A/N: Let's have a bonus and put this chapter up early. It's a steamy one, the closest to an M rating that I've ever published. Enjoy!
XOXO, Libby
.
Thanksgiving day dawns clear and cold. I throw a sweatshirt over my pajamas and make my way to the coffee maker. It snowed yesterday, just an inch or so, but it looks clean and bright out my kitchen window. I watch Matthew drive out of the yard. He's going home for the long holiday weekend, leaving Uri, Eric, and I to manage the ranch.
After my first cup of coffee, I remove the turkey from the refrigerator where it has been thawing for several days. I remove the packaging and the bag of giblets from the bird's cavity. Having a small flock of chickens and even turkeys is popular these days. Most farmers and ranchers keep them around for meat and eggs. But I never wanted birds. They're noisy, smelly, dirty, and they attract predators. Processing takes place during the busiest time of the year for us, early summer, so it just doesn't make sense for Dauntless.
But I do enjoy eating poultry, and I've gotten pretty good at cooking it. I prepare the turkey with butter and herbs and fill the cavity with cut onions. The onions add flavor and keep the bird moist as it roasts. I lift the heavy bird and slide it into the oven, then adjust the settings.
I made the rolls and pies yesterday. One pie is pumpkin, made from pumpkins I grew in my garden. The other is apple. I don't have my own apple trees, so I have to buy those, but a small apple orchard is something I definitely would consider adding to my ranch. I'd just have to plant the apple trees away from where the horses go, or they would help themselves and gorge on apples until they were sick.
The other dishes will be provided by Hanna, Shauna, and Marlene. Uriah and Marlene only have a small kitchen in their bunkhouse apartment, and she doesn't like cooking that much, so we put her in charge of buying potatoes to mash, and pickles and olives for the relish tray. Hanna has an amazing recipe for stuffing, or more accurately (since we don't stuff the turkey), dressing. She will bring that in a slow cooker. She also makes cranberry dressing from scratch, and it is to die for. There are apple chunks in with the cranberries, and it's cooked with orange juice and just a touch of almond extract. She always leaves me a bit of the leftovers, and I eat it for breakfast the next day. Shauna is bringing two vegetable sides. One is green bean casserole, of course. The other is a wildcard, whatever strikes her fancy on the week of the holiday. Last year it was baked corn, and it was delicious. I hope she brings that again.
I'll provide the gravy for Marlene's potatoes, since I'm making the turkey. I'll also have coffee, water, and lemonade. Eric insisted on bringing something this year, offering to handle the beer and wine. I don't know a lot about wine - I'm more of a beer girl - so I was more than happy to hand that off to him.
He went to the city yesterday, and got back late last night, so I haven't seen him since Tuesday. We're still struggling with not letting the physical aspect of our relationship go too far too fast. When I look at it objectively, I realize that we've only been dating for three weeks, but we spent a lot of time together before we put a label on it, and some of the things we've gone through together, like his father's death, really connected us. In a lot of ways, it feels like Eric and I have been dating since he came back to town three months ago.
Eric's trip yesterday was to pick up some new equipment for his veterinary practice. His dad's life insurance policy wasn't huge, but it was enough to get him a used ultrasound machine. That will help a lot here at Dauntless, and if he goes into practice for himself some day he'll need it for that, as well.
Uriah and I cooked up a little surprise for Eric, and got it started while he was out yesterday. We moved Lightning and Flash to the pole barn, and got started converting their space in the barn into an exam room of sorts. We took out some of the walls from the two stalls, leaving a larger L-shaped space. I bought a used refrigerator for the medicines that need to be kept cool, and put that, along with upper and lower cabinets, on the short wall. Uri and I even let ourselves into Eric's bunkhouse and dug his diploma out of a box in the closet. We hung it on the wall of the new exam area. I'm excited to show Eric his surprise!
We tried to keep Eric out of the barn this morning. I left a note on his bunkhouse door that Uri and Matthew would cover the morning chores, and that he should sleep in this morning then come over for breakfast at the farmhouse. Uriah promised to spend the morning in the old barn just in case Eric tried to stop in.
There's a knock on my back door, and I rush to answer it. "Eric!" I say, excited to see my boyfriend after our day apart.
"Good morning, Love," he says, kissing me soundly on the mouth.
I take a case of beer out of his hands and set it out on the porch. It will keep cold out there but not freeze, and it won't take up room in the already full refrigerator. Eric fits the wine bottles where he can in the fridge, and I pour us each a cup of coffee.
"How was your trip yesterday?" I ask.
"Good," he says. "Roads were good, and the ultrasound machine is in good shape. I'm excited to try it out."
"Have you been to the barn yet?" I ask, fishing for clues to see if our surprise is still a secret.
"No," he says. "I was in too big of a hurry to kiss you good morning."
