Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders 13)

Tell started shoveling in the side of mixed veggies.

Casper said, “You know it wouldn’t kill ya to say thanks to the Lord for all you’ve got before you eat like you’ve never seen food.”

And Tell kept chewing.

“You are stubborn.” Then Casper addressed her. “You wanna hear stubborn? When Tell was about fourteen, we had this old, worthless fishing boat. He thought he could get it runnin’, despite the fact he’s hopeless when it comes to mechanical stuff. I told him he was wastin’ his time. He spent every wakin’ hour workin’ on it when he wasn’t doin’ stuff around the ranch. Somehow he convinced Luke to help him haul it to the lake.” Casper grunted. “That sucker sank like a rock, with the bow sticking straight up. So when we’re in the midst of a drought, that end sticks out ’cause the water table is so low. Since Tell fastened some kind of ridiculous pirate flag on it, everyone knows it’s his. Everyone sees his mistake. Stubborn kid shoulda listened to me.”

Tell looked up, his eyes dark with anger. “I’d appreciate you leavin’ now, Dad. I am on a date. You’re the third wheel that nobody wants.”

Georgia’s face warmed from Tell’s harsh words.

But it didn’t faze Casper. He slid out of the booth. “Fine, I can take a hint. Be seein’ you.” And he was gone.

She focused on her pasta. When she glanced over at Tell, he’d stirred his food but hadn’t eaten much. Poor baby. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, but he’d see it as pity, not comfort.

He must’ve sensed her staring. But he didn’t lift his head. “Sorry about that.”

“Like you had any control over where he showed up for supper.”

“Yeah. Well. Can we just forget it?”

Tell only ate half his steak and the waitress boxed up the remainder. Georgia sensed his impatience for her to finish so they could get out of the restaurant.

In the truck, he didn’t pat the seat for her to scoot over. He didn’t snatch her hand. Tell just hunched over the steering wheel and drove in silence.

Halfway home, she peered around the invisible elephant in the truck cab. “Is it always like that with your father?”

“No. Sometimes it’s worse.”

“I just want to say—”

“Don’t say anything. Can’t we just drop it?”

“No. You’re upset and hurting and I want to help you.” Georgia picked up his hand and kissed his palm. “Please. You’ve been there for me and you have no idea how much I appreciated that. You need to talk about this, Tell. And I’m right here. Ready to listen. Without judgment.”

A few long miles passed. Then he said, “He got worse after Luke died, but that nasty attitude is just who he is, whether he’s drinking or sober with the light of God shining down on him. No one in our family can stand to be around him. You can see why.

“I don’t know how my mother put up with it for as long as she did. She finally chose a different life and I’m happy for her. Yet that leaves me’n my brothers dealing with Dad without her as a buffer.”

Georgia knew exactly how that felt, but this was about Tell. Not her.

“It never changes. God, he’s been embarrassing me my whole life. I wish I could say it wasn’t as bad because at least he wasn’t drunk. But I still hold my goddamn breath anytime he opens his mouth in public. And usually with good reason.”

She waited for him to continue.

He sighed. “Look. I appreciate what you’re wantin’ to do, but nothin’ is gonna get rid of this lousy mood anytime soon, so it’d be best if I took you home.”

“Not happening. We can chill out at your place, but I’m not leaving you alone to wallow. We wallowed pretty good together last time, if I recall.”

Tell shot her a look. “You expecting ice cream will help?”

She leaned over to smooch his strong jaw. “Ice cream always helps. But this time I get to dish it up.”

Tell needed to clear his mind after the run-in with his father. He’d cracked open a couple of beers, but they were basically untouched on the coffee table, and he and Georgia were entwined on his couch, attempting to watch TV.

“You still seem tense.”

Lie. Make light of it. Crack a joke. But he couldn’t. “I am.”

“I can help with that.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? And how’s that?”

“Take off your clothes and I’ll show you.”

Didn’t have to tell him twice. He got naked, whipping his shirt and his camo shorts on the floor.

She watched as his sleeping dick stirred. “Lie back.”

Tell stretched out with his arms folded behind his head, letting her look her fill.

Georgia scooted between his legs. Running her palms over his thighs, she stopped to trace the muscles in his quads with her fingertips. Using such tender caresses it seemed every hair on his thighs stood straight up, vying for her attention.

“Is this your way of distracting me?” he asked.

She touched his knee. “One of the ways I’ve got planned for tonight.”

He remembered he’d said that to her the night of the reunion. But the look in her eyes wasn’t soft or sweet. Just determined. “Are you gonna torture me?”

“Maybe. I like touching you. Don’t you like it?” Her fingers fluttered around his groin, but she didn’t touch his dick.

At all.

“I’d like it better if you were touchin’ me in one spot in particular.”

“I will.” She spread her hands over his pecs and kissed his sternum, keeping her eyes on his. “Maybe I wanna drive you a little crazy. Like you do to me.”

“I drive you crazy?”

A dangerous smile curled her lips and Tell wondered if he should be worried. “You know you do.”

Her soft, warm lips followed the slope of his shoulder.

First thing she did was kiss him. Taking over his mouth completely. Sliding her tongue deep. Sucking and swirling and licking until his body was racked with need.

From just a kiss.

He went to move his arms, to try and regain some control, but her fingernails dug into his biceps. She lifted her lips briefly to warn, “Leave ’em there. And drop your head back. This stubborn chin of yours is in my way.” She placed kisses in a straight line from his chin to his collarbone. The wet glide of her mouth over that section of skin caused gooseflesh to erupt from the back of his neck to his knees. He must’ve made a noise because Georgia just kept right on doing it.