The Last One (29 page)

ONCE THE WEATHER CLEARED up, it hit me that I only had two more weeks with my students. I planned several field trips, taking them to the park, to a few special places in town and even out to our neighbor Fred’s farm to draw horses. They loved it, and I enjoyed watching their eyes light up when a new concept clicked in their minds.

I was moving between the kids when I caught sight of someone heading our way. Fred had given us permission to be in the field, and I realized the man was a little taller and a little slimmer than the farmer. As he grew nearer, I recognized the artfully-mussed hair.

Alex put on a stern face. “Hey, what’re all you guys doing in my pasture?”

They all laughed. Apparently, even though he only returned to Burton a few times a year, Alex was popular among the elementary school set. Either that or these kids weren’t easily scared.

He smiled at me. “Hello, pretty girl. Are you responsible for these hooligans?”

“Guilty as charged.” I leaned up to give him a quick hug. “The bigger question is, what’re you doing here? I thought you went back to Atlanta weeks ago.”

“I did.” He swatted at the back of his neck, where a mosquito had landed. “I’ve got a meeting in Savannah tomorrow, so I decided to stop off and visit the old homestead for the night.”

“Bet your mom and dad were glad to see you.” I knew Fred and his wife Ellen missed their only son.

“Of course they were. I’m kidnapping Mom into the city with me tomorrow, so she can have a little fun while I’m at my meeting. She’s tickled.” He ran his eyes up and down me, with one brow raised. “So, things are going well with Sam the Man? You two crazy kids setting a date yet?”

I shook my head. “You know the score. We’re just enjoying ourselves. Nothing serious.” I kept my eyes on the black horse grazing at the edge of the field. “And I leave next week.”

“And how does Sammy boy feel about your imminent departure?”

“I’m sure he’s fine with it.”

“But he hasn’t said anything.”

I shrugged. “Not really. We don’t talk about the future. He’s got a life here, and I’ve got mine—elsewhere. That’s why we keep things casual.”

“Hmmm.” Alex smirked. “Funny thing. I ran into Reenie Evans when I stopped for gas on my way to the farm last night. She seemed to think what you and Sam have going on is pretty intense.”

My eyes flashed up to his face. “She wasn’t supposed to—she promised not to say anything to anyone.”

“And she probably wouldn’t have, except I brought it up and pushed her about it. And Reenie doesn’t consider me just anyone. She and I were best friends with Ali coming up through school. She wasn’t gossiping.”

I pressed my lips together. “Still, it’s nobody’s business. After I leave, I don’t want people giving Sam a hard time and pestering him.” I leveled a look at him. “Got it?”

Alex held up his hands. “Whoa, sister, don’t look at me. Atlanta, remember? I’m the least of your worries.”

Ali’s car pulled up along the far side of the field, interrupting any reply I might have made. I’d asked the parents to pick up their offspring right from the farm so that I didn’t have to drive back into town, and Ali had decided to take Bridget right to the stand with her. She sauntered over, her face lighting up as she spied Alex.

“Miss Meghan, I can’t get his ears right.” Jared, one of my third graders, stood up and tugged at my hand.

“That’s my cue to exit, stage left.” Alex snuck a quick kiss to my cheek. “I’m going to get the skinny on all things Burton with my pal over there. See you later, lovely.”

I crouched down to check out Jared’s work, but I was all too aware of Alex and Ali, whispering and glancing at me. That could only spell trouble.

Once all the children had been collected, I headed back to our farm.
Our
farm. I wasn’t sure just when I’d begun thinking of it that way, but it was true. The smell of the soil, the worn buildings and the vivid green of the fields had woven their way into my heart. I didn’t want to think about how much the man who worked the land played into those feelings of belonging.

Since I was seldom home this early in the day, I took advantage of the opportunity to grab my easel, paints and music and go into the woods. There were pictures in my head begging to be given life, and I was eager to spend some time pouring them onto the canvas.

I set up, turned on my favorite play list and began working on a scene that had been in my mind for the last few weeks. The forest was silent except for the chirp of bugs and the chattering of squirrels, and I enjoyed having the time to hear myself think. I’d loved teaching this summer, and I knew for sure it was what I wanted to do after graduation. But there was something to be said for a little break now and then.

