The Last American Cowboy Page 6
“This is Blake Whelan. He’s the cowboy I wrote the story about for our latest issue,” I said.
“I’d shake your hand but, as you can see, it’s covered in paint,” said my mother, lifting up her arm to reveal her palm, splattered with various colors.
“Don’t worry, ma’am. And it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, nodding to her.
“And, Lily, this is Blake, the man who sent you Montana. Can you say hello?”
My daughter went shy and coy and took a few minutes before she got the courage to say hi to him.
“Hi there, young lady. I’ve heard lots of wonderful things about you from your mother.”
My dad stepped into the kitchen and looked surprised to see a man with me. He stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows.
“Dad, this is Blake Whelan. Blake, my father, Jim.”
“Pleased to meet you, sir.”
“Your first time in Boston?” asked my father.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, we have lots of places for you to see. Where are you staying?”
“With me,” I said quickly.
I saw both my parents look at me. They were probably wondering if there was a relationship brewing. I knew they were eager for me to date someone for longer than a month.
“And I’d love to stay longer and talk to you fine people, but I’m taking both these lovely ladies out for a meal tonight.” That caught me off-guard.
“Hey, you hear that, Lily? We’re going out to eat.”
We did that only a couple of times a year, so this was going to be a real treat for the both of us.
“I want spaghetti,” said Lily.
* * * * *
Poor Blake had been cornered by my daughter in her demand that she eat spaghetti and nothing else for supper. Of course, she’d meant SpaghettiOs and was shocked when a plate of the real stuff with a large meatball was placed in front of her.
We’d gone to the Italian restaurant a few blocks from our house. Lily was usually in bed by now and, as she ate, she gradually dozed off and ended up with more sauce around her cheeks than on the plate, because the spoon kept dragging across her face. I wasn’t sure what Blake made of all this—a little girl, a booster seat, a kiddies menu, and crayons, but he seemed to be taking to the whole thing like a pro. Blake and I sat with our hands carefully hidden under the table, resting on each other’s legs as we chatted.
“I want to go home,” said Lily, jarring me out of the conversation Blake and I were enjoying over our coffees.
“Okay, there, little lady. Let me pay the bill, and we’ll get you back to your house,” said Blake.
I smiled as he carried her two blocks back home in his arms. Her head rested contently on his shoulder as her eyelids fluttered, and then she fell asleep with her arms wrapped around his neck.
Blake sat on the couch and waited as I supervised Lily while she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and then put on her PJs. She got into bed and was so tired she fell asleep before I could even open the book for her bedtime story. I kissed her forehead, turned off the light, and headed back out to Blake, who was sitting on the couch watching the news.
“She’s not used to being out this late for a meal. She’s gone out like a light,” I said, sitting next to him.
He put his arm around me, and I snuggled close. “She’s beautiful. Her father’s a fool for doing what he did to both of you.”
We began to kiss, and Blake slid his hand under my blouse until it rested on my breast. My nipple hardened like a pebble, and my pussy creamed at the thought of making love tonight, but that’s what scared me. If I didn’t stop him right this minute, I wouldn’t be able to, and I’d be breaking my rule about having sex while Lily was close by.
“Blake,” I said, pulling his hand out from under my blouse. I kissed him, hoping he’d understand.
“I know. It’s Lily. Maybe I should check into a hotel.”
“No, I’ve got no problem with you being here….”
“It’s not that, but it’s going to be tough keeping my hands off you.”
I put my head down on his shoulder, and he ran his fingers through my hair. “How about I have my parents look after Lily tomorrow night?”
“You sure you don’t mind…that she won’t mind?”
“No, she gets spoiled rotten at their house. She loves it.” I looked up at him, thinking about us being alone again, him touching me like he had while I was in Montana.
He kissed me and, as he ran his tongue over my lower lip, I heard Lily’s voice close by. We pulled away almost like embarrassed teenagers who’d been caught red-handed.
“I didn’t have my bedtime story,” she said, standing in the doorway.
Chapter Sixteen
“Do you think you could look after Lily tonight…I mean, here at your house?” I asked my mother the following morning after I’d seen Lily onto the school bus. I had, of course, checked with Lily first. She’d jumped at the chance to spend a whole night with Grans and Granspop.
“You going on another assignment?”
“No, I…”
“You and the cowboy want some time alone.”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad to hear that. It will do you good to spend time with a man and hopefully have sex.”
My mother is one of the most liberal-minded women I know, and she doesn’t mince her words when it comes to things like orgasms and women having a great time in bed.
“Or did you and he already do that while you were in Montana?”
If she only knew about the ménage and other stuff. I wasn’t sure if she was that open-minded.
“Yes, guilty,” I said and left it at that.
“So why didn’t you tell me?”
“Mom, there are some things a girl doesn’t talk about, even with her mother.”
