Immortal Cowboy

by Alexis Morgan

  “Yes.” She put all the conviction she could into the single word.

  More of him was gone now. “I’ll try to come to you in your dreams again. Not sure if—”

  But then he was gone.

  What had he meant by coming to her in her dreams? Only one way to find out. She picked up her dinner dishes and went inside. After locking up and turning off the kitchen lights, she headed upstairs. A long bubble bath, a glass of wine and an early bedtime were definitely in order tonight.

  Then maybe she’d find out if dreams could really come true.

  Chapter 13

  Wyatt stared up at the night sky, watching the moon rise overhead and counting the stars. As beautiful as they were, all of those countless shiny specks combined didn’t compare to the bright light of Rayanne’s spirit.

  A hero. She thought he was a hero. Who would’ve thought a woman would ever look at him that way? Earlier, her unshakable belief that he’d done something special had been enough to give him substance. If it never happened again, for those few short seconds he’d held her in his arms as a man, not a ghost.

  He’d always thought the gods had cursed him, but maybe this was the only way they had of letting him exist long enough to meet Rayanne. If so, he owed them an incredible debt. What a gift it was to hold her, to kiss her, to love her.

  And damned if that last part wasn’t true. He’d thought he’d felt something special for Amanda, but he’d never once held her in his arms or kissed her. But looking back, his feelings for Amanda paled in comparison to the connection he shared with her granddaughter, several times removed. Just knowing Rayanne soothed the anger he’d carried with him for as long as he could remember.

  Amazing.

  Right now she was moving around in the cabin. The lights were off downstairs, but he could hear her splashing around in that big claw-foot tub he’d seen earlier. He could imagine how she looked right now—all slick skin, her red-gold hair curling up in the steam, and that lush mouth curled up in a soft smile.

  The images flashing through his mind had him hard and hurting. He wished like hell he could join her. First off, he’d work up a lather with his hands and then use them to learn every curve of her luscious body. He’d spread his legs and tuck her in between so that she’d lean back against his chest.

  He loved the thought of massaging those pretty breasts while he nibbled his way along her elegant neck. But that wasn’t happening. Not for real.

  But maybe, just maybe, he could find Rayanne in her dreams. It wouldn’t be the same, but it was as close as the two of them would ever share. Was he being selfish? Hell, yes, but after living in this nightmare for more than a hundred years, he deserved one last good dream.

  Because eventually, Rayanne would return to her real life, the one down below where she stood a chance of finding a man who could give her everything she deserved and more. Wyatt would do his best to be happy for her when that happened. Really. He’d like to think he was a good enough man to want that for her. However, if he had to spend eternity caught in this endless circle of pain, at least he’d have the memories of one night in her dreams, in her arms, to carry him through.

  Now the only light in the cabin came from Rayanne’s bedroom. When she stepped in front of the window, he deliberately moved farther into the shadows. Even though he was shrouded in darkness, Rayanne stared right at him and raised her hand in a brief wave. She always managed to find him. He smiled and stepped into the light.

  She opened the window and called down. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

  Then she disappeared. A few seconds later, the light winked out. How long should he wait? And where? For now, he’d make himself comfortable on the porch. Somehow he doubted she’d find it easy to go to sleep with him standing beside the bed and looming over her.

  As he waited and watched, a family of deer moved into the meadow. The doe watched him with wary eyes until she was sure he presented no danger to her twin fawns. He remained still until they’d eaten their fill and moved on.

  He should do the same, but he found himself reluctant to make the next move. What if this didn’t work? Telling himself he could try again on another night wasn’t much help. Time was running out. He could feel it slipping through his fingers as the anniversary of his death drew near. Soon, he’d be caught up in that same cycle of pain and death again. Rayanne had no part in that tragedy.

  But tonight with the full moon overhead and only the two of them on the mountain, maybe they could share something special. With that thought in mind, he pressed through the door of the cabin and took that first fateful step up to the second floor.

  He stopped outside Rayanne’s room, although she’d left the door open.

  For him? He’d like to think so.

  The only sound was the soft rasp of Rayanne’s breathing, slow and easy. Good. He’d been worried she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Normally, his movements were totally silent because his body had no substance, but right now each step was awkward and loud to his own senses.

  He froze, waiting to see if his movements had disturbed Rayanne, and then eased into her room. Inching toward the side of her bed, he was stunned by her beauty. The silvery light of the moon spilled through the window right on her pretty face. She looked peaceful with her mouth curved up in a small smile.

  One hand lay flung out in his direction, as if she’d fallen asleep reaching out for him.

  Her shoulders were bare, making him wonder what, if anything, she wore under that patchwork quilt. He wouldn’t peek, not while she was unaware of his presence. If he were able to find her in her dreams, they’d be on equal footing. Right now, she was far too vulnerable for him to take advantage of the situation.

  He stepped back and sat down on an old cedar chest and stretched his legs out, trying to get comfortable. Studying his old boots, he wished he could have cleaned up before coming to her, but that wasn’t possible. Even if he’d had access to other clothes, he couldn’t have worn them. Only the things that he had on, held in his hands, or carried in his pockets had made the transition to this life.

