Cowboy's Bride

by Barbara McMahon

  His mouth was hot and demanding. His fingers were soft as feathers, yet she felt his touch to her soul. He hurried, which was fine with her, she was burning up for him. The sooner the better, as far as she was concerned. Her hands searched his back, stroking him, learning him. When she met the barrier of his jeans, she tried to slip beneath the waistband, but they were too snug.

  His hand captured one rosy nipple, his thumb slowly stroking it, pressing against it He watched as she responded. Her eyes were glazed with passion, her mouth swollen and damp from his kisses. Her tongue darted out to capture his taste.

  Slowly, he caressed her breast, teasing it, tormenting it, until Kalli's fingers were clawing his back, urging him to do more. Deliberately he extended the foreplay. Methodically he brushed against her, pressed against her while she twisted and moved urgently beneath him.

  "Please, Trace, you're killing me," she panted.

  His hot mouth moved to draw the tip of her nipple in his mouth. His tongue brushed against her, savoring her special taste, savoring the hot feel of her skin. His ears caught her whimper of pleasure and his body hardened for her. He drove against her, sucking hard, feeling her buck and writhe as the tension escalated, stretched taut.

  His hand found the fastener on her shorts and slid down the zipper. She was hot and wet and wanting. The heat scorched his hand.

  Struggling to help him, Kalli shimmied out of her shorts and panties. She was naked and had hoped the air would cool her heated flesh. But the flame he built was too hot, too intense.

  "You, too," she said. She wasn't going to do this alone today. "You, too," she chanted, tugging on the waistband of his snug jeans. Trying to slip the button through the hole.

  "Yeah, me, too." He sat up for a minute and quickly shucked off his jeans.

  Kalli let her passion-glazed eyes sweep over him. He was beautiful. Strong and muscular, masculine in the most glorious manner God had designed. She could see his desire before her, and her heart sped up even more. The emptiness in her cried out to him. Her body was quivering with anticipation, demanding a release only he could give.

  Snatching up the jeans, Trace retrieved a foil packet from the back pocket. Quickly he was ready, leaning over her, trailing his fingers over her, stroking her feverish body. Building her craving, raising the tension higher, ever higher.

  "Now, Trace. Now!"

  He knelt between her legs, his hands rubbing slowly, erotically against the soft skin of her inner thighs. Gently he nudged than apart, seeing the glistening welcome awaiting him. He slowly pushed into her, covering her with his hard body, catching her face in his hands as his eyes held hers in a gaze that was as hot as the Wyoming sun.

  Kalli caught her breath, held it as he filled her. Filled her more than she'd ever been. For a moment she knew she'd found the rest of her. She'd never be alone again. She'd never be incomplete again. She loved him and she was sharing that love with him. She'd give him everything she had.

  For a long moment his dark eyes stared into hers. She could scarcely breathe, but she smiled slowly, her heart spilling with love.

  "Is this it, cowboy?" she whispered, laughter and longing dancing in her eyes.

  "Not by a long shot," he replied, moving against her. He set the pace, and it was fast and wild and hot, just as he'd promised. And Kalli kept up the entire way, her eyes never leaving his, her love reflected for the entire world to see.

  When the vortex swirled and caught them, Kalli gave in to it. The splintering satisfaction was white-hot and intense. The shock waves were electrifying, stunning her with the pleasure that coursed through her every cell. The momentum built and built then flashed through her. On and on the stunning waves crashed, burning her, melting her, until she could no longer see Trace, could no longer feel anything but the rapture he brought, the ecstasy of their love.

  Trace held off as long as he could, but the feelings were too intense. He exploded in her, reaching the summit with her, feeling her hot body achieve pleasure when his did. He imprinted her slight frame on his mind as he gave in to the pleasure she brought.

  Collapsing on her when they were sated, he breathed in the scent of strawberries, and woman, and love. He couldn't move He knew he was too heavy, he was probably crushing her, but he couldn't move. He'd never felt such satisfaction when making love with any woman. Never felt so at peace. So complete.

