Page 29 of Consorting with Romance
I grabbed our bags from the truck bed as he extricated himself from its fuzzy grasp and he took his bag from my shoulder before slipping his fingers through mine. It was a larger home than I was used to seeing in the city. Two stories ofwhite and deep blue, with a wide, wraparound porch.
We stepped into a small foyer where we dropped our bags. To the left was a set of stairs leading up, and to the right, a small drawing room, stylishly appointed in creams and pale blues. We walked straight ahead, into a kitchen that smelled as if someone had been cooking for hours.
The elegant older woman chopping something at the counter turned to greet us. She had the same glowing smile and amber eyes as Jesse. He released my hand and they embraced for a long moment. Something in my chest ached at the scene. God, this family loved him. What must that be like? Another attractive woman around our age followed suit.
Jesse reached for my hand once more and pulled me forward. “Mom, Kate, this is Ash. Ash, my mother Mary, and my sister-in-law Kate.”
I could only nod, unsure what to do withmyself in this unfamiliar scene. They both moved in succession to hug me briefly.
“Such a pleasure to meet you, Ash. Jesse says only wonderful things.” his mother said with a smile.
He just grinned. “Do you blame me?”
She examined me purposefully. “Not a bit. Why don’t you boys take your things upstairs and wash up. Your dad and brother should be about finished checking the hydroponics and dinner is nearly ready.”
“Yes ma’am.” came Jesse’s quick reply before he turned to lead us back the way we’d come.
I simply nodded and followed. We hauled our bags upstairs and down a long hall into a small bedroom. It was deep blue with a few framed photos of starry night skies and an old black and white photo of a baseball field. Jesse’s room. I wandered slowly, taking it all in, wondering what the youth that inhabited this room would have been like. What adventures his childhood must have offered. So different from my own.
I jumped when he came up behind me, his firm chest and stomach pressing against my back, and his soft cock settled between my cheeks, knowing it belonged there. I leaned my head back onto his shoulder with a soft whimper of pleasure as his arms encircled me and his lips found their favorite spot in the bend of my neck. Suddenly it didn’t matter how unfamiliar my surroundings were. He was my home. I ran my hand along his forearm and pressed back against him.
He chuckled and groaned as he began to harden against my ass. “As tempting as you are. You do NOT want to be late to one of momma’s dinners.”
“I bet we could be quick.”
In the few months we’d been sleeping together, one thing had become very clear. Our need for one another was intense and insatiable. Jesse nipped harder at my neck.
“Later.” he promised as his lips curled into a smile against my skin.
With an exaggerated groan I pulled myself from his embrace and dug through my bag to pull out the small box.
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“Gift.” I grinned.
He raised his eyebrow further and when I said nothing he just laughed. “Ok. Ok. Come on you.”
His fingers laced through mine as we made our way down the stairs, through the kitchen and out the wide doors to the back porch. It was breathtaking. The large white porch held a long, tastefully appointed table surrounded by cushioned chairs in pale peach, and the view of the endless deep brown and bright green fields was stunning.
There were a handful of people around the table who all stopped chatting as we emerged,and Jesse introduced me to the rest of his family. I was surprised by the ease with which they welcomed me. Their introductions were simple and quick, no one audibly questioned whether I belonged, and their faces all remained soft and open.
Once we settled in at the table, Jesse’s siblings made their way into the kitchen to bring out dinner. We were left with only his parents and grandmother for a moment, and it seemed like an opportunetime. I settled the box on the table in front of his mother. They all looked up at me with the same questioning gaze Jesse often offered me.
“A small thank you. For allowing me to join you this weekend.” I said nervously.
“Well, that’s very kind of you, but certainly not necessary! We’re thrilled to have you here with us. Jesse is just madly in love with you, and hell, you’re only the second person he’s ever brought home to us.” his mother replied.
“Still.” I smiled.
She opened the box with a sort of grace that seemed a part of her every movement.
“Oh my God. John…” She trailed off as she passed the box to her husband.
“Good lord, son! Where in the world did you get this?!” he asked.
Jesse leaned over to see what could have caused such a reaction and just grinned at me with glowing eyes and a nod of approval.
“I was gifted one many years ago. They do pretty well, and I’ve got a nice little patch now. Since they aren’t grown in this settlement, I thought you might like to have some too. I figure if I can cultivate them, then farmers should be able to do wonders.”
