The ride back to Marvel’s place is full of stolen touches and desperate stares. He’s still trying to remain respectful of the driver; I couldn’t care less about that. Once we arrive at his place and go through his front door, we no longer have to contain ourselves. We stand face-to-face and strip down to our underwear slowly, watching one another as if trying to remember every detail of each other’s body. His eyes start at my feet, then slowly move up, pausing at my abs, and finally make the rest of the trip up to my eyes. He smiles and licks his lips before holding his hand out to lead me to the bedroom.
In his bedroom, he hesitates for a moment as he looks down at the bed.
Marvel: I forgot to put the sheets back on the bed. It’ll only take a moment.
I interrupt his words by climbing up on the bedspread. There’s no way we’re going to play housekeeper right now. There’s only one thing I want from him.
He takes my cue and joins me, settling behind me on the mattress. He holds both of my hands and begins showering my neck and shoulders with warm kisses, sending sparks to all the outermost reaches of my body. Once he hears a moan escape from my mouth, he lowers me back against the pillows and shifts beside me.
Since I’ve known him, his moves have always been calm and calculated, and this is no different. He doesn’t rush. His eyes take me in while his hands explore with quiet precision, deliberate and unhurried as he works to increase my pleasure. When he’s done using his hands, his lips take over. Once he’s sure we’re both ready, he pulls me on top of him, and we climb under the covers, clinging to one another until we both reach our peak. (note: extra scenes below can be skipped)
Afterward, we lay there on his bare mattress with only a bedspread to cover us. His skin is warm against mine, and I snuggle closer.
Tambara: Our next game of Woo Who? will be lit.
He grins at my little joke and rubs his hand along my side.
Marvel: Is that all this was about?
Tambara: For sure. I’m not trying to lose.
I laugh so he knows I’m just kidding, and the amusement on his face tells me that he’s already there with me.
Marvel: First place all day.
I grip his shoulder just a little tighter before I test out my next words.
Tambara: I don’t want you to move to San Myshuno.
His expression shifts to interest.
Marvel: No? Where did that come from?
Tambara: I’ve been thinking about it since you mentioned it. I know it may be too soon, but if you move anywhere, it should be the ranch.
Marvel: And what would that look like?
Tambara: Me and you, like this, every morning.
He closes his eyes as I softly rub his cheek. He speaks quietly, just loud enough for me to hear, responding to my initial statement.
Marvel: I was already considering it. I just needed you to say it first.
I smile and close my eyes, feeling safe and warm there beside him.
Juanita sets out just before the sun rises. As much as she loves horses, she’s not much for riding one, but where she’s going is a bit far to walk, so she saddles Finesse up and takes a chance.
Finesse takes her slowly through the cool foggy morning until she arrives at the small ranch that used to belong to Mr. Xavier before he passed away. The ranch has a new owner these days, and that’s who Juanita is here to see.
She ties Finesse up outside the fence and jumps down from her back. She makes her way to the front porch where her old friend is standing.
Emma: Oh, Nita, it’s you. Long time no see.
Juanita stops at the porch while Emma takes a seat in her rocking chair.
Juanita: It hasn’t been that long.
Emma: I hear that since you been working for that new gal, you’ve been too uppity to see your people.
Juanita shuffles her weight from one foot to the other.
Juanita: I’ve just been busy, but I’m here now.
Emma looks up with sad eyes.
Emma: I hear she’s rich and absolutely gorgeous. No wonder I haven’t heard from you.
Juanita would love to come up with a sweet lie to make Emma feel better, but what she says is true and she’d see right past the deception.
Juanita: She is, but people like us just don’t fit in her world.
Emma: And that’s why you’re back?
Juanita: I’m back because I missed you. And I wanted to see what you’ve done with the place.
Emma smiles and nods for Juanita to go in. Juanita opens the front door and pauses before stepping inside.
Juanita: You’ve done well for yourself.
Emma: I never thought I’d save up enough to afford it. But I also received some money from a mysterious donor that helped me with the rest of the down payment. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?
Juanita knows everything about it, but she doesn’t say a word as she steps inside. Emma gets up slowly and follows her inside.
Marvel and I make it to the ranch in the late morning.
Marvel: You know you could have taken a shower at my place, right?
Tambara: Take a shower, then put on the same clothes? I don’t think so.
Marvel: I have clothes. You could have—
We stop talking when we see Juanita standing in the kitchen.
Tambara: Oh, hi Juanita.
Juanita: Good morning, Miss Tami.
Her eyes shift over to Marvel, and she nods a greeting to him as well before excusing herself out of the back door.
I’m used to her being weird, so I shrug my shoulders and lead Marvel to my bedroom.
Majesty is in there resting quietly on the carpet. I pick her up and walk her over to Marvel.
Tambara: This is my only baby, Majesty. Maj, meet Marvel.
Marvel greets Maj like she’s a sim.
Marvel: Good morning, Maj. Can I call you Maj?
We laugh at Maj’s expression.
I leave the two of them alone and step into the bathroom for a nice, hot shower. The entire time, I replay every touch and kiss shared between Marvel and me until I’m hot and bothered all over again. Wanting nothing more than a repeat performance, I dry off quickly and wrap the towel around myself for just a second. A fog of steam escapes into the bedroom as I open the door, and I let the towel drop before stepping into the room completely undressed.
Marvel is sitting on the bench at the foot of my bed with his eyes wide, completely speechless. I guess he’s forgotten how to talk. That’s okay; we don’t need to talk right now anyway. There’s only one thing I require of him. He immediately pulls his t-shirt over his head as I walk over. Standing up, he stumbles slightly as he removes the rest of his clothes. But once he’s undressed, he takes a deep breath to steady himself, pulls me into his arms, and delivers on that promise beautifully.
As much as I’d love to, we can’t spend the rest of the day in bed. If I have any hope of convincing Marvel that this is where he should be, I need to show him the rest of the ranch and introduce him to the biggest member of my family — my horse Finesse.
We cuddle for a while, then get dressed and head outside. I take Marvel straight to the paddock where Finesse is waiting.
Marvel: Other than pony rides at the fair, I’ve never been around a horse before. She’s beautiful.
Tambara: Finesse is definitely no pony.
I take time to brush Finesse’s coat and clean her hooves, although it looks as if Juanita has done that already. Marvel looks all around the land.
Marvel: So all of this land is a part of the ranch.
I glance around at the seemingly endless grassy fields outside of the brown fences.
Tambara: Everything from the bridge to those white fences that you see.
Marvel: I wouldn’t feel right living here with you without contributing anything. But I don’t know anything about ranch life.
Tambara: I don’t either. We can learn together. That’s why Juanita is here. And Brindleton Bay doesn’t seem very different from the Ridge.
Marvel: I guess not. They’re both small towns.
He looks around again briefly, then turns back to Finesse and me.
Marvel: I did inherit some money from my parents. I can help with the upkeep.
I don’t require that of him, but I’m glad he’s offering.
Tambara: It’s something to think about.
Now that we’ve discussed the possibility of him eventually making this place home, I climb up on Finesse and go through a few practice runs around the barrels. Marvel watches closely, smiling with wide eyes every time Finesse and I clear a barrel.
Marvel: Just when I didn’t think you could be any hotter.
I climb down as it gets closer to evening, and he walks over to kiss me on the cheek.
Marvel: I have to get back home, beautiful. I’m scheduled to work tonight.
I hate to see him go, but I wave as he disappears out the gate.
(Generation 5 Chapter Summaries)
