His knee slipped between hers and he pushed his thigh into the notch between her legs. Rubbing his fingers across her waist, he pulled up the T-shirt, his knuckles brushing against her hip. The softness tantalized his fingertips, sent a longing deep in his gut to absorb every part of that soft skin against his own tougher hide.
"Hell." He pulled back and stared into her glazed eyes as his fingers moved against her hip. "You're not even wearing panties."
She shook her head, too bemused to speak. Her eyes soft with passion, her body hot and craving.
Slowly his hand moved across her abdomen, down to feather against the soft curls, Iowa, lower still.
She held her breath, staring at him in unconscious hunger.
"Don't, Trace. You need to leave." But her hands gave lie to her words. They still gripped him. One moved across his shoulders, down to the V of his shirt, one finger rubbing sensuously against the copper skin of his chest.
"You don't want me to leave," he said softly, his fingers finding her, softly stroking her. Her hips rose, fell.
"You don't even like me." If she said it often enough, maybe she’d believe it and stop this tantalizing man. She found and released one button. Swamped by sweet hot sensations that built and built. Fingers fumbled for a second.
"I like you," he murmured, brushing a kiss against her damp swollen lips. His finger stroked again, gently parted her.
She caught her breath, her eyes wide with wonder and delight. Then she frowned, tried to close her legs, but his hard thigh prevented it.
"Don't," she said again.
"Yeah." His finger moved again, and again, gently, slowly, sweetly.
Her gaze never left his, except when he'd lower his head to kiss her gently. It was heady. The raw sex urge had faded, and an exquisitely tortuous one remained, slow, achingly sweet and just as demanding.
His finger slipped in.
She caught another breath, shook her head slightly.
"Trace. I'm not ready for something like this."
"Just this, sweetheart. Just this." His finger moved again. A second joined the first.
"It's not right," she breathed, almost unable to talk, to reason. The feelings that coursed through her were delectable. She shivered as the sensations shimmered throughout. She caught the rhythm of his hand, feeling every inch of the fingers that played her as if she was a delicate instrument.
"Nothing is wrong with a man and woman wanting each other if they are attracted and they both agree to it."
"You're... getting... nothing out of this." Her hand had opened his shirt. Her greedy palm rubbed the defined muscles of his chest, her fingers danced across his nipple.
He was a perfect man. His body perfect beneath her hand. His knowledge of her perfect, just as the feel of his fingers against her caused the most exquisite sensations.
"Oh, yes, I am, sweetheart. Relax and enjoy it. I'm getting a lot out of this."
"But you could get more."
"Not yet, you said. Besides, there are a bunch of men outside waiting for us. We don't have time."
"Oh, no." She closed her eyes, all thought of her ranch, her position as boss, the threat of takeover by Trace forgotten as his fingers moved her higher.
He kissed her, his hand moving harder now, faster. "Come on, Kalli, let go. It'll be so perfect."
So perfect, she repeated as her body gave in to his urging and moved as he directed, fought him, surrendered to him, accepted the glorious gift of his hand and mouth. The waves of ecstasy coursed through her, flooding her senses, filling her with heat and fire and delight. When he felt her first contractions, he lay across her, feeling the undulation of her body, his mouth capturing her cries, his body aching to know the fulfillment she would one day bring him. For now this would have to be enough. But one day she would want all of him and he would not deny her.
Kalli was floating. Vaguely she felt his hand withdraw and his thigh press against her, hard. The fingers moved her shirt up, exposing her damp skin to the morning coolness. In only a second his hot mouth captured her nipple and sucked into the hot cavern. She rolled slightly to offer it more fully, her arms so weak she could scarcely move than. Trace kissed her other breast, his lips moving across the damp skin of her stomach to the dampness between her legs, back to her mouth.
She sighed and kissed him. Feeling the hard ridge of his desire, she opened her eyes slightly and gazed into his heated ones.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded solemnly. She'd never felt so good in her life, but felt guilty at enjoying herself and not giving him any release. "But you—"
"I'm fine." He pressed his hip against hers, knowing she felt his hardness, then smiled. "One day you're going to say yes to everything.''
