Page 70 of Cherished Lands
ELLIOT
Anything?
HANK
Not a peep. But if it comes, we'll be ready.
Just focus on the cidery. And Tessa. This can't be easy on her.
That was an understatement.Over the last week, she'd retreated into herself more and more. She was worried about her mom, and as much as I wanted to, I didn't know how to help her.
So we worked.
Construction on the cidery was moving along, despite the setbacks my brother had caused. Framing for the building was complete. I got a swooping, hopeful feeling inside me whenever I'd look over and see the skeleton of our future rising against the winter sky. Equipment was on order—massive steel tanks that would turn our apples into liquid gold. Dad was in his element, perfecting his recipes so we could plan for larger-scaleproduction. He looked like a mad scientist, reading glasses askew on his nose and clipboard in hand as he made minute adjustments to each batch.
I kept waiting for the day things came grinding to a halt, but it hadn't happened yet. All we could do was keep moving forward and hope for the best.
We also fucked.
She didn't want to talk to me about her family, but she'd give me her body. And if that was all she could offer me right now, I'd take it. Take her sighs, her moans, the way she'd dig her nails into my back like she was afraid I'd disappear if she let go.
I wasn't sure of the exact moment it had happened, but I'd stopped hating my wife some time ago. Now my feelings for her were way more complicated. So complicated I wasn't ready to put them into words yet. She was giving up so much with this investment. Sure, she was gaining her independence from her asshat of a father, but she was losing the only family she'd ever had.
But whether she believed it or not, she was part of mine.
Dad was right. No matter what happened, Tessa was family now. I couldn't get rid of her if I wanted to, and I wasn't sure I did want to.
What I wanted was more days like today.
I dropped my phone down onto my bare chest and turned my head on my pillow to get a glimpse of the beautiful woman next to me. Tessa sat, propped up on a couple pillows, typing away on her laptop.
It was a cold, mid-January Saturday. We'd woken up tangled up in each other and made an agreement not to leavebed. For the most part, we'd stuck to our pact. Aside from showering—together—and making food, we'd spent the day under the covers. We'd watched a few episodes ofThe Officeon her computer, worked on plans for the small taproom we'd have in the cidery, and fucked like bunnies. Afterward, we'd napped.
"Can I ask you something?" I said.
"What's up?" she pulled her hand away from the computer to run her fingers through my hair. My eyes shut of their own accord, and I moaned a little when she dragged her fingernails against my scalp.
"Do you think you should talk to your mom?" I asked, eyes still closed. Maybe it would be easier for her to talk about it if I wasn't staring her down.
Her hand stilled on my head, and she took a deep breath before she resumed her scalp massage.
"I don't know. On the one hand, she's a grown woman who can take care of herself. On the other, I know how my dad can be. But I don't want to open us up to more issues with him by reaching out to my mom."
I opened my eyes and held hers. "You do what you need to do. The rest, we'll figure out. I'll support whatever you decide."
She closed her laptop and set it on the floor beside the bed. Planting one hand on the side of my head, she leaned over and kissed me. "Thank you."
Her "thank you" kiss turned deeper, hungrier. She shifted to straddle my waist, and I groaned as I felt the heat of her pussy through the thin fabric of her underwear.
"Let me take care of you," I murmured. After all the bullshitwith her family, she needed this. Needed to feel safe and cherished.
"You always do." Her smile was soft as she rocked against me.
I sat up and brushed her hair back from her face. The trust in her eyes made my chest feel warm and full.
It was the same look she'd given me that night in the lighthouse, when I could've sworn those three little words were on the top of her tongue.
After I made her come twice—once with my fingers and once with my cock—she collapsed against my chest, breathing hard. I stroked down her spine, feeling the little tremors still running through her body.
