A Little Thankful (Small Town Lovers #8)

Mace 6

Sleep had eluded me last night, and now I was paying for it. I could barely keep my eyes open this morning, and it was one of the busiest days of the year. I had to rub myself off at least two times, just to get a few hours of sleep, but even that didn’t help. All I could think of was her tight, warm pussy surrounding my cock, and I’d get all fucked up all over again.

Even porn didn’t help.

I wanted Sage in my bed, and until that happened, until we could convince her to stay and maybe even come live with us, I would never sleep again.

“I’m opening the door,” Melonie Lockhart shouted from the front of the shop.

Melonie was one of our oldest employees… not in age, but in the time she’d been working for us at the shop. She used to work for my grandfather, and gladly stayed on when I took over. She opened the bakery five days a week, and this was one of the most important days, the day of the Turkey Trot. For the last three years we’ve been selling out of almost everything. I knew this year would be just as good. We’d been preparing for it for the past week, plus, I’d been baking with my team since three this morning, not four. That extra hour made all the difference, but now I was spent.

Her familiar morning call was my clue to show my face, but instead, I decided to close my eyes for a few minutes while I sat back in my desk chair.

“Mace. Hey, Mace,” the angel said. “It’s time to wake up.”

I didn’t just wake up, I jumped up like I was on a spring, knocking Sage right on her ass. Fortunately, baby Autumn sat in her stroller, and thought Mom’s falling was the funniest thing she’d ever seen. Her high-pitched giggle reached in and touched my heart. This little girl could get me to do just about anything. I felt sure of it.

“Are you okay?” I asked, as I helped Sage up. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, but I was dreaming about angels and… it doesn’t matter.”

Sage was the angel, but I couldn’t tell her that. Way too corny.

“I’m fine, just a little startled. Sorry if I scared you,” she said, wearing a great big grin.

“Autumn has your sense of humor,” I told her, gazing in at Autumn who busied herself with her toes. She looked way too adorable with an orange bow in her hair, and wearing a silly Turkey costume. “She’s ready for the run.”

“We both are,” she said, and I finally noticed she was dressed like some silly orange, brown and tan turkey as well, complete with a brightly colored tail. That was the fun of the Trot, seeing all the different costumes. “I thought we’d spend the day together. I can help out here at the bakery, doing whatever you’d like me to do. My grandparents are willing to take Autumn over to the Turkey Trot. They’ve already saved a spot last night with their chairs right up front so she’ll have a good spot to watch. They’re excited about sharing it with her.”

“My staff can handle the bakery. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to share the Turkey Trot with her and with you, as well. I have a feeling it’s been a while since you last saw one of these or participated in one. I already bought a few spots for the event. We could all walk it if you want to. It’s only five miles, and all the donations go into the local fund which gives grants to local entrepreneurs.”

Her grin grew wider on her beautiful face, then she kissed my cheek. “I’d love that, Mace. That’s the best offer I’ve had in years. Let’s do it. I think it starts in about thirty minutes.”

“Great,” I told her, wearing my own wide grin. “Just give me a few minutes to update everybody, and get into my costume.”

“You have a costume?”

“Can’t be in the Trot without a costume,” I told her. “Plus, it’s good PR for my business.”

“So, what are you… a cookie… a cake? What?”

“It’s a surprise. Every year I have a costume custom made.”

“Wow, I can’t wait to see it,” she said, and I knew she meant it.

“Tell you what, you order something special for yourself, and have a seat. I’ll be out in about fifteen minutes.”

“I can’t wait,” she said, then kissed me on the cheek and left.

Ten minutes later we were walking down the crowded sidewalk on Moon Street to meet her grandparents and as I pushed the stroller, most everyone glanced our way. I knew they were anxious to find out all the details about baby Autumn and my connection, but they’d just have to wait a few more days for the real scoop.

Or they were amazed at my amazing costume. I was dressed like a turkey, complete with a yellow beak and big yellow turkey feet, that took a lot of effort not to trip and fall flat on my face.

Whatever the reason, the good citizens of Cricket couldn’t seem to take their eyes off of us.

I nodded to everyone, and said my hellos.

“Everyone’s looking at us,” Sage said, as we walked along. The entire town was decked out for Thanksgiving, with hay bales, cute straw scarecrows, and dried corn stalks on every corner. Baskets of purple, cranberry red, orange and yellow mums adorned the flower pots that hung from all the lampposts.

“Kiss me, and we’ll make their day,” I told her.

“Seriously?”

“Oh yeah.”

I slipped my hand around her waist, lifted her off her feet, and laid one on her like I was a sailor going off to war… in a turkey costume, complete with a tale. I even bent her over and we didn’t come up for air until we were good and done. It was one of those magical kisses. One that surged through me, and if we were alone, things would have progressed to a more prone position.

