by Jayne Castle
"Reva, my sweet, you can't imagine what it's been like not knowing when I'd have you permanently in my bed! Having you so close but not knowing for certain when the game would be over!" Her ankle was chained beneath one of his and he used the pressure of his foot to pull her legs slightly, tantalizingly apart, opening her softness to the hungry exploration of his hands.
"Is that all it was, Josh?" Reva heard herself say in a funny, distant voice, even as the fire caught in her loins and her response leaped to match his. She turned into his warmth, the male scent of him a summons she could not deny. "Was it all just a game for you?" Her voice was muffled against the skin of his shoulder.
"It only became a game, a very unnecessary game," he
told her almost grimly, "when I arrived home to find you pretending not to have been expecting me! But I knew, the night you came creeping into my bed, that everything was just as it had been back there in the jungle and that it was only a matter of time before you'd see that."
Reva wanted to say something else, something about loving him and wanting to be loved in return, but she couldn't find the words in that moment as passion mounted. Her body was vibrating in response to his touch and the heavy presence of him so much that she couldn't speak sensibly.
"Oh, Josh!" Her breath came quickly between her teeth and the blue-green eyes slitted against a pleasure that was very nearly a pain, so strong was desire now. She felt his mouth stopping hers, silencing her small cries with sudden sensuous ferocity as he loomed over her, lowering himself into her softness with unrestrained need and power.
Reva felt his weight once more on her and her hands clutched wildly around his neck as he took her, claiming her for his own once again. And once again Reva was completely enthralled by the overwhelming embrace, the undisguised, naked, challenging desire and need in him. She gave herself up to the joy of satisfying the man who held her and greedily took her own satisfaction from him.
When at long last Reva emerged from the cloudy world where Josh had taken her, she moved her head slightly to look at him as he lay beside her on the pillow. His eyes were closed and he held her hand tightly against his chest. She stared at him for a moment, wonderingly, and then the lion eyes opened lazily to smile into hers.
Without a word he lifted the hand he held and kissed her fingertips.
"Mine," he whispered softly, contentedly. "All mine. There's no going back this time, Reva," he told her with
absolute authority. "No more sleeping alone for either of us. No more games. No more arguments about the two of us not being right for each other."
"You think all our differences are behind us?" Reva teased, touching the side of his cheek with gentle, questing fingers.
"No, but they're unimportant beside the one salient fact of the matter," he told her with casual promise.
"Which is?" she asked boldly.
"Which is that you belong to me. You have since I brought you out of that jungle four months ago. And now you've accepted me, given me my saucer of milk. You've taken on the responsibility of making a home for me and you can't back out of the deal. Not this time."
There was such will and intent in the gravelly voice that Reva could only stare quietly back at him for a moment, trying to understand the source of his urgency.
Was it that, in spite of his words and possessive actions, Josh was still afraid he couldn't really force her to keep her new stray cat? Was he thinking of all he had abandoned tonight when he'd turned his back on Elaine Kemp, how many risks he was taking? He had, after all, walked out on a way of life he'd known for a long time. A way of life in which he had excelled.
With understanding in her eyes Reva smiled at the man who shared her bed. She knew how she would be feeling if the positions were reversed and it was she who had just given up everything. Oh, yes, she knew very well how she would be feeling. And because she knew it, Reva found herself several times more than sympathetic to the uncertainty she thought she sensed in Josh Corbett.
"You've had enough of living out of suitcases, Josh," she whispered gently. "It's time you had a home of your own. The home you've been wanting. It was a lousy job,
even if it did pay well. A lousy job for a man who wants a home. You couldn't have both."
"I know that," he told her with a quirking little smile. "I have no regrets about my choice." But there was still something in his voice.
"You won't feel eventually that it should have been me who resigned?" she asked with a touch of worry.
