When the house was quiet, and after Kade was sure Trent was asleep, he went to Kelsey again. Rain fell from the eaves outside her bedroom window in soft patters.
She was waiting in one of his western shirts, the snaps undone to where he could see the curve of her breasts. After he locked the door, he turned to her and she slid her arms around his waist.
“About time.” She tilted her head up to smile at him. “I’ve been dying to get my hands on you.”
He kissed her hard, letting her feel all the passion built up inside him. When he pulled away, his breathing was already ragged.
“I almost said to hell with waiting.”
Kelsey led him to the bed. “Yesterday I promised to kiss you all over, but we were a little, ah, rushed last night,” she said, remembering how they could hardly wait to tear off each other’s clothes once everyone went to bed. This time she wanted it slow, wanted to pleasure him in the ways that he had pleasured her.
Kade helped her pull his T-shirt over his head and his lips quirked into a grin. “You were quite the little wild thing. Not sure I can wait, though.”
She ran her fingers through the hair on his chest and smiled at the teasing note in his voice. “Well, you’re just going to sit back because it’s my turn,” she said as she ran her fingernails lightly over his flat nipples.
Kelsey skated her fingers down his hard abs to the waistband of his jeans. She unbuttoned them, her knuckles brushing his cock with every movement. His erection seemed to grow harder and longer, and she smiled when she saw Kade grit his teeth and clench his hands at his sides.
She took her sweet time as she pushed the jeans to the floor and then he stepped out of them. Before she pulled down his boxers, she ran her hand over the length of his erection, tracing the outline with her fingertips, teasing and taunting him.
“I can’t get over how big you are,” she murmured.
Flames roared in Kade’s gut at her every touch, her every word. The approval in her eyes was obvious as she gazed at his naked body and especially his cock, which jutted toward her.
She pulled his boxers slowly down to his feet. “I plan to kiss you everywhere.”
“Everywhere, huh?” He kicked off the boxers, then sat on the bed. He settled on his back, his hands behind his head. “I’m all yours, darlin’.”
Kelsey traced an outline on the skin around his cock. “That’s what I want.” A rumble rose in his chest when Kelsey eased onto the bed and straddled him.
“I want all of you,” she said in a voice that sounded like a purr.
His shirt looked so damn good on her, and he could see the dark circles of her nipples through the opening.
He groaned, wanting to roll her onto her back and thrust into her hard and fast. To hell with it. He wanted to take her now. “You’re gonna torture me, aren’t you, woman?”
“Yeah.” She trailed her fingers through the hair on his chest to his waist and back, but avoided his cock. “I love your body.”
Another rumble rose within his chest and he ached to stroke her. He slid his hands under the shirt and felt nothing but the satin skin of her hips. Blood gathered in his groin and he gritted his teeth.
Honey-gold hair fell across his face as she brushed her mouth against his. She ran the tip of her tongue over his lips, then slipped into his mouth. She tasted of mint from her toothpaste. He clenched her hips in his hands as he drank her honeysuckle scent.
Her lips met his nose in a kiss as light and fleeting as a butterfly. Slowly she moved her lips to each eyelid, softly kissing each one. When she trailed her tongue to his ear, she murmured, “I love how you sound like a rumbling mountain lion when we’re together.”
He reached under the shirt and captured her breasts, then traced her nipples with his thumbs. With a small gasp she arched her back, pressing her hips closer to his. She pulled at the snaps of the shirt until it was completely undone, and then let it slide from her shoulders.
Rain continued to pound on the rooftop in time with the beating of his heart. In the low lighting of the Victorian lamp, Kade could clearly see every curve, the way Kelsey’s breasts rose firm and high and the way her nipples jutted toward him. She was silk and satin, heat and fire, and he wanted her in ways he’d never imagined wanting any woman.
Kelsey lowered her head and scooted farther down his body. She flicked her tongue over his Adam’s apple, then kissed the hollow at the base of his throat. With slow strokes of her tongue, she worked her way over his collarbone and down to his pecs.
She bit softly at one of his nipples before trailing her way across his muscular chest to his other nipple. Lower and lower she moved, licking, biting, and kissing until she reached the curling hair between his thighs.
His breath hissed out. “You’re about to make me lose my mind, woman.”
“Good.” She looked up at him, a wicked glint in her eyes. “That’s what you do to me.”
