Now that she was sitting up, she wasn't touching him anymore. He hated it.
“Don't worry about it,” he replied. He reached down and moved the poking piece of straw and scratched his nose. “It's past midnight and we've all had a busy day.”
“Anything with the mare yet?” she asked, looking around at the dark stall.
He shook his head. “Nothing yet.”
She stood up and stretched. He tried not to stare at the sliver of skin on her belly that showed when she raised her arms and curved her back. It brought back the thoughts of what her hair would look like on his pillow and he didn't want to take a cold shower right now. He stood up, trying to shake some feeling back into his legs.
“The kids are totally out,” she whispered, peeking over at them. “Alexander is snoring and Grayson is curled up against Lily.”
“They passed out about an hour ago,” he replied, focusing his gaze on the children and away from her. How was it that moonlight somehow made her more beautiful? Now, he was thinking of the moonlight on her hair on his pillow. He shook his leg, forcing himself to focus on the pins and needles sensation instead of thinking about her naked body glowing in the moonlight. It was a struggle.
“Is there anything to drink?” Mia asked, glancing around the barn. “I'm parched.”
“Other than the watering troughs?” Carter joked. She stuck out her tongue at him and he laughed. “There's a pot of coffee at the house. I'll come with you.”
She grinned at him and stretched once more, making his thoughts go back to moonlight and bare skin. It took all his willpower not to just push her up against the barn wall and kiss those perfect, smiling, red lips of hers. By the time he focused, she was already halfway out the door.
He grabbed the walkie-talkie and followed after her. He managed to only check out her ass a little as they walked in the moonlight. He was only human after all.
Chapter 14
Mia
The stars and crescent moon shone brightly against the dark sky as Mia walked through the dark to the house. Fall was definitely on its way. The night air was cold and crisp and she found herself wishing she'd worn her sweatshirt from the barn. The thin material of her shirt was not enough outside tonight. It wouldn't be long before the frost and snow arrived from the high country. She shivered.
And then, suddenly she was warm. Carter placed his flannel jacket over her shoulders. It was still warm with the heat of his body. She looked up at him surprised, but he just smiled at her and kept walking to the house.
She followed behind, pulling the collar around her. The jacket smelled like him. It smelled so good that she caught herself burying her nose in the fabric and taking a deep sniff in while he wasn't looking. She decided he was never getting his coat back now. It was warm and it smelled good. It was hers now.
Carter held the kitchen door to the main house open for her. Welcoming yellow light poured out into the darkness, beckoning her inside. The kitchen was not a traditional farm kitchen. It was a big, gourmet kitchen that belonged in a magazine, not a farm. Everything was made of clean lines and granite, with enough counter space to make three Thanksgiving meals and not run out of room.
Mia kept the jacket on, even though the room was comfortable and warm. She leaned against the counter by the sink as Carter picked up the stainless steel coffee pot and frowned. He shook it gently before peering inside.
“I'll make a fresh pot,” he said, setting the empty pot down. “Laura must have beat us here. Will you hand me the coffee? It's on the shelf behind you.”
Mia turned and opened the big glass cabinet door and grabbed a bag of coffee. Being in the kitchen with Carter felt so domestic and comfortable that she didn't even have to think as she handed the bag to him. Their hands touched.
She didn't let go of the bag, but neither did he. Their eyes met and she unconsciously licked her lips. He stepped toward her, coming into her space. Her breath was coming fast now, but it was full of excitement. They were toe to toe, with the hand with the coffee coming to rest on the counter beside her. His free hand went to her neck and his hips pressed into hers. The bag of coffee fell to the floor.
This time, there were no interruptions. There were no children to stop them at the last moment, no horses, no nothing. Just the two of them and that kiss.
His lips found hers and she melted into him. His hips pressed her into the counter and she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. He was strong and solid under her touch. His kiss enveloped her and heated her core more than coffee ever could. She moaned softly into him.
The sound of her desire inflamed him. He put his hands on her hips and lifted her up onto the counter so he could kiss her better. Her legs wrapped around his waist and he fit there like a puzzle piece with the counter supporting her ass. She shrugged the jacket from her shoulders, wishing they could just be naked now. Clothes were stupid. He kissed down her throat, nibbling at her like she was the most delicious thing he'd ever tasted.
His tongue and teeth on her delicate skin made her gasp and tighten her legs around him. She tried to think of a way that both of them could get their pants off without having to let go of him. His touch was driving her crazy.
She reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head. His muscles flexed in the kitchen light and she lost her ability to breathe. He was gorgeous. The comfortable shirts he wore hid muscles that belonged to a Greek god. She ran her fingers across his skin and tried to touch as much of him as possible.
It felt so good, she could barely believe this was happening. It had to be a dream. There was no way that she was making out with Carter in his kitchen with his shirt off.
He reached up under her long-sleeve t-shirt, his fingers going slowly up her stomach and pausing at the satin of her bra. A low, deep, and primal noise came out of his throat that made the space between her legs heat.
“Carter? Where are you?” The walkie-talkie crackled.
“Ignore it,” she whispered, tucking her chin to his shoulder and kissing the skin there. Good lord, he tasted amazing. His kiss, his skin, it all tasted like heaven and she wanted all of him.