Caribou Crossing

by Susan Fox

  Miriam smiled at that thought as she drove through the town center. Caribou Crossing was quiet at this hour, though lights glowed through the windows of the Roadhouse restaurant and the Round-Up coffee shop. Gaudy neon marked the windows of The Gold Nugget Saloon, a sleazy bar she always avoided. The door of the bar opened and a couple came out, voices raised in what sounded like a drunken argument. Light gleamed briefly on the woman’s blond hair as Miriam drove past them, grateful that Wade was her husband. The two of them rarely disagreed, much less out and out fought.

  A few blocks down, the Lucky Strike was humming. Nostalgically, Miriam remembered Valentine’s Day the previous year. She and Wade had sent Jessica to a sleepover at Bly Ranch—a treat she always loved—and had a wonderful dinner at the Roadhouse, along with other romantic couples of all ages. Then they’d walked over to the Lucky Strike and danced until the place closed. Tipsy, laughing, arms tight around each other, they’d tramped home in the snow and made love until dawn.

  This year, he’d given her a dozen red roses. The grocery store kind, not from a florist. But that huge mortgage hung over their heads, and at least her hubby, who had so much on his mind these days, had remembered it was Valentine’s Day and told her he loved her. They hadn’t made love until dawn, but they’d had some pretty fine sex all the same.

  Wade might not be as romantic as he used to be, but he was a loving husband and the sex, when they were both awake enough to indulge, was still terrific.

  Her spirits rose as she left town and headed east on the dark secondary highway that led to the ranch. Traffic was light and, despite the chill, the winter night was lovely: A clear, starry sky illuminated the crisp white snow that coated each rail of the roadside fences and blanketed the rolling ranch land.

  She was so lucky to live in this beautiful country, with her wonderful husband. Tonight, despite tiredness and aches and pains, she was going to seduce Wade. First, though, she’d get him to massage her sore lower back. That thought warmed her enough to survive the fifteen-minute drive.

  She pulled the car next to the Bly Ranch truck in the garage, then hurried into the house. Wade was in the kitchen, putting the dried dishes away.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Jessica in bed?”

  “Reading a horse book and waiting for a good-night kiss. Speaking of which . . .” He turned and gathered her close for a long, slow kiss.

  When their lips parted, he said, “You feeling okay? I saw you rubbing your back earlier.”

  “The baby’s finding its feet. Nothing major.” She winced as another of those weird cramps tugged at her insides.

  “Say good night to Jessie, then have a bath and I’ll give you a massage.”

  He’d volunteered; she didn’t even have to ask. “You’re the best,” she said gratefully. Then she squeezed his backside. “You know what else relieves pain and relaxes me?”

  “Orgasm,” he said promptly. “I can help you out with that.”

  Feeling better by the moment, she said, “I knew I could count on you.”

  “Always glad to be of service.”

  Laughing softly, she headed upstairs, stopping to press a hand to her side as the little one acted up again. “Go to sleep, you,” she murmured, before going to say a quick good night to her daughter. Jessica, at least, was drowsy. The girl was so active all day, she dropped off to sleep quickly and slept soundly.

  In the bathroom, Miriam turned on the water in the tub. She’d love it hot, but stuck to warm because it was better for the baby. In went a handful of Epsom salts, a trick her doctor had taught her during her first pregnancy. And thinking of the doctor, it was good she had an appointment this week. She was past the first trimester danger zone, so the achy back and crampy twinges were no doubt just symptoms of pregnancy, but best to make sure.

  After brushing her teeth, she stripped, tossed her clothes in the laundry hamper, and with a sigh of expectation stepped into the tub and sank down. Bliss. What utter luxury to be doing absolutely nothing.

  She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, Wade’s hand was on her shoulder. “Hey, wife, you can’t spend the night in there.”

  Blinking to focus her tired eyes, she saw that he’d changed into pajamas. Even in striped blue and gray flannel, the man looked sexy.

  “I can think of a better place.” She yawned, and reached gratefully for his hand as he helped her up and steadied her when she stepped out of the tub.

  He rubbed a towel gently over her body.

  “You’re a good husband.”

  “Have to treat you well or you’ll find some other guy.”

  She chuckled. “Not gonna happen.” As he well knew. They were made for each other, the two of them. Maybe they were working harder than she’d like, and didn’t have as much time for romance as they once had, but there were still wonderful moments like this. And once they got the ranch under control, there’d be more of them. “Especially not if you give me that massage you promised.”

  “Climb into bed.” With a warm hand on her lower back, which didn’t ache quite as much now, he steered her into the bedroom.