  Kalli lay still, her hands smoothing across his back, her breathing erratic and harsh, her body humming with the afterglow of perfection. She closed her eyes and held onto the moment. It was perfect. Trace was perfect. And she loved him even more now than before.

  Suddenly a shadow dimmed her happiness. What was she going to do? He didn't love her. He didn't even want to try to love her. He wanted her gone.

  Slitting open her eyes, she turned her head to see him. Would he change his mind after this? Would he see that together they could build something wonderful? Something lasting? Would he see the possibilities before them, or only remember the painful past and associate her with the woman who had been his wife?

  He rolled over, bringing her with him, pressing up into her to show her he was still there. She smiled and lay her head against his chest, savoring every moment she had with him. It had been glorious. The best thing to ever happen to her, beyond even inheriting the ranch.

  "You okay?" he asked, his hand sweeping down her soft back, cupping her rounded bottom, pressing her into him.

  "Never better." Kalli lifted her head, resting her chin on her stacked hands against his chest and looking at him. Her smile was beautiful.

  "Yeah, me, too." His face was still harsh, all angles and planes. But his warm eyes thrilled her. He looked as pleased as she'd ever seen him.

  The breeze blew the curtains slightly, passing over their cooling skin. His hand continued tracing random patterns on her back, stopping at her bottom each time to press her closer. Stroking to her shoulders, her neck, tangling languidly in her silky hair.

  "Are you getting cold?" he asked.

  "Are you kidding? You're like a furnace." She stretched in contentment, rubbing against him like a sated cat. I love you, her heart whispered to his, wondering if he could feel it through osmosis. Maybe if she sent thought waves-

  He shifted.

  "Don't go," she protested.

  "I'll be right back," he said, lifting her chin and dropping a quick kiss on her mouth.

  She frowned when she heard the shower. He would be gone longer than a few minutes. She debated whether she should join him, but rolled over and curled up instead. She was too tired, too lethargic to move.

  He had only been gone a moment, yet Kalli already felt bereft. How could she stand it when he left for the night? When he left for good? She didn't want to think about it. She'd take one day at a time. Maybe she could find the secret to his heart.

  When he returned, he drew back the sheets and slid beneath than, drawing her into his arms. With a grateful sigh, she snuggled closer, her arm across his chest, her thigh resting on his.

  "I should have showered before."

  "Why?" She couldn't keep her eyes open.

  "I know I must have smelled of horse and cattle and sweat."

  "I don't remember, but now you smell like soap and shampoo."

  "Yeah, strawberry shampoo," he said in disgust.

  She laughed softly.

  "Want to sleep?" he asked.

  She nodded, feeling replete, safe, cherished.

  Kalli awoke later, after dark, to feel Trace's mouth against her throat, his hands already working to arouse her. Her response was immediate. He was ready. She could feel him hard against her soft belly, his thigh pressed between hers. Smiling sleepily, she turned to him, to embrace him and draw him into her. They made love slowly, gently, deeply. It was as good as the first time, maybe better. It lasted a long, long time.

  "Stay the night," she whispered, her mouth loath to leave his. She wanted to fuse to him and never be separated.

  "Honey, I can't. My tru
ck's outside, plain as life."

  "So?"

  "So, you have four men working for you that live a stone's throw away. I don't want to jeopardize your reputation."

  "Let me worry about my own reputation. I'm their boss. They're not going to say anything."

  "No. I'm not staying." A hint of steel sounded.

  "Maybe you're more worried about your own precious reputation," she said sulkily, moving away from him, angry he didn't want to stay when she wanted him to so badly.

  "What do you mean by that?" His tone became razor sharp.

  "Wouldn't want to jeopardize your lone-wolf reputation, the one where everyone thinks you don't want nor need a woman. Leave then, and show everyone how tough you are."

  His hard hand gripped her shoulder, pulling her to face him, pressing her hard into the mattress.

  "What the hell does that mean?"

