“Once we get there, I’ll carry the girls in if you’ll go ahead of me and get the doors unlocked,” I tell her. “Then I’ll help you get them changed before I head out and take care of the chickens.”
Fuck. I don’t know a damn thing about chickens at all, but I know enough that they need to go inside their coop at night to keep them safe from predators. The rest I’ll muddle my way through, I guess. Their feed is in a steel barrel, and Paul has rigged up a hose so their water containers can be refilled. Plus, I know where they keep the straw in case any of the bedding needs to be refreshed.
ThankGodPaul has extra muck boots because I don’t relish destroying my expensive motorcycle boots on a bunch of clucking chickens.
It doesn’t take us long to get the girls settled, so I leave Marnie puttering in the kitchen while I head into chicken hell. The little feathery fuckers are not happy that they had to wait so long to be taken care of and they’ve been giving me a merry chase as they run around the penned area, clucking their heads off. I’ve been pecked more times than I can count as I slowly but surely entice each of them into the coop. Marnie helps when she brings out a huge bowl of fruit scraps that Esther had set aside earlier in the day. As soon as I put those in the steel bowl that’s in the middle of the coop, I nearly get bowled over as they all flock inside.
The good part about that is I’m able to collect the eggs they’ve laid rather easily, and as soon as I put fresh water in their jugs, I carefully maneuver myself out of the coop and close the door. Satisfied that I’ve done my good deed for the next ten years, I carry the eggs into the house and set them on the kitchen counter.
While Esther keeps a clean kitchen, she obviously left in a hurry after she was called to the hospital for Holly. Marnie has got everything squared away and now the dishwasher is running as she wipes down the counters. “I’ve already set up the coffee pot for the morning unless you want a cup now,” she says.
“No, if I drink any more caffeine today, I’ll be up for the next week,” I admit. “What I really want is to lock up the house and go relax with you.”
“I was thinking about taking a bath,” she says, lightly blushing.
“Why don’t you go ahead and run one and I’ll be in shortly,” I reply.
Making my way into the spare room, I see the bathroom door is slightly ajar. “Marnie?” I call out.
“You can come in if you want,” she replies.
Stepping into the bathroom, I stop dead in my tracks. She has the lights on but there must be a dimmer switch because it’s a soft glow, not the normal harsh lighting I’m used to. There are a few candles lit and on the shelves over the tub but what truly has me nearly dying inside is seeing my woman reclining back in the tub with bubbles surrounding her.
“Marnie?” I manage to strangle out, my voice raspy and filled with desire.
“I know I can’t have sex yet, Ash, but I’d like you to join me if you want,” she says. “But only if you want.”
Yeah, like the hounds of hell could keep me away from her. For fuck’s sake, I don’t think she fully grasps what I want with her. She’s my end game, the one I see sitting next to me as we watch the sun setting. And while I’m not going to lie, especially to myself, that I wish wecouldhave sex, being like this with her is far more intimate. So, it doesn’t take me long to shed my clothes and slide into the soapy water behind her. Hearing her sigh as she leans against my chest settles something inside of me that I’ll examine more closely another time. Or never. Who knows?
Considering she’s sore from everything she went through plus the fact she’s still healing, it amazes me that she’s willing to be so vulnerable right now. It’s a bit humbling because as a woman, I’m sure she’s a bit insecure when it comes to the scars those fuckers left on her body.
“This feels good,” I tell her as we soak in the warm, soothing water. I can feel the stress of the day practically melting away and hope it’s doing the same for her.
“It does,” she admits, wiggling a little bit closer. “I… I was a little bit nervous, to be honest.”
“Why?”
“Because my body looks like a Rand McNally Road map,” she teases. “I’ve got jagged lines and healing stitches that go from side to side. It’s definitely not a pretty sight. I kind of feel like Frankenstein’s bride if you want the honest truth.”
“Those scars show your strength and endurance, Marnie. That knife wound was meant to kill you and while you’re missing some body parts now, you survived. Plain and simple, you’re still here and I thank God for that fact because you mean so much to me.” I hear her sniffle and reach up to turn her head so she’s looking at me. “Why are you crying?”
“Because that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me, Ash,” she acknowledges. Then, her face blushing, she reaches up and asks, “Will you kiss me?”
As I lean down, I feel my dick rising and mentally tell it to behave. Her soft lips brush against mine and I quickly deepen the kiss, demanding entrance to her mouth by swiping my tongue over her bottom lip.
Fuck. Me. The temperature has grown even hotter in here, which is obviously due to the fact that we’re finally kissing. Oh, I’ve kissed her forehead and occasionally given her a quick peck on the lips, but this right here? It’severythingI thought it would be and more.
Long moments pass until we finally separate, both of us lightly panting as we strive to get oxygen back into our lungs. “You ready to get out and go fall asleep watching a movie while you’re in my arms?”
“Well, under other circumstances, I’d rather do something else, but that sounds pretty good to me,” she teases. I nearly lose my composure completely when she winks at me. The little minx!
I didn’t lie to her. Wedidwatch a movie. Several of them in fact. But we also made out like a couple of teenagers and while we didn’t go much further, I know every curve of her delectable body. I just can’t wait until the day comes when I can map it with my lips and tongue, because she came alive with my touch alone.
I’m nearly asleep when I hear her mumble, “Ash? Do you really think Holly and the baby are going to be alright?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I do,” I reply. “She comes from strong stock, and any child of Rebel’s is a stubborn son-of-a-bitch. Today was just a tiny blip on the wonderful life they’re going to have once they come home.”
“I’m going to stay and help Esther with her once she comes home,” Marnie says.
