#soft seeds

[rheyninwrites]

This is the Hitchhiker Part 3

It is smut. 18+

(I am ashamed of myself)

Jacob and Rook had been working together for more than a week, and it was working out well. Jacob’s previous experience meant he was excellent help, they got along really well, and he was able to see Joseph as often as he wanted, although Joseph had only just convinced John to see him this coming weekend. Unfortunately, John had been too young to remember the way Jacob had looked out for him, and blamed him for ending up with adoptive parents who’d been terrible and abusive. The relationship was a work in progress, and Jacob was glad he was going to be staying around for a few more weeks.

One night, after he and Rook had gone to bed, he heard her shift on the mattress and clear her throat.

“Jacob?”

“Yeah?”

In the dim light from the window, he saw her prop herself up on her elbows to look at him. “How come you haven’t made a move on me yet?”

Jacob’s heart stopped, panic rising in his chest. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on. I’ve seen the way you look at me. How your eyes follow me everywhere, how you always look at my lips when we’re talking, and I’ve noticed the way you get a little jumpy if I get too close to you or look at you suddenly. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’d bet money that I’m not.”

She paid attention, he had to give her that. He thought he’d been pretty subtle.

Jacob sighed. “I don’t know.” He didn’t see a point to denying it, if she’d already guessed, especially since she didn’t seem upset about it. “I guess I was just nervous. It’s . . . well, it’s been a long time since I’ve even thought about anyone in that way. Guess I didn’t want to come on too strong.”

“You didn’t ‘come on’ at all.”

He chuckled. “Hey, you could have made a move, too, if you noticed.”

He heard the sheets rustling, and the next thing he knew, she was climbing into the pallet beside him. He shifted from his back to his side to give her more room, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Like that?” She whispered, her face so close to his he could feel her breath against his lips. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. She smelled sweet, soft, like the soap she used. He touched his forehead softly to hers, and suddenly she’d closed the rest of the distance, her lips warm against his. Tentatively, he reached out to put his hand on her hip, and found that at some point she’d taken off her shorts, his fingers brushing instead against bare skin and a small sliver of satin.

A soft groan escaped his lips, and she took the opportunity to slip her tongue into his mouth, pressing the full length of her body against his. Her hands slid up and across his chest. When he wrapped his hand around her hip, pulling her firmly against him, they were both surprised to find that he was already hard. He felt her smile around the kiss, then wiggle her hips against him, pushing into him as tightly as she could and making him gasp. He moved his mouth from hers, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“Are you sure you want this?”

In response, she rolled him onto his back, climbing on top of him and straddling his hips. When she leaned down to whisper in his ear, he could feel the softness of her breasts pressing into his chest.

“Just tell me if you want me to stop, Okay?”

He nodded. She kissed him behind the ear, trailing more soft kisses down his neck before sucking the base of his throat gently. Her hips rocked against his as she straddled his thighs, drawing quiet moans from him as he shifted beneath her, cupping his hands around her ass and squeezing. She groaned loudly, leaning back and moving against him harder and faster. When she leaned down to kiss him again, he kissed her back hungrily, hooking his fingers over the edge of her underwear and tugging gently.

She rolled beside him, slipping them off quickly and resuming her position across his lap. When she leaned back down to kiss him, he accepted it eagerly, one hand on the back of her neck, while the other hand curved around her hip. Her flesh was velvet soft, tender underneath his fingers. She traced the top of his sweatpants lightly before sliding a hand underneath the edge of his t-shirt, ready to slide it over his head, but he put his hand over hers, stopping her.

“No. Just. . . not that. I- you don’t . . . .”

She lifter her hand and put her finger to his lips.

“Shh. It’s okay.” She moved her hand back down to the edge of his sweatpants, slipping a finger underneath the waistband. “This okay? Just enough?”

He murmured his assent, lifting his hips and pushing his pants down just far enough to give her access. Her soft hand found him, resting his tip lightly against her opening for a moment before she raised herself to slide down onto him, moaning as she took him in.

“Fuck, you’re thick.”

He smirked in the darkness. “You’re tight.”

