by Anya Summers
“Yes, you can, and we’ll figure it out as we proceed. I have every confidence in you. If you’re ready, let’s go across the hall,” he said and stood.
Carter picked Liam up. He always seemed to do that—hold Liam whenever he got the chance. It was one of the many things she loved about him. He really was already such a wonderful, attentive father.
The door to Liam’s nursery was directly across the hallway from Carter’s bedroom. They walked the short distance. Carter, his gaze steady on her, held the door open. She walked in and stood rooted to the spot. It was amazing.
“Carter. It’s wonderful,” she said.
He’d erected the crib and furniture. Put the mattress and bedding together in the crib. He’d added the mobile. She loved the little forest critters; the foxes, deer, and rabbits. So did Liam. She turned on the mobile and Liam grinned, a line of drool running down his chin.
“You like your room, my love? Your daddy did a wonderful job, didn’t he?” Jenna said. Carter had also brought in all the presents they’d received yesterday and had stacked things in the corner for her to wade through.
“You really like it?” Carter asked.
“I can’t believe you did all this while we took a nap,” she said, walking around the room, touching the dresser and changing table. He’d hung up the pictures and designs, and added shelving for Liam’s books. The chest they’d been given was open, with the pile of toys inside. Carter had thought of everything.
Yes, he’d done this for Liam, but it wasn’t lost on her that he’d partially done it for her as well.
“I might have had a little help. Spencer,” he admitted with a sly grin.
“He was here? I didn’t hear a word.” Which meant she’d been beyond exhausted.
Carter rolled his shoulders with a shrug like it was no big deal. Going on instinct, she went to him, leading with her heart and not her head for once. She slid a hand around his neck, leaned up on tiptoes, and kissed him with everything she was. He held Liam in one arm but his other slid around her waist, holding her close, and kissed her back with enough heat to singe the soles of her feet.
Then Liam squirmed, and she knew they needed to stop, but she adored kissing this man. Carter lifted his mouth, his gaze dark with hunger, his grip tight on her waist.
“I have one more thing I wanted to show you,” he said.
“Okay, lead the way,” she said, wondering what the man had up his sleeve. He led them back across the hall, but this time to his room. Other than during the tour of the house, she’d not ventured into his room. Strange, really, that she hadn’t crossed this threshold. Deep down, she knew it was her way of erecting a barrier between them.
His room was richly appointed, just as most of the rooms were, but utterly masculine in appearance. It reminded her of Carter. All the furniture in here was extra-large, from his custom made oak four-poster bed, to the leather bench and seating area with two leather recliners in a deep espresso color. She spied the open door to his bathroom and caught a glimpse inside.
Yet it was what he’d erected at the foot of his massive wooden bed that stalled her forward progression into his domain. It was another bassinette, with a reflux pillow inside.
“I’d like you and Liam to start joining me in here at night. Sleep in here with me,” Carter said, observing her reaction to his room.
“I don’t know. Do I have to decide tonight?” Her heart wanted him so much. It was her head that was the problem. She wished she wasn’t so conflicted.
“That wasn’t a request. As my sub, Jenna, this is where you belong, and you know it. Frankly, if I have to tie you to the bed to see it done, then I will,” he chewed out, his hazel eyes flashing with fury. The man would do it, too.
It was just a room. She knew that. But once she was in here, there would be a permanence there. Right now, she at least had a retreat. Except, then she saw it: a brief glimmer of pain in Carter’s gaze. It was gone in a blink, replaced by an uncompromising, furious Dom.
“Can we compromise?” she said, regretting the hurt she was causing. He didn’t deserve that.
Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair and asked, “What did you have in mind?”
“We rotate nights between your room and mine. I’m not trying to be difficult, but babies don’t like change. Something as simple as moving Liam over one room could make him cranky. I’m just asking that we ease into it,” Jenna said.
“Fine. But tonight, I want you in here. I’ve wanted you in my bed for nearly a year, and I’ll not wait any longer,” Carter said. His visage brooked no room for argument. How could she deny him that when he’d been so wonderful to her? And she was just the most wretched woman alive. She couldn’t deny him.
To soften and smooth the tension between them, she demurred and said, “Yes, Sir. Liam and I will sleep in here with you.”
Chapter 18
The next day, Carter showed Jenna the office she would be using at the stables. The interior room wasn’t large, only about ten feet by ten feet, with a desk, few shelves and computer, but she somehow looked right there.
Her office was part of a series of five. Carter’s was two doors away. He didn’t mind the separation. In fact, it was probably good that she wasn’t right next door. If they were going to be working together, distance would be crucial. He’d carted in file folders of receipts, invoices and payments that needed to be added into the system. He showed her the computer program the ranch used and then left her to sort through it. She’d brought Liam down with her. He could see that he would need to get some duplicates of things for Liam here at the stables so Jenna could work.
Eventually, she’d need a playpen and other supplies down here to make her life easier. That was part of his mission, to make her life better.
Dottie had delivered boxed lunches for everyone. He grabbed two, along with a couple of waters, and headed to Jenna’s office. He wasn’t certain what he would find. He knew his accounting was a mess so he was amazed to see Jenna sitting at the desk, a stack of files, neat and orderly, beside her.
