Shadow's Stand

by Sarah McCarty

Long tendrils of hair were escaping from her braid. He pushed one back, tucking it behind her ear. “I think I’ll survive. I guess it’s hard to trust a man you meet at the end of a hangman’s noose.”

  Rubbing her cheek against his shirt, she admitted, “It is hard to trust anyone.”

  He knew how that felt, too. “You have to start somewhere.”

  “You think I should start with you?”

  “What better place than your husband?”

  “We are married, aren’t we?”

  “Yes.”

  She sighed. “It does not make sense to fight each other, then, does it?”

  “Not when there are so many others willing to take a shot.”

  She made a sound between a laugh and a snort.

  “Was that a giggle?”

  She quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “Yes.”

  “Then don’t cover it up.”

  “It is rude to expose one’s teeth.”

  Pulling her hand from her mouth, he shook his head. “I like your teeth.”

  He’d like them even better skimming over his body.

  “The front one is crooked.”

  “I didn’t notice.”

  “Because I haven’t let you see.”

  He rubbed his finger over her lower lip, tempted to pull it down and see the offending tooth. “I’ll start paying attention.”

  “It is not that crooked.”

  He smiled. “You want me to take your word for it?”

  “For this, you would have to trust me.”

  His smile faded as the truth rolled over him. He did trust her. Kissing the back of her hand, he agreed. “I guess I would.”

  She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. They were both going to have to trust.

  “Are you all right? You didn’t get hurt today?”

  “I do not have a scratch.”

  And that was a miracle in itself. “I don’t want to see another stick of dynamite in your hand again.”

  “We have discussed this.”

  “I didn’t like the answer.”

  “That doesn’t mean it will change.”

  The few rays of the setting sun that penetrated the trees caught on the smooth surface of her thick braid. The black color gleamed almost blue.

  “Want to bet?”

  “No.”

  He loosened the braid one curve at a time, one breath at a time, letting the simple ritual drain some of the tension out of him.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Fei.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I want you.”

  She touched the small scar on his jaw. “I know.”

  “It doesn’t change the fact that nothing good can come of this.” He fluffed the rest of her hair free.

  “So you say.”

  “It’s the truth.”

  Her hands came around his waist and squeezed in a tentative hug. “Shadow?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want something from you.”

  He should have expected it. “What?”

  She looked up and the sadness in her eyes about broke his heart. “I have lost my mother, my father and my culture. Soon I may lose my life.”

  “I won’t let that happen.”

  “I’m hunted.” She shrugged. “It could happen.”

  “No.”

  She continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “Because of this, I do not want you to fight this passion between us tonight.”

  “Your cousin is sleeping right over there.”

  “I think she is nursing her anger. She is not happy with us.”

  “For such a meek woman, she has a way of getting her point across. But that doesn’t change the fact that she’s just thirty feet away.”

  “You will have to make sure I do not make noise.”

  He wanted to make her scream. “What’s she going to say when you fetch our bedroll?”

  “I will tell her that I wish to be with my husband. She will understand.”

  He wished he did. “Why, Fei?”

  “Because I want something for me. I want something that is mine, not forced upon me. Something that I have not compromised to accept. What I feel with you, I have never felt with another. I do not know if I will live long enough to feel it again, but I want to know where it goes, if only just for tonight. I am your wife, so it is not wrong. Can you give me that? Can you pretend for tonight that I am your wife for real?”

  He touched the corner of her mouth with his thumb. She wanted him as he was. Not what he represented, but him. He’d give her the whole damn world in that moment. “I can give you tonight.”

  “Without the anger?”

  “Without the anger.”

  “You will think I’m special?”

  “You are special.”

  She shook her head. “I know I am not. I have not the attitude of the proper wife or the purity of blood to give to your children.”

  “My kids aren’t going to need pure blood. They’re just going to need a lot of attitude to carry them through.”

  “We are only pretending for tonight.”

  “Tonight could have consequences.”

  “What?”

  “You could get pregnant.”

  “There are ways to prevent this.”

  How the hell did she know that? “What makes you think I’m going to use them?”

  She slid her hands up his back, across his chest and over his shoulders, sending sparks of pleasure flickering over his skin. Her smile was shy and sweet. She did have a slightly crooked tooth and it was as erotic as hell.

