A Country Christmas Read online

  Shades of browns with hints of green from salt bushes scattered the landscape. She could hear the cattle off in the distance. The call of a crow was closer, and she spied a cluster of trees nearby assuming it was perched there. A lizard scattered away along the fence line, and another had climbed the next post, looked at her, before deciding to find another spot to bask in the sun. For land that looked like it was dying and was hot and dry, it was full of life.

  “All good,” said Max.

  Zoe turned to face him, not wanting to leave. This was as far as she’d come on the farm with Max. Up until now it had only been very short trips, and she was guessing that was orchestrated out of his concern for her and the baby. We don’t need to be wrapped in cotton wool just yet.

  He smiled at her. The difference they’d had before in the ute was now gone, baked away by the heat of the sun, and then absorbed by the earth they stood on.

  “You’re hot, you know.”

  Zoe giggled, tilted her head at him suggestively. “How hot?”

  His grin broadened as he strode up to her, wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her into his front. “Too hot for me to resist.”

  She rested her head back on his shoulder as he kissed along her neckline. The sun was hot on her face as she closed her eyes, enjoying Max’s lips on her skin, his arms tight around her waist. They might be outside, but it wasn’t as if there was any chance of anyone coming along. She relaxed into his embrace, letting him coax the desire from her.

  His hands moved over her hips, she could feel the heat of his touch despite her skirt adding a barrier she wished wasn’t there. Soft sounds of pleasure came from her, encouraging him to slip his hands over her body, feeling her curves with need.

  Gathering up the material of her skirt, her legs bare and exposed to the wind and heat, prickled with anticipation. She leaned back further into him, arching her back, tilting her hips forward, giving him the access he really wanted. His hands brushed up her thigh, leaving a trail of heat that melted into her skin, which caused her pulse to increase. His fingers softly touched the top of her panties, dancing over her mound with such a light touch.

  She quivered, a bolt of pleasure moved through her. She could sense his desire for more building with hers, fueling the passion between them.

  He traced the pantie line over her thigh, slipped his fingers under the delicate lace, and dipped into her juices. She gasped. Her body convulsed, wanting this to go for longer, she managed to find her resolve, and ride with the building pleasure.

  His fingers glided the length of her pussy, between her moist folds, before circling at the top of her slit.

  She felt a spike in the pleasure, and reached up behind his head, trying to hold on and ride the wave that was fast, hot, and taking her way too quickly toward her peak. It was as if he could sense her struggle, and he increased his pressure on her intimate folds, building the tension, filling her body with pleasure until it flooded with bliss, and she tipped over into an orgasm with a sharp moan as her body shuddered.

  Her mind spun with the desire he’d elicited from her, and she let him take the weight of her body as she slowly absorbed the energy of the orgasm. She could feel his hardness pushing into her, reminding that he was still yet to find a release.

  She righted her balance, but before she could turn around to face him, she felt his hands at the top of her panties.

  “Ready for more?” His breath was hot on the back of her neck.

  She stifled a gasp of anticipation. Her throat tightening with the need for more. All she could do was nod in agreement.

  The panties slid down her legs and she stepped out of them. She rested her hands on the wooden fence post to stop herself from losing balance as her mind blurred from the passion burning through her.

  His hands firm on her waist, tilted her forward. She could hear him fumbling with his jeans and wished he would hurry up. She wanted him inside of her, giving her the full pleasure her body craved.

  The back of her skirt lifted, cotton material moved aside as he positioned his hard cock at the entrance of her pussy. It took the last of her resolve not to tilt her hips back to push him inside of her, and to take a moment to enjoy the pleasure of how her muscles clenched knowing what was about to happen.