She laughed faintly as she started moving on him, his hands squeezing her thighs. He watched her face, beautiful in the light of the moon, as she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, losing herself in pleasure. He brought his thumb to his mouth, wetting it before moving it back to circle against her clit. She gasped as he first touched her, then started groaning as they both quickened their pace. She was hot and wet around him, her rhythm faltering as he worked his thumb faster, then switched to his first two fingers. He felt her knees tightening at his ribs, her back arching, and he could tell she was getting close. Her moans were turning him on even more than he already was, and his fingers worked furiously against her, until finally she stiffened, groaning loudly and grinding against him hard, burying his cock deep inside of her.

She barely had a moment to relax before he’d thrown her onto her back, slamming his hips against her as he chased his own pleasure. He pushed her shirt up roughly, cupping her breast with his hand and brushing his fingertips against her nipple. He wanted to lean down and take it into his mouth, sucking it hard enough to make her groan, but the feeling building between his legs couldn’t be ignored. Instead he lifted her leg, holding it against his shoulder, pushing into her deeper, harder, faster, her hips rolling into his rhythm. A hoarse moan sounded from deep in his throat as his thrusting became stuttered, erratic, then at last he collapsed over her, spent.

She stroked his back as they lay there, her face hidden against his neck. When he’d collected himself enough, he pushed up onto his elbow, cupping his hand against her face and kissing her. Her fingers trailed across his face, brushing over his lips, then making him flinch slightly when she touched his scars.

“I don’t mind, you know,” she whispered to him. “I still think you’re handsome.”

He shook his head. Handsome- that was a new one for him. He rolled off of her, pulling his pants back up while she put her underwear back on. When she scooted back into bed beside him, wrapping her arm around his chest, he pulled her close and stroked the back of her head. It was a strange feeling for him, having someone beside him, but one he found he enjoyed. As they drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t help but wonder what else life might have in store for him in this tiny Montana town.

[rheyninwrites]

Hitchhiker Part 5

Smut ahead

18+ Only

Rook knew something was up when she saw the flashy black Cadillac pull up next to the fenced in field they were working in. If that hadn’t been enough, the stunned look on Jacob’s face would have been. Jacob wasn’t a man easily astonished. Knowing what she did about the Seed family, she guessed the car must belong to the wealthy and elusive John, lawyer for the Church at Eden’s Gate.

When Jacob gave her a questioning look, she nodded and waved him over, watching him walk briskly away. John was shorter than Jacob, with the same dark hair as Joseph, wearing slim black pants, a blue silk shirt, and sunglasses, despite the overcast day. Rook would’ve bet money they were designer. From what Jacob had told her, John’s adoptive parents were not only religion obsessed, abusing pieces of shit, they’d also been fabulously wealthy, and, as their only son, John had inherited every penny. At least he got something good out of the deal, even if having decent parents would have been better.

From his stiff body language, Rook could tell John wasn’t altogether happy about being there, but at least he was there. Jacob had been torturing himself about the situation since the night they’d left Faith and Joseph’s house. In his mind, the fact that he did the best he could in a difficult situation didn’t matter as much as the fact that John saw the situation as entirely Jacob’s fault. If she hadn’t promised herself she’d stay out of it, she’d have given John a piece of her mind.

She went on with the rest of the training for that day alone, only mildly concerned when Jacob had gotten in the car with John and left. He’d texted her some time later to say that Joseph had asked John to bring him to the church, so the three of them could sit down and talk ‘in God’s presence’. Though Jacob himself wasn’t a believer, she knew he’d do whatever it took to reconcile with John. If that meant spending a workday in church, he wouldn’t hesitate.

It was nearly dark when Joseph dropped Jacob off at the cabin, and Rook had already had dinner. Jacob told her to go ahead without him, because he’d be spending dinner with his brothers, and she’d hoped that was a positive sign. As soon as he walked through the door, she ran to him, nearly throwing herself into his arms.

“So is that little smile you’re wearing just for me, or did things go well today?”

Jacob’s smile broadened. “Bit of both, I guess. John’s still not ready to treat me like a brother, but he’s talking to me, and he’s trying to understand.”

