Breath was too limited, control too tenuous—she felt her own moistness and knew she was ready for him. She arched her hips to receive him and he drove into her, pumping in and out.
Her eyes, so heavy with passion she could barely raise the lids, saw that his head was thrown back, his neck rigid with taut cords. Perspiration dotted his brow. The tempo of the love dance increased, the intensity escalated, and the coil within her wound ever tighter. It built and built to a blinding eruption that sent waves of rapture through her. He stiffened, groaned as her tremors took him, and then his climax filled her. When his shuddering ceased, she could only slump her head against his sweat-slickened shoulder.
It was all a blur to her when Zach removed her gown and torn camisole, when he released her petticoat and slid her bloomers and stockings off her legs. She had a hazy recollection of him kicking his jeans aside, scooping her up in his arms, and carrying her to the bed. There he entwined his long legs around hers.
“I’ve thought about this from the first moment I walked into that restaurant and saw you looking all prim and proper in that black dress and white apron.”
“I have, too,” she said softly.
“I spent a lot of time imagining what you looked like under those prim and proper clothes.” Her stomach tightened when he palmed one of her breasts. “You’re everything I’d thought you’d be, and more.” He dipped his head and teased the nipple with his tongue, then took it between his teeth and gave it a little tug. She arched against him as his warm, moist mouth closed over the nipple and began to suckle.
“I take it I’ve just been complimented.” She had reached arousal already, and her voice was throaty. “I’ll try not to let such flattery go to my head.”
He raised his head and grinned. “Better we direct it to mine.”
She couldn’t help smiling. There was too much devilment in his eyes to miss his meaning. God help her, but his bawdy innuendo excited her more. Sliding her hand down, she grasped the subject of his joke and gave it a playful tug. “You’re right, MacKenzie. Feels like it needs all the direction it can get.”
That hidden side of her she’d always feared existed had materialized. She’d never been this bold with Wes, but somehow she was shameless where Zach was concerned.
Naturally it was too much of a challenge for him to ignore. Chuckling, he leered down at her. “Oh, lady, before this night’s over, you’re going to eat those words—and a lot more.”
She closed her eyes, her head swirling in an overwhelming tide of passion. She felt free. It was a glorious feeling, and she could no longer keep up the pretense of denial—no longer wanted to. This night had been inevitable from the first time she had looked into his mesmerizing sapphire eyes and saw how much he wanted her. And she knew his eyes must have mirrored her own.
The hours passed too swiftly as they explored one another with hands and mouth, sometimes intensely, other times gently. Often laughing or teasing, moaning or sighing. He’d whisper bawdy promises into her ear. She’d dare him to try, and end up whimpering with ecstasy. He’d challenge that she couldn’t break his control; and he’d end up groaning with lust when she’d prove otherwise.
She felt so much. Excitement, yes. Anticipation, yes. Arousal, beyond control. Every touch, every slide of his lips became a rapturous reminder of how much she had yearned for such a moment, and it was more exciting than anything she had ever imagined secretly and denied fervently.
Still, the haunting realization that it would not go on forever crept into her thoughts. He wanted her for the same reason that Wes had wanted her, to satisfy his own bodily cravings, and she couldn’t help wondering if the moment would be even greater if they’d come together in love—not lust.
So for this one night, she’d pretend that they were true lovers. She’d let herself believe that he cherished her, adored her, loved her—as she did him.
And she confessed this love with her own response. Her every movement, every caress, every heated kiss, sigh, or groan of pleasure cried out, I love you, Zach. Words she feared—dared not—say aloud or he’d only laugh. And if he laughed, the illusion would shatter—and crush her heart into bits.
She clung to him, molding her soft curves into his hardened flesh, and reveled in being in the arms of the man she loved.
Then, finally exhausted, they slept.
Zach awoke slowly. He felt drugged: his body too sapped to move, his hands too heavy to lift a finger. Morning sunlight streamed through the open window, hitting him squarely in the face. He managed to roll over on his stomach and muffle his groan in the pillow. Fully awake now, the first thing that popped into his head was last night. There was no sign of Rose. Had it actually happened, or had it just been the dream of every man’s greatest fantasy?