But we were on the crowded sidewalk on Moon Street, so I pulled her back up, and when I gazed into her deep blue eyes, I knew we’d bonded all over again.

“Get a room,” I heard someone say, but I didn’t react. The only person I saw was Sage, and I knew I would do everything in my power to convince her to stay.

After that, the day slipped by in a torrent of laughter, good food, and happy meet-ups.

Sage took Autumn out of her stroller and placed her in a baby sling where her little arms and legs hung out, and she could see everything. All she did was giggle and coo the entire time. She especially liked the marching bands, and I swear her bounces kept time with the music.

Somewhere after the first hour, I offered to carry Autumn, and once she was strapped in and her little back pressed up against my chest, I realized how much I liked being a dad. Liked how I felt carrying her like this. As if I could get used to this, and I wanted to be a part of her life. Of both their lives, if Sage would let me.

It was then that Sage’s grandparents found us, along with her aunt and niece. And at once I felt as though I was part of the family. As if they’d accepted me. And when her mom showed up, and gave me a hug, I got a bit emotional.

“She becomes you,” her mom said. “Plus, look how content she is. Like you two belong together.”

“That’s because we do… belong together.”

She touched my hand. “I think so, too.”

The day slipped by with an apple bobbing contest, and the best caramel apple. The monster apple that won, had so many layers, the judges had to taste it with a knife and a fork.

Sage’s family went on home while I changed out of my costume. Sage and I met up for lunch at A Taste of Tuscany, while Autumn slept in her stroller, and we exchanged banter on all sorts of subjects from religion and politics to favorite books and vegetables we loved and hated.

When Autumn woke up, and we finished our lunch, I walked them home, hung around at her parents’ house, played with Autumn, and even helped give her a bath, which was a learning experience in itself. I even learned how to strap on a diaper. Who knew I could be good at these things… I certainly didn’t.

By the time we tucked her in for the night, I was exhausted, but I still invited Sage to my house for dinner, which she accepted. Her mom and grandmother were more than willing to monitor Autumn while she slept. There was a little confusion over whether or not Sage was still nursing, but her mother seemed to catch on pretty quickly that Sage had stopped that a few weeks ago. Formula was quickly made, and little Autumn was all set for the night.

Once I got her home, a two-story bungalow with a view of the river, I ordered in some Sushi and we cracked open a bottle of wine and made ourselves comfortable in front of a fire. My house was decorated in California comfort, mostly in shades of gray with a splash of cranberry on a couple of the walls for a touch of color. The last time my folks visited from Napa, where they moved after they retired, my mom suggested adding some color to my steel gray interior. It actually worked, and I liked it.

“Your house isn’t what I’d expected,” Sage said, after she knocked off the last of her second salmon role.

“What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. Something messier, I suppose. Something less pulled together and comfortable. I could sleep on this sofa, it’s so cushy.”

I sat next to her. “Yeah? Then why not spend the night?”

She turned to me. “Believe me, if I spent the night, it wouldn’t be on this sofa. It would be in your bed.”

“Why Sage Pilgrims, are you coming onto me?” I rolled a strand of her beautiful crimson hair between my fingers.

“I am. You got a problem with that?”

I nodded.

“And what’s that,” she asked looking all pouty.

“Why didn’t you ask me sooner?”

I kissed her then, a long intense kiss, that sent us both spinning, and when I slid my hand under her shirt, and cupped her lovely breast, that familiar moan slipped out, the moan I’d been dreaming about and longing to hear.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” I whispered as I helped slip her shirt up over her head.

“It’s been awhile,” she answered. “Way too long. I’ve been thinking about your touch.”

“I’ve been thinking about your tight pussy.” I said it, then wondered if maybe I was too bold. Too forward and might cause her to move away.

“I’ve had a baby. Things might not be the same in that region.”

“I’m willing to find out,” I said, grinning as I unfastened her bra and watched her breast fall free. They were still as lovely and as full as ever. I had no idea how a woman’s body might change after giving birth, but so far, I didn’t see or feel any difference. “You’re so beautiful.”

“You say that now,” she teased.

“I’ve always said it and will continue to say it.” I tugged off my shirt, and instantly felt the warmth of her hands as they ran over my chest and shoulders sending little shivers down to my groin. I was already hard and ready to take her, right here on the sofa, that she liked so much.

“You sure know how to woo a girl, Mace Cedarstone.”

“I hope so, because I’ll be doing more than wooing.” I didn’t know how that sounded, but at this point, with her nipples hard and begging for my mouth, I didn’t really care. I slid down on her and tasted each one, rolling my tongue over one, then the other, sucking and nipping as I went, claiming them as mine.

Before this thing scaled up to include Hunter and Forrest, I wanted her all to myself for one night, and while she was here with me, I intended to take full advantage of the situation.

I moved down to her stretch jeans, unzipped them and she helped me tug them off. Fortunately for me, her panties came right off with her pants.

