Chapter 8

"Fuck me. Why didn't you tell Grams to fuck off?" Derek exclaimed when he saw his pretty Athena sweaty from shoveling shit. He knew Grams was behind it because no one ever volunteered to do it. Pig shit stank.

"Bah. It's just poop. No biggie," Athena huffed as she finished the last of the shoveling and began laying fresh hay on the dirt.

"It's usually my job, and she knew I would get to it once I finished helping Gramps hang the buck," he growled.

"Then I guess I saved you some work." She climbed over the fence to stand by him. "You seem to forget I'm not some fragile damsel incapable of work. I was raised on a farm, remember?"

"You're a guest."

"Who might be bringing trouble to your family's doorstep. Least I can do is be useful."

"You're being too nice." His dark expression didn't detract from his handsomeness. Although she did prefer his smiles.

"I don't mind. After being cooped up for a month, it's nice to get some real exercise."

"I can't believe they had you for that long." What he wouldn't do to get his hands on the sick fucks who took her.

"It took me a bit before I figured out a way to escape."

"How did you get out?"

"Pretended I was going to bang a guard. Stole his access codes instead and bolted."

A pretend seduction explained why she was naked when they met. "Glad you found a way."

"So what's next on the chore list?"

"You can sit your ass down while I handle the chimney. It needs some bricks reset, and Grams doesn't want Gramps up on the ladder."

"I'll give you a hand."

"You good with heights?"

"I'm good at all kinds of things," she purred.

Instant erection. He still remembered the taste of her and wanted nothing more than to get back between those thighs. "Wouldn't mind a spotter. We'll grab the stuff from the shed then go at it."

As they walked across the yard, she queried, "Aren't you tired? You never got to sleep after your work shift."

"I got a bit of a nap in the bus and in the blind while Gramps watched. I'm also used to working odd hours. Sometimes, I'll be just getting home when I get a call about a fire. So long as I'm moving, I'll be fine. But the moment I sit my ass in a comfy chair, expect snoring."

"I can fix the bricks if you need a snooze."

"And have Grams give me hell for letting my girlfriend do my task? Oh, hell no."

"Girlfriend?"

The word had slipped out, so he offered a cover. "Calling you my girlfriend might keep Grams from going too hard at you."

"Seems to me she'll be more likely to test my limits to make sure I'm good enough for you."

Astute observation. "As my girlfriend, we can share a bed." A casual statement.

"I thought you wanted to sleep," she chirped.

He stumbled. "Maybe I will sneak another nap later, in that case."

She laughed. "You'd better be ready to go because we have some unfinished business."

Hell yeah, they did, and he couldn't wait.

As they worked on the chimney, then some fencing that needed new wire, Derek found himself watching Athena. How the tip of her tongue peeked when she concentrated. How she casually pulled back her long hair and twisted it into a knot to keep it out of her face. How she had this habit of turning her head left and right and sniffing. She scented almost as much as the dog did.

Her free spirit had him laughing a few times, especially when they took a break and she spotted a rabbit and took off after it, legs pumping as if she fully intended to catch it barehanded.

Later that afternoon, with their chores done, he took her down to the creek. This time of year it wasn't too deep or fast flowing. Spring, though, watch out.

He stripped his shirt at the edge and tossed it onto a flat rock. His hands went to his pants next.

"Skinny-dipping?" she asked, once more doing that short inhalation thing as if she tested the air.

"Nothing like it after a day's work." He stepped out of his jeans.

"I haven't done that since I was a teen," she admitted before joining him in the buff. No qualms about stripping at all. He kind of loved that about her.

No way he could hide his hard-on, and she licked her lips as she eyed him.

He wagged a finger. "Not right now. I'm not into getting grass stains on my knees."

"There's other ways of doing it that don't involve lying down."

Jeezus, she knew exactly what to say.

He waded into the creek, knowing where it dropped so that he could submerge.

She joined him, laughing as she said, "It's cold!"

"Refreshing," he countered.

She joined him, slippery and wet, lacing her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on him. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For everything."

"Bah." He wasn't about to be thanked for doing the right thing. Especially since he seemed to be benefitting the most. Spending time with Athena was bringing him more pleasure than he could have imagined.

Until she dunked him.

He came up sputtering. "Now you're in for it!" he declared.

They splashed in the water, dunking, chasing, with lots of touching that left a lingering tingle. Abruptly, she ceased playing and cocked her head.

"Someone's coming."

Once more, she heard things he couldn't and was on the shore in a flash, her bare ass lightly jiggling as she ran not for the pile of clothes but for the woods. He heard a yell, a male one, and he couldn't move fast enough, dick and balls swinging, to reach Athena.

He found her atop a man, her knee digging into his chest, her face low as she growled, "Who sent you?"

"No one, ma'am," the fellow on the ground, wide-eyed with shock, exclaimed.

"Liar. Don't make me hurt you."

While amused, Derek came to the rescue. "He's not lying, sugarplum. That's my second cousin, Frank."

And his arrival didn't bode well because where Frank went, trouble inevitably followed.