Page 112 of Country Contract

When David Bowie’s last song is on the screen, I think I hear her sniffle. I try to get a look at her, but she reaches up and shoves my face away.

Her fighting me and my affection makes mesmile. I know she feels good when I’m attentive to her. She might not be used to it, but she deserves it. The way it makes her feel slightly uncomfortable but also special pushes me to do it as often as possible.

I grab her hands in mine and pull her to look at me.

“Would you have chosen the Goblin King over one of your sisters?”

“Which sister?” she deadpans.

I laugh loudly, knowing she’s all talk. Leaning down, I kiss her for a moment before resituating her so she is comfortable. Moving to hand her the remote again, she stops me and pushes it back.

“I’m getting tired, you can pick the next one.”

I gasp dramatically. “So, you’ll stay awake for a movie you’ve watched a million times, but you’ll sleep through my pick. How rude!”

Harlow turns her face toward my pec and bites down. Hard.

“Ow!” I yell, and not a manly yell, either. Harlow holds me in her teeth lightly. When I look down at her, I see the curve of her mouth in a smile.

“Off!” I command, and she bites down slightly harder.

“Off! Witch, off!” She bites down hard again, and I hate that I get hard.

“God dammit, Harlow.” I feel her reach over and grasp me through my briefs.

We lock eyes again, that spark we know so well going crazy between us. Our mouths clash together, and I take her roughly one last time before we fall asleep.

I stay with her every night for the rest of the week, and I leave early each morning before my parents would be up. We do the same thing every night. We eat, we talk, we sketch and write or watch a movie or show, we fuck, we sleep.

Holding Harlow in my arms each night is as painful as it is precious. Her slender body seems to fit so perfectly against mine that I can’t imagine another person fitting in her place.

I remember waking up next to partners and grabbing a handful of ass or cupping their full breasts to then grow hard after a touch. With her, I wake up with an intense need and want. Her smell wraps around me in a gentle caress while her aura has me in a dangerous chokehold.

When I wake up each morning, she notices my movements and turns to squeeze me tightly before letting me go. It’s confusing and bitter, but damn, it feels so good. We don’t question anything as our time grows closer to its end. With our breach of contract, I don’t really know if there is a point in talking at all.

Not once has she brought up money again, and if I’m being honest, taking it seems awful. She’s my friend now and doing this was consensual on both parts. I hope she doesn’t bring it back up. I’ve learned a lot about myself in our time together, and whatever she was looking for, I feel like she got that too.

She has one last week with me. We’re having a family dinner tonight, and Harlow is invited, as Cassidy’s friend more than a guest on our property. We’ve gotten closer to Harlow than any other guests on our property. She’s been given more privileges since she’s gotten so close to us all.

We’re having dinner at Hunter and Cassidy’s place, andthe girls are in the front, sans Harlow who has one last manuscript to send in tonight.

My dad, brother, and I are in the kitchen finishing up some of the sides for our meal. The conversation mostly revolves around Blake and Hunter’s life on the farm. I like talking about them and their life, and I know my turn will come when I have a family of my own.

I pull a side of seasoned potatoes and veggies out of the oven and turn around to find my dad and Hunter leaning against the counter, looking at me.

“What?”

“Hunter said you want to build on the south lot?”

Hunter smiles behind his beer can before taking a drink.

“I love that spot over there. So many good memories. You okay with that?” I set the dish down on the counter.

“This land is for you guys to do what you wish; even if you sell, that’s your choice. That lot back there is always where I knew I could find you. Doesn’t make sense for you to build anywhere else.” My dad comes over to muss my hair up a bit and smiles brightly.

“Thanks, Dad. I have a vision in my head already.”

“Make it happen, kid.” He hands me a beer and taps his to mine before settling back on the counter.

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