L.L. Diamond

This is for a theme entitled April Showers.  I hope you like it!

 A New Ride

 

My fingers threaded their way through the grass beside the picnic blanket, and I sighed in contentment. The day was warm and breezy, which helped keep the pesky bugs away, and I could hear the soft nicker of the horses nearby. I loved Pemberley!

I had just laid down watching the lake rippling in the distance when I felt William’s hand creep around my waist. “Are we being lazy?” he asked with a smile.

“I’m simply enjoying this gorgeous day.” I knew I was gushing, but I was so happy that I couldn’t help myself. I rolled over, and found him sporting the widest grin I’d ever seen on his face. Leaning in, he softly claimed my lips before he pulled back to rest his head on his outstretched arm, tucking a wisp of hair behind my ear.

“You never said why Jensen didn’t want to come to Pemberley this weekend.”

William and I had been dating now for two months. I loved him. My son loved him—heck, my entire family loved him. I’d been happier than I could remember being. The only person who’d been less than thrilled was my ex, Ryan.

“Ryan insisted that Jensen go to Gulf Shores with them.” William’s forehead furrowed while he took my hand in his.

“Last month, Ryan hardly called or even showed for his visitation. This month, he’s calling multiple times a week, showing up at Jensen’s swim meets, and insisting on vacations?” His voice had a suspicious tone, and I wondered if he realized why Ryan was suddenly so active in his son’s life.

“When he called a couple of weeks ago, Jensen mentioned coming out here to go riding with us. The next thing I knew, Jensen was dealing with a barrage of questions about us and how much time he was spending with you.”

“He shouldn’t put Jensen in the middle like that.”

“I agree, and I told Ryan that myself. Nevertheless, I think he feels your competition.”

“Good Lord, I may not like the man, but I would never try to take his son from him.”

I shrugged and entwined my fingers with his. “Ryan’s relationship or lack of one with Jensen is his own doing. For the last few years, he was the one who didn’t pick him up when it was his weekend and didn’t show when Jensen begged him to come to swim meets.”

Leaning in, I softly brushed my lips against his. “Jensen is fine and will call us if he has a problem.” I said against his lips before trailing mine across his cheek to his ear. “And the last person I want to think about right now is Ryan.” I dragged my teeth along the lobe and smiled at his swift intake of breath.

“Who?” He rolled me on to my back and began suckling my neck while I lifted my knees, aligning his body with mine. William had been a perfect gentleman since we began dating. At first, I’d been really nervous, so I appreciated how considerate he’d been. The last few weeks, I had become frustrated with all of the kissing that never led anywhere.

He lifted his head and looked me directly in the eye. “I love you, Lizzy.” I couldn’t help but smile. “I love you, too,” I whispered. His lips returned to mine in a deep kiss, his tongue gently caressing mine. I ran my hands down his sides until I found the edge of his shirt where I slipped them up his back.

He gently sucked my bottom lip, and I lifted my head to deepen the kiss again. I didn’t care that we were outside. I wanted him, so I reached down and grabbed his rear in my hands, pulling him closer as I lifted my hips.

I felt his fingers dig into the sides of my jeans, grasping me as he broke the kiss and groaned my name. His lips relocated to my neck as I clasped the bottom of his shirt to lift it up his back. My intention had been to take the t-shirt off completely, but as my fingers brushed his shoulder blades, he inhaled sharply, ceasing his attention to my cleavage to look at the sky. There was a grey cloud overhead, and a second later, I knew why he had gasped as a large raindrop fell onto my forehead.

I would’ve been fine with remaining in the rain, but the saddles could’ve been damaged. Mine had once belonged to William’s mother, and I knew he’d be upset if it was ruined.

We collected what was still out from our picnic, stowing it all in William’s backpack before he helped me mount.

I didn’t want Page, the enormous gelding I was riding to be anxious, so I patted his neck while I waited for William to get situated in his saddle. He turned as the drizzle escalated to a brisk shower, guiding his horse closer to mine.

“Do you remember the way back?” I nodded and watched as he took the trail ahead. I prompted Page into a gallop and laughed at William’s surprise when I passed him, taking the trail heading toward the barn.

Page was familiar with the route and began turning before my cues. He definitely knew when we were close to home, because on the final turn, I felt him surge forward as we passed through a gap in a hedge. Page cut to the right and my body went left, sending me flying into an azalea bush. I then landed on my butt with a thud, despite the attempt I made at bracing my fall with my hand.

“Lizzy!” yelled William, skidding to a stop. He jumped down and dropped to his knees in front of me. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.” He gave me an odd look as he ran his hands over the scratches on my arms.

“You think so?”

I nodded and held out my arms for him to help me up. “I think I’m just a bit stunned from my acrobatic dismount.”