He shifted his head to the other pillow to get out of the sun, and the faint aroma of jasmine tantalized his nostrils.
So it hadn’t been a dream.
Zach rolled over to his back and lay thinking about Rose, last night—and the greatest sex he’d ever had.
What a woman! Hadn’t he known she would be? That red hair and that luscious mouth that warned him to stand clear, even as her blue eyes dared him to go ahead and try. Once she dropped that control of hers, the sky was the limit. She became a wild vixen—the most sensual, uninhibited female he’d ever bedded. He could thank his lucky stars that he even survived last night—although he sure as hell was ready and willing to take her on again.
Recalling the way her eyes deepened with passion, remembering her touch, his blood heated again and he grew hard. Why had she run off without waking him? They had a lot to settle. Next time, he’d make sure she wouldn’t run away.
But was she thinking about next time? Was she still planning on going through with her marriage to Rayburn? Maybe that’s why she’d left.
He was a damn fool. He was spinning cobwebs over a woman who openly admitted she intended to marry for money—to sell out for a shot at an easy life. But who was he to criticize? He knew damn well she was engaged when she walked into his room last night. So what did that make him? Maybe he should check the dresser to see if she’d left him two bucks on her way out. It’d be just like her.
Disgusted, he looked down his naked body at his erection.
“Shit, MacKenzie!” he grumbled. “You just need to pee.” He crawled out of bed.
Chapter 17
When Zach went downstairs he saw no sign of the gang, so he headed for the Harvey House. After last night, he couldn’t stand aside and let her marry Rayburn. He doubted he would have even if she hadn’t come to him last night. Just the thought of her made him hot and hard. Lord, she was under his skin! He had never let any woman get that kind of upper hand with him before.
The hot bath he’d taken had rejuvenated him and succeeded in washing the scent of her from his body, but somehow he still smelled the jasmine as though she were standing beside him.
The bell tingled overhead when he entered the Harvey restaurant and paused to look around. The morning train had come and gone, and now only a few locals were eating. He saw Bull and Joe sitting at a table in the corner. There was no sign of Tait, Pike, or Cain. Good. The last thing he needed this morning was those three. He’d have liked to avoid Bull and Joe, too, but it’d be too noticeable, so he sauntered over to them and pulled out a chair.
“Where’s Tait?” If Tait was out to kill him, he sure as hell wanted to know where the bastard was. He also wanted to know who Tait had been talking to last night. It looked like things were starting to move faster, and he had to warn Will.
“Ain’t you heard?” Bull asked.
“Heard what?”
“The sheriff locked him up. Last night Jess got drunker ’an hell and started to slap around one of the whores at the Long Horn. When the bartender tried to stop him, Jess knocked the fella out and started to bust up the joint.”
“What’re Pike and Cain doing—sitting in Tait’s cell holding his hand?”
“They rode out
somewhere early this mornin’,” Bull replied. “Said they had an errand to run for Jess.”
“What kind of errand?”
“Didn’t ask. Weren’t none of my business,” Bull said pointedly.
Joe joined the conversation, his eyes glowing. He thrived on bedlam. “Can’t believe you didn’t hear that ruckus last night.”
“I was occupied.”
Bull and Joe exchanged lewd grins.
“Bet I know with what.” Bull’s beefy face twisted into a smirk. “She must’ve been damn good for ya to miss hearin’.”
“She was.”
“Then don’t be greedy, MacKenzie,” Bull pursued. “Let Joe and me in on some of that action. Who is she?”
“Not a chance. You’d wear her out, Bull, and I’d be out in the cold,” Zach said lightly, knowing how the man considered himself to be a great stud. Truth was, Bull’s testicles were huge, which was how he had earned the moniker. He took great pride in them, confusing their size with sexual prowess.