He chuckled at that. "No. At first I suppose I assumed you'd be coming back to Houston with me. One always thinks first of the woman leaving her world to join her husband's. I had some vague idea of working out a different arrangement with the firm; getting myself a nice desk job in the Houston office. I knew four months ago I wasn't going back to the constant travel and the life I'd been leading. When you asked me if I'd give up my job, hypo-thetically speaking, of course," he grinned suddenly, "I realized that was the perfect answer. All that remained was to convince you to do the asking!"
"No regrets?"
"No regrets," he assured her. And Reva snuggled down against him, wondering why her instincts told her he was still hedging his answer.
CHAPTER TEN
"I didn't know you liked to ski," Reva said three mornings later, slanting a glance across the car seat at the man who had only a short time earlier become her husband.
"Relieved to find out we have something in common after all?" Josh grinned, guiding the car along the narrowing mountain road. Snow lay in a thick mantle on the ground and encrusted the trees. It made a lovely picture and Reva was already thinking of hot toddies near a blazing hearth.
"Well, if you're faking your way through this one, it should be interesting to see how you manage!" she teased, watching snowflakes bounce against the windshield. The light shower seemed to be intensifying.
"Sadist," he grumbled good-naturedly, concentrating on the slick road. "You're insisting on a skiing honeymoon just so you can watch me take a fall. But I'm not worried. If I can fake my way through Mozart, I can fake it down a ski slope!"
"Are there any lengths to which you won't go in order to assure yourself a good home?" Reva smiled affectionately, enjoying the close, intimate atmosphere of the car. It seemed so right having Josh beside her like this. She wondered how she had ever imagined going through life without him. If only, she thought hesitantly, she knew for
certain what seemed to be riding him at times. It was almost impossible to put a name to, this hint of wariness that she sensed in him. She wondered once more if he was already regretting his decision to walk out on everything he'd known in Houston. Determinedly she put the notion behind her. The past three days had been a whirlwind created by Josh and it had been difficult to find time to even think. She was probably imagining things.
"None," he vowed, flicking a honey glance at her. There was no question of the purposefulness and intent in those eyes, Reva thought. She was crazy to even think he had any other thoughts but settling into the married life. "I'm like Xavier. A one-track mind."
"Speaking of Xavier," she chuckled, "I hope he isn't feeling abandoned."
"Tom and Sandy will take good care of him," Josh shrugged, wide shoulders moving easily under the thick pullover sweater he wore. The sweater was a gift from Reva, who realized he was going to need some additions to his wardrobe if they were to spend the week skiing. "Besides, that cat's got more sense than to want to spend a week in snow!"
"Don't look at me when you say that!" Reva chided humorously. "You were the one who insisted on a honeymoon somewhere that didn't remind you of a hot, steamy jungle!"
"Umm," he muttered noncommittally. "Does it seem to you the snow on the windshield is getting heavier?"
"Yes. I expect that storm they predicted on the radio last night is ahead of schedule. No need to worry. We should be at the lodge in another half hour or so." Reva glanced again at her map and then went on chattily as her thoughts flew back to the small, pr
ivate wedding that
morning. "That was certainly a nice wedding present we had from Tom," she smiled happily.
"The good news from his doctor yesterday? You can say that again. I heard him tell Tom myself that the critical point was past. It's just a matter of time until he's back on his feet again."
"Sandy appreciated you taking Tom to the clinic for that visit. Did you realize she was aware all along what was worrying Tom but didn't want to let him know she knew? That's why she was so grateful for you taking him yesterday. She knew it would be easier for her husband to handle bad news with a man present." Reva sighed, shaking her head. "Thank God that's almost over."
"They should have talked about it openly," Josh announced. "What was the point of trying to protect each other like that? That's what marriage is designed for, to give .. ." Reva could have sworn he nearly stumbled over a word, but he finished smoothly, "support and strength to each other."
"Josh, the great expert on marriage," Reva giggled delightedly. "For someone who has put it off as long as you have, I find your newfound command of the subject most enlightening!"
