by Anya Summers
She’d noticed the smell of horse manure increasing as they approached the facility. Being an avowed city girl her whole life, farm smells were not something she was familiar with. Jenna wasn’t certain what she had expected to see in the stables, likely something out of a Hollywood film. But she hadn’t expected the modern interior, the clean stalls, the technology they passed.
“It’s impressive. Just how many horses do you own?” she asked, not even attempting to keep the awe from her voice.
“At present count, I have ninety-six in my herd. Although I have twenty mares who are pregnant.”
“So many? And do you keep them all?” she asked.
“It’s a fair sized herd. And the number of pregnancies is lower than normal. We had to stop the breeding early this year due to the excessive heat. I typically have double that. We rotate the mares we impregnate on alternating years. And then, when the mare is too old for breeding, we either keep her or sell her. I tend to cull a few new horses from the new stock into the herd and the rest are trained to be trail horses and then sold.”
“I hadn’t realized it was so involved. Silly of me, I suppose,” she said, enthralled by the sights and sounds. And she wasn’t the only one. Liam seemed just as enchanted by what they were seeing. His little face was rapt with attention as he stared from the harness. His little legs kicked in excitement.
“Someone seems to like it here,” Carter said with pride in his voice at Liam’s reaction.
“Yeah, he does.”
Carter took them through the stables and introduced Jenna to Herb and Kyle. His two prize stallions were the most gorgeous horses she’d ever seen. Carter explained his breeding system. That the foals from the previous year were already being trained but it would be in the fall that Carter began working with each horse individually, training them to accept a rider, taking them out on the trail with other horses, making them follow commands.
He showed her the misting system and his office, and then they left the stables and headed out the opposite end to view the paddocks and fields beyond. The horses were let out in groups to get exercise, to eat grass in the pasture, to socialize with other horses.
Then they walked past Herb and Dottie’s home, which was the original homestead log cabin. It had been thoroughly updated, of course, and had been moved from its original site, which was where the current main house stood. The history of the Double J, the timelessness of it, the continuity of it passing from one generation to the next called to Jenna on some level—one that she didn’t recognize. She’d been a tumbleweed, never settling, always constant movement, and no attachments to places or things—or people, for that matter—because it had hurt far too much when those things were taken from her life. Yet this land, this ranch, this man shifted her center of gravity and filled her with an emotion she’d long ago thought life had all but stomped out.
Hope.
It bubbled inside her chest. That her son was a part of the continuity of this ranch. He would never have to worry or wonder what his place in the world might be. He might be so secure here that he would one day chafe at it.
It had been a long time since she’d had any hope. The feeling was alien, it made her feel unsteady.
But she was falling for the land, just like she had for its owner. The horses were stunning as they lingered in the shade and munched on grass. She wondered what it would feel like to ride one. Have the wind in her face as they raced over the terrain. She could picture it.
“They’re beautiful, Carter. I’d love to learn how to ride, if there’s time,” she stated, surveying the paddocks.
“There’s time. When you’re no longer hurting, we can start. Come on, there’s more to see.” His arm slid around her waist and he towed her away from the fences.
She got a glimpse of the extra cabins that would apparently be occupied soon with new help. The barns, filled with hay and extra supplies. Carter explained what they were. Tack, leads, blankets, harnesses, grain… so much that her head began to spin. There was so much involved with running this place and yet he still wanted to make time for Liam, for her, even, to make sure she felt comfortable.
That was when she knew that while the love she had for him seemed as constant, deep, and steady as the land upon which they stood, she still had so much further to fall with him. On the island, he’d been on vacation, with no stress other than the next time he got to fuck her. Here, he had the weight of responsibility for everything: the horses, his employees, the buildings, the land itself, and nothing made him falter. He was as steady and solid as the very mountains surrounding the ranch.