Rook greeted this news with a deep kiss, threading the fingers of one hand in his hair, while the other slid seductively down his chest, trailing a finger across the waistband of his pants. He pulled back briefly, smiling at her.

“Let me shower first?”

She nodded, then went around the room turning out the lights. Jacob was still uncomfortable with her seeing him naked, though he’d certainly admired her plenty of times, and she didn’t want to push it. He’d finally let her slip off his shirt in complete darkness the other night, and she’d been thrilled to feel his warm skin against hers at last. Hopefully, with plenty of time and praise, she’d get to see him. Until then, she’d be patient, grateful for every move in that direction. Lost in her thoughts, she almost missed the sound of the bathroom door, looking up at the last minute to see Jacob standing in the door, wearing nothing but a towel. The light was still on behind him, exaggerating the width of his shoulders and making him look, as far as Rook was concerned, like a god.

In the light spilling over his shoulder, Jacob could see Rook’s eyes widen with desire as she drew in a shaky breath. Any concerns or doubts he had about surprising her like this melted away as she simply stared at him, unable to move. He reached up and flipped off the light, crossing the room to where she kneeled by the bed they shared. He dropped down to one knee beside her, making a gap in the towel that almost, but not quite, left him completely exposed. He rested a hand on her shoulder, stroking the line of her jaw with his thumb.

“Hey. You okay?”

She swallowed hard, nodding, then slowly raised her hand. Ever so gently, she touched the side of his upraised knee, sliding her hand across the inside of his thigh. He gasped softly, closing his eyes as her hand traveled upward, further and further, until at last she cupped it between his legs, rubbing and squeezing him gently. A groan escaped his lips as his head tilted back, and he felt her free hand tugging on the towel. He brought his hands up, unwrapping it and dropping it behind him, reveling in her gasp of pleasure at finally seeing his body in its entirety.

He sat back on the mattress, spreading his legs wide as he pushed himself upwards, giving her a full view of exactly how much he wanted her and what she did to him. While he looked on, she licked her lips, eyeing him hungrily as she stood, then peeled her shirt off slowly. She let her breasts bounce out one at a time, then tossed it to the side before standing at his feet, letting the light that filtered in wash over her completely. His cock was aching with desire as he watched her reach for the waistband of her underwear, then begin to slide them down before stopping suddenly and turning around. She bent over at the waist, moving them down unbearably slowly, and with every inch they moved he could feel the heat between his legs growing. When she was finally, finally naked before him, all he could do was open his arms to her, beckoning her forward.

She smirked above him, dropping to her knees and slinking over to him, stopping over his hips and leaning down. As soon as she started those little kitten licks up and down his shaft, the soft huffs and pants he’d been letting out turned into loud groans. When her tongue began a slow trail along his length, he was nearly screaming with the pleasure of it, and the second she took him into her mouth, he instantly had to grab her hair, jerking her backwards.

“Sorry, honey,” he panted, “you do that and it’s game over. I’m already about to let go.”

“You look so fucking fantastic like this, Jacob. I mean it. I wish you’d let me see you like this before.” She leaned into his neck, nipping at his skin playfully as he grabbed her ass.

“I know. I was just afraid.” A little moan worked it’s way out of his throat as she sucked along his skin, leaving small marks. “Afraid you wouldn’t like what you saw.”

She grabbed his hand, slipping it between her legs and against her folds. “This feel like I don’t like what I see?”

All he could manage to do was groan out a loud ‘fuck’ as he slid his fingers against her. She was practically dripping, hot and wet on his hand as he moved his fingers against her. The music of her moans rang in his ears as he gently rolled her onto her back, working his fingers against her frantically, pulling her into the bliss of orgasm in record time. He watched in awe as she writhed beneath his hand, working against him through the come down, and when she pulled his face to hers for a kiss, he was more than happy to oblige. He moved himself gently on top of her, kissing down her neck and across her collarbones before bending to take her breast into his mouth. She groaned in pleasure, grabbing the back of his head as he moved from one breast to the other. Her hips bucked against him as her hands worked down his back, scrambling for purchase.

