On Emma's Bluff by Sara Elizabeth Rice, edited by davebccanada (audio ebook reader txt) 📕

three looked from one to the other. Though in makeup in costume, Mrs. Garth had still been recognizable as her blonde perky self.

"What did she say?"   Cindy wanted to know.

"That I was going to die," Barbara Lee said as she tramped away.

"She had to be kidding," Cindy said breaking the silence.

Bill slipped back over to the tent and pulled back the flap. Inside Mrs. Garth looked surprised to see him again.

"Hi." He waved a weak hand. "You got one screwy cousin," he said as he walked back to Emma.

 

 

Chapter 15

The party Bill took her to after the carnival was even a bigger event than Emma had expected. Along with the high school crowd there were plenty of college students and a few adult friends of the Tanners. Denise made a stab at greeting every new arrival, but the task soon proved to formidable and she finally gave up and retreated to the den with a few of her closest friends. Emma noticed that Barbara Lee wasn't in this group.

Decorations were lavish for the affair. Black crepe paper was strung from the beams of the vaulted ceiling. Jack-o-lanterns and corn stalks adorned every free space. A scarecrow with a face of an old cabbage patch doll sat in a winged back chair. "For people with money problems they sure have a nice house," Emma whispered to Bill.

Bill and Emma wandered from the den into the playroom. Pool tables graced one side of the room, while on the other side a wide screen TV and pinball machines played.

Out of the wide sliding glass doors Emma could see a lighted swimming pool and a huge trampoline.

"Ahh, to be so poor," Emma thought to herself as she took in the grand stair case which curved around and lead to a landing on the second floor. From all corners music abounded, while tract lighting left pools of warm light around the rooms. Emma remained very still and just gazed at all the people there.

"Snap out of it," Bill called to her as he made his way over with a plate of Halloween goodies. "Here I thought we could share this." He offered her a sip of his punch. "It's really crowded here."

Cindy had disappeared into the throng soon after they had arrived. Emma was feeling a little self-conscious with Bill all to herself.

"You look beautiful," he whispered close to her.

"No." She tucked her chin.

"Emma, don't be like that. There is no reason to play coy. Let's have a good time. Come on." He offered her his hand.

Following Bill as he made the rounds she felt more at ease letting him do the talking. He was a natural bull spreader. They joked with Butch Johnson who had painted his face green. He claimed he was ‘The Incredible Hulk’. "You look more like the incredible zucchini," Bill told him. Then they joined Martha and her new Beau for a game of pool. Emma was distressed by her lack of skill, but Bill only teased her slightly and made a great show of giving her pointers. She spotted Cindy across the room once, but her friend was engrossed in a conversation with Susan Armstrong.

A lot of the college kids and a few seniors had spread into the back yard.   Denise was with this group. Emma spotted her cousin clinging to the arm of some jock that Emma had only met once before. From the looks of most of the faces coming in and going back out there was booze to be obtained somewhere out there. The adults had all vanished for the time being and the party was really beginning to rock.

Sitting on the couch with Bill, Emma caught quick glimpses of couples making out in the dark corners.

"I love them boots." Frankie Carson plopped down on the couch beside Emma admiring her footwear. His eyes were red and his voice slurred. He leaned his large smile into Emma's face. "Ummm, nice legs to go with them I see," he commented as he yanked up her hemline.

"Watch your hands," Bill ordered gruffly.

"What's with you man? Is Joy not enough for you? You got to pork all the girls at school?" Emma stiffened in her seat. She had been afraid that someone was going to bring up Joy again. This was worse than she had feared.

"You better watch your mouth." Bill jerked Emma up from the couch and guided her out to the back yard. "I am really sorry about that," he told her.

"No big deal," she lied.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

In the back yard they encountered Cindy. Emma had never seen her pal more obviously drunk.

"Hi." Cindy opened her mouth wide as she drew out the greeting. She was bent from the waist and supported herself with an arm thrown across some college guy Emma recognized from last year's high school annual.

"My, my, Cindy Lou, what have you been drinking?" Emma giggled at her friend's wobbly legs.

"Annie Green Springs," Cindy enunciated broadly.

"You better lay off that stuff," Emma scolded her lightly. Emma looked up to catch Cindy's support man watching her intensely. "Hi," Emma said.

"She was trying to out drink half the football team," he explained politely. Dark hazel eyes held Emma in their sight.

"Oh, I am Emma and this is Bill," she made to introduce herself.

"Yeah, I know old Bill. How you doing man?"

"Emma, this is Jimmy Richardson." Bill moved closer to her side.

