Chapter 56

CHAPTER 56

SLATE

W ith Jess's lips wrapped around my cock and my wrists tied to her bedposts with some of my own ties, things sure had gotten interesting. I'd thought she was going to sneak away to do her chores when she'd told me to give her a minute, but instead, she'd left me naked and wanting on her bed, gone to my room, and had come back with the ties between her fingers.

It had been a while since I'd been tied up, but I didn't mind. She could do to me whatever the hell she wanted. As long as she knew I was returning the favor as soon as she was done.

Writhing as her tongue twirled around the underside of my tip, I cursed and tugged against the restraints. I wanted to touch her so damn bad and yet, apparently, it was supposed to be part of the fun that I couldn't.

Her eyes opened as her head bopped up and down, her gaze catching mine and holding it as she wrapped her fingers around my shaft. My hips bucked.

I felt like I was on fire, my muscles tense and pleasure bubbling right underneath the surface. As Jess's gaze bored into mine, I moaned loudly, trying the restraints again but unable to wriggle free without pulling my attention away from what she was doing—and I really didn't want to do that.

Squeezing her thumb and index finger tighter, she swirled her tongue under my tip again and some kind of growl tore out of my chest. I'd been trying to take it easy on her, but she certainly was not doing the same.

The tight leash I kept on my self-control was fraying, and when I felt her tongue swirl around me again, I lost it, thrusting into her mouth with my entire being set on chasing that release instead of waiting for it to happen.

Jess moaned around my shaft, the hum sending another burst of pleasure through me. Giving up on trying to free myself so that I could flip her over and bury myself deep inside her, I let go, giving her the prize she wanted.

As soon as I made the decision, the climax sped through me. My balls drew up. My spine ignited and hot jets shot out of me, but Jess didn't move until I was spent, breathing raggedly as I slumped against the ties.

Finally letting go of me, she kissed a path up my abdomen and across my chest but paused when she reached my mouth. I frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I, uh, I wasn't sure…"

I groaned. "Just kiss me already."

She did, slamming her lips to mine in a kiss so needy it made me wish for the umpteenth time that I could touch her. I murmured into her mouth between kisses, hissing when I felt her heat even through her clothes when she straddled me.

"Untie the knots."

"Not yet," she breathed, her lips back on mine and her tongue wrestling for control.

"Jess," I warned on another low groan. "Untie. The fucking. Knots."

She sighed into my mouth but lifted herself up on her knees, deftly tugging at the ties until my left wrist fell free. As soon as it was, I reached for her, holding her hip while she worked on my right hand.

When that was free, I picked her up and flipped her over, pushing her high enough up on the mattress that I would've been able to tie her up too, but I didn't have that kind of patience right now. Her usually bright eyes were dark with need, her pupils almost enveloping her irises.

Practically tearing off her clothes, I got her naked—without a deck of cards involved—and tossed the garments away. For once, we didn't have to worry about where they landed, rushing to get dressed after, or about being heard.

It was a welcome change.

Pressing my lips against her warm skin, I pushed her thighs apart and settled between them, intent on making her come at least once before I tied her up. I kissed a path to my target and wasted no time sealing my mouth over her clit when I reached it.

She let out a keening cry and her hips came clean off the bed. My free hand shot up to anchor her to the mattress, the other pressing at her entrance. She bore down on my fingers and I pushed them into her, more than happy to oblige.

Quickly setting a pace, my tongue and fingers found a rhythm that made her curl her hands into the bed sheets and I kept at it, groaning when she started tightening around me. I licked her through her orgasm, happily cleaning her up before crawling up the length of her body and sealing my mouth over hers without any hesitation whatsoever.

We slowed down after that, making out until we were both ready to go again. Painfully aware that we were eating up the time she was supposed to be resting, I pressed a kiss to her forehead when we were done.

"I'll be right back. I'm just going to get rid of the condom, but you should try to sleep."

She nodded lazily, her lids already sliding shut. "I can't sleep too long, though. Will you wake me up? I still have to do my chores before I head back to the hospital."

"I'll do your chores," I offered, forcing my tired ass to climb off the bed. After disposing of the condom, I hunted down my clothes, but when I looked at her again, she wasn't asleep. Instead, she was propped up on her elbows, her brow puckered as she shook her head.

"No. Thank you, but I can't let you do that."

"Why not?" I asked as I slid my shirt back on. "I've been here long enough to know what needs to be done. I won't screw up."