"Oh yeah," she said sassily, touched at his gentleness. This was not the angry man of last night. Not the ruthless neighbor who wanted nothing but her land. This man was deeper than that. Complex. She wished she knew him better.
God, if she knew him any better, he'd be naked on top of her, inside her, a part of her.
"That bunch of men you mentioned..." she started.
"Yeah. They'll be looking for us soon. Get dressed. I'll fix us something to eat. We've got a lot to do today."
"In case it escaped you, I fired you yesterday," she reminded him, loath to have him leave. She felt sheltered and well-loved.
"Yeah, I remember you saying something like that, but knew you didn't mean it. You can't run this place and I don't want it ruined before I take over."
"You're not taking over." The well-loved feeling fled.
"Sooner or later you're going to give up and then I'll get it. If you want to stay a while, I don't have a problem with it. But let me keep the place going, keep it up."
"What if I stay forever?"
"You won't."
"You don't know that!" He made her so mad. She was not Alyssa!
"No, I don't." He took her hands, one at a time, and laced his hands through them, raising than over her head as he settled himself down along the length of her. "But I don't think you'll last. What's the harm? If you do stay, you'll have a top-notch ranch. If you go, I'll get a place in good repair and profitable, not something that's been left to decay."
What could it hurt? She needed the help, she knew it. And if he volunteered, why not take him up on it. He'd find out sooner or later that she was in for the long haul. Let him help her.
"But no sex," she said, capitulating.
He leaned down and kissed her, long and leisurely, his tongue's forays into her mouth causing her to tighten all over.
The situation was positively decadent. She was lying practically naked beneath him, and he was fully clothed. She moved experimentally. She could feel every inch of him, and it was driving her crazy. She wanted him. She wanted him almost as badly as he seemed to want her. She felt naughty and delighted and oh, so erotic.
"Oh, yeah, sweetheart, we'll have sex. As often as you allow it. I told you, it has nothing to do with ownership of the ranch."
5
Trace stared out the kitchen window, sipping the hot coffee that had just been brewed. Josh and Josh were loading barbed wire into the back of his truck. The tools had been tossed in a few minutes earlier. Charlie came out of the bunkhouse and hurried over to the men.
Shifting slightly, Trace tried to ease his tight jeans. They normally fit fine, but just being around Kalli caused than to shrink several sizes.
Kalli. He could still feel her moving against him. Feel the heat from her body, the ecstatic little sounds she made while she was writhing beneath him. Hell, if the men hadn't been getting ready for the day's work, if they hadn't been waiting for him in the yard, he'd have shucked his jeans and made long, slow love to her all morning.
He shook his head, took another sip of the scalding coffee as he clenched his free hand into a fist. Damn, she wasn't some long-legged blond beauty like the women he normally favored. She wasn't bigger than a minute, and was as dark as he was. She di
dn't make up to him as if he was some blasted hero like the girls who had followed the rodeos. What was she thinking about in that pretty head of hers?
Hell, he had no business thinking about her at all. Not in bed. He had to get rid of her. He wanted this ranch. He didn't want some entanglement with a feisty little lady with stars in her eyes and boundless optimism. Life in Wyoming was rough. Life on a ranch rougher. She wouldn't last two weeks on her own.
Why not enjoy her however long she does stay? The insidious thought crept into his mind. He couldn't shake it. He had been a long time without a woman. It wasn't easy having an adult relationship with a young child to care for. Especially a girl-child. And not many women around wanted anything to do with a casual, part-time affair. If he knew anything, it was that women always wanted to tie the man up in knots, get their kicks, then move on to the next sucker. Just like Alyssa had.
He threw out the rest of his coffee and headed for the yard. One night. That's all he wanted. One night to get her out of his system before she left. Then he'd go back to wanting leggy blondes who knew the score.