When Liam began to fuss, Carter led her over to a nearby oak. Jenna wasn’t nature girl extraordinaire but this would do. She sat near the tree in the soft grass. Carter handed Liam to her, then removed the harness and set the diaper bag beside her. She got the blanket and laid it out with one hand, thinking he might want to nap a bit while they were in the shade. The fresh air would be good for them both.
“Here, let me help. You’ve got your hands full,” Carter said, spreading the tiny blanket over the grass.
Carter surprised her then as he joined her, his back against the tree, then shifted her so that she was cocooned between his legs, her back resting against his chest.
“Carter,” she exclaimed, starting to move away. Hard to do with a nursing infant.
“Just relax and feed Liam. This will be more comfortable for you anyhow,” he murmured against her hair.
Liam was content, unaware of the tension his father had caused. But as she stayed within the circle of Carter’s embrace, her body began to relax, until she finally sighed and surrendered to the comfort he offered. He was right, he did make a better backrest than the tree. The man made her want things and due to the way he acted, a part of her believed she could attain them. In the shade, staring at the unspoiled mountains, peace settled over her. She could envision staying here, building a life here, allowing herself to become embedded in the routine.
And it terrified her.
Jenna had a hard time counting on things, be it people or places. Yet Carter made her yearn to do just that, with him and the people here.
“The ranch is wonderful. Truly. I’m sure Liam will love growing up here.”
“And what about you? Can you see yourself happy here?” Carter asked.
“The jury is still out. Ask me again sometime,” she said, burping Liam.
“Then I will have to convince you. I haven’t even shown you the pool,” Carter added, his lips so near the tender skin of her neck that his warm breath slid over her.
She shifted her head and said, “You have a pool!”
That slight movement put her mouth a mere centimeter from his. Their breath mingled. Jenna felt like a woman possessed when she slid her tongue over his bottom lip. His guttural groan trembled through her. His hand cupped her cheek and his mouth closed roughly over hers, kissing her until her toes curled in her sneakers.
There was nothing tame about the way he kissed her. It was a claiming, as much as the way his hand on her back had put his possessive stamp on her for others to see. His tongue plundered inside her mouth, imitating sex, showing her that he wanted her and all she had to do was surrender.
Carter lifted his mouth and ordered, “Place Liam on his blanket.”
She glanced down at their son, asleep, his mouth hanging open with a dribble of milk at the corner. On autopilot, she did as Carter asked, making sure he was comfortable and giving him a binky.
As she straightened, Carter’s hands were at her shoulders, tugging her back against him. Then he was reclaiming her mouth, holding her lips captive as he gripped her nape with one of his big hands. The kiss was carnal, igniting her blood with torrents of need. His lips were rough, the kiss hard and nearly brutal.
When his hand snaked beneath her shirt and bra, a thumb scraped against her nipple and she moaned into his mouth. It had been so long since she’d been touched. The calloused pad of his thumb circled her areola. D
esire arced from her tit to her pussy. Mewls erupted but Carter’s mouth was there, drinking down her cries. He deepened his kiss and heaven help her but she followed. Her fingers dug into his thighs. The noticeable bulge of his erection was pressed against her rear.
Carter’s hand descended from her cleavage. His fingers trailed over her belly to the button of her jeans. The man made quick work of her zipper, then he slid his hand beneath her panties to her pussy.
At the first touch of his two digits against her clit, she moaned. He stroked her nub, flicking his fingers back and forth. Pleasure rushed her body, her cries swallowed by his mouth as he kissed her.
Jenna’s hands gripped his thighs. Carter didn’t relent. He caressed her, teasing her bud, making it swell beneath the hood. Wetness coated her panties and she canted her hips, greedy for the pleasure, craving more friction. He swept his tongue against hers and nipped her bottom lip as he caressed her to a fevered pitch.
She came. Hard. Wailing into Carter’s mouth.
Her climax was a mix of pleasure and pain. She rocked against his fingers. Her body turned fluid as her pussy clenched and spasmed in acute ecstasy. Only when her trembles ceased did Carter finally release her mouth.
