One to Take (Stuart & Mariska): Sexy Cowboy (One to Hold Book 8) (5 page)

T
he moment
the words leave Mariska’s mouth, all the conflict in my mind recedes into the deep background.
We’re having a baby
. I study those four words a moment.

I’m thrilled, of course. And of course, that settles the question. We’ll go back to Princeton. Quick math tells me if she’s three months along, she’ll have the baby in late December or early January, and there’s no fucking way I’ll have her out here in the middle of winter going into labor.

Money isn’t a concern, and my condo in Princeton is plenty large enough for a baby. We have Walter (a.k.a., the best doorman on the planet) ready to get her anything she needs on a moment’s notice. Eventually, when it’s time for school, we’ll discuss moving.
School
…

She might have to take a semester off from grad school, but I’m sure she’s not the first woman to get pregnant and have to take a break. Just let those fuckers at Princeton try to give her a hard time. They can talk to me.

“Stuart!” Her desperate plea snaps me from the sudden To-Do list scrolling through my brain.

I focus on her gorgeous sunset eyes now round and filled with tears. Why the fuck is she crying? My brow clutches.

Her sweet voice trembles. “I know it’s not how we planned it, and I know you like to be in charge of everything—”

What the hell?

“Stop.” My voice is stern.

I grab her beautiful face and kiss her hard. How can she not know how many times I’ve pictured this moment? I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve held her sexy body in my arms and tried to imagine her pregnant. Last year when we first met, even through the sickness of withdrawal, I had a whisper of this moment in my mind.

Holding her now, her slim body is fused against me. Her arms are surprisingly strong around my neck, and I slide my hands up and down her back until I feel the tension begin to subside. Why was she afraid to tell me?

Sometimes my beautiful bride reminds me of a wild horse when it first arrives on the ranch. Its thoughts are scattered and wild, and I have to spend extra time reassuring it it’s in a safe place.

“You need to eat something,” I say, releasing her arms and moving her back to face me. “You’re growing a whole little human in there. No more toast for breakfast.”

Her chin drops and she laughs. “Dr. Brown said my weight gain is right on track. The whole ‘eating for two’ rule is actually a myth.”

A sudden gust of wind pushes a dark lock across her smooth, tanned cheek. I reach for it and move it away. “Now I understand.”

Her slim brows clutch. “What?”

“Last week, last night… your body’s changing.”

Pink floods her cheeks. “Well, I am gaining weight. It’s pretty much unavoidable.”

“That isn’t what I meant…”

Slim hands push my chest and she tries to get off my lap. Fuck that. I’ve got her around the waist, pulling her right back into a straddle facing me. Still, she jerks her chin away. The breeze blows her hair wildly, and I almost laugh it’s so cute.

“Hey,” I say softly. She doesn’t respond. “Look at me.”

“No.”

I can’t believe this. Wrapping one arm around her waist, I pull her chin around forcing her to face my eyes. She looks down at what I suppose is the vicinity of my chin.

“I meant your skin is… glowing?” God, I sound like an idiot. “I’m not a poet, Mariska. You just seem more beautiful somehow.”

Those dark lashes flutter rapidly, and I know she’s coming back to me. Releasing my hold on her waist, I gently cup her breasts. “I’ve definitely noticed a difference in these.”

“Stuart,” she grins, meeting my eyes now.

“That’s better,” I say, leaning forward to taste her sweet lips again. Pulling back, I catch her golden eyes. “Is this why you started without me last night?”

Her nose wrinkles. “Lately, I’m sort of… always ready to go it seems.”

That’s enough for me. “Then why the hell are we sitting here talking?”

I tug the string of her spaghetti strap, and it releases, allowing the front of the filmy white dress she’s wearing to fall away on one side. The creamy top of her breast is exposed, a soft swell above the dark edge of her areola.

“Beautiful,” I murmur, leaning forward to kiss her firmly right on the side of her breast. She sighs a little noise, cupping my face. I feel her lips press against my ear, the soft warmth of her sigh is a gentle whisper at my neck.

In that moment, a new thought takes hold in my mind. I have to be gentle now. She’s pregnant. She’s carrying my baby. Pushing against the log at my back, I lift her to her feet.

“How are you feeling?” I lean down to catch her eye.

She seems confused. “Like I want you to fuck me?”

Her words tease my old self, but I push that shit down. In the past if she’d said that, I’d catch her by the waist and turn her around, pull her pretty head against my chest and threaten to spank that sweet little ass. Not now.

“Come on.” I take her hand and lead her toward the house. “I’ll make love to you.”

“This is new.” Her nose wrinkles, and she holds the side of her dress up as I lead her to the small cabin.

