One to Take (One to Hold 8)

“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.”