by Francis Ray
She held out her arms to him. “Nothing important.”
Relieved, he drew her into his arms. He kissed the curve of her cheek, the slope of her shoulder. He paid homage to her body as he kissed every inch of her skin, leaving her panting, hungry, and hot.
Duncan eased into her, felt the tight fit, and met a barrier. Shock radiated though him.
He stared down into her flushed face and felt humbled beyond belief by this one special woman. “You amaze me, make me want to be a better man.”
Her hand tenderly palmed his cheek. “If you weren’t the best man, I wouldn’t be here.” Her hips lifted to meet his. “Don’t keep us waiting any longer.”
His mouth fastened to her as he filled her. The fit was tight, exquisite as he’d known it would be. He lifted his head to look into her eyes. Her awed expression caused tightness in his chest. He promised himself that he’d never do anything to cause her pain—even though that meant eventually letting her go.
His mind and body rebelled against the idea. He pushed the unbearable thought away. Tonight she was his, and he was hers.
He began to move, bringing them together again and again. Her cry of completion mingled with his.
His breathing labored, he gathered her in his arms and rolled to the side, his hand stroking her back. He wanted to keep touching her, reassure himself she was there, that he hadn’t lost the woman he loved.
Everything inside him went still. His mind circled around for a way to deny his feelings, and then he glanced down at Raven blissfully lying in his arms. His arms tightened. He couldn’t deny his love any more than he could stop the sun from rising in the morning. He didn’t want to.
She made each day so much better just by being there. She was as courageous as Rooster said. Nothing—not hard work, not a stuck Jeep, not a cougar—daunted her. Except him.
He rested his cheek against her forehead. For that it would take a long time to forgive himself—if at all.
“You’re a man of your word, Duncan McBride.”
He glanced down to see her looking up at him with an impish smile on her beautiful sated face. “I should have stopped when I learned it was your first time,” he said.
As she rose up, the sheet he’d pulled up over them slid away, revealing her exquisitely shaped breasts. “Could you have?”
His hand closed around her breast, brushed a thumb across the distended peak. He felt her tremble beside him. “No, I’m not that strong or that courageous.”
“Right answer.” She nipped him on the chin. “Call me crazy, but I want the man in my bed to want me as fiercely as I want him. No substitutions. Ever.”
“Then you have what you want.” His hand drifted through her hair. “I’ve wanted you since you first set foot on this property.”
“I guess I was a bit late.” She grinned, gliding her thumb over his lips. “It didn’t hit me until I stopped on the walkway.”
“You could have fooled me,” he said.
She glared at him. “You can make me so angry.”
“You can return the favor.” His hand circled her neck, bringing her face close to his. “Please don’t ever do anything that will put you in danger again.”
“It’s not intentional,” she said. “My parents raised all of us to be independent. I don’t look around for someone to do something I can do just as well.”
“Now you have me.” He kissed her, then pulled himself up in bed and placed her in his lap. “Thank you for finding Midnight. Saving him.”
“He’s all right?” she asked, leaning away from Duncan. “We didn’t want to take time to look him over after we heard the cat.”
“Some scratches from the brush, just like Belle had from obviously trying to go to him.” Duncan kissed the top of Raven’s head. “Both are safely back in their stall.”
“What about Billy?”
“My first instinct was to fire him, but I was too busy trying to find Belle and Midnight, then finding you and Rooster,” he told her. “Billy got pushed to the back of the line.”
“And now?”
His hands tenderly palmed her face. “I know how a woman can interfere with a man’s thinking, how a man can make a mistake and regret it with everything within him. Billy is in the bunkhouse.” He hugged her tighter. “He, Rooster, and the others there were ready to take me on for hurting you.”
“Give me an hour or two on the way back to Santa Fe and I would have probably turned Buddy back around and taken you on myself,” she told him.
“You wouldn’t have had to turn around. I would have gone after you.”
