As he neared the barn, the urge hit him to go around back to the greenhouse where she’d been working all day. There was a nip of frost in the air, and he wondered how her plants fared in this daily cold environment, compliments of the Catastrophe, but then he stopped himself short. Her greenhouse and her plants were no concern of his. She was a pleasure girl. A woman to be used for his pleasure and then he’d ride out and never look back. Just like he’d done with the other ladies of the evening he’d been with. But this time, the idea of simply riding out and leaving this woman behind didn’t sit well with him. Cursing himself, he bypassed the barn and headed for that greenhouse.
Chapter Four
Teyla was trembling as she placed the chopped carrots and cubed potatoes into the boiling water sitting on her solar-operated stove. Compliments of the solar panels on the roof of her farmhouse, she’d been able to have access to hot water, a stove, and a bath, simply by switching over batteries when one was drained. It had been her husband’s idea when they’d first moved in, several years before the Catastrophe struck. Being in such a rural place with frequent violent snowstorms in the winter and thunderstorms in the summer, the backup solar energy when the electricity went out came in handy. Neither of them had anticipated exactly how good that idea would be until the electrical grids across the entire world fried during those solar flares. Last she’d heard, it would take years before her farm would be hooked to the grid again.
Until then, she could only hope the solar parts she had on hand wouldn’t break on her. Solar parts were very expensive on the markets. Any type of light creation such as candles, matches, oil lamps, gas lamps or any heat creation items such as wood stoves and pellet stoves could cost an arm and a leg. Thankfully, she had a cast-iron wood-burning stove in the kitchen as well as fireplaces in each of the bedrooms of her century-old farmhouse. Speaking of fireplaces and wood stoves, she’d tossed even more wood onto the fire crackling in their bedroom, no, correct that, her bedroom, as well as shoving more wood into the cast-iron stove, so it was nice and toasty in here.
She’d also checked his saddlebag, the one he’d slung over the back of the chair, and had been surprised at the arrangement of knives, guns, and ammo he kept in there. Way too much for somebody just passing through. But it was none of her business, she told herself, reminding herself that Dr. Liz had sent him, so he would be fine.
So she’d brought the money he’d had in the feed sack downstairs to the basement and hid it in the fruit cellar behind a shelf. She’d quickly checked the amount and it was exactly half of what he owed her, as he’d said. Having that much money in her hands, in her basement, caused her to be nervous. It was just way too good to be true. Great sex and getting paid for it. Amazing. She’d also dressed in the clothing he’d indicated in that package. The negligee was similar in style to the other one, except this one was black, the skirt part was quite short, revealing the thin panty she wore underneath. A panty that also had a wide opening so he would have easy access to her.
She worried her lip and gazed down at herself, whimpering as she caught sight of her bare breasts sticking out seductively through the openings. She’d been stunned to discover he wanted her to wear such a provocative garment. But after her initial reaction, her pussy had clenched with such a desperate need to have him buried deep inside of her again that she’d been surprised at enjoying the erotic sensations shimmering through her at the thought of Logan gazing upon her breasts while she wore something he’d picked out.
She couldn’t believe how easily he’d taken control of her body. Couldn’t understand why she wanted him back in here with her so badly. Was it loneliness? Had she been living out here by herself for too long? It hadn’t bothered her too much. She’d always been a bit of a loner, preferring her own company to others. Her husband had been the exception. He’d been the same as her. An introvert like herself.
They’d been true nerds, interested in farming the old-fashioned way and creating organic foods for their community. That was how she still made some of her income. Growing organic food in her greenhouse out back. Not that people cared if the food was organic or not these days. Empty bellies made people desperate, and they accepted all kinds of crap on the market.
But she’d managed to keep her vegetables clean and her prices from skyrocketing, refusing to take advantage of the desperation that was so rampant nowadays. During her last trip to town a few weeks ago, the last her horse had taken before he died of old age, she’d heard that in some cities people were turning cannibalistic out of desperation for meat. They were reverting to kidnapping people off the streets, killing them and cooking them, preserving them and even selling them as meat.
Teyla forced those horrid thoughts away. She preferred to live in her own fantasy world out here. Beyond her property was none of her concern. It was better this way. It kept her nerves intact. Nerves that unfortunately, weren’t quite intact at remembering Logan saying he wanted the agreement to include her having sex with his friends.
A wave of anguish washed over her. Three men? Oh lord. How would she be able to handle that? Would she be embarrassed or react as she had with Logan, easily succumbing to pleasure? She’d never given up total control to a client before.
At the sound of his boots on the steps outside, she resisted the impulse to dash over to the chair where she’d laid her robe over the back of a chair. No, she wouldn’t hide herself from him.
He was her client. He was paying for her services. She was glad she’d applied some more delicate perfume on her wrists. It would cover the scent of her arousal. At least she hoped so. She didn’t want him to know how hot she was for him. She needed to keep things strictly professional.
She felt anything but professional as the door creaked open. God help her, she couldn’t stop herself from glancing over her shoulder and gasping at the erotic sensations wrapping around her like a seductive glove when she caught sight of how wide his shoulders were as he stepped inside the kitchen, his arms laden with a pile of firewood. Kicking the door shut behind him, he stopped when he caught sight of her watching him. His dark eyes literally glowed with appreciation.
“Turn around,” he instructed. His voice sounded thick and aroused, and when she did as he asked and turned to face him, his gaze zeroed in on her exposed breasts. Her pussy creamed at the carnal look of promise flickering across his face.
“Put on your robe. I’ll take you later. After we eat.”
She creamed at his words. I’ll take you later. Gosh, what in the world was her problem with this guy? First he wanted her robe off, now on. Grabbing her robe, she slipped it on and returned to her chopping and trying to ignore how small her kitchen suddenly seemed with him in it. He placed the firewood down on top of the current pile before heading back out the door again without so much as an explanation. She was thankful for his disappearance, for it gave her a moment to catch her breath.
The scorching way he made her feel, when his gaze had dropped to her bare breasts lit a fierce fire of need coursing inside her. It was insane, the sexy way he made her feel. Everything about this client was so wrong. What she was feeling for him was wrong.
She shouldn’t be anticipating their next sex session with such enthusiasm. Why wasn’t she embarrassed at wearing these revealing clothes he’d told her to wear? Why was she so easily following all his instructions without a second thought?
Because he’s your client. That’s what he pays you for, stupid. She should be going up to him, unbuckling his pants, teasing him, playing the part of the prostitute and reaching inside his pants to keep him aroused. She should be all over him like she forced herself to do with the other men she entertained. Instead, she was letting him pleasure her and she was making him supper, like she was a domesticated wife.
Teyla blinked as a sudden roar of surprise washed over her. She hadn’t cooked anything for a man since her husband.
Okay. She was definitely lonely. Apparently that’s what had to be going on, but why with this guy? Why Logan? With a man who was going to share her with his two buddies? Maybe it was some sort of forbidden fantasy syndrome. Yeah. That’s what it must be.
One thing she knew for sure, she was attracted to him because of his confidence. She’d never met a man who could so easily speak of sex, bring her such pleasure, or want to share her with other men. To her, those traits were sexy. It spoke of confidence in his ability in the bedroom. No shyness. And, yes, she had to be totally nuts to
