by Jillian Hart
“I can take that off,” she offered.
“I can manage it.” He laved the upper swell of one breast and caressed the other. This is what he’d dreamed of all night, tortured by images of everything he wanted to do to her.
It had to be a dream now, too. Any minute he was going to wake up and the taste and scent of her was going to fade away into darkness. And be gone forever.
He couldn’t believe he was here, in broad daylight and not a dream, touching her, kissing her. And that she would want him to, watching him with dark eyes as he slipped the dress from her shoulders so he could reach around and tug loose the bow at her back.
Her fingers curled around his nape, holding him to her as the cumbersome garment came unlaced, exposing the dark rose peaks of her breasts. He hardly had time to contemplate their beauty as he caught a pebbled nipple and pulled it into his mouth. She held him there as he suckled, laving her with his tongue. He loved that she grew restless beneath him, lost in the pleasure he was giving her.
“Like that, do you?”
“Oh, just a tiny bit.”
“A tiny bit, huh? Then maybe I ought to stop, since you aren’t enjoying this more.”
“Don’t you dare.”
He chuckled, his breath a warm sensation across her damp, sensitized nipple. Sarah guided him back to her breast and let her head roll back against the thick pillows, grateful when his mouth captured her again, taking her to where there was only feeling.
His hands were caressing her, everywhere. Her stomach, her hips, her thighs. He was like a cyclone, sweeping her away, leaving her breathless and weak and clinging to his shoulders as he smoothed the cotton skirt away from her thighs.
She groaned, anxious and needy, wanting this man she loved. His touch was like no other, bold and possessive and tender all at once. His touch left no doubt she was his woman, his love.
“Oh, Gage.” She sighed as he stroked his way up her inner thighs. Teasing, circling, never quite making his way beneath the hem of her drawers. The core of her ached for his touch. Never had she wanted anything so much. Restless, she lifted her hips, desperate for his touch.
“There’s no hurry,” he whispered, his words a hot caress on her throat.
“I want you.” She ought to be embarrassed, admitting such a brazen truth, but she only saw the way Gage raised up on his elbows to meet her gaze. So much was mirrored there in his eyes. Affection and friendship and respect and want. And love.
Yes, she saw that as dark and deep as his desire for her. Felt it in the most tender brush of a kiss to her mouth, the weight of his hand as he molded her breast to fit his palm.
“It’s been a long time for me, too,” he admitted. “I want this to be right, Sarah. I want you well pleasured, so you’ll stay with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She stroked his chest, curling her fingers into the light mat of dark, downy hair, coarse and soft at the same time. Delighted in the texture of his skin, so different from hers, browned by the sun, and the hard ridges of muscle that rippled beneath her hand.
He was touching her again, easing down her drawers, the heel of his hand brushing low and lower still. Such exquisite pleasure. Hot and sharp and fierce. His fingers crept lower, exploring and teasing and circling that central place that made her cry out in near abandon.
A knock rattled the door downstairs, echoing in the empty rooms. Gage’s hand stilled.
“Who in the blazes is that?” He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I’m sure it’s a traveling salesman. He’ll go away.”
“The door’s unlocked.”
“He’ll go away,” Gage insisted as he slid two fingers inside her. His thumb stroked and circled and she was lost. Completely, utterly lost.
The knock thudded louder. A man’s booming voice shattered the moment. “Gatlin? Are you in there?”
“It’s my foreman.” Gage shook his head. “We could ignore him. Pretend we’re not here.”
“Duty calls, sir. We can always finish this later.” She blushed a little. Gage had finally taken his hand out of her drawers and now she felt embarrassed. Realizing she’d done all but surrender completely to him, she smoothed her skirt into place and wondered what happened to her corset. Searching for her garments was far easier than having to look him in the eye.
The door banged shut downstairs. “Gatlin? We need you at the creek.”
Gage shot off the bed and refastened his denims. “I’ll get rid of him. You stay right here. Please.” He kissed her, deep and wet, leaving her tingling.
