Chapter 6

Lauralee

"Do you want to take a walk, Lauralee?" Ted asked. “I can show you around a bit."

"I've seen it before," I told him.

"Yeah, but not for a long time. Maybe it has changed a bit since we were younger running around in the fields together."

Something about the statement excited me and sent a flutter low in my abdomen. A lot of things had most certainly changed since we were younger, and I started to think that I might not mind another chance to run around in those fields with Ted.

I didn't answer him, but stood and let him walk down the steps in front of me, crossing so close to my body that the side of his shoulder brushed my dress, pulling it taut over my nipples, making them suddenly sensitive and tight against the fabric. I let him get to the bottom of the stairs before I followed him and allowed him to lead me away from the house and into the cool evening behind it. We walked along in silence until we reached the small training corral beside one of the horse stables. A white horse stood in the center, lazily grazing and swishing her tail at some imaginary pest.

"I thought all the horses were already down for the night," I said as we walked into the corral toward the horse.

I ran my hand along the powerful muscles of the animal's neck and laughed softly when she nudged me back playfully.

"Sometimes I like to do a little riding at night."

My body clenched, and I bit my bottom lip, willing away thoughts that came to mind as soon as he said those words, but they had nothing to do with a saddle or the gentle-looking horse in front of him.

Me too was what I wanted to say, but I didn't think that would come across as dignified. I nodded my head instead, keeping my eyes securely locked on the horse so that it seemed like I was completely in agreement with the merits of taking a few nighttime laps around the corral rather than examining the front of his jeans to determine how ride-worthy he was. I remembered the few times we’d gone all the way during our year together, how he’d had to convince me the first time that it wouldn’t hurt, only to find out it did. The slow ache that burned in me now was much more tantalizing, but I averted my eyes knowing it was better to behave.

"I think it's probably about time to get her to bed now, though. What do you think, girl?"

Ted took the horse's reins and started leading her out of the corral toward the stable where the other horses had already settled in for the night. I followed silently, drawn after him in some inexplicable way that made me feel confused, excited, and stubborn at the same time. Once he made it into the barn, Ted guided the horse into her stall and removed her tack. He ran his hand along her tenderly, the soft, gentle focus in that touch a surprising, and pleasing, contrast to his hardened image and emotionless reputation. Not many others, outside of his family, understood this side of Ted, and it was this side I’d fallen for so many years before.

"Is your dessert always something that you have on hand when you walk around the ranch or is that a recent addition?" he asked me as he closed the door to the stall after giving the horse a handful of fresh hay.

I hadn't even realized that I still carried the bowl of peaches and cream, and I looked down at my hands, knowing I probably looked ridiculous roaming the ranch clutching the dish like it served some integral purpose.

"Is making fun of people who enjoy their desserts something that you always do, or are you making a special exception for me?" I asked.

He shrugged and walked around me, heading out of the stable. "I might be making a special exception for you," he said.

He walked ahead of me a few feet, guiding me toward another barn in the distance.

"And to what do I owe that honor?" I asked.

"I never eat dessert, so it seems like a good opportunity for a little teasing."

He opened the door to the barn, and we stepped in. I immediately noticed that there weren't any animals in this building, but it was filled with bales of hay and piles of loose straw. This was one of the buildings that we hadn't gone into during our work, but I assumed it was where he always got the stacks of hay he brought down to the fields on the flatbed behind his horse. Sure enough, he opened one of the unused stalls and pulled the trailer out into the center of the barn like he was going to start filling it up so that it would be ready for him in the morning. Just another way to get the jump on me.

A mischievous smile came to my lips. "You don't ever eat dessert?" I asked.

"Never. It's horrible for you."

"Oh, it can't be all that bad," I said with a hint of teasing in my voice as I scooped up a luscious piece of peach and some of the smooth, rich cream and started to walk slowly toward him. "It’s only cream and fruit."

"With a lot of sugar in it," he said, hauling one of the bales of hay onto the trailer.

