Serenity Falls (25 page)

“It
seems like he was a great big brother,” I reply shoving her forward again.

Bailey
nods. “He was.”

“Is
it easier to talk about him now?”

“A
little.”

“I’m
proud of you.” I stop the tire swing and walk around to where I’m facing her.
“You have come such a long way since you first came here. I know you haven’t
really taken to the horses like I did, and that’s okay. But, if you don’t mind,
can I ask what has brought on this change?”

A
bright smile stretches across her face, reaching from ear to ear. Her once
dull, blue eyes now sparkle. “John. He helped me more than anything. You did,
too, Kenleigh, but John is the main reason.”

“I’m
glad he’s helped you, Bailey.”

“Me
too. He’s made me realize that I’m still alive. John said God has plans for all
of us, and there is a reason I’m still alive. And you know what? He’s right. I
don’t know the reason. I just have to sit back and wait, and I think I’m okay
with that.” Quietly, she adds, “Can I ask you how your bond with the horses
helped you?”

I
smile at her genuine question. “It’s hard to explain. You know how you and John
can talk, right? Well, for me, I didn’t want to talk to people about it. I
didn’t want to hear how I should handle my emotions. I didn’t want people to
try and get me to open up. When I was riding, anything and everything just
faded away for me. Now, don’t think I’m crazy when I say this, but when I did wanna
talk about what happened to my parents, the horses just listened. There was no
response. There was no pity in their eyes. They always looked at me the same. I
know they didn’t know what I was saying.” I shake my head, laughing at myself
because saying it aloud does sound crazy.

“You’re
not crazy. In a way, it makes sense.”

“You
told John about the accident?” I ask, quickly changing the subject.

“I
did. He knew something was up. One day, he brought a football here and asked me
if I’d toss it around with him. Immediately, I started crying. John asked what
was wrong, and I told him. It was hard at first. But after telling you, and
then telling him,” Bailey shrugs. “I don’t know, I just feel better.”

“It
feels good, right?” I ask. “To not feel like your whole world is shrouded in
darkness anymore. Like a sliver of light is finally able to shine through, and
you can see it.”

“Exactly.
But after I told John about the accident, and cried like a baby, I asked him
how come he always seems so happy. How come he’s not pissed that he’s stuck in
a wheelchair.”

“And
what did he say?”

“That
life is too short to be mad all the time. John knows he’s going to die. He
doesn’t know when, but he knows. And he said that when he does, when it’s his
time to go, he wants his family and friends to remember how happy he was, not
how mad, or sad.” A boisterous laugh escapes Bailey. “And then, when he answered
about the wheelchair, all he said was ‘the chicks dig it’.”

I
shake my head and laugh as well, because I can absolutely see John saying
something like that.

After
our fit of laughter dies down and a few deep breaths are drawn, I say,
“Speaking of John, I think we should head back.”

“Yeah,
me too. I haven’t seen him since before the holiday, and I wanna see how his
Fourth of July went,” Bailey replies as she jumps out of the tire swing.

After
Bailey and I put the horses away and made our way out of the barn, I spot John
right away. “He’s right over there.” I point to the front porch where John is
laughing with Wes and Liam. Wes leans against a pillar at the top of the steps,
his arms crossed over his chest. I try to dampen down the lust that shoots through
me as I take in the tan cargo shorts that hang off him in the most perfect way,
and a fitted, black T-shirt. Liam stands casually next to Wes in a baseball
cap, the bill covering his eyes, denim jeans, and a fitted, sleeveless, grey
T-shirt.

“Hey
John!” Bailey shouts as we approach the guys.

John
slightly turns his wheelchair to see who’s just called his name. His eyes light
up with adoration when he sees Bailey jog toward him. His arms stretch out,
welcoming her into a hug. I feel the heat pouring out from Wes’ stare as his
eyes rake over me. I stop dead in my tracks only a couple of paces away,
watching Wes. He pushes off the pillar, taking the six steps that lead from the
porch to the walkway two at a time. In a matter of seconds, Wes sweeps me up in
his arms as his lips come crashing down on mine. I’m shocked that he would do
this in front of all the kids, but at the same time, I’m too consumed by his
passion to care. My hands glide up his arms, over his shoulders, around his
neck, and tangle in his hair. Our lips never part, and our tongues never
collide, but this kiss is still just as passionate.

“I
told you so!” Bailey’s voice rings through. I’m the one to break away from the
kiss. I bury my face in the crook of Wes’ neck as I try to hide the blush that
I know has taken over my face.

The
vibrations of Wes’ chuckle help to soothe my embarrassment. “What do you mean,
I told you so?” Wes asks with amusement evident in his tone.

“Bailey
and I made a bet.”

I
turn to look at John. “What bet?” Now it’s my turn to ask questions.

John
shrugs while Bailey answers. “It’s nothing really. I bet John that by the end
of camp, you and Wes would end up together, and he didn’t think it would
happen.”

Wes’
arm tightens around my middle as he gives John a smug grin. “And why did you
think it wouldn’t happen?” Wes asks.

“No
offense man, but Kenleigh is way too pretty for you,” John answers as he looks
Wes dead in the eyes, and he rolls his wheelchair back and forth.

Liam,
Bailey, and I erupt into laughter. Tears stream down my face, my cheeks hurt,
and I have a stitch in my side from laughing so hard.

“The
kid has a point,” Liam says, laughing.

I
take several deep breaths as I try to regain control of my laughter until I
look up at Wes. Obviously, by his tight lips and clenched jaw, he didn’t think
it was too funny. I place my hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at me. Once
his eyes have found mine, his features loosen, and a grin starts to splay
across his lips. I mouth the words ‘I love you’ and he nods. Turning to look
back John and Bailey, I ask, “So, now that you’ve won the bet, Bailey, what do
you get?”

