Talia stared at her phone. She'd tried to call Jeremiah ten times in the past three days. Each time it either went to voicemail or Talia hung up before it could. He hadn't texted or called. Feeling jilted by her best friend, she tried to focus all her effort on her writing.

Catherine, her boss, had emailed and texted four times regarding stories for The Dirty Laundry. The final time she said she expected a story by the next day or Talia was out of a job. She should have the article ready. Unfortunately, all the writing she'd been doing was on her novel. It was unexpected, but she was falling in love with the characters.

Between writing her story and piecing together a junk story for Catherine, she had no time to think on Zeke's proposition. And that was a bullshit lie. His words floated through her head on a constant loop. Putting headphones and hard rock music on only dulled his voice. If only Jeremiah would call her. Talia needed to do something to get away from his dimpled smile burned on the back of her eye lids. Away from his deep sexy voice that made her lady parts stand up and pant. Away from his intoxicating smell of fresh cut grass and hay.

"Ugh!" Talia threw her phone on the bed disgusted with herself.

Slipping her feet into her sneakers, Talia grabbed her notebook and headed downstairs. The house was quiet aside from Addie in the kitchen. Walking through the kitchen, Talia grabbed an apple then headed outside.

"I hope you're planning on eating more than that, dear." Addie stopped her in her tracks.

"Uh...I'm not very hungry today."

Stepping away from the stove, Addie crossed her arms and cocked her eyebrow. "You haven't eaten anything since the night Zeke brought you dinner."

Talia blushed. Her personal Zeke movie ran through her head.

"It's fine, Addie. Lord knows I can afford to skip a few meals."

"Now, Talia-"

"Bye Addie! Off for a walk and inspiration." Talia rushed out the door avoiding Addie's admonishment.

Leaving the house in a rush she nearly ran into one of the ranch hands. He tipped his hat at her as she rushed by. Passing the horse ring, she watched someone trying to saddle Hera. When he thought he had it she bit him on the ass. She pranced away nickering. Talia held in a laugh. She continued past the horse barn to the open field that led to the woods.

Talia gripped her notebook. The notebook was one she'd used off and on since she was a teenager. A time when notebooks were filled with angsty poetry. If anyone dared read those passages today she'd die of embarrassment.

Sunshine warmed the Georgia day. Sweat beaded on her skin. When she wiped her brow she discreetly sniffed her pits. Nothing like a Georgia summer day to cause deodorant to stop working. Hers hadn't quite quit yet but she definitely wasn't fresh as a daisy any longer. Approaching the woods, gnats swarmed around surrounding trees. Swatting them out of her way she continued her trek onto the trail.

Noise from the ranch faded. Silence surrounded her. The sun filtered through the canopy allowing for shade. Sweat cooled on her skin. Her attention was drawn to the trail before her. Brush near the trail rustled. A squirrel scurried in front of her then up the nearby tree. Talia smiled. Calm she hadn't felt in a long time enveloped her. With pep in her step, Talia bopped down the trail. An old girl scout song bubbled up from inside. She started humming as she walked/danced down the trail.

Talia's mind wandered to the story she'd been working on. The characters were coming out to play while she was at ease in the woods. With her mind was so focused on the story and the song in her head, she didn't realize she walked too close to the edge of the trail.

The underbrush rustled drawing her attention again. She slowed to let the squirrel run in front of her again. It wasn't the squirrel that poked its head out this time. A black and white head slowly emerged. The furry black body with the white stripe turned toward her. A fucking skunk stood three feet away and closed in. Coming at Talia like a stinky missile. That skunk had a mission and it was to spray Talia. Not knowing what to do, Talia screamed. Running off the trail into the woods away from the demonic stink weasel.

Holding tight to her notebook, Talia ran through the woods. Her lungs burned with each additional step she took. Her eyes burned from the smell that blew toward her. Zig zagging her way through the forest she found an opening. She could see a lake through the opening. So focused on the lake and washing off any of the smell she didn't see the drop in front of her.

Too late Talia attempted to stop her momentum. Trying to stop her running shoes slid on the leaves. Falling awkwardly, she rolled down the small embankment. Before she could think of any pain she jumped up and continued into the lake.

Cool water splashed as she dashed into the lake. Breath left in a whoosh with the shock of the chilly water. Ducking under the water, Talia immersed herself in the clean clear water. It was a refreshing even if unplanned.