“Well, I’m glad we met here.” Her hand closed over his turgid manhood. “I can tell you are, too.”
He chuckled. “What am I going to do with you?”
She straddled him. “I have complete confidence that you’ll think of something.”
Duncan woke up with his own slice of heaven in his arms. Raven, with one arm across his chest, her leg across his, slept peacefully. If his internal clock hadn’t been at work, he would have still been asleep as well. As it was, it was almost six thirty. He hadn’t slept this late since he’d bought the Double D ten years ago. He couldn’t recall ever sleeping so well.
The reason stirred. “Go back to sleep.”
He twisted his head to see her face. “How did you know I was awake?”
She smiled without opening her eyes. “Trade secret.”
He smiled. He’d found himself doing a lot of that last night. Talking, sharing. He’d missed that. Hell, he’d never had that.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, staring up at him, her eyes troubled.
Telling her would put too much on her when she had to leave. “That I was right. One night with you wasn’t enough.”
“Then isn’t it great that I’m staying for six more weeks?” she teased, walking her fingers up his chest.
His heart clenched, but he gave her the smile she expected, then scooped her up in his arms and headed for the shower. “Let’s make the most of it.”
“It’s good seeing them happy and safe,” Raven said as she stood in the barn in front of Duncan with his arms wrapped around her later that morning, watching Belle and Midnight. “I feel the same way.”
Duncan brushed his lips across the top of her head. “I intend to keep you feeling that way.”
She angled her head up to kiss his chin. “I intend to hold you to that. Now, I better get breakfast so we both can get to work.”
He slowly released her. “Any chance you might take the day off? I planned to go to an auction in Billings this morning.” He glanced at his watch. “I wanted to be gone by now. I’m taking the trailer and it will be slow going.”
“Then we can grab a bite on the road,” she said. “Anything I can do to help?”
“You already have.” Drawing her into his arms, he kissed her. “I’ll go get the truck and hitch up the trailer. We won’t be back until late tonight.”
Hand in hand, they walked out of the barn. “I’ll put something in the slow cooker for Rooster.”
Duncan stopped. “He really likes you. He made sure I knew you’re the reason we found Midnight safe and sound.”
“I kind of like him, too, even if he kind of embellishes the truth,” she said with a grin.
“Not last night. He was too ticked at me.” He stared down at her. “Once I had time to think and control my fear for you, I realized he wouldn’t have liked being left behind. You went with him to help Midnight and to watch over him because of his poor eyesight. Even when his eyes were good, he was a terrible shot.”
She shrugged. “The important thing is that we’re all back safe.”
“I wish—Never mind. I’ll meet you in front in ten minutes. Billy is riding with us.”
“Dang, I guess I’ll have to keep my hands to myself,” she said, and started toward the house.
Raven quickly prepared the beef stew, then ran upstairs to get her purse. She didn’t experience an ounce of remorse on seeing
the notebook she took with her each day to the cave. Her time with Duncan was limited. Besides, if she didn’t finish, it would give her the perfect excuse to return next year.
She wasn’t going to regret one moment with Duncan. She loved him. She had six weeks to get him to admit he felt the same way. A strong, proud man like Duncan wouldn’t beg a woman unless he cared deeply for her. Guilt might do a lot of things, but it wouldn’t have brought him to his knees
Downstairs, she went to the kitchen to leave Rooster a note. Usually he was there by now. He and the other hands were probably giving her and Duncan a wide berth until they saw how the wind blew.
The back door opened. Rooster stepped cautiously inside. She thought of his offer to chaperone. Thank goodness he hadn’t. A blush heated her cheeks, but she smiled. “Good morning; I was just leaving you a note. Your supper will be ready by three. Duncan and I are going to an auction in Billings.”
“Everything all right between you two then?” he asked, closing the door behind him.
“Perfect,” she said, managing not to blush again. “I better hurry. I don’t want to make Duncan lose time pulling the trailer.”