We can’t sleep here.
Jesus
, this place is a hole. Stepping inside the door, I pull her to me, smoothing my hands down the sides of her face. “Let me see your stomach.”

“Okay.” She flushes a pretty shade of pink as she pulls the string of her other spaghetti strap.

The filmy white top flutters down to her waist exposing her soft breasts. My dick immediately responds. Tightness spreads across my fly. Shit, she’s gorgeous. Cupping the bottom of her fuller breasts, I slide my thumbs gently across her nipples watching them peak. A little shiver moves through her, and her fingers move around her waist, pushing the rest of the fabric to the floor along with her lace thong.

“I don’t want you to rip it,” she says with a grin. “I didn’t pack enough extras.”

My voice is rough. “I won’t rip them anymore.”

“I’m not sure I like that.” She steps closer to me, looking up into my eyes. Small hands take mine and she guides them to her waist, over her flat stomach.

“Get on the bed,” I say, trying not to order.

She turns and climbs onto the old quilt covering the double bed. She does a little shake with her pretty ass before turning around to face me, still grinning.

“Tease,” I growl, my palm itching.

“You’re very overdressed.” She’s on her knees unfastening my buttons, but my hands are on her thighs, sliding up her smooth skin to the curve of her lower back. This magical body…

My shirt’s open, and she leans forward to kiss my skin. It’s feather-light, and I smooth her hair back from her face. I want to fuck her, but I want to look at her first. I want to memorize every inch of her so I can watch as she changes.

Jeans open, she slides her hand down and up my straining cock, grazing her thumb over the tip. A hiss slips between my teeth. I can’t take much more of this.

“Lie back,” I say.

She drops back onto her heels before leaning all the way on her elbows. Her knees are bent, and I lightly touch her inner thigh, tracing a line to the center. Chill bumps follow in my wake, and her dark head drops back with a little moan. Pausing in the middle, I run my thumb up and down the seam of her sex, slippery wet. Her thighs jump when I find her clit and give it a slow stroke, a little circle.

“Yes,” she sighs, covering my hand with hers.

Stepping out of my jeans, I drop to my knees and wrap my arms around her legs, pulling her to me and opening her.

“I wonder if you taste sweeter,” I say, kissing the inside of her thigh at my cheek.

“Oh, god,” she gasps as my kisses rise higher.

When I reach the top, I slide a long taste over her bare pussy, giving that little bud a teasing swipe.

“Yesss,” she moans long and low, and I lean forward, working my lips over her so I can give it a little suck. Her hands slap the mattress beside me and her hips jerk as she cries out. I don’t let up. I know how to make this body come hard.

“Oh god, Stuart! Oh, god!” She’s writhing and moaning. Her responses are faster, and as I circle my tongue and suck once more, she begins to shake and push as if trying to get away while at the same time gripping the sides of my hair with her fingers.

Needing to give my dick a break, I stand and position my tip at her entrance, pausing a moment to watch it pulse. She’s coming hard, and I need to be inside her. I need to feel it.

With one firm thrust, I’m balls deep in her throbbing core. I groan loudly, and she’s right with me, bucking her hips and grasping my shoulders. One arm is beside her head, bracing my weight. The other holds the side of her thigh, pulling her to me.

“Faster, Stuart, faster!” She’s gasping, and I let go, rocking my hips and slamming into her, surrendering to the pleasure blinding me, tightening my ass and snaking through my pelvis.

“Fuck,” I growl as my dick starts to pulse. My eyes close as I hold on, riding out the waves of a mind-blanking orgasm until at last the intensity eases. It starts to fade, and I’m able to find my bearings.

We’re both breathing hard, but she’s ahead of me, holding my arms as she kisses her way up my torso to my chest. Still straddling my lap, she pauses to give my nipple a teasing bite, and the sensation makes my cock twitch deep inside her.

“Shit,” I hiss, clasping her ass, pulling her close against me.

“You like that?” she whispers, pressing her lips to my skin again.

I only make a satisfied noise in response. She’s holding onto my shoulders, and I slide out, pulling her into my arms onto the bed beside me.

A few moments pass, and she traces her fingers along my forearms before pushing up and propping her lovely head on her hand. “You forgot all about my stomach.”

“I didn’t forget.” Reaching for her, I pull her to me, rolling us so her back is against the mattress. “Let’s see your bump.”

She laughs, looking down. “Good luck finding it.”

Scooting down, I spreading my palm flat over her stomach, I circle her small navel with my thumb. “You said you have an ultrasound appointment?”