“Betcha it wuz that skinny-ass blonde at the Long Horn,” Joe said. “The one who said we’d have to take a bath afore she’d climb into bed with us.”
“Betcha yer right, Joe. Wuz it her, MacKenzie?”
“Fellas, you’re wasting your breath.”
Joe poked Bull in the arm. “See, wha’d I tell ya. It wuz her, all right.”
Zach saw Rose come out of the kitchen and carry plates over to two cowboys at a nearby table. She looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Even her step had a spring to it. He was amazed, considering how she’d spent most of the night.
When she remained at the table laughing and joking with the cowboys, he began to feel resentment. Was this her way of telling him that last night hadn’t meant anything other than a good romp? Or was she trying to make him jealous?
With a belligerent glare, he decided it was the latter. Well, she was wasting her time if she thought Andrew Zachary MacKenzie was the type to get jealous over anything or anyone. From now on, he only wanted one thing from her—and he knew now how to get it: just light her fuse and she blasted off like a Roman candle. He cast another annoyed glance in her direction.
“Can we have some service here?” he called out.
Rose patted one of the cowboys on the shoulder and walked over to them. “Good morning, gentlemen. I thought you were waiting for your other cohorts. Do you wish to order now?”
Joe scratched his balding head. “What’s a cohort?”
“A colleague in crime. Your glorious leader,” she said.
“Ya mean Jess? He’s in the calaboose right now.”
“Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?” Rose said.
“Yeah, he busted up the Long Horn last night. You mean you ain’t heard about it?”
“Not a word.”
Bull poked Joe. “She mustta been occupied same as MacKenzie.” The two men snorted with laughter.
Rose gave Zach a scathing look. “If you gentlemen intend to order breakfast, that’ll be seventy-five cents in advance from each of you.”
“Dammit, Rose, how long is this going to go on?” Zach declared, tossing down a silver dollar. “I’ve always paid for what I ate.”
“Blame your friends, not me. I have my orders. Mr. Harvey isn’t running a charity house for riffraff and petty outlaws.”
“You talk too smart, lady,” Bull said.
“It’s not too smart of you to speak so nastily to your boss’s future wife, Mr. Bull.” She smiled at him. “Fortunately, I don’t hold a grudge.”
Bull threw down his money and offered no comeback.
Joe slowly counted out his coins and added them to the pile. “ ’Sides, Miz Rose, weren’t our idea not to pay before. Jess’s the one who thought of it.”
Rose picked up the money. “I’m afraid the specialty is all gone by now, but I can offer you ham and eggs.”
“Sure. From what MacKenzie’s been tellin’ us,” Bull said, “sounds like after last night he could use some lead in his pencil.” That elicited another snort from Joe.
Rose’s eyes clouded with anger. “What about you two?”
“Yeah, bring me some eggs for sure,” Bull declared, “but Little Joe here don’t need none—he don’t know how to write.” Bellowing with laughter at his own joke, he slammed the table several times with the palm of his hand.
After a disgusted look at Zach, Rose spun on her heel and walked away.
“Bull, can’t you swallow that filth in front of ladies?” Zach groused. “And like she said, she’s gonna marry the boss. I’d watch what I say in front of her.”
His gaze was drawn magnetically to the sway of Rose’s hips. Recalling the feel of those hips in his hands, the satin-smooth texture of those rounded cheeks, he clenched his hands into fists to curb the itch that had begun in his fingers. Adding to his discomfort, he could smell the faint aroma of jasmine. His blood heated up and he moved his chair closer to the table to conceal the growing erection straining at his jeans. Dammit! He was as disgusted with himself as he was with Bull.
Zach purposely avoided any further conversation with Bull and Joe, who were making comments about the physical attributes of the other Harvey Girls who were scurrying to finish up the breakfast trade before the luncheon train’s arrival in three hours.
When Rose returned with a tray of food, she placed heaping plates of ham and eggs in front of Bull and Joe, then slammed Zach’s plate down in front of him.
