Finding Pride (Pride Series) (13 page)

He just nodded and followed her down the stairs.

“Hi Iian.” Allison paused from pulling out one of the larger paintings. She had jumped into the bed of the truck and was handing paintings down.

Iian just nodded. Megan thought it was strange how he was acting. Then she noticed that all the pictures were wrapped with brown paper, and appeared to be framed.

“Oh, the frames came in, wow that was fast.” She began ripping off the paper on the one she held. “Oh, they look so professional.” Megan said holding it up. Iian looked over her shoulder at the painting, noticing the small signature in the corner, and then looked back up at Allison with newness registering on his face.

“I really like the look of this small one that you had matted and framed.” Allison said holding it up and walking to the back of the truck. Iian quickly walked over and helped her down from the bed of the truck. When Megan noticed that his hands stayed on Allison’s hips a little longer, she quickly looked away smiling to herself.

“You did these?” Iian asked in a quiet voice. Allison hadn’t heard him speak since before his accident. She was a little shocked and excited at the smoothness.

She nodded and blushed. When Megan looked back at the pair, Allison was back to moving the paintings to the edge of the truck. Iian had his hands shoved into his pockets and was staring at a rock by his foot.

When, all the art was moved safely into the house, and unwrapped, she asked, “Would you like to stay for dinner? Iian has enough food to feed a small army.”

“Oh, well, I don’t want to interrupt your dinner…” Allison broke off, looking back and forth between Iian and Megan.

Megan noticed the quick looks and almost laughed, realizing that her back was to Iian, she quickly assured Allison that Iian was just a good friend. When Allison took a quick step back towards the door, she realized that the girl was scared and very nervous. “I really enjoy the company, plus, I would like to pay you for delivering these to me.”

“Oh, well, I guess.” Allison dropped off looking over at Iian again.

“Good.” Megan interrupted. “Come on, we were just eating out on the front porch.”

Iian no longer talked using his voice; instead he would sign to Megan slow enough for her to understand, she had learned the alphabet, and basic words, enough to get along.

“
This chicken is very good.” Allison said to Iian. Iian nodded in reply and smiled slightly handing her a roll.

Todd had mentioned that Iian only talked around people he felt comfortable around. He looked very uncomfortable. Within five minutes of finishing his plate, he was back up and signed that he had to go to work, and then left quickly and quietly.

Allison stayed for several hours, helping Megan hang some of the pictures in the house. The ones for the cabins would have to be hung after she was done painting.

She enjoyed Allison’s company. She’d told Allison that her friend who owned the gallery was interested in seeing some of her paintings. She had called Ric Derby, the owner of the art galleries, right after her first visit with Allison. He’d been excited to know that Megan had moved to the west coast, and was looking forward to her visit. It had seemed to her, that he’d been more interested in meeting her than seeing Allison’s paintings, but she didn’t pass that information on to Allison. Allison said she was excited about having a professional’s opinion of her art.

After Allison left for the evening, Megan decided to take a walk. She enjoyed the cool evenings. There was a foot path that she’d discovered not too long ago, which led to a small pond. The pond cornered the Bell property, her other neighbors, the Jordan’s property, and her own.

She enjoyed her walks to the beach, but the pond was closer and she found it more soothing. Tonight the pond was quiet and surreal. She’d taken several walks there. Sometimes taking along a book to read as she sat on a large flat rock that sat by the water. Large frogs jumped around the waters edge. Once, Megan had seen a deer drinking on the other side of the pond.

She could just imagine this place as magical. She thought the dragonflies would turn into small fairies when no one was looking. The frogs would turn into princes, who would spend their days lying around the pond, lazily enjoying the water.

Currently, it was almost too dark to see any frogs or dragonflies. The sun had yet to go down, but the trees sheltered the sun’s light from the trail. Megan had grabbed the flashlight and one of Matt’s old jackets, knowing that it would be dark before she returned to the house. She felt safe in this place. Peaceful. It had been a long time since she’d felt like just doing nothing. Her life had been pretty busy in the city. She’d always been on the go, running errands, working, or just hiding from Derek.

Now, as she took her place on the large rock to overlook the water, she imagined life like this years from now. Would she be sitting here by herself? Did she want to be sitting here by herself? She knew she wasn’t quite ready for a relationship just yet. She didn’t think she could trust anyone and knew it would take a lot for her to ever trust someone, especially a man. But, she didn’t want to live life not having faith in the good of man kind.

Sure, she had a rough past; her luck in men was terrible. But, looking back on Matt’s life gave her some hope. Men like Matt did exist. She’d known a few other good people in her life.

Her old boss Mr. Martin was one of them, he had always been very kind to her, and Ric Derby had been very nice to her also. Ric was the owner of the Blue Spot Galleries, an account she had worked on in the past. She had just talked to him two days ago about showing him Allison’s art.

Iian was another one. He was always a fun conversationalist. She never felt scared around him. He would always go out of his way to make her smile. She enjoyed that he flirted with her. It had been a long time since she had felt attractive. Even though he was a few years younger than her, she enjoyed the attention.

And then there was Todd. She couldn’t quite put a handle on him. She was desperately attracted to him and that scared her. He made her feel like a bundle of nerves. He was kind, and showed her gentleness that she’d never seen in a man. The way he had rubbed her back that night had given her things to dream about, and dream about them she did.

