*Author's Note*

Thanks for reading, faving, following, and reviewing.

This picks up right where the last chapter left off. LEMONS, THIS CHAPTER HAS LEMONS! Ya'll have been told so continue on and read.

Missed Ya Somethin' Awful

Novella POV:

Tolbert pulled his head back slightly so he could look me in the eyes. His stormy eyes were blown and darken due to lust and I assume my cornflower ones were too. With his lips closely hovering near mine he breathed out, "Ella, darlin', come home wit' me t'night."

I could feel the heat rolling off of his body, could feel his red-hot blood rushing throughout his veins, as I stood flush against him. I knew logically that going home with him wasn't a smart move, but my semi-drunk brain wasn't worrying about logic. Currently I was feeling the spark igniting between us, flittering and fanning up the old feelings that used to heat up between us year before. The look in his eyes was fiery and lusty.

I felt like a moth drawn to a flame. I knew what my answer was going to be in this moment, even though most likely it'd be different in another situation. "Okay. Let's go, Tolbert." I told him, my voice flowing with a slight soft shiver.

Tolbert just smiled and quickly kissed me on the lips before grabbing my hand and dragging me off the dance floor. It only took a minute or so for use to make our way to our table to grab our jackets. Nancy and Frank, due to his bad leg, were sitting at the table drinking. Jefferson and Sarah on the other hand were still slow dancing on the dimly lit hardwood floor.

"We're gonna go." Tolbert explained as he snatched both our jackets, slinging them over his arm, while I silently grabbed my bag.

"Have a good night." Frank told us, holding his mug of beer, while Nancy just smile and nodded her head at us quietly.

Tolbert just placed his hand on the small of my back and led us away from the table and then out of the bar. Whenever we walked it was dark, the only light coming from the harvest moon and the few dim yellow lights that were mounted on the roof of the bar to point directly at the parking lot. Without saying a word Tolbert led us across the lot until we reached his old pickup.

"I can't believe you still have this truck." I mused while Tolbert opened the passenger's side door for me, letting me climb into the truck.

"Yea, well, I do." Tolbert remarked, closing the door as soon as I was settled in my seat. He walked over to his side and opened the door. Silently he got in, shut the door, and cranked on the engine. Instantly the sound of outlaw country flowed out of the stereo speakers, indicating that the radio was never turned off. Tolbert placed his arm over the back of my seat and turned his head 'round so he could back up. Quickly he had the truck pulled out and was shifting back into gear, taking off out of the lot.

"We'll be at my place soon." Tolbert told informed me as we rode down the desolate back hill road that went through Blackberry Creek.

"That's good."

We fell into a silence since neither one of us knew what else to say. We were both adults and knew that as soon as we got to his house we'd sleep together. There was no beating around the bush about it. We were feeling the heated need for each other, but we didn't know what to say to fill the air that wouldn't make things sound awkward. I just listened to the song on the radio while Tolbert pressed his foot on the gas, speeding up the truck in order to get us home faster.

Suddenly before I knew it Tolbert was turning down a pathway. The bright headlights of the truck revealed that the path we were on was actually his driveway and that his house was only a few feet ahead. The song on the radio was fading out whenever Tolbert stopped the truck, turning it off.

"Come on, darlin'." Tolbert's velvety voice softly ordered as he opened his door, exiting the pickup.

Quietly I grabbed my purse along with our jackets, opened the truck door, and got out of it. The clanking sounds of our boots filled the air as we walked up the walkway path and up the porch steps. The porch light shinned brightly as Tolbert quickly unlocked his front door. I could feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach as he held the door open for me, letting me walk inside first. I just stood idly in the middle of the entrance way as Tolbert's booted feet clumped inside behind me.

After he closed the door he walked up to my side, sliding an arm around my waist while taking the jackets from my hand and tossing them off to the side, somewhere near the door no doubt. "I missed ya somethin' awful, Ella." Tolbert's velvet like voice whispered into my ear before kissing my neck, right below my earlobe.

Oh god, this is actually happening. Never in a million years did I ever think that me and Tolbert would ever hookup again. Oh boy. The butterflies fluttered even faster in my stomach, my chest heaving heavily, as Tolbert worked my neck with soft sensual kisses. He stopped his kisses and turned me around. His stormy eyes were darkly lidded with lust as he cupped my chin and captured my lips in a languid kiss, tugging at my lip as he pulled away. "I want ya tonight, darlin'. Are ya sure ya want me too?"

Seriously, I was standing in his house with his arm wrapped around my waist and his hand cupping my chin and he was asking me if I really wanted to sleep with him. Tolbert, ever the man of chivalry and honor. Of course, I was going to sleep with him. I wouldn't be here if that wasn't the case. We were both lustful tonight, reason for us being in the situation we were currently in.

"Yea, Tolbert, I'm sure." I answered him as smoothly as my flowing voice could while I gave him a small smile.

