Chapter Forty-One
brEANNA
SOFT KISSES on my shoulder pull me from sleep. The warmth of his body against my back, his arm around me holding me close to him, his scent wrapped around me, and his hard cock pressed against my lower back send a rush of arousal to my core and I smile before my eyes are open.
I suck in a deep breath as I turn my face into my pillow and arch my back to stretch. A low groan rattles in his chest from my ass pressing onto him, and his arm tightens around me.
His lips move across my shoulder and stop under my ear. “Good morning, nudo.”
Linking my fingers through his, I hug his hand to my chest as I keep my ass pressed against him. “Good morning.”
He nips my earlobe with his teeth and sucks it through his lips, sending a shiver down my spine. “Have I told you how much you mean to me?”
Another smile pulls at my lips. “Not today.”
In my next breath, I’m on my back in some kind of MMA ninja move, and his hips are settling between my legs while his very hard length is pressed against my slit. He pushes my hands over my head, his elbows planted on each side of me, linking his fingers through mine.
I smile and playfully rotate my hips against him. “Nice moves.”
His smile is smug as he teases me by moving his hips. “I have others.”
Sliding my feet up the bed on each side of his legs, I wrap my legs around him and grin. “Good ones?”
Dropping his head, he kisses my jaw in slow, lazy pecks as he whispers, “Guaranteed to make you come.”
Tipping my head back on the pillow, I bare my neck to him as heat spreads over my skin. My arousal is slick on his hard shaft and my breaths are faster. “Cocky. Pun intended.”
He chuckles in my ear, and his chest vibrates against mine. When he nips the skin under my ear, a small gasp slips from my lips. Pushing my hips against him, I keep the friction on my clit and squeeze his fingers between mine.
“Mato?”
Lifting his head, he brings his lips back to mine. “Mm-hm.”
Molten heat is building in my center, and all I want is to feel him inside me. “Stop teasing me,” I almost whine into his mouth.
He squeezes my fingers this time as he tilts his hips and slides into my soaked heat. We both moan, the kiss suspended, our lips still touching, and he moves slowly in me.
Keeping the pace unhurried and focusing on me, his kisses soft and lazy, he’s pushing me closer to the edge with each languid thrust. Just when I think I can’t take it anymore, he breaks the kiss and locks his eyes on mine, the rocking of his hips increasing to hit my g-spot harder with each thrust.
My grip on his fingers tightens the closer I get, my walls squeezing as he sends me higher and higher, threatening to pull me apart.
“Yes,” I whisper and arch my back and I suck in a breath as I peek; the sharp explosion inside of me pulses around him.
A sheen of sweat is glistening on his skin, his brown eyes watching my every reaction as he holds back and rides my orgasm out before the vein on his forehead pops and a growl vibrates in his chest. Warmth spreads inside me and he pumps into me a few more times before touching his forehead to mine.
His breath is hot on my chin. “I love you, nudo.”
Tilting my head, I kiss him softly. “I love you, too.”
It’s Sunday and I need to go into the hospital for the day, and when I told Koda I was bringing him with me to help with the puppies, Nova asked if she could come too. I don’t know how I’m going to get any work done with two kids running around, but I’m going to give it my best shot.
My round keyring clacks against the metal door to the stables as I twist one in the deadbolt to unlock it.
Behind me, Koda and Nova are zig-zagging and giggling in the breezeway, playing a game of tag.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard them laugh that much, and I turn the key slower so I can listen longer.
Inside are the usual sounds of whinnies and foot stomps, the soft lowing of a cow, and the whining of puppies. Nova starts to run to the stall in the back where I keep them, but Koda grabs her arm. “You can’t run in here, you’ll scare the horses.”
I think seeing Marley’s horse almost kick me that day, and being the reason for it, startled him enough to make an impression on him.
Nova stops and fists her hands together under her chin like she’s in trouble, and her head swings in my direction. Taking off my gloves, I drop my keys and the after-hours phone on the metal table full of medical supplies and walk to her.
Lowering to my knees in front of her, I take her little fists, which are white around the knuckles, and playfully peck each one with a smile to relax her enough to curl her fingers around mine. “You’re not in trouble, baby.”
The fear drains from her face, but she tips her head forward, guilt in her brown eyes. “I’m sorry.”
I hate that she’s had the kind of life that makes her worry about getting in trouble for running.
It’s also partly my fault because I didn’t tell her before we came in here.
“It’s okay, you didn’t know. What Koda meant to say was that all the animals in here are sick and some are cranky because they don’t feel good, so when we are in this room, we stay calm and quiet to help make them feel better. Okay?”
Her big brown eyes could melt even the hardest person. A small smile pulls her lips, and she says, “Okay.”
“You want to see some puppies?”
Her head bobs quickly, and we walk to the stall that Koda is already in, sitting cross-legged on the ground while round-bellied puppies crawl over him.
Nova sucks in an excited breath and runs through the metal gate that Koda left open to sit across from him. It takes seconds for puppies to start competing for her attention in her lap.
I lean against the gate and listen to the giggles and squeals that make my heart sing. It’s only been a month since they barreled into my life, but now I can’t imagine not having them.
“You know, we’ve already got inquiries about when they’ll be ready to re-home.”
Koda’s head jerks in my direction. “All of them?”
He’s been hinting that he wants one of them, and after talking about it with Mato, we decided to let them have one. A good ranch dog is a useful commodity, so almost all the puppies are spoken for.
“Weeeell.” I smile at him. Nova is looking between us, trying to understand why Koda’s mood suddenly changed. “Except for one.” I point at the runt of the litter, a little girl. “No one has claimed her yet.”
Koda watches me as I point, his gaze cautious as he tries to read if I’m telling him he can have a puppy. He picks her up and holds her to his chest, his small hands wrapped protectively around her squirming body. “Can I have her?”
I nod. “Yes, you can have her.” I hold my finger up. “But, owning an animal is a full-time job, not just when you feel like it.”
His head is bobbing as I talk.
“You have to make sure she has food and water, and you have to train her. I won’t have a dog running around wild because you don’t want to take the time to teach her.”
Head still bobbing, his eyebrows are in his hairline. “I will. I’ll take care of her.”
“I want to help.” Nova’s small voice interjects into the conversation.
Over the past month, I’ve watched Koda go from Nova’s protector to slipping into the more appropriate brother role. He’s stopped watching her so closely and started acting more like a curious little boy.
The puppy is licking under his chin, and when he looks down at her, she licks his lips, which makes him giggle and turn his head. “You can help, Nova.”
“Do you have any names in mind?”
“Biscuit,” Nova blurts.
Koda is still letting the little ball of fur lick his chin, an adorable smile on his face.
Lifting my eyebrows, I say, “Biscuit sounds nice.”
“Biscuit.” Koda mumbles the name like he’s trying it out. Then, in a high pitch voice like he’s talking to a baby, he says, “Hey, Biscuit.”
The puppy licks him even faster, her little tail whipping back and forth. “Yeah. Biscuit.”