Give Me Tonight

by Lisa Kleypas

  Ben feigned a scowl at her careless remark. "Me, a fling? That does it."

  Addie laughed breathlessly as he scooped her up and headed toward the pasture in back of the house. "It was a compliment," she protested, giggling and squirming in his arms…

  "Oh?" He arched his dark brows as he looked down at her. "It didn't sound like one to me."

  "It was, it was. Where are you taking me?"

  "To a place where I can take revenge in private."

  "I meant what I said. Any woman would want to have a fling with you." She ran the tip of her finger down the part of his throat exposed by the open collar of his shirt, coquettishly tracing a pattern on the well-tanned skin. "You're very handsome. And you look like the kind who's good at… well..”

  "Good at what?"

  "Stop teasing. You know what I mean. I always wondered what it would be like with you. Even when I didn't like you, I still wondered."

  He smiled, shifting her higher in his arms as he walked. "Has your curiosity been satisfied, ma'am?"

  "Not yet," she said, fingering the buttons of his shirt. "But I know one thing for certain."

  "What is that?"

  She looped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, "You're every bit as good as you look."

  He dropped a kiss on her throat, his eyes flickering, and he stopped walking as they reached a stack of dry, freshly piled alfalfa hay. His original intention had been to drop her in it and kiss her until she begged for mercy. But now all he wanted to do was give her pleasure. Her clasp on him tightened as he lowered her into the sweet-scented hay.

  "Oh! No, we can't." She laughed and pushed at his chest. "Not now. Not here-"

  "Give me a good reason."

  "They're going to know exactly what we've been doing." Her pulse pounded madly as he straddled her 'and pulled up her skirts. "There'll be hay in my hair and on my clothes and-"

  "We'll take care of it later. Every speck."

  "Impossible." A disbelieving chuckle escaped her.

  "You're not really planning to… are you…" Her voice died away as he reached underneath her underwear to the bare skin of her stomach, stroking with the backs of his knuckles. "Ben," she said, and he smiled as he saw how fast her breathing was. Slowly he peeled her drawers down her thighs.

  "It's a struggle, isn't it?" he asked, bending over her, his fingers trailing over her abdomen. "Your sense of propriety against your desire for this. .. " His hand slipped down a little further, and she wet her dry lips with her tongue, her toes curling in anticipation.

  "I just don't want anyone to s-see-"

  "Oh, but that's half the fun." He rested his chin in his hand, watching her as he found the place he had been seeking. His whisper was husky, containing that vibrant note that never failed to fluster her. "It makes you all tight inside, doesn't it, wondering if someone will catch us at the worst possible moment, wondering if someone will see you spread out here with your drawers pulled halfway down to your knees. What would you say? What would you do?"

  "I'd d-die of embarrassment," she gasped, trying to wiggle away. He pounced on her, pinning her down and caressing her more boldly than before.

  "Yes, you're going to die a little, but it won't be from embarrassment."

  "We don't have time-"

  "We don't need much."

  "It'll be safer later after everyone's asleep-"

  "The risk makes it more exciting."

  She caught her breath as his fingers splayed through the thatch of springy hair between her thighs, sending a shock of awareness through her.

  "No. "

  "No? Then tell me to stop," he purred, stroking the inside of her thigh. "Tell me not to touch you, especially not here… or here… and tell me to let you up and take you back inside the house."

  Closing her eyes, Addie tried to form the words with her lips, but her body was waiting for the ecstasy only he could give her. She couldn't tell him to stop.

  "It adds to the pleasure, doesn't it," came his voice, soft and silky, "that feeling in your stomach-'hurry, do it now before we're caught'-and every second you're wondering if I'm going to stop…"

  She protested and tried to rise, then fell back as his fingers found her and began moving ceaselessly. With a long moan she turned her face into his shoulder, silently begging him to not to stop. He seemed to know exactly what her body craved, circling and teasing her sensitive flesh with the pad of his thumb, plunging his fingers deep within her, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. All the while he murmured in her ear, deliberately earthy, saying things that aroused her even more.