He turned back to me, and I licked the spoon, gathering the cream onto my tongue and moaning as I brought it into my mouth and let it slide down my throat. I could see his eyes flitting between the spoon and my mouth, and I decided to take it a step further.

"Are you telling me that a big, strong man like you is frightened by a little bit of sugar?" I teased, coming even closer to him so that he took a step back.

"The sugar doesn't scare me, Lolly," he said. The use of my special name sent a burn aching through me. I hadn’t been called that since before our breakup, and no one ever called me that but Ted.

"Are you sure? Then why don't you take a little bite?" I closed the space between us a little more.

Ted took another step back and the back of his leg hit one of the bales of hay. Before he could correct himself, he stumbled and sat down hard. I laughed and leaned forward to bring a spoonful of peaches and cream close to his mouth.

"A tiny bite?" I asked, my voice falling to a soft, powdery half-whisper as I brought the spoon to nearly touching his lips.

"Just a tiny bite," he finally replied and opened his mouth so that I could slip the spoon inside.

His eyes closed as a moan escaped from deep in his throat. The sound went straight between my thighs and my knees slightly weakened.

"Another bite?" I asked.

Ted nodded, opening his eyes and staring directly at me. I scooped up another bite and held it to his lips. He kept his eyes locked on mine as he pulled the spoon into his mouth and swept the cream onto his tongue. I dipped the spoon back into the cream and lifted it to his mouth for another bite when he reached up and gripped my thighs.

In one swift movement, he grabbed on to my hips and pulled me forward, parting his thighs so that I stood between them. I gasped as the sudden movement at once startled me and caused me to splash some of the cream from the spoon directly into my cleavage. I moved down to my knees and smirked. “Look at the mess you’ve made.”

He nodded. “I should clean that up.”

I looked down and watched the white drops trail across my skin. The cream was cold, but as it slid down between my breasts, I couldn't help the thoughts trickling through my mind that were conjured by that image. Holding me still in his strong hands, Ted leaned forward and licked the cream from my skin, lingering for a few seconds as his tongue darted between my breasts to ensure he gathered every drop.

I whimpered and arched my back slightly, pushing my body closer to his. The spoon dropped from my hand, and Ted took the bowl out of my other. My arms fell to my sides as he dipped the pad of his thumb into the cream and stroked it across one of my collarbones.

"Another tiny bite," he said, letting his tongue follow the trail he had created.

He repeated the process, using his thumb to paint a line of the cream along the side of my neck. His mouth nibbled along the cream and by the time he had gotten to the soft dip behind my ear, I trembled.

"Another?" he whispered, and I nodded, surrendering myself to him and to whatever game he played.

His hand left my hip again and dipped back down into the cream. I watched him through lowered eyelashes as he slicked the sweetened cream along my lips. A second later, his mouth touched mine. It was the gentlest of kisses, and I admired his control as he held his lips right above mine so that they barely brushed against each other as he let his tongue gather the cream. He dipped forward and drew my bottom lip into his mouth, giving it a suck as if seeking out every drop of the sweet liquid and tasting me mingled with it.

"Another bite?" he whispered again.

I nodded. My eyes had fallen nearly closed, and I wasn't able to see what he was doing, but a moment later Ted's fingers pressed against my lips so that I opened my mouth. He placed a piece of peach on my tongue and slowly withdrew his fingers. I sucked on them gently and felt Ted's breath against me as he leaned forward to replace his fingers with his tongue against mine. The bright sweetness of the peach and the rich silkiness of the cream mixed with the taste of Ted lit my body on fire, and I wrapped my arms around his neck to draw myself deeper into the kiss.

Ted tossed the bowl aside, and his hands returned to my hips so he could pull me forward even closer to him. I complied with the pressure of his hands, giving myself over to him as he led me off of my feet and guided my legs over his. My knees touched the hay on either side of him, and my pelvis touched his. Ted tightened his grip and led me down until I settled onto his lap, cradling the erection I could feel building beneath me with the heat of my core. He flattened his hands on my back and drew me closer to him until my breasts crushed against his chest and I could feel his belt buckle biting into my inner thighs.