After a few minutes, Talia emerged from the cool water. She looked down at her drenched clothes and shoes. Everything she wore was now plastered to her showing every curve and her diamond hard nipples. Eyeing the woods, she began undressing. Laying her clothes on the elevated rocks she hoped the warm sun would dry them quickly. She limped slightly over to a flat arear. Of course, she would have hurt herself running from that demonic stink weasel.

In soaked panties and bra, Talia opened her still dry notebook. Good thing she remembered to fling it to the side before running into the lake.

She opened her notebook. Re-reading what she had already written, Talia picked up her pen making tweaks. Before writing more Talia looked out on the lake in front of her. A bird circled looking for its next meal. Sparkles popped off with each wave connecting with the sun. She smiled and began to write.

***

Sam felt the way he looked at her. His eyes roved over her body in a caress she could feel. When his tongue swiped his bottom lip her body shuddered.

"Tell me you want me. Give me what I want." His gruff voice pebbled her nipples.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"All of you." The heat in his gaze was going to set the curtains on fire.

"Yes."

In two steps, he lifted her into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist as his mouth crashed with hers. His tongue plunged into her warm mouth. While he pillaged her mouth, she pulled on his hair pulling them closer.

His hard erection pressed into her core. With each grind, her panties rubbed her clit. Sparks lit under her skin. He pressed her against the wall as they clawed at each others clothes. His hand wandered from her ass up to her panties. Pushing them aside he slid a finger in.

"You are so wet, my love. Is it for me?"

"Oh God, yes." She moaned grinding on his finger knowing it would not be enough.

Sam ran her hands over his body. Wanting more. Wanting nothing between their bodies except for sweat. Urging him to get naked, with her urgent pulling at his clothes he chuckled.

"I'm in charge here, sweetheart. Now, be a good girl or I will have to punish you."

Sam's body lit with excitement at the prospect of a spanking. His hand lashed out smacking her round ass. A moan escaped.

"More."

***

Talia lay on the soft grassy shore. Her imagination was getting her all sweaty again. This time it wasn't due to the sun. Well at least not all of it.

"You ok?"

Talia screamed flinging her notebook at the intruder. The stranger had his back to the sun. All she could make out was a cowboy shaped silouette. He bent to pick up the notebook as she scooted back. He read the small passage she had just written.

"That's mine. Give it back."

A deep laugh rumbled through him. "You did throw it at me. If you throw something at someone you can't expect them to know you want it back."

Talia rolled her eyes. "Just give it back."

"I don't know if I want to give it back to you. If I give it back you may run away. I'm happy to keep it if it means I get to look at you more."

Her traitorous body reacted to his words. It was then she realized she was still only wearing her panties and bra. Attempting to shield her partially naked body with her arms she made a shooing motion as she tried to stand. Her ankle felt stiff. Trying to cover herself and shuffle over to her clothes was near impossible with him staring at her.

"Will you turn around please?"

"Hell no." He crossed his arms watching her dance away from him toward the rock that had her clothes.

"Fine, be an ass."

"I may be an ass, but you have a fine one."

Talia huffed and shuffle/ran over to her clothes. She was sure she looked like Quasimodo ambling over to the rock. Dressing quickly, she put the still wet clothes and shoes back on.

"Notebook please." She stood in front of the frustrating pervert. His identity was still hidden thanks to the sun.

"What will you give me?" Hugging the notebook to his body it made it impossible for Talia to grab it.

She huffed. "What do you want?"

He made a rumbling sound. "A kiss."

Talia glared at him. She needed that notebook. A kiss seemed like a small price to pay.

"Fine."

She puckered her lips toward him in the most unsexy way possible. He had other plans for their kiss. It wasn't going to be some platonic peck on the lips. Grabbing her by the waist, his work roughed hand slid under her shirt to her lower back. Soft lips caressed hers. An electric shock shot to her most private areas. Talia leaned into the kiss. It felt familiar. How could a single kiss drive her to become a wanton woman?

The soft kiss ended too soon. He pulled away as she slowly opened her eyes. His hat had disappeared during their kiss. Talia looked into familiar eyes.

"Zeke."

His dimpled smirklooked back at her. Talia's hand shotout slapping his stubble covered cheek.