We pulled mine off and I didn’t hesitate to run my hard cock along that sweet wet fold between her legs.

And as soon as I did, I stopped myself. “Maybe I should slip on a condom before we do this.”

“No need. I’m taking birth control pills this time,” she said, as I gazed down at the smile that stretched her lips.

“Mmmm, I love that,” I told her, then replaced my cock with my fingers, wanting to watch her come before I fucked her. She had always looked so incredibly wicked when she came, like a sinful angel.

I explored her pussy for a few moments, the slickness of it, the velvety feel of her folds, her perfect clit that made my skin prickle just knowing I had the power to cause her to shatter from my touch.

I gently flicked it for a few more moments, watching her face for those wicked angel eyes to appear. Telling me that she liked my touch, and that wicked look appeared without much effort.

“Oh, yes. Right there. Don’t stop. Press harder,” she demanded, like she’d been starved for my touch. I crushed her mouth with mine, while I rubbed her clit with my thumb and slid two fingers deep inside her. “Oh fuck, that feels so good.”

As her body clenched around my fingers, I could tell she was just as tight as she’d been before, and as I brought her to her first orgasm, I couldn’t help but pull back to watch her face delight in my touch.

Absolutely a wicked angel.

It was her smile. That big bright smile in the midst of her body quivering from the force of her release. She stared up, her eyes burning into mine.

“That’s it. Just let it rip, cookie. Allow yourself to fall into it, and lose yourself in the moment.”

“Mace, fuck me Mace!”

I felt like some naughty devil, as I mounted her, as I brought one of her legs up and rested it on my shoulder so I could drill her deep and hard. “This is your time, Sage. Just yours. You need me to fuck you. You need to come again while I’m deep inside you.”

I plunged in fast and deep, not waiting for her to come down from her high. I wanted to catch her wave of pleasure. Wanted in while she was trying to push everything out. She was so wet and warm, and her walls so tight against my cock, I roared from the sensations. We sounded like two banshees screaming in the night.

Good thing I had some land around my house or my neighbors would be breaking down my door right about now, thinking I was hurt instead of feeling some of the sharpest sensations I’d felt in way too long.

I didn’t let up. Instead, I dropped in harder and deeper with each thrust. Her entire body moved as I bottomed out and pulled back to do it all again, over and over. Faster and faster. Her fingers pressed into my back, her breath hot on my face, her flash of red hair splayed over the cushions on the sofa, and her skin damp from the intensity of the sex. She oozed sex. I could smell it on her and the scent caused my skin to prickle.

“Do it. Drill me harder. Take me. Take every part of me,” she said, her voice husky and deep, like the angel part of her had been replaced with a sex devil. I played right into her hands as they ran roughshod down my back and up my sides, until I wanted to scream again.

Our bodies slapped together over and over until I couldn’t hold back any longer. Until she couldn’t hold back. And when we came, it felt as though we were pushing out all the stress we’d been under. All the loneliness we’d been feeling since our last time. Since we fucked over a year ago, before her pregnancy, before Autumn, before we had a care in the world.

My body rocked down deep, like I was breaking apart and she would put me back together. Like this moment had always been meant to be. Like we were meant for each other, and this was only the beginning.

Our beginning.

Our love story.

I was certain my heart burst open and all my fear flew up into the stratosphere and disintegrated. And as my breath went deeper and deeper into my lungs and as she screamed out my name over and over again, I slowly relaxed on top of her. Both of us breathing hard, like we’d been running for miles, running towards each other, for good this time.

We both just laid there for a few more minutes. Not speaking. Just breathing. Our bodies still connected. Still pressing together, until I felt her move under me.

I slipped my now flexed cock out of her, and we moved on the sofa so we were staring at each other, grinning.

“What the hell was that?” she asked.

“The earth moved,” I told her, teasing.

“It didn’t just move. It shifted. Whole planes shifted and we’re not the same two people we were before the shift.”

“If we’re not the same, then who are we?”

“Two people who’ve been touched by the god of sex.”

“Is there such a god?”

“There has to be or else how do you explain all of that?”

“I can’t. But I’d like to think it was the angel of sex.”

“He or she would have to be a wicked angel, because that was some wicked sex.”

“Devilishly wicked sex,” I told her as I swept her tangled hair off her glistening face. Her arm draped over my shoulder and our legs were intertwined. “And I want more.”

“Now?” she asked, looking a bit startled.

“Not now, but before you leave in the morning.”

“At least two more times,” she teased.

“I’ll hold you to that,” I told her.

“As long as you hold me, I’ll do anything you want.”

“You shouldn’t talk like that. It makes me hard.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, but her eyes had closed and she was already drifting off. I pulled her in tighter, pulled the throw off the back of the sofa over us, and fell asleep right along with her, letting out a contented sigh that surprised even me.