“Not yet. I have to make one. I was supposed to do it today, but I didn’t want you to miss it.” She props up on her elbows looking down at my hand on her stomach. “The website said it’s about the size of a lime right now.”

A lime. I look at her body and try to imagine that size compared to her stomach. Curiosity flares in my mind. I want to see it. “We’ll call first thing in the morning.”

“I didn’t bring my phone.” She looks up at me grinning. “No interruptions tonight.”

Shaking my head, I move to a sitting position on the bed. “We’re not sleeping here.”

Her face breaks into a frown. “What? Why not?”

I frown right back. “This place is a dump. You’re pregnant. I’m not risking a snake getting in here.”

At that she does a little shriek, hopping up and pulling her knees under her, looking all around the floor. “You’re lying!”

“I’ve found a snake in here before.”

Her eyes narrow, and she looks over at me. “You’re just trying to scare me. You love this place.”

“For me. Not for my pregnant wife.” Stepping off the bed, I lean down and pull my jeans over my hips.

“I’m not your wife yet. We’re only engaged.”

Reaching for her ankle, I catch it and pull her to me. She falls onto her back with a little squeal, and I lean over her, kissing her soft breast. “We can speed up the timeline on that.”

Slim arms loop around my neck, and she kisses the shell of my ear. As sated as I am, her nude body is still turning me on. “But I wanted to go for a swim in our hot spring.”

“We can do that without staying here.”

“And I wanted to sit out by the fire in an Indian blanket.” Her voice is sweet and pouty.

“It’s too warm for that.”

“Not if we’re naked.”

She’s got me. My lips press into a thin line, and I study those hazel eyes and full lips a moment. “One night.”

“Yay!” She jumps forward and kisses me before hopping off the bed. And crossing to the small bathroom. “Start the fire. I’ll grab the blanket and meet you.”

The door closes, and I stand for a few seconds looking around the small cabin I once considered mine. The mineral spring only walking distance from here also was once only mine. They made up my fortress of solitude, as my little sister Amy liked to call it.

Mariska came in and transformed all of it to
ours
. Now when I look at this place, I see all the ways she’s in danger here, most of all the lack of a telephone and our distance from the main house. We’re going to have to find a new place.

I
t’s too
warm for a fire in the little stove, but I asked for one anyway. Lying on my side in the cabin, I watch the flames dance through the small grate content and happy with the way this evening went.

Stuart’s reaction to the news was sweet and sexy and absolutely silly. He treats me like I’m made of glass—something I never would’ve expected. As if I’m the first pregnant woman in the history of mankind. As if pregnant women haven’t endured harsher conditions than I’m likely to ever face in the coming months.

Still, it’s sweet. We shared the delicious picnic dinner Winona made us of fried chicken and corn on the cob, and while I expected to have one sip of sparkling wine to celebrate, he wouldn’t even let me have a taste!

I don’t really care. I prefer the fresh lemonade Winona makes anyway. We only had a little firewood left from last winter, so the Indian blanket idea was moved indoors and we cuddled on the couch instead. Stuart insisted I didn’t need to be on the hard ground anyway, to which I couldn’t resist an eye-roll.

At least we’re going to our hot spring in the morning. I packed my leopard-print bikini and a new sheer cover-up to replace the one he ripped off me last time we visited. That blazing-hot memory gives me a little shiver. I plan to leave my top in the suitcase just like last time.

Turning in the bed, I face him, studying his straight nose and long dark lashes against his cheek.
So handsome.
Smiling, I close my eyes and drift to sleep imagining what our pretty little girl will look like and picturing her running through the tall grasses into her daddy’s arms…

Walking through the tall grasses on the way to the spring, Stuart is ahead of me breaking the trail and watching for snakes—a danger he’s never mentioned before. I’m not complaining as it gives me a nice view of his tight ass in front of me. That thought makes me giggle.

“What’s funny?” He looks back over his shoulder.

“I was thinking about your tight ass,” I say loudly,
literally and figuratively
.

He frowns and returns to pushing back the grasses. It’s my own fault, I suppose. I fell in love with this bossy, dominating, stubborn, and oh so sexy man.

“I was expecting a bonus this morning,” I call after him.

“You need your sleep now.”

That makes me frown, but I don’t have time to argue. We’ve arrived at our mineral spring. It’s still and pale beige and smells faintly of sulfur, which is one of the minerals still active. I’m reminded of getting to know each other, sharing our memories as our naked bodies entwined in the effervescent water.