“So it was that hot.” I knew I was starting to blush. “Is he any good? I mean, you know, in bed?”
“Mom, please don’t ask me things like that.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. None of my business.”
“Very,” I said.
“In that case, and with it being the weekend, why doesn’t Lily stay two nights? We’ll take her to the museum. There’s a new hands-on exhibit for kids she’ll love.”
* * * * *
“Two whole nights,” said Blake when I got back from dropping Lily off at my parents.
“What do you think we should do?” I hoped he knew I was messing with him now.
“Come here, you.” He pulled me in close, and he was already rock hard. He ran his hands over my ass. “I fired Josh last week.”
Wow, that had come out of the blue.
“Why? What happened?” I asked.
“Nothing but, every time I saw him, I thought of him inside you, him giving you an orgasm, and it was driving me insane with jealousy.”
“Blake, I feel like it’s all my fault. I mean…”
He put his fingers over my mouth. “He understood how I felt, and it’s turned out for the best for him, because he has a great job as a foreman on a ranch near Kalispell now.”
“So I guess that means you won’t be open to any more ménages?”
“You really want one?”
I shook my head, knowing Blake was all I really wanted now. “You are more than enough for me.”
“Glad to hear that, because I just want it to be you and me from here on out.”
“So does that mean you haven’t slept with anyone since me?” I asked. I’d been dying to ask him. Yeah, I’d often thought maybe he’d met someone since our little rendezvous.
He shook his head. “Nope, you wore me out.”
“Well, if that’s the case, maybe I should go get Lily back. I mean, if nothing’s going to happen between us.”
I pretended to turn to leave. He pulled me back into his arms. “Wear me out again. Let’s make love so many times that neither of us will be able to walk.”
“So where shall we start?”
* * * * *
I held the pillows on my bed as Blake’s fingers spread my nether lips, and he blew lightly across my slit.
“I’d forgotten what a great view this is…and taste.”
He was like a man who hadn’t eaten for weeks as his teeth playfully grazed my clit, and his tongue went south down into my slit. He stimulated me for a few minutes until I was relaxed.
“It’s no good, baby. I’ve got to get inside you…. It’s just been too long without being in that tight little vagina of yours.”
I drew a breath as he slid inside me, filling me the way I remembered he had the first time our bodies were introduced. We didn’t have sex this time around. We made love. I realized that night there’s a huge difference. He moved slowly, talked to me, as he thrust hard and deep. My orgasm this time was more intense and, where before I’d just wanted him to fuck me again straightaway, this time I only wanted to be held.
He must have read my mind, because he cradled my body and played with my nipples as we chatted.
“How was that?” he asked.
“More fantastic than ever.”
“My climax was, too,” he said.
* * * * *
Our next round of lovemaking started with Blake sitting on a chair and me straddling him. He offered me his cock, and I sat down, impaling myself on it. We kissed, and then he nibbled at my neck as I began a slow rhythm with my hips, hoping it would drive him crazy.
He pushed his hand down between our bodies and tickled my clit as I picked up intensity and pumped my hips toward his belly.
“That’s it, baby. Just relax, and come for me,” he whispered.
I wrapped my arms around him and slapped into his body, feeling the tingling sensation beginning at my feet and working its way up through my ass cheeks. I stiffened and bucked as my climax took control of me.
“Oh, city girl, you are even more beautiful when you have an orgasm.” He picked me up, carried me across the room, placed my back against the wall, and entered me, making me draw in my breath.
I kissed him. “Be rough as you want,” I said.
Blake pulled my arms up above my head and held my wrists against the wall as he thrust hard and deep, each time groaning. I came on the fifth one, him on the eighth. I felt him explode like never before inside me. He ran his tongue over my breasts as we stood, still joined together.
“That was off the charts,” he said.
“Out of this universe.”
“You still have your little friend…your vibrator?”
“Of course, it’s a single mom’s BFF.”
He laughed. “Maybe I can keep you entertained with it while I recharge my cock.”
These days, I never looked at my BFF quite the same way as I did before I met Blake. Using it by myself wasn’t as much fun anymore. I sat on the bed, with my back against the headboard and legs spread, as Blake took great pleasure in inserting it inside me then bringing it almost all the way out again.
“That give you any thrills, baby?”
“Not as much as you.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I hadn’t realized he’d planned to turn it on, so when he did, the gentle hum shooting through my vagina took me by surprise.
I covered his hand with both of mine as he plunged it deeper inside, and that’s all it took for me to turn to mush on the bed. I shook and fell limp as Blake held me.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just so much more intense when you use it on me.”
He kissed my cheek. “Roll over on your belly for me.” I did as he asked and felt him massaging my ass cheeks. “Such a cute butt.”
He ran his finger down my crack and in between my cheeks before inserting a finger inside me. I bucked against it, thinking it would be great if we could spend every night together but, of course, we couldn’t.
