Riding Bitch by Melinda Barron Page B

You should learn to say it, since she’s going to be the mother of your future grandchildren.”
    In her most dramatic move yet, his mother put her hand on her chest. “Oh my God, she’s pregnant. How long has this been going on?”
    “Not long enough,” Ash replied. “And she’s not pregnant. Yet.”
    He waited for his mother to spew a few choice words. Instead she went back into the house. When she came out, she had her purse in her hand. “Ashkii, please select one of the suits. It will be more professional.”
    She marched past them. When she was behind the wheel of her car, he turned to Felicia.
    “At least she didn’t call me that white girl.” She grinned at him, and his love for her grew, which he didn’t think was possible, since he already felt more love for her than he’d ever felt for anything in his life.
    “Give her time,” he said as he pulled Felicia into a hug. “She’ll pull out the race card before it’s all over.”
    “So will my dad.” Her face was turned up to him, and he gently kissed her. She tasted like the road, but it was the sweetest flavor he’d ever encountered.
    “Shall I give you a tour? Or shall we think about finding a house that we can make ours alone?”
    She put her head against his chest. “I rather like this. It’s rustic and remote.”
    “I make noise when I sculpt. When I was in town, the neighbors complained, so I bought land and built a house.” He held out his arms as if to hug the house and land. “Four bedrooms, two baths, two living areas, a dining room, one huge kitchen, a hot tub, and I’ve been considering putting in a pool.”
    “That would be nice.” Her smile was brilliant. “But I would like to buy a new bed.”
    “We can do that.” He took her hand, and they started to walk toward the back part of the house. “It’s not paid for, but it’s home.”
    “A few more ten-thousand-dollar sculptures and it will be paid for. Unless you keep buying motorcycles.”
    They were in the back now. “Only if you ride with me.”
    He heard her laugh as soon as she saw the surprise he’d had set up.
    “Is there always a tent back here?”
    “I asked Bear to help,” he said. “I want to sleep outdoors with you tonight. Play outside, just like we’d planned, just in a different location.”
    He relished the soft lilt of her voice when she asked, “Where’s the dog you mentioned?”
    “Rock? I asked Bear to take him too, so we could have one last night alone. He’s on a playdate with Bear’s dogs. Rock has his own outdoor running area where he sleeps in the summer, but with me being gone so long, he’d want to stay with us tonight, and I want you to myself.”
    She tapped his chest. “You owe me an orgasm.”
    “Yes, I do, and I have a great plan on how to deliver it.”
    “You going to let me in on it?”
    “Not until I’m ready. You go inside and shower. Look around. Make yourself at home…because that’s where you are. Home.”

Chapter Six
    The full moon was the first thing Felicia noticed when she stepped out of Ash’s house. It illuminated the yard, bordered by beautiful trees on one side and Ash’s massive studio on the other. And in between them was the tent.
    He’d been in there for almost an hour, setting things up, he’d said. When he’d exited, he’d elicited a promise from her that she wouldn’t go inside until he was ready. She’d made the vow, but keeping it was tough. She’d showered while he’d worked, and after he’d done the same thing they ate what little food they could find in the fridge.
    “We’ll have to hit the store tomorrow,” he’d said, but the look on his face conveyed he had more intimate things in mind. He’d taken her hand and led her outside, where they now stood. He tugged on the bottom of her blouse and told her to raise her arms.
    He lifted the material over her head and then undressed her slowly until she was naked. Despite the darkness, the air was warm. Still, Felicia shivered a