"I'm not the only one who waited longer than usual," he pointed out kindly.
"Are you saying I was almost over the hill?" she demanded spiritedly.
"It's all right," he told her, "I realize you're probably a little set in your ways, but you'll come around. This matter of wanting to go on using your former name, for example . . ." he began determinedly.
"It's not my former name, it's my name. Period," Reva retorted, not particularly worried about the matter. "I've
built a career under Reva Waring and I see no reason to change it."
"You will," he grinned. "I'll just keep wearing you down, like water on rock."
"Why?" she asked rather curiously. The name business was something of a game to her. Her career didn't depend on her last name and if Josh really wanted her to change it to his, she would. After all, he'd certainly given up enough for her! But in the meantime the banter over the issue was fun.
"I like the implication of ownership," he shot back with a wicked chuckle. "Reva Corbett makes it sound as if you belong to me. It tells other men to keep their hands off!"
"But if I'm almost beyond my prime anyway, what danger can there be from other men?" she retorted.
"Unfortunately," he sighed grimly, "that danger is never gone."
"Well, I certainly would hate to have to keep patching you up after every fight." Laughter danced in her eyes as Reva remembered the fall Josh had taken when Bruce Tanner had finally been persuaded to swing at him. She wondered if Bruce would ever realize how lucky he'd been.
"That's right. Have a bit of pity for me," he encouraged, negotiating a slippery turn with caution. There was silence for a moment as he concentrated on the driving and then he said very calmly, "I wonder, Mrs. Corbett, if you would mind double-checking that map again. Just to reassure me."
"You're not implying I might have gotten us lost, I hope!" Reva sniffed, shuffling the map and peering carefully at it.
"I wouldn't think of making such an accusation on our wedding day," he responded quite silkily. "But I wonder
if there might be a distant possibility of a temporary disorientation?"
Reva frowned. "I'm very good with maps."
"I hope so. That's why I let you have the job. There was a small road off to the left back about a mile. Does it show on the map?" There was a new and rather businesslike edge to Josh's words.
"There are a great many little roads on this map, Josh," Reva proclaimed a little worriedly.
"Anything called Gleaner's Corners? I saw a sign for that a while ago. Said it was about ten miles."
Reva studied the paper in front of her, not wanting to admit the mild apprehension she was experiencing. "I ... I can't find it, Josh. What," she paused, trying to sound unconcerned, "what would you propose doing? Turning back until we find a landmark we can identify?"
"I'm afraid we're not going much farther in either direction," he announced dryly.
"The chains ..."
"Chains aren't going to do much good when I can't see two feet in front of the car." With a decisive movement Josh stopped the car and switched off the engine. Without a word he removed the map from her lap and frowned over it.
"What are you going to do?" Reva asked as he turned and reached into the back seat for his new fleece-lined jacket.
"I'm going to take a look around. See if I can find a road sign or a cabin or something!" He shrugged into the suede-and-fleece coat and pulled the collar up in preparation for the driving snow. He looked every inch the northwestern male, Reva thought abruptly. Josh was very good at adapting. But she didn't say anything as he opened the car
door. "Stay inside, honey, and see if you can get a weather report on the radio."
"Yes, Josh," she agreed obediently, a wave of guilt washing over her at the thought that the mess was all her fault. She should have paid more attention to the map! "You... you won't be long?" She didn't want to tell him she was afraid he might get lost out there in the increasingly heavy snowstorm.
"I won't take any risks," he suddenly grinned, leaning briefly back into the car to drop a kiss on her slightly parted lips. "I have no intention of missing my own wedding night!" With that he was gone, leaving Reva to fiddle with the radio in an attempt to get some news.
As it turned out weather news was not hard to obtain. The storm had indeed arrived earlier than expected and it was turning out to be more violent than previously anticipated. It would last throughout the day and into the evening. Reva watched the snow pile rapidly on the road beside the car and bit her lip in vexation. Of all the stupid things to do! Josh would have every right to be more than mildly upset with her for having gotten them into this!
