AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Thirteen
––––––––
Dinner is pure torture. It’s all I can do not to look at Thad every ten seconds. Because each time I do I find myself picturing his mouth on mine, his hands roaming my body, him on top of me driving deep. All of which are not things you want to be thinking about when you’re sitting around a dinner table with your entire family in attendance.
He knows what I’m thinking too. I can tell by the way his eyes darken every time they meet mine. By the way his foot hasaccidentlybumped mine under the dinner table several times over the course of the last thirty minutes. By the way a slow smile spreads across his lips every time he catches me staring.
He’s got me so full of anticipation and nerves that I feel like I might come apart at the seams and if I had to guess I’d say he’s enjoying every minute of the torture he’s inflicting on me.
Unfortunately tonight is one of those nights where everyone is unusually chatty and dinner goes on a lot longer than it normally would. Or maybe they aren’t and it’s only my eagerness to get away that has me staring at the clock over the back door, watching the seconds tick by agonizingly slow.
Thad said to meet him in the barn after everyone leaves, yet it doesn’t seem like any of them are going anywhere anytime soon which only adds to the anxiousness currently eating away at my stomach.
I consider kicking Thad under the table when he gives me another knowing smirk before shoveling a bite of lasagna into his mouth. He chews slowly, then swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he does.
I throw him a dirty look and have to bite back a laugh when he winks. Shaking my head, I quickly look away, my stomach twisting when I find Chris watching me curiously. His gaze moves to Thad and then back to me, a question he chooses not to ask clear on his face.
I force a smile, not sure what else to do before I force a bite of pasta into my mouth.
The rest of dinner I engage in as much conversation as I can but don’t miss the way my older brother continues to watch me. Something tells me he must have seen something that he didn’t like or at the very least that made him curious–which leaves me feeling half sick by the end of dessert.
It’s just after seven when my brothers finally start to clear out. Brad and Miranda are the first to leave, heading back to their house with the baby. Followed by Ben who heads out to meet Beth for a movie in town. Finally Chris heads back to his apartment over the garage, but not before hanging around an extra few minutes until after Thad is gone.
I pretend to ignore that I noticed that little fact.
I hang around and help my mom with the dishes before excusing myself for the night just before eight, claiming I’m exhausted–which isn’t completely untrue. Obviously I have no plans to go to sleep, but rather freshen up before I sneak out to the barn.
It doesn’t take long for the nerves to really kick in once I’m alone in my room. I spend the better part of thirty minutes trying to talk myself out of going. Even though this was my idea, I’m starting to think it was a bad one.
Who am I to suggest a no strings sex pack with a man who already controls eighty percent of my thoughts daily? What made me think I could do this? Can I even sleep with someone without becoming attached? It’s not like I’ve ever tried it out to know. Sure, I’ve had a couple hook ups over the years, but none with a man that made me feel even a fraction of what Thad does.
But even with all that—the nerves, the fear, the doubt—I still find myself slipping out of the back door just after nine and crossing the dark grounds toward the barn, my heart pounding in my chest with each step.
When I reach the barn, the door is already partially open allowing me to slip inside with ease. I look around the dimly lit space, not spotting Thad right away. Stopping at Cocoa’s stall, I reach through the gate and run my hand along her mane.
“You came.” The instant his voice washes over me every surface of my skin prickles.
I pause with my hand resting against the side of Cocoa’s face, almost scared to turn around and face him.
“I said I would,” I remind him, my gaze still on my horse.
“Tell me again what you want from me, Laken,” His voice is closer this time; the ground crunches below his feet with every step he takes.
“You know what I want.” My voice shakes slightly at the end and I take a deep breath to calm myself.
“I need you to tell me again.” He stops directly behind me, so close I can feel the heat radiating from his body.
“I want you,” I tell him, still not able to turn.
“No strings?” he asks, his breath hot on the back of my neck.
“No strings,” I confirm.
“When it’s over it’s over and we move on,” he says, trailing the back of his hand down my arm.
“When it’s over it’s over,” I repeat what he says.
“Turn around and look at me, Laken.”
