This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

CHAPTER 14

Madison

I was trying to smile as politely as possible, as Taryn stood in front of me in all her slutty glory. Unfortunately, her father owned the local feed store, which meant she was always hangin' out there no matter what time of day.

Taryn and I had dated once upon a drunken night. She was the school and town slut and almost everyone was guaranteed a piece of that if you played sports. That wasn't the only reason I had slept with her, I actually liked the girl at one point in time. She used to be all sweet and innocent, and now she was just used and whorish. I have never been one to talk bad about the opposite sex, but even her daddy knew what she was, and she seemed okay with it.

I was in a hurry, whether she wanted to realize that or not was her problem. I had just told her I needed to be on my way, when I felt her near. I wasn't sure if she was actually around, but her presence was all I could feel. I didn't know how to explain it, but there was something I couldn't deny about her and it kept me longing to see her.

If I hadn't been standing there looking directly at her, I would have thought she was a hallucination. She looked amazing in her short white shorts and yellow tank top. To top it all off, she was wearing a pair of brown boots that had my heart beating faster by the second. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and god damn, she looked good enough to eat. When I waved at her, I guess I expected a little bit more of a reaction, but all I got was a small wave in return and then she was gone.

I caught sight of her grandmother as they turned out onto the main road back towards the farms, but I couldn't help but wonder why she didn't come over and say anything. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks when her annoying high-pitched voice broke through my thoughts. Taryn! Of course she wouldn't come over and say anything. Look at how Taryn was dressed and she was all but stripping me down in the middle of town.

Taryn's hand slid up my arm and I quickly pulled it away. "Taryn, I gotta get back. I'll catch ya later." I turned and jumped into the idling truck. As I pulled away from the feed store, I watched Taryn's face fall, but I paid her no mind. I had a date in less than thirty minutes with the girl that just drove away.

When I pulled back up to the stables, my granddaddy was standing in the shade waitin' on me. I could tell by the look on his face, that he wasn't in a very good mood. What was new? I threw the truck in park and jumped down and got to work, haulin' the feed into the barn. If he was in a bad mood, I wanted nothin' to do with making it worse.

"What took ya so long?" He sounded pissed.

"Sorry, Sir. I got caught up at the feed store. It was extra busy today." I didn't stop long enough to see his reaction to my blatant lie, but I had no time to waste. I needed to get my shit done and head out to meet Kayla.

"After your done with the feed, go ahead and take a break. I gotta head into town for a quick appointment, but I'll be back around two. Don't make me wait on ya when I get back, ya hear?"

"Yes Sir. I'll make sure I'm around. Is Gran going with ya?" I wanted to make sure not to get caught in anybody's cross hairs with Kayla.

"I reckon she will come along. I'll see ya then."

With that, he was gone. I finished haulin' the feed into the barn a little before noon and I was pissed. I wasn't going to have a chance to shower. Although, I guess it was a good thing, as to not tip anyone off. I was making my way up the hill, when my cell started ringing in my pocket. I checked the caller ID and quickly answered.

"What's goin' on Glenn?"

"Not a whole lot, dude. Just wanted to let ya know I booked us a gig tonight at the small bar in town. Do ya think you'll be able to make it?"

"If I said no, would you find another singer?" I laughed knowing that was, never gonna happen. Glenn and I started our little band in seventh grade and we made a pact that if one of us left, the band would be no more.

"You bet your ass I would. Ha ha, just playin', so can you be there at say, six?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. You think you'll be able to sneak someone in for me? I'm not sure if she can make it or not, but it would be cool if I could get her in." I wasn't sure if Kayla would even be interested in going, but I wanted to give her the option when I saw her.

"Yeah dude, no problem. I'll figure it out."

"K, I'll see ya tonight."

I hung up with Glenn just as I reached the top of the hill and her beautiful face came into view. She looked even prettier than when I had seen her just a little while ago. Her hair was now down and blowing in the breeze. Once again, I could smell the faint aroma of strawberries, and my pants grew tight. Everything about this girl had my body humming each I saw her. If I was a smart guy, I would run in the opposite direction, but I have to admit, I'm not a very smart man.

She was standing there staring in my direction, with the same look of desperation I had whenever I saw her. I slipped my cell phone back into my front pocket and straightened my ball cap. I knew how I must've looked to her, but damn if I never got a chance to shower before seeing her. A small smile splayed across her lips as I inched closer to her. Everything about her was contagious, her smile included. I smiled back as I closed the distance. Every part of my hyperaware body wanted to pull her into me and crush my mouth onto hers. Just the thought of it, had my body responding and my heart racing.

"Well hey there, cowboy." She grinned.

I got a kick out of her little nickname for me. No one had ever called me cowboy, except for my grandparents, but the words coming out of her mouth sent my mind reeling.

"Hey there, pretty girl. How's the leg today?" We hadn't gotten into detail about that yet, but I couldn't blame her much.

"Better, thanks for asking."

She leaned in to hug me just as I reached out to shake her hand. We ended up in an awkward half handshake hug, and we laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. When she pulled back out of my half embrace, I slowly let go, but keeping her hand in mine was a feeling I never wanted to end. Her skin was soft and smooth, and so warm to the touch. The electricity that shot through us was undeniable and I found myself craving the feel of her mouth against mine. I had a small debate in my mind over whether or not to just go for it, when my next move not only shocked her, but me as well.

I tugged on her hand that still rested in mine, pulling her body almost flush with my own. My hand went up to her overwhelmingly beautiful face, brushing strands of hair behind her ear. We stood staring into one another's eyes as the world disappeared around us. I felt comfort and joy in her gaze and I slowly sealed my lips over hers. Our kiss started out slow and gentle, but within seconds it turned passionate and needy.

