Corralled

This can stand alone, but it is a short sequel of sorts to "Tamed".

Thank you, D, for the constant feedback.

*****

Sally felt euphoric as she drove to her restaurant, singing along to some cheerful pop song. The sky was so bright and blue it almost hurt to look at it, and the sun shone on the rolling hills of green. Everything seemed sharper, clearer and lighter somehow.

There was no real urgency to get to work. Elvis had texted her to tell her that he had the breakfast rush under control, and Sally couldn't remember the last morning she had to herself. She'd hurried home to take a quick shower and change her clothes before work, but now she was taking her time.

She thought of Rhett and smiled so wide that her cheeks hurt. Last night had been more than she ever hoped for, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something much more profound than casual sex had happened in Rhett's bedroom. Normally, that kind of thought would make her panic, but now, inhaling the morning breeze and feeling the clean air against her skin, Sally could only smile.

The restaurant was calm when she arrived. There were a few cars in the parking lot, but nothing like the crazed crowd she had just missed. Sally's restaurant was infamous for her amazing breakfast and fulfilling dinner.

Elvis was outside, leaning against the back door and smoking. He'd never shook the bad habit, which annoyed her to no end.

"Howdy," he called when she approached him.

She waved his smoke away with annoyance and faked a cough to emphasize her displeasure. "Good morning."

He assessed her and grinned. "Well, well, well. Don't tell me."

Sally pulled her hair into a ponytail and stuck her tongue out. "Fine, then. I won't. Anything bad happen this morning?"

"Nope." Elvis flicked his cigarette onto the ground and looked at Sally with a suspicious grin. "Nothing at all."

Sally glared at her cousin. "Elvis, what aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing," he shrugged. "I wouldn't call what David told everybody 'bad', but that ain't my call."

"Elvis! What happened?" She punched his shoulder for good measure, but Elvis just laughed.

"Everyone, and I mean everyone, asked where you were this morning. Mr. Leland must have asked me ten times where you were, and you know he hasn't talked to me since I told him I thought basketball was superior to football. Anyway, David comes out of the kitchen, grumpy like he always is. Hears us all speculatin' and says he drove past Rhett Carver's place and saw your car there this morning. I didn't tell 'em about how you drove him home last night, I swear. Mrs. Cunningham clucked her tongue and said you must have finally succumbed to Rhett's powers."

Sally had cringed the moment Elvis began explaining, suspecting where it was headed. When he was finished, she muttered, "Shit," and then shrugged. "Whatever. I'm embarrassed as hell but I can't change anything."

Elvis was shocked and eyed her like she was sick. "Holy shit, what has happened to my baby cousin? Rhett really is some kind of god! Who knew one night with him could..."

"And you better stop right there," Sally warned.

She entered her place through the back door and waved at David, who was wearing a bit of a sick expression. He stood up straight when he saw her. "I swear, whatever your cousin just told you is a bald-faced lie!"

"Too late, buddy," Elvis said from behind her. "She knows, and she's taking it freakishly well! I'm not entirely convinced she ain't ill."

Sally laughed so hard that she snorted. Both men watched her in amazement.

"I'm not sure I've ever seen you laugh like that before," David whispered. He turned to Elvis. "Could it be true that Rhett..."

"Look, boys. Everything is okay. We live in a small town. Was bound to happen. Can we just shut up about it and get back to work now?"

Both men seemed more than relieved to return to the less dramatic chores of the workday.

*****

Around lunchtime, Sally glanced at her phone. Then she cursed herself for behaving like a stupid teenager. Rhett didn't even have her phone number, and she wasn't even sure he had a cell phone. She wasn't sure she ever saw him use one.

As Sally cleaned glasses and took orders and repeatedly told Elvis to wipe that grin off his face, Sally wondered the question all women dread pondering: what does this all mean?

Did Rhett do relationships? He mentioned an ex-wife, but he struck her as the kind of guy who had "lady friends". Not girlfriends. She tried to determine whether or not this bothered her. What was she looking for, anyway? A good time? Something more serious? A relationship?

"Jesus," she mumbled under her breath. She took a breath and rolled her eyes. It didn't have to mean anything, and she didn't need to stew with all of these angsty thoughts. She was entitled to a good time, for once, and she refused to give the matter any more thought.

Rhett slipped in just as she was finally relaxing. She ignored the way her body came alert as she took one of her regular customer's orders. Rhett sat himself down in a booth and said something to Elvis that had her cousin practically giggling.