By the time he pushed himself inside of her, they were both flushed with desire and already on the brink of bliss, Rook for the second time. The delicious burn between her legs as his cock stretched her wide had her whimpering in his ear, biting his shoulder and pushing her hips against him as hard as she could. He pressed into her as deeply as he could manage, wrapping his arms behind her and grabbing the top of her shoulders to pull her down, hard enough she knew she’d have bruises tomorrow. As she ground her hips against him, he pulled back, slowly, gently, before pounding himself back into her, repeating the motion again, again, and again, until he couldn’t bear it anymore. He grabbed her hips roughly, thrusting into her as hard and fast as he could, her gasps and moans pushing him on, as she pressed her hands against her mouth to hold back her screams.

He pulled them away. “Let me hear you. Let me hear how good I fuck you,” he growled in her ear.

She didn’t need to be told twice. Her hands wrapped around his back, nails digging in deep enough to draw blood, as she squeezed her legs tightly around his hips. She threw her head back, screaming his name as she clenched around him, driving him over the edge at last, his guttural groan mingling with the dying scream of her orgasm. They were both wild, blind with the fog of euphoria, only aware of each other as they rode the waves of pleasure together.

As they drifted back into reality, Jacob rolled to his side, wrapping his arms around Rook tightly. She gently stroked the side of his face, the skin of his chest, peppering him with soft, sweet kisses and nuzzling the soft skin of her face against him. As he sank into sleep, he thanked the stars and universe that had sent that thunderstorm, bringing this amazing creature into his life.

[rheyninwrites]

Hitchhiker Part 2

Jacob and Rook were finishing their beers, getting ready to head to the cabin Rook hoped she’d be able to find. Whitehorse had hit the road about two seconds after dropping the key and map in her hands, ready to get home as soon as he’d made sure that the second trainer wasn’t going to cost the county extra. He was an asshole, but the kind of guy who was an asshole because that’s what he had to be in this kind of town in order to get respect. You could look in his eyes, or see the way a smile twitched under his bushy mustache, and know it was all an act in a heartbeat. Jacob felt like he could understand that, at least a little bit. He’d spent more than half of his life putting on a face that never really felt like him, for one reason or another.

As he got into the truck, he wondered to himself why on earth he was trusting this woman. There was a time when he’d have instantly mistrusted anyone who offered him kindness, assuming it was some kind of trick to get him to lower his defenses. He still struggled with that most of the time, biting back cruel words that came to the tip of his tongue unbidden if anyone so much as held the door for him. But since he’d gotten back in touch with Joseph, he felt more like he had to try. He felt he owed it to him.

In the years since he’d last saw him, Joseph had become a preacher, taking over one of the two still functioning parishes in Hope County. He’d had his own struggles, falling into drugs and depression for many years after losing his wife and child, before ending up in rehab and falling in love with a girl twenty years younger than him but, in his words, “infinitely wiser”. It was her who had lead him into the church, so devoted that she’d officially changed her name from Rachel to Faith. She helped him get clean, got him healthy and on medication for the schizophrenia that had unknowingly plagued him for most of his life, and he’d contacted Jacob, crying. It was the first time Jacob had heard from him in years, and he was begging him for understanding, to forgive him for distancing himself after Jacob had been through so much to protect him. He was only a bit younger than Jacob was, so he had some memories of the time they’d spent together in foster care, unlike John. When his brother begged to see him, how could he deny him? His brothers had always been both his weakness and his strength.

A long ride down dark and winding roads, and Rook’s old truck pulled up in front of a cabin that looked barely big enough to turn around in, much less for two people to live together in for the next month. The exchanged tentative glances as they approached, and as she opened the door, Rook let out a low whistle and shook her head. When she stepped aside to let Jacob in, he could see why.

There was a single twin bed, pushed up into the corner right beside the bathroom door. It may once have been a set of metal bunk beds, but the top half of it had been mangled a long time ago. The bottom half didn’t look too stable, either. Still, when Rook checked the mattress, it seemed alright, no holes or mysterious stains. It was foam, too, so there was no worry about broken springs. Unfortunately, it was also the only place to sleep. The only other furniture was a single broken dining chair. Rook quickly checked the stove and fridge, finding them in working condition, and then made sure all plumbing was appropriately functional.

