Short Rides (Rough Riders 14.5)

He chuckled. “That’s always your fault.”

“The girls are down?”

“Mmm-hmm. Sleeping like the precious angels they are—until devil child Katie screams like a banshee and wakes them both up.” Jack angled her head to the side and continued kissing her neck. “So we have a little time.”

“To do what?”

“To mark the special occasion by getting naked.”

“Oh? Are you talking about the all clear from the doc to resume sexual relations with my husband special occasion?”

“Not just that special occasion, smart mouth. Although that is a happy coincidence.” He nuzzled the back of her head, breathing in the lilac scent of her shampoo. “I started the fireplace in the living room. Poured two glasses of red wine. Turned on a CD of that sappy goat-yodeling music you love so much.”

“Geez, GQ. Did you roll out a bearskin rug too?”

“Damn. I knew I forgot something.” He tugged on her earlobe until she hissed. “Come on, cowgirl. Let me be romantic and seduce you instead of throwing you on the tile right here in the kitchen and banging your brains out.”

Keely faced him. Kissed him. Twined herself around him. “I prefer the hard bang after nine weeks and four days of no bang. But I’ll indulge you and let you make sweet, sweet love to me. Let me grab the condoms.”

Jack froze. “Condoms? Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“But…I hate condoms. We haven’t used them in years.”

She drilled her finger into his chest. “Suck it up. No glove, no love. I’m not kiddin’, Jack.”

“How about if I pull out?” he asked hopefully.

Keely growled at him. “Do you want to get laid tonight or not?”

“Fine. Condoms it is.”

Jack did an awesome job seducing her—if he did say so himself. Making her come twice before he got started on the main event. And yeah, it hadn’t been too bad wearing a condom after Keely had used her mouth to put it on.

They both were too far gone, too desperate to reconnect for slow and steady to last very long. Each hard thrust into Keely’s hot, wet cunt sent him closer to the edge. Her breathy moans in his ear. Each lift of her hips as she met him thrust for thrust. Then Jack was there, falling headlong into the hot wash of pleasure he only got from being body to body, skin to skin, heart to heart with the woman who owned him. The woman who loved him and gave him more joy in his life than he ever imagined possible.

After he’d regained his ability to think, and after he’d kissed Keely so thoroughly his c**k was on board for round two, he eased out of her.

That’s when Jack saw the condom had broken.

He must’ve worn a horrified look, because Keely pushed up on her elbows and said, “What’s wrong?”

“Uh. You did get that condom on all the way, right?”

“For cryin’ out loud, I know how to put on a…omigod the goddamned condom broke?”

“Apparently.”

Silence.

Then Keely got right in his face. “So help me God if you got me pregnant again Jack Donohue, I’ll—”

Jack gave her a smacking kiss on the mouth. “You’ll what? Stop having sex with me? Not likely. You won’t adore another baby like you adore the two beautiful babies we already have? Not likely.”

“You are a sweet-talkin’ man even after you got your pole polished? Wow. I’m one lucky broad.”

He grinned. “You have to admit we’ve got this baby-making thing down.”

“Well, practice does make perfect, and we’ve gotten in a lot of practice over the years.”

Jack touched the side of her face. “Would you be upset if…?”

“Your supersonic sperm reached the goal once again?” Keely shook her head. “We tried to do the responsible thing. If it happens, it happens.”

“So we can skip the condoms for round two?”

“Nice try, but not a chance in hell.” She tossed him another condom. “This one is all on you.” She kissed him and rested her forehead against his. “Happy anniversary, Jack.”

“Happy anniversary, Keely.”

Jack made love to her again. Slower. Sweeter. Wearing her out to the point she’d drifted off to sleep in his arms.

He didn’t panic when he saw they’d broken another condom. He’d tell her later. For now he let her sleep. Chances were very good she’d need extra sleep in the coming months.

Seven months later...

“Piper McKay Donohue, get down from there right now.”

“No!”

“I mean it. Get down.”

“No!”

A chuckle sounded beside her.

Keely looked at her father. “Daddy, this is not funny.”

“It surely is. Pipsqueak climbs everything like Cam did, but her defiant tone is all you, baby girl.”

Piper started jumping on the couch. Her red pigtails bounced. The bells on her sock jingled, which made her giggle. A devious giggle if Keely had ever heard one. She pushed herself to get out of the recliner.

“Huh-uh. Stay put,” her dad warned. “I’ll get her.” Grandpa scooped her up with one arm. “No jumpin’ on the furniture, okay, Pipsqueak?”

“K.” Piper squirmed to be let down. As soon as her feet hit the floor she made a beeline for the couch again.

Grandpa laughed and grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder amidst her happy shrieks. “You are gonna be some trouble little miss.” He walked over and deposited Piper on the floor. “Sit with your mama for a minute while I see what Gran-gran is doin’.”

Piper scrambled onto the end of the recliner between Keely’s knees and laid her head on Keely’s enormous belly. “Hi babies.”

Keely smoothed the damp ringlets from Piper’s forehead. It was doubtful almost two-year old Piper understood the concept of babies inside the gigantic bump, but she said hi to the babies at least ten times a day anyway.

It’d come as a shock to learn she carried twins, especially so soon after Katie’s birth. High blood pressure complications with this pregnancy meant she’d been on bed rest since the fifth month, which wasn’t too bad since she wanted to be home with Piper and Katie anyway. Her family had pitched in to keep her company after Jack insisted someone be with her at all times. He’d cut back on his work schedule, so he was home at least part of every day. But today he’d had to drive into Rapid City for a meeting that couldn’t be handled over the phone or via email.