Chapter 8 - Ash

Time is a funny thing, and before we knew it, a year had passed since that first Holiday we spent together.It's strange the way time works. Some moments, like a first kiss, or a milestone birthday, seem so significant that they are seared into memory forever.

Others, like cooking dinner with someone before falling asleep in their arms on a random Wednesday night, are all to quickly lost in the mind's internal shuffle as it struggles to hold onto facts like appointment times, train schedules, and remembering not to burn the rolls.

These simple moments come and go each day almost without notice, but these are the moments that matter. A year filled with Jesse. A year filled with small moments that matter.

While I gave our Holiday plans little thought, Jesse, it turned out, had other ideas. The thoughtof meeting his large, happy family was terrifying, but I knew it had been hard on him the previous year when he'd been unable to go home to see them. When he asked if I'd spend the Holiday with his family, I was helpless to say anything other than yes.

I packed carefully and conservatively, unsure of what to expect. Jess had told me his family knew that I was coming and what I did for a living. He assured me that no one cared, but he was blind when it came to me, and it was entirely possibly they were less accepting than he realized.

I'd carefully dug up a small strawberry plant and packed it in an organic transport unit that I tucked into my suitcase. Hopefully, the gift would help ease any concerns a family of farmers might have about someone like me dating one of their loved ones. As I made sure it was safely ensconced in my bag, Jesse walked into the bedroom, unceremoniously shoved a couple more shirts into his already overstuffed case and slung it over his shoulder.

"Ready?" he asked as he made his way to my side.

His arms slid around my waist as he nuzzled into the bend of my neck. The way he held me always made me melt and when we were together, it was a feat of pure will that I ever accomplished anything.

"Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose." I said in a deflated tone that was only half sarcastic.

He chuckled. "They're going to love you. Calm your pants."

I wiggled an eyebrow. "Since when do you want what's in my pants to be calm?"

He stepped closer, his scent and warmth overwhelming my senses. His hand tightened on my low back as the other slid down to cup me gently."Valid point. I hardly ever want that. But, unless you want to miss our train, rain check on the not-calm pants?"

I brushed my lips across his. It was something I seemed to do a hundred times a day.

The train ride was long, close to sixhours. The only place I ever went was to the office and as I wasn't used to that type of travel,I spent a large part of the day napping on Jesse's shoulder whilehe studied.

When we arrived in the parking lot of the station, a beautiful woman in an old-fashioned pickup truck honked at us and waved through the open driver's window. When we finally arrived at the truck, having barely managed to dodge a handful of sketchy drivers and harried travelers weighed down with too much luggage, she flung herself into Jesse's arms. As they embraced, he picked her up and swung her around for a long while before lowering her back to the ground and reaching a hand in my direction with a smile.

"Sarah, this is my boyfriend, Ash. Ash, my sister Sarah." He made formal introductions.

I held out my hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Sarah."

She just laughed, bypassed my hand, and hugged me briefly. I hadn't expected that. "Good to meet you too, Ash. Jess speaks of little else these days."

I dropped my eyes, slightly embarrassed, and concerned over what he might have said. They both chuckled a bit and started talking about family things as Jess slipped his hand to my back and guided me to the passenger side of the truck. He settled into the center seat, and I followed, settling in against the window. As they talked about random things, I found myself distracted by the beauty of the countryside flying past through the window.

For miles,there was nothing but fields of wheat and corn and vegetables. I rolled the window down and let myfingers play in the wind, chin resting on my bicep as I took it all in. The sights and smells of nothing but earth and vegetation were something I was unfamiliar with. They said little to me as they caught up, but Jesse's fingers never left my back; gently drawing random patterns through the thin cotton of my t- shirt.

His fingers tapped on my back a bit harder, and I rose from my reverie and turned my head. They both wore amused smiles.

"I said, have you ever been to farm country before?" Sarah asked.

Color rushed to my cheeks. Clearly it wasn't the first time she'd asked the question.

"When I was young," I said briefly. "We passed through a place like this once when we were moving to another city."

She smiled and nodded. "What do you think?"

"It's amazing. I could stay forever I think," I repliedwistfully.

They both laughed kindly, and I went back to my study of the scene on the other side of the window. It seemed like only moments had passed when we pulled into a long drive with an end that branched out in multiple directions, each leading to small houses; bright shades of white and blue specking the landscape amidst large fields. Much larger buildings rose up a half mile or so behind them, greenhouses that held hydroponic crops.

When we stepped out of the truck, a large fluffy white dog was on us before our feet hit the ground. Jess dropped to his knees and the thing covered him completely, licking his face as it whined and yipped happily.

I grabbed our bags from the truck bed as he extricated himself from its fuzzy grasp and he took his bag from my shoulder before slipping his fingers through mine. It was a larger home than I was used to seeing in the city. Two stories ofwhite and deep blue, with a wide, wraparound porch.