“Believe it or not, I’ve been put up in worse.”

She walked back outside, returning with a large duffel bag and a garbage bag she flung on the floor in front of Jacob. While he looked on, she pulled the mattress off of the bed frame and scooted it against the wall beside the door. It only occurred to Jacob after she was done that he probably should have helped her, and then she was busy rummaging through the garbage bag, so there wasn’t exactly anything he could help with. Instead he stood there, nervously opening and closing his fists and feeling useless - not a feeling he was used to. Eventually, she pulled out a set of sheets and handed them to him, asking him to put them on the bed. Grateful for something to do, he went to work immediately, while Rook used the blankets that were left in the bag to make a pallet near the mattress. When they were done, Rook turned to him.

“Do you want the mattress or the pallet tonight? I was thinking we’d switch out. That saves the argument about who gets which.”

“I was thinking that you could just take the mattress, since-“

“I swear, if you say ‘since you’re the girl’ I will completely rescind my offer.”

“I was actually going to say ‘because you’re being so nice to me’. I feel indebted to you, and I don’t like that feeling.”

“Then work your ass off to repay me.” Rook ran her fingers through her hair again, “Listen, I’m gonna jump in the shower. Feel free to rummage through my bag to see if there’s a book you like, or a snack you want.” She took a set of clothes to the bathroom, then locked the door behind her. She was being nice to him, but she wasn’t about to let herself be stupid.

Jacob quickly changed into a different t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, ready to be out of his still damp clothing. He laid his jacket over the broken chair to dry, and hung his pants and shirt on the remains of the bed frame. By the time he’d finished, he heard the bathroom door open, and instinctively looked over.

Jacob’s stomach flopped. Maybe it was just because it had been so long since he’d been interested in someone, or maybe it was just her, but he didn’t think he’d seen anything prettier in his whole life. It wasn’t even like she was wearing anything revealing, just an old t-shirt and a pair of shorts, her wet hair hanging half over her eyes. He found himself watching her as she crossed the room, eyes fixed on her legs, and mentally chastised himself for it. He wasn’t here to date, he was here to see his brothers. As if on cue, Rook asked him if he was planning on seeing them tomorrow.

“It’s Sunday. One of my brothers is a preacher, so he won’t be free in the morning. I can probably meet him after, though.”

“Ok. Just let me know when and where to take you..”

Jacob shook his head. “I don’t want to bother you any more than I already have.”

“It’s not a bother, really. Besides, how are you gonna get there if I don’t take you?”

He had to admit, she had a point,.

The next morning, they were sitting in a church parking lot together in Rook’s truck, watching people stream out of the double doors and get into their cars. As the crowd thinned, a couple appeared in the doorway, holding hands and waving to the last remaining churchgoers. Jacob’s heart lurched.

“Nervous?” Rook asked. When Jacob didn’t answer, she reached over and put her hand on top of his where it sat on his knee. “It’s gonna be fine. I’m sure of it.”

It was just then that Joseph must have caught sight of his brother, because he cam running over, a smile spread wide across his face. Jacob barely had time to get out of the truck before he was wrapped in a warm embrace. Rook thought he looked a little uncomfortable, but to his credit, he tried his best, putting his arms around his brother and patting his back. When Joseph ended the hug, he reached up and put his hands on his brother’s face, tears streaming freely. A young, blonde woman who must have been Faith approached, rubbing a hand on each of their arms. Joseph started asking Jacob a million questions before stopping suddenly.

“Why don’t we all get lunch? Faith always makes an extra big meal on Sunday, so there’s plenty leftover to make plates for people in the county who need it. That way we can all catch up.” Joseph nodded to where Rook sat. “Your girlfriend is welcome as well, of course.”

Rook and Jacob both stumbled over themselves to correct the misunderstanding, eventually getting the whole story out. Joseph insisted even more zealously that she join them then, with Faith joining in, but Rook declined as politely as she could, feeling that the reunion would probably be better if it were private. She waved them goodbye and headed back to the cabin, watching with a smile as a bewildered Jacob was lead away.

Jacob came in the cabin later that night, knocking politely before he entered. Rook was laying on the pallet, legs resting against the wall while she read a book. When he entered and she heard the sound of a car pulling away, she shifted to a sitting position, looking at him curiously.