“It’s nearly ten-thirty. Time for me to start work.” She blushed again because she’d come early today. And Gage knew why.
He swore, buckling his belt. “Tonight, then. After work.”
“But I—”
“Have Ella spend the night with Lucy. It would be all right if you came along, too. I suppose I could make room for you in my bed. If that’s what you want.”
“My reputation—”
“Don’t worry about it, angel. I’m leaving anyhow in a bit to take the horses to the capital, and you’ll be staying here.” He grabbed a clean shirt from the closet. “We might call this a test. To see if you feel comfortable staying in the house while I’m away.”
“You think of everything, don’t you?”
“Ma’am, I sure try. Will you stay?”
“My common sense says no. Absolutely not.”
“And your body says?”
“Yes.”
“Then tonight can’t come fast enough.” His dimples flashed and he left, his boots thudding down the stairs and echoing through the downstairs. The screen door slammed and he was gone.
Oh, heavens. She sank onto the edge of the bed, rumpled from their lovemaking. She hid her face in her hands, wishing her common sense would come back and save her.
Then again, maybe she didn’t want to be saved. Gage loved her. She knew he did. He might not say the words, but this was serious. He knew it. She knew it.
And this, the way he’d pleasured her in his bed, it was just the beginning.
Desire curled deep inside. She was still tingling from his touch, breathing hard from wanting him.
She still wanted him.
It was hard to concentrate as she prepared the noon meal for the four ranch hands and the newly hired wrangler Gage had lured away from a ranch in Wyoming. The men talked over her fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits about the problems with Milt. He’d taken to drinking, sitting in the fields with his loaded rifle. Watching as the men finished the fence.
She couldn’t help feeling somehow responsible. Milt was her uncle by marriage, but her offers to speak to him were met with a loud round of nays from the armed men at the table. Wally grabbed an extra piece of chicken, leaving before the meal was done, to ride for the sheriff. Milt wasn’t breaking the law yet, but a fence line wasn’t worth a man’s life if it came to that.
“Don’t worry about Milt, angel.” Gage followed her into the kitchen after the other men had returned to their duties. “It’s a matter of common sense. Any more trouble, and he’ll find himself in jail. That will make him back away.”
“I know times are tough for them.” She’d seen it with her own eyes. A barely producing piece of land Milt had unwisely purchased years ago was only the start of it. “I heard Wally say my aunt Pearl left with the children. Despite his faults, he does love his family. Losing them makes his drinking worse.”
“That’s a problem they need to solve.” He took her into his arms. “The men and I told the sheriff we would help Milt dig a well to replace the water. That may be a solution, if Milt isn’t too cantankerous to accept my assistance.”
“Like me, you mean?”
“You used to be rather prickly when I tried to help you, but you’re became amazingly agreeable.” His lips brushed hers once, and again. “If I can get that blasted colt to behave before I leave for Helena, I’m going to leave the white mare here. The one Ella likes. Figure she needs a horse if she wants t
o keep up with Lucy.”
“You mean Sugar? The mare Ella wishes for every night before she goes to sleep?” When he nodded, she couldn’t help loving him a little bit more. “Thank you. That’s the best gift you could have given me.”
“I know.” He kissed her again. “It’s one o’clock. The day is going so slow, so at this rate it’ll be damn eternity before tonight comes.”
“The reward may be worth it.” She blushed. Had she really said that?
Throughout the afternoon, it was all she could think about. The hunger in Gage’s kiss. The anticipation shimmering in her blood, making her tingle. The day felt extraordinary as she passed the time doing ordinary things. Hemming gingham curtains for the house, or snatching time to daydream about Gage.
Instead of fantasizing about making love to Gage, she ought to be trying to locate the common sense she’d obviously misplaced.
But what did common sense matter when compared to how alive Gage made her feel? The caress of his hands, the tug of his mouth at her breast, the way he’d touched her so intimately…
Tonight did feel like centuries away.