That makes me smile, and I give him another kiss.
"Let me throw on some clothes," I say, handing Eric a bowl of oatmeal.
He nods, and I hurry upstairs. I throw on jeans, tear a brush through my hair, and grab a ponytail holder as I hurry down the stairs.
"Ready to go?" I ask.
"Why the hurry?" asks Eric.
"Oh, um, you know. A lot to do. Getting ready for Thanksgiving."
"We don't need to go out to the barn if you have a lot to do," he says.
I don't know what to say to that.
"I want to," I say. "Come on."
Eric laughs, but takes my hand, and I drag him to the barn.
When we get there, I throw open the door. The new exam station is right near the entrance on the left side of the barn.
"Tris!" Eric exclaims. "What is this?"
"Look at it!" I say.
Uriah hears us and comes running. "Was he surprised?" he asks.
"He's still surprised!" I say, thrilled.
Eric just stands there staring at the new setup for a few minutes. Then he walks over and looks at his diploma hanging on the wall.
"That's my…" he says, stunned.
He opens the upper cupboard and sees his travel supply kit and neat rows of supplies.
"And there's my…"
Uri and I laugh, and my accomplice hugs me fiercely as we giggle.
Eric opens the fridge and sees the medicines arranged neatly and stored at an ideal temperature.
"How did you…" he trails off again.
"I think we broke him," says Uriah, and we dissolve into giggles again.
"You guys!" says Eric, turning to face us.
"I know it's not complete," I tell him as I walk toward him. "We'll get a sink put in soon. Until then you can use the one in the feed room. I'm having an electrician come out on Monday, too, to make sure the circuits out here can handle your new equipment. I want to add an exam stall for restraining the horses when you're working on them, but until then we have the normal stalls that work for most things."
Eric grabs me in a bone-crushing hug. "You did this for me," he whispers, shocked.
"Do you like it?" I ask as he lets me go and gives Uri a hug.
"It's wonderful!" he says. "I can't believe you did this for me, and in just one day. What are you going to do with two fewer stalls, though."
"We'll be fine," I assure him. "Long-term it's more valuable to have a place for all the veterinary equipment than stalls for two more horses. Lightning and Flash moved out to the east pole barn with the others."
"This is incredible," says Eric, still shocked.
We're interrupted by the bark of my dogs. It's their friendly bark, so I assume that Zeke and Shauna have arrived with Hanna and Bella. I look out of the barn and see that my assumption is correct. Uri rushes out to greet his family.
"Dr. Coulter," I say to Eric, who turns to face me. I'm about to tell him that our family has arrived for the holiday, but he crashes his lips to mine, silencing me.
"I can't believe you did this," he says between fevered kisses. He has one hand planted in my hair, and the other one on my lower back, pulling me close. I wrap both of my arms around his shoulders and tug at the short hairs on the back of his head as we consume each other with passionate kisses. There is no doubt in my mind that we would have gotten carried away if it weren't for the holiday and the houseful of guests waiting for us.
.
xxxx
.
The Thanksgiving meal was perfect. The food was amazing - both plentiful and delicious. We ate at one in the afternoon. The turkey was juicy, the side dishes were amazing, and the pies were the perfect ending to the meal.
Because the women did all the cooking, Eric insisted that the men would clean up. I packed up the leftovers, but he actually convinced Zeke and Uriah to help him with the dishes. They got done in time for football, and we all spent the afternoon in my living room.
Naturally, Bella found her way to my lap, and drifted off for her afternoon nap. She is still quite smitten with her new "uncle," and wanted to be near him at all times.
When the afternoon game ends, and most of the family wakes up, we pull some board games out of a closet and play together. Eric and Uriah have to go to the barn for evening chores, so we all bundle up and tag along so Bella can see the horses and everyone can see Eric's new exam station.
He's so proud showing everyone what Uriah and I did for him while he was away. He tells them about the new ultrasound machine that he picked up, and how that will make a difference for the ranch. Breeding is a big part of what we do at Dauntless, so healthy foals are important.
You would think that a three-year-old wouldn't understand, but Bella hangs on Eric's every word. She walks around the new exam area asking "What this?" "Whewe Fash?" (Where's Flash?) and "Whewe Yite-neen?" (Where's Lightning?) Eric patiently answers her questions, and we even take her to the pole barn to show her where Flash and Lightning are living now.
We go back to the house for a dinner of leftovers and more pie, followed by more board games. When Bella falls asleep in my arms for the second time that day, Shauna decides it's time for them to go. I sit in the recliner and hold my sleeping niece while Hanna and Shauna pack up their things. When they're ready, they wrap Bella in a blanket and carry her to the car.
Uriah and Marlene say their goodbyes at the same time, and head back to their bunkhouse apartment.
