Ryan surged upward and let out a cry as he came. A few seconds later, her orgasm followed.
He caught her as she slumped forward. Gently, he eased her to his side, curling his arms around her as he held her close. They both heaved for breath as their hearts beat erratically in the aftermath.
He kissed her hair, stroking a hand down her back as she shuddered with aftershocks.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked against her ear.
She shook her head and nuzzled closer to him.
“Adam and Ethan are going to kick my ass over this,” he said wryly.
She smiled and pulled away to look at him. “No, they won’t. I don’t plan on giving them the opportunity.”
“Uh oh.”
“Don’t you worry about your brothers,” she said. “I have plans for them.”
Chapter Two
Holly didn’t miss the suspicious stares of Adam and Ethan when she reappeared in the kitchen at lunchtime. The questioning glances turned to scowls when Ryan strode in behind her, a satisfied smile curving his lips.
They continued to frown at him for the entire meal until finally Ryan excused himself, mumbling something about checking the horses. Holly smiled and looked down so the others wouldn’t see her reaction.
“I’m going to go take a shower,” Ethan muttered as he put away his plate.
Adam continued to pick at his food, staring over at Holly every once in a while. She waited until Ethan had been gone for a few minutes before casually putting away her own plate.
She avoided Adam’s stare and headed toward the bathroom.
The mirrors weren’t fogged when she slipped in. The sound of the shower echoed in the large bathroom, and she could feel the chill from the spray clear across the room. She suppressed a chuckle. A cold shower wouldn’t do Ethan any good once he stepped out and found her naked and waiting.
She shimmied out of her clothing and tossed the pants and shirt aside. The water turned off then Ethan stepped out of the shower, reaching for a towel on the rack. He still hadn’t seen her, and she capitalized on the surprise angle.
Noiselessly, she closed the distance between them and reached her hand out to caress his ass. He tensed as her arm snaked around his hips, dipping to his groin.
His c**k swelled in her hand, and she smiled.
He groaned softly. “You’re not playing fair, doll.”
She pressed a kiss to the center of his back, nibbling a path up his spine. “Neither are you.”
He shuddered against her lips then turned around to face her, holding the towel over his groin. He cupped her face with one hand and bent to kiss her. She knew it for what it was. A brush-off.
To hell with that.
She yanked the towel away and cupped his erection in her hands, boldly sliding her fingers over the length.
She leveled a stern look at him. “I’ll give you the same two choices I offered Ryan. You can give in like a good boy or suffer the wrath of a hormonal pregnant woman.”
He sucked in his breath and held it then let it out with a curse. “I knew that ass**le caved.”
She grinned wickedly. “Just like you’re going to.”
He arched an eyebrow then his expression softened. “Doll, I don’t want to hurt you or our baby. You’re tired. Worn out. No way I’m placing more demands on you. I can wait.”
She rose up on tiptoe and kissed him. “But I can’t.”
He stared down at her, indecision wrinkling his brow. Then she went for the kill.
“Please.”
He closed his eyes, and she knew she’d won. Manipulative? Probably. But she wasn’t going to waste time feeling guilty when the three of them were harboring misplaced fears about hurting her.
He pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply. She moaned as she melted into his body. She needed this. Wanted it. Craved it.
“I’m not f**king you on the bathroom counter again,” he muttered as he gently picked her up.
She giggled as he carried her into the bedroom.
***
Holly stepped outside the kitchen door and closed her eyes as the breeze blew over her. She felt invigorated. The fatigue that had hung so heavy over her in the last weeks had dissipated and in its stead, a refreshed energy had taken hold. She felt lighter, freer, and she’d slept wonderfully the past two nights after she’d waylaid Ryan and Ethan.
Adam…well, he was another story. He’d avoided her for the last two days. If she wasn’t so certain as to why, it would have hurt her feelings, but she knew why he was running. But he couldn’t hide from her forever.
She found him in the barn mucking one of the stalls. She stood watching him, his shirt off, muscles bulging as he worked.
After a few moments, he turned around as if sensing her presence. Concern creased his brow and he walked over to where she stood.
“Baby, is everything okay?”
She smiled and nodded.
He frowned. “You shouldn’t be out here. You should be inside resting.”
There was more emphasis on the resting part. He was almost accusatory in his tone since he knew damn well she’d made love to Ryan and Ethan.
“I wanted some fresh air, and honestly, Adam, you worry way too much. I’m fine. I feel great.”
He tugged her into his arms and held her there for a long moment. His heart beat against her cheek and she nuzzled further into his embrace.
She slid one hand down to cup the denim-covered bulge between his legs. He backed away in a hurry, separating himself from her.
His green eyes flashed. “Just because you’ve got those two knuckleheads wrapped around your little finger doesn’t mean you’re going to get anywhere with me.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Are you saying I don’t have you wrapped around my finger?”
He scowled at her. “You know damn well I’d give you the moon if you asked.”
“Then make love to me,” she said softly. “I don’t want the moon. I want you.”
He sighed and shook his head. “Baby, I can’t. Don’t ask me this. Please. I—I can’t hold back. I’ll hurt you and that would kill me. You know me. I’m rough. I’m demanding. It’s better if we wait until after the baby’s born.”
“Bullshit.”
His head reared in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“Bullshit,” she repeated. She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot in irritation. “That’s such a load of BS and you know it. You’d never hurt me. You’ve never once done anything I wasn’t begging for.”
He looked at her in open-mouthed shock.
She turned abruptly with an aggravated huff and stomped out of the barn. Infuriating man. One would think she’d asked him to donate a kidney, though he probably would have agreed to that. But ask him for sex? And the world came crashing to an end. Weren’t men supposed to live, breathe and dream about sex twenty-four hours a day? Clearly no one had shared that little tidbit of information with Adam.