  He plunged himself into her. She moaned as her muscles parted to receive him, then contract over his cock. Her breath quickened as he pulled out sharply, paused, then returned inside of her, sending a thunderous wave of pleasure through her body. She held tighter on the post, keeping her position, so she could take the full enjoyment of him moving in and out of her. He kept a slow rhythm, while she surrendered easily to the movement. Gradually, he quickened the pace, and she felt the pleasure increasing between them, within her. Her muscles clenched excitedly around his cock as relentlessly plunged in and out of her.

  Once more she tipped over into an orgasm, this time with the additional pleasure of him sharing the moment with her. She sighed as her intimate muscles began to settle, and her soul untwined with his back to her own body.

  “Aren’t you glad I wore a skirt?”

  He chuckled. “Things worked out better than I thought it would with you coming along.”

  “Does that mean I can come with you more often.”

  He nuzzled, groaning with a tone of mixed emotion. A pang of disappointment hit her gut. Was it expecting too much for him to change a little to accommodate her in his life?

  “You know what, I think you can.”

  She smiled. “See, I can teach an old dog new habits.”

  “Come here you.” He spun her around to face him.

  She laughed and squirmed out of his grasp.

  “Hey.” His arms flayed out trying to grab her, but she kept just out of his reach as she moved toward the ute.

  “Come on, don’t you have more work to do.” She giggled to herself seeing his jeans around his ankles, his cock exposed, and the expression of shock written all over his face.

  He bent down, picked up her panties and held them up. “Don’t you need these?”

  She turned and faced him. A wave of cheekiness took hold of her. She broadened her stance, lifted her skirt, waving it from side to side like a Can-Can dancer, before totally exposing herself to him.

  “What do you think?” she called out to him.

  “I say, no.” He laughed, pulled up his jeans, and slipped her panties into his pocket.

  Zoe grinned watching him. This was why they were together, this banter, this sexual tension. She just hoped it was going to be enough of a foundation to start a family together.

  Zoe had a sense of feeling free as she rested in the ute watching Max check the last water trough. A pleasant buzz vibrated through her body after their cheeky sexual encounter. There was something about having a quickie in nature she mused as he turned and strode back toward her.

  “All fine.” He got back into the driver’s seat of the ute and started the engine. It roared to life.

  “Wasted trip?” It had been nearly a twenty-minute drive to get to here from the last stop they’d made.

  Max shook his head. “Can’t be too careful. The cattle drink a lot of water in a day, so I need to check regularly. Things go wrong out here, and it can mean the loss of lives.”

  There was a serious shadow to his face. Zoe was starting to get his concern for her and the baby, yet, she wasn’t about to give up her independence. She wasn’t going to do anything that would be risky.

  “You look after me well, Max.” She wasn’t sure where those words had came from. He did, in his own way, and in a way that sometimes had rubbed her the wrong way. But there was that definite connection between them. After all, as luck had it, or maybe it was Cupid’s influence or something, they had created a baby together, even if they hadn’t meant to.

  He leaned over and kissed her. “I should do more. But I have plans, Zoe, and I hope you’ll not lose patience in the meantime.”

  Her skin prickled with the tone he sp
oke in. Was that what she was doing? Losing patience. He kissed her again and her thoughts tangled. For now, she only cared that they were together. Details could sort themselves out later. Right?

  Max pulled away then stroked her cheek. “Come on, let’s get back home. I’m hungry.” He put the ute into gear, and with a sharp jerk they skidded.

  Zoe muffled a scream, grabbed hold of the armrest to stop herself from crashing into the door.

  Max laughed.

  She frowned at him, but it was apparent he thought his actions were rather funny. Max continued to grin broadly as he drove back toward home, making a beeline to the nearest road. “Bastard.”

  Zoe knew damn well he’d done that deliberately. “I thought you were worried about keeping the baby and me safe?” Her heartbeat raced from the scare he’d given her. Cheeky bastard.

  “What can I say, I like giving you a thrill.”

  The muscles between her legs clenched tight. Heat flared on her cheeks. He was good at doing just that too. But she wasn’t about to tell him.

