by Laurie Paige
He took it hungrily, moving over her lips in hot need, his hands fierce and tender on her as he glided beneath the sweat suit. His mouth ravaged hers, a honeyed invasion of flesh to flesh.
“Cade,” she whispered.
“Yes?” He deposited a string of kisses down her neck.
“Nothing. Just…Cade.”
His eyes speared into hers when he lifted his head. His smile was mocking, but it was directed at the two of them, perhaps at the passion neither could deny, or at the tricks of the gods on mortals. It didn’t matter. Nothing did, but the moment and this searing magic.
“You make me burn,” she told him. “It’s so odd.”
“You make me ache. And there’s nothing odd about it. This is nature, raw, primitive, in the buff. Male and female, drawn to each other, just as we are.”
He cupped both her breasts in his hands and fondled them while his eyes ate her up. She reached for his shirt and opened the buttons.
“Did you sleep in your clothes?”
“Yes. In case you decided to throw me out of the cabin in the wee hours of the morning.”
“Would you have gone?”
“If you’d told me to, yes.”
His eyes held hers steadily, and she knew he was telling the truth. He listened to her. It was that simple and that complicated between them.
She pushed his shirt aside and ran her hands over his torso. “I love touching you. I’ve never thought much about it before, about touching and all that.”
“Another natural thing. The most natural thing in the world.” He lifted her shirt. “Take this off. I need to see you.”
Her breath caught as he lifted her sweatshirt over her head and tossed it aside, his eyes taking in every inch of her. He stretched out over her and, resting on his elbows, nuzzled her breasts. He leisurely kissed his way from one peak to the other.
“I can’t…there’s too much feeling. It’s painful to want this much, to need like this. I didn’t know it was possible to need someone until I ached with it.”
“It’s new to me, too. And as painful.”
“Is it?” She couldn’t help the wonder in her voice.
“Yes.” He caught a handful of her hair. Sliding forward on his arms, he moved his legs over hers until he nestled between her thighs. “I think of you and need overwhelms my good intentions. And then I’m angry.”
“Don’t—”
“Not with you. With myself. Because I can’t stop the hunger or control it. Because my body goes hard and stays that way until I want to punch something if I can’t have you. Only you.”
“I know,” she soothed. “I know that ache.”
She laid her hands on each side of his perplexed, scowling face. With the greatest tenderness she’d ever felt, she kissed him on the mouth, taking his lips the way he took hers, stroking and coaxing them until he opened to her.
The sweet heat inside his mouth delighted her. It fed her own passion as if it were rose oil, made at great expense for magic Aladdin lanterns and given only to a few.
He shifted, rubbing methodically over and over against her thighs, against that place of aching need. With one hand, he explored down her side and slipped into the waistband of her sweats. He caressed her hip, her thigh, then raked his fingertips through the springy mound at the joining of her legs.
She arched into his touch like a cat. She gave a half sigh, half moan of impatience.
“Just feel,” he invited, taking the kiss from her and delving into her mouth, demanding the sensual play of tongue against tongue.
He caressed her more intimately, finding the dewy warmth that told him without her saying a word how ready she was for him. Her heart skipped, then thudded. The tension was unbearable, sweeping over them in waves, sending shivers over her, shudders through him.
“Get them off,” he urged raggedly. “Now!”
When he lifted his weight on his hands, she peeled off the sweats. He unfastened the jeans.
“Back pocket,” he said, and clenched his jaws like a desperate man.
With shaking hands, she found his wallet while he pushed the pants down his legs.
“Inside.”
She found the foil packet and tore it open. Pushing the briefs off his hips, she reached for him. He closed his hand over hers, then swung his legs off the bunk. Kicking his clothing aside, he took care of the protection, then lifted her with hands on her waist.
Seeing his intent, she straddled him, sinking down on the rigid staff with a moan of pleasure. Pressing her back a bit, he dipped his head and took her nipple in his mouth, holding it gently between his lips and flicking the tip with his tongue. His hands roamed her hips and waist.
With hands on his shoulders, she began to move slowly at first, then faster as the heat built inside her. Unable to stand so much sensation, she collapsed against his chest and buried her face in his neck.
“So good,” she whispered, placing kisses on his damp skin. “It’s so good. With you. Like this.”
With his hands and his mouth, with the powerful answering thrusts of his body, he exchanged pleasure with her. Every facet of her mind, body and heart was caught up in the sharing of bliss.
When the release came, it was overwhelming. She tensed, then gave a long, low cry as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over her. She heard his deep, guttural exclamation at the same moment.
Sliding a hand under her and one at her shoulders, he turned them, still joined, and lay her on the bed, then he moved in her until the last drop of hunger was fed. With a low groan of sensual relief, he rested, his head beside hers on the pillow, his body covering hers.
It was several minutes before either of them could move. He finally stretched out beside her, one arm over her waist. She felt his kiss on her temple and his fingers idly smoothing her hair.