Something had shifted between Sam and me since the day Owen had made his unexpected visit. He was by turns more tender and yet somehow almost aloof. I wasn’t sure how that could be true, but it was. When we made love—and that was doubtless what we were doing; it had moved beyond sex after that first night—he seemed desperate, not only to bring us both pleasure, but to connect in some way. But when I brought it up, he joked about our friends-with-benefits arrangements. I couldn’t be angry; it was exactly what I had wanted, and I had gotten it.

Absorbed in both my work and my thoughts, I was working on the background, making the trees come to life, when a shadow fell across the canvas. I didn’t startle as I might have, because I could smell Sam’s unique aroma. Instead I smiled.

“Are you here for a lesson?” I kept moving my brush over the canvas.

“I might be.” He didn’t touch me, not wanting to disturb my work, but he stood so near that I could feel him against my skin. I breathed deep, inhaling his scent. Laying down my brush, I turned.

“Okay.” I stood up and pointed to my small artist’s stool, the collapsible one I used when I was working outside. “Sit down.”

He looked down at me, considering. His brown eyes were filled with that inscrutable something that I’d been noticing for the last few weeks. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and soft blond scruff covered his jaw and cheeks, tempting my fingers.

“All right. It’s about time I get a lesson, considering I’ve been feeding and housing the teacher for the last two months. Not to mention giving her the best sex of her life.”

I laughed, surprised by his teasing. “The best, huh? Someone’s full of himself this afternoon.”

He spread his hands in front of him. “I only speak the truth. Now, are you going to teach me or not?” He sat down on the chair, looking faintly uncomfortable and more than a little incongruous; it was obviously not designed for a man of his size.

I bit back a smile. “Pick up the brush, and we’ll work on some stroke work.” My brush looked tiny in his large hands. I found another one to use myself, to demonstrate what to do.

He was surprisingly adept, and after a few minutes, he was painting passable leaves. I worked on a few other techniques with him, leaning over his shoulder so I could help.

“No, not quite like that. Here, let me show you.” I covered his hand holding the brush with mine and brought it to the canvas. “See? Just a light touch at the top and then a little more as you move down—yes. Just like that.”

He grinned up at me. “Am I natural, or do you make all your students feel good about themselves? Or are you just trying to get into my pants?”

I laughed. “All of the above. Yes, you’re actually good. And I do try to make my students feel good about what they can do.” I swung a leg over his lap, facing him while I straddled his hips. “And I definitely want to get into your pants.”

“Oh, you do?” He laid my brush on the tray and used both hands to hold me by my ribs. “Isn’t there some rule against that?”

“Not if the student is a really sexy guy who is more than happy to put out to his teacher.” I thought about what I’d just said. “Well, and assuming both are above the age of consent. Which we both are.”

“Hmm. If you decide you want to teach, you might want to brush up on those pesky little details.” He threaded his fingers through my hair. “But this student is more than a little hot for teacher.”

I hummed a little, feeling the thrill of desire shoot straight to my core. “Is it safe out here? I mean, will anyone find us?”

Sam shook his head. “I don’t think so. Ali’s going to be at the stand for another few hours, and I guess Bridge is with her.” When I nodded, he grinned. “Sounds like I’m at your mercy.”

“Your bad luck, then. Because I don’t plan to show you any mercy.” I crossed my arms and grabbed the hem of my shirt, pulling up until it was over my head. The cooler air in the forest made me shiver, and my nipple puckered within my red lace bra.

“Oh, Meghan.” Sam ran his hands over the lace. “Another new one. And red this time.”

“What, this old thing?” I pretended ignorance. “I just put it on this morning when I was thinking about this really hot guy I was hoping might see it. When I put it on, I touched myself like this ...” I covered my nipples with my fingers, caressing, and let my eyes drift shut.

Sam growled and his mouth pushed my hands away from my breasts. He sucked hard at one nipple through the lace, while his fingers rolled the other one. I moaned, moving so that he could take more into his mouth. I could feel his erection pushing against my sensitive sex, and I wriggled.

“I’m not going to last long if you keep that up.” He spoke without taking my nipple from his mouth.

“Maybe I want fast and hard today.” I fumbled with the button of his jeans, wanting them out of the way.