For a brief moment, she wanted to hide. Then she told herself to get a grip. She was a grown woman and this was her restaurant. She wasn't ashamed of what they'd done; she had loved it, in fact.

She sauntered over to him when she was ready and flashed him a shy smile. "Hi."

His dark eyes appraised her from head to toe. "Hi, yourself. Can you take a break?"

"Um." She glanced around the restaurant and took stock. Everything seemed to be okay, but still... She wasn't accustomed to taking breaks.

Elvis walked up and handed Rhett a paper bag. "Thanks, Elvis. Wipe that grin off your face!"

Sally couldn't help but smile. "I've been telling him that all day. Hasn't worked." She nodded at the bag. "What's that?"

"Care to have some lunch with me?"

"But I..."

"It's David's best chicken salad. Can't let it go to waste, now. Besides," he added, his eyes darkening, "I'd like to spend some time with you, away from all of the prying eyes."

Sally blushed as she took in everyone's arrested stares. "Okay," she whispered. "Sounds like a plan."

He followed her to her office, not saying a word. She began to worry something was wrong, but as soon as she shut the door, he was on her, kissing her like they hadn't met in days.

He pulled away a moment later and calmly took out a chicken salad sandwich. Sally stood frozen against the door, blinking at him.

"Eat up, honey. I know you don't have a lot of time." He handed her a sandwich and smiled.

She sat on her desk and unwrapped her sandwich. He sat on the chair closest to her and absentmindedly stroked her leg as he ate. He didn't fill the time with nonsensical babble, which she greatly appreciated. She spent her day making small talk; the quiet was nice. He seemed happy to just be with her, too, which she found charming. She couldn't remember a man ever just content to sit in companionable silence with her before.

They finished their lunch in silence. Rhett stood and threw out the remnants. Then he turned to her, confidently spreading her legs in such a sudden movement that she fell backwards onto her desk. She pushed up on her elbows and gaped at him.

"Rhett! No! Not here!"

A delicious grin spread across his tanned face. "Kitty, just what in the hell do you think all your patrons think we're doin' in here? If we're damned, we might as well enjoy committing the crime."

A laugh bubbled up from her chest. "You're incorrigible."

He kissed the tip of her nose. "That's what my mama used to say. Well, she might have said different words, but that's what she meant."

Sally ran a hand through his hair and shook her head. "Whatever your mama used to say was right. I can't have sex with you in my office. I just can't. Elvis will never let me live it down and..."

He pushed against her and her eyelids fluttered when she felt how hard he was. "Don't you ever say that Elvis's name when I'm between your thighs again." He thrust against her jeans and smiled at her moan. "I'm not interested in anyone else's opinion but yours. I want you again. Do you want me, Sally?"

"Of course I do," she said softly.

He kissed her. When he broke apart, both of them were panting. "By my calculations, you have another fifteen minutes or so. Please let me make you come."

She looked up at him with awe and attraction. There was no way she could say no, and she didn't want to. All of her life, she had been prim and proper and followed all of the boring rules. It had felt good to let loose with Rhett the night before. She knew it would be just as amazing now.

Sally sank onto her desk submissively and raised her arms above her head. "Only if you do, too."

Rhett was surprised, she could tell, but he got over it. "Yes, ma'am."

He pulled down her jeans and his own, followed by their underwear. He was almost frenzied by the time he managed to push up her top and yanked off her bra. He kissed each nipple and rested his hard cock against her clit.

"It's going to be fast, kitty. Let me know if it's too rough." She nodded. Then he let his cock press more firmly against her until he was tightly inside.

"You feel so good, Rhett," Sally sighed.

"So do you, baby."

Then they were silent as Rhett worked his way in and out of her, moving faster until both of their bodies were shimmering blurs.

It was incredibly rare for Sally to orgasm during sex, but she found herself contracting on his cock before she was even aware she was close. "Oh, God. I'm coming!"

She tossed her head back and opened her mouth to scream. Rhett, bless him, covered her mouth with his and groaned as he spilled inside of her. Both of them continued to shudder in the aftermath, especially due to Sally's inability to stop trembling. She knew for a fact she'd never, ever had an orgasm like that, even by her own hand.

Then their bodies relaxed and Rhett stood up. "Sally, I swear. You are something else."

