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SOMETHING HAPPENED BETWEEN Luce and Smith. She won’t look at him and he won’t stop looking at her. He’s staring at her like she’s his lost princess. His eyes burning so hot, I’m even getting weak knees. She’s ignoring him, helping the other women pack up the kitchen while he stands by the screen door watching over her like a guard dog.
Roger’s loving has turned me soft in all the places I was hard. It’s almost time to pack up and go home to Springdale. I turn away before I’m caught looking at the two of them. Rog is with Mac checking and locking up the cabins.
Tomorrow is my first in-service. A boring day to listen to all the school’s policies and meet all the teacher’s that I’ll be working with this year. Sighing, I walk back outside smiling shyly as I pass new friends and take in the view one more time as my feet lightly tread on the path back to Rog’s cabin to get my things.
I finish stuffing my backpack and sigh, looking at the bed. I hope we come back here, soon. But Rog says the snow makes the roads impassable. And there won’t be many weekends left since none of the cabins are winterized.
A sharp knock at the door has me looking up, as Shanna opens the door and breezes in.
“Hey.”
“Hey. I wanted to give you my number. Call me whenever Rog gets a thick head.”
“Yeah, I might have to put you on speed dial,” I laugh. After unlocking my phone, I hand it over.
“There. I hope you and Rog can come visit us in California.”
“I’d like that,” I answer taking my phone back.
I strip the sheets and place them in a bag to be washed.
“I’ll take care of this baby.”
“I want to help. I haven’t lifted a finger this weekend while all the other women have pitched in in the kitchen.”
“You’re off the clock, sweetheart. Besides, I’ve put you to work in my bed.”
And he did.
We spend the afternoon wrapped up in each other’s arms. Last night we fucked. Today Roger made love to me, softly, tenderly. Don’t get me wrong, the man is so huge and powerful, a gentle fuck for him would be a moderate one for any other man. We laid side by side, gazing into each other’s eyes as he pumped slowly, but forcefully inside. It went on for at least an hour. Damn that man has stamina. I came at least three times.
“Ride back with me.”
“What about my car?”
“I’ll have one of the boys drive it,” he shrugs.
“We need to grab Luce.”
He raises his eyebrows and looks away.
“What?”
“Don’t get upset, Dev.”
“Whenever someone tells me that—I instantly get upset.”
“Smith’s claimed her as his. She’ll ride in his truck.”
“And what does Luce have to say about this.”
“It doesn’t matter. It won’t matter. He’s the Prez. His word is law.”
“No,” I shake my head, “this is not some script. She has a say.”
“Some shit is just like TV. We don’t take threats lightly or say a woman is our old lady if she isn’t.”
“I knew he was looking at her all crazy last night. I never should’ve left her with him by the fire.”