Point of Contention (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (13 page)

and intent. She stopped to wonder if Stuart accepted she could do it.

“I’d love to be a fly on the wall for that,” he said, laughing openly.

She watched him intently and shook her head. “You have a

wonderful smile, Stuart. It’s a shame you don’t use it more often. Or

is it only me that you stiffen around?”

“Stiffen is an appropriate choice of word, Kay.” His look dared

her to top him. Stuart watched her carefully.

Waiting to see where she took his statement, Kay decided his

expression was one of silent agony. “At least we know I can,” she told

him. With a half laugh, she started to move past him. “I’m too old for

games, Stuart. I’ve turned into a selfish woman. I want what I want

when I want it without complications.”

“I’m too old, too,” he whispered and surprised her by pulling her

against his body and dropping his mouth over hers, his lips warm

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against hers. He tasted her rather than plundered into her mouth as

she’d braced for. Anger she could deal with. Tenderness she wasn’t

ready for.

His kiss continued, with the tip of his tongue sampling her lips

until he finally let the tip of it skim between hers, meeting her tongue in a tempting dance of passion. Kay opened to him and let her hands

glide up his chest, resting on his shoulders as he pulled her closer to

him. His excitement was evident against her, hot and bulging. She felt

a warmth flow through her she hadn’t felt in a long time. It was

different from how she’d felt with Travis, but it was still the same

sexual tension building inside her that had a small groan escape from

her throat.

Her hands reached to fist in the back of his hair, pulling him

closer to her, flattening her breasts against his chest. Stuart pulled

back to look at her and, with a mumbled curse, went back a second

time. Prepared for him, Kay took the kiss she wanted, the kiss she’d

been thinking about when she was alone with her thoughts. His groan

told her she was doing something right, and she felt him shift her over

his erection, his hands moving her hips to stroke them both.

Kay decided Stuart had lost his mind and didn’t care. He would

feel the heat from her body slip to him as he used her to stroke against himself. In a moment of tense clarity, he pulled back from her a

second time, his head dropping on top of hers, holding her against

him still, but gasping for air and control.

“Damn it, Kay,” he whispered, his hands moving her head to look

at him. “Now do you understand why I keep my distance? I have no

control around you,” he said, just before his lips took hers in another

round of erotic foreplay. When he pulled back this time, his hands

thrust her from his body. She almost stumbled from his actions, his

hands steadying her before he let go. “Kay…”

“Let it go, Stuart,” she said, forcing herself to move a step farther

away. “I’ll try to stay out of your way from now on,” was barely a

whisper, and she quickly moved away, uncomfortable with the

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arousal he flamed within her. From a safe distance, she turned and

watched him for a moment, his fingers crushing the wire fencing

beneath them.

* * * *

Kay knocked loudly on Stuart’s door, her hand automatically

twisting the knob as she did. While her knock was loud, she tried to

keep her voice down. “Stuart, wake up, Stuart…” The knob moved in

her hand, and she didn’t hesitate to push the door open.

In the dark she saw his shadow in the bedroom doorway, his

sheets twisted and one pillow lying on the floor. She didn’t stop her

eyes from taking a long, appraising look at his bare chest, following

the line of swirling black hairs that led her gaze lower, noting that

he’d pulled on his jeans and zipped them but hadn’t buttoned them

yet. For three seconds, Kay forgot what was so important she’d

barged into his apartment.

“Kay, what’s wrong?” Stuart froze as she looked at him, letting

her have her look. His hand ran through the top of his hair, pulling it

from his eyes. “Kay?” He was awake. She had to pull back a small

smile after realizing she was staring at his nude chest.

He took a step toward her. Stuart’s expression was blank. He

didn’t know what to think. Was something wrong, or was her visit

meant to go in another direction? He watched as she visibly shook

herself from the blank stare and flashed to his face. Thankful there

was no light on, she’d have waged even odds that she’d blushed when

she realized she was checking him out.

“It’s Chloe,” she told him and backed from his private space,

leaving without another word.

* * * *

Pulling on his boots and grabbing a work shirt from the drawer, he

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was downstairs quickly, but he knew she’d run back to the barn. Even

with an almost full moon, he couldn’t see her in the distance. Stuart

let himself have his self-serving smile as he cursed himself for

thinking she’d come to him for…him. By the time he reached the barn

he knew she was there, her voice in the distance soothing Chloe.

“It’s going to be okay, girl,” he heard and knew she’d be petting

the animal. His animal started to stand at attention, and he shifted his cock in his jeans before walking to the last stall he’d moved the

pregnant dog to a couple of day ago. He’d wanted her to be warm and

safe and away from the rest of the dogs when she gave birth. And it

seemed she was in the throes of doing just that. Leaning on the stall

door, he took in the sight.

Kadence sat in the far corner on the bed of straw beside Chloe.

Her hand gently stroked the dog’s head, her soft words continuing.

“That’s a girl, just breathe, Chloe.”

Stuart shook his head and moved closer to them. With Chloe on

her side, panting heavily, he saw she was ready to deliver. He knew

there was nothing he could or should really do for her at the moment.

He’d let nature take its course and hope for the best. Kneeling before

her, he too started to talk to the dog.

“Okay, Chloe, you played, now you’re gonna pay, girl.” Kay shot

him a look that a lesser man would have shied away from. “What?”

he asked. “Technically, I’m correct.”

“You make it sound like she had a choice to use birth control and

didn’t.”

