Chasing the Fall (Naughty and Spice)

Thirteen

Bran

I can’t believe I caved.

The idea beats a refrain in my mind as Tally and I drive the darkened highway that will lead us back to Virginia. I shift in my leather seat, trying to gain a more comfortable position.

The whole idea makes me nervous. What if this guy knows, somehow, that Tally is supposed to be at Floyd’s Toy Emporium tomorrow? Was it advertised?

Logic says it’s not likely he would know, even if the toy shop had advertised Tally’s presence, specifically. He’s not a father—that any of us are aware of, anyway—and wouldn’t necessarily be in the flow of parent-oriented advertising.

Still, I don’t like it.

“Siri, phone Jack,” I say into the dimly illuminated cab.

I feel Tally’s surprised glance. “Why are you calling Jack?”

I don’t have time to answer her before Jack answers. “Bran. Everything okay?”

“We’re fine,” I say. “Just wanted to give you a heads up. Tally is supposed to be at Floyd’s Toy Emporium tomorrow…some kind of public service thing that she agreed to do for the kids. I didn’t feel right about not letting her do it and figured it would be safe, but I did want to check in with you and get your thoughts.”

“Floyd’s…I’m familiar with that event. My thoughts are that it should be safe enough. The potential for her presence to have been a big enough marketing ploy to reach Thurston is slim. She’s not a celebrity, and Floyd doesn’t advertise this event…it’s for a community children’s home.”

“That’s kind of what I was thinking, but I feel better hearing it confirmed by you.”

“I would, though, be there undercover if I were you. Just to be safe.”

It’s sensible. “That’s a good idea…but undercover in what way? I’m a little large to be another elf.”

“Santa, of course,” Tally says. My hand jerks on the wheel, sending the tires onto the rumble strip on the side of the highway, and she spears me with an outraged look. “He’s perfect for the part, particularly if he drives a sleigh better than he does a truck.”

“No. Absolutely not, hell no.” There’s no way in hell I’m dressing up as the jolly old fat man in red. “And then no, again.”

Twiggy giggles.

Jack hums, and I don’t like the sound. “Actually, it’s kind of genius. No one except the kids will be paying attention to Santa. If Thurston does show up, he’ll be emboldened to try something, and maybe we can catch him.”

“You’re not using Tallulah as fucking bait.”

“No, of course not. But it’s a good idea. Otherwise, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”

Motherfuck me in the ass.

“Fine. You just make sure the fucking suit fits.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

I hang up and send a glare toward Tally. “Thanks a lot.”

She beams, choosing to ignore the sarcasm. “Don’t mention it, studmuffin.”

Fucking hell. “Do not, for the love, call me that.”

“Okay, hot stuff.”

“Not that, either.”

“Grumpy old man?”

“You need to be spanked, and often.”

A couple further hours down the road, a fluorescent sign for a twenty-four-hour Walmart catches my eye. I pull off the interstate and into the parking lot, the slowed motion of the truck waking a drowsing Tally. “What are we doing here?”

“You’ll see.”

I wait as she climbs stiffly out, and we begin to walk toward the store. It’s quiet, only a handful of other vehicles dotting the rain-dampened asphalt.

Tally grumbles as we pass through the automatic doors. “You know how freaking late it is? I was sleeping. If you were going to stop anywhere, it should have been at Karla’s. I want a damn donut.”

“Hush; you always want a donut. And it’s only nine.”

“I will not hush—”

“If you shut up, I’ll get you a donut.”

Tally pinches her lips closed.

Pausing to glance around, I locate a cashier—the only one—and head for her register. Tally is brimming with questions, but she manages to be quiet as we get in line.

I can hear her voice in my head, though.

WTF are we doing getting in line when you haven’t even picked up whatever it is you want to buy?

I hide a smile as we move to take our turn.

“Help you?” The cashier pops a laconic bubble.

“I need one of the six-foot trees out front, please.”

“Alrighty.” She spins her code wheel around until she locates what she needs and rings up a Christmas tree. I swipe my card, finally chancing a look at Tally.

“You bought a Christmas tree,” she bursts.

I replace my card in my wallet and turn to leave. “I did.”

“Why, though?”

She half-jogs alongside me as we exit, and I turn toward the selection of trees. “Because you deserve a damn tree, that’s why. Pick one.”

