Romance: JADEN: An MMA Fighter Romance (Bad Boy Tattoo Romance) (New Adult Pregnancy Short Stories) (46 page)

“Well, how much do you want me?” Jason asked, his tone light and teasing.

Kate wanted to answer, but she couldn’t find the words. Instead, she looked at his eyes---beautiful and sparkling and ever changing---and pressed her face forward to close the space between them. His lips pressed against hers softly at first, then as urgently as she’d ever been kissed before. She gasped as his hand plunged into her hair, and she threw her arms around his neck to pull him closer. His other arm locked around her back, pulling her against his body as he fell on top of her, moaning softly in her kiss.

All the desire in her body had come alive as soon as their lips touched, and she could tell it was the same with him---his hands were moving frantically up and down the silky material of her shift as he ground his hips into hers. Kate spread her legs, letting his weight nestle against her throbbing clit and bucking her own hips against his erection. Pleasure was burning her body up even as desire was dousing the flames, and she thought deliriously, I could kiss him like this forever. She felt her juices coat her thighs as Jason started to kiss the soft skin of her neck.

A loud knock boomed through the house, and Jason sprang back so quickly she thought she’d hurt him at first. Kate gasped when she saw his eyes were both a solid golden brown---the exact shade as the eyes on some of the poster drawings had been. Suddenly she knew where else she’d seen the color.

“Damn,” Jason said, and the grief in his voice was almost tangible. “I forgot I might get called to sub for somebody.”

“What?” Kate asked blankly. She was frustrated at being stopped so suddenly, and reached for his head again to pull him back, but he slipped away before her fingers could touch him again. “What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry,” Jason said miserably as he pulled his shirtsleeves down and straightened his wavy head of hair. “My pal Edgar got sick and said he might need me to do a show a few towns over if he got sick. I might be gone a bit, but I’ll be back by late tonight.”

“Tonight?” Kate stood, letting the sheets fall away from her voluptuous body. Jason’s eyes were pulled downward immediately, and she saw lust consume his eyes as he took in the generous swell of her breasts against the sheer white of her slip, and her soft, thick thighs through the slit in the fabric. For the first time in a long time, she let herself be aware of the pull her body had over a man, and thrust her breasts toward him. “I need you tonight.” she said softly, holding her hand out toward him. She saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, and she thought she had won---then he closed his eyes and took a step back.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t even think you know it, but you’re closer than anyone’s been to making me lose control of myself.” His hands were bunched at his sides, and he spoke to her through gritted teeth. “I knew we’d have chemistry, but this…” he chuckled and shook his head as he turned toward the door. “I’ll see you tonight, Katherine.”

“Kate,” she called breathlessly. “Call me Kate.”

Jason stopped and turned back, turning his gaze toward her but not meeting her eye. “Okay, Kate,” he said. “I’ll see you tonight. Get some rest.”

He walked out the door before she had a chance to say anything else.

After he left, she was filled with a sense of disbelief. There was no way she had just been grinding her body against her new husband, a cowboy werebear, on the very same day she had met him. And did she really believe the vampire story? She thought back to how she had felt in that moment---drugged, utterly without control of herself; if her train had been too early or even too late, there may have been no one there to stop the porter from steering her into the shack and shutting her away until they were finished. Kate shivered, and looked about the room for something to pull around her; she found Jason’s jacket, but it was far too big for her short frame. She climbed back into bed and pulled the covers around her, letting herself think until her eyes drifted shut. She fell asleep and turned fitfully under the covers, dreaming of being chased by a pale white toad in a top hat.

When she woke up, sunlight was streaming through the lacy white curtains across the window, and she could smell sausage. Kate’s eyes sprang open, and for a moment, she thought she was back in her train car, in the straw bed about to be served her complimentary breakfast. Then she realized the bed was far too soft, and the sheets smelled like lavender and not bleach. Then she sat up, and the rest of the room came into focus: the cherry wood, silky sheets, and smiling man with a freshly shaven face and a tray laden with breakfast food.