It was nearly half an hour before he returned and Reva, who hadn't dared to run the heater very much, was feeling quite chilled. She'd pulled her coat on over the expensive sweater and wool pants she was wearing and was wishing she'd bought the boots with warmth rather than style in mind when the opposite car door opened and Josh got in with a cold rush.
"Well," he allowed, slamming the door shut and running impatient fingers through his hair to remove the snow which had settled there, "I think I can safely say we're more than slightly off course."
"Oh, Josh, I'm sorry," Reva groaned, feeling a fool. "I wasn't paying proper attention and I . . ."
"We will," he interrupted firmly, "go into the subject of your map-reading abilities later. The important thing now is to get ourselves some shelter. Did you catch a weather report?" He settled into his corner of the car and eyed her interestedly. At least he didn't seem unduly upset as some men would have been in the circumstances, Reva thought gratefully. Quickly she told him the facts she'd heard on the news.
He nodded. "It certainly looks as if it's going to keep up for quite a while," he agreed, glancing out the window at the sheets of white descending from the sky. "Okay, I suppose we'd better get moving." He straightened and reached for the car keys.
"But where, Josh?" Reva demanded bewilderedly.
"I found an old cabin a few hundred feet back. It will take some doing hiking into it, but it can be done. Have you got all your warmest clothes on? I'll get the bags from the trunk."
Reva looked at him, common sense telling her that Josh might be very good in the jungles of South America but questioning his experience in mountain survival. Perhaps it would be safer to stay with the car. She'd heard tales of people wandering blindly in circles in a snowstorm until they'd frozen to death.
He glanced up and saw her watching him. "Worried, honey?" he asked with an unexpectedly understanding half smile. "Don't be. I'll take care of you."
Reva found herself smiling back, her uncertainties vanishing. Of course he would take care of her. She could trust him with her life. "I know," she whispered.
He watched her for a second longer and then nodded as if satisfied. Without another word he climbed out of the car an
d Reva stumbled behind him into the driving snow and cold. She shivered in reaction even though she had
been expecting it. Josh pulled his worn leather bag and her own stylish one from the trunk, tucked them both under one arm, and then held out his hand to her.
Reva, thinking briefly of another occasion when she had taken his hand and followed him to safety, twined her gloved fingers in his and allowed him to lead her down the road.
They struggled through the snow, taking forever, it seemed to Reva, to reach the small, dark cabin a few hundred feet from the car. Josh was a rock of strength to which she clung during the difficult process.
"This is going to necessitate a small piece of breaking and entering," he told her when they eventually stood in front of the cabin door. "I hope you don't suffer from too many scruples."
"I'll look the other way," Reva managed with a pert smile as he went to work on the locked door. "Notice how I'm not asking where you learned such tricks?"
"Smart girl," he approved. "Refrain from that and I won't ask who taught you the fine art of map reading!"
"Are you going to bring that up again?" she complained as the door creaked and then swung inward. It was as cold inside the old cabin as it was outside. "I've already apologized!"
"Do I look like the vindictive sort?" he demanded in hurt astonishment as he pulled her inside, dropped the bags on the bare wooden floor, and shut the door.
"I have this awful premonition that on every anniversary in the years to come I'm going to be reminded of this little disaster!" Reva glanced around at the unprepossessing interior of the small wooden structure. It appeared to consist primarily of the living room which seemed to double as bedroom and kitchen. There was a tiny door off to
the side which she hoped would lead to a few of the basic amenities.
"It will be a family tradition," Josh promised firmly, following her glance. "The water's probably been turned off to keep the pipes from freezing. I'll have a look around to see if I can turn it back on." He walked across to peer through a small window on the other side of the wall. "Good, there's firewood stacked on the back porch. We're going to be quite cozy and comfortable," he reported, sounding satisfied.