My hands flew up to the sides of her face and I deepened the kiss to epic proportions. My tongue slid across her plump lower lip and she instantly granted me access. As our tongues massaged one another's, I pulled her closer, and it still felt too far.

Excitement and pure lust ran through my veins as her warm hands slipped underneath my shirt, massaging my taught back muscles. I knew her leg was hurt, but I wasn't sure of the extent, so I digressed and settled for resting my hands at the top of her ass. I knew this was headed somewhere more complex, and fast. I needed to step back and gather my thoughts. I need to compose myself and take this slow. Unfortunately, time wasn't on our side. I was due to leave the farm tomorrow, and nothin' about that made me happy. I needed her, maybe more than I wanted to admit to myself, but I needed her all the same.

I pulled back a touch, and chanced a glance at her fallen expression. She was taking my hesitation the wrong way. I could feel her body rejecting my advance to pull her back in. I grasped for her thin tank top, bunching it up in my wary hands. "Don't pull away." I whispered into the mid-day air.

Her hands flew up to her hair, pushing back through the long wind blown tendrils and then came to rest on her hips. "Maybe, this is a bad idea." She gestured between the two of us and my heart literally sank down to my feet. I knew this was moving fast, but the want was still there.

I knew I was leaving, and that I needed to let her know, but the look she gave me just then, had me crumbling to the ground, figuratively speaking. "Kayla, there's something I need to tell you." I took in a ragged breath, hoping she would hear me out before leaving me in that open field.

She squinted through heavy lids and let out a loud sigh. "You mean that you're leaving tomorrow? I already know, Madison." Her hand flew up to her brow, shielding the scorching sun from her vision. She stood staring, motionless, at me and I couldn't bear to hurt her.

"Uh..yes, but no. I decided to stay a little while longer." I don't know why I lied to her, but the sullen expression she held on her beautiful, innocent face, morphed into something more. Adoration, joy, I wasn't sure, but it was better than sad. I smiled down at her, as I closed the distance between us for the last time. My lips sat hovering merely centimeters from hers. "Oh, and my band is playing tonight. Come with me?" Before she could answer, my lips were sealed to hers.

A gust of wind passed at that moment, and strawberries assaulted my senses once again. A smile broke out across my lips, as I tried to contain my laughter. Her lips mimicked mine and we both let out a small, strangled laugh, before resuming our embrace.

A few moments later, when we finally broke our connection to come up for air, I realized what I had just done. I didn't have time to stay a couple extra days, but I had all but just made that promise to her. What was I going to do now?

I brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, before leaning in and kissing just below her earlobe. There was nothin' more I wanted then to have this girl as mine, but given my current predicament, I settled for what she was offering. I grabbed her small delicate hand in mine and pulled her down next to a nearby tree. She tried to sit across from me, but I gently pulled her in between my legs, nestling her body into mine. I brushed her hair back and over her shoulder, and then placed a chaste kiss to her sun kissed shoulder.

We sat staring into the horizon, for what felt like forever, when she finally spoke.

"So, what kind of music does your band play?"

I chuckled softly, not expecting that to be her question. "We're alternative, I guess. I think you'll like it."

"Oh do ya now? I reckon you wouldn't exactly know what I like just yet, cowboy."

I could hear her labored breathing as I skimmed my hand across her hip. The way she said my nickname had me trying to catch my breath. I swallowed past the lump in my throat before I finally mustered up enough reasoning to answer her. "I suppose I wouldn't, huh? But, I'm hopin' you'll let this cowboy know you're likings, sooner rather than later."

"Hmm, I think we might be able to work somethin' out." She turned slightly and tilted her head back into my neck, placing an open mouthed kiss to my skin, leavin' it scorching.

"So, you wanna tell me what happened yet?" I knew I was pushing, but I needed to know who pushed her all the way to f*ckin' nowhere.

"Not yet, but maybe soon." She smiled. "You wanna tell me about school?" She teased.

"Do you really wanna know?" I whispered underneath my breath.

She turned around in my lap and was now facing me. Her plump, luscious lips mocked me as I tried to find her eyes. "Of course I do. I wouldn't have asked, if I didn't want to know. Now spill." Her smile could light up the night sky, if it was night. I hadn't seen her smile much in the day or two that I had known her, and it was nice to see.

I straightened my body and pulled her hands into mine. "Well, I got a full ride scholarship to Arizona State University. I've been playing baseball for so long, that I guess it was kind of a no brainer, but leavin' is what is killin' me." I felt her hands twitch inside of mine, and then my hands went slack with the empty space where hers had just been.

"What's wrong?" She was already standing, brushing the small bits of stray grass from the back of her shorts. I quickly stood, grabbing her arm before she could take off towards her house. I needed to know what I had said wrong. "What is it, KJ?"

"It's nothin' I just need to go. I'll see you tonight, I suppose." Her eyes landed on mine, but they held no spark. The light had dimmed, just as I gotten it to come back. What the hell was this girl’s story and why wouldn't she share it with me?

"Yeah, um..I'll come grab you around five?" I pushed my hands through my hair as I removed my ball cap.

"Okay, I'll be ready and waitin' at the end of the drive." Before I could react, she was already limping down the hill and headed towards her house. I silently cursed myself for not going after her, yet again, but there really wasn't much I could do. She was closed off and obviously, that barrier wasn't coming down anytime soon. Or at least not soon enough.