Her last dream had been so real. She’d woke up and could still fill his hands on her. Smiling to herself she remembered it.

It had started out as dreams usually start. She was sitting on the front porch swinging on the swing. Then across the field Todd rode up on a large black horse. Saying nothing, he dismounted in one fluid motion, walking up the stairs, he started pulling her up into his arms. Then he carried her into the house and gently laid her down on a soft bed covered with pink rose petals. His lips branding her, his hands had parted the white dress she was wearing, then they wreaked havoc on her skin, causing her body to bow and heat.

Just when he’d bent his head to kiss her breast, she had woken. Her skin had tingled and her nipples were hardened waiting for the wet feel of his mouth. She’d been so sure that she could still feel his hands on her, she’d reached up and touched just there.

Todd sat across the pond and looked at the lovely figure. Her eyes were staring at the water, but he was sure that she was not seeing it. She was day dreaming and looking lovely doing it. She sat on the rock across the water looking like a mermaid who at any moment would jump into the deep, never to be seen again.

Her hair was down flowing around her shoulders with a slight curl around her face. She was wearing a large jacket against the cool night air, and her feet were tucked up close to her body.

Just then Chester let out a whine, and Megan’s eyes darted up to the pair.

It was like they’d just stepped out of her dream. There across the pond sat Todd on the biggest black horse she’d ever seen. Blinking a few times to make sure the image didn’t disappear on her. He sat bare back on the beast and looked like the romantic figure her dream had created.

When they started walking around the pond towards her, she quickly got up off her perch and dusted her pants off. Her heart was still racing from remembering her dream and she felt flushed. Her hands were shaking and she was not quite sure what to do with them so she shoved them deep into the large pockets on Matt’s old jacket.

“Good evening Megan.” Todd said jumping down from the horse. His movements were fluent and she could see his muscles flex under his light t-shirt when he reached and pulled the rains over the head of the horse.

“Hi, Hello,” she swallowed. “Who is this enchanting creature?” she asked walking over to the beast.

“This is Chester. He’s very friendly,” he said noting her hand starting to reach out, but she’d pulled it back quickly when Chester had let out a soft snort.

Todd reached down and putting her hand in his, pulled them up to Chester’s mane together.

Chester let out a soft breath then nuzzled Megan’s shoulder.

“
Oh, he’s such a nice handsome gentleman.” She laughed when Chester nibbled at her pockets.

“He thinks you have sugar cubes.” Todd pulled two from his pocket and transferred them to her hand. “Just keep your hand flat like this,” he said holding her hand in his while the beast licked her fingers clean. She smiled up at Todd. His head was bent towards hers and his eyes were laughing. Her breath caught.

Todd loved seeing her eyes like this; her face absolutely glowed when she smiled. He had to have just a taste of something so sweet.

Bending his head down, he was a breath away when Chester pushed against her shoulder. He quickly caught her as she fell into his arms laughing. “I think he wants more.” She murmured.

“Mmm. My turn.” Todd said just before he claimed her lips in a soft kiss.

Chester let out a low whine, then walked over and started grazing on the sweet grass nearby.

He was addicted to her taste; he wanted to drown in her lips. He kept the kiss soft until she let out the smallest of moans. Then he dragged her closer to himself, and plundered her soft lips.

Their tongues began dueling a battle they both enjoyed. His hands had been on her hips, but now they started to roam her small frame. He could feel her slender form under the large jacket and he wanted more, he reached under with shaking hands. He could feel her soft form through the shirt underneath. Running his hand up and cupping her as his other hand pressed her closer.

Megan was back in her dream, the smells and tastes were coming back to her. His hands just there, his mouth hot on hers. When he reached down to unbutton the first few buttons of the jacket she pulled her head back giving him access.

His lips left her mouth to trail down her slender neck, slowly descending towards his destination. He pulled the buttons loose on her shirt and opened the neck line to expose the white skin underneath. She wore nothing underneath tonight, which caused him to let out a groan.

He pulled his head back and just looked at her. She was so beautiful, her hair flowed around her shoulders. He had pushed the jacket off her shoulders and it now pooled at her feet. Her exposed skin was pale and looked soft. He bent his head to claim her with his lips.

She was soft and tasted of spring. He reached over and played lightly with her other nipple, which hardened instantly. He couldn’t stop himself from pulling her down to the soft grass. He’d gotten so hard, just looking at her, but now after tasting her, he was painfully so.

She could smell the sweet grass as they crushed it underneath them; she felt his lips roaming over her, enjoying the feel of him tugging lightly on her nipples.

She arched her back so he would have better access; gripping his shoulder. She moved her cast arm further out of the way so it was lying on the grass.

Todd’s weight pinned her to the grass as he pillaged her skin, causing goose bumps on the exposed skin. His hips were pressed up against hers and she felt his hardness against her hip. She rubbed her hip over him and he let out a moan.

Pulling his head back he looked down at her face. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were wide, looking back at him.

“Megan,” he began, but just then Chester stuck his nose between them. Megan let out a laugh and turned her face away from the wet sloppy kisses Chester was placing on her forehead.