Roxanne knew she should put distance between his body and hers, but her hands seemed to have a mind of their own, as they explored the contours of his chest. She looked up and was trapped by the golden embers that seemed to glow in his eyes. She knew Collin was about to kiss her again and welcomed it.
Collin was going to kiss her, but knew if he did, it might not end with just a kiss. So, ignoring the pleas of his very aroused body, he snatched her hands off his chest.
"If you keep doing that, my dear, we are soon going to be rolling around in the dirt at our feet. And as enticing as that thought is, I don't think you'd thank me for it afterward."
His words penetrated Roxanne's stupor and she jerked her hands away from him and stepped back several paces.
"How dare you speak to be like that? You insufferable lout!"
Collin laughed, he was amused by her prudish Victorian attitude and decided he'd tease her even more.
"Now, why is it rude to tell a woman that you find rolling around in the dirt with her to be highly arousing? It was a compliment. I thought you'd be flattered."
Roxanne's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She was shocked that he would dare to say such things. Raising her chin high, she looked at him with disdain.
"Your way of speaking to a lady is atrocious and you are not in any way a gentleman."
"I agree. I've never had any aspirations to be any kind of a gentleman. Now that we've established that you are a lady and I'm a rogue, why are you here?"
Roxanne wanted to press the point more, but knew it would be a waste of time with someone like Collin.
"Would you please put on a shirt? I need to speak with you about something important."
Collin decided he'd teased her enough for one day and walking over to the log where he'd draped his shirt, he put it on. The blue flannel had been stiff and scratchy when he'd bought it in town a couple of weeks ago, but he'd beat it with a rock in the creek until it was soft and comfortable.
"Come on in the house and I'll pour us some lemonade."
Roxanne followed him into the cabin and looked around at the cozy interior. It was one large room with a handmade table and chairs at one end of the room and at the other end, a handmade sofa and chair graced the fireplace. The sofa and chair had ropes lacing the seats and Collin had folded and piled many multicolored blankets and used them to pad the furniture. They were not only pretty, but looked quite comfortable.
"Have a seat. I'll get the drinks."
Roxanne walked across the wood floor and sat down in the chair. It was nice and soft. The huge rock fireplace took up almost an entire wall of the cabin. She noticed a door in one of the walls and assumed it was a bedroom. She was not going to let her imagination get started on that.
She turned to watch Collin and stared in amazement. He had removed a huge covering from a round rock structure that was in the corner at the other end of the room. He pulled a rope up and at the end was an earthenware jug with a stopper. There was water dripping from the jug as Collin pulled the stopper and poured the lemonade into the two tin mugs on the table. He then re-stopped the jug, lowered it back, and covered the structure.
"Is that a deep well? I've never heard of having your well inside the house."
"Yes it is and it sure beats going out in the winter snow for water." Collin replied as he carried the mugs over to where she sat.
"That's rather ingenious."
"Yes it is." He handed her one of the cups.
Thank you." Roxanne took a deep swallow of the cold refreshing drink, the sweet tartness easing the dryness of her parched throat.
"Oh, this is truly wonderful lemonade, thank you, Colin."
Colin mumbled an appropriate response, unable to tear his gaze from the long line of her slender throat. He imagined his tongue gliding over the softness and wondered if she'd shiver and moan in response.
He became aware of the fact she'd been speaking to him and glanced up to her flushed face. Her eyes quickly averted to avoid contact with his. He realized that at least part of what he'd been thinking had shown on his face and that once again he'd embarrassed her.
"I apologize, but you can't blame a man for looking and dreaming a little."
"Mr. O'Neal, I came here to discuss my father, not your fantasies."
Collin had to remind himself that this was a Victorian lady sitting before him and his words were outrageous at best.
"Very well, we'll let my fantasies rest. What did you want to talk about?"
"Did my father ever make mention of Black Rock Mine or a Jane O'Malley?"
"We had discussed the mine, yes. Jane O'Malley? I'm no sure. Why?"
"Mr. Ramsdell and I went through my father's records and I found papers on the mine and a paper mentioning Jane O'Malley. I couldn't remember ever having heard Papa mention either one."
"According to what Jacob told me, the mine played out years ago."
"Do you know where the mine is located? I'd very much like to go there."
"I can't imagine why, but I'd be happy to show you."
"It's part of Black Rock Ranch and as the owner, I'd like to know all there is to know and to familiarize myself with it. Surely that isn't odd."
"Not odd at all, when would you like to go? I have some free time now if you want."
"I'd appreciate that." Roxanne stood and handed her mug for him to take. "I'll go get Sally while you saddle your horse."
"I don't have a horse."
Roxanne stopped on her way to the door and turned to stare at him. "I beg your pardon, did you say you don't have a horse?"
"That's right, I don't have a horse, but it's not that far to the mine from here. We'll walk."
Roxanne was astonished. "How on earth can you not have a horse? What about supplies? How do you get to town?"
"I normally ride with Slim or one of the other hands when they go to town to pick up supplies for Black Rock. Everywhere else I go, I walk. I have no need of a horse and I don't ride."
