Covered in Coal (21 page)

I quickly push up to my knees, but leave my shoulders pressed into the bed. He thrusts two fingers deep inside of my core, covering me in my own juices. He presses his cock against me, sliding it to my clit, then back again slowly. He loves to tempt and tease. He wraps his arm around my waist and with one fluid movement he thrusts his dick deep inside of me. I fist the sheets into my hands, as my back arches, shuddering with pleasure.

Colton pounds into me aggressively, digging his fingers into my hips, and pinching at my nipples with each and every thrust. His hand leaves my hip briefly, but meets the cheek of my ass with a hard slap. He pulls out of me quickly, then grips my hips and flips me to my back. Burying himself balls deep in my slick core, he stills. He presses his forehead to mine, and peers down into my eyes, whispering against my lips, “who do you belong to?” His cock throbs against my core, but he remains seated within me, waiting for my answer. My eyes roll back at the sensation and I bite down on my lip. He pulls my lips between his and bites down on my bottom lip. My eyes fly open and a devious grin spreads across his face. “Answer me”, he growls, as his dick throbs.

“I belong to you,” I whisper, pressing a soft delicate kiss to his lips. He begins to slowly rock his hips against me. I wrap my legs around his back, but he raises up and spreads them wide, resting them on top of his shoulders. He grinds deeper, harder,
faster, as his balls press hard against my ass, with each rock of his hips. Sweat drips from his forehead, as he pounds in and out of me, one hand wrapped tightly around the back of my neck, and my thigh pressed to his chest, so he can dig deeper within me.

Our bodies are a tangled, sweat glistening mess. Wild feral growls rattle in his chest, as his cravings build higher and higher. The same intense hurricane is swirling in my stomach, tightening my core and hammering my heart against my chest.

Colton presses his forehead to mine and begs, “come with me baby.” He pounds his dick deep inside of me a few more times, before the waves wash over me, and the gut ripping roars of Colton’s own orgasm fills my ears. He keeps his grasp on my neck, our foreheads still pressed together, as we pant into each other’s mouths, spiraling down from the release we shared together. Not once does his eyes leave mine. When his breathing has slowed down, he peppers delicate kisses all over my face. He loosens his hold from me, then looks down at me says, “Darlin’, there is no doubt in my mind, that you own every ounce of my soul. I love you so damn much, Carly Jo.”

Colton

Carly Jo’s eyes well up with tears as I tell her how much I love her. I don’t think she believed me when I told her that I never stopped lovin’ her, but I continue the relentless battle of workin’ my way back into her heart. I’ll never give up on her. I love her too damn much.

I roll to my side, and pull her close to me, laying a soft kiss on top of her head. She releases a tremblin’ sigh, and nuzzles closer to me. “Ya done pushin’ me away yet, darlin’?” She rests her head on my chest and smiles with her eyes, before shakin’ her head at me with a soft giggle.

“I want to be. You need to believe that.”

“Well get dressed. We both have to work early in the mornin’ and we still have a lot to talk about. So you’re comin’ home with me tonight,” I tell her, sittin’ up on the side of the bed, searchin’ the floor for my clothes. She doesn’t even argue this time. She gets out of the bed, and dresses as quickly as I do. She gathers her things, while I wait for her, then we make our way outside to my truck.

We enjoy a silent drive back to my house. Carly Jo is nestled into my side, with her arm wrapped around my waist. She hasn’t said much, but judgin’ by the lip chewin’ I can tell that the wheels up top are turnin’.

Arrivin’ at my parent’s house first, I go inside to check on Heidi Jo and kiss her goodnight. Pops has just come draggin’ in from work, with his shoulders slumped, dark rings thick around his eyes. I’ve never saw my old man look this rough. He’s a tough old shit, and workin’ long hours usually have no effect on him. But the added stress that Drew

Varney is addin’ for Dalton Truckin’ has us all worried about Dad. He doesn’t say a word when he passes by the livin’ room, just walks on through the hallway, into his bedroom, slammin’ the door behind him. Momma shakes her head in annoyance. She’s just as worried, but there ain’t a damn thing any of us can do. I tell her that I’m headin’ home for the night and if they need anything to just call.

When we get inside my house, Carly Jo flops down on the couch, curlin’ her knees to her chest, pressin’ her face to the cushion and inhalin’ deep. Her eyes are closed, and she has the most peaceful relaxed look across her beautiful face. I pull my shoes off and have a seat on the other end of the couch, then pull her up to my arms, with a swift kiss to the forehead. I ain’t replayin’ no screamin’ fits, but we both need to be on the same page about what we have goin’ on between us. I know what I want, what I’ll get one way or the other, and I know that she keeps her damn walls up, tryin’ to keep me out. I’ll be damned if some dick like Luke Ashton is gonna be her way of chasin’ me off. I take a deep breath before layin’ my heart on the line.