“Do you realize you’ve been overpaying for extra feed for months?” she asked, not looking up from the computer. Her fingers were typing with speed.
“No, I didn’t.” He shook his head and had to hide his grin.
“Well, you have, by quite a bit in my estimate. I already contacted the feed store. They’ve agreed to take the amount off the next few billing statements.”
He’d always known she was whip smart intelligent. This just proved he’d been right to offer her the position.
“You figured that out in, what, two hours?” he said, a bit taken aback. He himself had stared at the pile of receipts with dawning horror and avoidance.
“Yeah. Numbers have always been my thing,” she said and shrugged one delicate shoulder. It made her tits jiggle and he nearly sawed off his tongue.
“Here, I have lunch. Why don’t you join me at the table and take a break?” He indicated the small table in the corner with two chairs.
“Well, if the boss says I must, I must,” she replied.
“Where’s Liam?” he asked, not seeing him anywhere.
“Dottie. She stopped by and said she’d watch him until three for me. I’d just fed him, so he should be fine with her for the time being,” she explained.
He gave her a sly grin and flipped the lock on her office door. Plans for their lunch had just changed.
“Carter? What are you doing?” Jenna asked, a blush spreading over her cheeks. The woman knew exactly what he was doing.
“Strip, and prop that pretty ass of yours over on the table,” he commanded.
She sat back in her chair and said, “Carter, we’re working. This is what I was worried about: that we would mix business with other things.”
“You’re officially off the clock for the next hour. So right now, you’re just my sub and I plan to fuck you. Clothes off, now. Don’t make me tell you again.”
He noticed her nipples had beaded b
eneath her top and felt his cock swell.
Jenna set down the file she’d been working on and hit a few buttons on the computer, likely saving her work. Then she stood and walked over to the table. He set their lunches on her desk. They’d get to the food eventually. Right now, he hungered for her.
He watched as she removed her bright yellow top. And then her cotton bra. Who knew that cotton could be sexy? He knew she wore it because it was easier for her to nurse their son, but he’d never look at cotton deridingly again. The heavy globes of her boobs made his mouth water. He’d always loved her tits, but now she was nursing their son they were exceptional.
Then she slid her jeans down her lithe, toned legs. Her black lace panties followed the same path.
Carter closed the distance between them. Lifting her up by the waist, he deposited her on the table. Gripping the back of her head, tilting her face up to his, he claimed her lips in a demanding, torrid exchange. She’d caved and slept in his room last night. Liam had done perfectly fine with the change of scenery. It was Jenna who’d had a hard time.
He wanted to prove to her that they were meant to be. Imprint himself so deeply on her heart and soul that she wouldn’t ever think of leaving. He wasn’t a man who was fanciful or who believed in fairy tales, but he knew deep in his gut that if soulmates were real, Jenna was his. Then his free hand trailed between her thighs and he found her drenched.
“Christ, Jenna. I can’t wait. I need to be inside you now,” he said, freeing his turgid shaft as he pressed her upper torso down to lie back against the table. At his words, she mewled in the back of her throat.
He rubbed his cock through her folds and hissed at the silky smooth feel of her flesh. He pressed forward, furrowing his dick inside her quivering heat until he sank inside and was balls deep.
“Cup your tits for me, darlin’,” he commanded.
She did as he asked, gripping the large, pillowy glands. He positioned her legs so that her calves rested on each of his shoulders. He gripped her thighs as he moved, pumping his cock in short brutal digs. He pumped hard. The table vibrated beneath her with his movements. He watched the play of emotions cross her face as he fucked her, loving the way her tits jiggled.
Christ, she was beautiful. Open and erotic, and her pussy fit him like a fucking glove. He loved the little mewls she made. The way her sheath clenched around his cock and tried to pull him deeper as he penetrated her.
Her blue eyes were half-closed in her passion, her face a mask of pure, unadulterated desire. He changed the angle and leaned forward, penetrating her more deeply.
“Carter?”
“Come, Jenna. Come for me now.”
Her eyes went wide as she came. Her body trembled and quaked in his arms. He growled as he unleashed his passion, fucking her with a frenzy and a mind for reaching his own blistering climax. Her pussy spasmed around him a second time and took him over the edge.
“Jenna,” he bellowed as he came, thrusting wildly into her sweet cunt.
He rocked inside her until every drop of semen and every shudder had stopped. Carter kissed her, telling her with more than words that he loved her. He knew he needed to tell her his feelings, but he worried that they wouldn’t be returned.
Yet the way she kissed him back and clung to him gave him hope.
Chapter 19
Jenna settled into a rhythm that week with her new schedule. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, she would spend a few hours in what was now her office to work on the accounts for the ranch. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, she did her online coursework. Meghan came out to the ranch to watch Liam on those days.
Carter was taking full advantage of having her work in such close proximity.
It was Friday, and it had been a full week. She was tired, not from Liam keeping her up, but from working. Jenna felt good, really, startlingly good for the first time in ages. Liam had slept an entire five hour stretch last night, which meant she’d gotten one heck of a lot more sleep than she had gotten in months. She was working again. And it felt so good to be useful, to know that she was drawing a salary and income. That she wasn’t dependent on anyone.