  "You're a loner and you love it. You don't want anyone to think you need a woman. You don't date. You don't do anything as far as I can tell but work on your ranch and covet mine. So I figure even though you're one

  hundred percent red hot male, you cling to that reputation. And letting it be known you spent the night with a woman would tarnish it beyond repair. We wouldn't want that, now, would we? Gosh, somebody might think it would compromise you."

  "What are you pushing for, Kalli? A commitment? Marriage? Hell, I was married. I won't go that route again."

  "Well, I haven't been married and maybe I want to be. But not with someone who doesn't like me. All I wanted tonight was for you to sleep over. We've made love twice now. Maybe we could again. But it would be nice after becoming so close, being so intimate, just to sleep together."

  He stared into her eyes, trying to see her clearly in the darkness, trying to read the emotions that filled her. His eyes revealed nothing.

  "Tell me why you don't want to get married again," she said boldly, holding his gaze in the moonlight.

  He scowled, pushing away from her, lying back on the bed, his eyes staring blindly at the ceiling. The night air swirled around him, brushing against his chest, cooling his anger. For a long moment he thought back to the years of his marriage, and a different anger built.

  "I'm not going to get myself tied up in knots over a woman again." Like I'm feeling with you. "Only to have her destroy everything by walking away. It was something I would never deliberately put myself through again."

  Kalli propped herself on one elbow and leaned toward him, trying to see his expression in the faint moonlight. "I thought you said you didn't love her," she said softly, soothingly. She longed to hug him, bring him some measure of comfort. But she wanted to hear this. Wanted to understand.

  "You don't live with someone for a couple of years, don't have a kid with her, without some feelings. I cared for her. I thought we'd were committed to build a life together. Then she left, without a word. Just up and left. Left me. Left Becky. I was twenty-two years old. My grandfather owned the ranch. I had nothing. I didn't know anything but ranching and rodeoing. And then I had a baby to care for – alone."

  There was bewilderment as well as pain in his voice. Kalli's heart contracted. She ached for the young man he'd been, left alone with a baby. Whatever dreams he had for the future had gone forever when Alyssa walked out.

  For a moment she hated the woman. Then reason reasserted itself. If Alyssa hadn't left, Trace wouldn't be free now. And Kalli vowed she would do her best to see he had a happy future. One that included her if at all possible.

  "I'm not going to marry you, Kalli," he said quietly.

  "No one asked you to," she retorted, trying to ignore the piercing hurt that struck her. Stretching out a hand to rub his chest, longing to throw herself into his arms and hold him all night long, she only said, "Go home, Trace. You've spoiled my mood."

  His head turned on the pillow. She could see the gleam of his eyes.

  "I really was concerned for your reputation," he said. "Men get brownie points for sleeping with women. It doesn't work the other way around."

  "I know."

  "Do you want me to stay?"

  She hesitated. She ought to tell him to go. She ought to tell him not to come back. She ought to do a lot of things. But she would cling to this one night with all her might.

  "Yes, I want you to stay."

  "I'll call Maria to let her know I won't be home."

  She nodded. Waited patiently as he made the quick call. Then inched across the bed to lie beside him. Relief soaked her when he drew her into his arms and slowly began to stroke her back again. At least she'd have this night with the man she loved.

  Trace felt her fall asleep. Her breath fanned across his chest, warm and moist. Her cheek pillowed against him, her trust in him while she slept a wondrous thing. He stared in the night, thinking of the handful of woman in his arms. She was an enchanting thing, but such a contrast. He couldn't figure her out. She was too city to stay, yet her determination seemed endless. Her enthusiasm was naive, yet appealing. He gained a fresh perspective on his life through her eyes. He knew ranching, but until recently he hadn't realized how much he really liked it.

  What would it be like to sleep with her every night? To wake up with her and make love in the early morning before he had to see to the cattle and the business of running his spread? To come home to her at night, to her cooking in the kitchen, maybe wearing those short shorts she favored? To take her to bed and love her until they were exhausted?

  It was a long time before Trace fell asleep.