“Carly Jo, I’ve crawled my way back to you, tried to prove to ya that I love ya, and that I’m sorry for all that shit in the past. But you keep slappin’ me in the damn face every chance you get. When I walked into the diner this evenin’ and saw that dick with his hand on you, it took every ounce of self-control within me not to go all Hulk on his ass. I haven’t felt that amount of rage in years. But beyond the rage, I felt heartache. I couldn’t believe what I was seein’. I was pissed that he had his nasty hands on you. But to see the smile on your face, put there by another man’s touch, ripped my heart strings. Do you know how damn long I’ve been tryin’ to get you to smile at me like that?”

“I’m sorry. I wish you could see Luke for what he is, just a friend. I know you won’t see that, but you need to see things from my side of the fence.”

She’s trying to stay strong, but her quiverin’ lip gives her away. I don’t wanna hear any friend bullshit, but to amuse her, I’ll listen. I’ve fought for this long, so why give up now? Shakin’ my head, I drag in a deep breath, and push down the risin’ tension that’s crawlin’ across up my back. “Go ‘head, Carly Jo. We ain’t gonna fight, scream, or argue. I want you to make me see things your way.”

She nods her head, placin’ her fidgety hands in her lap and begins to chew on her lip. I rub my thumb across the bottom of her lip, pullin’ it from between her teeth and look deep in her scared hazel eyes. “Stop bitin’ your damn lip in half, and calm down, ‘kay?”

She releases a pent up breath and looks away from me. “My entire life has been twisted upside down over the last few months. Daddy passing, leaving Simon Energy in my hands. Being the CEO in an industry of men, bossing a team of nearly two hundred people to see that this empire does not fall; I’m in a position of power that I’m really beginning to doubt myself in. I’ve always hated the mines. I go to work each morning, pencil push all day, I don’t understand half of the shit I’m looking at. But I still do it, and know that as long as the numbers are higher than the day before, it’s all good. I go home every night, to that big empty house, and the silence is deafening.”

She looks over at me, nibblin’ her lip then looks away again as the tears well up in her eyes. “I have nobody, Colton. Savannah is a busy mom, and we never talk. Since I came
home, you have been so caught up in trying to win me back, you haven’t looked deep enough to see that I am barely treading water. I was having lunch at the diner one day after a meeting and it had been such a bad day. Luke came in, saw that I was upset and joined me. I don’t like to talk a lot. He doesn’t push too hard, but when I want to talk about it, he listens, and when he needs to talk, I listen. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a friend.” She shrugs.

I take a minute to soak in what she’s just said. I don’t know how I missed that she has been lonely, but I guess I have. “You were always strong minded, and you still put off that same damn bad ass attitude. I just assumed that you could handle anything. I didn’t know it was deeper than that. Why didn’t you just say
somethin’.”

“We’ve talked about everything from the past. I just have a hard time letting you in. I need you to understand that I am trying. But you scare me.”

She covers her face with her hands and shakes her head. “No, that’s a lie. You don’t scare me. The things I feel for you scares me. When we are together, you don’t ever want to talk. You constantly have your hands on my thighs or in my hair, trying to pull me into these earth moving kisses that make my knees want to defy my weight. I can’t even get a clear head around you.”

She brushes her fingers through her dark brown waves in frustration. I grasp her elbow and pull her into my lap, then realize that was probably a bad idea. Hell with it. I need her close to me. I tuck her hair behind her ear, trailin’ my finger down her chin, before turnin’ her face so she is lookin’ at me.

“I’m sorry, baby. Not for needin’ to touch you, not for gettin’ so deep in your head that I effect you like I do. I’m sorry for bein’ blind to all of the other things you needed. Ya gotta understand darlin’, I ain’t been in a real relationship since you left. So I’m a little rusty. Sure, I tried things with Kari, and after I got straight, I dated off and on, but I haven’t been in a meaningful relationship, since you. We lost so much time together, that when I see you, I have to have my hands on you. I crave it.

“But that’s all gonna change. I can’t stand the thoughts of you turnin’ to another man for anything. I’m glad Luke was there for you, as bad as I hate the taste of that shit right now, but darlin’ I don’t want you seein’ him anymore. I don’t want you havin’ no more damn lunch dates, none of this shit him comin’ over to your house. If you need somebody, you call me. Not any damn body else, especially frickin’ Luke Ashton.”  I finish with a deep husky tone, deeper and harsher than I intend.  Damn my face is gettin’ hot and I just wanna squeeze his frickin’ neck in my hands right the hell now. Ain’t never been able to stand that frickin’ prick.

