The Payment

by Mysty McPartland

  He admitted he didn’t want to let her go. He intended to try everything he could to keep her and hoped like hell he would succeed.

  Dane finally reached Victoria just a few minutes before the train pulled into the station. Keeping out of sight, he watched the passengers leave the train and finally spotted his wife. When she went inside the eatery, he quickly saw her horse taken from the train as well as her bags. He leaned against the building and waited for her to come out.

  After eating and seeing to her personal needs, India stepped outside. She was about to return to the train when she saw her husband slowly walking towards her.

  Her hand fluttered to her throat in fear and apprehension. How did he manage to arrive here so quickly? The thought floated through her mind as she searched for some escape. When she noticed Lightening, her shoulders sagged in defeat.

  In long purposeful strides, Dane reached his wife and none too gently took her arm. “I hope you enjoyed a pleasant trip sweetheart. Now it’s time to go home.”

  Filled with alarm and trembling, India didn’t miss seeing the blazing anger coming from his golden eyes. She wondered what he would do to her when they were alone. She took one more desperate look around and thought perhaps she might have some small chance of escaping. When she felt the fingers on her arm tighten even more, she knew there would be no more running away.

  “I wouldn’t try it if I were you. I’m sure you're as reluctant as I am to cause a scene. Now I suggest you come along, and we’ll discuss this somewhere private.” Dane warned her in a cold chilling voice.

  He hid his surprise that he didn’t have to drag her over to her horse. When they reached the animals, he picked her up and roughly tossed her on top. Keeping hold of the reins, he mounted his own horse and rode out of town.

  Only able to hold onto the saddle horn, India let her husband guide her horse without protest. She did wonder where Tuff and Jasper were and how her husband managed to find her so quickly. He must have ridden all night to be here waiting for her arrival.

  She never thought he cared enough to come after her. What a fool, not to consider his ego, or that she was payment for the debt her brother owed him. It’s what got her into this blasted mess in the first place. It didn’t look as if she would be getting out of it any time soon. If at all.

  Dane ignored his wife and set a steady pace, he wanted to catch up with Tuff and Jasper before they managed to get too far ahead. Not once during the long day did he turn to look at his wife. Now, he only felt too damn angry and disappointed. He hoped by the time they made camp he would be in a more amiable mood.

  He tipped his hat back, gazed up at the sky, and grunted. His gazed dropped, and he started to look for somewhere to camp. Finding a spot just up ahead, he slowed his horse down. Gazing behind him, he shook his head. Damn fool woman, why didn’t she say she needed a rest?

  India hung on to the saddle horn, exhausted, thirsty, and feeling immensely sorry for herself. However, she would rather bite her tongue off before she asked her husband to stop and let her rest. Even if she did ask, she doubted that he would stop or show her any more consideration. Not after she kept throwing it back in his face.

  With a heavy sigh of tiredness and defeat, she bowed her head and hoped they might stop soon. Then again, she didn’t want him to stop. She definitely did not look forward to the coming confrontation. She couldn’t stop her apprehension growing over what he would to do to her.

  All she could do is pray he wouldn’t turn violent. Hopefully she might find a way to convince him how senseless this marriage is and let her go.

  NINE

  As soon as he stopped his horse, Dane slid another gaze at his wife and saw her sagging in the saddle. Damn foolish woman, he silently mumbled. Swinging off his horse he went around the animal and placing his hands on his wife’s waist, lifted her down. He turned away, ignoring the forlorn and apprehensive look on her face. He refused to feel sorry at how dejected and pitiful or afraid she looked. She bought this on herself.

  India stood with her head bowed biting her bottom lip. She became more fearful as each minute ticked by in silence.

  After pulling off the saddle Dane looked over his shoulder and his mouth tightened into a hard line. “Don’t just stand there. Collect some wood and start a fire. For God’s sake, don’t try anything stupid. My patience is at an end. I won’t put up with any more nonsense from you.”

  Unable to prevent herself from jumping at the harsh voice and the words whipping at her, India quickly spun around and hurriedly moved off to gather some wood. No matter how much she wanted to tell him to go to hell, she knew it would be wiser to keep her words to herself. It didn’t take her long to gather enough wood. Once she started the fire, she sat down on a fallen log and stared at the flames.

  She grew more worried and frightened as time passed. The waiting to find out what her husband would do to her now that they were alone, made her tremble inside and out. Lord she never thought he would come after her, well he did. Now she will have to face the consequences.

  Finished seeing to the horses, Dane stood and studied his wife. At least she is being biddable for once, but he didn’t expect it to last too long. The longer he stared at her; he could feel the familiar flames of desire lick through him. He silently cursed when he felt himself start to harden.

  He slammed his eyes shut and drew in a long harsh breath in an attempt to squelch his growing lust. An impossible feat, it grew too strong and he could feel the bulge start to stretch the front of his pants. God damn it, he grumbled and opening his eyes, he spun around picked up the saddlebags and her bags and moved to the fire.

  “Go down to the river and wash up.” He growled out as he dropped her bags on the ground by her feet. After he hunkered down, opened one of the saddlebags, and started to pull out the coffee pot and pan to start supper.