Tolbert, firmly holding my hand in his, led me into his bedroom. The bedroom was dark when we first stepped for into it, making it difficult for me to take in it's décor. Tolbert, still holding onto my hand, led uss over to the bed and flipped on the light that was on the bedside table. As the soft light glowed, making the room visible, I was able to take in the rustic simplicity of his bedroom. The bed was a black metal one with a star country quilt on it. A simple wooden bedside table was on his side of the bed, a lamp and an alarm clock on it, while on the other side was a sitting chair. On one of the walls was a long wooden dresser with a black metal rimmed mirror bolted above it. As I said before it was a simple room, fit for a country boy.

With a slight smile Tolbert turned me to face him. He placed a hand on my cheek before dipping his head, capturing my lips in his for a searing kiss. I felt him pull my purse strap off of my shoulder while I was wrapping a hand around his neck. He tossed it somewhere behind him, I know cause I heard it clunking a it hit the floor. His lips broke away from mine and began to trail kisses over my jaw and behind my ear as he picked me up, causing me to instantly wrap my legs around him, and walk me the few steps to his bed.

Tolbert looked at me, lust dark in his eyes, as he set me down on the bed. On his side of the bed, actually. He took yanked off my boots before quickly kissing me and pulling away to take off his own boots and socks. Once he tossed them to the side he straddled me on the bed, his mouth instantly finding mine in a kiss.

As we kissed his hands pulled down both the straps of my dress and bra, pulling until the triangle top of the dress along with my bra cups revealed my breasts to him. When I felt his hands touch my breasts, kneading and teasing them, my back arched and I moaned into our kiss. He smiled, pulling away only to pull off his t-shirt. His chest was well defined and spattered with auburn hair. Basically, he hadn't changed much.

"Come on, let's get'cha outta yer dress." Tolbert told me, getting up while grabbing my hand and pulling me up as well.

"You should get out of your pants." I countered back with a small smile as I pulled my dress the rest of the way off.

"Yea. Just get undressed and I'll be ready for ya by time yer on the bed." Tolbert told me as he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans.

By time I took off my underwear and laid on the bed Tolbert was stepping out of his jeans and boxers. I had forgotten that he was well-endowed since I hadn't been with him in almost 10 years, but yea his member was long, large, and impressive when standing at his full hardness. Dear god, it'd been like 4 weeks since I've had sex and here I am getting wet from looking at Tolbert's manhood.

Tolbert smirked at me before descending down on me and kissing me. Our kiss was heated, full of lip pulling while we ran our hands all over each other's bodies. Tolbert's lips broke away from mine, kissing a trail from my jaw to the crook of my neck as one of his hands snaked between my legs. I gasped as his thumb ran over my clit, sending a jolt of unexpected pleasure up my core. He chuckled into my neck between kissing me as his thumb worked me over, causing me to claw at his back while gasping and moaning for more.

Bastard didn't give me more though. Or at least not with his hand. Quickly he pulled his lips from my neck, giving me a lusty grin, before positing himself between my legs. In one swift move he entered me, making my back arch off the bed while my nails dug into his back. Holy shit, did he feel good. Tolbert smirked, gave me a quick peck, and then started to rock his hips into mine.

I don't know how long our hips were moving in sync for before I started to frantically claw at his back while hitching my legs up higher around him. He groaned while moving faster, one of his hands grasping my thigh while the other tightly held his sheets by my shoulder. Our lips clumsily meet for random kisses as our movements got faster, sloppier.

"Tolbert. Tolbert, I'm close." I told him in between my moans, grinding my hips faster into his.

"I know, Ella. Me too, darlin'." He grunted before taking his hand off of my thigh and snaking it between us.

After a few seconds of Tolbert quickly circling my clit with his thumb I felt my pleasure hit me, wash all over me. As I came I moaned out his name. In a matter of moments Tolbert jerked and twitched before letting out his release, grunting and moaning my name along with a few curses while doing so.

Now things felt awkward. The afterglow part where we bask in each other's embrace was anything, but glowing. The silence between us was heavy, heavier then humidity on a hot July day. Neither one of us knew what to do or say, sadly, so we just laid together. Actually, he was spooning me, which felt a bit strange since I hadn't spooned in a long time.

I mean me and Cap usually just laid with me sprawled halfway on top of him or tucked tightly in his side with my head on his chest, not much spooning. Dear lord, I just screwed Tolbert and here I am comparing his cuddling with Cap's. I'm horrible, just horrible.

"What'cha thinkin' 'bout, darlin'?" Tolbert asked, his mouth hovering next to my ear. His hot breath brushing my cheek.

"Nothing really, why?" I replied, staring idly at the drawn dark beige window curtains across from the bed.

"So, yer not thinkin' 'bout how things could carry on 'tween us?" Tolbert asked me, his smooth voice tinted with curiosity.

"No, Tolbert, I'm not." I firmly answered him, a bit quickly too if I might add.

"Oh…" He sighed out, his velvety tone going flat.

"Why, are you?"

"We still got our spark, think we ought a see where it goes." Tolbert told me in his velvet timbre, trying to convince me to get back with him.

