Layers Crossed (13 page)

C
HAPTER
12

Emma

It was ten in
the morning when we turned into a long driveway at the Waters’
farm. The house in front of me was a picture-perfect rendition of
the kind of a country home I’d always imagined. Unlike Eric’s
place, on this one there was a wrap-around porch at the front
(which I’d noticed was common from other houses as we drove by).
Baskets of colorful flowers hung around the entrance, clumps of
their blossoms cascading low enough to reach. In the distance, I
could hear the buzzing of a tractor mower as a man I assumed was
Eric’s father rode toward us. The smell of fresh grass and manure
hit me.

“Well, this
sure is a farm,” I said, crinkling my nose.

“My father
raises pigs.”

I looked at
him from the side, trying to stifle a giggle. Sometimes Eric made
it too easy for me.

“I swear if
you say what I know you’re thinking, I’ll make you regret it.” He
showed me a crooked smile. His threat of course only encouraged
me.

“Say what,
Babe?”

And then it
happened. He leaned forward so quickly, taking my face into his
hands, that I had no time to pull away – and honestly, I didn’t
want to. He seized my lips like they’d been his forever, and I felt
my shoulders slack and body mellow. His sinful mouth took over,
moving slowly at first but with a well founded determination. I
opened wider, allowing his tongue to slide inside to tangle with
mine… and make me wish it was somewhere else on my body, quite
lower. A flush of heat began to mingle between us. His steady lips
swelled mine as my urges awakened. The demand of Eric’s mouth was
becoming unbearable, and I wanted so much more than a kiss. I
wanted everything. His hands on me, taking away the aches of my
swelling breasts and the growing pressure between my legs. I needed
him to lower my seat again so that I could feel his dominating body
over me, right here in his car, on his parents’ front lawn.

Oh, crap!
We’re on his parents’ front lawn!

I pushed him
away, panting. “We can’t do this.”

“Remember,
you’re my girlfriend. We need to make this appear real.”

I didn’t think
a kiss could get any more real than that.

“Right.” I
leaned forward and selfishly pressed my lips to his, stealing
another wet smooch. His tongue dove inside my mouth instantly,
weaving through nooks and against my gums. I swear we were like two
horny teenagers, waiting for the right time to relieve all the pent
up demand for each other. When I pulled away, I explained, “Just to
make sure no one questions it.”

This was all
for show, wasn’t it? No frickin’ way! Eric wasn’t hiding that he
wanted me. He’d told me so many times already. And I was beginning
to tire of pretending that I didn’t want him either. Part of me
wanted to make this real and to make our relationship work, but did
I truly want a relationship? I hadn’t been in a serious one in
years. And most of the men who tried to date me ended up with a
broken heart within a week or two. And then there was my work for
him. I was on a job. I couldn’t let my guard down. If my brothers
found out about us, they’d never give me a serious case again.

“Emma, there’s
something I need to tell you about the farm and this job.” He
started.

I felt my
shoulders tense. “Your mom’s coming.” Mrs. Waters was only a few
feet away. I straightened my shirt and pulled on the door handle.
Eric jumped out quicker than a bullet, and before I set my foot on
the ground my door was wide open. Stunned, I stumbled into his
arms, falling against his hard chest.

“Don’t ever
get out of the car like that,” he whispered.

“Like what?” I
swallowed through my tight throat.

“Without me
opening the door for you.”

“Why?”

“It’s a thing
I have.”

“A gentleman
thing?”

“It makes me
feel honored to do that for you.”

Really?

“Please.”

“All
right.”

Our quick
exchange of the few words left me hardly enough time to compose
myself. My heart was still pounding, and my head spun before I
found myself in another set of warm arms.

“Emma, I’ve
heard so much about you.” Eric’s mom embraced me the same way my
own would have, and I found the comfort of her hug welcoming.

You
have?
When had Eric had a chance to tell her about me?

And as she
held me, I realized that other than David’s, I’d never met
my
boyfriend’s
mother.

“Eric’s been
going on about you since the day he met you in New York. It’s so
good to see him finally take a liking to someone. He’s never
brought a girl home before. Welcome to our little nest, Emma.”

