All Roads Lead Home (33 page)

“I don’t want a drink, and seeing you drink is the last thing I ever want to witness.”

“Jagger, a glass of wi…”

“No! Do you hear me, Tenley? No drinking for us, not now, not ever. People make bad decisions when they drink, and I need my head clear, okay?”

Right there I was taken back to the night I was drunk and betrayed Jagger with Shane.
Oh God! Will he ever truly forgive me for that?
I didn’t have the strength to call him out on it, so I did the next best thing…I ran. I grabbed my coat and made my way to the stable to see Jazzy.

Jagger called out to me, but I ignored him. My tears were falling rapidly, and my heart was breaking. No matter how far Jagger and I came today, there would always be my mistake with Shane hanging over our heads. He swore to me years ago that he would never forget what I did to him, and clearly he never did.

“FUCK! DAMMIT TO hell!” I couldn’t stop her with my hurt leg. Declaring war on the liquor cabinet showed her my biggest regret. I meant every word I said to Tenley. I was no longer living in the past, but having to sit here and listen to her father go on about family, friendship, and most of all Jamie, nearly broke me in half. My father watched my every move while I sat and listened to Brock.

After my collision with the tree, I swore off alcohol and bad decisions. Once in a while, I would still have an occasional beer, but it had been so long going without it that I don’t even miss it. I saw the look on Tenley’s face when I said it. She had to be thinking about Shane, assuming I still blamed her. I didn’t, and hell, I didn’t even blame him anymore. It was a part of me, and my wounds were still raw from my accident and knowing Shane was the cause of it. After I vowed to never hurt her again, it’s exactly what I just did.

“Go away, Shane, you are the last person I want to see right now,” I said, as he made his way over to me. My leg was so stiff, I couldn’t walk another three feet in front of me. I sat on the porch freezing, knowing my girl was out there somewhere and alone.

“Too bad, Jag, but I’m not going anywhere. What are you doing, man? What will it take for you to forgive me? And her? You finally have her back. Don’t fuck it up by throwing her greatest mistake back in her face every chance you get. If you truly can’t move on, then you don’t deserve her. Let her go back to New York where she may have a shot at being happy with someone else.”

“HELL NO! Do you have a fucking death wish Shane? Why are you trying to rile me up right now? You want off this ranch? Get the fuck off it and take a long walk of a short cliff. Hey, I tried it and looky here…I’m still alive!”

“You’re an asshole, but you’re my asshole brother/best friend who I love. I know you’re mad at me, but I also know that buried under all of your hurt is forgiveness. It’s there, and when you’re ready to give it, I’ll happily accept it. I’m so sorry, Jagger. You will never know how sorry I am for all of it. Please don’t let your stubborn pride get in the way of being happy with Tenley this time. I’ve learned so much from my therapy sessions, and the wisdom from our fathers. A man’s pride is just as important as the air in his lungs. No man escapes taking a fall in his life, but it’s what comes next after the man gets up that matters. Be that man to get up, and go get your girl. Get the fuck up, and go get your girl!”

I looked at Shane, I swear he was going to punch me while I was still down. When I got up, he wore a shit-eatin’grin that I just wanted to punch, but he knew I wouldn’t.

“I really fucking hate you right now, you know that, right?”

“That may be, brother, but I know you love her more. Now for the last time…GO. GET. YOUR. GIRL.”

I wanted to say thank you to him, but I think Shane knew it. I got in my truck and drove down to the stables. I called out to her, and no one answered back. Jazzy was still in her stall, and I saw no other horses missing.

“Tenley! Where are you?” I voiced out loud.

“Oh boy! Will you and my daughter ever get it right? Hell, my son up in heaven must be knocking back a Tequila shot by now,” Brock said as he made his way over to me.

“How did you know, sir?”

“Know what, son? How the minute we all left you would once again fuck up and hurt my daughter?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“We had hoped you would have been the bigger man about it, but clearly you still are fighting that internal war within you. Son, you’re not going to get many more chances to be with her. You take a foot forward only to be catapulted three feet back with your stubborn pride. It’s over, son. That thing with Shane and her…Let it go once and for all. Did anyone really ever stand a chance against what you and Tenley have? Please be the man I know you are and go find my girl. Love my daughter with every fiber you have, and marry her. Make good on all those new promises, and be happy with the one you love. That’s being a man, an honorable one who I can respect as my son-in-law. If you can’t be those things, than please walk away.”

“Never sir. I will never let her go. I swear I will make this right.”

“Good man. She’s at the cabin.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You’re welcome, Jagger.”

I never drove so fast in my life. I hit every bump on the road, causing painful spasms through my leg, but I didn’t care. I needed to get back to my girl and grovel at her feet.

“I swear it, Jamie, I swear it. I will never be so careless again with your sister’s heart. I’m sorry, brother, please help me make this right again. After all we’ve been through, I won’t lose her now.”

The cabin was dimly lit with the fireplace roaring. I could see the smoke coming from the chimney and knew she was in there. I saw not her rental, but one of the jeeps they used on the ranch.

I didn’t bother knocking and just walked in where I found her in deep thought in front of the fireplace. I closed the door behind me and kicked off my snow covered boots. It was warm in here and my girl was surrounded by ice cream and tissues.

She was quiet. Who could blame her? I sat beside her and turned her to me. She didn’t flinch with my touch and that was a sure sign that I still had a chance here.

“Baby, I am so sorry for what I said back there at the house. I know what you must be thinking, but I swear it was just a knee-jerk reaction to all your father hit us with. I swear to God that I am no longer holding onto that past hurt. I will never ever bring it up to you again. Please talk to me. I will do anything to see you smile again and hear you say you forgive me. Please Tenley, please?”