She heard a clatter in the yard and set down her sewing. Scout was wandering up the drive, with Lucy and Ella on her back. In the distance rang the shouts of children on the main road to town, walking home from school. Lucy and Ella waved at someone out of Sarah’s sight and Scout broke into a gallop, taking the girls flying past the door.
“Hi, Ma!” Ella yelled with glee.
Then Sarah remembered. The cookies! She’d do better to keep at least half of her mind on her work. Grabbing the mitt, she rescued the cookies from the oven, relieved they were a golden brown and not crisped at all. Perfect. Warm cookies for the girls to enjoy with a glass of milk.
“Ma!” Ella tumbled through the door, Lucy traipsing in behind her. “I won the spelling bee.”
“She did. I came in second ’cuz I couldn’t spell ‘impertinent.’”
“Impertinent is a pretty big word.” Sarah scooped the last cookie onto the wire rack to cool. “I’m proud of you both. And first place, baby. You’re doing so well.”
“I know!” Ella threw her arms around Sarah’s waist.
Lucy did, too. “You baked ginger cookies. My very, very favorite.”
“I heard that somewhere. Lucky for us, it’s Ella’s favorite, too.” Sarah gave each girl a kiss on the brow. “Now go upstairs and change out of your school clothes. Hurry.”
“We’re awful hungry right now, Sarah.” Lucy’s fingers reached toward the counter.
“Awful hungry,” Ella agreed breathlessly. “We’re about to starve.”
Was that a wheeze? No, Ella was simply excited. Sarah felt her child’s brow to be sure. Well, she felt fine. “All right, one cookie each, and that’s it for now. Off you go.”
The girls thundered up the stairs, talking a mile a minute, their voices ringing in the stairwell. The sounds of happiness had Sarah humming as she set the baking dishes near the pump.
Was this joy real? Or was she dreaming? Happiness made her feet light as she retrieved the bowl of bread dough from the windowsill. Contentment made the task of handling the sticky dough agreeable.
If this was a dream, she never wanted it to end. This, right here, was everything she’d ever wanted. She caught sight of Gage through the open doorway, in the saddle, trotting a buckskin around the corral. His head bent to his task, his back straight and strong, he looked like the hero he was, an invincible man of might and tenderness who loved her.
She could not ask for more.
It was there between them through supper and into the evening, unspoken but humming beneath the surface. Sarah couldn’t ignore the flicker of want inside her that happened every time she looked at Gage.
The evening seemed to last forever. After supper Sarah ironed the curtains she’d finished hemming and Gage hung them in the dining room, according to the girls’s instructions. Later, after bedtime stories and a lot of orders to quiet down, the girls seemed to be asleep, each tucked into their own bunk bed.
“Finally.” Gage commented as he stole into the parlor. “It’s only eleven.”
“Are they actually asleep? And not faking?”
“I say we give them a few more minutes and we’ll know for sure.” He joined her on the front step and pulled her into the curve of his side. His arms held her tight as he nuzzled her ear. “I’ve been waiting for this all day. Couldn’t think of much else.”
“At least you didn’t land in the sticker patch again.”
“That’s because I took a machete to it this morning. It’s gone.” His hands caressed the curve of her shoulders. “I didn’t know if I could take another session of being doctored by you. I may have lost all control.”
“What about now?”
“Close.” He laved an extremely tender spot behind her ear.
Pleasure shivered through her and she leaned back against him. “That’s nice.”
“Nice? I don’t want nice.” He kissed lower, where her neck curved into her shoulder, while his hands circled around her waist. “I intend to ravish you, my sweet lady.”
“I might like that.” She arched her back as he cupped her breasts, kneading and stroking until she bit her lip to keep from crying out.
“Seems to me you definitely like that.” He plucked at her buttons again and slipped inside her dress. “Left your corset off, did you?”