  If he’d had his druthers, he’d have bathed, shaved and worn a suit. Certainly his guns had no place here, not with the taint of violence that had soaked into the very metal they were made from.

  He dragged his eyes up from the floor and his mind out of the past. While he might not have a future, he had this one chance, and he’d be a fool to waste it. Anchoring himself firmly in this place and this moment, he closed his eyes and sent a tendril of thought toward the sleeping woman who called to his heart.

  Gradually, he poured more and more of himself into the effort until at last he saw her. She stood at the edge of a small stream that ran along the far edge of the meadow. Her hair was twisted up in a knot at the top of her head with a few tendrils hanging loose along the back of her neck. She wore a loose-fitting dress that ended just above her shapely ankles. It left her shoulders bare, the only thing holding it up a narrow ribbon that tied at the back of her neck. The pale green suited her coloring well.

  He noticed her pretty feet were bare. Funny how that one detail was the one that made him ache to touch her.

  In their dream world, he spoke her name. She immediately turned to face him, her smile radiant.

  “You came.”

  He nodded. “I promised.”

  She held out her hands. “Do you have to stand way over there?”

  Now that the moment had arrived, he wasn’t sure how to proceed, feeling like a youngster gone courting for the first time, not a full-grown man who knew what he was about. He stepped forward, slowly at first, but then faster, needing to close the distance between them.

  He stopped short of where she stood. “I’m not sure what will happen when we touch.”

  Her smile warmed him from the inside out. “Only one way to find out, Wyatt. Y
ou look handsome, by the way. I’m really fond of that duster you always wear, but that shirt really brings out the color of your eyes.”

  He hadn’t noticed that somewhere between sitting on the cedar chest and stepping into this meadow, he’d changed clothes. His shirt was a deep blue and his trousers a dark tan. Even his boots were new. He touched his face, relieved to find he’d shaved.

  Rayanne closed the distance between them, near enough that her scent filled his head and her warmth left him edgy and hungry. Slowly, he lifted his hand to toy with a strand of her hair, twirling the curl around his finger.

  “You smell like roses.”

  She looked a bit shy. “I took a bath in rose-scented bubble bath before I went to bed.”

  “I like it.”

  His hand found hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. It felt so normal, so perfect. Both of them let out a small sigh of relief. Here, in the dream world she’d created, they were both solid and real.

  As much as he hungered for her, he didn’t want to rush things or even presume that she wanted more than a simple day in the sun with him.

  “Would you like to take a walk?”

  Rayanne stared up at him with a temptress’s smile. “That depends. How long do we have here?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before, not on purpose anyway.”

  “Then let’s save walking for later. Right now, I’d rather sit down on the quilt I brought with me.”

  She tugged on his hand, leading him down toward an open area surrounded by a stand of aspens. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was the same quilt that covered her bed back in the cabin.

  By the time they reached the blanket, his pulse was racing and his breath was shallow, two sensations he hadn’t experienced since the day he died. The combination of anticipation and nerves was a potent one. He felt young and reckless.

  “May I kiss you, Miss Rayanne?”

  “You may do anything you want to with me, Mr. McCain. And sooner rather than later.”

  She slid into his arms as if she’d always been at home there, lifting her face to him. God, she was so beautiful.

  He kissed her gently at first, thanking her without words for the gift of this moment with her.

  Then he kissed her with a promise of what was to come, but making sure she’d know he would treat her with care.

  And finally, he kissed her with everything he had. He claimed her mouth with lips and teeth and tongue, loving it when she gave as good as she got. It was a dance, one where their steps matched perfectly.

  He broke it off as he carried them both to the ground, glad for the cushion of the soft grass and quilt. Rayanne murmured her approval as he pressed her back and kissed her again, this time letting his hands do a bit of roaming. First he traced the bare skin of her shoulder down the length of her arms and back. He trailed his fingers over her collarbone and back up to her neck. As their tongues played tag, he gave the ribbon that held her dress up a gentle tug.

  She smiled against his mouth, well aware of where he was headed next. He owed her a confession.

  “That first day when you got caught in the rain, I was in the saloon.”

  She frowned and then her eyes opened wide. “You were watching when I stripped off my shirt to wring out the water?”

  He nodded, his smile feeling a bit wicked. “I did. Liked what I saw, too.”

  “Really?” She reached for the top of her dress and tugged it down to reveal another inch or two of her silky skin. “Did you only want to look?”

  “No, I wanted to touch,” he whispered as she gave the soft fabric another tug until the top edge of her areolas showed. “And I wanted to taste.”

  The minx immediately pulled the fabric back up. “Fine, but take off your shirt first. It’s only fair since you’ve already seen me without mine.”

  He sent a couple of buttons flying in his haste to finally feel her hands on his bare skin.

  “I like what I see, too,” she said as she rose up long enough to kiss his throat and run her hands across his chest and back. “Now, where were we?”