“Colton, why do you dislike Luke so much?”

“It ain’t just Luke. Make no mistake of that. It’s any damn man who looks at my woman like that, and touchin’ my woman, hell that’s just a fool signin’ his damn death warrant.” I shrug at her, but it’s true. Carly Jo rests her head on my chest and the heat in my face spreads through my body. I love the way this feels, her body pressed to mine.

“You said earlier that I’m a part of you. I know that, but I’ve battled myself for so long to protect my heart from you. I was trying to push you away in hopes that all of these emotions would just melt away. Why the hell they would now, when they’re still here after seven years is beyond me.  But I’m tired. I’m worn out, and I just don’t want to fight it anymore. I know that you love me, Colton. I love you too.”

Hearin’ those three tiny words escape her lips, nearly stop my heart. Even though she has said it before, this time it’s different. Before, we were young and stupid, without a care in the world except each other. Now, we have both battled our wars, together and apart, but still found our way back to each other. I kiss her lightly on the forehead and whisper, “I never dreamed I’d have you back in my arms, right where you belong. I love you, baby.”

I tighten my grip around her, and hold her tight to me. We sit entangled together on the couch, just enjoyin’ each other’s warmth and the silence that fills the air. Before long, the silence is met with a light snore and I look down to see that Carly Jo is sound asleep with her head pinned to my chest. I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to bed.

Carly

The alarm clock buzzes, waking me up from a very peaceful night of sleep. I roll over to turn off the alarm, and my fingers graze warm flesh. My heart stills and the beeps cease. A low guttural moan fills the room, as I rub my tired eyes trying to focus on the source of the husky moan.

“Mornin’, darlin’.” Colton says wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling my back against his chest. He trails his rough, calloused hand up and down my side in soft, slow movements and presses his cock against my ass.

“Morning, baby. What time is it?” I ask, gripping his arms tighter around me, just wanting to be held, but obviously he has other ideas in mind.

“Five a.m.,” he whispers, kissing down my arm.

“Five a.m.? Do you always wake up so damn early to get ready for work? What the hell?” I whine. Yep, I whine. What can I say, I love my sleep. He continues to cover my arm in soft, delicate kisses, trailing his fingers across the hem of my panties.

“When I get to wake up to the love of my life in the bed with me, hell yeah I do.” He says with a devious smirk. He twists me around so that I’m facing him, then captures my lips with his. He kisses me softly, tangling our bodies together, sparking a heat of passion that we both want.

“I love you so much, sweetheart”, he whispers against my lips, “I can’t believe I’m really wakin’ up with you in my arms. Please tell me this ain’t a damn dream.”

I pull his face into mine, and giggle against his lips, “No baby, I’m here. This is happening.”

He grasps my face in his strong hands and looks deep into my hazel eyes, tracing his thumb across my cheek. “You ain’t ever goin’ anywhere on me again. Ever. I finally have you back in my arms where you belong. Don’t ever leave me again.” He doesn’t plead. He orders. He instructs. And yeah, I kinda like it. I tip my nose against his, and look into his dark brown eyes and promise him forever.

“I’m yours, only yours. Always.” His eyes dance with excitement and happiness as pulls me into a kiss, covering my body with his, pressing me hard into the mattress. He doesn’t rush this moment. No. He takes his time, caressing and loving me, all of me. We make love passionately, connecting our souls as one. Its desire filled, earth moving love. 

By six a.m., when we are both fully sated and exhausted, we climb out of bed and make our way to the shower to get ready for work. While I’m drying my hair, Colton walks over to his parent’s house to get Heidi Jo ready for school. Once I’m dressed and ready for work, I lock up and join them for breakfast.

Heidi Jo is the most energetic little girl I have ever seen. Even at nearly seven a.m., she is dancing around her bedroom, singing into a hair brush as music bounces from the speakers. She
is dressed, and ready for school, just burning up some energy before she gets her day started, I guess.

Emily has cooked a huge breakfast; gravy, biscuits, eggs, sausage, bacon and fried apples. Heidi Jo and I help her set the table, while Bill and Colton wait impatiently for their morning grub. Colton fixes Heidi Jo’s plate and tells her to eat up, so we can take her to school. We. That sounds odd.