  Her hands linked behind his neck. “I will trust you.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  FEI WANTED EVERY WOMAN’S DREAM—a wedding night to remember. One in which she was cherished. Loved. And she’d picked him to give it to her. A man who didn’t have the slightest idea what that felt like.

  Skimming his fingers down her neck, Shadow backed her up against Night’s side. Her breath caught in her throat with a sexy little catch as he stepped between her thighs. “That’s a tall order.”

  “I am sorry if I offended.”

  “I’m not offended, but I don’t think you know what you’re asking, and from whom.”

  “I am asking my husband to show me the pleasures of the marriage bed.”

  “You’re asking a man who has never been loved to show you love.”

  Her gaze slid from his. “I know you don’t love me.”

  “And that’s my point. A woman’s first time should be with the man she loves.”

  “In my culture, my virginity will be given to whomever my family decides will be a suitable match. It is doubtful I’d even see him before the ceremony.”

  He’d heard of such things. “You won’t have a choice?”

  Smiling slightly, she unbuttoned the top two buttons of her high-necked, silk tunic, spreading the material and exposing the hollow of her throat. Desire rippled along his nerve endings, bringing them to attention. “Not unless I make one for myself.”

  He nudged aside the smooth material. “Undo another button.”

  The order came out harsher than he had intended. She didn’t flinch and didn’t look away. When his fingers slipped beneath the material to caress the nape of her neck, her lips parted on a breathy moan. “I like that.”

  “So do I.”

  “There’s fire in you, Fei.”

  Arching her neck, she gave him better access. “Only for you.”

  Only for him. It was a fantasy. One with infinite allure. He’d never had a woman who’d known no one but him, burned for no one but him. Never wanted one. Until now. “Good.”

  The press of his fingers tilted her head back. The whisper of his name drew his head down.

  “Shadow.”

  He didn’t kiss her right away. Just teased them both with the potential of contact. Her breath got shorter. Her lips softer. He loved her mouth. Wrapping his fingers in her hair, he angled her head back.

  “Such a pretty mout
h, honey. Open it for me.”

  She did, a soft moue of anticipation.

  “So hungry.”

  “For you,” she whispered.

  “What do you want?”

  “Your kiss.”

  “How? Hard or soft? With my lips only, or do you want more?”

  “More.” Fei definitely wanted more. Clinging to Shadow’s shirt, she slumped back against Night’s side. She wanted all of that.

  “Greedy woman.”

  “Yes.” She shifted against him, her hip grazing his erection, her breasts teasing his chest. She wanted to experience everything she could this night. To know it all. “I am greedy for all you can show me.”

  “No holding back?”

  This time it was she who brought his gaze to hers with her palm against his cheek. “Not a thing.”

  The effect on him was like lightning. His muscles snapped taut, his eyes narrowed, his nostrils flared. She cupped both his cheeks in her palms and kissed him softly. Her dragon. A dragon who spread fire with his touch, not his breath. But a dragon nonetheless. The only one who could make her burn.

  Arching against him, she whispered, “Kiss me, Shadow.”

  “How?” It was her turn to shiver as the low drawl rumbled over her passion with all the possibilities.

  “Like you cannot wait another minute to have me.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Then let me see it. Feel it.”

  “You do not know what you’re asking.”

  “I know.”

  She was asking for him. Lifting her hips, she found the hard ridge of his erection. It was a simple shift of her hips to nestle him against her intimately. His breath hissed in, but he still didn’t move. She’d reached the end of her experience. She didn’t know how else to tempt him.

  His head came up. He looked down the length of his nose at her. A challenge. “Show me how you want me.”

  “I do not know how.” She twisted against him. “You will have to teach me.”

  His shaft jerked against her, sending a piercing ache deep into her core. Oh, he liked the thought of that. Her flesh swelled and ached, demanding more. Of him.

  His fingers fisted in her hair. “Run your tongue over your lips.”

  She did, feeling foolish.

  “No,” he murmured, his voice as much a caress as his touch. So deep and rich, like rare chocolate. A feast for her senses.

  “Not like that.” He pressed gently with his thumb. “Do it slow and easy. Tease me. Let me see how hot and wet they’re going to be.” He slid his thumb inside. “Make me imagine how good they’re going to feel wrapped around my cock.”

