"A new foal? Can I come take pictures? I would absolutely love that." She claps her hands. "I had some plans this afternoon with Glory, but she won't mind if I cancel if she hears that there are cute baby horses involved."
"She can come along too if she wants." I don't particularly want Glory to come, but if that would make Amethyst feel more comfortable, I'm fine with it.
Amethyst shakes her head, her wavy blond hair tickling my shoulder. "No, she's probably already chasing some other story for her blog or the paper. I’ll text her. Besides, I think I'd be safe with you."
I finish my coffee. "Always, beautiful. You're always safe with me."
7
Amethyst
“This place is beautiful.” I look out from Big’s giant front porch. The whole thing wraps around most of the house. While the house is breathtaking itself, the view is even better. All you can see for miles is rolling hills and green land. Out in the distance there is even a pretty big size pond with horses grazing around it. I lift my camera and take a picture. I’ve captured so many good shots already.
“It is.” I turn my head to look over my shoulder at Big. He’s staring at me. My heart rate picks up as he takes a step closer, pressing himself into my back. I turn around to look out over the land and to hide my warming face at his compliment.
I’m not sure what I thought I was going to get when I met Big. Whatever it was would have never lived up to how sweet he’s being with me right now. He’s a gentle giant when it comes to me. But I know there’s another side to him. I got a taste of it last night in the bar when things got out of hand.
“Can you swim in it?” I nod out toward the pond. His hands come down on the rail of the porch, caging me in. The man towers over me easily and might weigh three times what I do. He’s freaking solid. I’m out here alone with him. No one except Glory knows where I am.
I should be worried, but I’m not. All I feel is turned on by the thought of those massive hands grabbing me easily by the hips and picking me up. Would he pin me to the side of the house and have his way with me? I find myself leaning into him a little. My face isn’t the only thing that’s heated now; my entire body feels warm.
“I suppose. Water is probably too cold right now.”
I turn around to face him. He hasn't made any move to kiss me, but he did show up today to check on me. He has to be interested, right? I don’t know anything about dating, but him wanting to bring me out to his place has to mean something.
“How about I show you around?” he offers.
“I’d like that. Have you ever been on a horse?”
“Yeah, though I’m still new at it. My friend Gaby taught me how to ride.”
“Martinez?”
“Yes. You know her?” Gaby has never mentioned Big. I think that’s a name I would remember. How do they know each other? I feel a pang of jealousy, which I know is ridiculous. It’s a stupid question, and I shouldn’t have even asked it. Gaby has lived around here her whole life. Glory already knew who he was. Of course Gaby would, too. Why am I getting so possessive about other people knowing him? It makes sense for others to notice him, especially in this small town.
“Gaby’s been a big help. She had to come out to work on the horses a few times.”
“Right.” That makes sense. She works at Creature Comforts. It’s the local veterinarian. They mainly handle large animals.
He cocks his head to the side a little. “Is she a friend of yours?”
“Yeah, I met her at work one night. She brought her sisters down to the pier. We’ve been friends ever since.”
I’d taken some photos of them all on the Ferris wheel. The pictures were adorably sweet. She had passed on buying them. I had a feeling it was because of the cost. I saved them and emailed them to myself, not wanting the moment I’d captured to be lost. When I got home and showed Glory who the girl was, she gave me her number, and I texted them to her.
“She’s a good kid.”
“Kid?” I lift my brows. “She’s a few years older than me, big guy.” I put my hands on his chest.
“When I was twenty you were being born.” He lets out a long sigh.
I can tell he’s struggling with my age, so I decide to address it and get it out of the way.
“Is that going to be a problem for you?”
He stares at me for a long second.
“Not that this is anything.” I wave my hand between us. My nerves are starting to get the best of me. “I just meant—”
His mouth comes down onto mine, cutting me off. I gasp in surprise, and he slips his tongue right into my mouth. I open for him, enjoying every second of it.
His hands grip my hips as he lifts me off my feet. I wrap my legs around him as he sets me down on the rail. I can feel how hard he is for me, and that throb between my legs comes back full force. I grip his shirt tightly and pull him closer to me as I start to kiss him back. The kiss starts out slow. He takes his time at first, but I can’t help myself. I need more. I want to touch him everywhere. I want him to touch me everywhere too. My body is screaming for it.
He jerks his head back suddenly, his breathing heavier than mine. He presses his forehead to mine while trying to catch his breath. He closes his eyes as though he needs to in order to get himself under control. I lick my lips, still tasting him there.
“It should be a problem,” he finally says, opening his eyes and lifting his head. My stomach drops. “Other people are going to have a problem with it.”
He has no idea. My dad would lose his mind.
“But I don’t really care what people fucking say. Never have, never will.”
A smile spreads across my face. “I probably shouldn't mention this now, but that was my first real kiss.”
Now it’s him who lifts his dark brows in surprise.
I shrug. “Unless you count the one Brandon tried to steal from me when I was twelve.”
“Brandon what? I need a last name.” His brows drop into a scowl. His hands on my hips tighten a fraction. “I always hated the name Brandon. I bet he was a little prick.”
“He’s a friend of the family. I turned my head. He only got the corner of my mouth.” It was New Year’s Eve, and my parents had a giant party. Brandon's parents were invited. We were the only kids there.
“Last name,” he asks again, making me laugh. I do a lot of that with Big. I have to admit that I’m enjoying seeing him jealous. Even if it’s over a twelve-year-old boy from my past.
I’m falling hard for this man. I might not be scared of Big because of his size, but I am scared of what he could do to my heart.
8
Big
I want to keep kissing her on the porch, to keep tasting her sweet mouth and having her moan and wriggle against me. She’s so beautiful, so young. But she’s made it clear the age gap doesn’t bother her.
Even so, I need to take this slow. She said I’m her first real kiss. That means … My mind hazes over with pure lust. That means I’ll be her first everything. A fire rages inside me, demanding I take her to my room and show her what I can do. To give her every inch of me until she’s panting and begging to come.