He was inside me, riding me, while I’d been daydreaming.
Chapter Seventeen
Lily wanted to go to the park when Blake and I collected her from my parents’ Sunday night. He was heading back to Montana early the next morning, but for now we sat on a bench in the playground, watching my little girl go down the slide with another child she’d made friends with ten minutes earlier.
“She has lots of energy. Don’t you ever get worn out, working and looking after her?” he asked me.
“I do, but I couldn’t do any of it without my parents.”
“Yeah, my dad’s always been a big help to me, too. My stepmom as well.”
“How long has he been married to her?”
“Twenty years. He was convinced he’d stay a widower the rest of his life, and then Jenine came along.”
“They didn’t have any kids together?”
“Jenine couldn’t have any…something wrong with her fallopian tubes or something.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, I guess it would have been nice to have half-brothers and sisters.”
“Mommy—and Blake, too—watch me, okay?” shouted Lily.
“We will, but this slide down has to be the last, because you need to take a bath then go to bed to be ready for school tomorrow.”
“Two more,” she shouted back.
I held up one finger to her.
“I bet it’s hard to say no to her,” said Blake.
“It is, but you have to,” I told him.
Lily attempted to go back on the slide despite me saying no, so I marched over to her and got hold of her hand. She threw a tantrum and cried. I dragged her toward Blake, who’d been holding Montana while she’d played.
“Do you want Blake to go home thinking you’re a spoiled little girl and never wanting to come back to see us again?” I asked her.
She continued to cry and began stomping her foot on the ground.
“I think someone’s up way past their bedtime and getting irritable,” I said.
She wiped her eyes and made a whimpering sound now. I sensed she was playing it up, hoping Blake would side with her. I prayed he wouldn’t.
“How about I show you how we carry little girls home in Montana?” asked Blake.
She stopped crying and nodded. Blake to the rescue. He handed me the doll then lifted her onto his shoulders. She grabbed a tuft of his hair and held onto it as we walked home.
Blake even got roped into reading her a bedtime story and, when she was fast asleep, we sat on the couch and drank wine.
“How about you and Lily come to visit me soon?”
“That would be fun.”
“She can ride a horse and get to see all the animals.”
“She’d love it. Maybe we should do it while she’s on summer vacation.”
“Okay, let’s plan on that.”
* * * * *
Just when you think things are going smoothly, life always throws something at you. Two weeks after Blake’s visit with us, I was sitting at my desk and checking what assignments were due. I looked at the oversized calendar in front of me and realized my period had been due five days ago. I slid back in my chair. I’d been so busy with work that I hadn’t paid any attention to the little fact that I’d had none of my usual I’m about to get my period symptoms. No bloating, no sore boobs, no craving for chocolate. I crossed my fingers, saying a silent prayer that I wasn’t pregnant. Blake and I had used a condom every time we’d had sex while he was visiting. No, it had to be a false alarm, because I didn’t even feel the same way I did when I was pregnant with Lily. I ran my hand over my head. Having another baby was the last thing I wanted. Sure, I might want that to happen one day, but I didn’t relish being a single mom to two children, especially right now.
* * * * *
I peed on the home-pregnancy-kit stick I’d picked up at the grocery store on my way home. Here I was, sitting on the countertop in the bathroom and waiting for the result. I had another couple of mi
nutes and couldn’t bear to look at it.
“Mommy.”
It was Lily. She was trying to open the bathroom door I’d locked just in case she strolled in and asked what the stick was for.
“What is it, honey?”
“I need to tinkle.”
“Can you wait a few more minutes?”
“No, I got to go bad.”
“Okay, honey, just hang on.”
I picked up the stick, slid it into my pants pocket, and headed into the hallway, where poor Lily was holding her crotch and jigging up and down.
“All yours.”
She rushed inside, and I went to my bedroom and sat on the bed. Two minutes had definitely passed now. I pulled the stick out of my pocket, still afraid to look down, but I had to know.
I placed it on the bed and glanced down, feeling suddenly lightheaded when I saw the test was positive. I put my hand to my mouth and felt bile rising up, remembering what Blake had said in the shed during the rainstorm the first day we’d met. I’d hate to get you pregnant…. Well, sorry to say you have, cowboy.
“Mommy.”
Lily’s voice startled me, and I shoved the stick under my thigh.
“I did a poopy, too.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her complete honesty. “I guess we should think about getting something to eat.”
“Chicken fingers.”
“Okay, chicken fingers it is. And come here, honey.”
She walked into my room, and I sat her on my lap, hugged her, and kissed the top of her head. How was I going to deal with having a baby I hadn’t planned for?
Chapter Eighteen
“You’re what?” asked my mother when I broke the news to her several days later.
“Yes, you heard correctly. I’m having a baby.”
“Fiona, haven’t you heard of birth control?”