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.

“Carter, it's happening,” Laura's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie. “The hooves are out. Where are you?”

They both paused, skin touching.

Mia knew how much he wanted to be there for the birth of this foal. She swallowed hard and pulled back slightly. He was panting, his hair mussed from her fingers and eyes dilated. He hadn't pulled away from her yet, but he wasn't moving anymore either.

“Where are you? Come quick!”

Mia released her legs. He kissed her once more before steeping back. He moved like he might change his mind and miss the birth just to take her on the kitchen counter. She helped make the decision easier by jumping off the counter and handing him his shirt from the floor.

“That was definitely better than coffee,” she said, watching as his muscles flexed and moved as he put the shirt back over his head.

He grinned at her as soon as his head cleared the shirt. His hair was still messy and his lips looked swollen and in need of more kisses. She was seriously considering going for another kiss when the walkie-talkie chirped again.

“Laura says you have to hurry!” Lily's voice crackled into the room. Laura must have handed it off to her to assist with the birth.

“Next time,” Carter promised, handing her his coat from the counter. The way he said it made her blood pump and her core heat. There was a hot promise for a lot more than just kissing with clothes on and Mia wanted it. She wanted it bad.

“Hurry!” Lily's voice came over the radio again.

“I'm going to hold you to that,” Mia said as they both hurried out of the kitchen and into the dark of the night.