Page 27 of Bronx

"Oh, Jackie," Mom said as she pulled herself away from the conversation . . . reluctantly. We hugged. Before she released me she whispered in my ear. "Even prettier than I imagined." She added in a wink. "Now I've filled the fridge and the freezer. There's a lasagna that just needs to be heated."

"Thanks, Mom, we'll take good care of the place."

"There's wood in the hearth if you want to light a fire later," Vick said. "It's going to get cold tonight, so throw blankets on the horses, and make sure the chickens are locked in. I left a list for feeding and who needs to be ridden or turned out. Just call if you have questions."

We headed inside. Coming home to the ranch was always a pleasure. So many good memories, so many things that made it the perfect place to live. The first half of my childhood had been anything but pleasant, a constant struggle, a lot of hunger, shoes with holes in the toes, but once Vick had come into our lives, everything changed for the better. Kingston never had that reprieve. His dad had not left, but in many ways, it might have been better if he had. Although King's mom was never on solid ground, always depressed, never really thinking about Kingston. My friend must have been thinking about me too, only he wasn't dwelling on childhood. I glanced fleetingly at his text.

"Have you already invited her up to the notorious hayloft?"

I didn't answer. We'd both gotten lucky up in that hayloft, but that was when were teens and were forbidden to make out with girls in the house, or anywhere, for that matter.

We helped my parents out to their car. Another round of hugs and laughter followed, then they drove off down the long dirt road in front of the ranch.

The dogs followed us back into the house. Layla gave each one a treat. They settled on their pillows, happy to gnaw away on their goodies.

"Good, now I'll be a favorite visitor," Layla said. "I've found the best way to a dog's heart is through his stomach. Same for men," she noted.

I raised a brow as I picked up our duffle bags. "Really? The best way? I think stomach is number two. Not the best way. Now, follow me upstairs, and I will face the humiliation of you seeing my room. My mom hasn't changed a thing about it."

She followed me up the stairs. "It can't be as humiliating as my house. My NSYNC posters are still up over my bed, and for awhile, I was into Hello Kitty so there's that little source of embarrassment plastered everywhere."

We reached my room. Layla stopped to admire the view downstairs from the upstairs landing. "This house is amazing. It's one of those ones you see in a farm painting. It must have been so much fun growing up here."

"Coming from the tiny two bedroom rental we had in Westridge, with its leaky ceilings and splintery floors, this place was like a castle." I pushed open my bedroom door. It always felt a little weird but also nostalgic walking into my room. "At least the Pokémon comforter has been replaced by tartan plaid."

Layla stood in the middle of my room. For a kids bedroom it had always been good-sized, especially with the twin bed taking up only a small amount of space. My desk, where I used to pretend to do homework but mostly played video games, was still sitting next to the window.

"From that desk, I could see the riding arena where Vick always worked the horses. It also told me when he was coming in for the night, my cue to shut down video games and open books."

Layla walked to the window and gazed out. The sun streaming in bathed her in a glow that highlighted her hair and skin. "I can almost picture Vick out there riding a horse. And the view goes all the way across the pastures. Autumn is beautiful out here. So many trees showing off their fall colors." She strolled over to the shelves with all my rodeo trophies. "Oh my gosh, you really were quite the cowboy." Her smile fell my direction. I sucked in a breath just to slow my heartbeat. "I'll bet the girls went crazy over Bronx Devlin in his cowboy hat and boots."

I shrugged. "I wasn't short on dates, I guess. My mom made up the guest room for us. It's got a real bed, and my plastic car and train models won't be hanging overhead." I pointed to the higher up shelves that held the plastic models I used to make.

Layla hopped up on toes to see the models. "These are good." She spun around. "It's too bad about the guest room." She started unbuttoning her flannel shirt. "Cuz this room is making me kinda hot." The soft flannel shirt slipped off her bronze shoulders revealing a lacy black bra beneath.

I stood stock-still, my pulse pounding as I watched her kick off her shoes. "Guess you can't do that in a pair of cowboy boots." She slid the jeans down her slim hips. A matching pair of black lace panties appeared. She stepped out of the jeans and sighed.

"What should we do next?" she asked.

I closed the gap between us in two steps. She threw her arms around my neck. I swept my hands under her ass and lifted her for a kiss. Her legs wrapped around my waist. I didn't turn toward the bed but, instead, carried her straight to the only empty section of wall. She gasped against my mouth as her bare back pressed against the cold plaster. She lowered her legs and arms and pushed up the bottom of my shirt.

"Off please," she said breathless. "All of it."

I yanked my shirt off as she unbuttoned my jeans. My cock sprang free as I pushed them down. My mouth pressed against her shoulder. I nudged a bra strap down with my mouth to expose her breast. I stared down at the nipple between my thumb and forefinger.

"Perfection, head to toe perfection," I muttered hoarsely. The lace panties dropped easily to her ankles. She pulled one foot free, then the other. A teasing twinkle in her eye sent a new surge of heat through me.

She dropped to her knees in front of me. I wrapped my fingers in her hair as she took hold of the base of my cock. Her tongue swirled through the moisture on the tip of my cock, coaxing even more liquid free. She stroked me with her small hand and slid her mouth over me. "Fuck yeah, baby," the words came free on a groan. Her lips tightened around my shaft as I held her head against me. "I need you now, this fucking minute."

She released me, and I pulled her to her feet. I grabbed her ass with both hands, lifting her to brace her against the wall. She cried out as I pushed into her. My fingers impaled her ass as I slammed against her over and over, making the walls on the bedroom shake so hard, one of the models fell off the shelf. A small laugh spurted from her mouth, then she wrapped her legs around me tighter to take in more of me. She rubbed her pussy against me, working up hot wet friction between our bodies.

"Oh Jack, yes, please, deeper," she pleaded.

I pumped into her again and again until her pussy clenched around me, coming in hot, shuddering waves. My cock exploded and I spilled my seed inside of her. Our bodies were sticky and wet and the room was cool from the autumn temperatures outside. Layla shivered.

I stayed tight inside of her as I carried her to the bed. The small, old bed creaked underneath both our weights.

"Uh oh, did we break it?" Layla laughed.

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