"You're not so bad yourself," she breathed. He surprised her by dressing her and then planting another whopper of a kiss on her swollen lips.

"I always wanted to have sex in an office," he laughed. "Thank you for making an old guy's fantasy come true."

"You're not that old, Rhett."

He shrugged but said nothing. "You better get back out there. Elvis is probably convincing everybody to come listen at the door as we speak."

Sally jumped and met his amused look with wide eyes. "He wouldn't!"

"There's no accountin' what that psycho will think up. Remind me to tell you about the time the two of us got drunk together and wound up naked in Mr. Leland's pool."

Sally just shook her head. She went over to the mirror and made sure everything was in its place. Rhett stood by the door and waited patiently for her.

She finally decided it was time to get back out there and joined Rhett, but put her hand over his when he went to turn the knob.

"Just so you know," she started before breaking off with a big blush. She struggled with what she wanted to say, but she knew she had to say it. "Just so you know, no one has ever... No man has every been gentle like this with me before. Even the gentle ones."

"You call what we just did 'gentle'?" he asked with amusement.

She just stared back at him. "You know what I mean."

He looked her over and nodded slowly, a knowing flash in his eyes. "Maybe I have an idea. You'll have to explain it a bit more to me later."

Impulsively, she gave him a quick peck and disappeared into the hallway.

*****

It turned out that Rhett did have a cell phone. Before he left, he exchanged numbers with her, then said he had to get back to his place. He texted her that night to say he would be caught up with work the next few days, but that he wanted to have dinner with that weekend. A nice dinner, he emphasized.

Sally texted back, both amused and annoyed. Is my place not nice enough for you?

I was thinking someplace Italian, with roses on the table and a man who stands next to us, pouring wine. Maybe a place that compliments us a lot.

Sally got ready for bed, a gigantic smile on her face. She wanted to see him before the weekend, but she appreciated the space he was giving her. She dressed in her favorite frilly nightie, and on impulse, snapped a photo of herself wearing it. Before she could second guess herself, she sent it along to him, along with "Goodnight, cowboy."

She was almost asleep by the time he texted her back.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet Jesus! Not sure I can wait!

She wasn't sure she could, either, but luckily the next few days passed by quickly. Before she knew it, it was Friday night and Rhett was calling her.

"Hey," she answered, moving away from the crowded bar.

"Nice to hear your voice, Kitty."

She tried to bite back a smile, but one blossomed across her face, anyway. "Same here."

"So, about dinner tomorrow night... I was thinking we could go to Nora's. You know it?"

"Nora's? Is that the place that's like, an hour away? Listen, you really don't need to take me anywhere too fancy, okay?"

"Of course I don't need to. I want to. Get over it. So, how about I come by your place at 7?"

"Okay, that sounds wonderful. Thanks, Rhett."

"See you then, Kitty." She could hear the smile in his voice.

Then he hung up, and she fought the urge to dial him back. She was definitely behaving like a teenager, and she had to cut it out. Especially since Rhett was being so... mature about the whole thing. She envied his coolness about it, honestly. She was a hormonal mess.


"Why don't you go home?" Elvis asked, suddenly appearing beside her.

Sally smiled at Elvis. "And leave you alone with this crowd? Never. Besides, what would I do at home?"

Elvis shook his head. "You could always go over to Rhett's and..." Elvis trailed off with a laugh when he caught Sally's dark look. "Well, Leigh is here and she'd love to have a few drinks with her. Why don't you go sit with her?"

Leigh was Elvis's girlfriend, and probably the nicest girl in town. She was also the most popular. Everyone gravitated around her. She had millions of friends. Tonight, she had about a dozen people at a table with her. Sally knew about three of them, and she didn't like them too much.

Elvis guessed her thoughts. "Sally, you've been here for five years and the only friends you've got are Leigh and me. Maybe David. You need to branch out a little."

"I've been busy. And I have friends back home," Sally pointed out defensively.

"Those friends aren't here, and like it or not, this is your life now. This is the life you chose for yourself." Elvis poured a beer and handed it to her. "Don't be a chicken."

"I'm not a chicken."

Elvis crossed his arms and leaned against the bar. "Then prove it. I dare you."

Sally never could back down from Elvis's dares, though tonight she longed to do just that. He had a point, though, which irritated her even more. She had come to town and opened up a restaurant, and got to know everyone... on a surface level. She listened to details about their lives and commented here and there, but never shared anything about herself. Maybe it was time, and she couldn't go wrong starting with Leigh.