Going out of the house, she went down the steps to Duncan’s truck, hooked behind was an empty cattle trailer. Coming around the back, he opened the passenger door for her.
“Where’s Billy?” she asked.
Duncan’s smile was slow and easy. “Ramon said Cynthia and her father picked him up an hour ago.”
“I’m sorry. I threw you off-schedule,” Raven said.
“And I don’t regret it one moment,” he said. “There’ll be other auctions.” Briefly touching his chest with her hand, she climbed inside the truck. Duncan closed the door and turned to Rooster on the steps.
“Glad to see you came to your senses,” Rooster said.
“I would have done whatever it took for her to forgive me.” Duncan went up the steps and stopped when they were eye to eye and stuck out his hand. “Thank you for taking care of the Double D. I always know I can count on you. I let both of us down last night, but it won’t happen again.”
Rooster stuck out his hand. “Ain’t a man livin’ who ain’t never made a mistake. But it takes a real man to admit it.”
“We’ll be late getting back. She said she’d leave your supper cooking.”
The older man nodded. “She did.” He looked Duncan in the eyes. “Raven’s a keeper.”
“I know.” Duncan went back to the truck. He just wouldn’t be the man blessed to always have her by his side.
Raven and Duncan laughed and talked the entire trip to the cattle auction in Billings. Sitting as close as possible beside Duncan in the cab of the truck, for the first time she felt that maybe, just maybe, they had a chance.
The parking lot outside the arena where the auction was to be held was bustling with people and every type of vehicle imaginable. Trailers were everywhere.
“We’re not too late, are we?” she asked, holding tight to Duncan’s hand as they made their way to their seats.
“No,” he reassured her. “The cattle I wanted weren’t going to be auctioned until later. There’s Isaac.” Duncan pulled Raven in front of him and urged her up the steps. Raven hesitated for a moment, not sure how Isaac would view them. It was obvious from the way Duncan looked at her and the way she looked at him that they were lovers.
“What is it, babe?”
There was no way she could tell him surrounded by hundreds of people. She’d been so happy to be with him she hadn’t thought. Elks Ridge was a close-knit community. It would be all over town.
“Duncan, Raven, up here.”
Raven looked over her shoulder to see Isaac, a wide grin on his face, waving to them and pointing to two seats next to him. Cynthia and Billy were seated in the next seats. They waved as well.
Left without a choice, Raven continued to join Duncan’s neighbor and friend. “Hello.”
“Thanks for saving us seats.” Duncan held Raven’s arm until she sat; then he and Isaac took their seats next to each other. “Later I’d like a word with you about my bad behavior last night,” he said to the other man.
Isaac gazed down at the arena as a man walked a bull around the arena. “A man says some things he might regret when he’s worried about people he cares about. All me and my men remember last night is helping a neighbor I’m also honored to call a friend, how courageous Raven and Rooster were, how Billy watched over my Cynthia just like he promised me when he picked her up.”
He leaned over and looked at Cynthia, then straightened. “She made me proud last night. Billy told me she was ready to go with them to search for Midnight.”
“In three-inch heels,” Raven said, relaxing a bit.
Isaac laughed, slapped his leg. “Her mother was the same way. Once she helped deliver a calf in the pearl necklace I gave her when our oldest was born. She was in such a rush to help she forgot to take it off. She was a special woman.” He sobered and glanced at Duncan. “A man is blessed if he finds a woman like that.”
Duncan held out his hand. “Thank you, Isaac.”
The handshake was firm. “Neighbors help neighbors.”
“If ever you need me or my men, we’re there,” Duncan told him.
“Daddy, they’re about to start bidding on the bull you wanted,” Cynthia said from beside Raven.
Isaac jerked his hat down on his head and leaned forward. “I need backup.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Raven saw Duncan’s mouth twitch, and she could just imagine the type of “backup” he was thinking of.
