by Jaci Burton
"Kyle just doesn't care where we are. When he wants to kiss me, he does, don't you baby," she said to Kyle in a sugary voice that even grated on her own ears. Sabrina couldn't help it. She really wanted to annoy Amanda. The woman was irritating as hell.
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Brady coughed. "I can attest to that. Why just the other night I saw the two of them in the barn--"
His words were cut off by a sharp jab in the ribs from Jenna.
Sabrina hoped Brady was making that part up, that he hadn't really seen their kiss in the barn the other night.
"I do what I want on my own property, Amanda. And I choose who can and can't be on it. And since I don't want you here, I'd like you to get your bony butt off the Rocking M. And take that snake of a husband with you, if you can find what rock he slithered under today."
Amanda gasped. Sabrina smirked. Maybe she couldn't punch her lights out, but at least she took satisfaction in Kyle letting his ex-wife have it.
"No rock, Morgan. A Dent doesn't need to hide." Jackson Dent appeared and stood beside his wife. "Hello, darlin', having fun?" he said as he kissed Amanda on the cheek.
She affected a pout. "I was until they ruined it for me. They were all ganging up against me, Jackson. It was awful. Where were you when I needed you to defend my honor?"
Kyle's snort at Amanda's use of the word honor almost caused Sabrina to laugh out loud. She couldn't suppress the giggle that escaped her lips as Kyle bent and whispered in her ear.
"I think she lost her virginity in preschool behind the jungle gym with Billy Kirkwood."
Amanda's eyes narrowed as she watched Kyle whisper in Sabrina's ear. Sabrina laughed out loud at the outrageous things Kyle said about his ex-wife.
"Never you mind them, honey," Jackson said in a sickening sweet way that made Sabrina's stomach turn sour.
"You weren't invited either, Dent," Kyle said as he turned from Sabrina's ear. He left his arm dangling over her shoulder, lightly trailing his fingers from her jaw to her neck. Sabrina shivered. "So why don't you
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and your trampy wife take the road back to your own place and stay the hell off Morgan property."
Amanda started to speak out at the insult, but Dent's hand on her arm silenced her. "Doesn't matter what he or any of them say or do,"
Dent said with an evil gleam in his weak eyes. "After this useless spectacle today, it's only a matter of time before the ranch is ours."
"You don't have a chance in hell of taking this ranch, Dent, so just give it up," Kyle said.
Dent sniffed. "You think these ropings or the pitiful rodeo you're planning will make any money? Oh you might have drawn a respectable crowd on your name alone, but that was before I spread the word today."
Sabrina was shocked that Dent knew about the rodeo. No one had mentioned it to him, but of course since he milled around the crowd today word would have gotten out.
A crowd had begun to gather, watching the exchange between the Morgans and the Dents with obvious interest. Neither group seemed affected by the fact they now had a sizeable audience.
Sabrina figured the rumor mill would run rampant for the next week or so as word spread about the altercation between the Morgans and the Dents.
"I don't have time for this, Dent. Spell it out for me." The tic at Kyle's mouth twitched angrily again.
Dent examined his neatly manicured fingernails and turquoise adorned fingers. "Well, it just so happens the same weekend you're holding your pathetic rodeo, I'll be hosting one too."
Kyle was silent. Sabrina worried her lower lip in anticipation of his response.
Finally shrugging as if he didn't care, Kyle answered. "Doesn't matter what you do. We'll still draw better than you."
"I hardly think so, Morgan. Remember, I have a lot more money than you do, so I can draw big names and sponsors to provide more prize
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money for the winners. You know as well as I do the good competitors will go where the money is."
As soon as Amanda let out the snicker of glee, Sabrina wanted to slap her.
Dent turned his eyes to Sabrina. "Told you, missy. You should have put your money with a winner like me."
That was all Sabrina could take of the two of them. She held on tight to Kyle's arms as she answered Dent. "Frankly, Mr. Dent, I think I already picked a winner in Kyle." Her eyes traveled over Amanda. "Seems to me you just pick up on Kyle's cast-offs. I'm putting my money where the original is."
"That does it." Amanda started toward Sabrina, who was more than ready to go head-to-head with the snobby jezebel and took a step forward to confront her. Kyle had to forcibly hold her back to keep her from attacking the brunette.
Restraining his angry wife, Dent said, "Well I think we've done enough damage today." Tipping his hat to the ladies, Dent strode away, dragging his cursing wife behind him.
After Dent's departure and Kyle's glare at them all, the crowd dispersed, leaving the four of them alone.
Silence surrounded them as they watched Dent walk away. Kyle still held on to Sabrina's arms as she continued to grumble at Amanda's retreating form. Several unkind words crossed her mind but she refrained from saying them out loud.
"Damn, Sabrina, you're sure a hellcat when you get riled," Brady said with a grin. "You fit in with the Morgans quite well."
Jenna laughed. "That's for sure. If I weren't so pregnant I'd have stomped that bimbo into the dust. At least Sabrina gave her what for.
Brady's right. You fit into this family just fine."
Sabrina finally calmed down enough to realize she was still being held in Kyle's strong arms. "You can let me go now," she said as she
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turned her head toward him. He tried to straighten his expression but not soon enough. Sabrina caught the smile at the corners of his mouth.