“Ice cream?”

“What?”

“I said ice cream, do you want some?”

“Um…sure. What kind do you have?” My heart was pounding in my chest and here was my girl offering me ice cream.

“The freezer is stocked up good.” She got up and walked over to the refrigerator and told me what she had. “We have Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, Rocky Road, and my personal favorite, Chocolate Peanut Butter. What will it be?”

Fucking hell!
She was teasing the hell out of me right now and making me sweat. Tenley was wearing skin tight dark denim jeans, with a sweater only reaching her waist and giving me a clear picture of her perfect round ass which she was taunting me with. Her sweater was thin with only a tank top underneath. I could see her nipples hardening in front of the opened freezer door. My dick was so hard it was causing me pain against my zipper.

“Well? I don’t have all night.”

She winked at me. And right there, I knew we were okay. I made myself comfortable up against the floor pillows she placed in front of the fire. I spread my legs for her to see my hard erection, and her eyes widened. Licking my lips, and so ready to play this game, I said, “Chocolate Peanut Butter.”

She grabbed the container and a new spoon and slowly walked over to me. Popping the top off, she dug in with her spoon and brought it to her mouth, spreading the ice cream all over her lips. My dick was so hard, if I didn’t take her soon, I was going to explode right in my pants. Knowing my girl, this was exactly what she probably wanted to happen. It would serve me right for being a stubborn ass.

“Hmm, this is good. Want some?” she teasingly asked.

“Only if you feed it to me.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“Take off your jeans and sit on my lap, then you can feed me,” I requested.

“I don’t think so.”

“Are you saying no?”

“I’m saying no, but would be willing for an even exchange. Let’s call it ‘What will Jagger say next?’ ”

That hurt and went right through my heart. She was clearly playing with me, but remained guarded at the same time. I deserved it and would take anything she threw at me.

“An even exchange? Okay, go for it,” I said.

“Take off your clothes, Jagger,” she said without batting an eyelash.

“Where would you like me to begin?”

“I would start with your pants,” she said, taking another bite of ice cream and licking the spoon clean.

Yup! I was about to shoot right in front of her. I kicked off my jeans and then slid my boxers down my legs with my dick springing free. I then lifted my t-shirt from the hem and whipped it over my head. I was completely bare in front of her, waiting for her next command.

“Very good. You may have a taste.”

She spooned out some ice cream and I opened my mouth to take it, but she slowly and teasingly ran the spoon down her neck.

“Oops, I missed. Whatever shall I do now?”

She didn’t need to say another word, I leaned in and licked up the fallen ice cream with my tongue, leaving not a trace behind. She squirmed under my touch, I could feel her legs rubbing together. She wanted me, that was clear, but I knew I needed to be patient and have her lead me where she needed me to be.

“I’m sorry I ran,” she said.

“I’m sorry I was the cause behind it.”

She spooned another serving and placed it in my mouth, then a scorching kiss followed. I relished the decadent flavor and wanted more.

“I love you, Jagger.”

“I love you too, Tenley, so much.”

“Will you ever truly forgive me for Shane?”

“I already have. I swear to you I will never bring it up again. I know it hurt you, and I instantly felt the pain in my gut when the words left my mouth.”

She took in another spoonful of ice cream and then dropped to her knees, taking me in her mouth. I wasn’t going to last long with Tenley making a meal out of my dick. I was so turned on by her assault. She dropped the container and put her hands behind her back with just her skillful tongue working me over. I instinctively held her head and pushed my hardness further down her throat. She moaned out her pleasure, and I was five seconds away from erupting into her hot mouth. I warned her before, but she didn’t release her hold on me. I arched my head back while still holding hers, and I came so fucking hard down her throat. She took all of me, and I was a bastard to allow her to. She licked me clean, and not a drop was spilled. She got up, looking pleased with herself. Placing the ice cream back into the freezer, she turned and slowly removed herself from her clothing.

Her flimsy sweater and top went off together. Next was her jeans she shimmied out of. Tenley was standing in front of the fireplace with just her bra and panties remaining. Her eyes invited me closer, and I took it from there. I unfastened her bra and let it drop to the floor, kissing her mouth and tasting the remnants of my come mixed with ice cream.

“I love you. Relax, baby, because it’s my turn to show you how much.”

I kissed my way down to her dripping sex and ripped off her panties, if you even want to call them that. My tongue pushed into her folds, and immediately Tenley’s pelvis rocked against my mouth. I fucked her with my mouth. I could feel her legs weakening with every thrust of my tongue inside of her. She dropped down into my arms where I placed her on the pillows and blanket. I didn’t stop, I would never stop pleasuring her. I parted her legs and stretched her to the brink of pain. She cried out over and over again as her orgasms ripped through her body. At the height of her climax, I plunged deep inside of her swollen tightness.

“You feel so good, baby, wrapped around my dick. Let me hear you,” I commanded her.

“Holy hell, Jagger!”

“That’s right, baby, scream my name. I fucking love it and love you so much.”

We were on the brink of pure ecstasy. I fell to my back with Tenley riding my dick even harder than before. I sat straight up with my arms wrapped around her. I pushed harder, she rode me harder, and then we came together. Our bodies were slicked in sweat mixed up with both of our juices. She collapsed onto me, and I held her with the intention of not letting her go.

Somehow we made it into the shower to clean up. I washed her from her hair down to her toes. All I wanted was to make her feel good. I was so done being an asshole that throws her past in her face. Tenley’s past was mine as well. It didn’t serve either one of us any good to keep living there. We had an amazing future to look forward to, and I wasn’t going to tempt fate again.

“I’m starving,” she said as she snuggled up against my side.

“Wait here, and do not move. I will make us something and bring it back here to bed.”