We stepped into a small foyer where we dropped our bags. To the left was a set of stairs leading up, and to the right, a small drawing room, stylishly appointed in creams and pale blues. We walked straight ahead, into a kitchen that smelled as if someone had been cooking for hours.

The elegant older woman chopping something at the counter turned to greet us. She had the same glowing smile and amber eyes as Jesse. He released my hand and they embraced for a long moment. Something in my chest ached at the scene. God, this family loved him. What must that be like? Another attractive woman around our age followed suit.

Jesse reached for my hand once more and pulled me forward. "Mom, Kate, this is Ash. Ash, my mother Mary, and my sister-in-law Kate."

I could only nod, unsure what to do withmyself in this unfamiliar scene. They both moved in succession to hug me briefly.

"Such a pleasure to meet you, Ash. Jesse says only wonderful things." his mother said with a smile.

He just grinned. "Do you blame me?"

She examined me purposefully. "Not a bit. Why don't you boys take your things upstairs and wash up. Your dad and brother should be about finished checking the hydroponics and dinner is nearly ready."

"Yes ma'am." came Jesse's quick reply before he turned to lead us back the way we'd come.

I simply nodded and followed. We hauled our bags upstairs and down a long hall into a small bedroom. It was deep blue with a few framed photos of starry night skies and an old black and white photo of a baseball field. Jesse's room. I wandered slowly, taking it all in, wondering what the youth that inhabited this room would have been like. What adventures his childhood must have offered. So different from my own.

I jumped when he came up behind me, his firm chest and stomach pressing against my back, and his soft cock settled between my cheeks, knowing it belonged there. I leaned my head back onto his shoulder with a soft whimper of pleasure as his arms encircled me and his lips found their favorite spot in the bend of my neck. Suddenly it didn't matter how unfamiliar my surroundings were. He was my home. I ran my hand along his forearm and pressed back against him.

He chuckled and groaned as he began to harden against my ass. "As tempting as you are. You do NOT want to be late to one of momma's dinners."

"I bet we could be quick."

In the few months we'd been sleeping together, one thing had become very clear. Our need for one another was intense and insatiable. Jesse nipped harder at my neck.

"Later." he promised as his lips curled into a smile against my skin.

With an exaggerated groan I pulled myself from his embrace and dug through my bag to pull out the small box.

He raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Gift." I grinned.

He raised his eyebrow further and when I said nothing he just laughed. "Ok. Ok. Come on you."

His fingers laced through mine as we made our way down the stairs, through the kitchen and out the wide doors to the back porch. It was breathtaking. The large white porch held a long, tastefully appointed table surrounded by cushioned chairs in pale peach, and the view of the endless deep brown and bright green fields was stunning.

There were a handful of people around the table who all stopped chatting as we emerged,and Jesse introduced me to the rest of his family. I was surprised by the ease with which they welcomed me. Their introductions were simple and quick, no one audibly questioned whether I belonged, and their faces all remained soft and open.

Once we settled in at the table, Jesse's siblings made their way into the kitchen to bring out dinner. We were left with only his parents and grandmother for a moment, and it seemed like an opportunetime. I settled the box on the table in front of his mother. They all looked up at me with the same questioning gaze Jesse often offered me.

"A small thank you. For allowing me to join you this weekend." I said nervously.

"Well, that's very kind of you, but certainly not necessary! We're thrilled to have you here with us. Jesse is just madly in love with you, and hell, you're only the second person he's ever brought home to us." his mother replied.

"Still." I smiled.

She opened the box with a sort of grace that seemed a part of her every movement.

"Oh my God. John…" She trailed off as she passed the box to her husband.

"Good lord, son! Where in the world did you get this?!" he asked.

Jesse leaned over to see what could have caused such a reaction and just grinned at me with glowing eyes and a nod of approval.

"I was gifted one many years ago. They do pretty well, and I've got a nice little patch now. Since they aren't grown in this settlement, I thought you might like to have some too. I figure if I can cultivate them, then farmers should be able to do wonders."

They looked touched. "This is very kind of you, son." John said with a gentle kindness in his rough voice.

Son. There it was again. They kept calling me that.

"It's difficult to get our hands on new plants way out here. This will be a most welcome addition." He smiled kindly. While Jesse"s eyes had come from his mother, his smile was identical to his father"s.

The rest of the family had appeared with dinner during the exchange, and all made similar comments as they settled in at the table and passed the small strawberry plant around. I had deliberately chosen one that had a handful of nearly ripe berries on it.

Dinner was a casual event. Everyone included me as if I had always been a part of the family and no one commented on my profession. I found that I had little to say; I was too entranced by their easy conversation and flowing humor. Their love for one another was effortless, and the entire family fit together in a way I'd never before witnessed.

Hours later, as everyone parted to make their way home or to bed for the night and I followed Jesse up the stairs, a deep warm feeling of acceptance I'd never before known began to take hold in my chest. As the door shut behind us, my thoughts turned to only Jesse and how deeply happy I was with him, with this night, in this place.