Ted drew his tongue along the opening between my lips, and I parted them willingly, coaxing his tongue into my mouth again so that he could explore me deeper. He broke the kiss so that we could catch our breath and a moment later I lifted my mouth toward his, craving the taste of him again. He pulled away instead and touched his lips to the soft dip between my collarbones. The tip of his tongue teased my skin, and I rocked my hips against his.

Not showing any signs of urgency, Ted trailed his mouth down the center of my chest until he reached the deep scoop of my neckline. He ran his tongue along it, tracing the curve of the fabric against my body so that he licked the swell of one breast and then the other. When he was finally finished with this blissful torment, he ran his fingers from my ankles up my legs to my hips. He let them trace their way back down again, stopping at my feet to carefully remove my shoes and toss them aside.

"Stand up," he whispered.

I didn't want to relinquish my incredibly pleasant seat nestled on his lap, but I complied, willing to see where else his insistent control would take me. Ted stood up from the bale of hay and gently eased me backward with a hand on the front of my hips. He lowered himself to his knees so that his face was even with my breasts and spent another few moments kissing them. His hands moved to the buttons along the back of my dress. They were my favorite detail of the outfit, and I loved them even more as his fingers worked their way down them, releasing them gradually as he continued to nuzzle my breasts and stomach with his face.

He finished unbuttoning the dress and eased the sides off of my arms. I let him guide it down until it pooled at my feet so that I could step out of it. He tossed it aside to join my shoes. Our breath was suddenly the only thing audible as he leaned back to admire me in nothing but lavender lace panties and a matching bra.

"Are you surprised?" I asked breathlessly.

He nodded and ran his hand along the curve of one cup.

"Very pleasantly," he said, reaching around to release the hooks at the back of my bra.

The lace fell away, and the air caressed my bare breasts. Ted opened his mouth and covered one of them. His tongue encircled the taut pink nipple and drew it into his mouth so he could suckle me, bringing his hands to my waist to keep me in place. My breath caught in my throat, and I let my head fall back as I closed my eyes to enjoy more of the sensation. Ted mirrored his attention of that nipple on my other breast, and then let his mouth wander further until it touched the front of my panties. I could feel the warmth of his breath through the lace, and a strangled gasp built up in my throat. His teeth grasped the elastic of the waistband and started to pull my panties down. I parted my thighs to allow him to remove the scrap of damp lace. Suddenly, I was completely naked in front of him, and he hadn't even taken off his boots.

I almost protested, but Ted lifted his eyes to me and gave me a devilish grin as if he could sense exactly what I thought and had no intention of rectifying the situation right then. Tightening his grip on my waist, he dipped his head forward to slip his tongue between my thighs. I cried out and grabbed at his shoulders as the tip of his tongue flicked across my swollen, sensitive pearl of flesh. He drew his tongue along me a few more times in long, tantalizing licks, before turning me. The movement was so sudden the world spun with me. I got my bearings as he lowered me down to sit on his lap and eased back to sit on his heels. The denim of his jeans was soft and worn against my exposed flesh, and I wiggled against the ever-hardening swell beneath me. The texture built incredible pressure low in my stomach, and I whimpered at the sensation.

Ted lifted my arms so that he could drape them back around his neck. He slid his hands down my body and onto my legs so that he could gently part my thighs. I allowed him to position my legs so that I straddled him backward, my legs tucked tightly on either side of his. His mouth came to the curve of my neck and shoulder, and he tasted my skin. A shiver rippled across my skin as he brought his hand down the front of my body to my hot core. I cried out at the impact of that first intimate touch. Tightening my hold on his neck, I lifted my hips to intensify the sensation he created.