The beauty of making love, with all its passionate moans and panting endearments, its hunger and raging need, came over her. The wonder of it, this miraculous joining, this sharing of the most intense pleasure she’d ever known, made her want to weep. That and the fact that it couldn’t be shared forever between them when she wanted it to be.
She took a calming breath and sat up. He rubbed her back in small circles. “We’d better get to the ranch,” she said. “They’ll be wondering about us.”
To go back was to face reality. It had to be done. She pulled her clothing on in the random order it had been discarded and set her face so that no emotion marred the surface. She knew what she had to do. Crying wasn’t an option, although the pain went all the way to her soul.
“Yeah,” he agreed, sounding as weary as she felt. She looked at him but could read nothing in his eyes except the tenderness he’d shown during their lovemaking.
When they were dressed, she paused at the door. “When we get there, I’m going to tell our families the truth.”
He turned a sharp gaze on her. “As in?”
“That we aren’t married, that you were protecting me from…from myself while I made up my mind on what to do.”
“And now you have?”
She nodded. “I’m going to leave the ranch and get a job.” She smiled slightly. “I think I need to let my life settle somewhat before making any more decisions.”
He leaned against the wall and pulled on his boots. “We could make the marriage real.”
She stared at him. He met her gaze steadily. Joy, like a single candle, flickered in her heart. “Why?”
He shrugged as he opened the door. “It would solve several problems for you. You could stay at the ranch, doing the work you claim to like while you get your bearings and save up a nest egg again. Just in case your old friend doesn’t return your money anytime soon.”
“What would you get out of it?”
His sardonic humor was back. “Great sex, for one. A computer whiz for another. A hand with the horses when needed. It would be a good arrangement for each of us.”
“Arrangement,” she echoed. She shook her head without needing to th
ink further. “No, I couldn’t.”
“Why not? You’d enjoy it. I’d make certain of that.”
Oh, yes, there would be the pleasure of sleeping with him, of waking with him each morning, of working together during the day. But… “What of love?” she asked.
His eyes narrowed as he studied her intently. “That hasn’t worked out for either of us. This way we know exactly what to expect from each other.”
The candle blinked out. She hadn’t really expected a confession of undying love, but she’d hoped for one, for some recognition of feelings between them and not just a sexual attraction. She recalled his description of love—of the initial attraction, then the sharing of hopes and dreams, of disappointments and all the little things that went into living a lifetime together.
If they married, would love follow?
“I won’t settle for less than a great love when I marry,” she said. “Without that, it wouldn’t work. I’ve learned that lesson if nothing else during the past two weeks.”
She smiled at the irony of finding a great love only to discover it wasn’t hers, after all. The smile wavered, and she had to look away from his silent perusal.
He caught her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. She met his dark gaze steadily. She could see the fires of anger smoldering inside him, but she refused to give in to another male who thought he could provide the answers to her future. Only she knew her heart…at long last. Her foolish, foolish heart.
“Grow up, little girl,” he advised.
“I have, Cade.” She shook her head. “People say things like that when they think dreams are impossible. I’ve not given up on my dreams. Not yet.”
“What good have your dreams done you in the past, except get you hurt?”
She traced a finger down his lean cheek and across his sensuous mouth that could bring her to ecstasy with his kisses. To marry without love would be to cheat them both. She would wait. “Someday,” she whispered, “someday some man will love me as I love him.”
“Fantasy,” he scoffed, but gently. “We have something good together. I’m willing to work at it.”
“I won’t live another lie,” she said, “pretending to everyone that we’re happily married. It’s better if I go away and think about my life. And someday find that great love my heart demands.”
And maybe she would. But right now, it hurt to think of leaving. Deep inside where love dwells, it hurt.
She knew she would forever compare other men to this one. She would listen to their laughter and hear his. She would watch them with others, with children and animals, and think of him. She would taste their kisses and she would remember his.
“Or else I’ll be an old maid,” she added with a forced laugh. “A cowhand retired to the kitchen, like Cookie.”
He frowned as if he was going to argue, then he nodded, turned and walked out. She went to her car and headed for the ranch, Cade’s pickup behind her all the way.
She parked and climbed out of the compact. Reality check, she reminded herself, feeling as if she was marching to the firing line.
Cade fell into step beside her. “Who first?” he asked.
“Your grandfather. Then Rand and Suzanne.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
“You don’t have to go with me. I started this whole farce. I’ll finish it.”
“I’m in as deep as you. I was the one who declared we were married. We’ll face the music together, Annie.”
“Thanks, Daddy Warbucks,” she replied, falling in with his sardonic attitude. She quickened her step. “Let’s get it over with.”
It was worse than she’d thought it would be, Leanne realized upon entering the great room. Garrett was there. Also, Wayne Kincaid, plus the three Remmingtons—Blake, Trent and Gina.
“This makes it simple,” Cade murmured to her. “We can get them all with one shot.”
She nodded fatalistically and walked into the room. The conversation stopped abruptly. Garrett smiled benignly. “Well, you two are back.”
“Yes.” She felt Cade’s warmth at her back and instinctively leaned toward it. His hand settled at her waist. “We have something to say. A confession.”