"Hello, yeah, I keep forgetting everyone knows everyone around here except me," Emma said feeling her face grow warm.

Something in Bill's eyes made Jimmy take a step back. "I guess I should be getting our friend in the house. It was nice meeting you." He moved with Cindy now tucked under his arm.

Bill slipped an arm around Emma and walked toward a darker part of the lawn. He bent to kiss the side of her neck.

"Ummm," she shivered at the sensation. "Why don't we smoke that joint now?" She pulled away.

"What ever you say." Facing front to front he pulled her so close she could feel his hardness.

"Oh yes, I think it is definitely time for some pot." She blushed and wiggled free.

Bill drew out the joint and stooped to light it away from the wind. "We had better walk this way," he said tightly holding in the smoke. "Phew," he exhaled, "we don't want anyone walking up on us." They began making their way across the field next to the Tanners, headed back in the general direction of the school. Once again Emma felt tension drifting away from her as she inhaled the smoke.

"The sky is so big." She threw back her head and looked up in amazement.

"Yeah, that's the way it usually is." Bill was charmed by her sweetness. " Umm, you feel so good," he squeezed her close. "Let's go over by the school."   His car was still parked in the lot over there and that is where Emma supposed they were headed, but as she turned toward s the cars he stopped her.

"No, it's such a beautiful night, let' stay outside." He took her hand and brought her near. He kissed her roughly on the mouth almost raising her off the ground.

"My goodness." She smiled

"Sorry, I forget myself." He squeezed her tighter. "I got an idea. I know they haven't moved the hay from the flatbed yet. Let's go over there and have our own hay ride." He hurried her toward the old truck that was barely discernible in the dark corner of the lot. Because it was so high off the ground, he lifted her to sit on the edge while he hoisted himself up.

"You know I've never been on a hay ride," she said excitedly as she made her way over the bails of hay.

"Say you want to go for a ride in the hay." His eyes danced with amusement.

"You're a bad boy, Bill Simmons." She forced a frown.

"Maybe you should come here and make me behave." He held out both of his hands to her.

"No, you come here," she directed him.

"With pleasure." He rushed to her knocking them both over in the hay. "Ooooh, Emma, " he whined as though in pain. Carefully he placed her against the side of a bail. He moved over and kissed her deeply. She met his mouth and pulled him down to her. They lie clinging to each other in the hay. Once again she could feel his erection. It was pressing against her leg. This time she did not pull away from him. She found herself squirming in rhythm under him.

"Emma."   His voice was hoarse.

"Yes." She brushed a straw from his hair.

"I can't help it," he said, "You don't know how much I want to make love with you."

"Bill, we can't." She felt so light-headed, she was sure she would pass out if they continued.

"Why?" his mouth touched hers briefly.

"I don't know." With her head reeling so she couldn't think; couldn't give him an answer.

"I just want to touch you," he breathed, "I'll go real slow and when ever you want for me to stop, I'll stop." He pinned her beneath him and began to kiss her, her chin, her neck.

"I don't know," she repeated in a stupor.   She could feel him pressing against her. She brought her knees up and lifted herself to meet his body. He slipped his hand to her knee and licked her swollen lips. His hands slipped up her leg to rest against her inner thigh.

"Oh gawd," she breathed through clenched teeth. She knew she would have to stop him soon.

"I don't want to hurt you," he spoke between breaths.   He rose on his knees above her. Never taking his eyes from her face he began with the top button of her dress. She stared frozen, up at him. As her neck and upper chest became bare he bent to plant tiny kisses across her skin. The small black bra she wore stood out against her pale flesh. When he had completed the last button she stood and raised her arms high over her head. He helped as she lifted the dress up, over, and off.  

She watched his shoulders heave up and down in heavy breaths. With utmost care he stretched his arm around her to undo the lacy bra. He closed his eyes as the bra fell from her. When he opened them he immediately focused on her pale nipples. His hand hovered near, but not touching her breast.   Finally his fingers met with her straining nipples.

"Oh baby," he giggled.

"Kiss me," she begged.

He crushed her under him and made his way down until she could feel the moist air from his mouth warming her nipples. She shuddered as he trailed his tongue over one pert nipple. As he took the whole pap into his mouth, she moaned. She could feel his fingers exploring her and more, they were entering her flesh so she spread her legs farther, while panting. "When had he pulled that out?" she thought but pulled him closer guiding his hard cock to her.

"What in the world are you two doing up here?" Emma immediately recognized the voice. Barbara Lee was standing on a bail of hay, and she was staring right down at them. Her smile changed to shock when she saw Emma's discarded costume.

"Oh my gawd,