  Max slowed as they approached the gate. “I do, don’t I?” He winked at her before getting out and opening the gate.

  “You know this is the passenger’s job,” said Max, humor thick in his voice as he got back into the ute and edged forward out of the paddock.

  “You should’ve told me… I’ll close the gate.” Zoe quickly got out as soon as Max stopped the ute. A big gust of wind came along and blew up her skirt.

  Max wolf-whistled with a big smirk. “I think you may have converted me to this new dress-wearing style on the farm.”

  Zoe’s felt herself blush as she tried to keep her skirt down. At least it was only Max who was around to see her doing a Marilyn Munroe. She pulled the gate, remembering how to lock it securely based on a previous lesson from Max, then went back to the ute, holding her skirt down.

  “Thanks,” he relayed as she slipped back into the passenger’s seat and closed the door.

  “What, for giving you a thrill this time?” She looked at him cheekily.

  “That, and for closing the gate. You shut it properly?”

  “Go and check.” She tilted her chin up in a challenge. “Or, don’t you trust me.”

  “I trust you.” To prove it, he put the ute back into gear and turned onto the dirt road.

  “Good, so you should.” She raised her eyebrow at him, then settled back into the seat, arm on the edge of the open window, enjoying the wind in her hair. This had been a fun outing with Max, and she wasn’t just thinking about them having sex. She enjoyed how they interacted. How he didn’t shy away from her sharp comments. It almost felt like a date, even though he’d gotten work done.

  They were nearly back at the farm when they spotted a car up ahead, coming toward them.

  Max slowed. Zoe thought she recognized the steel gray Mazda CX5, but it wasn’t until both vehicles stopped side by side when she realized it was his sister Kate, and his mom.

  “Hey stranger, about time you came over for dinner,” called out his mom, who sat in the passenger seat.

  “Just busy.”

  “We need to sort out Christmas soon, you know?”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  It amused Zoe that Max did what he was told when it came to his mom.

  “On your way into town?” asked Kate.

  “What makes you say that?” questioned Max.

  “Nice outfit, Zoe,” said Kate.

  Zoe shifted uneasily. She was grateful right now that the material of her skirt was not see-through.

  “Oh, that. No, Zoe can’t fit into her jeans,” answered Max.

  “I think a shopping trip to Adelaide is in order,” replied Kate, her face lighting with the idea.

  “Good idea. We can all go down together, and Zoe? What about if we arrange to have lunch with your parents? We can stay overnight at the Stamford Grand Hotel, it will be nice to be by the beach for a change.”

  Zoe swallowed hard. Her heartbeat went a little wild with the prospect of each side of the family meeting. Her parents were good about her move to see if things would work with Max. But still, was she ready for this part in a relationship—the parents meeting each other? She knew Max was sad that his father had passed, and wouldn’t get to meet her or his grandchild.

  “Sure.” She found herself answering despite the opposing thoughts in her mind.

  “Great. How about Wednesday? Don’t want to leave it too late with Christmas around the corner.”

  “I will get back to you Mom and sort out Christmas,” interjected Max. “And, I can’t go on a trip like this right now. I’ve got things to sort on the farm.”

  “That’s okay, it’ll be a girl’s trip, just what we need to get to know each other.”

  Zoe’s heart sank knowing that Max wouldn’t be coming with her. She’d been with him for nearly a month now, and it was going to be weird to spend the night away from him. That and she didn’t really know about spending so much time with Kate and Helen without knowing them.

  “I’ll check with Mom and Dad, but it should be all right.” She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this meetup. Her parents, Robert and Leanne, owned their own business. They sold pharmaceutics and were usually flexible with their hours. Zoe knew they’d jump at the chance to meet Max’s mom and sister. They’d already driven to Burra for a lunch with Max just after she’d moved here. To her relief it had gone well. But did she want to sit in the car for a six-hour round trip with Kate and Helen. Plus, overnight with them in a hotel.

