Amy J. Fetzer
good day and tried to step around him. He blocked her effortlessly. Is this how you corner them? she wanted to ask.
"Did I see you with the marshal?"
"Yes." She moved around him and stepped into the street.
He followed. "A fine lawman."
She slanted him a look. "The best." She adjusted her packages while she waited for a pair of riders to move past.
"Are you certain I can't carry those for you?"
"No, thank you." Victoria wanted to scream at him, hit him, shoot him. God, he'd killed Velvet, stuck a knife in her heart, then dressed her up like a Kewpee-doll, yet he stood here, trying to make a pass at her! She hastened into the street. He was right beside her.
"You remind me of someone."
Alarms rang in her head. "Really?"
"A young woman, Clara Murphy."
Victoria felt the color drain from her face, but she forced her expression to remain wrapped in his every word.
"Perhaps it's just the height."
She shrugged.
"Or the walk."
Victoria kept her pace as even as before though her knees suddenly felt like pudding.
"Victoria."
She looked up and nearly slammed into Chris.
"Afternoon, Marshal." Becket nodded, glancing between the two.
Chris kissed her lightly, then took half her packages. "I see you've met my lady.'' The last he said with such possessiveness her ancestors would have known it.
And Victoria's jaw flexed, yet she fastened a bright smile on Becket.
His perfect brows rose, his blue gaze shifting between the couple, but there was a glint in his eyes. He seemed to shake himself, then said, "I've been meaning to ask, any progress on Velvet's death?"
Beside Chris, Victoria tensed. "No."
"Fascinating." A smugness weighed his tone.
And Victoria wanted to claw his face off.
"What about Clara Murphy? She seemed to have vanished about the same time." He leaned out on his cane. "About the same time you arrived, Miss."
"Perhaps. I don't know."
"A droll mousy woman. Scarred, plump, but efficient."
"Enough to kill Velvet, you're saying?"
He looked offended. "Hardly."
"Just what is it that you're implying, then, Becket?"
"That you haven't a clue to the killer."
Victoria could almost see him sanding his hands together and bit down on her tongue. Rage radiated from her and fearing it would alert Becket, Chris swept his arm around her waist. Her breath escaped in a soft puff.
"You're right, I don't. There were no tracks, no motive, no weapon. It looks like it'll be an unsolved case for some time." Chris tipped his hat. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have to be getting back."
"Will we see you at the picnic, Miss?"
Victoria glanced back over her shoulder and tried to look flattered. With the finesse of an Oscar-winning actress, she lowered her gaze briefly, then met his. "Of course." She looked into Chris's eyes, her own filled with innocent pleading that would put the best coquette to shame. "Won't we, Chris?"
He was glad his back was to Becket because his expression was a mask of confusion when he ought to be playing the jealous lover. "Sure, darlin', and we'll bring the boy, too."
Behind Chris's back, Victoria waved lightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ivy League's fingers flex over the cane hilt, over and over. Well, this was a selling point. Becket was hot for her.
In the office, Victoria propped her feet on Chris's desk and slumped in his chair, dragging on a cigarette he'd rolled for her. It tasted like cow pies. But she needed it, hell, she needed
350
Amy J. Fetzer
DANGEROUS WATERS
351
a drink after being so close to that maggot-laced fiend and having him look at her like she'd invite his touch. A shiver shrank her spine and she dragged on the smoke again, watching Chris's cute behind shift inside dark jeans as he paced before the carved desk. He was working himself into a fit.
' 'Come on, Chris. Lighten up. It was too good an opportunity, and you know it. He was going to hurt that woman."
"You don't know that," he snapped, but even his tone doubted.
"That wasn't the first time they'd met. I had to do something and couldn't reject him flat out."
He said nothing and paced some more.
"I didn't mean for it to happen."
"Well it did, and now we're stuck." He stopped and leaned across the desk, taking the smoke, dragging once, then handing it back. He strode to the stove and poured coffee. He didn't drink it and moved around the large open room. How could he let this happen?