“Hmm.” It was all the speech she could manage. Pure bliss. She felt every muscle in her body relax. So good. So very good. She moaned when he withdrew his touch, leaving her breasts heavy and aching.
“I think we’re officially alone.” He helped her up, keeping her close at his side. “Let’s find someplace more private.”
“Not your bedroom. The thought of the girls right across the hall—”
“One day you’re going to have to get used to that.” His fingers curved around her nape, then trailed down her back in slow, sizzling strokes. “For now, I understand. We’ll find a place to be alone, together.”
“I’d love that.”
“Good.” His fingers stole into her gaping dress and caressed her. “I want you tonight, Sarah. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”
His words knocked away the last of her disbelief. The doubt she’d been holding inside. The part of her that thought this was too good to be true, too incredible to be real. That Gage, heroic and strong and kind, would want her, Sarah Redding.
Because he did want her. His touch, his words, the tender brush of his lips against her temple. She wanted him, needed him, more than the earth at her feet.
As if he understood, he pulled her into the grasses. There was no need for words as he pulled the clothes from her until she was naked in the moonlight, sheltered by the roll and draw of the prairie, but exposed to the night. To him.
“You are worth the wait. Do you know how much I want you?” He untied the ribbon from her braid and loosened the tight plait. “You’re mine, Sarah. All mine.”
She plucked at his buttons and slid the soft wash-worn fabric away to expose the hard gleam of his torso and the heat of his skin against her palms. Moonlight caressed him the way she wanted to. Over every ridge and ripple of muscle. Over every curve of arm and rib.
“I’m more crazy now,” he whispered in her ear as he laid her onto their clothes, spread out beneath her. “Do you feel how much?”
Did she ever. The hard length of him jutted against the curve of her stomach. She could feel him plainly through his thin cotton drawers. Then he moved away and there was no barrier between them. Just his blunt stiffness hard against her, and the answering curve of her own desire.
A desire that coursed through her with the fury of a spring river, crashing and speeding and knocking away everything in its path. She wasn’t aware of the sky above or the grass below or the call of a coyote in the fields.
Only the weight of Gage as he eased over her completely, one knee between her thighs, capturing her mouth
with his, kissing her deep and fast until she was breathless and her hips were arching up to meet him. His hardness pulsed between them, and her body answered.
She wanted him. Needed him inside her. Was about to snap into a thousand pieces if he wouldn’t hurry—
“Please, Gage.” She heard her own desperation.
He smoothed the tangles from her face, breathing hard. “You want me, do you, angel?”
“No. Not at all. Please, I—” Need you. The words caught in her throat and became a tortured groan as he pressed her thighs apart with his knees. His shaft nudged against her inner thigh. “Gage, please—”
“As you wish, my lady.” His words were a kiss as he entered her in one long, slow thrust that tore a moan from her throat. He settled deep and held there, thrumming inside her. “Is this satisfactory?”
“Oh, yes.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held tight. There was so much of him, hard and thick inside her, and he felt so good. No, that wasn’t the word. Magnificent, amazing, stupendous.
Sharp thrills of pleasure ripped through her, spiraling through every nerve ending. Gage set a rhythm that sent her over the edge in a sudden, fierce climax. Wave after wave of tight, rippling sensation left her helpless and clinging to him.
“Hmm, you’re a pretty easy woman. Just what I like.”
“You think you’re funny.”
“I am. Like I told you, I’m the best rider in all of Montana.” He rocked against her, determined to prove it.
“Enough with the puns. You have a bad sense of humor.”
“Yeah, but maybe you like me a little bad, eh?”
“Maybe.”
He lifted her hips, bringing her knees high enough so that she could wrap her legs around him. She’d never been this vulnerable and open to a man. Locked together, they moved as one, his breath was her breath, his kiss hers. The orgasm that rocked them both began with him and ended with her.
Drained, wrung out, overwhelmed with a fierce love that had no end, she clung to him. Couldn’t let go. Gage remained inside her, kissing her and stroking her without another word until he was hard again, until she was ready.