7. His Need For Order

7

HIS NEED FOR ORDER

A ster stepped out of the small shower in Zane's little cottage by the water. He dried his hair and body, then wiped the steam off the mirror.

He'd been up for two hours, had some breakfast, then worked out. He had weights in the spare room that used to be Willow's. He'd had his fair share of running in the military and didn't care to do that again but liked getting out in a kayak and paddling around.

Once he was dressed, he ran his hands through his hair, then picked up the comb and gave it a quick pass. He debated shaving for five seconds and said nah. With it getting cooler out, he liked having facial hair after not having it for much of his adult life.

He went back to his room and put his watch on, saw that it was only eight. Raine would be here to get him at ten so he'd just clean for the next two hours.

He couldn't stand clutter or dust or dirt. Maybe it was because he'd lived around so much of it as a kid. Going in the service just fed his need for order.

When ten rolled around, he heard a car door and went to the front door to see Raine climb out of a small SUV.

She had a pair of dark jeans on that fit her like every teen's fantasy. On her feet was a pair of those fuzzy boots that went over her ankles. He found them sexy in an innocent way.

She had a brown fleece jacket on so he couldn't see what she might have on under it.

"Right on time," he said.

"I'm prompt that way," she said. "I've never been here before but have heard about the place from Ivy. This is adorable and such a lovely location."

"Want to come in?" he said. "There isn't much to see. I came with my clothes. The place was furnished because Zane used it as a vacation rental."

"Sure," she said. "We aren't on a timeline if you don't mind."

"Not at all," he said, opening the door wide for her.

"It smells like lemons in here. Just like my place does when I do my monthly scrubbing."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Monthly?"

She burst out laughing. "You should see your face. I clean all the time. I told you I've got a germ thing. But once a month I get all the windowsills and dust in spots that it can collect. Things like that."

"Got it," he said. "I did that this morning."

She looked around his place. "I want to ask if you did it only because I was coming, but too many things are lined up so perfectly I'm wondering if you had a measuring stick out for it and marked things."

He looked closer at the coffee maker, the toaster, then the container of sugar. Everything was equal distance apart.

"Guess I'm more OCD than I thought. Could be years in the service. I like things the way I like them."

"Me too," she said. "Now the question is will that be a problem if we like things different ways?" She walked into his kitchen and rearranged the order of those three things but kept them the same distance apart. "Are you shaking over this?"

He moved closer and instead of touching what she did, he picked her up and sat her ass on the counter, and crowded her. "Are you shaking?"

She spread her legs a bit and let him move between them, her mouth lifting to his and kissing him like he'd wanted to do last night.

He was glad she started this.

Well, he did, he knew that.

But she didn't squeal or act too surprised when he put her on the counter.

She did gasp, but in his aroused mind he was thinking she was feeling the same as him.

When she slipped her tongue into his mouth, he was shocked at how little control he had over his body when his dick started to twitch in his jeans.

He took a step back and watched her slip down. "Now I might be shaking," she said fanning her face. "Why did you do that?"

"You were trying to push my buttons so I had to do it to you."

She laughed. "I like you, Aster."

"The same," he said. "And to answer your question, I'm not going to break out in a sweat that you moved those things. Actually I like the sugar on the end better since I don't use it anyway. So, thanks."

"You're welcome," she said. "Are you ready for some fun today?"

"You mean what we just did wasn't fun to you? I'm hurt."

"I highly doubt you're hurt. And yes, it was fun. But I have another activity planned for the day."

"Activity, not an adventure?" he asked.

"Yes. Adventures are big things. We aren't there yet."

"Then what are we doing today?" he asked.

"We are going to Clyde's Cider Mill."

"We are picking apples?" he asked. He honestly didn't know if he'd ever done that before.

"Yep. Then we are going to eat cider donuts and at noon we are going to the tasting room."

"Tasting room?" he asked. "Like alcohol?'

"Hard cider and apple wine."

"I'll pass on the wine," he said.

"I figured as much. I haven't picked apples yet this year so I'm looking forward to it."

"Are you just going to pick two?" he asked.

"You're funny," she said. "You've got a sense of humor somewhere in your body. Even if it's your little toe."

"Maybe in more than my toe, but it's reserved for those that deserve it."

"It was the kiss, huh?" she asked. "Give me another and see if that lets you break out another joke."

She was really a ray of sunshine if he'd ever seen one before.

He moved closer and into her arms since she held them open but didn't come to him.

He didn't care as long as he got his mouth on her again.

When their kiss started to heat up even more, she put her hands on his chest and then pushed him back a bit. "Well, now," she said. "That just made my day."

"Guess you're easier than I thought," he said.

"Not quite," she said, "but I'll let that pass."

It wasn't what he meant and was going to explain, but she turned and winked at him.

"Are you ready?"

"I am," she said. "Do you need to drive or can I?"

"You can drive," he said. "If I have to push the seat back all the way, then I do."

"I just figured it'd save me from transferring all the apples. I'm going to make apple pie and muffins and applesauce. That's my plan for tomorrow."

"Do I get anything out of it since I'll be helping you pick the apples?" he asked.

"You get anything you want," she said. "You just need to come get it."

He knew there was a double meaning there, but it was best to let it go for now.

He locked the house, climbed in her small SUV, his knees not quite hitting the dashboard but damn close. She laughed and apologized, but it was fine. He'd been in a lot smaller and more uncomfortable places before.

It was only about ten minutes from where they went. "This isn't Clyde's," he said.

"Nope, we are picking apples here and then going to Clyde's for food and drink."

He got out and followed her to the store to get a bag and then into the orchard they went. "Do you want a ladder?"

"Nope," she said. "You're tall and can reach up for those I can't."

"Or I can put you on my shoulders," he said, lifting an eyebrow at her.

"Really?" she asked.

She was all but bouncing when he suggested that. "I bet you look like one of your students right now."

"Probably," she said. "I haven't been on anyone's shoulders since my father's or brother's as a kid."

He squatted down, she moved over and climbed on his shoulders and he stood up and had his hands on her thighs. The smell of the lotion on her body hit him square in the chest.

She smelled like the plant did, so you'd think he'd be used to it. But it smelled different on her.

"You okay up there?" he asked.

"I'm so jealous of the view you have from up here."

He snorted. "Even I don't have that. You're like eight or nine feet up," he said.

He was six foot three.

"You know what I mean," she said. "Move closer to that branch."

"Give me that bag," he said. "Are you okay if I let go of your legs to hold the bag at least with one hand?"

"Sure," she said. "As long as you catch me if I start to fall."

"I won't drop you," he said. But he felt her thighs squeezing his shoulders and had a moment where he wanted to feel that around another part of his body.

When they were done with their apples, they went to Clyde's and got in line to buy some donuts, then moved over to the tasting room. They got their drinks and found seats at a picnic table.

"What do you think?" she asked. "Do they have apple orchards in Texas?"

"Not that I'm aware of," he said. "This was a first for me."

"Good," she said. "Was it fun?"

"Not as much as what we did at my place, but it's on the scale. Just the bottom of it."

She laughed. "There is that humor," she said.

He wasn't sure that was a joke, but he'd let her think it.

"This isn't half bad tasting," he said.

"Can I try yours?"

"You can have anything of mine you want," he said. "You just have to come and get it."

Her mouth opened. "Good way to throw my words back at me and put us in a stalemate."

"I doubt we'll stay there long," he said.