"We can do this, Chris. And what safer way to lure him than with us? If we have his attention, he can't put it on anyone else."
She knew his methods too well, and Chris was fast picking up on the scenario that was Becket's twisted brain. "But it's you he wants now."
"Don't be so sure."
"I am, Tori. I'd recognize the look in any man. Obsession."
"Seen it in the mirror lately."
He scoffed, feeling helpless and loose. Victoria swung her feet off the desk and came to him, catching him about the waist and yanking him up against her. He went still as glass and she slid one hand slowly up his chest and cupped the back of his neck.
She drew him down to her mouth and he sank into her kiss with a harsh groan.
He thrived on her loving, anxiousness slowly draining from his body as she kissed him and kissed him. He filled his hands
with her buttocks and and ground her hard against his throbbing groin. She made a pleased sound.
"Shhhh," she hushed when he opened his mouth. "Let it go for now. Just keep him under surveillance, but let it go." She stared at his chiseled lips, then whispered a kiss across them.
"I saw Abigale and Randel."
Something akin to hurt flickered in her eyes, but he couldn't decipher it. "Grocery day," he muttered.
"Doesn't that mean the house is empty?"
He sent her an arched look, scowling, then his features went taut. He grabbed her hand, scooping up the packages and leaving the office. They left town amid outraged stares and a cloud of Colorado dust. The small carriage never moved so fast.
Chris tossed the reins to Batista and dragged Victoria from the carriage, his long strides eating up the distance to his study.
Pulling her in, he kicked the door closed, then instantly covered her mouth with his. He'd done nothing but think of her, doing this with her. His tongue filled her, sweeping and hot as his hands raced roughly over her body. She tore at his shirt buttons, diving her hand beneath the fabric and molding his chest. He kissed her deeper, his palms curving over her bottom, squeezing, lifting her to fit against his arousal.
He was iong and hard beneath the fabric, his rocking motion answered by her own.
"I can't wait." He pushed her up against the sealed door. "I'm sorry." He shoved up her skirts, his finger finding her slick and hot for him. "Jesus, you drive me crazy!"
Frantically she tore at his trousers, freeing him.
"Then don't."
In one thrust, he was inside her. Her legs wrapped his waist, her body rocking onto his. He withdrew and plunged with a hard thrust of his hips and she gasped, tearing open her bodice and letting him bend to suckle her breasts. She clutched his head and he pushed and pushed.
352
Amy J. Fetzer
DANGEROUS WATERS
353
The hinges jolted, wood rattled and he pumped into her hot slick depths. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, her head thrown back. He chanted her name over and over and lifted his head. "Look at me.'
She did. He left her in a long smooth motion, then plunged, driving her up the door. She gasped, her eyes flared.
"No, look at me. I want to see it in your eyes," he rasped and thrust and thrust and she bucked, pushing back, their pace frantic an
d near violent-Then her silken depths flexed and grabbed him, his lips in a tight line and he reached between them, stroking the core of her, slicking his fingers over the wetness of their joining. Victoria gripped handfuls of his thick dark hair, whimpering for his power, refusing to break his gaze, her hips tucking in short frantic pulses.
"Come for me, love, drench me," he whispered as he flicked his damp fingers over the bead of her sex. She arched and fused her womanhood to him. Her breath came in a ragged gasp, clipped and clipped, then a hot rush against his mouth. Her pleasure darkened her eyes, seeing it drove him over the edge and he stroked her, pushing his erection deeper and deeper, withdrawing once more then filling her hard.
He exploded, his gaze locked with hers, his climax smothering over him, surrounding him as he released himself into her body. She closed her eyes, her feminine muscles clamping, stealing all he had and draining him of energy. He buried his face in the curve of her throat. The sudden silence was sharp. "Are you all right?"
She smiled, closing her eyes. "Of course." _ Slowly he released her legs.