  When Trace awoke the next morning, he was alone in the big bed. Dressing quickly, he found a new razor in the bathroom and used it. His shirt was on a chair. Kalli must have brought it in from the study. He wondered what he'd find when he located her. Would she be clinging and wanting more than he could give her? Or would she be more reserved around him now? God, he hoped she had no regrets.

  He smelled the coffee and headed for the kitchen. She was making pancakes and the fragrance of warmed syrup and coffee filled the kitchen.

  "Good morning," she said happily, throwing him a quick smile and turning back to the rising pancakes on the griddle.

  "Good morning." He came up to her and tilted her chin to look into her face. Her sunny smile was normal. Her eyes clear and dancing in some kind of amusement. Thank God, he saw no regrets. Trace kissed her. Kissed her again.

  "Do you want pancakes or love?" she asked, flicking a quick glance at the stove.

  Love? Trace drew back.

  "Food. I'm hungry. I didn't get any dinner last night."

  "I'd be more concerned if I hadn't seen you scarf down all those brownies before Becky left. How many pancakes can you eat?"

  "A dozen." At her startled look, he ran his gaze up and down her body. "How many do you eat, short stuff? One?"

  "Shut up or you can fix your own. Short jokes are out."

  "Yes, ma'am," he said meekly, his eyes amused.

  Now he knew what it would be like to wake up with her. She was as happy as a lark, bubbling over with good humor and anticipation for the day. Breakfast was delicious, though he hardly noticed what he ate, he was too enchanted with her to care about the food.

  "You didn't tell me about the hay," she said as she poured herself a second cup of coffee. She had finished eating, but continued to watch Trace put it away. No wonder he was so big, he ate as much as her brother Tony.

  Trace paused and looked at her. "What hay?"

  "I understand I have a few acres planted in alfalfa hay. It needs to be cut in summer and baled for use in the winter. I can even sell some of it, if I get a good crop."

  He nodded.

  "So why didn't you tell me about it?"

  "Didn't come up."

  "You're supposed to be teaching me about ranching. Isn't that a part of it?"

  "Kalli, what are you trying to do, make it seem as if I'm deliberately keeping something from you? It isn't time to cut the hay. You've got other things to worry about--like your roundup. Your finance
s. Are you current with the IRS? Time enough to get to the hay when it’s time to cut the hay."

  "Is there anything else you haven't told me?" she asked.

  "Hell, yes! There's a lot more you don't know. Let's get the roundup out of the way and we'll tackle the next step. You can't learn everything about a working ranch in one day. I'll teach you what you need to know as we go along."

  She nodded, uncertain whether to believe him or not. Had he neglected to tell her because it really wasn't important now? Or was he only doling out the information be felt she had to know? She wasn't ever going to get around the fact he wanted the Triple T. How far would he go to get it?

  Trace finished eating, drank the last of his coffee and placed the cup on the table. "Thanks for breakfast. You're a good cook."

  She smiled. "Pancakes? Want to try fettuccine?"

  He nodded. "Anytime."

  "How about tonight?" She held her breath.

  Trace looked at her, his dark eyes knowing, waiting.

  Kalli stood and walked over to him. Before she could sit down, he pulled her across his thighs, cradling her against him.

  "Yeah, I'll come again tonight, if you're sure."

  Kissing his jaw, she said, "I'm sure."

  "Then I'm going home now, get some things done there. What time do you want me back?"

  "I don't know, around seven, I guess." The giddy delight bubbled up in her. He would be back for dinner. And the night. She could hardly wait for the day to be gone.

  "See you then." He kissed her long and hard, then set her on her feet and rose. Flicking his finger against her chin, he left.

  Kalli resolutely headed for the study as soon as the breakfast dishes had been washed. She would finish the blasted computer input today if it killed her. She couldn't wait to have the reports run and get a clear understanding of where she stood. Then she could start to make plans. See what needed to be done to assure the future of the Triple T. For a few minutes she let herself consider what her staying would mean to Trace. When would he believe that she didn't plan to return to Boston? Would his attitude toward her change then? Would he continue to help her on the ranch?