  This time there were no half measures. Just that quickly, the top of her dress was gathered at her waist, at last giving him free access to the breasts that haunted his thoughts since that first day. He’d been right. They filled his hands perfectly, and their pretty tips begged to be kissed.

  Rayanne tangled her fingers in his hair, pressing him closer as he captured her nipple with his lips, working it hard as he squeezed and plumped her other breast with his hand. He loved the sounds she made as he worked them both up to a fevered pitch.

  When he tried to tug the hem of her skirt up, it was tangled in her legs. Damn, he wanted it out of the way along with everything else they were both wearing. In a flash, all of their clothes disappeared, leaving only the dappled shade to protect them from the bright light of the day.

  His lady grinned, obviously delighted. “Nice trick, Wyatt.”

  “Thank you,” he said as he tugged the pins out of her hair, wanting it spread out on the quilt.

  For a few seconds, they both seemed content with a few touches and easy kisses. Gradually, though, they coaxed the embers of passion back into full flame. This was what he’d been looking for. This connection, this mutual hunger, this coming together of two people across time to find each other.

  When at last he rose over her, seeing the welcome in her eyes and feeling the sweet way her body and his fit together, he knew he’d finally found heaven.

  * * *

  The grass beneath Rayanne’s back was as soft as the bed she slept in. The man who’d just settled on top of her was as hard as steel. She loved the contrast, loved the way he touched her with such care, and flat-out loved him. She’d keep that last tidbit to herself.

  The press of his body against hers kept her anchored in this dream, if that was what it was. It was so real, his weight too solid for her to believe it wasn’t more. He rocked against her, centered right against her core, a promise of what was to come.

  She wanted him to take her, to claim her in this most basic way. “Wyatt, this feels so good, but it’s not enough.”

  He pushed himself up to support his weight on his arms and smiled down at her as he rocked against her again, this time a little harder, faster. “In a bit of a hurry?”

  So he wanted to tease, did he? She reached between them to capture his cock in her hand and gave it a squeeze. He moaned and threw his head back when she did it again. She loved having this power over his pleasure; it was only fair since she’d wanted this since the day he’d rescued her and she’d first felt his touch.

  He held so still, dragging out the anticipation to the breaking point. Finally, he flexed his hips enough for her to guide him as she opened her heart and her body to him. He slid in deep and hard. Her breath caught in her chest as he growled in satisfaction.

  His blue eyes gleamed down at her. “Are you ready for this?”

  She brought her legs up around his hips as she caressed his handsome face with her fingers. “I think I’ve been ready for you my whole life.”

  He stooped to kiss her again, his tongue mimicking the flexing of his hips as his rhythm picked up strength and speed. She held on, meeting his thrusts, taking him deep and then deeper until nothing existed except the joining of their bodies. He pulled her legs higher up his hips and dropped down on his elbows, bringing the hard planes of his chest back against her breasts. She reveled in the solid feel of their bodies coming together, moving together, saying what she had no real words for. The tension built, second by second, breath by breath, until her whole being stood poised at the brink of exploding.

  It was hard to breathe, impossible to think. All she could do was feel. “Wyatt, it’s too much!”

  His smile was so sweet. “I’ve got you, honey. Just let it fly.”
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  She dug her fingers into his back, trying to hold on, but his promise gave her the strength to quit fighting and let the climax roll through her. As soon as she did, she took Wyatt with her. He hollered, his whole body rigid as he shuddered in his own release.

  She held her breath, hoping against hope that the power of what they had shared didn’t throw them out of this perfect moment and back out into the real world. A few seconds passed before Wyatt rolled to the side, taking her with him, holding her close. She breathed in his scent, content to listen to his heartbeat and enjoy these few minutes of peace.

  It wouldn’t last, it wasn’t real, but it was all they had.

  Chapter 14

  As much as Wyatt loved holding Rayanne in his arms, the same instincts that had saved his hide several times back in the day were telling him they should get moving. He smiled down at his woman and pressed one last kiss on her forehead.

  “If we can rustle up some clothes, maybe we could take that walk I mentioned.”

  Rayanne was cuddled in with her head over his heart. She rose up long enough to look him in the eye as she let her hand wander down his chest and farther south. “And if I like you this way?”

  He caught her hand in his and brought it to his mouth for a kiss. “I like you this way, too, and we can get back to it in a while but...”

  He broke off what he was about to say to listen to their surroundings. He’d heard a noise in the distance, but couldn’t quite put his finger on what it had been.

  The smile faded from Rayanne’s eyes. “What’s wrong, Wyatt? What are you hearing?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  There it came again. Footsteps, and they were headed straight toward them. How could that be? This was Rayanne’s dream, one meant for just the two of them. Who would dare intrude?

  “We need to get up and get dressed.”

  He surged to his feet and then offered her a hand. Just that quickly, he was clothed in the same clothes he’d been wearing for the past century. Rayanne no longer had on the pretty green dress, but instead wore her usual jeans and shirt.