He ground into her once more before leaving her body. Victoria made a face and he smiled.
He withdrew a handkerchief from his back pocket and she tried to take it. He eluded her grasp and kissed her, pressing it between her legs. His strokes were as tantalizing as his loving. She hummed against his mouth, covering his hand riding the
dying flames of their passion before he stepped back, smoothing her skirts down and righting his clothing.
He had trouble with the last button, his hands shaking. She helped him, smiling like a cat with whiskers full of cream. She pecked kisses to his chin, buttoning his shirt. His hand tightened on her waist, smoothing up to tuck her breasts back into her bodice.
"Tori?"
"Hmmm?" She kissed his chest as she closed each button.
"Would you leave me if you carried my child?"
She blinked, taken back. "No." She didn't want to discuss this now . . . "But it's not possible."
He scowled and was about ask when she took his hand and placed it at the curve of her elbow. His brows drew down as he felt something wobble beneath her skin.
"It's birth control."
He looked skeptical and a little disgusted.
"In my century, woman have control over their bodies and choose when they have children. Some use condoms, devices or pills. This is a Norplant, flexible tubes of a estrogen—a chemical released over time to prevent conception."
His eyes narrowed. "How much time?"
She wet her lips. "Five years."
His eyes widened. "How long have you had it?"
"Ever since Kevin and I were having problems."
He inspected her arm. That's why she always scratches there, he realized. Only his gaze shifted to hers. "Can you take it out?"
She tilted her head, frowning. "Yes. With minor surgery."
His gaze shifted from her to where his thumb grazed her skin. He couldn't even see it, but he felt it and though a thousand questions raced in his head, he dismissed them to one fact.
If a child wouldn't keep her, was his love strong enough?
DANGEROUS WATERS
355
Chapter Thirty-Two
There was such a marked sadness in his eyes that Victoria broke her eye contact, brushing loose hair from her face, but when she made to kiss him, he jerked back, releasing her arm.
His gaze moved between her arm and her face.
Her eyes thinned to mere slits. "We're you trying to get me pregnant so I'd stay?"
"No!" But the consideration had occurred to him, and a guilty flush crept up his neck.
"That's a cheap shot, Chris! Really low."
"Christ almighty, Tori. I didn't know about that birth control. ''
She tipped her chin up. "It wasn't necessary for you to know."
He was fuming now, his eyes pinning her to the door as hard as his hips had.
"It's my body, Chris."
He stepped closer, his voice cutting with anger. "And mine was inside yours, spilling inside you. Did you think I'm so—" he struggled not to claim his love, not now, "enamoured with you that I didn't consider the consequences?"
It touched her somewhere deep inside that he had. "Well, you don't have to worry. There aren't any."
He clenched his fists, trying desperately to handle his temper. That she would exclude him so coldly from this information severed through him. "Is everything so cut and dry to you?"
Not with you, she thought. Never with you. "Look," she began tiredly. "This device," she tapped her arm, "has been in place so long I don't even think about it. It's like getting out of bed every morning. Not telling you wasn't deliberate and when I thought about it," her voice wavered, "it was pointless. I don't have to risk pregnancy to prove I ... have strong feelings, Chris. I can't separate mind and body like a whore."
"I didn't mean it like that."
' 'Well, making love with you and making love for a child aren't the same, and if you can't figure it out, maybe you can just go find the Widow Bingham and get laid!"
He looked as if she'd struck him. How did she find out about her? Nobody knew except ... Randel.
"I'll kill him," he growled.
"She told me."
He scowled. "That doesn't sound like Angela. And when did you see her?''
"This afternoon in the store. And she didn't have to say that you sleep with her on a regular basis, for Christ's sake." Men were so stupid sometimes. "She took one look at me and said, 'so you're the reason he hasn't been by.* She lives fifty miles away and no one but Randel knew who she was. It wasn't hard to figure out."
