Page 36 of Another Round
A blond bloke jogging past startles from my angry comment. Giving us the once over for as long as he can as he passes by before he has to look back to his route. But I don’t give a damn if he thinks I’m an arsehole or making a scene because the only person’s opinion I care about is fighting to get away from me. In every sense of the word.
“I’ve been set up on blind dates by mates who meant well. I’ve even asked out a few women myself. I’ve had one-night stands. That never turned into anything more than one night because none of them—not a single one of them—was ever who I wanted. I want you. Not because it’s convenient or because I’m lonely or because you happen to be here. But because it’s you.”
Optimism seems to lift her chin as she studies my face. Her eyes searching mine for any duplicity. I keep going, to squelch any doubt, unable to keep the furor out of my rising voice. “If I just wanted an easy fuck, would I cook you your nasty black bean veggie burgers that I fucking hate? Or let you put your cold feet on my legs every damn night? Or take Gus out four times a day and clean up his huge piles of shit if this was just easy and available sex? If that was true, I’d let you feed yourself, I’d stuff his arse in a crate while you were at work, and I’d leave you alone in your own apartment every night after I was done using you so I could have my king size bed all to myself again.”
Shock. Absolute, glorious, thrilled astonishment that burns away all the fucking hesitation she was inventing in her head. Dainty fingers splay on my chest the way I fucking love and she leans into me. Closing the physical and mental space between us.
“You’re right. You’ve always been so wonderful and generous. You’ve always made me feel wanted and loved.”
Damn if she’s not rousing up my cock again with the love illuminating her expression. “Because you are.”
“I’m sorry. I just didn’t think about all of that I guess.” Her small body jolts, and she furiously shakes her head and the smile instantly disappears, replaced with alarm in her huge eyes. “Oh my god! I’m such a bitch! I didn’t realize all the things you do for me and Gus.”
Her hands fly to cover her mouth in shame. “Shit! I’m so sorry. I really am a spoiled brat princess.”
I can’t help but chuckle from her realization that’s not completely true. “That’s okay. I still like you.”
“It’s not funny! I’m serious. I mean it. You do so much, and I do so little.”
“It really is okay.” I stop her from trying to step back and out of my clutches. Refusing to let her get away from me. “I like taking care of you. And it’s not like you’re just laying around and doing nothing. You go to work every day.”
A frown of insecurity still lines her face. “It doesn’t seem like it’s enough.”
“It is because you take care of me too. You make me happy.”
Okay now I sound like a total pansy arse tosser, but she seems to love it. Love me. Throwing her arms around my waist with a huge hug. Her sweaty body slathered against mine. Which excites my dick as well as Gus, who is totally over our discussion. He just wants to run and pushes her deeper into my embrace when he jumps up on her. “I guess we better get moving again.”
“Okay. But I hope you know I really am grateful for everything you do.”
More proof of how easy and effortless this relationship is. Her kind heart worrying about something that she never needed to be worried about in the first place. “I do trouble. I’ve always known.”
Much to my cock’s dismay and Gus’s joy, I let her go and we start following the path again. In our run and our relationship. Nothing and no one’s going to come between us again.
Last time we rode out to the fields, I held her close. Keeping her secure against me and the railing despite the bouncing ride. Now she holds onto Gus, making sure he doesn’t slide off the narrow seat with his nails skating across the smooth wood. He glances over at me, breathing his hot Alpo breath in my face and rubbing it in that he’s stolen my girl. But he gives me a sloppy lick on my cheek to soften the blow. Damn dog.
I forgive him a little when one of her hands, currently wrapped around his torso, lifts and caresses my chest, tangling in my shirt to hold me too. Laughing as they ricochet from another bump and Gus huddles deeper into her side. Terrified with uncertainty despite her assurances that he’s such a good, brave boy and we’re almost there. How can an animal as big as he is be such a scaredy cat?
All of us are happy when the wagon finally stops, and I grab the baskets. One empty and ready to be filled with the peaches for my pie. The other loaded with fresh fruit, cheese, and wine for our picnic. Including an extra block of cheddar for Gus. I roll my eyes, but don’t complain about his treat since she spoils me almost as much as him. Besides, I got way more attention than him this morning in bed and then again in the shower, so I guess it’s his turn now. Which is good because my dick’s already twitching from the reminder of her luscious, talented mouth so generous and eager to please me.
A quick sweep of the rows of trees and the meadow to the north confirms no reasons for alarm. Thick layers of gray clouds dim the sun as well as the turnout for a crowd, that I assume is usually much bigger, on a holiday weekend. The threat of rain keeping most families away since herding small kids and huge buggies in a downpour wouldn’t be a fun way to celebrate. Since we travel relatively light, I let her talk me into still coming. The bliss emitting from her expression makes me glad I did.
Her dainty hand slides into mine as I help her down, and she keeps ahold of me along with the leash in her other. Keeping the cord locked down with only a few feet of leeway to control Gus’s enthusiasm to smell every scent and make every friend and run every pasture. We’re the only couple that walks to the field while the three older women who rode out with us head straight to the tall trees that line the end of the orchard.
I flip the lid of the wicker container and slide out the blanket, fluffing it across the long grass leaning almost flat from the gusty breeze. Spreading out the fleece is another reminder of how much things have changed between us since the last time we laid on a cover that wasn’t draped across my bed. How much better things are, how much better we are. Also more proof of how damn soft I’m getting because of her when I smile instead of swear at Gus running wild and twisting up the throw I just smoothed out.
“Calm down buddy. You’re messing up Daddy’s blanket.”
I take the endearing label in stride too. Not letting the description fuck me up as much as it used to. Being a parent to a furbaby, as she calls him, is pretty amazing. Especially since I get to do it with her. “Look Gus. Look what’s inside.”
Gangly and delirious, he falls for my ploy and runs right to where I point. Shoving his snout into the tan and brown box and rooting around the packages stacked neatly inside. At least they were neat. Taking the opportunity while he’s distracted, I untangle the fabric and motion for Evie to sit down. I drop beside her and yank the bin toward us with Gus following like the pied piper with his most beloved snack inside.
We tag team the preparation with her feeding him tiny bites of cheddar to keep him preoccupied as long as possible while I uncork the bottle and unwrap bowls of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries along with thinly sliced smoked gouda, edam, and Jarlsberg.
“Have you ever been on a picnic before?”
I shake my head as I pour her a glass of chardonnay. “Nope, this is my very first one. What about you?”
“My boyfriend in high school and I had one when he took me to seeRomeo and JulietatPerformances in the Park. We were reading the book in our lit class.” She smirks and rolls her eyes. “Well I was reading it. Talon was hoping to skip reading it by watching the play and—”