  Relieved to have time away from the foul tempered brute, India reached out and picked up her bags, she jumped to her feet and hurried towards the stream. She was grateful to be away from him and the anger simmering inside of him.

  Once his wife left, Dane sat back on his heels and let out a heavy sigh. Tonight, one way or another, their future will be decided. Because once they reached Sherman, either she would be put on the train for home, or he would take her home with him. If they could not come to some arrangement between them, he didn’t see much point in continuing their marriage.

  He did not like the idea of letting her go, but what choice would he have? As things were, he could not take her home to his brothers with this hostility between them. His disappointment grew, he hoped by now there would be some peace between them and some intimacy. Letting out a heartfelt sigh, he didn’t like it, but he might just have to admit defeat.

  The dissatisfaction he felt was great. More than anything, he hoped his marriage would have worked out, even if it wasn’t what she wanted and the way he forced her to marry him. Hell, he admitted to being a damn fool to even think it might have a chance. Well, once they talked tonight, he would make his decision. He hoped like hell that he never came to regret it in the future.

  Down at the stream, India took her time, definitely in no hurry to return to camp and face her husband. She knew that when she did there would probably be an ugly confrontation. It still amazed her that he actually came after her. It confused her too. Did he really want their marriage to work? It seemed that he did, and it puzzled her. Yet she could not stop the little thrill that rushed through her at the thought.

  Lord the man kept confusing her and stirring emotions inside her. She refused to acknowledge those feelings, and she vigorously shook her head and grimaced. It would be foolish to have any feeling towards him after what he forced her to do. Yet she admitted that from the moment, she saw him, she felt an attraction towards him. She even confessed that the powerful size and his stunning good looks made her a little breathless.

  However, what he did to her, she doubted she could ever forgive him. She did not like to think what th
eir future would be like since he refused to let her go. Her eyes closed as she thought of all the years to come living with this man without any love or happiness between them. A very gloomy picture it made, and she forced it away.

  Her only hope is that he might see sense and realize he made a mistake and let her go. With a heavy despondent sigh, she finished undressing and stepped into the water to bath away the dust.

  Dane finished putting the pan of beans and coffee pot near the fire. Standing up to stretch, his gaze moved around the camp. With a shrug, he moved over and picked up the bedroll. His mouth lifted in a smirk wondering how his wife would react when she realized she would be sharing the bedroll with him. No doubt, there would be another argument. Well it’s too damn bad; he didn’t have any intentions sleeping on the cold ground just to keep her happy.

  Once he spread the bedroll out, he straightened up flicked his hat back on his head and frowned. His wife seemed to be taking an insurmountable time washing away the dust. Hell he hoped she hadn’t done anything foolish like try to walk back to town. If she did, well he definitely didn’t intend going after her, damned if he would. He darn well would not spend the rest of his damn life chasing after her.

  Grumbling, he spun around and headed for the stream. When he arrived, the breath whooshed out of him, and he could only stare in hot lustful disbelief. Hell and damnation, the sight before his eyes sent the lust raging through him, and he grew rock hard and aching. His wife might be small but every slick wet inch of her delectable body was a truly sensually provocative sight.

  He drew air into his starving lungs as his gaze slowly slid over her, high pert breasts tipped with light pink nipples. Slim waist, gentle flaring hips. Sleek thighs and a pert little arse he couldn’t wait to hold in his hands. She turned slightly and he saw her long dark hair plastered down her back to the top of her hips.

  Glory be, she is such an erotic seductive picture, and he grew beyond having any control over himself. He fought himself long enough and now seeing her naked with drops of moisture sliding down her beautiful body, he could no longer fight what his body craved since the moment he set eyes on her.

  It might be wrong, especially since nothing about their future has been decided but hell, what man could resist such an evocative tempting vision? Well, by God, he couldn’t and he wouldn’t a moment longer, he wanted her far too long to let this moment pass and not to take her in his arms and finally make love to her. He would surely be insane to pass up this opportunity. With desperate impatience, he started stripping off his clothes.

  TEN

  India didn’t know what made her turn around but when she did and seeing her husband standing on the bank completely naked her mouth dropped open. Oh my God, how glorious and powerful he looked. She could feel her whole body starting to tremble at the magnificent sight. Slowly, she let her gaze slide down his body. Wide shoulders and chest, washboard stomach and ribs, slim hipped and oh my God.

  What she saw next sent her heart racing and the air leaving her lungs. What she saw between his thighs stood out thick, long and stiff. Dear God, if he put that thing inside her, he would surely split her apart. She only just finished the worrying thought when she saw him step into the water.

  Unable to make herself move she could only stand there and watch him come closer. Each step he took she grew a little more breathless, her stomach started to flutter and warmth spread through her limbs. She started to tremble at the thought of touching such perfection.

  Dane stood proudly before his wife; he gripped his hands at his sides as her hot gaze slipped over him scorching him with their intensity. He forced himself not to rush forward, snatch her up, and ravish her. However when her gaze stayed glued to his arousal, he couldn’t remain standing here another moment. He stepped into the water and prayed she wouldn’t run screaming back to camp.