“Thank you.” I
didn’t dare to ruin her good mood by telling her I was here only on
a job. Besides, Eric had asked me to pretend. Only… was I
pretending?

And that’s
when I felt my body jolt forward as a German shepherd jumped up to
lick my face.

“Down, Max!”
Eric ordered. “I’m sorry. He’s old, but friendly.”

“Hi, Max.” I
scratched the graying dog under his chin. “That sure was one heck
of a welcome.”

“Go on, boy.
Lead the way.” Mrs. Waters patted him on his head as Max led us
toward the house.

As soon as I
stepped over the threshold, the click of a lock sounded, sending
chills up my spine. I found it odd that Eric’s mom would do that –
especially since there was no other neighbor in immediate sight.
Eric discreetly drew his finger to his lips, asking me not to say
anything. The house was beautiful and newer than I expected, but
the sense of tight security didn’t escape me. From double locks on
the doors to strong hinges on the windows, this home had better
bolts than many metropolitan ones.

“It’s been
like this since the kidnapping,” he whispered when his mom turned
away. “My parents built it for greater security.”

“Eric says he
wants to show you around the farm before going back to the ranch.
Please make yourself at home while I get going on lunch.” The
dishes began clinking and Mrs. Waters started humming under her
breath. It was as if new life had been fused into her body the
moment we arrived.

“Thank you.
You have a beautiful home here. Eric tells me the farm has been
passed down for generations.”

“The farm has
been in the family for at least a hundred years. The old house in
the back is the one I grew up in. We have direct access to Peacock
Lake behind there.”

“I’d love to
see it.”

“Oh, you don’t
want to go in there, dear. It’s all dusty, and God knows what kinds
of creatures live there. It’s so nice to have you here, Emma.” A
man whom I assumed was Eric’s dad entered the doorway and, just
like his wife, took me into his arms.

“The
pleasure’s mine. I meant that I’d love to see the lake.”

“Well, that
I’m sure Eric can arrange. I need to wash up before I show you the
solar panels.” He pointed to his soiled clothes. “Once we get those
installed, we’ll be saving energy at home and in the sty. And after
that, I’m all yours, kids.”

“We’ll see you
soon.” Eric waved to his parents and guided me outside. The press
of his hand felt surprisingly natural.

Eric led me to
the side of a sty. I took a long whiff and didn’t get the scent of
manure I was expecting.

“What are you
sniffing?” Eric laughed.

“The pigs. I
can’t smell them.”

“That’s
because most were sold last week. There are only two sows left at
the moment. They’ll have their babies in a month, and the cycle
will begin again.”

“You’re not
going to show me the barn?” I asked as we kept walking past the
building beside the sty.

“Baby, you’re
not ready for the barn.” A wicked smile grazed his face, making me
wonder what he meant by the comment.

“Why not?” I
stopped, pulling on his hand.

“Well, let’s
just say that in these parts of the country, barns are not for good
girls.” The grunt of his voice pulsed through my body, igniting it
with impatient longing. I drew my finger down the middle of his
chest, along each button of his plaid shirt.

“Who’s saying
that I’m good?” I bit my lower lip.

“You’re a
tease,” he laughed. “It’s tradition in this town that a man takes
his woman in a barn.”

He swiveled on
his foot and grasped me under my back dipping my entire body back
as if we’d just finished a dance. His lips were less than an inch
away, pursed and deliciously swollen. Moisture glistened at their
edges and it took all my strength not to kiss him, because I needed
my answers.

“So, how many
girls have you taken here, Cowboy?” I asked in a whisper, feeling a
sudden rush of endorphins overwhelm my blood flow.

“This one
doesn’t count. It’s my parents’ farm. It’s sort of like, you use
your parents’ for practice before you bring the girl to your own.”
Eric pulled me back up, guiding me toward the old house.

“Cheater,” I
accused. “So, how many cherries have you popped at your barn,
then?”

“My barn is
still a virgin. It’s been waiting for the right woman for quite
some time now.” He was practically eating me alive with his gaze.
My mouth dried as a new flash of heat spread through me.

“Oh, so you’re
saying I’m not good enough for this one, then?”

