’s check out the loft.”
I followed him up the stairs, and While I was so thrilled we were doing this, something started to feel strange about him. I brushed it off, trying not to dwell on the fact that my instincts were screaming at me that he was hiding something, but I was too impressed with the view, the surprises, and the fairytale-like experience to pay much attention to my feelings.
The city looked alive and vibrant below us. It shimmered against the night sky. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Do you like it?” he asked softly in my ear.
I looked at him, crossing my eyes and giving him a silly look.
“It’s awful,” I joked. “Seriously, I’d be an idiot if I didn’t.”
His arms closed lovingly around me.
“We have reservations downstairs at the Reynard. I’m sure you’re hungry,” he said as if there might be more on his mind.
“Or?” I encouraged.
“Or, we can order room service and stay here and… um, play if you want.” He let his thumb breeze over my nipple as he said it.
Of course, I’d rather stay and play with him. I wanted him all the time. I barely even wanted to talk with him if I could have sex with him instead. I knew that sounded crazy, but I felt like I had years to get to know him and I was young and sexy now—why waste it? Besides, there was something about him. It was if I didn’t need to talk to him—he was already in my soul. The rest of my worry and suspicion about what he may be hiding, I put in my back pocket and let lust and wantonness drive me instead.
I turned to him and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
“Of course, I want to stay and play with you,” I smiled, kissing him again. “Thank you for all that you’ve done today. It was so unexpected. No one has ever done anything like that for me before.”
I stopped there since I felt like I was going to cry. I’d been so strong for my mom, and I watched her wither and die. Then I’d rallied my dad’s dreams together and followed him on an adventure I’d been so reluctant to take. I’d almost given up the on the idea of finding love for myself for many more years, if ever. Family meant more to me at that moment, but here he was, in the middle of nowhere on a journey I wasn’t sure I wanted to embark upon. Hidden in the roughness, the dust, and sadness of our loss, was this perfect gem.
He sensed I was close to tears and drew me in closer.
“You’re welcome. I’m just glad I could do something for you. Something to make you smile,” he said, so caring.
“I always smile,” I fought back.
“I know, every day. But I know inside, those smiles are for other people’s benefit, not always yours. I wanted to see you smile today. Just for you,” he said as he planted a kiss on my forehead.
“You’re amazing. You know that, right?” It was a stupid thing to say, but I felt so emotional and overwhelmed.
“No, you are,” he countered.
“You sure you don’t want to go buy some clothes or anything first?” I asked. I hoped I wasn’t being rude by wanting to make love to him instead of any of the activities he’d planned.
“I don’t need clothes for what I’m about to do, darlin’.” He gave me a devilish smile. “I can always get clothes tomorrow, or we can stay naked all week if you want.”
He seemed like an eager little boy. The idea of never getting dressed making him feel naughty and rebellious.
“That wouldn’t be the best idea for me. I’m sure my professor would be rather surprised if I walked in asking for an independent study wearing nothing but a smile,” I teased.
“Oh yes. No… I mean, no, you need to wear clothes. I’m sure he’s fat, old, and ugly, but I couldn’t handle the idea of any kind of competition.” Suddenly, he was getting all manly on me.
“No worries, Tex. You’re the only man for me,” and with that, I slid my T-shirt over my head and bared myself to him.
He expertly removed my bra and let his hands smooth over my breasts.
“You know you’re incredibly gorgeous, right?” he asked as he let his hands caress my tender flesh.
“I don’t always think that of myself, but it’s nice to hear it.” I thought it was time for some honesty since I was starting to have real and deep feelings for him.
“You’re perfect, Lainey. Every part of you,” he said as he dipped his head to my nipple and gently sucked and nibbled, making me wild with desire for him.
I responded to him as if he was a virtuoso who knew how to play my body expertly. We were on top of the world, yet suddenly I became a little shy with all the skyscraper windows around us. It seemed we’d already done a fine job of committing a public sex act, but now I wanted to enjoy a little more privacy.
“Can we go downstairs? I want you to ravish me, but I don’t want to end up as some voyeur’s nightly entertainment.”