“Shit.” Sam leaned back, his eyes closed. “I don’t have a condom.”

“Mr. Prepared came out here without latex?” I continued undoing his pants while I teased him.

“I was cutting through the woods. I didn’t expect to find you here.”

“It’s okay.” I slid my hand under his jeans and boxers. “I’m on the pill, and I’m clean and healthy. I’ve been checked out.”

He grunted as I took him in my hand. “I’ve never had sex without a condom. I’m clean.”

“Then we’re okay.” I patted his hip. “Lift up so I can get to you.”

He acquiesced, and I wriggled both jeans and boxers out of the way. His cock was stiff, and I fisted my hand around it, sliding up and down, starting slow but picking up speed. Sam groaned.

“Have I told you I like your skirt?” He pushed it up to my hips so that it hung behind me like a cape around my middle. His fingers sought me through my panties, stroking up and down over my wetness. “These damn things are in my way.” He held my eyes as he closed his hand over the piece of fabric and ripped.

“Did you notice those panties matched my bra?” I rubbed my thumb in a circle over the head of his cock, and he jerked upwards.

“No. I’ll buy you new ones. Come here.” He gathered me to him and stood up.

“Where are we going?” I ran my fingers over his hair and down his jaw. “Hmmm ... your beard is so soft.”

“Soft is not a word we want to use right now.” He spoke wryly, and I laughed. “And not far.” He stopped a few feet away, beneath the trees, and laid me down on a patch of soft green grass.

“We could have stayed over there.” I watched him kick off his pants.

“That damned chair thing of yours wouldn’t have stood up to hard and fast.” He pushed my skirt out of the way again and parted my legs. “And that’s what you said you wanted.”

Without giving me a moment to respond, he lifted my hips and sank into me. I arched to meet him and wound my legs around his waist, hooking my heels together as he moved within me, skin to skin for the first time, pounding a rhythm that had me panting along with him.

Delicious pressure built low in my abdomen, making me want more. I gripped Sam’s back with one hand, and with the other I reached between us, touching my clit and then moving lower to where we were joined. Sam gritted his teeth, pumping faster, and I screamed his name as I fell apart. He followed almost right away, his entire body one tensed muscle as he climaxed.

Sam rolled to the side, pulling him with me and holding me to his chest as we both struggled to catch our breath.

“I like art lessons.” He wound my hair around his hand and held it up, away from my neck, so that my skin could cool. I loved that he thought of that, that he considered my comfort.

“That’s convenient, because I love teaching.” I kissed his neck. After a few moments, he draped my hair to the side, smoothing it down so that it lay on the grass. His lips grazed my forehead, and I felt his sigh.

“It’s a beautiful afternoon.” I raked my nails lightly over his forearm. “God, you have great arms. You know, when you hold yourself over me, and your arms are tensed, that’s the sexiest thing.” I twisted, bringing my lips to just under his chin. “And sometimes when you’re wearing a long-sleeved shirt, like last week when you went to the Guild meeting, and you roll up the cuffs to just above your wrists, it makes me so horny. I just want to lick up your arms and feel your muscles tense under my lips.”

His chest moved up and down beneath me as he laughed. “Meghan, I think you’re the only woman I’ve ever met who thinks forearms are sexy.”

“You’re obviously not hanging around with the right women. You should make that part of your criteria for future girlfriends.”

He stilled, and I knew I’d come close to breaking our unspoken rule, the one that had hung over us with increasing heaviness the last few weeks. We didn’t talk about what would happen when I left or what the future might hold for each of us after our summer fling had ended.

“You leave next week.” Sam’s voice was neutral, carefully so. I felt the tension in his body.

“Yes.”

His chest rose and fell in even breaths. “I thought maybe before you go, we could go back to the river. Spend the night.”

To say good-bye.
He didn’t speak the words, but we both felt them. I waited until I was certain I could speak without my voice breaking.

“That would be wonderful.”

“Okay.” He rubbed my shoulder. “Then we’ll do it. I think Ali and Bridget are planning a special dinner for you that night, so after we eat ...”

“I’ll meet you at the truck.”

“Yes.” He gathered me closer, the only obvious sign that he might be dreading me going. “When does Laura come back?”