“Carter,” she whispered, gazing at him, shaken to her foundation. The connection between them was palpable. The way he could play her body like no other left her rattled to her core. There’d not been permanence in her existence but she wondered if perhaps he could give her that.
His hazel gaze burned with dark lust. He withdrew his fingers from her panties and lifted them to his mouth. They were damp with her dew. His eyes never left hers as he sucked his fingers into his mouth and tasted her.
“Looks like we have a visitor,” Carter murmured, nodding toward the driveway. Jenna turned her head and spied the shiny red car. Meghan’s silhouette stood next to her Mini Cooper.
Jenna scrambled off his lap, fixing her jeans. She wondered if her sister had caught anything between them from this distance. Not that it mattered, it was done. She doubted Meghan had witnessed her orgasm. If she had, well, she’d deal with it.
Carter stood, brushing off his jeans before he put the baby harness back on. Then he reached for Liam, who had quietly slept on his blanket, satiated with a full belly and obviously enjoying the outdoor air, although the temperature had risen since they’d first ventured forth on their tour.
Jenna packed his blanket back in the diaper bag and hoisted the strap onto her shoulder. “Is he good?” she asked, nodding at Liam.
“Yep, sound asleep,” Carter said.
Jenna avoided direct eye contact and headed toward the house. Carter was on her heels every step of the way, his footfalls confident and steady while she was more confused than ever before. Shouldn’t she be fighting her attraction to him?
Chapter 10
Well, I see you two haven’t murdered each other,” Meghan said, looking at them over the rim of her sunglasses with a lopsided grin. Meghan always looked fashionable and today was no exception. Even for a casual visit on a hot Sunday in the country she was wearing a cute mint green sundress that ended mid-thigh, and high heeled sandals that showed off her toned legs.
Carter said over Jenna’s shoulder, “Meghan, good to see you. Why don’t you come in? We were just getting ready to have lunch and then take a tour of the rest of the house.”
“Yes, please come in and visit,” Jenna said, praying that she would. She needed the distraction to get her mind off the man of the hour.
“You know me, I can always eat. Especially if I don’t have to cook. Jenna, I brought some of your stuff that you’d forgotten to pack that I thought you might need,” Meghan replied.
“Let’s get you ladies inside where it’s cool, then I can bring all those items in for you,” Carter offered. His niceness, his deep in the bone goodness made Jenna want to scream and stomp her feet. The man wasn’t making this easy on her one bit. In fact, he was making it damn near impossible for her to come up with reasons not to stay away from him.
Carter was too good for her and she didn’t deserve him. Not after she’d withheld Liam from him.
“That would be great, big guy, thanks,” Meghan said, following Carter as he trod up the stairs to the back door.
Jenna inhaled a deep, steadying breath, then straggled in behind them. Cool air enveloped her and she sighed. The heat was getting to be a bit excessive. She didn’t think Wyoming got this hot. Dottie, bless the woman and her incredible cooking skills, was in the kitchen, fixing sub sandwiches and salad. Carter handed Liam to her before Meghan gave him her keys. Carter stepped outside, only to return a short while later, hefting a few bags.
“I’ll just set these in your room for you,” Carter indicated.
After lunch, Carter took the three of them on a tour of the house. There was indeed a pool—an indoor one—and a hot tub. Jenna was living in a house that had a pool. How was this her life now?
On the first floor of the house there was the kitchen, an informal dining area, a formal dining room, the great room, a parlor, of all things, a sunroom, an office, and the indoor spa with swimming pool. On the second floor there were ten bedrooms. Carter’s was the master suite, and Jenna’s was the second largest on the floor. As she had guessed, there was a third floor that was smaller than the rest but held an additional five bedrooms.