Kalli dawdled as long as she dared in getting dressed. She couldn't believe her response to Trace's invasion of her bedroom. She couldn't believe she had permitted the intimacy he'd instituted, actually reveled in it. She was still flushed, her heart rate still rapid just thinking about it. About him.
The cool shower had not damped down the heat deep within her. Dressing only reminded her of the sensuous feel of his clothes against her body. Brushing her hair reminded her of his fingers tangled in the thickness, of the feel of his hands holding her head, caressing her, drawing the long strands through his roughened fingertips as if savoring the very feel of each shaft.
Finally she could stall no longer. He said everyone was waiting, what did they think she was doing? With a final look in the mirror, she groaned. Her eyes were bright, the color high in her cheeks, her lips slightly swollen. She looked well loved!
Loved, ha! There was no love between them. Trace wanted one thing, her ranch. She had better never lose sight of that. Kisses and caresses and lovemaking were tools to achieve his goal, not the reflection of some deep abiding affection for her. Just because his very presence made her feel more alive than ever before, just because being with him was more exciting than anything she'd ever experienced was no reason to lose control. To forfeit everything just to gain his approval.
She tried to work up her anger, tried to feel used. She knew he only wanted her ranch. But she felt glorious. And deep inside she wished he'd kiss her again, hot and wet and, oh, so devastating, just like he'd kissed her this morning.
"Dumb move, Kalli," she muttered as she left her room. Angry now, but at herself for her own gullibility, she stormed to the kitchen.
There was no sign of Trace. The coffee had been made, and its lingering aroma filled the room. There was a dirty cup on the counter. Crossing to the window, she peered out. Trace was talking with Josh. The other men were busy loading his truck. A second pickup truck was parked beside Trace's, its bed already piled high.
Taking a deep breath, Kalli moved to join them.
"Good morning, ma'am," Josh called. The others greeted her cheerfully.
"Good morning." She smiled at each man. They had no problem with her owning the ranch. They'd been nothing but polite and enthusiastic when dealing with her. But she avoided Trace's eyes. She just couldn't face him after what they'd done just a few minutes before.
Her skin tingled at his proximity. She longed to take a quick peek at his face, just to see if he was feeling any of the myriad emotions that chased through her. But she was afraid she'd only see the impassive expression that hid all feelings. He was so good at that.
"What are we doing today?" she asked, taking in the rolls of barbed wire in the back of Trace's big truck.
"Fixing some of the fencing," Trace replied. He nodded to Josh and Jose. "They'll take that truck and work along the wash near the river. Charlie and I will take mine and work near the Flying Cloud boundary."
She looked at his chin. "Wouldn't want any Triple T stock to wander on that land, now, would we? Might give the owner ideas. I'll go with Josh and Jose, then." She turned to glance at the dusty truck.
"Nope. You'll stay home today."
She swung back to meet his eyes at that, startled at the look he gave her.
"I'm not-"
"Shut up, Kalli. You'll do as you're told. You stay home and bring the records up to date."
"Forget it, I'm going. Might I remind you, Trace, that this is still my ranch and—"
"Excuse me, boys, I'll be right back." So saying, he gripped her upper arm, turned her smartly around and hurried her to the kitchen, not saying a word until the screen door banged behind than.
"Trace, you can't tell me—"
"Kalli, for once since I've known you, be sensible. You can't work on fencing, you wouldn't have a clue what to do. It's too dangerous. That’s why you have hired hands. You pay them for doing that kind of work. Anyway, you need to get the records caught up. Once they are, the process won't take much upkeep."
"I'm the owner here, I'll say what I can and can't do. You're so bossy! You don't own this place."
"Yet."
"Never! If I want to help with the fencing, I'll do it!" He made her so angry sometimes she wanted to spit. "Why's the fencing dangerous?"
"First of all, you're not big enough. It's demanding, physical work. If the wire snaps when being pulled taut, it can whip around like a knife blade, cutting anything in its way."