Raven couldn’t understand what the auctioneer was saying. She was amazed at how fast he spit the words, how fast the bidding went. The cattle Duncan wanted to bid on still hadn’t come up, and since everyone with her seemed so caught up in the process, she offered to go get drinks. “My treat.”
“Let me get it.” Duncan was up before she could get the words out of her mouth.
“I can handle it.” When he tried to give her money, she pushed his hand away. “Please put your billfold away. It’s on me. You’ve fed me enough. I’ll be back before you miss me,” she teased as she stepped past him and Isaac into the aisle.
“That’s not possible,” Duncan mouthed.
Raven’s heart turned over. He was getting there. Smiling, she went to the concession stand. She was next in line when the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Frowning, she glanced over her shoulder, but she didn’t see anyone.
“What will you have?”
She turned back around and gave her drink order. On the way back, she couldn’t shake the sensation that she was being watched. The moment she stepped into the aisle and saw Duncan, he was out of his seat and coming to help.
“I’m not helpless, you know,” she said, letting him take the drink holder with the most drinks.
“I know.” His gaze centered on her lips. “Told you I’d miss you.”
“I missed you, too. Now, let’s take our seats so you can get those Angus heifers you want.” She saw his reluctance. It warmed her heart. “We’ll get a late start in the morning.”
He grinned. “Deal.”
Smiling, she started for their seats.
It was close to ten when Raven and Duncan arrived back. Billy, who had ridden back with them, got out of the truck and opened the gate to the back corral for the newly purchased Angus heifers.
Raven climbed up on the side of the trailer to get the cattle moving. “Shoo.”
Laughter floated from inside the truck. “Babe, you don’t shoo cows.”
“It worked, didn’t it?” she told him, jumping down when the last cow entered the corral.
“She’s got you there, boss.”
Duncan pulled the trailer away from the gate so Billy could close it. The young man came to the driver’s side. “You want me to put the truck and trailer up?”
“No, I got it. Night.”
“Night, boss, Raven.” Whistling, Billy started to the bunkhouse.
“Go on in.” Duncan put the truck in gear. “I’ll be inside in a minute.”
Raven gave him a smile that heated his blood. “I’ll be waiting.”
Duncan headed for the shed. Usually he had no trouble backing the trailer back into the space it was kept in. Since space was a commodity, it had to fit between the tractor and the smaller truck. Instead of concentrating on what he was doing, his gaze kept going to the house.
The lights came on in Raven’s room. He waited for them to go off, anticipating that she would go to his room, but they remained on. He became worried, then decided she was probably taking a bath in the oversized iron tub Faith had found at an auction a couple of years back. Which was the wrong thing, since he easily visualized Raven naked, her skin wet and soft.
He swallowed, pulled the truck up, and tried again. This time he overcorrected on the other side and almost hit the smaller truck. His gaze went to the window again. Pulling up, he took a deep breath and backed up again. If the fit wasn’t perfect, at least he’d gotten the trailer parked.
Jumping out of the truck, he quickly unhitched the trailer and put his truck in the garage. Closing the door, he sprinted to the house, praying every step that Raven was still in the tub.
He opened the door to her bedroom, quickly crossed to the bathroom, and opened the door.
One bare arm draped over the side, she reclined in the big claw-foot tub. “What took you so long?”
Chapter 14
Raven was positive that being in love was the most glorious thing in the whole world. If only . . . She crushed the thought before it completely formed. She wasn’t going to spend precious time being ungrateful. At least she was going to do her best not to.
It was wonderful falling asleep in the arms of the man you loved, waking up the same way. She usually woke up sprawled halfway on top of Duncan, one of her arms across his chest, her leg thrown across both of his, as if even in sleep she wanted to be as close as possible to him.
She paused while sketching the drawing of the female anatomy in the inner cave. Sierra and Catherine were right about man’s obsession with sex not lessening. Some men, like Duncan, tried to control that obsession.