“Good morning,” Jason said. “I bet you’re hungry.”

Late smiled as her stomach grumbled and she spied the fluffy eggs and bacon next to the sausage on her plate. “I am.”

They had surprisingly little to talk about regarding their arrangement. As they ate and their small talk deepened, Kate realized the feelings she had developed for him were real—and strengthened incredibly now that she had made contact with him. Kate mused aloud whether it had something to do with him being a bear, and was terribly embarrassed when he laughed, assuming her ignorance had amused him.

“You’re probably right,” he said. “The chemistry between us has a lot to do with how you respond to my energy, and it couldn’t feel this way if we weren’t…compatible.” He smiled gently, and his green eyes were suddenly overrun with heat. He leaned across her tray and kissed her, nipping her lower lip playfully as he pulled away. “I think you’re my mate,” he said. “I honestly had given up on finding one. It’s why I hadn’t settled down. Then the very next woman I meet…” he laughed then, a joyful sound that filled Kate with happiness even while she was choked with dread.

“Jason,” she said slowly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He stopped laughing and looked at her curiously. “What is it?”

Kate raised her eyes to his, feeling the prickle of tears behind them already. “When Logan left me, he gave a reason. I didn’t tell you because you never asked, and it never came up naturally, so…”

Jason’s brow wrinkled in concern, and he slipped an arm around her shoulder, placing the breakfast tray on the bedside table. “What is it, Katie?”

She smiled; he already was comfortable using her nickname. She felt horrible knowing she was about to destroy their fresh bond. “He left because even though we tried for four years…I could never get pregnant.” Her voice broke, and suddenly she was sobbing into her hands. “I’m barren, Jason. I can’t ever give you children. I can’t be your mate.” Kate covered her face and wailed, finally letting out the grief that had been so quiet all these years. She felt her heart shaking with the force of her sobs, as though it was shedding all the scar tissue it never sloughed away. Then she felt Jason’s arm gather her and pull her close to his body, cradling her close to his chest as her cries slowed and stopped.

“Katie,” he said, kissing the top of her head gently. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. He’s an even bigger idiot than I thought. But this doesn’t change anything. You don’t have to give me children to be my mate.”

She looked up from her place against her chest, too shocked to speak. He smiled at her, his eyes full of love that couldn’t possibly exist. But she felt it, too; she craned her neck upward to kiss him, and as she slipped her arms around his neck and fell back onto the bed again, she felt her heart swell nearly to bursting.

   Another knock at the door sent a ripple of anger through Kate, and she cried out in exasperation as Jason pulled away again. “It’s probably the carriage driver who dropped me off, I told him to come by for payment today. Sometimes his wife comes, so it could be her too.” He turned to pull on his jacket and find his money.

   “Wait, wait!” Kate cried, standing up and moving to stop him. “Let me get the door.” She held out her hand for his money clip.

   Jason stopped, surprise-ridden clearly on her flawless features. “Really?” he said, his voice soft with shock. “That’s kind of a…wife thing, isn’t it? Answering the door in robe and slippers to pay my carriage driver?” He smiled, and Kate realized he was teasing her. She giggled and shoved his chest.

   “Get me a robe, then!” She grinned impishly as he scurried away.

   He brought her a deep blue robe that had to be his---it dragged at the floor when she cinched it at her waist. The knock at the door came again, and she gave Jason a chaste kiss before she started to walk down the hall, running a brush through her hair hurriedly.

   “Just a moment!” she called. Kate stopped to look at herself in the mirror and was startled at her reflection--- her dark hair was curled almost elegantly around her face in loose waves, framing her heart-shaped face and outlining the smooth flesh of her neck and chest. Her large breasts were visible even through the robe, and her lips were pink and flushed from being kissed. She looked sinful; there was no other word for it. She smiled to herself as she turned toward the door, hoping to get a good reaction from whoever was expecting Jason to pull open the heavy oak and greet them.