"What's so funny?"
"You are. The way you took off after Amanda like you were defending your own family."
The realization of her actions finally hit her. "Oh. I'm sorry," she said to all of them. "I had no right to fly off like that but that woman irritated me to the point I couldn't hold back any longer."
Once again she had acted without thinking. And in front of a crowd too.
"Hey," Jenna said, grinning. "Nobody's angry at you, Sabrina. We're downright proud of you. You acted like a Morgan today."
"Jenna's right," Kyle added. "You did just fine."
"So now what do we do about Dent and his rodeo?" Brady asked.
The smile left Kyle's face. "I don't know. I want to find out what he's putting on over there, see if he's as big a threat to our rodeo as he thinks he is. Then we'll figure out what to do."
"And if he's right?" Jenna asked the question no one wanted to. "If he can outsell us with big names and big prizes?"
Kyle didn't pull the punch. "Then we're screwed."
K K K
Sabrina thought about the day as she finished cleaning up the kitchen, having sent Jenna home hours ago despite her protests.
It had certainly been an eventful day. First the roping and all its excitement, then Kyle kissing her in a way that didn't feel at all like play-acting. And finally the bombshell dropped by Dent.
The Morgan family worked so hard to keep the Rocking M afloat. She had come to feel a part of their family, and would do anything she could to help them hold on to their land. But what could she do?
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Kyle had already refused to take any more of her money, so that just left the ropings and the rodeo, with the key being the rodeo. There had to be a way to beat Dent at his own game.
She thought about it for a few moments, when suddenly an idea came to her. Of course. The perfect solution to draw more contestants to the Rocking M's rodeo lay with Kyle's past in the profession. She'd have to get started on her plan right away.
The back do
or slammed shut as Kyle walked into the kitchen. She hung the dishtowel and turned to look at him.
"You look exhausted," she said, worried over the drawn expression on his handsome face.
He managed a weak smile. "It's been a long day, but they're all pretty much like that." He grabbed two beers out of the refrigerator and handed one to her. They leaned against the kitchen counter side by side and sipped in silence.
She wanted to talk to him about Dent, but knew he had a short fuse where his neighbor was concerned. She wasn't up to another battle with him. As it was her emotions were a jumble of confusion anyway.
The way he looked at her today, the way he held her and kissed her.
Was it just a game he was playing? Or was it real?
He'd made it clear before he wasn't interested in a relationship with her, but then he kissed her like he meant it. The man confused her. Did he want her or didn't he?
Sabrina pondered that thought as they drank their beer. There was no use lying to herself. She felt something for Kyle. Something powerful that had nothing to do with play-acting. Something real. And scary.
She turned to him. "Kyle, about today."
He put his beer down and turned to face her. "Yeah, I've been meaning to talk to you about today. Well, actually, the last damn thing I want to do about it is talk. I'm done talking." Taking the beer from her
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hand, he placed it on the counter then took her in his arms, his lips crashing down over hers.
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Chapter Ten
Sabrina's lips parted and Kyle's tongue swept inside, curling around hers and sliding gently back and forth until she was mindless with wanting.
He pulled her against him, his cock already hard and pressing against the aching center of her sex. She heard her own moans as he rocked against her, pinning her against the counter at the same time his relentless assault on her mouth continued.
She couldn't get close enough. She felt a need she never had before with Mark, a quest for fulfillment she wanted desperately. She searched for exposed skin as she clutched at his shoulders. Frustrated with impeding clothing, she reached for his shirt and tore it from the waistband of his jeans, sliding her hands over his hot flesh.
"Yes," he said through rapid breaths. "This is what I wanted to talk about, what I needed to...oh the hell with talking." He growled as he slid his hands once more over her ass, grasping her thighs and lifting her onto the countertop. He stepped between her legs, cradling her head in his hands as he grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her mouth toward his.
Instinctively she moved against him until he moaned into her mouth.
She reached down to unbutton his pants but his hand stilled her. She looked up at him, hoping not to see denial once again on his face.
Savage desire emanated from his eyes, the emerald orbs so dark they were almost black. He drew a ragged breath. "God, Sabrina I want you."
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Relief flooded her very soul at his words. He wasn't turning her down, telling her she was foolish, telling her he didn't really want her. "I...I want you too Kyle," she managed, so overcome with her newfound passion she could barely get the words out.
"I want to make love to you. But I also have to be honest with you, because I don't want to hurt you."
Not sure where the conversation was heading, she tried to calm her breathing and nodded. "Go ahead."
"I want you. I've wanted you since the first day I laid eyes on you. But there's something you need to know."
He stroked her cheek so gently it brought tears to her eyes. Blinking quickly she said, "I've wanted you too. From the first."
He smiled at her, tenderly, and tasted her lips. Then his expression grew serious. "I want to make love to you, but I can't give you what I think you need."
Now he was confusing her. "What do you mean?"
"I can't have a relationship. I'm not ready for that yet. All I can offer you right now is sex, and I think you're looking for more than that."