Eric stays at the farmhouse with me, and when everyone is gone we wander around putting things back in their usual places. I notice that Bella's sippy cup is still in the dish drainer, and set it on top of the fridge where I will see it and remember to return it on Sunday. Marlene left a sweatshirt, but I can return that tomorrow. I hang it by the door so I won't forget. We shut off the excess lights, and Eric leads me back to the living room, where we cuddle up on the sofa.
"Did you have fun today?" he asks me, undoubtedly thinking of the breakdown I had after Tobias' birthday party.
"I did," I assure him, "How about you?"
"It was perfect," he says. "You are amazing with Bella. I can't believe that ball of pure energy just lays her head down and goes to sleep on you. Shauna says you're the only one who can do that."
"We have a special bond," I say. "Her family is wild. She knows I'm quieter. She usually finds her way to my lap when she gets sleepy. It's like an unspoken deal we have."
"It's beautiful," Eric says shyly. "I love seeing you with her. You would be an amazing mother. I might be getting ahead of myself, but I would love to watch you raise our children someday."
He looks nervous, quietly confessing that. I smile at him, trying to convey that I'm not at all bothered by his plans for our future. He seems encouraged, and lays a hand on my flat stomach.
"I've imagined what it would be like, watching your belly grow round with our child..." He pulls me onto his lap, my back to his chest, and puts both of his hands on my stomach. I rest my hands on top of his. "...knowing that we created life out of our love."
I lay my head back on his shoulder and turn to kiss his jaw. "I would like that," I say, and my voice is husky.
Eric swallows hard, and I feel his adam's apple by my ear. He moves his hands to my sides and slides them upward. He stops just under the swell of my breasts, and his lips kiss my neck. I sigh at the contact, and guide his hands to cup my breasts.
I moan as Eric begins to knead the flesh of my breasts. My nipples harden, and he groans as he continues to kiss my neck and stroke my chest. I drop my head back and raise my arms so I can thread my fingers into the longer hair on the top of Eric's head. This gives him unbridled access to me, and he slips his hands under the hem of my shirt before feeling his way back up to my chest.
I arch my back and reach around to remove the only barrier between Eric's large, warm, calloused hands and my tender, naked flesh. The bra slips down when the hooks are released, and Eric's hands greedily consume my bare skin. He alternates between pinching my aroused nipples and kneading the soft flesh. I gasp at the sensation and moan loudly, and I feel his hardness twitch and press into my bottom.
I grind my ass into his erection, teasing him, and whisper in his ear. "Let's go to bed." Eric groans loudly, seemingly torn about the decision. "Please," I say, "I want you, Eric."
This seems to make the decision for him and he lifts me off his lap and stands up. I take his hand and lead him to the stairway, shutting off lights as we go. We climb the stairs together and enter my bedroom.
I don't want to turn on the harsh overhead light, so I click on the small bedside lamp. I throw my bra toward the laundry bin, and stare into Eric's eyes as I lift the hem of my shirt. His eyes dart between my face and the skin I'm slowly exposing to him. I watch his hands open and close repeatedly as he resists reaching out for what he wants.
When my shirt is off and I'm standing before Eric topless in a pair of jeans, I reach for his shirt. I give it a little tug, and he raises his hand behind his neck and whips it off. His muscled chest is amazing. The tattoos on his arms continue up his biceps to his shoulder. One side of his chest is marked as well, and the entire thing flows together in a beautiful maze-like pattern.
"Your tattoo is amazing," I tell him.
Eric turns to show me the back, and it's like the mirror image of the front. On the side that doesn't have the pectoral tattoo, he has the same design from his arm around his shoulder blade. It reminds me of ancient armor, and it's really beautiful.
"Do you have any tattoos?" he asks.
I shake my head. "I always wanted one," I confess. I even came up with a design at one time. I wanted two birds in flight along my collarbone, between my shoulder and my heart, to represent my parents. After Tobias died I thought I'd do three birds like that. But I've never gotten a tattoo before, so I wouldn't know where to start."
"If you're serious about it, I can walk you through it and introduce you to my artist," Eric says, running his fingers along my bare skin as if imagining the design there.
I lean up to kiss him again, pressing our bare chests together in the process. We both gasp, and Eric takes advantage of our open mouths to deepen the kiss.
I slide my hands down his perfectly toned abs until I hit the waist of his jeans. "May I?" I ask shyly.
"Are you sure?" he asks, looking into my eyes to judge the sincerity of my answer.
"I'm sure," I promise him.
.
A/N: Apparently this story is all about recipes. Here's the apple cranberry sauce. It's one of my favorites.
1 bag (12 oz.) cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup water
1-2 medium apples, peeled and diced
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Place cranberries, sugar, water and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 3-5 minutes or until cranberries start to burst, and sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat and place in a medium bowl. Stir in diced apples and almond extract. Cover and refrigerate 2-3 hours or overnight.