She glared at him and opened her mouth to set him straight when he ruthlessly continued without giving her a second to speak.
"Second, it's almost payday. Don't you think you should get your records up to date so you'll know if you have enough money in the bank to pay the men?"
She blinked, stared at him, thinking furiously. Put like that, it made some sort of sense. She didn't want it to— she wanted to say she'd work the fencing if she damned well pleased. But she wasn't a fool. And truth to tell, she was still stiff and sore from all the recent riding she'd done. Heat flashed through her as she thought of the aching muscles she'd ignored earlier when they'd been on her bed.
"I'm sure I have enough money," she grumbled, tugging on her arm. She wanted to put some distance between them lest she fling herself against him and beg for another kiss. Or sock him once for being so damned bossy. "How did they get paid before?"
"From the estate, Richard paid them from the account. Now that you're officially signed on, you have to pay them."
"How did you know..." She trailed off. Small town news. Was nothing secret around here?
"We'll be gone most of the day. Will you be okay here alone?" he asked, his fingers easing their grip, moving slowly along her arm, feeling her warmth beneath the cotton of her shirt.
"Of course." She drew herself up to her full five feet two inches and tilted her chin.
He nodded, his eyes dark and fathomless. Slowly he leaned over and brushed his mouth against hers.
Don't kiss him back, Kalli told herself, even as her own lips softened and parted slightly.
He pulled away and released her, turning to leave.
"Trace?" she called.
"Yeah?"
"Don't let any barbed wire snap."
He nodded and left.
Kalli walked to the window and watched as the men finished loading what they needed, then climbed into the two trucks and drove away. Once the sound of the engines faded, it was still, quiet. Feeling lonely for the first time in ages, Kalli turned to fix her breakfast, torn between being angry at Trace for telling her what to do, and oddly pleased he was protective of her.
Not that it changed anything. She would learn all she could about ranching, to free herself of her dependence on him. Her uncle had left the ranch to her. She would make it work on her own! And her attraction to the rugged cowboy who wanted her land would take second place. If he could keep the two issues separate, so could she
.
By mid afternoon she was almost blind from working at the computer. She saved all she'd done and leaned back in the chair, massaging her aching shoulders and neck muscles. God, she was tired. Staring out the window to ease the strain in her eyes, she smiled. The sight was breathtaking. The granite of the Grand Tetons rose mightily in the distance, stark and rugged against the clear blue sky. The hills were green with spring grass, the aspen near the house shivered in some unseen breeze.
Slowly she stretched. She felt better, not so stiff. Maybe she'd go for a short ride. Maybe even ride out and see how the fencing was coming. Of course, there was the problem of saddling the horse. She'd have to figure something out.
She clicked off the computer and wait to put on her boots. In only moments she was ready. As Kalli left the house using the back door, Becky Longford rode into the yard, her small Appaloosa filly just the right size for her.
"Hello," Kalli said as the youngster drew up near her. She should see about getting a smaller mount like Becky's.
"Hi. I came to see my dad," Becky said, looking around toward the barn.
"He's out fixing fences," Kalli said.
"Oh. Do you know where?"
"On the property line between our two ranches, I think. Didn't you see him as you rode over?"
"I came around the road for the most part. It's not too far that way. Which way did they go?" Becky asked.
"If you want to wait a minute, I was just going to go for a ride myself. I could ride with you for company if you like." And see Trace.
Becky hesitated a moment, then shrugged. "Sure. Why not?" She turned her horse toward the barn, walking alongside Kalli. "Need any help saddling your horse?"
The offer surprised Kalli.
"I could use some." When Kalli reached the barn she waited by the door while Becky dismounted and tied her horse to the corral rail. The girl was as tall as Kalli. Did she saddle her own horse?
"Which horse do you want?" Becky asked, looking through the rails into the corral. There were several horses dozing in the afternoon sun.
"I don't know. Does it matter?" Kalli asked.
Cowboy's Bride Page 7