  "… anyone could see us right now, Addie… someone could walk by… one of the hands on the way to the bunkhouse… what if you knew someone was watching? Would you tell me to stop then?" His stroking paused, as if his continuing depended on her answer.

  "No," she groaned, lifting her hips, pressing his hand harder against her dampening flesh, and he resumed the excruciating torment.

  "They're going to know what we're doing anyway," he whispered relentlessly. "I'm going to make you scream; and they'll all hear you."

  "I won't," she choked, and his smile was merciless.

  "You're afraid you will."

  "No!"

  And finally the pleasure was so intense that she did cry out, but he smothered the sound with his mouth, and in the aftershocks his tongue caught the throaty vibrations of her groaning. He kissed her for a long time, savoring her languid response. When she had recovered, she pulled free of his hands and mouth. Mortified by what had happened, she sat up and fumbled to rearrange her clothing. Ben helped her, suppressing a smile as he saw how worried she was.

  "H-how long have we been out here?" she asked, not looking at him.

  "About ten minutes."

  "Oh." Addie's distress lessened. It had seemed much longer to her. But she continued to frown, brushing helplessly at the wisps. of hay clinging to her dress until Ben lifted her chin with his fingers and smiled down at her.

  "No one heard anything," he said flatly. "Or saw. I kept an eye open, just in case."

  Addie blushed. "Then what you said…”

  "All for your benefit. "

  She was too relieved by his answer to scold him for his arrogance. "I wasn't loud?" she asked, and he pulled her close, bewitched by her curious mixture of modesty and abandon.

  "I kept you very quiet," he whispered conspire-atorially, and her shoulders sagged.

  "I should be mad at you."

  "For what? Didn't it feel good?"

  "I… Yes, it felt… But that's not the point."

  "Forgive my lack of understanding, but what is the point?" Though he sounded grave, she knew he was laughing at her silently.

  "It was different from before. It wasn't romantic, or serious, or-"

  "It doesn't always have to be serious between us."

  His lips wandered across her cheek. "Sometimes it can just be fun."

  "But that's not how I think of it," she said, her brow wrinkling. Fun? Lovemaking between two people who cared for each other wasn't supposed to be fun. It was supposed to be tender, loving, emotional. If they loved each other, it should mean something more than fun, shouldn't it?

  "How can you think of it just one way?" Ben countered. "It's going to be different all the time. Sometimes it'll be romantic… gentle… and sometimes a little…' He paused and searched for a tactful word."… earthier. Some-times we'll be tender. And sometimes we'll play. What's wrong with that?"

  As he saw she still was uncertain, he cradled her face in his hands and smiled down at her. "I understand. You like candlelight and romance, and God knows there's nothing wrong with that. But you'd get tired of that if you had it all the time." He grinned and pulled a few wisps of hay out of her hair. "You have to admit, moonlit nights and haystacks have their own particular charm."

  "I guess they do."

  "You guess?" His eyes twinkled. "What would it take to make you absolutely sure?"

  Addie stared at him, re
lishing the warmth of his hands on her cheeks, the sheen of moonlight on his hair. He looked handsome and pagan in the darkness, mysterious and untamable. Her lover. Someday her husband. She wanted a lifetime with him. She wanted to hold him to her with every bond and word, every intimacy that two people could exchange. Her feelings for him were stronger, more terrifying than she had ever imagined they could be. Her hands came up to cover the backs of his, clasping tightly.

  "I love you, Ben."

  She felt the tremor in his hands. It took a moment for him to understand. Then his eyes traveled over her face, as if he were trying to assure himself she had spoken the truth.

  "God, I've wanted you to say that." He lowered his head and kissed her roughly, unable to restrain his passion.

  9

  DURING THE NIGHT THE FENCING AROUND THE southeast pasture was destroyed and the line riders near the area attacked by a band of men they couldn't identify. Every strand of wire was cut in several places, every fencepost ripped clear out of the ground. The sound of gunshots was faint but distinct, and the crackling noise awakened Addie and the rest of the Warners. Addie fumbled in her room for a nightgown and robe, sleepy but profoundly grateful that Ben had left her a little while ago. Had he stayed with her just a half-hour longer, he would have been caught in her room. That wasn't something she wanted to explain her way through just yet.