"What do you mean, you don't ride?"
"I have no idea how to ride a horse. I barely know one end from the other."
"That's impossible! Everyone rides." She suddenly had a thought. "Are you afraid of horses, Mr. O'Neal?"
"No, I am not afraid of horses. I've just never needed to learn to ride."
"I think you have the need now. I'd be happy to teach you."
"Oh no, I'll pass. Thank you just the same."
"Why, because I'm a woman?" Roxanne tilted her chin and looked at him with challenge.
"It has nothing to do with you being a woman." Collin was becoming annoyed.
"Afraid?"
"Again, I am not afraid of horses and this conversation is becoming ridiculous. Do you want to go to the mine or stand here all day? If we're staying here I can think of more pleasant things to discuss. Like the fact that your breasts become harder and fuller whenever you issue a challenge and they push enticingly against the front of your blouse."
Roxanne glanced down at her breasts and blushed to the root of her hairline as she realized he was right. Quickly crossing her arms over the offending appendages, she glared at him.
"How dare you speak of such things! Your comments are outrageously offensive, sir."
"I apologize once again. I just wanted to shut you up. Now lets go find that mine." Collin went to the door and held it open, waiting for her to go through.
Roxanne was so angry she wished for a moment to say or do something very un-lady like. Unfortunately her years of training in Boston prohibited her from doing or saying anything of the kind. Sticking her chin high in the air, she sailed past him and out into the bright sunlight, grateful for the cooling breeze blowing against her flushed cheeks.
Collin grinned at her back and following her out, he led the way to a path through the trees.
* * * * *
Brad dismounted in front of the ranch house with a smile of satisfaction. He'd turn on the charm today and Roxanne would finally agree to have him come
to court. He didn't plan on wasting any more time. After their tea yesterday, he realized she'd make a perfect wife for him. With her years of training in Boston, she'd grace his home and readily submit to her husband in everything.
After knocking on the door he smoothed his blonde hair and waited, his smile fading when Lucy opened the door.
"Can I help you, Mr. Wellman?"
"Tell Miss Ingram that I've come to call."
"I'm sorry, sir, she's not here. She went riding."
"Then I shall come in and wait." Brad brushed her aside and continued into the house.
"But I don't expect she'll be back for quite some time. She said not to fix her any lunch. I think she was plannin' to be gone most of the day."
Brad turned and walked back to the porch. "Did she say where she'd be riding?"
"No, sir. She just went up past the black stone and kept a goin'."
"Very well, tell her I shall call again."
"Yes, sir, I'll do that."
Brad mounted with a sense of frustration. Glancing towards the black stone rising out of the earth, he decided to see if he could pick up her trail, not wanting the day to be a total waste. Riding the big black horse around the stone, he easily picked up her trail going down the path to the old cabin where O'Neal was living.
Brad guided the horse down the steep embankment and through the trees to the little clearing where the cabin set. Pulling the horse to a stop, he dismounted and noticed the mare in the open horse stall. The horse had to be Roxanne's. He knew Collin didn't own one and his frustration grew knowing Roxanne was alone in the cabin with O'Neal. Maybe she isn't quite the little lady I thought her to be.
After watching the house for a while with no sign of anyone being around, he remounted and jerked the reins to turn the horse back the way he'd come. He could feel his anger burning hot in his gut and decided he'd have to be much more forceful in bringing Roxanne to heel.
* * * * *
They'd walked for quite a ways and Roxanne was beginning to rue Collin's aversion to horseback riding. She was getting tired and knew she was out of shape from living in Boston and being able to ride in a carriage or trolley everywhere she went.
"Mr. O'Neal, how much farther is it? We could have been much closer by now if we'd rode Sally."
"Getting tired? We'll leave the trees right up here and it's not far after that."
The hot sun nearly blinded Roxanne as they left the shelter of the trees and started down the steep, rocky hill. Her boots slid on the rocky ground and she would have fallen had Collin not grabbed her just she felt her feet slide out from under her.
"Careful, I wouldn't want you to get hurt. This hill is pretty steep."
Roxanne pulled her arm away from Collin and continued down the hill. "Lets just keep going, please. It looks like a storm is coming."
Collin eyed the dark clouds rolling in from the west. "You're right, a storm is brewing. Maybe we'd better turn back before it's too late."
"It's already too late. We'd never cover that much distance before it rains. Is the mine boarded up? If not we can take shelter there."
"It's not boarded. " Collin followed her on down the hill and then took her arm to help her around the huge boulders scattered around the entrance to the old mine.
The entrance was covered with scrub brush and Roxanne started pulling it out of the way to find the opening. Collin walked up and pulled her back.
"Wait a minute, you never know what might be curled up in there for shelter. I'll go first. You wait here until I call you."
Roxanne quickly stepped back, allowing him to enter first. Thoughts of stepping on a rattlesnake filled her with terror.
"You can come on in now, it's safe enough."
Roxanne pushed the brush out of the way and entered the large cave like opening. The cool dark interior was a welcome relief from the hot humidity outside. Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Roxanne looked around curiously. It was too dark to see anything once away from the light from the entrance.