“You don’t want to stay with your brother now?”

Jacob shook his head. “They’re nice, and I’m glad Joseph’s found something that makes him happy, but I’m not really into religion.”

Rook nodded. She felt the same.

“Besides,” Jacob said, “Ive got work tomorrow. Right?”

Rook smiled. “Of course.”

[rheyninwrites]

Hitchhiker Part 4

Jacob inhaled deeply, tapping his fingers on his thigh. Rook could see he was nervous, so she reached out and put her hand on his knee, squeezing lightly.

“It’s gonna be fine, Jacob, he’s your brother. It was fine with Joseph, right?”

“Yeah, but Joseph is the one who asked me to come, and he’s only a few years younger than I am. He remembers the way I did my best to watch out for the two of them, to protect them. John was just a baby. He doesn’t remember anything, except that I’m the reason he ended up with the adoptive parents he did. He blames me, and he resents me for it.”

The continued the drive in silence, Jacob growing more nervous the closer they got to Joseph and Faith’s house. By the time Rook pulled into the yard, he was practically vibrating with tension. She made a mental note to rub his shoulders later that evening. He was certainly going to need it.

As they walked to the front door, Jacob slipped his hand into hers, surprising her. The last time they’d seen Faith and Joseph, they had agreed it would be better to keep up the “boss and employee” vibe, instead of going public with their relationship. It was still very new, after all, and besides, they’d assured them in the beginning that nothing was going on between the two of them. Of course, nothing actually had been going on back then. Still, she couldn’t deny how nice it felt to have his hand in hers as they visited his brothers, and she knew he probably needed all of the security and reassurance he could get, seeing John for the first time like this.

Faith opened the door, eyes going immediately to their clasped hands. A giant smile spread across her face as she lead them into the living room, where Joseph sat. He got up, hugging them both warmly, and explained that John was running a bit late, but he should be there soon. Rook took the chair beside Jacob, close enough he could still hold her hand, while Faith curled up on the sofa beside Joseph, his hand resting on her leg. The made small talk, Jacob’s thumb tracing nervous circles on the back of her hand.

When John finally arrived, Rook and Faith left them alone, heading to the backyard. Faith said she wanted to show Rook their garden, but both of them knew that it was just an excuse. In reality, they both thought the brothers might want some time alone to talk. As she headed out the door, Rook saw Jacob give her a pleading look, but she simply mouthed ‘it’s fine’ and headed out the door. She had the feeling that Faith was dying to get her alone to ask about Jacob, anyway. Two seconds later, practically before the door closed all of the way, she found she was right. Faith hooked her arm through Rook’s, questioning her immediately.

“So, are things different now between you and Jacob? That certainly didn’t look like a business relationship to me.”

Rook smiled in spite of herself. “Yeah, actually. We’re kind of a thing now, I guess.”

“Oh, I knew it!” Faith squealed happily. “I told Joseph that things were going to develop between you two.” She glanced at Rook. “I tend to have a really good sense about these things. I knew the second I laid my eyes on Joseph that he and I were meant to be. He took some convincing, of course. Did you know I’m almost twenty years younger than he is?”

Rook nodded. Much like she’d thought, Faith had a tendency to do most of the talking. It wasn’t unpleasant, though. Her voice was nice, almost soothing, and she was very open without oversharing. They walked all around the backyard, with Faith pointing out her favorite plants and flowers, often giving her an interesting little story to go along with it. When they’d been outside for quite some time, Faith escorted her to a swing on the back porch, where they sat silently admiring the beautiful scene before them. Finally, Faith spoke.

“I hope I’m not prying, but, well, what do you think of Jacob? I only know what Joseph’s told me, so I’d love to hear another person’s opinion of my brother-in-law. Especially since I don’t know him all that well, myself.”

“He’s interesting. A lot like me, I think. Strong, because he’s had to be strong. But there’s also softness. Tenderness. He definitely doesn’t give himself enough credit, though.”

Faith cocked her head to the side. “How do you mean?”

