I kiss his chest, running my hand over his muscles, his ladder of abs. He is pure man. He is made out of God's green earth and being with him makes me feel alive in a way I haven’t before. I know I haven’t been a caged bird, but I felt trapped all my life.
I walked a tightrope and not just figuratively. I’ve been doing exactly as I was told for 21 years, performing not just for my parents but for everyone who came to our shows. None of it was because I asked for it. I was a product and I never wanted to be.
I want this. I want Bartlett. Now.
I give in to the moment as he lays me down on the bed, massaging my breasts until my nipples are hard and my pussy is wet.
He tells me I’m beautiful and I believe him because he is not a liar. He is a man of his word. He’s one of those rare men who isn’t trying. He just is.
“God, I love touching you,” he tells me, his hot breath on my ear, his scruffy beard scratching my neck, making me feel deliriously happy and simply satisfied.
He’s on top of me then, my legs wrapping around his body as his cock begins to enter me nice and slow.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispers.
I close my eyes, gasping as he begins to fill me up slowly, inch by inch. It hurts. He’s big and I’m tight, but I don’t want this to stop. I don’t want to ever stop feeling the way I feel right now.
Blissed out, beautiful, and meant to be.
“I don’t want this night to end,” I confess as we move as one, our fingers laced, his eyes locked on mine. My pussy drips and his cock fills me in a way I’ve never been filled before.
“Don’t close your eyes; stay awake with me all night,” he says. “We’ll watch the sunrise.”
“Don’t you work tomorrow?” I ask with a gasp as he thrusts deeper into me, making me his in a whole new way.
“Sure I work tomorrow, but we’re supposed to be here now, aren’t we?”
“Right,” I tell him. “We are. And the here and now? It’s pretty damn perfect.”
I wake up in a daze. Bartlett's arms wrapped around me tight, Hijinx in the center of the bed.
“I don’t think I’ve slept that soundly in years,” Bartlett tells me, stretching out in his king-size bed. He’s bare-naked, and even though we said we weren’t going to fall asleep, I think after we made love three times we both couldn’t resist the temptation to cozy up in one another’s arms and close our eyes.
And I’m glad now because the idea of a day without sleep was terrifying. I don’t exactly want this man I just met to see me at my very worst.
We get ready for the day quickly – showers that lead to another round of sex – which, okay, I guess shower sex is just as fun as sex in his giant bed.
Then we’re in his truck again, Hijinx on a leash at my feet. We park behind his hardware store in his designated spot in the alley.
“I’ll walk you over to the police station,” he says, “so you can get your wallet.” Just then a flatbed truck comes through asking for Hammer Home’s owner.
“That would be me,” Bartlett says. “How can I help you?”
“I have a delivery, you able to take it now?” the man asks.
“Give me a sec.” Bartlett turns to me. “You mind hanging tight and we can go to the police station after I wrap this up?”
“I can get there, Bartlett. It’s literally one block down Cozy Court, isn’t it?”
Bartlett nods. “Yep, it's right next to the Home Cookin’. It’s a diner across the street. Are you sure you’re good?”
“Don’t forget I have my guard dog.” We both look down at Hijinx, who is sniffing the ground blindly.
I begin my walk down to the police department, taking in the town of Home early in the morning. Across the street, the owner of Home Made Bakery and Café is setting out tables and I can smell the coffee and espresso drinks.
Next to the bakery is Nested Home, the decor shop. There are flowers on display in the window along with beautiful candles and home decorations. It looks like the perfect place to buy a gift.
I cross Restful Road and pass the diner Bartlett mentioned. The booths are filled with plates of bacon and eggs and hash browns. Bartlett and I had oatmeal before we left his cabin so I’m not hungry, but I can imagine stopping there for a meal in the near future.
At the police department, I open the front doors and am greeted by a friendly officer at the front desk. Her badge says Darla. “How can I help you?” she asks.