My heart flutters, stops, and then jolts back to life, pacing quickly at the mention of such a small word. It feels surreal that this is happening. I’m finally unlocking the steel enforced cage, and allowing Colton Weston access to my heart. I think I’ve stopped breathing, and all I can hear is the pounding sound of my heart. Colton squeezes my thigh with a wink, while listening to Heidi Jo go on and on about us taking her to school together. Releasing that pent up breath that caught in my chest behind fear and anxiety, I enjoy this sweet girl’s laughter and bubbly nature.

She’s eating her breakfast, and talking with a full mouth, never missing a beat with the conversation that fills the room. She has her own two cents to put into every conversation. Colton catches her head turned and swipes a piece of bacon from her plate, cramming it all in his mouth before she sees him. When she notices the bacon is missing, she pushes her chair back, stands tall with her hand on her hip, shaking her chubby little finger right in his face.

“Daddy, I love ya an’ all, but if you ever touch my bacon again, I’m gonna get Papaw to hold you down and let Mamaw cut your finger off. You don’t mess with a girl’s bacon, old man, don’tcha know?!”

She twists her hips, plopping down in the chair; her face red and scrunched up in anger. Everyone at the t
able laughs at her cute little remark, but her. Something tells me she wasn’t kidding. Emily piles her plate with bacon, and she grins from ear to ear, then gives Colton an evil eye. 

After we’ve all filled our bellies, I help Heidi Jo gather her backpack and lunch box before we set off to start our day. I thank Emily for breakfast, and offer to help her clean up, but she shoos me from the kitchen, sending me on my way. Bill stops me in the doorway, “You’ll be in the office all day?” he asks.

“I plan to be. Is everything okay?”

“No, but there ain’t a damned thing I can do about it. I’ll stop by later.” He nods, then disappears through the hall. I slide on my shoes, and meet Heidi Jo and Colton in the truck. We drop the chatter-box Heidi Jo off at school, then head into work.

“I think you’re Dad’s planning to stop by the mines later. Not sure why he didn’t just talk to me back at the house.” I tell him. Colton looks over at me, scratching his scruffy day old beard, shaking his head.

“Pops don’t like to make Momma worry any more than she already does.”

“He looks rough, Colton. I’m worried about him. I don’t know what Drew’s plans are, but I don’t trust him.”

“Don’t sweat it, baby. Y’all gonna figure it out.”

When we get to the mines we kiss goodbye and go our separate ways. As I’m passing by Shelly’s desk, she is a frantic mess. Her cheeks are red and she’s trembling.

“Ms. Simon, I’ve been trying to get in touch with you all morning. There is a Mr. Varney here to see you. He’s been requesting that I call you every fifteen minutes, to see when you would be in. I told him that unless he had an appointment you wouldn’t see him, but he forced the issue and refused to leave until he sees you. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Mr. Varney?”

“Yes ma’am. Mr. Drew Varney, he said he’s with Dalton Trucking.”

“Where is he now, Shelly?”

“He’s waiting in the conference room.”

I take in a deep breath, and bite down on my lip. Turning on my heels, I stalk towards the conference room. I stop by the door, straighten my clothes, and push the door open.

Drew is sitting at the head, yes the HEAD of the damn conference room table with a file in one hand, and his cell phone glued to his ear. This son of a bitch has some nerve coming into my office, and making himself comfortable like he owns the damn place. He turns around slowly and when our eyes meet, I gasp at the striking resemblance he bares to my daddy. Drew has coal black hair, a strong jaw and deep green eyes. He looks tall, and is very fit.

“Yeah, I got that J, let me holler back at’cha. Yeah, she just walked in the room.” He says, before pressing end and sliding the phone in the front pocket of his shirt. He arches his back, then stands tall, walking around the table to greet me.

“Ms. Simon, Drew Varney.” He says reaching his large hand out to greet me. Like hell. I cross my arms over my chest, ignoring his gesture. He pushes his hand into his pocket, lightly chuckling to himself. “I’m the owner of Dalton Truck,” I cut off his words before he can even try to step knee deep in the shit he’s standing in front of.

“I know who you are, Mr. Varney. And correction, you’re the business partner of Bill Weston, who’s the owner of Dalton Trucking. Now, care to explain to me, why the hell you feel the need to bust into my office, patronizing my receptionist, and requesting an abrupt meeting with me? I’m a very busy woman. You have two minutes to state your reason for visiting with Simon Energy today, then you need to get the hell out of my office.” 

Drew chuckles, then takes his seat again, at the head of my damn conference table. That in itself flames my blood. This asshole hasn’t been in my presence for more than a minute and I’m already plotting his tragic demise.

“So you want to cut the shit. Great. I’m here to inform you that as of midnight, Dalton Trucking will cease all operations with Simon Energy.”