Smooth, round stones line the far edge of the pool and the bottom, and a layer of pea gravel leads the way into its depths. Stuart loosens his shorts and wades into the water. I wait on the bank trailing my eyes down the lines of his back to the muscles in his butt. Two palm-sized indentions are on each side, and I think back to the first time I touched it. I was giving him a massage, and I almost couldn’t breathe for how sexy he was. Nothing has changed.

When he reaches the center he does a shallow dive to the other side, going under and getting his hair wet. I turn and unfasten the bandeau top of my bikini. I toss the sheer cover-up on the grass along with it and walk out into the warm pool. It’s as relaxing as a hot tub, and the tiny bubbles rising in the water make me buoyant. When Stuart’s head resurfaces, I push off the bottom and glide straight into his arms.

“Feels good,” he says, pressing his lips to my ear as I hug my breasts against his bare chest.

“It does,” I say softly, wrapping my legs around his waist. “Aren’t you glad we spent the night now?”

Warm hands slide under my bikini bottoms, over my ass. He kisses my neck again. “I would’ve driven you here if you’d asked.”

I’m heating up in the warm water, but I lean back to find his eyes. “Then we wouldn’t have had our picnic or sex on the couch.”

He grins and kisses my lips, trying to push them open. I kiss him briefly and look up at the bright blue sky overhead.

“Do you want a boy or a girl?”

He only growls against my neck, and I unhook my legs, swimming out a bit from him. “Tell me!” Moving to the side, I circle him in the water. “I bet I know. You want a boy to start. A big brother for all the other kids.”

“How many are we having?”

“I was thinking a half dozen?” That gets me a laugh, but I keep going. “Or an even dozen? How many do we need to work a farm?”

“We’re having a farm now, too?”

“Or the ranch, I should say.”

He cuts through the water to catch me, pulling my back against his chest and kissing the side of my head.

“We’re going back to Princeton in a few weeks. We don’t have to change our plans because of this.”

“I didn’t know we’d made definite plans. We’ve only talked about what we can do.”

His fingers thread in mine at my waist, holding me against his torso. “You’ve already enrolled at Princeton, and we have the condo and Walter…”

“I do like Walter.” Leaning my head back, I search for a cloud in the largely clear sky. “I thought you liked it here, though. This is where your heart is.”

“My heart is with you.”

We drift for a few moments in silence. My dream is to have Stuart and a family. I don’t care where I have them. Stuart loves this place, but now he doesn’t want to stay. We’ll have to talk about this more.

Pushing his arms out, I turn so they’re wrapped around my back. “Since you want a boy first, what will we name him? Junior?”

“Are there any boy names on your side of the family you like?”

My lips curl as I try to remember any male names Yaya might have mentioned. “I can only remember one… Manfred.”

“Whoa. That’s a tough one.”

“We could call him Fred for short.”

Our eyes lock, and we both burst into laughter. I push off from the bottom again, wrapping my arms around his neck, my insides humming with joy. “Maybe we should stick to your side of the family for boy names.”

“I have an uncle Hector.”

“Like the Trojan hero?”

He shrugs. “He lived in southern Illinois.”

I lean away, floating on my back. “I’m sure he was a die-hard military man.”

“Probably.” His voice changes as he moves through the water to me. “Nice view.”

With my head on his shoulder, my breasts float to the surface. His large palms rise out of the water to cover them, stirring the heat simmering in my pelvis.

“Mmm,” I sigh. “So we have Hector and… What’s your favorite girl name?”

“Mariska.” His lips are at my ear, and I feel my insides clench in response to how he says it, low and hungry. His hands slide down my breasts, thumbs circling my nipples.

My eyes flutter closed. “Besides that.”

“Renee.” His hands are on my hips, drawing them down through the water so I feel his erection at my lower back.

“Yes,” I whisper as his palm slides up my inner thigh just before two thick fingers plunge deep inside me.

“Then Renee it is.”

I’m riding his hand, eyes closed, when I reach around to grasp his cock. Names are forgotten as I position our hips to allow him to plunge deep inside me, stretching me.

“So big,” I whisper. We’re at the far side of the spring, where the rocks line the side and the depth is over my head. I hold onto them, wrapping my feet around his legs as he pumps into me hard and fast. One hand is on my breast gripping and squeezing while the other holds my waist steady, helping him ride out this moment.

“Oh! Oh, yes!” I’m moaning and meeting him at each push, reaching down with my hand to massage my clit faster and faster.

Ripples of pleasure tingle in my thighs, and my eyes roll closed as the orgasm erupts low in my pelvis. I gasp for breath gripping the rocks tighter as it grows, as Stuart rocks faster, his pelvis hitting my ass.

Leaning into me, he kisses me at the back of my neck, along my hairline, allowing his breath to fan over my shoulders. A wave of shimmering pleasure spills through my veins like warm liquid, and I come.