He laughed. “Of course.” He softly took my hand in his and led the way downstairs, closing the sheer curtains across the floor to ceiling windows. Everything about the loft and the night felt so sexy and he lost no time resuming where we’d left off, fondling my sensitive breasts and igniting the fire between my legs. I wanted him to ravage me—every nerve in my being wanted it—but despite my craving, I slowed him down and gave him a long, sensuous kiss. I wanted him to know what I felt for him. I let my hands slide across his stubbled face then leaned in and whispered in his ear.
“I love you,” I said as I nibbled at his lobe.
He returned my kisses, pressing his lips hard against my own. He met my passion, lifting me up, and I straddled my legs across his hard erection.
“I love you, too” he proclaimed, gazing into my eyes. “More than you’ll ever know.” He carried me to the bed and laid me on it then slowly undressed me. I wanted to reach up and return the favor, but he stopped me.
“Nope,” he said, “I’m going to make love to you tonight. We’ll be here all week. Tomorrow, I’m at your mercy, but I want to ravage you like a cowboy in love. I know you’re a strong, modern woman, but I’m going to treat you like a princess, tonight,” he smiled graciously.
“Um… okay…” was all I could say. I felt so wanted, so desired, lying there naked on the bed in front of him. His sparkling eyes never left mine as I watched him slowly undress in front of me. His stiff cock sprung free, ready for me as it would ever be, and I lay back, spread my legs wide, and gave Calvin a beckoning stare. “I’m all yours, pardner,” I said with a giggle.
He lay down beside me and kissed me passionately again while his fingers stroked from the nape of my neck to my belly button, making my body shudder at his touch. He broke the kiss and shifted on top of me, running his tongue along the goose bumps on my neck and sucked hard, giving me what felt like a tiny monkey bite in the place where his mouth had been.
“Hey, I have an interview tomorrow,” I warned breathlessly.
“That’s just in case the professor isn’t old, fat, or ugly,” he whispered as he moved downward. “You’re mine,” he growled.
I giggled as his lips trailed over my body, stopping at my breasts. First, with a soft kiss on each nipple, then a long, sensual tongue massage that bathed each hardened pebble with swirling and sucking, flooding electricity through my body from my head to my toes. I felt my arousal coating my inner thighs as it dripped from my wanton pussy. I didn’t want him to rush, but I ached to feel him inside me. I sent him my message by wiggling my hips a little, rubbing my lady parts against his stiff erection.
He raised himself on his knees and gently patted my dripping wet pussy with his hand.
“I’ll get there, darlin’,” he said as he moved his mouth from my breasts to my belly button. He held my hips as he dipped his tongue in and out of my belly button, simulating what his cock would soon be doing lower down. My needy center ached for him to fill me with his hard, throbbing cock until he was deep inside.
His slow ride down my body continued to my hip bones, and the shaved area where my pubic hair had been neatly trimmed. His tongue swirled around the sensitive skin above my remaining tuft of hair, making me writhe and my breathing hitch. He stroked the tops of my thighs, letting his fingers trickle inward as he spread my legs farther apart. My mind was in raptures—finally, he was getting close to my pleasure zone.
His fingers continued their journey until they reached the outer lips of my sex. They danced upon my flesh, making me squirm then he lowered his mouth to them and lapped in long upward strokes at my wetness. I moaned, breathlessly, as his tongue continued its wild undulations, parting my lips with each upward lick and finishing with a flick on my clit with the tip. I grabbed his hair with both hands and held his head hard against my pussy. I was over the edge—I couldn’t hold back anymore. The electricity coiled into knots inside me, and I tightened and shattered with a scream. My legs trembled, and my hips bucked uncontrollably against his mouth, still gently licking and sucking me as I came.
He raised his head and looked at me with a big beaming smile on his face. He looked pretty smug and pleased with himself, and I couldn’t deny he had every reason to be after his stunning performance. He crawled up to lay beside me.
“God, that was incredible,” I panted, rolling my eyes with the pleasure that still coursed through me. He brought my lips to his, and I tasted a mixture of him and me on his sensuous mouth. I trailed my hand across his body, over the ridges of his strong muscular frame, and around his own peaked nipples as our tongues danced together.
