The Virgin and the Beast (Stud Ranch 1)

It makes you horny as hell. I’m not even kidding. It hits somewhere around the second month of the second trimester. The morning/all day sickness is finally mostly gone and then boom. All I can think about all the time is getting Xavier naked.

“Oh my God,” Dad whispers. “You’re in love with him.”

I jerk my attention back to the small screen in my palm. He looks stunned and worried but I don’t look away. I just meet his gaze and nod. “I am, Dad, and he’s worth it. I wish you could meet him. He’s a good, honorable man.”

Dad swallows and rakes a hand through his hair that’s graying just at the edges. He’s gotten very tan over the past months and h

e looks more fit as well. Earlier he told me he does a lot of swimming and his diet consists of fish, much of which he catches himself, and lots of fresh vegetables. “I don’t know what to think, baby. I mean, there’s this man. And… horses?”

I feel my expression soften and I laugh. “I know. None of this is what I could have ever expected for myself either. But I’m happy. Please be happy for me, too, Dad.”

He hesitates, eyes still wary, but finally he nods.

My phone beeps and I see the battery sign flashing in the corner. “I’m about to run out of battery, Dad. Love you and talk to you soon.”

“You better,” he warns. “Love you, honey.”

“Love you, too.” I blow him a kiss and then hang up, slipping the phone back in my pocket.

God, I love that Dad and I are back in contact again and I know he’s not as worried about me anymore. Just another of the compromises Xavier’s been willing to make lately in order to see to my happiness.

I give a good, long stretch, loosening my lower back muscles, then get to grooming Hot Lips. It’s early evening and I like to give her a lot of attention these days. I feel bonded with her since she’s so big with her foal. I can only imagine how hot and uncomfortable she’s got to be, just a few weeks away from giving birth. She’s comfortable with me and I like to take her out to the side paddock to walk her in circles so she can get some low-impact exercise each day. Well, so both of us can. One of my compromises? I do very little strenuous work around here now.

“That feels good, doesn’t it, girl?” I ask after finishing with the curry comb. I’m about to reach for her hard brush when I see Xavier walk into the stable.

My mouth immediately goes dry. At the same time, my sex starts pulsing so hard between my legs I have to twist them together.

I mentioned the horny as hell thing, right?

He’s sweaty and he pulls his button up work-shirt off, revealing a sweat-drenched tank top underneath.

I remember the day he teased my clitoris with a soft grooming brush and all but moan where I stand.

We’ve had sex since the doctor told us it was safe. But with my wicked morning sickness that seemed to last forever, the occasions have still been too few and far between for my liking.

That’s it.

No more.

He’s sweaty, I’m wet, and like the horses, this is a lady who’s ready to be ridden hard.

I swing Hot Lips’s stall door closed, hang up her brush, and then stalk toward Xavier, unbuttoning my own shirt and flinging it to the ground in a move that’s probably over the top. By the widening of his eyes, though, I’d say I’m getting my point across.

I’m wearing a camisole underneath and I don’t hesitate in whipping it over my head as well. In almost the same motion, I unsnap my bra and then I’m standing before him in nothing but my Wranglers and boots.

My nipples quickly pebble to hard points under his gaze.

It’s when his gaze drops lower to my rounded stomach that his eyes really flare, though.

That’s a development as of a couple weeks ago. I was embarrassed at first but then kind of struck with awe. The peanut’s big enough that he’s starting to make my belly stick out. Okay, according to the baby site Xavier and I now check religiously each week, at five months, he or she is now the size of an eggplant. His or her brain function and hearing are developing this week, so the kiddo can start recognizing the sound of our voices.

Cue Xavier talking and singing non-stop to my stomach.

Which, yes, is freaking adorable. He has a really good singing voice, too. The things I’m learning about this man.

On my first day here, could I have ever imagined the scary hulk on his knees cradling my stomach to his lips and crooning Hozier and Decemberist lyrics to my belly? Uh… no.

Except right now, I’m hoping he’s not thinking about our sweet little eggplant.