It was late Friday afternoon and she had a question about one of the accounts before she could head home. She went searching for Carter. Every day she watched him work in the stables with the horses, she was amazed by him. The man worked incredibly hard. She’d known cerebrally that running a ranch, especially one as big as his, would take a lot of time and energy. But until she’d started doing the books, she’d had no idea how intricate his work was, nor how much he was in the thick of it, day in and day out.
Jenna had a newfound respect for the man. And she had to admit, the more time she spent with him, the deeper in love she fell. He hadn’t pushed her on consolidating their bedrooms, but she knew she was the holdout.
It was fear. Plain and simple.
But when you’d lived the entire past twenty years of your existence with the other shoe dropping, it was difficult not to expect the same thing in this situation. And perhaps if she wasn’t so in love with Carter she could hardly see straight, it wouldn’t matter. But it felt like there was this huge, enormous elephant in the room. That eventually bad luck would catch up with her and take away all the joy and happiness Carter brought to her life.
She felt complete with him.
He wasn’t in his office, which meant he could be anywhere. Both Kyle and Herb were at lunch. This week they’d hired two new hands, Joe MacIntosh and Dave Boyd, to work with the horses. They were both presently out in the fields checking on the mares since they’d caught a teensy break in the oppressive heat.
Carter emerged from one of the stalls.
“Hey there, darlin’, aren’t you a sight?” His enigmatic gaze raked over her.
She blushed. She couldn’t help it when he went all soft and countrified. Clearing her throat, she said, “I have a question about one of the accounts when you get a minute.”
“I have a minute. But I don’t want to talk business. Not after finally seeing you in a proper pair of boots. Come with me.” He gripped her hand and tugged her along behind him.
“Where are we going?” She asked.
Carter pulled her into a nearby stall that was currently unoccupied, then pressed her back up against the wall and kissed her. This wasn’t a tepid peck either, but a full on kiss that made her brainless in less than five seconds. Whatever she was going to ask him about the accounts fled with every thrust of his tongue inside her mouth.
Carter’s fingers undid her jeans and then his hand slid under her panties to stroke her folds. She moaned into his mouth.
“Hush,” he ordered against her lips.
Then he plunged two fingers inside her channel and she was lost. She rocked into his hand as he plunged his fingers. He wasn’t shy but finger-fucked her brutally. The force, the hard thrusts, rocketed her body to a startling, intense orgasm that left her whimpering into his mouth.
Then he removed his hand and pulled her to the ground. He positioned her on all fours, then drew her jeans and panties down to her knees. It trapped her, she couldn’t spread her legs wide at all. But Carter seemed unconcerned.
At the sound of his zipper lowering she almost purred. She couldn’t believe how hot this man made her. Every time, her desire for him increased. And then his thick cock was pushing inside her pussy. The way her legs were positioned made her channel tighter. With his girth, it felt amazing, and her eyes slid closed as they rolled back in her head. He gripped her hips, his fingers bruising as they dug in and he established a punishing fast, hard pace.
Carter pounded his cock inside her. When she couldn’t contain her moans, he slid a palm over her mouth and silenced her. This wasn’t a gentle meandering tempo but a race to the damn finish line. He was fucking her senseless and she loved it. Loved him. Couldn’t say no to him.
She came, wailing into his palm. Tremors wracked her frame at the explosive force of her orgasm. Carter hissed, stiffening as he plun
ged. Then hot streams of semen filled her pussy, sending another ripple of spasms through her body.
He lay against her back as he held her for a few minutes while their heart rates returned to normal. Jenna wanted to slide into a heap on the floor of the stall and not move.
But Carter withdrew his softening shaft and moved away. Then he helped her back onto her feet, and they both readjusted their clothing before he said, “You had something you needed with the accounts?”
“Yeah, if you will follow me to my office. There’s an account that I don’t know what it’s for,” she said.
Carter nodded as they left the stall and walked toward the bank of offices.
“Probably the new one I set up for Liam,” he commented near her door.
Already in her office, she turned and said, “What? Carter—”
“If you’re going to reprimand me, just realize I will pay you back in kind when we are alone and redden that ass of yours,” he warned her with a stern glance.
Had she been that horrible a shrew when he was just being kind and considerate, wanting to take care of Liam? Probably. Proof positive that sleep deprivation and inactivity were bad bedfellows for her. Instead of berating him, she walked over to him, slid her arms around his waist and hugged him.
“Thank you, Carter. Liam is lucky to have you as his father,” she murmured into his chest.
For a moment, he stood stock still before he enfolded her in his arms. He kissed her forehead and said, “Thank you for that.”
Chapter 20
Carter startled awake. He’d gone to bed alone tonight. After finding Jenna and Liam asleep already, he’d given her a reprieve, not wanting to wake her. He could see the weariness in her gaze every day. Taking care of their son, the midnight hours she was up caring for him, were draining her. So he’d chosen not to disturb her, to give her the night to herself.