  “Door locked?” she asked.

  “You bet.” They never took the risk Jessica would forget the “knock first” rule and catch them making love.

  She slid between the covers, then rolled onto her side. At four months, her baby bump was still small, but she’d rather not lie on her stomach.

  Her husband flicked off the light and climbed in behind her. When his leg brushed hers, she realized he’d taken off his pajamas. With slow, warm hands, he kneaded the muscles in her back, from her neck to the curves of her butt, loosening knots and relaxing tension she hadn’t even realized she was carrying.

  “You’re very good at that,” she murmured. She’d always loved Wade’s hands, so capable when it came to work, so deft at massage, so knowing and seductive when it came to touching her in the most intimate ways.

  They switched position so that she lay on her other side, and he continued to massage.

  Then his hand, which had been working the muscles of her butt cheek, slipped between her legs. “How tired are you?”

  “Not too tired.” In fact, she was exhausted, still a little achy, and the baby kept kicking. But this time together was special and she didn’t want to lose it. Besides, orgasm did often help when she had menstrual cramps or a headache, so maybe it would tonight.

  She wriggled her backside toward him, and he came forward to meet her. He was hard already, a number of steps ahead of her in the arousal department. But she’d catch up, because now he’d looped an arm over her hip and his fingers teased her pussy.

  Any thought of aches and pains fled as sensation centered under his seductive touch. Sweet heat filled her. Wanting to kiss him, she rolled over again, warning, “Don’t stop.”

  He kept up the arousing strokes and caresses as she leaned into him, circling his lips with the tip of her tongue, then dipping inside. His tongue flirted with hers, drawing it in.

  She touched his cheek, ran her fingers through his thick hair, cupped the solid strength of his shoulder. Knowing his body by touch in the dark, she worked her way down, revisiting all her favorite places and the ones that made him moan.

  As their kiss deepened and heated, he stroked her body in a whole different way than when he’d massaged her. He was gentle with her breasts, knowing that pregnancy made them sensitive. His hand caressed her tummy so lovingly, she knew he was thinking of their baby growing inside her. Now, when his fingers again slipped between her legs, she was soaking wet for him.

  Usually, they made love with one of them on top, but tonight that would put a strain on her back. Wade must have realized that, because he slid down under the covers, kissing all the places his fingers had caressed.

  She raised her leg, an invitation for him to bury his face between her legs where she was slick and swollen.

  He settled his mouth at the entr
ance to her body and her thighs gripped him, encouraging him as he licked and sucked, teasing her toward climax.

  She lifted the covers. “Two can play that game, mister.”

  Quickly he shifted under the bedding until he’d reversed direction so his feet were at the head of the bed. His mouth, though, was in the very same place, the exact place she wanted it.

  In the warm, dark cave created by the sheet and duvet, their bodies adjusted to match each other, having done this so many times before. She smelled the enticing musk of mutual arousal, then closed her mouth on him, sucking him in.

  He moaned with pleasure.

  He’d long ago taught her exactly the way he liked to be touched. Exactly where and when to lick, how to pump her hand on his shaft, when to suck and slide.

  Once, after he’d been out drinking with some guy friends, he told her that the single ones said it must be boring always having sex with the same woman. He told her the guys were such losers; they didn’t get it. Perfect sex could never be boring. And that was what the two of them had together.

  Oh yes, perfect.

  Her thighs clenched, her breath caught. Wade knew exactly what she wanted, and gave it to her: that final firm suck of the taut bundle of nerves that controlled her pleasure.

  When she spasmed and shuddered against his mouth, he held her, gentled her through it.

  Her own mouth and hands had stopped their erotic play while she gave herself over to her climax, but when her body relaxed and her thighs released him, she got back to business.

  Chapter 7

  Rose hadn’t returned yet, and Wade guessed she was calling her husband to give him an update. Henry’d been at the hospital earlier, after dropping Jessie at school, but then had gone to work. This afternoon, he’d pick Jessie up from school and take her to his and Rose’s house, where Andie would baby-sit.

  Alone with Miriam, Wade leaned forward to kiss her forehead and murmur, “I love you, honey.”

  Her lashes fluttered and she smiled, but she didn’t open her eyes.

  She was in a world of her own, one where he couldn’t join her.

  He rested his head on the pillow beside hers. Just for a moment. Just to breathe her in, to feel the tickle of her hair against his cheek. He wished he could take off his clothes and slip into bed with her, to cradle her in his arms and keep her safe.

  She made a little “mmm” kind of sound.