Not what I need right now. Tonight, was just a fluke. Damnit, I'm his lawyer. Ah shit, I'm his lawyer… Even though we got lost in a spark and old feelings I had to let him know why nothing could happen between us. I sighed before going on to explain, "Tolbert, I'm one of your defense lawyers for your murder trial. Us, it's not professional at all. It's breaking ethical codes."

"So ya don't wanna carry on's what yer sayin'?" Tolbert asked, a bit dumbly in my opinion. Of course that's what I was saying.

Despite everything that had gone on between us a part of me still cared and I didn't want to hurt him. Which is why I told him softly, "Tolbert, tonight was nice. Really, it was, but there's too much going on for us to be anything more."

"Christ, ya used me for birthday sex didn't ya?" Tolbert asked in a roar, sounding like an angry lion, as he jolted up in bed.

"No, I didn't, Tolbert." I told him, sitting up and turning around to look at him while clutching the tan sheet close to my body.

"Yea, ya did. I can't believe ya'd do that to me. I told ya I missed ya and that don't even matter no more since we've done the need." He snarled accusingly at me, looking me up and down with hurt, fury, and disgust in his stormy eyes.

How dare he act that way with me? I wasn't some dumb hillbilly twit that he could belittle. I hardened my jaw and stared him down while informing him in a biting snap, "Well, Tolbert, you missing me ain't my fault. It's yours for cutting me loose and walking away a nearly a decade ago without nothing more then a just cause for a damn answer."

"Yer really gonna throw the shit up in my face?" Tolbert asked me, his brows narrowed. Rolling his eyes he went on to remark, "Like ya said it's been nearly a decade since that happened. It's in the past."

"Why'd you do it, Tolbert? What the real reason you left me the way you did?" I asked, hoping that I'd finally get a real answer from him. I mean Nancy told me she thought he'd reveal the truth. It's been a long time, he had to be ready to give me his reason.

He shook his head, his eyes not meeting mine, as he told me, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell ya a real ya'll want t'hear."

"Why not?"

"Just cause's all." Tolber had the nerve to tell me with a shrug. One of the biggest problems between us and he just shrugs with his bullshit answer from years ago. Damn prick.

"No, Tolbert, I deserve an answer." And I did deserve an answer. Hell, Cap was man enough to give me an answer when he broke up with me. Tolbert needed to man up, do the same.

His smooth voice hardened as he gruffly told me, "And ya got one. Just cause, that's my answer."

"It wasn't good enough then and it's not good enough now." I shouted at him, causing his head to jut up and his nostrils to flare angrily. Apparently, he didn't like my reaction.

"If ya can't accept the answer I gave then get out." He told me, his velvet timbre shaking with anger. Pointing towards his door he ordered gruffly, "Go on and get, ya know yer way to the door."

"What, you're tossing me out after midnight without a way home?" I asked, my cornflower blues as wide as saucers.

"Yea, an' I'm sure ya can call yerself up a ride with yer fancy ass phone."

"Fine, Tolbert, I'm going." I snapped, tossing the sheet off my body and flying out of bed. "Oh, and by the way you're needed at the law office today to start working on the case." I informed him as I began to gather my clothes.

"I'll be there, now get your shit and get out." Tolbert snapped, his velvet voice heavy with the effects of his bad temper.

"See you haven't changed on bit. Still the temperamental jackass you've always been." I told him while putting on my underwear.

"Well ya changed 'nough for both us. Yer talk, clothes, hair, everythin' bout ya changed." He told me accusingly as I pulled my dress over my head, smoothing it down my body. As I stepped into my boots he snarled, "Guess I was a fool thinkin' that for one night the girl from these hills was back."

"Yea, well, I was a fool for falling for your rugged country boy charm." I spat back before storming out of his room.

Whatever, if he wanted me gone cause I struck a nerve then I was gone. I didn't need to take his bullshit. I wasn't a girl anymore, I was a grown ass woman and wasn't going to pussy-foot around with him like I did in the past. Only Tolbert could take something nice and turn it to shit with his fly off the rails attitude. Little fucker needs therapy, big time.

Quickly I walked into the main room, grabbed my jacket from the floor, and stormed out of the house. I sat on one of the porch steps and pulled my jacket on since the late fall air was chilly. I opened my bag and pulled out my phone. I quickly unlocked it and scrolled my contact list. My thumb hovered over one name, for some reason knowing in my gut that they would answer no matter the time and get me no matter what. Taking a deep breath, I hit the name and then the green call button.

After a few minutes I heard a half-asleep hello on the other side. "I need a ride. I'm outside of Tolbert's in Blackberry Creek at 1203 Blackberry Fork Road." I told the person I had woken up with my call, quickly earning me an "Okay, I'll be there soon." before being hung up on.

AN: And the happy Tolbert/Ella fluff didn't last for long. Eh, his hot-headed temper reared its ugly head up. Also, he's not ready to admit why he dumped her. Might never be, who knows… So, does anyone have a guess about who Novella called to pick her up?

Oh, this story won't be very full of lemons, but a few chapters here and there will have them. This is a love triangle fic after all, lol.