“But—” I started to argue, but Mallory raised her hand to stop me.
“Trust me, Hendrixx, I’m female, I know shit,” she replied deadpan, making me laugh despite my inner turmoil.
Fuck me, I kissed Blake. Not only kissed her, she practically dry-humped me while she sucked on my tongue, causing the most painful hard-on I’ve ever had in my life.
Staring at Mal, I thought about my next move. I really wanted to talk to Blake, ask her what the fuck had her turning from hot to cold so quickly, then pick up where we left off.
“You sure I shouldn’t talk to her now?” I asked, still not convinced it was the best move to give Blake too much space. Her temper was legendary and the woman could get herself worked up over nothing nine times out of ten. I learned a long time ago not to allow her to get too lost in her own head because molehills mostly became mountains with her.
Mal winked at me, her expression full of mischief.
“Have I ever steered you wrong?” she quipped. “Plus, you might need some time to get rid of that,” she said, pointing at my jeans, her lips pulling together like she was trying not to laugh.
Looking down, I realised that the bulge behind my zipper was still very much present.
Still hard as a steel fucking pipe from my first taste of Blake’s sweetness.
Though, not my last.
Not by a long shot.
BLAKE
I could feel Lillian’s eyes follow me around the kitchen as I grabbed ingredients and bowls out of the cupboards and fridge. After I fled from the stables, Hendrixx shouting out for me but not coming after me, the first place I found myself running to was the main house and Lillian’s kitchen.
For as long as I could remember, I found comfort in cooking. Horses were my main source of stress relief, nothing much could beat getting on a horse bareback and just giving the powerful animal free rein to do what came naturally. During those moments, I didn’t even use a bridle, choosing to hold onto the mane and trusting my mount. However, the horses were all put away for the night, and with Hendrixx and Mallory most likely still there, my only choice was to bake.
And what I needed right now were donuts. Cinnamon specifically to take my mind of my bruised pride and butt. Falling off a horse wasn’t new to me, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt most times.
Mentally checking off I had everything I needed, I carried my armload back to the island bench and dumped it all unceremoniously down.
“Hmmm, donut ingredients, hey?” Lillian surmised, casting a knowing glance over the bench before looking at me.
“What did Hendrixx do this time?”
Doing my best to look indignant, I picked up the bag of flour and ripped it open.
“What makes you think anything is wrong? Can’t I bake my favourite treat and not have to have a reason?” I asked haughtily.
“Blake Isobel, don’t shit a shitter. I have known you since birth, young lady, and I know your every tell, and every mood. In fact, I know practically everything about you and that is why I know my second born is behind your calorie-filled project,” Lillian announced, smirking smartly at me.
Damn it! She was right, other than Hendrixx, no one knew me better than the family matriarch.
“Now give,” she demanded, waving her hand at me to start talking, “you sift the flour and I will measure out the wet ingredients.” Lillian got up from the bench stool and reached for the carton of buttermilk and the Pyrex jug.
Twitching my nose and lips in thought, I knew that she wasn’t going to let me out of the house until I spilled my guts.
Heaving out a frustrated sigh, I reluctantly did as I was ordered.
“Mallory is here.”
“She is? I didn’t hear her car come up to the house.”
“No, she stopped at the stables.”
“Okay then, and?” Lillian prompted.
“She walked into the stables,” I hedged, not getting to the point because I really didn’t want to. Usually, I could go to Lillian for everything, after all, she practically became my mother when mine took off after my birth. Absolutely every pivotal moment in my life included Lillian Hott, my first step, my first knee scrape, everything including my first period. Telling her about my first kiss? Yeah, not looking forward to that considering it was with her son.
“Must I drag it out of you, young lady, because you know I can and will,” Lillian threatened, snatching the sifter off me and slamming it down on the bench, sending a plume of white fog into the air.
“He kissed me!” I blurted out loudly, then slapped my hand over my mouth, my eyes squeezing shut, mentally wishing a hole would magically appear under me and suck me down into it.
“My god he took his sweet time, I was beginning to wonder if I needed to give him the birds and the bees talk again,” Lillian said, surprising me with her reply to my overshare.
Whipping my head to the side, I stared open-mouthed at the woman who gave me the birds and the bees talk not all that many years ago. My dad tried, but he flustered and fumbled so much, he ended up sending me to the main house with a letter in my hand for Lillian. I remember the giggles from her as she read my father’s note shaking her head and mumbling about how useless men were. Then, she took me out for ice cream in Cattle Ridge, and we had ‘The Talk’. It had been an hour of me squirming in my seat half the time and the rest completely outraged that women had to endure monthly periods just to become a mother one day.
I also remember the day the three Hott brothers, teenagers at the time, stormed out of the house red-faced and appalled, their mother behind