  There were exclamations and rapid footsteps up and down the hallway. Addie opened her door cautiously, rubbing her eyes. Russell had already gotten dressed and was heading down the stairs, while Cade emerged from his room with his shirt buttons fastened in the wrong places.'

  "What's happening?" Addie asked, and Russell ignored her as he went down the stairs hollering for Ben in a voice that must have carried halfway across the ranch. Cade raked a hand through his hair, causing it to stand up in a light brown shock. He shrugged as he met her eyes.

  "Those were gunshots," she said, biting her lower lip. "Weren't they?"

  Cade looked eager and worried at the same time. "Betcha it's about the fence." He followed Russell in leaps and bounds, his feet thumping noisily on the stairs. Peter, always a slow riser, appeared at his doorway and followed, while Caroline regarded him with a frown.

  "Be careful," she said to her husband, but he seemed not to hear her. After he disappeared through the front door Caro and Addie exchanged a bemused glance. Unspoken thoughts hung in the air as they wondered how serious the trouble was, and what would happen next.

  "What time is it?" Caro asked. "I guess about two or three."

  "Mama's already in the kitchen making coffee. Help me downstairs, Adeline."

  Caro leaned heavily on her arm as they went down the steps, less out of physical necessity than a need for emotional support. Neither of them could think of a thing to say. There was no need to state the obvious. Most probably the trouble involved the Double Bar. The gunshots hadn't been far away, and the family had been expecting an attack of this kind. Men were banding together and cutting fences in a wide sweep through central Texas, either on their own initiative or because they were hired by belligerent ranches. War hadn't been formally declared, but there was no other way to describe the state of affairs between the Warners and the Johnsons.

  "I hope it's over," Addie said grimly as Caro made her way down the last two or three steps.

  "You hope what's over?"

  "The gunfire. Right now they're heading straight for it, Daddy and the rest of them. Men are so foolhardy with guns in their hands. I just hope no one's been hurt. I can't stand the thought of… " She bit her lip and gripped Caro's hand tightly.

  "You're thinkin' about Ben, aren't you?"

  Addie was too distracted to hide her feelings. "They always depend on him to do everything," she burst out. "Even Daddy-whenever there's any trouble or danger, 'have Ben do it, have Ben take care of it.' Ben has to watch out for everyone else, but who watches out for him? He's only human, he's not indestructible, and I… " She sighed with frustration. "Oh, I don't know-"

  "He can take care of himself. Don't worry 'bout him. "

  "He'll be the first one to arrive on the scene, riding straight into whatever hornet's nest has been stirred up. Oh, Daddy likes to think of himself as the one in charge, but we all know Ben'll be the one who has to pick up the pieces or make the next move. "

  "That's the kind of man he is. Cade and Peter are the kind who have to be guided and prompted. But Ben is someone that others just naturally follow. You wouldn't want him to be any different, would you?"

  No. But I don't want to lose him. And there was a fear in Addie's heart that she couldn't explain to anyone. A fear that she had a large price to pay for her past mistakes. Time had given her a chance to atone for the kind of person she had once been. But what if more was going to be demanded of her? What if she was denied the life with Ben she wanted so desperately?

  They went to the kitchen and sat at the table with May, who looked calm but fatigued, while outside the house came the sounds of abrupt, sleepy-voiced conversations. The bunkhouse had awakened. Minutes ticked away, then an hour had passed, and as Addie paced around the silent kitchen, tension clawed at her nerves.

  "How long do you think they'll be?" she asked curtly, knowing neither of them could answer the question any better titan she could. Still, she had to talk about something or go crazy.

  "There's no way of tellin'," May replied, methodically stirring her tea. "Why don't you sit and have somethin' to drink, sugar?"

  "It's the Double Bar," Addie muttered, circling the table once again. "Daddy's been expecting them to make a move. Oh, why does he insist on fencing in all the water? It's pure contrariness on his part-"

  "Your daddy has the right to do whatever he wants with his own land."