He leans back in the high back leather chair, and laces his hands behind his head, glaring a deadpan stare straight through me. He thinks he has the upper hand here, and that’s all fine and well. He thinks because he is a big man, that I will wilt, falling to his feet like a dainty little flower begging and pleading. This jackass is dead wrong, because this little bitch don’t wilt. I fight.

“Well Mr. Varney, I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, we have a binding contract with Dalton Trucking, so any breech of said contract can, and will result in some very nasty litigation. So you may want to ask yourself, do you really wanna start off on the wrong foot with your new business partner, costing him thousands of dollars?”

“Please, call me Drew. Bill and I are still working on the terms, but we are willing to buy out your contract, to prevent any legal issues. You see, I am the owner of American Heritage Coal Company. We are a slightly smaller mines than Simon Energy, but we are paving our way to the top, and will be the largest coal producing company in the state of Kentucky within the next five years. It only makes sense that Dalton Trucking signs a contract with my coal company now, considering I own a portion of the trucking company. I’m sure you can understand the business side of things. I just need you to tell me your number, and I can cut you a check right now. There is no need to drag things out. You need to understand, I’m a very powerful man, I don’t just get what I want, but I take what I want. So don’t fight me on this. It will only make any future business we may have together, well, awkward.” Drew rocks back and forth in the leather chair, waiting for my rebuttal. He is such a cocky bastard, and just looking at him sends shocking volts of pure hatred straight through to my blood.

“You think you’re so clever, walking in here, trying to intimidate me don’t you? Well, you don’t. You need to understand who you are dealing with Mr. Varney. I’m a damn Simon. I don’t play games, I don’t put up with bullshit, and I certainly don’t take kindly to idle threats. Now, here is my counter offer for you. Name your number. I’ll buy out your partnership with Dalton Trucking right now.” Rage is boiling deep in the pit of my stomach, and I can’t shake the urge to bust him across the damn face. There is a knock at the door, so I take two steps backwards and open it, shocked to see Shelly with a pissed Bill Weston on her heels.

“Ms. Simon, again, I’m sorry. He said he was late for the meeting. Your schedule was clear for the morning.” Shelly says, shrugging her shoulders.

“It’s okay, Shelly. Just hold any calls for now.” She nods her head, stepping aside so Bill can enter the conference room.

As soon as his eyes land on Drew’s, his face turns purple with anger. He charges across the room, screaming and cussing loud enough for everyone in the damn building to hear him. As soon as he is within reach of Drew, he connects a right hook across Drew’s jaw. Drew’s head pops to the side, then springs back quickly, and his eyes grow dark, full of fury. He swipes the drop of blood from his lip, and sneers up at Bill.

“You son of a bitch! I told you when I left the office yesterday that I would not breech contract with Simon Energy. Why the hell are you here, Drew?”

I approach with caution, reaching my hand up to rest on Bill’s shoulder. He jerks around quickly, and his shoulders relax when he sees that it’s me.

“Carly, I’m sorry. I didn’t have any idea he had plans of coming to see you. He’s a lyin’ snake that you just can’t trust.”

“Bill, first I think you need to calm down. Have a seat, so I can explain what Mr. Varney is doing here.” Bill’s eyebrows furrow, and confusion mares his face. He scratches his head, and
takes a seat at the other end of the table. Drew still hasn’t said a word, he just keeps glaring an intense deadpan glare at Bill.

“Bill, Mr. Big Talker Varney, here tells me as of midnight tonight, Dalton Trucking will no longer be in contract with Simon Energy to carry our coal. He tells me that since you refuse to breech the contract, you are both prepared to offer me a substantial amount of money to buy out that contract, is any of this true?”

“It’s true that he wants to breech the contract, only because the greedy asshole wants Dalton Truckin’ to sign with American Heritage Coal Company. I’ve done told him that Simon Energy could burn to the ground tonight, and I still wouldn’t sign a damn contract with AHCC to haul their damn coal.”

Drew remains silent, just listening to the conversation between Bill and me.

“Bill, I’ve turned down Mr. Varney’s offer to buy out the contract between Dalton Trucking and Simon Energy. So I expect to have trucks lined up, waiting to be loaded with coal. Do you both understand?” I look to both of the men, Drew doesn’t offer any answer, but Bill agrees.

“Now, I have offered to buy his partnership in Dalton Trucking. I’d imagine it would rid you of one pain in your ass. I’m just waiting on him to tell me his number, and then we can get the transaction started. So what do you say Mr. Varney, what amount of money is it going to take for you to walk away from Dalton Trucking and out of our lives?”