He chuckled, stood, and grasped my hands, pulling me to stand in front of him. I hissed a bit, and he wrapped an arm around me.

“What hurts?”

“Mainly my rear, but my wrist is a bit tender. I tried to brace my fall.”

“Can you make it to the barn?”

“Yup, I got it,” I answered, dealing with the pain as I walked.

We found Page waiting at the stables where William insisted on unsaddling the horses while I sat on a bench to the side.

When we made it back to the house, he insisted I shower so he could take me to the emergency room. I felt he was overreacting, but I had to admit that it was nice to be fussed over. My tailbone was fine, even with the beautiful purple bruise that had formed across both cheeks. What surprised the doctor was that a precautionary x-ray taken of my arm revealed it was broken. I was referred to an orthopedist for a cast, my arm was wrapped, and I was released.

We arrived home an hour later with Percocet and take out. William ensured that I ate, gave me my pain pill, and tucked me into bed—but he didn’t join me.

I dozed for a bit, but when I woke he still wasn’t there. Following the faint sound of a television, I found him asleep in one of the guest rooms. I stripped off my nightclothes and slipped between the covers.

He stirred a bit, but when I straddled him, his eyes shot open. “Lizzy!” His hands grasped my sides and at the feeling of bare skin, his eyes bulged. “What are you doing?”

“I would’ve thought that was obvious,” I whispered as I leaned down and brushed my lips against his. He appeared as if he was going to protest, but I placed a finger over his lips. “I’ve been ready for this for a while, and I’m not spending tonight alone.”

“I don’t want to jar your arm… or your behind.” After glancing over at the one arm I was using for balance, he rolled us on to our sides, and I noticed his eyes peruse my body. His hand followed his gaze, finally landing on my hip. “You’re beautiful… Lord knows, I’ve wanted you for years…but are you sure.”

I smiled widely and leaned in to kiss him. “I’m positive.”

Before I knew what had happened, his lips were on mine, and he’d rolled me beneath him. To my satisfaction, he knew just where to touch me to evoke a reaction, and by the vocalizations he made, I was in no doubt of his fulfillment.

When I woke, William’s still sleeping body communicated that it was morning quite well, and my eyes opened slowly, savoring the feeling of him wrapped around me.

I rolled carefully, and watched as his eyes opened. His wide grin made me laugh.

“How’s your arm?”

“It’s a bit achy.” He began to pull back, and I grasped him to me with my good arm. “Where are you going?”

“To get you a pain pill.”

I shook my head and wrapped a leg around him. “You’re not going anywhere, Mr. Darcy. You’re supposed to ensure I have a spectacular morning before you leave this bed.”

A low chuckle rumbled in his throat. He guided my face up to his and kissed me deeply while he stroked my thigh. I was beginning to lose myself to his touch, when I remembered something.

“William,” I gasped out between kisses. “We need a condom.”

He stopped abruptly, staring at me with a confused expression. “Lizzy, you’re allergic to latex.”

“I know,” I said as I nodded. “I bought some that are non-latex.” I gestured toward the nightstand where I found the package unopened. When I turned back, I noticed he was biting his bottom lip.

“I didn’t know they were there,” he replied worriedly. “I just assumed that since you were allergic to latex you were on the pill.”

“No,” I said kind of dazed. “I just had the prescription filled Friday, and I hadn’t started taking them yet.

He hovered over me for a moment before his forehead dropped to my shoulder. I was shocked to find him laughing.

“Why do you find this so funny?” I asked, wanting to find the humor in the situation.

He propped himself to my side and rubbed my hip. “I just had this vision of us explaining to Jensen that you were pregnant. I’m sure at some point in the last few years, you’ve embarrassed him with a talk on safe sex. Here would be the evidence that we obviously failed at that, and he’d be absolutely appalled at the proof that his mother even has sex.”

I chuckled. “He’s been so mortified the few times he’s caught us kissing. I guess he probably would be horrified at my being pregnant.”

William’s hand found my cheek and his thumb softly caressed near my hairline. I could feel a change in atmosphere between us, and I held my breath. “I’ve wanted to marry you for as long as I can remember, Lizzy. I’ve just been waiting on a sign that you’re ready. I’m not saying that we have to start actively trying to have a baby right now, but if one happened to come along …God, Lizzy…I’d be ecstatic.”

His words rendered me speechless, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him as close as I could. “I’ll marry you wherever and whenever,” I said with tears running down my cheeks.

The smile on his face was brilliant. I leaned in and captured his lips with mine as he pressed me back into the pillows. Needless to say, I didn’t get those pain pills for my arm for quite some time—not that I’m complaining.

 

 

A hand=4 inches, so 16.5 hands = 66 inches from the front hoof to the top of the shoulder blade.

 

 

© 2014  L.L. Diamond