“Emma.” Eric
stopped, facing me. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. The
husk that came next did things to my body I wasn’t ready for.
“Girls taken to the barn are meant to be either fucked senseless,
or go there to lose their virginity. There’s no way I’m fucking you
here for the first time. The first time you and I are together, I
want to take my time and give proper attention to every part of
your body. After that, well, we can revisit the subject.”

Wasn’t he ever
sure of himself! As much as my body grasped at his words,
committing them to memory like a promise, instantly wishing that
one day I could be one of those girls, Eric’s confidence surprised
me. It was as if he’d become more alpha each time he spoke,
obviously thinking we’d soon sleep together. But wasn’t that
exactly what ran across my mind each time I looked at him?

“And what gave
you the idea that I want to sleep with you?” I asked, my awareness
of him increasing with each passing moment.

“I think that
fresh country air is messing with your brain, Emma.” The back of
his hand grazed along my bare arm, upward. “I can see your nipples
pebbling as we speak, baby. You’re as attracted to me as I am to
you, and the only thing that’s stopping us is this case and the
fact that you’re on a job here.”

Feeling the
flicker of nerves in my belly glow brighter, I took a step toward
him. “As much as I admire your confidence, please note that I don’t
do anything I don’t want to, and no one could ever force me
to.”

“I would never
force you to do anything, Emma, but mark my words when I say that
you’ll want me to squeeze between those tight thighs of yours, and
I can’t wait to feel you drip around me. In fact, you’ll beg for
it.” He leaned to my ear, the smoothness of his morning shave
gliding against my cheek. “I promise.”

My body began
giving in. The slow buzz of need that’s been simmering inside me
began boiling as Eric’s hand slipped around my back and down to my
skirt, soothing my ache. He gently grasped my ass, squeezing it and
massaging it, and I felt my feet part as I pressed to him. I leaned
my head against his chest, feeling the quick beating of his heart
underneath my cheeks, and slowly I slid my hands underneath his
shirt and up his field of muscles toward his chest where my fingers
finally found that piercing I wanted to play with. His muscles
bunched underneath my palm. My hands tingled with his warmth as
Eric’s hand drew to my front, scrunching the skirt up with his
fingers until he cupped me through my panties.

I stopped
breathing. The feel of him there, knowing how utterly ready I was,
surged yearning through my veins.

“Is this for
me, Emma?” His ragged breath became my own as I held the air in my
lungs, nodding as he swept my panties to the side, sliding his
finger along my wet folds. They felt so good there, and so
right.

“You’re so
ready, baby,” he whispered. I opened my eyes, looking up into his,
begging him for more. Thank goodness we were out of view here,
right behind the barn. With his fingers still playing around my
wetness, I felt my legs move as he guided me until my back pressed
against the barn’s outside boards, and when we stopped he crushed
his mouth to mine, no longer passive, but hungry and commanding,
weaving his fingers between my folds before slipping them inside
me. I wasn’t sure how my leg ended up on his hip, spreading me wide
for him, but his commanding rhythm worked like some magical spell.
Our kiss was feverish, but I could tell Eric was still holding
back.

“I need you,”
I whispered into his mouth, listening to the sound of his fingers
squishing between my legs. He pulled out, raising his hand to his
mouth, drawing his index finger underneath his nose, taking my
essence into him before licking off my arousal. His gesture surged
a wave of hunger through my veins, further soaking my lady
parts.

“So sweet and
delicious.” He then lowered himself to the ground and lifted my
skirt. My head fell back, resting against the barn as his tongue
weaved along my knee up to my inner thigh before he reached the
apex of my triangle. Both his hands grasped my legs tightly, and
when he used his teeth to lower the fabric off my hips, leaving his
hot breath against my flesh, I was all ready to climax. Parting my
legs for him, I finally felt his tongue lick through my wetness
from deep down up to my clit. He teased my swollen nub and used his
fingers to stretch me wide, taking his time to skim his lips along
my hot, wet flesh before he settled higher, sucking and flicking.
My thighs contracted and my pelvis flew forward. I swore I’d have a
new set of muscles in my ass by the time he was done.