  It reminded him of last night, when they’d been naked together in bed. He closed his eyes, remembering. So good . . . Making love with Miriam was always so good....

  And last night, man had it been special.

  In the dark world under the covers, Wade gave himself over totally to sensation. The world held only him, his wife, and their love. There wasn’t a single thing to worry about.

  With the taste of her climax sweet on his lips, her slender hand pumping his swollen shaft, and her warm, wicked tongue and lips licking and sucking him, pressure built quickly. He had no reason to hold back, so he didn’t, letting his own orgasm pour through him and into Miriam’s mouth.

  After, he could barely move. Exhausted and boneless, he somehow managed to drag himself back up the bed so his head was on his pillow. “Love you, honey,” he said. “Sleep well.”

  “Love you, too, sweetheart.” She yawned, then turned and wriggled herself into the curve of his body as he spooned her. “Morning’s going to come far too soon.”

  He kissed her shoulder, yawned widely, closed his eyes . . . and he was gone.

  How much later was it when he woke in the darkness, feeling the bed shift as Miriam climbed out? He didn’t bother checking the clock, just rolled over, ready to go back to sleep. When she was pregnant, she often had to pee in the middle of the night.

  A few minutes later, his wife’s voice called from the bathroom, bringing him to alertness. “Wade? Are you awake?”

  “Yeah. Are you okay?”

  “I . . .”

  That hesitation had him whipping back the covers and climbing out of bed. “Miriam?” He strode to the closed bathroom door. “Can I come in?”

  “Yes.”

  When he did, she was standing by the toilet, clad in flannel pajamas, one hand across her middle. Her face was white and she gestured wordlessly to the toilet.

  He looked inside and saw that the water had swirls of red. “Jesus, you’re bleeding!”

  “Spotting. It’s just spotting. I think.” But her eyes were huge and scared, and her voice was uncertain. With a gasp, she curved forward suddenly, hunching over the way she’d done when she was in labor with Jessica.

  He put his arm around her shoulders, steadying her. “Miriam, what’s going on? The baby’s acting up?”

  “I guess. It’s like cramps. Or c-contractions. Like when I went into labor. It’s probably normal, right?”

  “It didn’t happen when you were pregnant before.”

  “The doctor says each pregnancy’s different.” She straightened. “It’s eased off now. I have an appointment with Dr. Mathews in a couple of days. I’ll ask her.”

  Wade felt inexperienced and helpless. His wife was in pain. She was bleeding. He hated asking for help, always figuring he should handle things himself. But what did he know about pregnancy? “We should call her now.”

  “We can’t do that. It’s the middle of the night. It’s not an emergency.”

  How did they know whether it was? “I’m calling your mom.”

  Miriam put a restraining hand on his arm. “We shouldn’t wake her up.” But he could tell from her tone that she’d love her mother’s reassurance.

  “She won’t mind. It’s not negotiable, Miriam.”

  “Okay,” she said softly, sounding relieved.

  He helped her back to bed and got her settled, then yanked on his pajamas and dialed the phone. When her dad answered, sounding sleepy and worried, Wade said, “Miriam’s feeling a little under the weather. Could we talk to her mom? We have some pregnancy questions.” His mother-in-law had given birth to four kids, which to his mind made her an expert.

  When Rose came on the line, he passed the phone to his wife, who described the pains she’d been having. Miriam listened, then said, “If you’re sure, Mom. Yes, we’ll call you back.” She hung up and turned to him. “She says to call the doctor.”

  The number was programmed into their phone. When she made the call, Wade listened to her side of the conversation, gnawing on his bottom lip as he saw the worry on Miriam’s face. Wordlessly, she handed him the phone.

  “Wade,” Dr. Sonia Mathews said calmly, “as I told Miriam, it may be nothing at all, but I don’t think we should wait until morning to find out. Bring her to the hospital and I’ll meet you there.”

  “Sure. Of course. But you think it’s nothing?” He begged for reassurance.

  “We’ll hope. She’s healthy, and her last pregnancy had no complications, at least not until she was in labor.”

  That had been a little scary. They’d planned for natural childbirth, but Jessie’s umbilical cord had slipped into the birth canal. Dr. Mathews said it would be compressed during birth and cut off the oxygen supply, so she’d had to perform a C-section. But mom and baby had both come through beautifully.

  While he’d been talking to the doctor, Miriam had climbed out of bed again and was pulling warm clothes from the cupboard. After making sure she looked steady on her feet, he dialed her parents back. “The doctor says it could easily be nothing,” he told Rose, “but we’re going to the hospital. We’ll have to take Jessie with us, but—”