Part 22 (1/2)
Kas leans against the wall of the barn, staring out at the autumn, evening sky. ”How do you do that, Pops? How do you always read my mind?”
”Where do you think you got your skills from?” he laughs, tapping him on the back of his head.
They hear his grandmother calling them in for dinner, and Kas breathes in the fresh, country air, dreaming about moving there with Raina someday. After dinner, they move into the living room, staying up late as Kas' grandmother thoroughly embarra.s.ses him by showing Raina pictures of him growing up. It's him that blushes this time, when Raina coos over how cute he was as a baby.
”When are you two going to give us some great-grandchildren?”
Raina blushes, looking at Kas for a.s.sistance.
”We want to wait a couple of years before trying.”
”Just don't wait too long, or I won't be able to run around with them in the yard,” Pops chimes in.
Raina flips through more pictures, thoughts of having Kas' children dancing around in her head. She's overwhelmed with how happy the thought makes her. Looking up at him, she watches how he laughs with Pops at something on the television, seeing how his smile reaches all the way up to his kind eyes. She thinks of how good of a man he is, of how he can be bossy and over-protective, but how gentle he is with her, even at his angriest. She knows he will be a wonderful father, and she brings her hand to her mouth, her fingers slowly running across her lip as she thinks of having his baby, the thought of two years suddenly seeming so far away.
Laying her head on Kas' shoulder in bed later that night, she trails her fingers slowly across his chest.
”What is it, Rain?” he whispers, knowing she's contemplating something in her pretty head.
”I know we haven't been married long, but when your grandparents were talking about children earlier, I got to thinking,” she pauses.
Kas tilts her chin to where she's looking at him, ”Thinking about what, darlin'?”
”Maybe two years is too long to wait. I'm thinking that I would like to start trying after a year, if that's okay with you.”
Kas rolls on top of her, holding himself over her as he looks down, his eyes full of love, ”I'm more than okay with that, Rain.” Lowering his mouth to hers, he teases and tastes her. ”In fact, I think we should start practicing right now,” he whispers in her ear, his heart swelling at the sound of her beautiful giggles. He covers her mouth again, making love to her as the moonlight spills across the bed.
The crow of the rooster awakens Kas, and he runs his hand down Raina's bare back, kissing her on the shoulder as she stirs to life.
”Can I help you feed the animals?” she asks, snuggling her head under his chin, his morning stubble tickling her nose.
”Sure, but it can be pretty dirty work,” he warns.
”I'll shower after, then.”
Kas bites the inside of his cheek as he watches Raina trying to move the large hogs out of the way so she can pour their slop in their trough. ”You're going to have to show them you're the boss,” he calls to her, trying very hard not to laugh.
”And how exactly am I supposed to do that?” she asks, brus.h.i.+ng an auburn curl behind her ear.
Climbing over the railing, Kas gently pushes against the hogs hindquarters to move them out of the way so Raina can give them their breakfast. He helps her back over the railing before climbing over himself. ”Feeding the chickens is much easier,” he teases.
She slaps his arm, ”Go easy on me, I'm a beginner.”
”You're doing great,” he tells her, handing her the feed, grabbing a handful, showing her how to do it. He watches how she smiles at her triumph when the chickens scatter all around her feet, pecking at the feed.
”Ready to milk the cow?” he asks, falling into a fit of laughter at the shocked expression on her face.
”I'm not so sure I'm ready for that.”
”I'll show you. You just have to be gentle, or she'll swat you with her tail.”
”Sounds, well, it sounds kind of scary if you want to know the truth,” she laughs nervously.
”It doesn't hurt,” he a.s.sures her, pulling her behind him, continuing to chuckle at her panicked hesitation.
He sets a stool down and grabs the bucket, showing her how to do it before asking if she's ready to try, pulling her towards the stool when she shakes her head no. ”She won't bite,” he teases, switching places with her.
”What if I hurt her?” she asks, her beautiful eyes full of concern.
”She'll let you know. Just start off really gentle.”
Raina tentatively starts doing just as Kas showed her, jumping when the cow lets out a loud moo. ”I don't think she likes me.”
”She can tell you're nervous. Try again,” he encourages.
Raina tries again, and milk actually comes out, causing her to squeal excitedly. Kas watches with pride at how Raina finishes milking the cow and helps him clean out the horse's stalls before heading to shower before breakfast.
”You're not afraid of anything are you, darlin'?” he praises her as she rubs the conditioner in her hair.
”I don't know, Old Bessie was making me pretty nervous.”
”You did good.” He turns her around, tucking a wet strand of auburn hair behind her ear as he looks at her. ”You never cease to amaze me.”
She presses her lips to his, and he kisses her back feverishly before pus.h.i.+ng her against the shower wall. He presses his body against hers, loving making love to her in the shower, her hot, wet body moving against his, her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs tightly around his waist, as she gives herself fully to him.