  "But he's leaving them with no choice, and I think-"

  "It's not up to us to think anything about it, just support your daddy's decisions."

  Addie grumbled underneath her breath and darted a glance at Caroline, wondering if she agreed with May. Caro was concentrating intently on her coffee, clearly wanting no part of the debate. There was no way of knowing what her opinion was. Sighing, Addie decided to keep quiet and leave well enough alone. She only hoped that whatever had happened, Russell would control his temper long enough to listen to Ben. Ben didn't like the idea of the fencing any more than she did, and there was no doubt he'd try to soften Russell's reaction to the damage that had been done tonight.

  Another half-hour crawled by, and then Addie heard the thud-thud of a horse's hooves. Without a word she darted to the back door of the kitchen and threw it open. Cade had been sent back to tell them what had happened.

  "Shootin'," he said, bursting into the kitchen, his eyes brilliant with excitement. "It was the fence all right." He paused and gulped in a few deep breaths. "Hacked to pieces. And our line riders were shot at. "

  "By whom?" Addie demanded.

  "No one they could recognize."

  "The Double Bar. It had to be."

  "Yeah, we think they were behind it. But they didn't use their own men. Hired 'em, most likely. We pegged one of 'em, too. Only it was in the back, which don't make us look too good-"

  "What do you mean? Someone was shot?"

  "It was before Ben and Daddy and us got there. Our line riders had already chased the attackers off, and shot one of 'em in the back. Ben and Peter are takin' the body over to the sheriff."

  Addie felt herself tum pale. "But that's dangerous. The men could be hiding near the road somewhere. They might try to shoot Ben for revenge… or…" She glanced at Caroline. "Or Peter…"

  "Ben'll keep a sharp eye out," Cade said.

  "But it's dark. He… " She bit her lip and kept in words of panic, aware of May's reproving eyes on her. May was far from pleased over her daughter's untoward concern for the foreman.

  "Daddy's assigning more of our hands to watch over our property," Cade continued glibly. "Tomorrow they'll start puttin' the fence back up again. 'Course, it'll take away from
the other chores that need t' be done around here, 'specially gettin' ready for roundup." He nearly did a dance of glee right in the center of the kitchen. "Daddy says I gotta take off school for a few weeks and help around here. He says there's too much t' be done on the ranch to fool around with books-"

  "That's fine," May said evenly. "You'll help your daddy in the daytime and study your books in the evenin'. Adeline and I will help you do your lessons so you won't fall behind."

  Cade's grin collapsed. "Aw, Ma-"

  "It'll be a long day tomorrow. Go upstairs now and get some sleep."

  "Sleep?" he repeated, as if the concept was foreign to him. "After what happened tonight?"

  May nodded implacably, and the boy trudged out of the room, his exuberance deflating fast. "You can do the same, Adeline," she said, turning her eyes to her younger daughter. "You won't help anyone by stayin' up."

  "I… I can't go to bed." Addie sat down slowly, gripping the sides of her chair as if expecting to be pried forcibly from it. "I'll wait for them to get back." Her anxiousness wore down into numbness as time dragged by. The cup of steaming coffee in front of her gradually turned stone-cold, and she took no notice as Caroline replaced it with a new cup. Then that was cold too, and they still hadn't returned.

  There was a sickening plunge in her stomach every time she heard a noise outside, each time she heard a man's voice and knew it wasn't Ben's. Her head dropped to her folded arms on the table and she closed her eyes, waiting, waiting for the footsteps that were different from anyone else's, for the voice that could ease her tension and calm her fears. She felt Caroline's hand on her shoulder.

  "I'm going to pour more coffee. I think they're back."

  Addie's head jerked up, her eyes fastening on the doorway in a blank stare. Wearily Peter walked into the kitchen and settled his large frame in a chair, accepting the mug Caro handed to him. Russell burst into the kitchen in much the same way Cade had, breathing fire as he started to tell May his version of what had happened. And then Ben closed the door behind him, quiet and calm, his green eyes clear despite the lateness of the hour.