Stuart shook his head, laughing at her. She started to tense, and

Chloe turned her head, feeling the difference in her attentions. “Sorry, girl,” she crooned. “Men. What do they know?” She continued staring

at the dog. “If this one knew what was good for him…” Kay paused

then he turned away.

* * * *

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Stuart walked away and turned on a few of the overhead lights.

For the next two hours he and Kadence sat beside the dog as she

delivered and cleaned her pups. Not until all seven were nestled

against a nipple did Kay finally rise from her spot, stretching to her

full height, her hands going to her aching back, after praising Chloe.

“You’re a good coach,” Stuart told Kay.

“Thanks, but Chloe did all the work. I just cheered her on a little.”

She smiled at Stuart, her eyes heavy. “She was probably wishing we’d

leave her alone.”

Stuart reached up and pulled several strands of hay from her

shoulder. “What do you wish, Kay?” He was close, too close, and he

was too tired and too emotionally wound up to deal with her. He

knew if he touched her now, she’d most likely melt into his arms and

push him for the completion they’d ignited within each other.

“Stuart, this isn’t the time for word games. I’m tired and

overemotional after watching the births—just let me go.”

His finger traced the line of her chin, and she angled against his

touch, her eyes closing. Stuart took her by the upper arms and gently

pushed her back against the barn wall, his eyes intent on her. His lips

barely grazed hers, and he suddenly pulled back.

“Go to bed, Kay.”

Her eyes flew open, and she saw a strange look on his face.

“Stuart?”

“Kadence, leave now, or I won’t be held responsible.” His voice

quaked when he said “responsible.” Slowly, she slid to the side and

away from him, but she hesitated.

“I wanted to check on the dogs one last time.” She looked as if

she’d just come from his bed, and he wanted it to be true.

Stuart’s words were almost growled at her. “Kay, go to bed, damn

it.”

She stiffened at his tone, all but running as she turned and left.

* * * *

Louisa Neil

After a shower, she dropped onto the bed thinking about the hours

they’d sat with the dog while she gave birth. It was a lesson in

restraint for her. Too many times did she want to reach toward him, to

touch him, and didn’t. Stuart had stretched out on his side, an arm’s length from the dog and her. He, too, soothed the dog, his large hand

checking her belly occasionally. The action had hit her on a core level

she hadn’t known she possessed. In that very instant, Kay wanted to

know what it would feel like to have his child growing inside her, to

feel his hand protectively warm them both. Sleep didn’t come, only

frustration she wasn’t able to conquer. By four, she was up and

dressed and had dough rising, the smell of coffee wafting through the

whole kitchen.

* * * *

Stuart had showered and dressed and gone to his office. He didn’t

attempt to do any work. Instead, he dropped on his couch after forcing

Harley to relinquish it, and couldn’t believe he’d sent her away, again.

Only knowing she’d been right when she said they were tired and

emotional had he managed to find the restraint to hold himself back.

What he wanted to do was drop her on a fresh pile of hay and show

her what he wished for, prove to her that he could satisfy her and

hopefully prove to himself that he could still live without her

afterward. Only that small degree of doubt allowed him to keep a

clear head. Once he and Kay were together, Stuart knew letting her go

wouldn’t be easy. Beyond the fact that she was his employee, he

didn’t want her to go away.

The situation annoyed him. He wanted her close, but knew he

couldn’t touch her. He wanted to touch her, but knew once he did

she’d never leave his mind again. It was difficult enough in these last

months to stay sane with her around. Stuart knew himself enough to

know she’d be imprinted on his soul once they were intimate together.

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He let out a cynical laugh, realizing he was now thinking
when

instead of
if
. Closing his eyes, he pictured her lying beside the dog, her thin T-shirt not covering her braless state.

She’d mentioned that she woke from a strange dream and went to

check on the dog. That was when she’d gone to get him. While she’d

pulled on jeans, he noticed she didn’t wear any socks, her sneakers

were untied, and her hair was loose around her shoulders, only finger

combed. Her rumpled, sleep-heavy eyes dared him to reach out and

stroke her breast, dared him to make her nipple come alive under his

touch.

Stuart had found himself wetting his lips, and he’d forced himself

off the stall floor. He’d rummaged around to give himself time to

subside and came back with several old horse blankets to cushion

where Kay lay. She accepted them gratefully and dropped beside the

dog quickly.

* * * *

The smell of coffee brewing drew him to the kitchen. He knew it

would be Kay. Taking a deep breath, he moved quietly into the space,

only to find it empty. Filling a mug from the half-empty pot, he

walked to the back door and looked out. On the top step sat Kay,

cradling a mug between her hands. She was dressed for work in jeans

and a white cook’s jacket. Her hair was braided down her back. Only

the occasional movement of her shoulder let him realize she was

crying. As soon as he opened the door toward him, she spun around.

When their eyes met, she looked away, using the back of her hand to

wipe her cheeks. Stuart moved behind her after pulling several sheets

of paper towel from a roll nearby.

“Here,” he whispered and dropped the toweling into her lap. He

stood against the doorframe while she blotted and dried.

“Thanks.” She didn’t turn around to look at him.

“Are you okay?”

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“Yes, just tired and on puppy overload, the whole miracle thing.

Relax, Stuart, I’m not pining for my own children just yet.” Finally

she turned and winked at him. “I still have a few conquests to

explore.”

“Oh, now I’m a conquest?”

“In a manner of speaking. But don’t get all shorted up about it. I

know my preferences might not be the same as yours.”

Stuart felt his cheeks heat with embarrassment as his cock stirred

under his jeans, pulling the material tight, his bulge obvious. Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. “I’m going to walk over to check