He slid his other hand up my arms to behind his head so that he gripped my wrists, pinning them together so I was completely at his mercy. He continued to explore my body, letting his fingers follow the dips and curves of my slick folds. I could feel intense pressure building through my stomach, thighs, and pelvis. I moaned and rocked against his hand, dropping my head back against his shoulder. Ted turned his head to catch my mouth in a deep kiss, meeting each of my high, nearly frantic sounds with his tongue. He plunged his fingers into me, and the sensations spiraled out of control. My body contracted intensely on his fingers, finally releasing into rapid tremors that left me trembling in his arms.

"Do you want me now?" he whispered into my ear.

His teeth nipped at my earlobe, and I nodded breathlessly, unable to get myself together enough to speak. Ted released my wrists and turned me, laying me on my back. As I lay there, he climbed to his feet and stood over me. Not taking his smoldering eyes away from me, he untucked his shirt, lifted it over his head, and tossed it aside. I bit my bottom lip as his delicious, chiseled body came into view. I wanted to sit up and run my hands along his stomach, but I saw his hands come to his belt buckle and I stayed in place. There was no way I was missing the next layer of undressing.

Ted released his belt buckle, and I kept my eyes shamelessly glued to his pants as he opened the button and slowly lowered the zipper as if he was either trying to bring me to the absolute brink of my control or torture me forever, questioning how badly I wanted him.

Finally, the last piece of his clothing fell to the ground, and I spent a few indulgent moments drinking in every inch of his beautiful, sun-kissed skin. Almost unconsciously, my hand drifted down my stomach toward the wet heat he had created between my thighs. He made a sound in his throat that stopped me and I lifted my eyes to his. He shook his head slowly and lowered himself back to his knees, positioning himself between my legs.

"No," he said.

"No?" I asked softly.

He fell forward, catching himself with one hand on either side of me so that his body hovered over mine, and he gazed down into my face. He shook his head again and brushed a kiss to my lips.

"Mine," he whispered.

I let out a whimper and Ted settled his mouth over mine again, kissing me languidly. His hands busied and when I glanced down, he opened a tiny foil packet. He made quick work of sheathing himself, and after a few long seconds, he brought his hips forward to nestle the tip of his cock against my opening. Ted paused where he was and opened his intoxicating eyes to gaze at me. Our labored breath hung between us and my body shook. This was a moment that had been building for so long, and it would change everything, but I was desperate for him. I ran my hands through his hair and settled them on his back. Ted let out a breath and sank into me, drawing a gasp from my throat.

Ted groaned in pleasure, his eyes drifting closed as he seemed to give himself over entirely to the sensation of my body enveloping him. A pleasant smile came to my lips at that sound, and I drew my legs up to encourage him to settle deeper inside me. Ted opened his eyes and returned my smile as he started moving his hips, pushing deeper inside me with long, intense strokes. He dropped his mouth to kiss me, tangling our tongues as he nurtured me toward the edge again. We moved in a steady, gentle pace and I relaxed back, sighing and closing my eyes as I concentrated on the luscious feeling of his length massaging me.

Suddenly, he thrust into me harder and faster, bringing me out of my peaceful state and eliciting a sharp cry with each intense stroke. He tucked his arm beneath me and rocked back onto his knees. I moved with him, coming down into his lap so that I faced him with my legs wrapped around his waist.

I rolled my hips, riding him as hard as I could. I loved the feeling of having control while still feeling safe, secure, and treasured in his arms. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and dampened the edges of his hair, making him look wild and even sexier. I dug my fingers into it so that I could grip the strands at the nape of his neck and lean forward to grab his bottom lip between my teeth. Ted growled and slammed me down onto his lap a few more intense times before he shuddered as his body tightened and a roar poured from his throat. I could feel his cock twitch inside me as he throbbed and pulsed. The feeling sent me crashing over the edge into another dizzying orgasm that drew him deeper into me and milked him with hard spasms.

Ted held my hips and rocked them slowly as I rode out the final waves of my climax. I draped myself forward on him, resting my head on the curve of his shoulder and his neck and letting my hands travel over the smooth, sweaty muscles of his back.