   The man was shocked, alright, and he responded with a healthy amount of lust as his dark eyes took in the swell of Kate’s breasts and hips before they fell on her face. Then his mouth opened in alarm, and he took a step back.

   “Katherine?” Logan said gruffly, his voice higher in his slur. His red hair was tucked under a cap, and his beard was longer than she’d ever seen it, but it was definitely him. There were bags under his eyes, and his skin looked splotchy and pale. His eyes were darting back and forth, and it would have been funny if she weren’t so caught off guard.

   “Logan.” Her voice was soft, but it wasn’t from affection or even contempt. She realized she was relieved. For years, Kate had been afraid that Logan, the only man to ever hold her heart, would still have some power over her. She feared that she would see him one day, and all the years of growing closer---making love, sharing dreams, building a home---would come crashing back. But the only thing she felt when she looked in his eyes was happiness, and the certainty that she’d made the right choice.

   “Logan!” A high pitched, nasally voice called from the cab, and both of them looked back at the carriage to see a young blonde woman leaning out of the drivers side. Her face was beautiful and angular, with the kind of dark lashes and full lips men drew on their dream women as teens and young adults. “We have to go! Move your ass!” She looked from Kate to Logan suspiciously; apparently she’d seen their reactions to each other.

   Kate jumped and pulled out Jason’s money clip. “How much?”

   “Just a buck,” Logan said, his eyes glued to Kate’s face. She knew she looked happier and more peaceful than she’d been in years, and she tried not to feel superior as she handed over two bills. “Thanks, Katherine.”

   “No problem.” She smiled as he pocketed the bills. When he didn’t move, she realized he expected her to catch up with him. “So, um…I hope you’re well.”

   “I’m great,” Logan said quickly. “Have a driving business. Been married a couple of years.” He jerked his head toward the blonde woman, who was now glaring at Kate. “Nice life.” His eyes burned into hers, and he asked the question he’d been wanting to voice the whole time. “You’re married to Jason?” he tried to sound nonchalant, but his voice betrayed his bitterness.

   “Yes,” Kate said smoothly. “Recently.” She didn’t want to engage with him anymore, but something was bothering her as she looked between Logan and the blonde woman, who was now standing outside the cart, hands on her slim hips.

   “Logan!”

   Logan’s face flushed red with anger---a familiar sight Kate was amused to see again. “I gotta go, but I guess I’ll be seeing you sometimes?” His voice was far too full of hope for her comfort, and she didn’t like the way his eyes kept drifting to her bosom. “It’d be real nice to see you again, Katie.”

   At the sound of her nickname, Kate swelled with rage. “It’s Katherine, Mr. Sheffield,” she said coldly. She felt a stab of pride as he winced, and she started to shut the door. He stopped it with one hand, and he took a step toward her, his face darkening with anger.

   “Who do you think you are?” Logan growled. Kate bunched her fist at her side, ready to wallop him now that they were no longer man and wife. For the second time in as many days, she felt a huge hand on her shoulder and stopped immediately.

   “She’s my wife,” came Jason’s voice. “Soon to be, technically. But I suggest you consider it my way: you’re standing on her property, threatening her person. She’s about to hit you very hard, and I think your wife might like that very much, judging by the look on her face.”

   Kate looked at the young blonde woman, whose expression was so wrathful she was sure he was right. Logan stepped back slowly, nodding his head as he looked up at Jason.

   “Yes, sir,” he said

   “Apologize to my wife,” Jason said.

   “Sorry, Ma’am.” Logan squeaked, then turned on his heel and ran. He blew straight  by his wife and dove into the carriage, pulling her in behind him at the same time he was spurring the horses. Kate wondered why he had been so afraid, and turned to find that Jason’s eyes had turned that inhuman shade of yellow-gold---the same color of a bear’s eyes. He smiled as their gazes met.

   “I hope that was okay,” he said. “I guess that was Logan?”

   Kate nodded, finding herself so enthralled with his beauty that she couldn’t speak.

   “I made a surprise for you,” Jason said. “It’s in the forest. We’ll get there faster if I carry you; is that okay?”