  He let out a harsh breath when she remained standing in the water. Once he reached her, his arm snaked out and wrapped around her waist pulling her up against his body. The feel of her wet slick silken skin against his own made him groan. Wrapping his other hand around the back of her head, he lowered his mouth to hers, and the rip-roaring fire that struck him when their lips met shook him to his very core.

  A soundless sob tore from her as she felt herself hauled up against her husband. India sagged against him closing her eyes when she felt the heat of his flesh against her own. When his mouth covered hers, she couldn’t think, all she could possibly do is let the most powerful rush of rapture tear through her.

  Dane kissed her relentlessly. His hunger for her so immense he found himself unable to control it. His hand came up and cupped her breast. He caught her husky cry in his mouth, and he held her a little tighter when her tongue started to dance with his. After kneading her breast, his thumb grazed over the nipple and felt it respond. Taking his mouth from hers, his lips slipped down her throat and captured the pert tip of her breast inside his mouth.

  India whimpered and her hands slid up his chest and around her neck. She needed to hold on to him before her legs finally gave out on her. She arched back when his hot mouth suckled at her breast, her fingers slid through his hair. The next moment she felt herself lifted off her feet and she clung tightly to him unable to stop the powerful thing growing between them.

  Lifting his wife off her feet, Dane continued to pleasure one breast then the other. His hand slid down her hip and finally between her thighs. He parted the folds of her womanhood and growled around her breast at finding her already damp with need. Gently, he let his fingers caress between the slick folds. He continued to stroke her until she whimpered and pressed herself harder against his fingers.

  Oh my God, India felt herself spiraling out of control, she could do nothing but hold on to the broad shoulders as she felt herself on the verge of something so powerful she couldn’t understand what it might be. All she knew is that she wanted it to continue.

  Reluctantly lifting his mouth from her breast, Dane let his mouth play along his wife’s jaw, the side of her mouth. “Wrap your legs around me.” He whispered harshly as he removed his hand from between her thighs. His hand went behind her knee and placed her leg around his waist. When she lifted the other one, he adjusted her and eagerly his mouth fell on hers. As his tongue wildly swept the inside of her mouth, he thrust deeply inside of her burying himself to the very hilt.

  Her mind muddled, India was unaware of what she did, all she knew is she wanted this rapturous torturous ache building inside of her to go away. When she felt the tearing pain, she lifted her mouth away from his and gave a short cry. Her clouded eyes went to his, and she gazed at him with surprise and hurt.

  When he saw the pain in her beautiful eyes, Dane silently cursed himself for hurting her. He never meant to be so rough, but he grew so mindless with his need to be inside her he lost control of himself. “Sh sweetheart, the pain will go soon I promise.” He whispered as his mouth went back to hers, and he kissed her gently. His whole body trembled with the fight to keep himself from moving inside her.

  It became nearly impossible; she gloved him so tightly in her hot slick tight sheath. His hand slid down and cupped her bottom while he fought against the needed to move himself inside her, his mouth continued to play with hers in tenderness.

  India closed her eyes as the pain slowly eased, she could feel herself adjust and expand around the hardness buried inside her. She continued to clutch tightly to his broad shoulders. She squirmed slightly, her eyes shot open in surprise, and she pulled her mouth from his.

  Dane grinned when his wife eyed him with shock. “Now my beautiful stubborn wife I’m going to show you one of the reasons why I wanted to marry you.” Before she could speak, his mouth covered hers in a hot wild kiss as his hands lifted her up and bought her back down on his hardness.

  India thought she might faint from the overwhelming pleasure shooting through her, it felt so tremendous it overwhelmed her. Then suddenly everything faded from her mind as her husband continued to stroke hi
mself inside of her.

  After plundering his wife’s mouth Dane lifted his head and drew in a harsh breath before he dropped his mouth to her breast. He took the tight nipple into his mouth as he continued to bring her up and down the length of his erection. His own hips thrust up as he drove himself deeply inside of her.

  Her hand clutched in his hair India’s arched back as she felt the momentum build inside of her; each thrust inside her seemed to send her closer to erupting. When he drove inside her once more, she felt herself shatter, suddenly a cascading waterfall of blissful rapture consumed her, and she cried out as she shook from the force of it.

  When his wife tightened around him, and she flooded him with her glorious heat, Dane lifted his mouth from her breast and watched as she became consumed in her first climax. Her beautiful eyes were now black, her lovely face flushed and her lips full and pouting from his kisses.

  His mouth covered hers ravenously as he drove himself into her again and felt his own climax consume him. The rush of his seed spilling out of him so powerfully made him weak kneed, and nearly stopped his heart. He pulled his mouth from hers and drew in swift harsh breaths. Weak and his body shaking, he carried them back to the bank. Going down on his knees, he laid down with his wife lying on top of him.

  My God, he never experienced such overwhelming ecstasy before. His arms tightened around his wife, holding her tightly against him. He felt too drained to do anything else but lay here and enjoy the best experience of his life.

  Too mindless to do nothing but lay over her husband; India could still feel the little explosions of pleasure going off inside of her. She closed her eyes and just let herself float dreamily, her senses too muddled to do anything else.