The corner of his mouth curved into a sensual smile. “Witch.” She gave a soft laugh. “I want to taste you again, like you’ve tasted me.” He groaned as she licked his cock like an ice cream cone, swirling her tongue over the head. Then she slid him into her mouth, raking him softly with her teeth. He grabbed her head between his palms and clenched his hands in her silken hair.
Her head bobbed up and down as she slid her mouth along his erection and Kade guided her. He raised his hips to meet her, enjoying the sight of his cock thrusting in and out of her hot mouth.
When Kade couldn’t take any more without climaxing, he grabbed a foil package from the top of the nightstand. “I’ve got to be inside you, honey.”
Kelsey smiled and took the condom from him. She eased it onto his cock, her tongue leading the way, like fire licking at his soul. After the protection covered him, she moved up to straddle his hips. She grasped his cock with one hand and placed it at the entrance to her core. She slid down on him, taking him deep, as deep as it could reach, until it hit her G-spot.
“Yes, there.” She moaned as he filled her, as he thrust up to meet her. She wriggled her body and rode his cock, her breasts swaying as she rocked her hips. “I want all of you, Kade. Deeper. Harder.”
He grasped her hips, raising her up and down the length of his cock.
Keeping their bodies joined, he rolled over and brought her under him so that she was pinned beneath him. He plunged into her as she started to close her eyes.
“Look at me.” His voice was a demanding growl.
He wanted to see her passion, wanted to see her release. The need in her eyes nearly sent him over, but he held back, watching her as he rocked his hips against hers.
She gasped and her eyes rolled to the ceiling and he could see her losing herself to the sensations. Her body jerked hard beneath him and she bit her lip to hold back her cries. She trembled, her body quaking with the force of her orgasm.
Kade pounded into her, harder and harder yet. He loved to watch her, to see her face flushed with desire for him. He braced his hands to either side of her and held off as long as he could, wanting to draw out her orgasm.
His own orgasm wouldn’t wait any longer and he had to bite back a shout. Just as a powerful climax stormed his body and his cock released his seed, he felt the condom tear.
Shit.
His muscles clenched as his body pulsated. He held himself still, unable to withdraw from Kelsey’s body. It was too late.
He closed his eyes and relaxed between Kelsey’s thighs, not wanting to separate from her.
What was done was done. It was too important to be with her.
Kelsey could get pregnant.
The idea of Kelsey carrying his child gave him a heady feeling. But he wasn’t sure how she would take it.
“Mmmm,” she said, easing her hands into his hair. “This could be addicting.”
“I’m already addicted to you.” Kade propped his head on one hand and ran his other over her silky skin, drawing circles around her nipples. “What if I told you the condom tore?” he asked, not taking his gaze from her face.
Kelsey’s eyes widened and her body tensed beneath him. She dropped her hands to his shoulders. “Did it?”
He studied her expression, her reaction. “I’m almost positive.”
“Oh. My. God.” She closed her eyes, and he wished he knew what she was thinking.
“If you’re pregnant,” Kade trailed his finger down the tip of her nose to her lips, “we could get married.”
“No—I—no.” Her eyes flew open. “We barely know each other. I can’t marry you just because I might be pregnant.” Her voice trembled as if she was about to cry.
“We know each other pretty well.” Kade rained kisses on her face, hoping to calm her fears.
She remained silent, not meeting his eyes.
And then it occurred to him how eerily familiar the situation was, and he cursed himself for his stupidity for suggesting they could get married.
Kelsey’s SOB ex had convinced her to marry him in case she became pregnant after he raped her. And that’s what Kade thought of it. Rape. She hadn’t given herself to that bastard with her consent. The son of a bitch had taken her virginity and used her.
Kade eased out of Kelsey, and sure enough, the condom hadn’t made it. He disposed of it and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t worry. Everything’ll be fine.”
“How can you say that?” She covered her face with her hands. “It never occurred to me the condom could tear.” Her voice was muffled behind her palms. “What if it happens again?”
“The odds are you won’t get pregnant from one time. And the odds are definitely against a condom breaking a second time.” He pulled her hands away from her face and kissed her. She stiffened, then gradually melted against him again.
She sighed and slid her hands around his waist. “You shouldn’t be here when Trent wakes.”
“I’ll be back in my own bed when the sun rises.” He kissed her forehead. “And when my son rises.”
Kelsey smiled faintly and snuggled into the curve of his arm. Rain pattered on the roof as he held her. It felt so good holding her. Like he’d just come home from a long journey to find her there, waiting for him.