She pursed her lips at me. "This isn't about me being worried that you will. It's about me knowing that you must be exhausted too. How about you come take a nap with me and we'll do them together after?"

I shook my head, pulling on my underwear before I walked back to the bed. Sitting down on the edge, I leaned over and took her hand, brushing a soft kiss to the back of it. "I don't have to go back to the hospital in a few hours, Jess. I'll be fine. I promise."

"You were up with me all night," she protested. "I can't expect you to do my work for me on top of everything else."

"You're not expecting me to do it. I'm offering." I leaned in closer and pressed a kiss to her lips before dropping one on each of her eyelids in turn. "It's also not my mother whose life we were worried about last night. That takes a toll."

"You were worried too, though."

"Sure, I was, but it's different when it's your mom. Let me do this." I cupped her cheek in my hand, feeling a pang in my gut as I took in her watery eyes and the swollen lids. "I'll rest later when you go to the hospital. I promise, but you've had a hell of a night and you really need to get some rest. I'll wake you up in time to have a shower before you leave, okay?"

Eventually, she relented, giving me a sleepy smile before she turned around and cuddled her head into her pillow. I walked over to the windows, drawing her curtains before I climbed into my jeans. After I put on my socks, I was sliding my feet into my boots when I looked over at her again, and she was fast asleep.

I smiled, watching the even rise and fall of her chest for a moment. I was happy that she'd taken me up on my offer. It felt like the least I could do to take some of the stress off of her, but my eyes were burning and I was dying to climb into that bed to hold her.

Quickly putting on my shoes before I gave in to the urge, I headed out quietly, realizing when I did that I didn't know where she usually started. I knew sort of what to do though, so I went with my gut, checking on the cows first since I knew they were her favorite.

After almost two months on the farm, I touched the shovel for the first time after feeding the animals and hooking them up to the ancient machine to be milked. Strangely, I found the monotony of the work soothing and I fell into it easily.

It took me hours, but by the time I was done in the barn, I was satisfied with what I'd achieved. I doubted the Merricks would be since I was sure they'd have been able to do it better, but I'd helped and it felt good.

Heading over to the chicken coop next, I realized why Jess didn't like these guys as much. They clucked at me irritably, squawking at each other over the food and pecking at my shoes when I didn't sprinkle it fast enough for their liking.

After opening their house to let them out and refreshing their water, I lifted one of the baskets I'd seen Jess use off the hook and collected the eggs, surprised by the haul the hens had delivered. Pretty impressed with myself, I went back to the house to drop the eggs, then headed back to the cows, alternating them on the machine like I'd watched her do a few times.

Once Pepper was done, I hung out with her for a while, looking out at the open pastures and finding myself smiling absently. I could get used to this.

I knew I hadn't done half of what Jess usually did and that it had taken me the lion's share of the afternoon to do it, but it wasn't as tedious as Austin had made it sound. In fact, I kind of understood why Jess liked it.

Inevitably, as I sat there contemplating life on the farm, my thoughts turned to my own future. I liked it here. A lot.

I liked the lifestyle and apparently I liked the work too. I especially liked the Merricks, and Firefly Grove had enchanted me as a town, but I also reminded myself that none of it was mine. Not the farm, or the work, or the lifestyle, or the family. Least of all the girl.

Sighing as I dragged my hands through my hair, I watched as the sun started dipping low in the sky, painting it in vibrant colors that just couldn't be rivaled by a sunset anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, that also meant my short stint as a farmer was officially done.

It was time to wake up the real farmer. My heart felt strangely heavy as I headed back to the house. I'd needed to have that realization that the feeling of belonging here didn't make it true, but it hurt to realize that it would soon be over for good.

I wouldn't have an excuse to stay here for much longer, and once the job was done, I would have to head back to the city. What the hell for, I didn't know. I'd come here thinking that my time on the farm might help me figure it out, but if anything, it'd only complicated things more.

The reality was that no matter how I felt about this life, it really wasn't mine. I could buy a farm out here and give it a try, but that seemed like a stretch. Yet, as I kicked off my muddy boots and trudged upstairs to wake Jess, I wondered if I could make it work.

Then I remembered that I hadn't slept in over thirty-six hours and I shoved the thought out of my mind. It was insane. I wasn't a farmer, and once I got some rest, I would also regain my perspective. Buying a farm in the area would only serve to make me look like some creepy stalker who couldn't let go of a family he'd done a bit of work for.

That wasn't my vibe, so no. When my work here was done, so was I—and once I got some sleep, it wouldn't hurt so damn much to even just imagine leaving.