“John
owes me a movie. What do you think? This weekend good for you, John?” Bailey
asks.

I
don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but if I didn’t know any better, I would
say that she has a crush on John.

“This
weekend sounds good. But no chick flicks.”

“Uh-uh.
I won the bet. I get to pick the movie,” Bailey retorts with a
Cheshire-cat-like grin.

John
groans. “Whatever,” he sighs.

Bailey
walks behind John’s wheelchair, taking hold of the handles, as she taunts him
in a singsong voice. “What to see? What to see?”

John
shakes his head at the mention of an actress’s name as Bailey wheels him away.

“Well,
that was fun and all, but I’m gonna get going. Mr. Will wanted me to help out
with the corral today,” Liam says, walking off the porch and down the steps. He
shoots us a wave over his shoulder as he walks away.

“You
thought that was funny, huh?” Wes asks.

“Oh,
come on. You know it was. And besides,
you’re
the one who’s too pretty for me,” I reply, massaging
the back of Wes’ neck.

“Babe,
I love you and all, but don’t ever call
me
pretty, again. Sexy,
handsome, good-lookin’, those all work, but not pretty.”

I
push up on my tiptoes, bringing my lips right to the shell of Wes’ ear. “Yes,
Sexy.
But now, I have to go and see what I can help with around here,” I whisper.

The
groan that escapes Wes sends lust crashing into the one place I don’t need
right now. He grabs hold of my hips and pulls me closer to him, the bulging
evidence in his shorts that rests against my stomach does nothing to damper my
need. “I need some help right now,” Wes says in that low husky voice that I
love. With his hands locked behind my back, he lifts me off the ground, walks
up the steps, and into the quiet house. “And you are the only one who can help
me at this moment.”

My
hands travel up his arms and grip his shoulders. My head dips to the crook of
his neck where I place feather light kisses from his collarbone up to his ear.
My eyes flutter close. “And what is that I can help you with?” I ask
breathlessly.

I
don’t notice that we’ve walked through the kitchen and living room until I hear
the faint creaking sounds of the stairs beneath us. “I’m about to show you,”
Wes groans while I suck and nibble on his ear.

Lust,
desire, and need slam into me all at once just from hearing those words. Never
in all my life have I felt more desired than Wes makes me feel. His grip slides
from around my waist to my ass. The pressure is gentle, yet demanding. I wrap
my legs around his waist as he walks me backwards down the hall. The feel of
hard wood makes contact with my back only to give way as a door opens. Which
door? I’m not sure, but I know it’s my room as soon as my eyes flutters open.
Bottles of lotion, my perfume, hairbrush, and whatever else crash to the floor
as Wes sweeps them off the cluttered dresser before sitting me on top of it.

“Look
at me.” It’s not a request, but a demand. My blue eyes find his. “We may not
have a lot of time right now, but I am going to make sure you feel real good.
Just like every time before and every time after this one,” he says huskily as
he drops to his knees. The combination of his voice and the image of his lips connecting
with my ankle only make me want him more. A gasp escapes me and goose bumps
pepper my skin when the tip of his tongue grazes the burning flesh behind my
knee. “I love that I do this to you,” he murmurs.

My
head drops back against the wall behind me as my eyes screw shut. With erratic
breaths, I reply, “I don’t know how much more I can take.” My hands grip the
edge of the dresser when he switches from one leg to the other, continuing his
sensual assault. “I want you, Wes, now… right now.” No longer able to wait, I
lift my head and hooded eyelids. My hands fly forward, catching the collar of
his shirt. “Now. I want you now,” I whisper, leaning down, crushing my lips
against his.

A
deep, guttural groan rumbles from deep within the back of Wes’ throat as our
tongues collide, mixing and bending and fading into one. His hands travel up my
thighs only to reach the button on my shorts. I lift my hips, allowing him to
tug them down my body. His next move sends me into a frenzy. The sound of my
panties tearing at the seams cuts through our lust-filled haze. Consumed by
want, my fingers make quick work of the button on his cargo shorts. Wes strips
me of my shirt and pulls the cups of my bra down beneath my breasts. My
generous C-cups spill over the lacy material and they are his for the taking.
He breaks our kiss, only to let his gaze travel down my body. “You, right here.
This is my fantasy come true,” he says as he takes a nipple in his mouth. My
eyes never leave his. The sensation of his captivating tongue swirling around
my sensitive nipple as he watches me makes my breath catch in the back of my
throat. But that breath releases in a rush when the head of his gorgeous,
velvety cock spears me in one swift movement.

My
hips buck forward, meeting his thrusts. I thread my fingers through his hair,
holding him to my breast. “Wes…” His name comes out as a plea.

“What
do you need, Baby? How do you want it?” He switches from one nipple to the
next. Slowly and leisurely, he pulls out almost all of the way, only to slam
back into me again, seating himself deeper than before.

My
head shakes from side-to-side as I try to form the words that I need to say. “I
need you to go… harder… faster…” I answer breathlessly.

“God,
I love it when you tell me what you want,” Wes pants, picking up his pace and
giving me exactly what I asked for. The dresser slams against the wall each
time he thrusts into me. Moans, skin slapping against skin, and frantic breaths
fill the air in my room. My eyes slowly close as the tingling sensation that I
am becoming more and more familiar with blooms within me. “Don’t close your
eyes. I wanna watch you cum. I want to see how I make you feel,” he groans as
his rhythm increases.