She felt the force of all those blue Kincaid eyes as if they were the sapphire lasers she’d heard about.
“Cade and I…we’re not married. He…it was a cover for me. So that my family wouldn’t pressure me into a marriage I wasn’t sure of or ready for.”
“To give Leanne time to think through her situation and decide her own fate,” Cade put in smoothly. “Now that the former fiancé is gone, we can come clean.”
“Since my brother has accepted I’m not going to marry his best friend,” she added, “there’s no need to continue the fake marriage.” She met Garrett’s eyes. “I’m sorry we lied to you. I felt terrible about it, but there didn’t seem any other way at the time.”
She fell silent and waited for his outrage and condemnation. She hated losing his good opinion of her.
Another hurtful memory to add to the rest.
She stood still when he rose and came to her. To her shock, he took her hand and kissed it. “Thank you for confiding in us.” His shrewd gaze took in the distress she couldn’t completely hide. “What are your plans now?”
“I’m leaving the ranch. I need to get a job and to be by myself for a while. To think things through.”
“A wise decision. We’ll miss you. Perhaps you’ll visit later, after you’re settled.”
He was so kind she could hardly bare it. Raising on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek and murmured, “Thank you. Thank you all,” she said to the group, then turned and left.
Outside, Cade caught her hand and gave it a squeeze before dropping it. “You did good,” he said quietly.
“It’s harder than I thought.” She sighed. “One down, one to go.”
“Courage,” he murmured when she knocked and they entered the foreman’s house.
Rand was in the kitchen, talking on the phone to a supplier who hadn’t delivered. He finished and hung up.
“Hi,” he said on a cautious note, as if unsure how to proceed.
She went to him. “Thank you for being a wonderful brother,” she began. “Confession is good for the soul, they say, so Cade and I have come to set the record straight.” She told him of the lie and why.
“So, you two aren’t married?” He looked from one to the other, a frown cutting a deep line over the bridge of his nose. “But you stayed together at the main house.”
Cade stepped toward Leanne, reminding her of his support. “It would have looked rather odd if we hadn’t,” he informed Rand coolly.
Her brother looked as if he would say more, but Cade sent him a warning glance. After studying her for a long moment, Rand subsided into a troubled silence.
She explained that she was leaving.
“You can stay here,” he told her. “We have room.”
“No. This is something I need to do. I’ll sink or swim on my own. But it would help if you’d pay me the rest of my wages for this past week. That might keep me afloat awhile longer.”
“Honey…” Rand began kindly.
“I’ll be okay,” she quickly put in. “Really.” She stared him in the eye and willed it to be so.
He heaved a deep breath, then nodded. “Okay. It’s your life. I’m through telling you what you should do.”
“Thanks, big brother.” She kissed him goodbye and went to gather her things.
Cade leaned against the door frame, his arms folded, and watched her pack her few belongings. Her other cases, returned by Bill, were at Rand’s house. She would pick them up later. Right now she didn’t need much.
“You going back to Ox Bow?” Cade asked.
She shook her head. “I thought I’d stay in Whitehorn. Until I get a nest egg.”
His face darkened, but he didn’t mention the twenty thousand she had coming to her.
“He’ll send it. That much I know,” she assured Cade.
In fifteen minutes she was ready. Cade carried her bag and walked her to her car. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d insisted on following her to town and making sure she was settled okay. But he didn’t.
He stood in the middle of the ranch road and waved when she looked back in the rearview mirror. His image misted, and she had to blink several times to see the road clearly.
A new life, she reminded herself. Things would work out. All she needed was time.
Driving through town, Leanne saw a For Rent sign in a yard. She stopped and went up the sidewalk. Another woman, her arms filled with clothing, came up the walkway. The door to the house was propped open with an overnight case.
“Excuse me,” Leanne said to her, stepping aside to give her room. “Can you tell me what the rent is here?”
A roll of paper slipped from under the woman’s arm and unrolled in the grass. Leanne recognized the drawings as a topography map. Her father had used them to find arroyos where cattle might have hidden. She rolled the map up and helpfully stuck it back in place.
The other woman muttered a thanks and stared at Leanne suspiciously. She was pretty, although too thin. Her platinum hair was dark at the roots and cut rather short. Although her makeup was smudged, bold color highlighted her prominent cheekbones and outlined her eyes, giving the young woman a dramatic appearance.
“I’m Leanne Harding,” Leanne said after the silence became too long. “I’m looking for a place to stay.”
The woman hesitated, then shrugged. “I’m Audra Westwood. I just broke up with my boyfriend; otherwise, I wouldn’t be moving in here. I don’t intend to stay long.”
“I’m sorry,” Leanne murmured sympathetically.
“It doesn’t matter,” Audra dismissed her problems. “The rent is cheap.”
Thoughtfully Leanne studied the place. The house was sort of rundown, but it would be nice to have a friend her own age, Leanne thought. It would ease the loneliness she sensed would haunt her for the next few months.
She was pleased at the rent when it was mentioned. She could afford it until she had a job and knew how much money would be coming in.