“Well, I guess you know some of the things he’s done. The things he’s had to do, to survive?” Faith nodded. Of course Joseph had told her. “Well, he accepts that, I think. He knows that he did the best he could in the situation, with the knowledge that he had, and he knows there’s no changing it. But he doesn’t give himself the same acceptance. It seems like he still thinks that the fact that he’s been through those things makes him a broken person, that the scars he has, inside and outside, make him a less attractive person, and I don’t feel like that at all.”

In the distance, they heard a door slam, and men’s voices. After a few minutes, no one appeared at the back door, so Rook continued.

“I think Jacob’s an amazing person. He’s everything I could ask for in a man, and then some. He’s strong, and he’s kind, and he’s caring. He makes me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world every time he looks at me, but he won’t let me do the same for him. It’s like he doesn’t think I could possibly find him attractive because of his scars, and I do. I really do. Not because of his scars, and not in spite of them. I like his scars because they’re a part of him, and I like him. For everything he is.”

It was about that time that the back door opened, and Jacob popped his head out, telling Rook it was time for them to go. She was about to protest, but something in his face made her stop. Instead, she said goodbye to Faith, and she and Jacob walked silently to the truck. He didn’t speak until they were halfway to the cabin.

“John hates me. He barely spoke to me.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Jacob shrugged, shaking his head. She knew it wasn’t because it didn’t matter to him. It was probably because he felt like it mattered too much. He had practically raised his brother for the first few years of his life, so being rejected had to have been devastating.

“Joseph says he’s going to try to talk to him some more, that maybe he just needs some time and space to accept the truth. It’s always easier to blame someone than to believe something happened without a reason.”

Rook knew the feeling all to well. She’d spent ages blaming herself for the abuse she’d gotten as a child. It took a long time to accept that the problem hadn’t been with her, but just a series of bad circumstances. Knowing what she did of what John had been through, of course it was easy to blame Jacob, but that didn’t mean it was Jacob’s fault. He hadn’t been more than a child himself, put in the position of parenting his brothers. It hadn’t been fair to any of them.

When they got back to the cabin, the first thing Rook did was crawl into Jacob’s lap, cradling his head to her chest. As she stroked the back of his head, his arms slipped around her waist, drawing her closer to him. He pressed his face into her neck, breathing in her scent. Somehow, having her here helped him. She gave him the strength to stay, to keep trying to repair his relationship with John. If she hadn’t been here, he might have just given up, writing John off as a lost cause, the scars he had as too deep to mend. He reached up and touched her lips, brushing his fingers against them softly.

“Do you know how beautiful you are to me, honey?” He trailed his fingers down across her chin, tracing the line of her jaw.

“I hope at least half as beautiful as you are to me,” she whispered, tilting his chin up to look in her eyes. “You really are beautiful to me, Jacob. Not just because of who you are, though that’s amazing too. But I really, genuinely find you attractive.” She caressed the side of his face, her fingers grazing the scarred patches of skin. “All of you.”

He tried to pull away from her touch, but she gripped him firmly, refusing to let him look away from her. She let her fingers play along his skin, trailing from his face down his throat, and across his collarbone, placing soft kisses against the scars on his face as she did.

“I mean it. I love the person you are, and I love the body you have. You make me happy. Every time I see you look at me, you make me feel-“

“Like the most beautiful woman in the world.” She gave him a curious look. “I overheard you talking to Faith.”

“Then you know what I said after that.” She pressed her forehead to his. “Please let me give you what you give me.”

He sighed, leaning into her neck and kissing her. “I’ll try. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.”

She smiled broadly, and Jacob could have sworn it lit up the room. “That’s all I ask, baby.”

He returned her smile, cupping her face with his hand.

“What in the hell am I gonna do with you?”

[rheyninwrites]

Y’all

I wrote another part to Hitchhiker

And I don’t know if I can post it. It’s smut. I’m supposed to be trying to write some SoftSeeds, a trio of brothers reconciling after 20+ years of separation, each of them having their own problems to deal with. But in the middle of it, somehow Jacob fell for Rook (his new boss, btw), and they end up going at it on the floor in a shitty cabin they have to stay in.

For real, y’all, I feel kinda dirty right now.