She was pissed with him, all right. What in hell had he done, other than give her the best sex she’d probably ever had? If he lived to be a hundred, he’d never understand women.
As Zach ate, he concentrated on how he could get back to being on the good side of her—or any side of her, for that matter. Recalling the delights of last night, he’d take her any way she wanted.
Rose put down the dishes she’d carried into the kitchen and, closing her eyes, she leaned back against the wall. How could he have done this to her? From Bull’s lewd remarks, she could imagine what he’d told them. Hadn’t last night meant anything to him other than something to boast about to those animals?
Tears slipped from under her eyelids and trickled down her cheeks. How she’d wanted to believe he was different from them, but he wasn’t.
Yet could she resist the temptation to see him again? She trembled, recalling the thrill of his kiss, his touch. For her own welfare and her plans for the future, she knew she mustn’t ever make the mistake she had last night. Zach MacKenzie was a drifter running with a gang of no-goods. You couldn’t pick your relatives, but you could your friends—and Zach had chosen these men. One day he’d end up the way they would: in prison, or dangling from the end of a rope.
Her tears increased at the thought of Zach’s endearing grin erased, his mesmerizing sapphire eyes closed forever, or the warmth of his laughter stilled in death. She could never remain immune to whatever Fate had in store for him. Last night had linked more than her body to him; it had linked her soul.
When she had wakened that morning in Zach’s bed, she’d felt guilty and ashamed for her actions. And despite all her former hopes, she’d planned to tell Stephen she couldn’t marry him. Until last night she’d always believed she could be a good wife to him, but now she had betrayed him. And she knew, despite the heartache she now felt, that as long as Zach MacKenzie was near, she’d do it again—and Stephen deserved much better than a cheating wife.
Yet her attraction for Zach was hopeless, and could only end in tragedy. She’d wire Mr. Harvey today and ask to be transferred out of Brimstone.
Rose felt a gentle touch on her arm and opened her eyes.
Kate’s brown eyes were filled with compassion. “Rose, what is it?”
Wiping away her tears with a napkin, Rose forced a smile. “Nothing, really. I just have a headache.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Although Rose usually faced trouble head-on, she needed some time alone to collect her thoughts.
“Would you
mind finishing up my tables? Perhaps if I go back to my room and lie down, I can get rid of this headache. I’ll come back in time for lunch.”
“Of course I will.” Kate put her hand on Rose’s elbow and led her to the rear door. “You get some rest, dear, and I’ll explain to Mr. Billings.”
The fresh air felt good on Rose’s flushed cheeks. She hated not being entirely truthful with Kate. Although the two women were becoming closer every day, there hadn’t been time to form the type of relationship Rose had had with Emily Lawrence. How she wished Em were here now!
Inside her small room, the walls seemed to close in on her immediately and she opened the window. Then she plopped down on the bed, pulled the bow and pins out of her hair, and shook it out. As she lay back, she thought of Emily again. At least it had all ended happily for Em—Josh and she were crazy in love.
Rose’s smile slowly dissolved. “Crazy” was right. A person would have to be crazy to become vulnerable enough to fall in love.
Her last conscious thought before drifting into slumber was that there was no way her relationship with Zach could ever have the same happy ending.
“More coffee, gentlemen?”
Zach looked up to see Kate McDermott holding a coffeepot. For the past fifteen minutes there’d been no sign of Rose, and absorbed with his thoughts about her, he’d been unaware of Kate’s approach.
“Yeah, cutie,” Bull said, holding up his cup.
“What happened to Rose?” Zach asked. “She give up on us?”
“Rose is feeling under the weather, so she went back to her room. Last night’s party totally exhausted her.”
Kate was a good-natured woman, Zach thought. And besides having a pretty face, her body was just as appealing—which unfortunately made her a target for some of Bull’s and Joe’s crude remarks.
As Kate refilled his cup, his thoughts returned to Rose. If she’d gone back to her boardinghouse, it would be a good time to catch her alone and find out what had made her angry with him.
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