In the basement, Carter showed them the storeroom with the two deep freezes and shelves lined with dry goods. There was a game room that had a fully stocked bar, pool table, poker table, foosball table, a large screen television with a few gaming consoles, and couches. A theater room held a huge, wall-sized television screen and leather couches. There were an additional five bedrooms down here, and another room that was off limits. He didn’t even let them take a peek inside. Jenna wondered what he was hiding. Knowing him, she had an idea, but she didn’t want to speculate with Meghan around.
Then Liam needed a diaper change. Carter escorted the little group to her room.
“If you guys are okay, I’ve got to head to the stables for a bit,” he explained.
“Go. We’ll be fine here. Thanks for today,” Jenna said and squeezed his hand. The light in his eyes at her touch sent a cascade of shivers through her frame. Then he tipped his head, his eyes never leaving hers, transmitting a wealth of meaning. She released his hand and retreated a few steps. At his knowing grin, she shivered again. He knew just how much he affected her. Her palm buzzed from the simple touch.
Then he left, shutting the door behind him. She finally breathed a sigh of relief. They couldn’t be in each other’s company and not have this potent electricity clouding the air.
“What was that all about?” Meghan asked while Liam dozed in his bassinette.
She tried to ignore her sister’s question and headed into the gargantuan closet with the bags she’d brought. Her sister tailed her inside.
“Come on. You honestly aren’t trying to avoid talking to me about your relationship with Carter,” Meghan quipped, opening one of the bags.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We are roommates and happen to have a child together,” Jenna replied, wishing like hell she couldn’t feel the heat spreading over her cheeks.
“Oh no, don’t you go deflecting on me. I have eyes, you know. So that wasn’t the two of you smooching under the tree? And then just out there with you batting your lashes at him before he left? The ‘Thanks for today, Carter,’ with your breathy, sex kitten ‘come hither and ravish me’ voice? Spill. I want details. Are you two a thing now?” Meghan asked, holding one of Jenna’s shirts hostage while she stood with her hands on her hips, her face so like Jenna’s own, insistent on a reply.
“Meghan, it’s not like that with us.”
“Oh, so you weren’t kissing him a little while ago. And it was at one time, because, hello, there’s Liam.” Meghan replied, gesturing toward the bedroom and Jenna’s sleeping son with an exasperated expression on her face.
Meghan wasn’t going t
o let her wriggle out of this. Jenna sighed. “Yes, I know. We’ve kissed. A couple of times. They were nothing. And it’s not going to happen again.”
There was no way she was going to mention the teensy little fact that he’d given her an orgasm under that tree too. She’d never hear the end of it.
“Why not?” Meghan asked, glancing at her dumbfounded.
“Well… because it would be bad for Liam. I mean, what if we didn’t work out? What if all it is between us is sex, and then it putters out and we still have to live together?” Really stupendous, world-altering sex, but that wasn’t the point. The point was Liam needed stability and security. To put his happiness and well-being on the line for her own desires would be foolhardy and selfish of her.
“Jenna, don’t take this the wrong way, but you need to get over your hang-ups. I know life has not been easy for you, and I’m partly to blame for that. But you’re not living, not really. You let yourself be insulated by the tragedies you’ve experienced and haven’t really been living.”
“I had a baby, Meghan,” she defended herself with a furious whisper. Yet her sister’s comments hit close to home.
“I know, and I adore my nephew. But you need something for you, too. I see the way you look at Carter. You still have feelings for him, deep feelings. Maybe it’s time you stop running from them and start acting on them.”
Was that what she was doing? Running from him? Maybe. Probably. “What if he doesn’t want me? I mean, a lot of time has passed since we were together. And it wasn’t a traditional relationship even then.”
Meghan snorted and asked, “Was I the only one on that tour? That man was all but waving his dick in your direction. I’ve never seen a man want to impress a woman more. If it were me, and a man I had feelings for went all out, saying things like: the pool is yours to use whenever you want, Jenna; whatever you need, Jenna… Does Liam need this? Let me take care of that. Wake up and smell the blatant seduction. Carter wants you in the worst way.”