He fought a smile. "You're jealous."
Victoria couldn't decide whether to kiss him or knock his teeth in. "No, I'm hurt."
"Aw Tori' he moaned. "There isn't anything between us."
She made a disgusted sound that was totally artificial. "I could care less. But I thought we were being totally honest with each other?"
"Like you were with me?" He gestured to her arm.
356
Amy J. Fetzer
DANGEROUS WATERS
357
"I'm protecting myself, Chris. And you."
He stared at her for a long moment and when he spoke, his voice rasped with hurt. "You're protecting your heart, too. No ties, so you can just walk away."
Tears bloomed in her eyes. No, no, her soul screamed, this is too soon. "It has to be that way."
He stiffened, his expression suddenly unreadable. "And I can't live like this anymore."
She inhaled a sharp breath. "I see."
A door slammed, Lucky calling for her, yet she didn't move even when the little boy pushed open the doors.
"Miss Toria?"
Chris continued to stare at her as she clasped the child's hand in her own. Lucky's gaze shifted between the adults, noticing her tears and ending on Chris with a scowl.
She bent and kissed his dust-covered head, smelling little-boy dirt and missing him already. She closed her eyes tightly and a tear spilled over her cheek. "How was your day, sweetie?" she whispered in a fractured voice. "Come tell me." She turned and the pair vanished in the recesses of his house.
And Chris watched her go.
Chris muttered a curse and totaled up the column of figures for the third time, trying to ignore the cheers coming from the paddock. He was used to hearing it when Joquin brought a horse to bridle. But his mood was foul already, distracting him from the accounts he'd neglected. Tiredly, he sank back into the leather chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose with thumb and forefinger and when he looked up his gaze fell on the earring he'd found on the floor earlier. He picked it up, his chest tightening as he remembered how she'd lost it only hours ago. And the fight that ensued. She was pulling away. He felt it when he'd sought her out and tried to talk with her. She made an excuse about getting Lucky cleaned up and closed him out of the bathing room.
His only peace since was Noble's arri
val minutes later, bring-
ing the news that Becket had been asking about Victoria. They both prayed he didn't find out she was a bounty hunter.
But seeing her with Becket on the street, the way she cultivated him into her palm proved again and again to Chris that she was willing to do anything to see justice done—Even at the cost of their love.
His fingers wrapped around the earring until it bit into his palm, her rejection like a sabre through his chest, turning hurt to fury. Anything for the bounty, huh Tori?
She'd knowingly pushed herself into a deadly situation to catch Becket off guard, yet somehow, Victoria's interruption of his kill, twisted his lust for blood, Misses Acuff's blood, into misshappen feelings for Victoria.
It was just a sick feeling Chris had, but Becket's undercurrent of suspicion and bizarre need to see the authorities struggle for a solution, was there for anyone to see. Anyone who knew would know what to look for. And all Becket needed was to catch her alone or hear her talk, and he'd be clued into her, her century. And she'd be dead in seconds. Trained bounty hunter or not, Chris refused to put her in jeopardy. He had two days to come up with a plan and convince her otherwise.
The cheering beyond the wall grew steadily louder, and he left his chair, moving to the window and pushing back the curtain.
His features sharpened and he immediately left the room, storming through the kitchen, past a startled Abigale and out into the yard.
Damn that woman!
With Victoria astride, the angry mare curled and bucked, yet she held on, her hat flying off, body arching, her arm up for balance.
He shouted her name as he ran toward the paddock, leaping the fence.
"Don't!" she commanded, catching sight of him out of the corner of her eye. "She's almost there!"
Then the horse rounded the ring, its hind legs slowing in the incessant backward thrust to knock her off.
359
358
Amy J. Fetzer
Chris's heart lay lodged in his throat until the horse settled, and Victoria rode the line in a cantor, then a smooth-gated walk. He didn't breath until she slid from the saddle.
Dangerous Waters Page 34