  She did, going him one better, tilting her head forward and taking his thumb to the first joint. She was a virgin, but she’d seen the picture books her father thought he’d hid.

  “Shit.”

  “Like that?” she asked around his thumb.

  “Hell, yes.” With a tug, she was away from the horse and up into his arms. His hands cupped her rear, palming it lightly, sending tingles inward and outward. Tingles that flared to sparks as he lifted her up into his kiss. “Exactly like that,” he growled into her mouth.

  She laughed and wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him closer, opening wider. “Kiss me, Shadow. Make me forget about tomorrow.”

  He caught her lower lip in his teeth, biting gently, and she discovered the edge of pain had its own unique thrill.

  “No tomorrow, honey. No yesterday.”

  “Just now,” she breathed, pulling him in.

  And now was hot and eager. Now was curiosity, passion and pleasure. Now made her burn. Now was wonder.

  “Son of a bitch.” He pulled back, letting her slide down his body, and rested his forehead against hers, air soughing in and out of his lungs in a harsh rasp. “You go to my head.”

  That wasn’t where he went on her. “You go different places on me.”

  He blinked, and then as he understood, he laughed. His eyes dropped to the front of her tunic. Her gaze followed his. She instinctively wanted to fold her arms across her chest and hide the betraying peaks.

  He caught her hands before she could bring them down. “No. That’s too pretty a sight to hide.”

  Pretty. She held on to the thought as embarrassment threatened to take over. He thought she was pretty.

  “I’m going to unbutton your tunic.”

  A faint pink tinged her cheeks. “All right.” She wasn’t going to look.

  In case she didn’t understand, he added, “I want to touch your breasts.”

  “I am embarrassed, not dumb.” She was immediately sorry for the sarcasm. “I did not mean—”

  “To snap,” he finished for her.

  “I want you to touch me.”

  “I know.” Unbuttoning her tunic, he spread it wide. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath. Cool air whispered across her skin. Her nipples drew up tighter. Her breathing got shallower. And way down deep, the ache got stronger.

  His fingers traced the outline of her breast. Round and round in ever decreasing circles, in whisper-light touches, never touching the nipple. “You’re just a little nervous.”

  He understood. Her knees went weak. As always, he caught her, steadying her. “Thank you.”

  He smiled, revealing even, white teeth and that softer side of his personality that he rarely showed. “Anytime.”

  She took a step back as he unbuttoned his shirt. He took one forward, spreading her tunic and his shirt so they were skin to skin. Heartbeat to heartbeat.

  “Oh, my.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t talk, don’t think. Just feel how good we are together.”

  She took him at his word, literally, opening her hands against his back, rubbing them up and down.

  Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

  “What do you feel?”

  “Heat. You’re very warm.”

  “You make me burn.”

  She smiled. “I like knowing that.”

  He chuckled. “I bet you do.”

  Her hands skimmed up his back and around to the front, creeping over his pectorals and up to his neck. She touched his lips.

  “I can feel your smile.”

  “That’s because I’m happy.”

  Her fingers explored his mouth, tracing the rim. “Such a nice smile.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What do you feel now?” Shadow asked, his voice a husky incentive to tell all.

  “I can feel your breath. It’s coming faster.”

  “And how does that feel against your skin?”

  “Hot. Moist. Fast.”

  “That’s because you’re touching me. It’s exciting. I like your hands on me.” Pushing her hair out of her face, he asked, “Would you like to feel more?”

  “Oh, please.”

  “Just a little now, honey. We’re not alone.” He leaned down, bringing his mouth closer to hers, lifting her up. “Put your legs around my waist.”

  She locked her ankles behind his back, bringing her groin in contact with his. Her pants leg caught on his gun belt. He yanked it free. The tunic and pants she wore made it easy to tuck his…cock against her. The sensation that shot through her was mesmerizing. Paralyzing. Perfect.

  “Can you feel how hot I am there? How hard?”

  “Oh, yes.” She nodded.

  “That’s for you. All for you.”

  She didn’t want to fool herself. “Any woman would make you that way.”

  He shook his head and laughed. “Honey, I’m almost thirty-one years old. The time when just looking at a woman got me hot and excited was sixteen years ago.”

  “But you get hard looking at me?”

  His breath hissed out between his teeth. “Every time.”

  “And you like it.”

  “Part of me likes it a hell of a lot.”