"We should have thought to bring torches."
"I thought you only wanted to know where the mine was. I certainly hope you aren't planning to investigate this place. It's not safe."
"What I do or don't do on my own property is no concern of yours, Mr. O'Neal."
"Listen you stubborn little ninny, this place could collapse and bury you in the blink of an eye and no one would ever find you."
"Don't talk to me like that. I am not a child and I can take care of myself."
Collin grabbed her arms and gave her a little shake. "You listen to me, I don't want to have to regret being stupid enough to bring you here. Now you give me your word that you won't come here alone snooping around."
"Take you hands off me, you brute!"
Roxanne was angrier than she could ever remember being and raised her hand to give him a good slap across the face. Unfortunately Collin was faster. Grabbing her wrist, he prevented the blow just as a loud crack of thunder shook the earth and lightning briefly lit the dim interior. Roxanne jumped and Collin folded her close against his chest.
Her warm softness melded against his hard frame and he pulled her closer, reveling in the feel of her body pressed along the length of him. He realized too late that a certain part of his anatomy was more than pleased to have Roxanne pressed close.
Heat from Collin's body seeped into Roxanne and flowed through her body. She relished the warmth as the rained pounded the thirsty ground and a cold breeze blew through the entrance of the mine. Snuggling deeper into his warmth, she felt his hardness pressing against her stomach. Blushing crimson, she tried to pull away.
Collin jerked her back against his body. She looked up into the burning amber of his eyes, gasping at the naked passion she saw there. Lifting his hand, those long fingers gently took hold of her chin. Holding her head still, he swiped one thumb across her dry lips. They throbbed with the wanting of his kiss. She knew she should pull away, but could not find the strength. His intense gaze held her as lightly as a feather and as powerfully as an iron vice. She had no will to break the spell. As she watched, there was a change in his eyes, subtle, but there for a brief moment. A flash of fire in the amber before his head lowered to hers.
His tongue flicked across the dryness of her lips. Moistening, leaving a trail of fire that burned all down the length of her body, coming back to rest low in her stomach. She wouldn't have thought it possible, but he pulled her even closer before plunging his tongue into the sweet darkness of her mouth. Roving freely, invading every hidden crevice and coming back to capture her tongue, swirling round and round.
Roxanne slipped away from the storm outside. She could think of nothing but the storm within her own body. Her limbs trembling as she spun out of control. Raising her arms and twining her fingers in the dark hair at his nape, her body shuddered as his kiss hardened, became more demanding.
She moaned loudly when his thumbs brushed across her sensitive nipples causing them to harden instantly. She pushed against his hand, wanting more of the wonderful sensation.
Collin cupped her breast, massaging the tender flesh and circling the nipple before squeezing gently. When Roxanne moaned again, he knew he was lost.
Pushing her blouse up over her chemise, he lowered his head, sucking and licking at the nipple under the soft cotton. The fabric became damp and Roxanne arched her back, pushing her mound into his hardness as he laved the other nipple.
With trembling hands, Collin worked the buttons loose at the side of her riding skirt. He continued sucking at her breasts and pushed his hand into the waistband of her skirt.
His fingers found the soft plump petals and stroked softly to part them before sliding his fingers into the wet heat underneath. Roxanne's body jerked when he found the hard little nub and rubbed gently, circling round and round.
She knew she shouldn't allow him to touch her so intimately, that she should be stopping him. Heat consumed her and the pleasure was almost unbearable, yet she wanted mo
re, needed more. She was reaching…reaching for something unknown to her.
"Oh, Collin, please, please..."
"I know sweetheart, just let it happen."
Collin swallowed her scream with a deep kiss as her body jerked and throbbed against his hand in her release. The tiny spasms shuddered through her being. He knew he had to have this passionate creature and nothing would stop him from taking her now. He pushed at the band of her skirt, lowering it over her slim hips.
When the sound of a rider approaching reached his ear, he cursed loudly, bringing Roxanne partly out of the pleasurable stupor she was in.
"Miss Ingram, are you in there?"
Collin cursed again, as he began to help Roxanne put her clothes to rights. She was blushing a beautiful shade of pink and he was sorry that her first experience with sensual pleasure was ending in embarrassment. He fervently hoped that a certain part of his anatomy would return to normal before Jim came barging into the mine.
He hated that Roxanne was refusing to meet his eyes. He knew it shouldn't have happened, but damned if he was sorry that it had. He'd never forget the look on her face as she'd reached her first climax and knew he was in for many sleepless nights.
"Jim, we're in here." Collin escorted Roxanne out of the mine.
"Lucy became worried when the storm come up and Miss Ingram hadn't made it home yet." Jim eyed them curiously.
"She wanted to see the mine and we took shelter in there from the storm."
"It was sweet of Lucy to be concerned and very kind of you to come look for me, Jim. Would you be so kind as to take me back to Mr. O'Neal's cabin to get Sally?"
"Certainly. Mr. O'Neal would you like me to come back for you?"
"No, that won't be necessary. The storm seems to have passed, I can walk back."
E. G. Parsons - Black Rock: Page 5