Page 89 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

She whimpered and leaned her head against his chest.

“Are they sore?” He gently ran his thumbs over the dark nipples.

“No. Just sensitive—in a good way.”

He dragged his nose down her nape, inhaling her scent before he nipped her ear. She shuddered, as he’d come to expect. It was just one of the places he’d discovered that turned her on.

“Well, we want to make sure we get every inch of you clean, Bella. After all, you’ve been a very dirty girl.”

She giggled. God, he loved that sound.

“Wow, that was corny.”

“Made you laugh, didn’t it?” He kissed her shoulder and she leaned back against him. His hands roamed down her belly, cradling it in his hands.

“Whoever would have thought we’d end up here?” she mused out loud.

Who indeed. He’d never thought he would have this again. Someone to show him gentle touches. Someone he could share a bath with, kissing and laughing. But, for now at least, he had her. And he’d enjoy the time he could get. He wouldn’t worry about the past or the future. He’d just be here with Bella in their own little bubble at home. For the first time in years, he’d let tomorrow worry about itself.

40

ISABELLA

“There’s something different about you.” Nova studied Isabella, her finger tapping her bottom lip.

Bella pulled out the old coffee can from the feed bag and tossed the contents into the pen with the chickens. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You are absolutely glowing,” Nova said.

A heat crept to Isabella’s cheeks. “Well, I did hear that happens when you’re pregnant.” Or it has to do with the fact that I had a sex marathon with your brother last weekend and it happened to be the most mind-blowing orgasms of my life.

Nova picked up the pail of leftover food, snickering. “I have a feeling it has less to do with the baby inside you and more to do with the man who put it there.”

“Nov—”

Her friend held up her hand and shook her head. “Nope. I don’t want any details. I may joke, but I never want to know anything about my brother’s sex life. Okay?”

Isabella laughed. “I wasn’t going to give you any.” This is between him and me.

“Good.” Nova lugged the bucket over to the pigpen outside the barn and dumped the leftover scraps into the trough. Four fat pigs wandered over, snorting and going to town on their prize.

Isabella stepped back, waving her hand in front of her.

“Yeah, you get used to the smell after a while,” Nova said.

“I don’t think I will.” Isabella held her breath until she moved farther inside the barn where the sweet smell of hay melded with the scent of horses.

Nova clucked her tongue, reaching into her pockets for two apples to hold out for the beautiful mares that greeted them.

Isabella petted the smaller one’s soft nose as it chewed on the fruit.

“You guys coming to family dinner on Sunday?” Nova asked.

“I think so.”

Nova turned towards her. “You know, I’ve never seen Nash this happy before.”

“I thought we weren’t talking about this.”

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