Kade didn’t fall asleep until her breathing was soft and even and she’d completely relaxed. He finally fell into a light sleep, dreaming of babies with sun-kissed hair and chocolate-brown eyes.
***
Kelsey woke alone, the bed cold and empty without Kade. As she stretched, she thought about their lovemaking last night and smiled.
Then she remembered. The condom tore. Her smile vanished as she slid her hand to her belly. What if she was pregnant?
The thought heated her, a slow flush of pleasure that eased over her body like warm rain on a summer day.
A baby. Their baby.
Kelsey curled into a ball and hugged herself. Last night Kade had mentioned marriage—probably wanting to do “the honorable thing.” But she’d never marry him because he felt he had to.
A knock jarred Kelsey from her thoughts. She pulled the sheet up to her neck. “Yes?”
Kade slipped in the door and locked it behind him. He was dressed in jeans and a blue shirt that intensified the color of his eyes. The bed sank under his weight when he sat beside her and gave her a light kiss. His lips were warm and firm, and she couldn’t help remember how it felt having those lips all over her body.
He nuzzled her ear. “Are you planning to sleep all morning?” Smiling, she slid her arms around his neck. “I missed waking up with you next to me.”
“I’d like nothing more than to wake up with you every single day.” He smiled and gave a lock of her hair a light tug. “Now get up, before I decide to pull off my clothes and join you.”
She lowered her lashes and gave him a coy look. “Best idea you’ve had yet.”
He started to pull back the sheet when they heard Trent’s frenetic chatter in the hallway. He sighed and kissed her forehead. “I’ll head off Taz. You get dressed.”
She threw the pillow at his back. “Slave driver.”
After he closed the door, Kelsey put on his robe, grabbed her clothing, and then dodged into the bathroom for a quick shower. For some reason she felt utterly feminine that morning, and instead of dressing in jeans, she wore a silk blouse and a short skirt that flattered her curves.
When she walked into the living room, Kade’s low whistle caused a thrill in Kelsey’s belly. She thought he was going to kiss her in front of his family, so she dodged away, not ready for that kind of demonstration of affection in front of everyone.
“Your calendar clear?” he asked after breakfast, when they were alone in the kitchen. Sadie and Trent were gardening and Chuck was feeding the calves.
Kelsey slipped her arms around Kade’s waist and hugged him. “I’m all yours.”
“I have something I want to show you.” He slid his knuckles across her cheek. “Then I’d like to take you to dinner afterward.”
She smiled and brushed his lips with hers. “Take me away, cowboy.”
Late in the afternoon, they left in Kade’s truck and drove a few miles, past fields of cotton, corn, and alfalfa, past rangeland dotted with red cattle, to empty acreage that butted up to the low mountain range.
After crossing a cattle guard, they traveled down a dirt road that was little more than a pair of tracks through grass and mesquite bushes. At the end of the road, they parked and climbed out of the vehicle. Kade took her hand and brought her around to the front of the truck.
He watched her expression. “What do you think?”
Kelsey took in the rugged mountain that hugged the edge of the property and the high desert terrain. Mesquite bushes were green from summer rains, the earth dark brown from last night’s storm.
A family of quail skittered into the bushes, their nervous calls a gentle sound in the desert quiet. The air smelled clean and fresh. The sky was a brilliant blue, but outlined by clouds building up over the mountaintops.
The desert beauty was astounding. “It’s wonderful.”
“This is my land.” Kade released her hand and went back to his side of the truck. He reached in and pulled out a brown tube from behind the seat, then came back to where Kelsey was waiting. He withdrew a set of blueprints, unrolled and spread them on the hood of his vehicle. “These are the prints for the house I’m having built here.”
He put his arm around her as she leaned closer to get a better look. “I bet it’ll be incredible.” She traced a line with her fingertip.
“A split-level house.” Kade pointed to the blueprint with his free hand. “Here, on the bottom floor, is where the kitchen will be, the living room, study, guest room, and family room.” He moved the top page aside and showed her the one under it. “This is upstairs. Trent’s room will be here, a couple more bedrooms here and here, and this is the master bedroom. The master has a covered balcony that faces the mountain.”
“Perfect for enjoying summer rainstorms.” She smiled up at him.
He trailed his finger down her nose to her lips, and held her gaze with his intense blue eyes. “Perfect for raising a family.”