She was stunned. Sex. That's all he wanted from her, all he could offer. An angry rush came over her but she quickly tamped it down.
He'd never made any promises to her, never made her think he felt anything for her other than desire. He didn't tease her or chase her or give her any impression he was after her money for any reason. So what right did she have to be angry at his honesty? He wanted her--
physically. And that was all. Was it enough for her?
"I don't know what to say." She searched his face. His expression was a mix of emotions, remnants of passion still lurking but tempered somewhat by the seriousness of their discussion. "I appreciate your honesty, I really do. Just like I hope you'll appreciate mine."
He nodded. "Tell me what's on your mind."
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Despite their conversation, Kyle continued to caress her arm, her cheek, the tenderness in his touch almost causing her to throw her thoughts out the window and beg Kyle to make love to her. But that wasn't who she was, and it was time he realized it. Maybe it was time she figured out what she really wanted too.
"I've had sex with only one man in my life," she began.
"Your ex-husband."
"Yes. And sex with him was..."
"Unsatisfying?" he finished for her.
She laughed lightly. "Yes, you could say that. But there's more."
Kyle stilled. "He didn't hurt you did he?"
She shook her head. "No, not sexually. Mark was a very controlling man. He liked to be in charge. All the time. And he didn't like to relinquish control. Ever."
Awareness lit his eyes and he nodded. "He had to be master in the bedroom too, then."
Sabrina blew out a breath in relief. "Yes. I was never allowed to..."
The corners of his mouth lifted. "Express yourself?"
"Yes." God this was more embarrassing than she thought it would be.
Good thing Kyle knew what she was trying to say and could finish her sentences for her.
"Why don't you just spell it out for me?"
Easier said than done. "I'll try." She looked down at her hands, clasping and unclasping them in her lap. "I've never done anything, was never allowed to do anything sexually other than lie still while my husband did his thing until he was finished." There, she'd gotten it all out.
"In other words, you just had to lay there and take it?" Kyle had an incredulous look on his face that almost made Sabrina laugh.
"More or less. He didn't want me to experiment, make the first move, or ask for anything. He didn't care whether he pleased me or not, only
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that he was satisfied. Which usually didn't take very long," she added with perverse delight.
That made Kyle laugh. "I see. Sounds like a very unfulfilling sexual experience."
"But the reason I'm telling you this is so you'll understand that my wanting to make love with you is special. It means something to me and I don't take it lightly."
"I kind of figured that, which is why I had to be honest with you. I don't want a relationship."
Sabrina knew she should feel anger at being rejected yet again, but Kyle wasn't really rejecting her. He was rejecting himself, his ability to feel, to give anything to a woman.
"You care about me and you don't want to."
He shook his head. "No, I don't. I'm sorry but I don't."
She smiled at him. "You're lying to yourself and to me, Kyle. No one who kisses me, who touches me like you do, is without feeling."
He stepped away, pacing the length of the kitchen. "You're wrong.
That's what I'm trying to tell you. This thing between us is purely physical, and that's all. I want you. Hell yes I want you, but I don't want you to think it will go beyond that."
He looked like a lost little boy. His hair a mess, his clothing in disarray, confusion softening his norma
lly rugged features. Sabrina wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold him, tell him everything would be all right. He needed her--he just didn't realize it yet.
"So now what?" she asked.
"I don't know. I guess it's up to you to decide if you can handle a purely physical relationship, or if we should just forget about it and go back to being business partners only."
A lot to think about. What did she want? Would she be satisfied with having only a sexual relationship with Kyle? And if not, would she be content longing for and wanting a man she couldn't have?
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"I don't know what to say," she answered as truthfully as she could.
"It's obvious we have an attraction, and one I'd like to pursue. I've spent my entire life being sheltered, being told what I could and couldn't have.
Frankly, I'm tired of waiting for what I want."
He approached her, stopping short of stepping between her legs again. Laying his hands on either side of her thighs, he looked into her eyes. "What do you want, Sabrina?"
As she looked into his eyes, the answer was clear. She wanted him.
Any way she could have him. For once in her life she wanted to feel, to allow herself the chance to choose her own destiny. It was time to take charge of her life--she was, after all, an independent woman now.
Her decision made, she reached for him. "I want--"
"Oh hell you guys, I'm sorry to interrupt but my water just broke."
Sabrina's gaze shot to the doorway. Jenna leaned against the door to the kitchen, dressed only in her nightgown. Kyle ran over to her immediately and Sabrina jumped down off the counter to accompany him.
"Where's Luke?" Kyle asked as he sat Jenna down in the chair.
"He went with Brady to attend a horse auction tomorrow. By now they're probably halfway to Dallas and I can't reach him on the cell phone. Damn idiot's battery is probably dead again. He can never remember to charge it."
"Are you having any pains?" Sabrina asked.
Jenna nodded. "Yeah. Big ones too." She looked over at Kyle. "I think my labor is going to be like Mom said all hers were. And I thought I had a few more weeks left too."
"Oh great." Kyle straightened his tousled hair and took a deep breath.
He looked at Sabrina. "Mom had all of us in record time--never made it to the hospital once." Turning his attention back to his sister, he asked,
"How far apart are the contractions?"