I broke the long, passionate kiss and said, “Just give me one minute.”
His face had a funny mixture of curiosity and disappointment on it, but that soon changed back when I playfully slithered down his body and wrapped my warm mouth around his amazing cock. I must have caught him by surprise as he let out a grunt when I teased him with my tongue, moaning loudly in ecstasy as my mouth slid up and down his glorious shaft.
He was so big—I hadn’t realized how large his dick was until I tried getting the whole thing in my mouth. No way could I swallow him, so I gave his sweet rod a tongue bath while I gently squeezed and fondled his balls, making him clench with searing desire. I knew he wouldn’t be able to take much more, so I let up on him, lapped up the pre-cum from the tip of his cock, then made my way back up to his waiting mouth and kissed him again, straddling his thighs with my own.
“You are one gorgeous sweet woman, Lainey,” he whispered breathlessly as I watched his handsome face, his hard shaft nestling against my pussy. I wriggled against him and felt it spreading my wet lips apart and the tip pressed against my aching clit. I moaned against his mouth as I ground against him, wanting him inside me. I moved up a little until I felt his bulbous head nudging at my entrance then he grabbed my ass with both hands, thrust his hips and slipped inside, making me shudder.
With hooded eyes, I pushed myself up and leaned back, grabbing his thighs behind me for support. Now I was in control and I was going to ride this cowboy. His cock towered inside me and with my legs wide, he started a gentle thrusting to meet my own as I slid up and down his length. God, the feeling was amazing—his dick hitting my G-spot every time he rocked into me, bringing me closer to orgasm. I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip then felt a hand caressing my breasts, gently pinching my nipples then another at my pussy, his thumb rubbing my swollen clit. I felt like I was going to burst, then he slowed down, making me crazy with need as the tension balled up in my belly. He smiled, seeing the lustful look in my eyes.
“You like riding cowgirl?” he asked in a deliberately Southern accent.
“Mmmm...” Words had left me—all I could do was moan as his cock plunged deep inside me, rubbing my G-spot with every delicious stroke.
“I’m going to make you come,” he growled, speeding up his pace.
“Mmm, mmm… Oh, fuck. Do it, cowboy. Yeah, right there,” I groaned.
He made love to me with a fevered passion. I felt his strong thigh muscles tensing beneath my hands as he pumped hard into me. It was too much to bear. I couldn’t hold on any longer and I felt my orgasm building then exploding deep within me. My legs spasmed uncontrollably and clenched tight against him as waves of ecstasy rolled through me.
“Oh… My... GOD!” I screamed out as it reached its peak, the warmth traveling up and down my body, and I flopped forward to rest on his manly chest, completely satisfied, but exhausted. He grabbed my ass with both of his huge hands and pulled me hard against him. He kissed me, his body tensing and with one final thrust, he buried his cock so deep inside me. He let out a grunt and came hard, his hips bucking against mine, and I felt his release pooling between us, warm and sticky.
“God, Lainey. That was a helluva ride,” he said, smiling and panting breathlessly as he tenderly stroked my back, running his fingers through my hair and kissing my forehead so softly.
“It sure was. I love saddling up with you,” I giggled.
This was fun. Having such a good-natured man to play with and to enjoy was such an unexpected surprise after our move to Texas. We pillow-talked and cuddled and kissed in the afterglow of our lovemaking, then showered and went downstairs to the bar where a few hotel guests, slightly worse for alcohol, clung to their drinks.
“What would you like?” he asked.
“Surprise me,” I said. He raised one eyebrow inquisitively in response. “You’ve been amazing with the surprises today,” I cooed, still reveling in the pleasure from our incredible sex session.
“Okay, I got an idea,” he said as I sat down at one of the tables. He approached the bar and when he returned, he had two whiskeys—one over ice, and one neat.
“What?” I smiled. “Whiskey?”
“This is a cowboy’s drink. Some like beer, but it’s really all about the whiskey, and this is the good stuff.” He smiled like the devil as he handed me the one on the rocks.