She crossed the room and approached Leigh, who seemed to be waiting for her. "Sal! Why don't you sit down for a bit? You deserve a break."

"Thanks, Leigh. I think I will."

One of the men whose face she recognized but name she couldn't recall dragged a chair over for her. "Here, honey."

"Thanks." Sally didn't miss two of the girls—Ally and Mandy—share a look. They weren't Sally's biggest fans, especially since Sally fired Mandy's boyfriend for smoking pot in the bathroom during work hours. Still, she wasn't going to let them intimidate her. She turned her attention to Leigh. "How's everything going at the hospital?"

"Oh, man," Leigh laughed. "My mom still doesn't get why I wanted to be a nurse, especially when she sees all the night shifts I do. I still love it, even if I'm tired all the time."

The man who'd pulled the chair over bumped his arm into Leigh's affectionately. A-ha, Sally finally placed him. It was Leigh's brother, Max. "You were always a night animal, before. Now you just have an excuse to stay up."

Leigh laughed again. "True, true."

"So," Mandy cut in, leaning across the table toward Sally with a bit of a sneer, "I hear that you're seeing Rhett now. How's that going?"

"Great." Sally cooly sipped her beer.

Ally giggled. "So, wait. You really are dating him? Isn't he, like twenty years older than you?"

"Ally," Leigh said in a warning voice.

Sally patted Leigh's hand. She looked upset. "I don't really care about that. I like him, and he likes me."

Ally smirked into her drink and Mandy elbowed her. Sally had just about enough of being mocked, especially in her own bar. She wasn't sure what came over her, but the words flowed from her lips before she could stop them.

"Listen, ladies. I don't really care about your opinions, and I don't really care for your poorly hidden judgment right now, either. This is my bar, and I won't have you disrespecting me or people I care about. You should probably go." She looked over at Leigh and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Leigh, but I hope you can understand. You're welcome to stay, too, of course."

Sally got up, picked up her drink, ignored the idiots' sputtering and got back behind the bar. Elvis had apparently heard the whole thing, because he had a shit-eating grin on his face. Sally only realized then that she was shaking.

"Oh, my God. I just told Ally and Mandy to get out. I'm so sorry, Elvis. I probably embarrassed Leigh and..."

Elvis held a hand up and burst out laughing. "First of all, those girls had it comin'. Second, Leigh loves ya. Third, don't you ever, ever try to play it cool about Rhett to me again. You just completely outed yourself, sweetheart." Elvis dashed off to a table before Sally could think of something good to say.

Sally scowled, but she couldn't help but smile a moment later when the gruesome twosome finally got up and scurried out. Leigh walked over, looking like she might cry, which wiped Sally's smile off her face.

"Leigh, I'm so sorry," she said.

Leigh shook her head. "They were being assholes today. Totally deserved it, hon. Don't worry. You okay?"

"I've never thrown anyone but drunks out of here before. I'm a little shook up."

Leigh hugged Sally over the bar and pat her back. "They're intimidated by you, and Ally is getting a divorce. Not an excuse, but an explanation. Hope that puts her shitty behavior into perspective."

Max walked up behind her and rolled his eyes at Sally. "My sister always makes excuses for them."

"Hey! I'm not making excuses, like I said. I just understand why she's acting so miserable."

Max leaned against the bar and popped an olive into his mouth. "Right. That's why. Exactly," he agreed flatly. Sally cracked up a little at his tone.

Leigh rolled her eyes and followed after Elvis.

"Don't mind her and her bitchy friends. You know it's hard to realize you've grown out of your friends, sometimes. Leigh hasn't totally realized what Ally and Mindy are yet. Maybe it's best she never knows."

Sally looked up at Max, surprised by the wisdom of his words and the fact that he was talking to her so much. "You're probably right."

He grinned. "I'm definitely right." Then he checked her out, shocking her. "You look happy. What they say about Rhett must be right."

She focused on wiping down the bar and told herself not to take the bait. She was seemingly out of control, however, because for the second time that day, words came from her without he permission. "Excuse me? What do they say?"

Max took another olive. "Oh, you know." He paused, and then smiled when he saw Sally's confusion and annoyance. "He's a bit of a ladies' man, Sal. Haven't you heard that? He dates a lot of girls a few towns over. Always got a new one in bed."