“Yes, oh, god yes!” My shoulders quiver with sensation.

“Fuck,” Stuart groans, strong arms tight around my waist, as he finishes, pulsing over and over inside me.

We hold on several moments, eyes still closed, as the soothing waters transport us back to earth. Our panting subsides, my heart rate slowly returns to normal, and soft lips touch my neck. I smile, tilting my head to meet his kiss.

“Let’s revisit those names a little later,” I say with a laugh. “I can’t be held to anything I said just then.”

“Okay.” Another kiss, and I turn in his arms to find those smoky hazel eyes glowing. “We should probably head back if we’re going to make the doctor’s appointment today.”

I trace my finger down his cheek. “It’s the only thing that could get me to leave.”

W
e’re
out of the truck and walking up to the house when Sylvia meets us at the door smiling brightly.

“Congratulations, you two,” she laughs, catching us both in a hug. “I’ve been dying to say that.”

“You already said it to me,” I squeeze her arm.

“Yes, but we’re not sneaking around anymore, and I can be a proud grandmother to be. Again!”

“Congratulations.” Bill’s calm voice reaches us from the kitchen. “Winona’s cooking a special dinner to celebrate.”

Holding Sylvia’s arm, we walk to where he’s standing by the bar holding a dark soda I assume is a Pepsi. “We’d like to schedule that ultrasound as soon as possible,” I tell her. “Can I get the number for Dr. Brown?”

“It’s in my purse.” She gives my hand a pat and sets off down the hall to find it.

I continue into the living room and drop onto the sofa. Stuart goes to where his uncle is standing and says something I can’t hear. The two of them leave in the direction of Bill’s office, and I see my little horse trotting around the yard through the window.

“I’m outside,” I say to no one in particular and leave through the double doors behind the couch.

After our swim, I put on a long, floral skirt and tank top. I’m not quite big enough for maternity clothes, but my jeans and pants have gotten too snug to be comfortable. Still, I have on my cowboy boots, and when I get to the yard, I climb up on the fence and sit on the top rail to watch Jessie run.

She slows when she sees me, and I wonder if she might come to me the way I saw her walk up to Stuart yesterday. Climbing down into the yard, I try to remember how he did it. His hand was on his chest, and he made that clicking sound with his mouth.

Moving slowly toward her, I try it. “Here, Jessie,” I say in a soothing tone. “Come to me, girl.”

I’m holding my hand out, although I don’t have any of the treats he was giving her. I hope that doesn’t make her not trust me. Thinking the better of it, I pull my hand to my chest and just make the noise as I carefully walk to where she’s standing.

Freckles stands away to the side watching us. The other four horses have their heads in the hay, munching and disinterested.

“Come here, Jessie,” I say again softly and click my mouth.

Her large dark eyes are fixed on me, and I can almost see her thinking, trying to figure me out.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I say in a sing-song voice. Her small, black head with the spattering of black freckles across the nose stills.

I’m almost to her. I feel like I can’t breathe as I reach out my hand again, slowly toward her black velvet nose. Her muscles quiver, and just as I’m about to make contact, Stuart’s voice cuts through the moment in a stern rebuke.

“Mariska!”

Jessie does a quick little two-step and jumps away, running to the fence and around the yard.

A frustrated exhale rushes out of my lungs in a huff. “I almost had her!”

“What are you doing?” I can tell he’s irritated. I’m irritated.

“You ruined it,” I grumble, stomping to where he’s standing outside the fence frowning. “I was so close to petting her, and you scared her away.”

“You were close to getting hurt. Now come out of there.”

I stand in place glaring at him defiantly, hands on my hips. “You said you were going to teach me how to train her.”

“I’m going to have to gentle her more first. Especially now.” The last part is muttered under his breath but his voice is louder when he commands me. “Come out of there now.”

“I’m pregnant. I’m not an invalid.”

“You still need to take it easy.” He says, climbing onto the fence. “Jessie is unbroken, and Freckles is flighty. She could kick you. Or worse.”

“I’m coming out,” I grumble, catching the top rail of the fence and waiting for him to jump down. “You don’t know the first thing about being pregnant,” I growl.

“Neither do you.”

My eyes flash to him, but he’s grinning, and I don’t feel like being angry. I cross the fence and drop down between his muscled arms holding the top rail on each side of my shoulder. “You’re infuriating.”

“You’re adorable.” Leaning forward he gives me a quick kiss. “Mom said the doc can see us this afternoon.”

“Just give me a few minutes to shower and change.”

I stomp back to the house, leaving him grinning by the fence.