“You’re not trying to get me drunk, are you? You’ve already had your way with me,” I teased.
“And I’m hoping to again,” he said with a beaming smile. “But wasn’t it you who had your wicked way with me?” he suggested, tilting his head toward me and raising his eyebrows. “I seem to recall you were on top and calling the shots, right?”
“Calvin, you’re the worst,” I teased, “but I’m sure you’ll get your chance.”
“You can rely on it,” he said in a low voice then took my hand and kissed it. “Anyway, plenty of time for that. I want to know more about you. Like, what is it you love so much about New York?”
“Um, this hotel, for one,” I said, looking around the room at the luxurious interior design and expensive fittings.
“Because of the company?” he asked with a smile.
I cocked my head, raised a finger to my lips and fluttered my eyelashes at him. “Oh, yes. Of course, the company is incredible,” I said, playfully. He laughed out loud, causing other customers to turn their heads in our direction.
“Well, I love your sarcastic New York sense of humor,” he said. “Do carry on.”
“Oh, I don’t know. The smells of summer when it’s so hot you think you’ll fry up and die. Even though it sometimes smells like death, I love all the different foods you can eat and all the different languages you hear as you walk around. Even though you have to squeeze everything you own into a tiny apartment, I still love it. It’s nothing like the big, wide-open spaces of Texas. Here you live right on top of one another. Rooftop terraces, fancy cocktails, Broadway, it’s just an amazing place to live.”
I suddenly became aware I was becoming more animated as I thought of all the things I loved about New York and I’d also noticed Calvin’s face drop a little more at the mention of each one. It seemed my enthusiasm for something he wasn’t a part of was hurting him, but I couldn’t help that I loved it. New York was in my blood, the same way I guessed Texas was in his.
“Sounds nothing like the ranch.” He tried to make his observation seem lighthearted, but it was obvious how he felt.
“Well, it’s only been a little while. Maybe the ranch will grow on me,” I offered to try to console him.
“Or maybe it won’t. I mean, it doesn’t have to. You should be where you belong and feel comfortable.” He was being reasonable and kind, and I appreciated that.
“The problem is, I really don’t know where that is. Of course, I want to go to NYU and study, and it would be amazing to stay here with my friends, but my dad’s not here, and he’s the only family I have left.” I was already missing the old guy.
“People leave their families to go to college all the time,” he encouraged.
“Yeah, but he’s newly widowed. I’m sure he can hack it all by himself for a while, and he’d never tell me if he started to feel the sting of loneliness, but the evidence of it would be there. He’d forget things and start to meander in life. I saw it happen when my mom was first diagnosed. He just walked around aimlessly most of the time,” I confessed.
“That’s normal grief, though. That’s what it does to you.” I knew he was trying to help me let go so I could make my own choices about the future.
“Yeah, it was definitely grief, but I also think he was maybe preparing himself for loneliness. Like he was playing out the ‘what if’ in his head, and whether he could endure it or not, but I really don’t want to test out my theories. He’s all I have left, so I should hang with him, even if it means saying goodbye to New York. And then, of course, there’s you.” Now I was feeling funky and a little guilty for mentioning him last.
“Do you know what I love about New York?” he asked.
“Do you love anything about New York?” I was completely shocked.
“Absolutely. I love that the city never sleeps. I know a great club where we can dance the night away. Are you up for it?” He had a delightfully boyish grin on his face. I sneered at him, in mocking disbelief.
“It’s not a line dancing place, is it? Only I don’t have my hat and cowgirl boots with me,” I giggled.
He beamed a huge white smile back at me.
“I think they’ve been known to do a fair bit of shit kicking, but not always in a line, God forbid,” he said. “This is New York for heaven’s sake.”
We finished our drinks, and he paid the bill. Even though it was late, he suggested we walk as he said he wanted to make sure I got lots of that Brooklyn air. He said The Bembe club was only about a half-mile away from the hotel, and I was happy to take a walk with him.
It was very late. There were only a few people on the streets with most either hitting the bars, or taking a midnight stroll along the water. It was edgy, yet romantic. I felt warm inside when Calvin took my hand in his and we walked down the sidewalk to the club.