Tally doesn’t turn toward the trees, though. Instead, she throws her arms around my neck, yanking me down to her level, and buries her face in the space between my shoulder and neck. I feel her lips move against my skin and her breath hot against me. “Thank you,” she says, the words muffled. “Thank you, thank you, thank you—”

“Stop.” Pulling away, I look into her eyes for one long moment, then lean into her and kiss her. “Pick a tree, baby.”

Eyes shining, she picks a small one—thinking of how small her place is, no doubt.

I grunt and choose a larger one. More. It’s what Christmas is all about, right?

I toss the tree on the back of the truck, and no more than ten minutes after stopping, we are on the road again. Lucy Falls is only another twenty minutes or so down the road, and as we pull into town and creep along the twenty-five-mile-per-hour stretch, I remember the other thing that Tally wanted.

I pull into Karla’s. “Let’s get some donuts.”

“Bran?”

I stop halfway in and halfway out of the truck cab. “Yeah?”

“You’d better be careful. A girl might get ideas.” Her expression is softer than I’ve ever seen it…tender, almost. She climbs out and shuts the door.

I meet her at the door to Karla’s and tug her hand into mine. Our palms slide together, somehow fitting perfectly despite the size difference.

She doesn’t get it. She’s not there yet, which I guess is understandable, as it’s only been a few days. That’s okay, though. “As long as they’re the same ideas I already have, I’m okay with that.”

Once we’re back at Tally’s house, I set the tree outside the door. “We can decorate tomorrow,” I tell her, pushing the door closed and locking it. “Right now… I need to make love to you, Tallulah.”

Sliding my fingers into the hair at the base of her skull, I tip her face up and kiss her.

The words surprise me. But no more than the realization that, for once in my life, I mean them. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but everything I’ve learned about Tally has just reinforced the growing feelings I have for her.

It’s scary as hell, but all signs point to her being it for me.

My everything.

I walk her backward toward her bed, our lips never breaking contact until the mattress bumps against the back of Tally’s legs, and I push her gently down.

I pull my shirt up and over my head, then bend to render Tally beautifully naked before me. She helps, shoving article after article of clothing to the side.

She starts to push herself further back on the bed, but I grip her hips and pull her down to the edge of the bed, then kneel before her.

“Wh…what are you…oh my sweet baby jeezus—”

Her question breaks on a moan when I fasten my lips around her clit and suck.

Tally is my new favorite meal, one I plan on eating every day for the rest of my life. She just doesn’t know it yet.

I lick and lap at her until she’s squirming within my grip, and then I push one finger into her pussy, curling it up against her walls until I find that spot that makes her legs shake against my shoulders.

I wait until she goes tense, her back arching up off the bed as I continue riding her through every fluttering pulse of her pussy. Only then do I stand and shuck my boots and jeans, then cover her body with my own.

With one firm stroke, I make her mine.

Tally wraps her legs around my waist and fastens her hands to my biceps as I hold myself just slightly above her, angle my groin against her so it hits her sweet spot with every thrust, and begin to move.

“You’re mine, Tallulah.” My pace, already relentless, picks up. “For tonight. For tomorrow night…for all the nights to come.”

Her lips part, and a moment later, I feel her shatter around me once more, her muscles squeezing and milking my cock in pulsing waves. It’s enough to send me over the edge, and I follow her into that abyss with a hoarse shout.

I empty myself of everything, until all that remains is Tally, and then roll to my back, taking her with me to lie across my chest. Even though she’s filled out and grown from a gangly child into an undeniably beautiful woman, she’s still so small that if I spread my fingers apart, my palm covers just about her entire back.

She sprawls without speaking against my chest, her fingertips moving restlessly across the play of muscle and bone.

I can feel her heart thundering in her own chest.

“You’re quiet.”

She shifts, restless, and tilts her face up to look at me. “What you said…did you mean that? Or was that just good sex talking?”

“When I said you were mine?” She nods. “I meant it.”

She moves her head back to its resting position. “What if I don’t…what if… It’s only been a few days, Bran. You can’t say shit like that.” She pushes against me, wanting to move, but I tighten my hold on her.

“When you know, you know.” She makes a sound of distress, and I pat her ass. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way, Tally. Take your time.”

She subsides, her body relaxing degree by degree until the soft rise and fall of her back beneath my hand tells me she’s fallen asleep.

“I’m not going anywhere.”