  Her stomach churned, tightly, and she put her hand on her belly.

  “Are you all right dear?” asked Helen, concern thick in her voice. She was in the passenger’s seat and partly leaning over Kate.

  “Yes, I’m just hungry.”

  It was a partial lie.

  She was hungry, but the pain in her belly was more to do with the prospect of having to spend so much time with Kate and Helen when she didn’t know them, and to introduce them to her parents. She knew it was going to happen eventually, it was just that she’d been hoping to orchestrate when that would happen, and not be thrown into it all because she couldn’t fit into her jeans anymore. She mused at blaming her jeans for this all happening.

  “I better get home then.”

  “I’ll ring you in an hour to make sure we can go Wednesday,” said Helen.

  Zoe had partly hoped that she might at least delay this until after Christmas. But that was just it. Her parents had been busy, so they hadn’t said anything about a Christmas catch up. She figured that they didn’t want her traveling in her ‘condition.’ She managed to stop herself from sighing. One thing was certain, she wasn’t going to get out of this one, and it was going to be best to face it all head-on now. Otherwise, it could happen on Christmas Day and she didn’t want the added pressure of that. Christmas had a habit of bringing up family emotion, troubles, hurts and problems. Her being unexpectedly pregnant meant that this was a potential minefield.

  Her stomach lurched. Zoe moved her hand to her mouth and held her breath, hoping the nauseousness would ease. It did slowly.

  “Zoe,” said Max. “Don’t hurl in my ute.”

  Of course, that’s what Max was more concerned about. She glared at him. Her stomach settling slightly.

  “Max, don’t talk to her like that,” chastised his mom.

  “Sorry, it’s not what I meant.” Max did at least look concerned for her wellbeing.

  “Just need some food. It’s worse when I haven’t eaten, I tend to feel really sick then.” She didn’t want to tell him that this was nerves about their families meeting, and about spending time with his family. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she didn’t want anything to do with his family.

  “Go, get her home. You need to get better at looking after Zoe, and my potential grandchild.”

  Max rolled his eyes, dramatically. “I am, Mom.”

  “Bye,” said Kate.

  Max lifted his hand and put his foot from
the brake to the accelerator.

  “I’ll ring in an hour, Zoe,” yelled Helen, as the ute pulled away from their car.

  “Just as well your mom doesn’t know how well you really have been looking after me,” said Zoe, trying to lighten the mood.

  He smirked. “Just as well.”

  She rested her head back and closed her eyes. It had been a big morning, and the thought of arranging this meet-up was making her belly a mess of worry. She didn’t want to do anything to put Helen off because she wanted to get to know her, and Kate.

  Best get this done and dusted then.

  She planned to ring her parents as soon as she got home. There was no point putting it off any longer, no matter how much she wanted to.

  Home.

  She saw the homestead come into view as Max turned on to the driveway to the farm.

  Her belly flipped.

  Her hand went over her mouth.

  Max slammed on the breaks, and the ute stopped just in time for Zoe to open the door, so she didn’t make a mess in his ute.

  He leaned over and pulled back her hair. “I’ll take the call from Mom later, so you can rest.”

  Zoe nodded as she wiped her mouth and righted herself back into the ute. She didn’t feel any better, though. She wasn’t sure where all her energy had gone, and why she suddenly felt so tired. She guessed it was all part of being pregnant. So far, she’d been lucky, and things had gone smoothly with the pregnancy. She’d only suffered from a few bouts of morning sickness. But this was nothing to do with being pregnant.

  “I’m sure they will get along fine.”

  She opened an eye and looked at Max. “How did you know?”

  “Hell, my stomach is a mess at the idea, so I just figured yours would be, too. Plus, you haven’t been sick much because of the pregnancy. It was an easy conclusion to make.”

  Sometimes Max surprised the hell out of her.

  “Best get it over now and not later.”

  “I think so.”