***
She was still in a fit of temper—and exasperation—thirty minutes later as she stomped around the kitchen, abusing the dishes. She still couldn’t cook worth a darn, but at least she’d mastered the cleaning aspect.
She was attacking the sink with a Brillo pad when warm arms wrapped around her and a mouth nuzzled her neck.
“Adam not cooperating with your mad seduction scheme?” Ryan murmured against her ear.
She sighed and leaned back into his arms. “He’s a rigid pain in my ass,” she grumbled. “And as far as I’m concerned, he can sleep on the couch tonight.”
Ryan chuckled and turned her around in his arms. “Cut him some slack. You know how he is when he gets an idea in his head.”
“It’s a stupid idea.”
Ryan pulled her against him and rested his chin on her head. “He’s not easy. He’s never been easy. But this is as hard on him as it is on you. He’s like a bear with a thorn in his paw.”
Holly pulled away and stared up at Ryan. “But he doesn’t have to be! That’s what irritates me to no end. He’s being all self-sacrificing and for what? He’s not happy, I’m not happy.”
“Would a foot rub make you happy?”
She stopped her rant. “Foot rub?”
He grinned. “If you come in the living room, I’ll give you the best foot massage you’ve ever had.”
She grabbed his hand and tugged him across the kitchen. He followed along, laughing.
Chapter Three
He was being the worst sort of ass. Adam stood in the doorway of the living room staring at the rest of his family. A family that, for the most part, he’d avoided for the last three days.
Holly lay on the couch, her head in Ethan’s lap and her legs stretched across Ryan. Ethan idly stroked his fingers through her hair as he watched the movie playing on the television. Ryan was rubbing Holly’s feet, and she was sound asleep.
He missed touching her, feeling her in his arms. Whenever he was around her, his need was a tangible ache. He wanted to take her to bed and f**k her in a dozen different ways. And therein lay the problem.
Ethan looked up at him then, raising his eyebrow in silent question. Despite his urge to turn around and walk away from the tender scene in front of him, he felt compelled to walk over.
He hadn’t intended to hurt her. God knew he’d do anything not to hurt her, but his avoidance of her had done just that.
“Can you get up without waking her?” Adam whispered to Ethan.
Ethan smiled. “Right now a herd of elephants could run through and she wouldn’t stir.”
“I’d like some time alone with her,” Adam said hesitantly.
The three didn’t often make demands of her time. Part of making the relationship work was not harboring jealousy or making her choose between them. But every once in a while, they did need time alone with her. It was a need they each recognized and respected.
“Sure,” Ethan said softly. He gently extricated himself from the couch, easing her head off his lap and onto the cushion. Ryan followed suit, and they both left the room.
Adam stared down at her for a long moment before finally sliding onto the couch next to her. When he lifted her head, she stirred and snuggled closer to him.
He ran his hand down the length of her body, enjoying the feel of her softness, her curves, the swollen mound of her belly. He couldn’t wait to meet their child. At long last their family would be complete.
She stirred against him, and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked then smiled, her eyes going soft with love. That look never ceased to knock the breath right out of him. Her love was the greatest gift he’d ever received, and it wasn’t one he had any intention of f**king up.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.
He bent and kissed her forehead as his fingers trailed over her cheek. “I was an ass. I’m sorry.”
She raised her head so that her lips met his. “I love you. You’re not an ass.”
“Could we go to bed? Just you and I tonight? I want to hold you and our baby,” he said.
Her eyes glowed and she nodded. “I’d like that.”
He helped her sit up, and she threw her legs over the couch as he stood up. He reached down to pull her up beside him then he scooped her into his arms and headed for the bedroom.
Her hands curled trustingly around his neck. The baby kicked and rolled against his chest, and his grip tightened around her as a surge of emotion swept through him.
Careful not to jostle her, he set her down on the bed. He reached for the covers and pulled them down, working them around her body. When he was finished, he crawled in beside her and pulled the comforter back over them.
He held her close to him, enjoying the feel of her soft skin against his.
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, baby,” he murmured. “I don’t want you to think the wrong thing about why I wouldn’t make love to you.”
She grimaced and then her lips turned up into a rueful smile.
“You’re way too overprotective, but I love you dearly,” she said. “And I understand why. I don’t agree, but I’m not taking it personally.”
“Good. Because, baby, if I wanted you any more, I’d spontaneously combust. But if I hurt you… I’d never forgive myself.”
She smoothed her hand across his cheek and cupped his jaw in her palm. “Stop torturing yourself. Just hold me. I need you so much.”
His heart turned over, and he felt such a strong rush of love at her words. “I need you too. You’ll never know just how much. I’d do anything for you. I hope you know that.”
She rose up to kiss him. “If I promise not to try and rape you anymore, would you stop avoiding me?”
He burst out laughing. He held her close, his chest shaking them both as he chuckled. “I’ll make you a deal. Just as soon as you have our baby and have sufficient time to heal, I’ll let you rape me all you want.”
Chapter Four
Holly moved around the kitchen, humming softly to herself. As she put the last of the dishes away, she checked her watch. The guys were out exercising the horses and would be gone for a little while yet.
She felt up for some fresh air and a short walk. Her back had been nagging at her all morning, and maybe if she could get out and stretch, she’d feel better.
She exited the house and set out on the path beyond the barn. She loved exploring the land surrounding their cabin. There was always a spectacular view to be had, no matter which direction she went.
Today, she circled behind the barn and headed into the trees up a gentle incline. She knew once she reached the top of the slope she’d be able to look out over a small valley and the river that cut through it.