by Bobbi Smith
Brand crushed her to him as his mouth claimed its plunder. He could very well have closed his eyes and forgotten everything, but he had to be sure that this was what she wanted, too.
"Sheri . . ." His voice was hoarse with passion as he fought for control. He drew slightly away, still holding her by the shoulders, his eyes boring into hers. "If you want me to go, say so now."
"Stay with me, Brand. . . ." She whispered her most fervent dream.
It was all the invitation he needed. His control shattered and with a low growl of desire, he clasped her to his heart as their lips met. The moment was pure ecstasy.
Sheri lifted her arms and looped them around his neck, drawing him even closer. She had never known such rapture. His kiss in the cave had been powerful and stirring, but this tenderness and passion he was showing her now were even more exciting. When she wrote her books, she'd always described the hero and heroine's kisses as passionate, but she'd never known the true meaning of the word until now. Now, she understood the driving desire that could make a woman forget who she was and what she was doing. She wanted Brand . . . had wanted him since he'd first touched her in the cave, and she could not get enough of being close to him. The heat of him . . . The hardness of him . . . Caught up in a firestorm of desire, she felt an aching yearning coiled deep within the womanly heart of her.
Brand felt the eagerness in her and he began to caress her. When he'd been standing in the shadows of the alley and had seen her in the window, he'd known he wanted her more than he'd wanted any woman. She had been a silken silhouette with the filmy wrapper offering her her only protection from the searing heat of his gaze. Her hair was down, flowing about her shoulders in a tumble of pale curls, and he lifted his hands now to rake them through the silken tresses. She was beauty and fire and all woman, and he needed her. He wanted to bury himself within the heated sheath of her body and know the pleasure of being one with her.
His hands caressed her, skimming over her full curves, coming to rest on her rounded hips. He held her tightly to him, letting her feel the power of his need for her.
Sheri felt the strength of him pressed against her, and she instinctively moved against his hardness, innocently enticing him and encouraging him.
"Are you sure you want this to happen?" he asked as he pressed heated kisses to her threat.
"I want you, Brand. That's all that matters."
He lifted her up in his arms then, and carried her to her bed. Gently laying her upon it, he followed her down. Brand stretched out beside her so he could study her. His gaze raked hungrily over her. High color stained her cheeks at his bold assessment.
"What are you looking at?" Sheri asked, a little embarrassed to find him staring at her so intently.
"You," he said, leaning over to press a hot kiss to her throat.
Sheri murmured a welcoming sound as tingles of delight coursed through her. She had never been in bed with a man before, and she was as excited as she was frightened. Common sense dictated that she get up and send him from the room now, while there was still time to save herself. But Sheri had no desire to save herself from Brand. He was the man she'd waited all her life to love. She wanted to give him the gift of her innocence. Driven on by the arousing touch of his lips at her throat and then lower, she began to caress him, unbuttoning his shirt and running her hands over his chest. He felt good to her . . . so good. When he untied the sash to her wrapper and slipped the garment from her shoulders, she helped him. She felt a little shy as he brushed the straps of her gown down, baring her breasts to his gaze.
"You're beautiful," he told her in a husky tone.
Then, with great care, he caressed her. His lips followed the path his hands had traced, stirring fires to a fever pitch within her. As his mouth sought the crest of her breast, she cried out in ecstasy. She clung to him, moving restlessly beneath his caresses. Never had she known such pleasure.
Brand moved over her, his body a fiery imprint upon her willing flesh. The intimacy of their position shocked her, yet she could not stop moving, could not stop urging him nearer. Brand continued to caress her as he rose to kiss her. It was a devouring kiss that spoke of need and desire and overwhelming passion.
Then he moved away from her to shed his clothes. When he came back to the bed, she stared at him with open interest and a little embarrassment.
''You're beautiful . . ." she said, her gaze tracing over the ridges of hard muscle and sinew that were his chest and hips. When her gaze dropped to the proof of his desire for her, her blush deepened.
Of all the things she might have said to him, that was not what he'd expected. Suddenly, he was aware that she was an innocent, unknowing of the ways of men. He came back to her then, helping her to strip away the last of her garments, so at last they were flesh-to-flesh.
Brand moved over her, searing her with the heat of that intimate contact. She opened her legs to him and shifted her hips to accommodate him. He pressed against her, seeking the heat of her, the core of her innocence, and he found it. With utmost care, he began to caress and kiss her again. He wanted her ready for him. He wanted her to enjoy the night as much as he knew he would.
Tomorrow, she might walk out of his life forever, so they had to grab what happiness they could, while they could. Carefully, he positioned himself to possess her. As his mouth claimed hers in another passionate exchange, his body slid into the heat of her, past the barrier that proclaimed her untouched, and made her his own for all time.
Sheri tensed at this invasion, so foreign to her. She clung tightly to his shoulders as she waited for the burning agony to pass. And pass it did, as Brand began to arouse her again. She relaxed beneath his expert ministrations, coming slowly to enjoy the melding of their bodies.
Now, at last, she understood the mystery of lovemaking. But there was no time for reason. She was caught up in a wildfire of excitement that burned hotly within her. Brand's enthralling touch stoked the fire of her desire ever higher, until all thought of the pain of his possession faded away. She was lost in the splendor of being one with him, giving and taking, caressing And holding, until delight burst upon them.
Brand had meant to go slowly with Sheri. To savor each kiss and touch, but when she'd begun to move with him, his good intentions had been lost. He had thrust deeply into her welcoming warmth, losing himself in the glory of loving her, forgetting everything but the moment and Sheri.
They crested together, reaching the heights of ecstasy and floating back to reality locked in love's embrace. They clung together, their bodies still one.
Safe in Brand's arms, Sheri drifted off to sleep. The rapture that had burst upon her was new and exciting. She had never known she could feel that way. As she lay close to his chest, she could hear the sound of his steady heartbeat and knew that everything was going to be all right. She was with Brand. He would protect her with his life.
It was a long time before she stirred and opened her eyes. Brand was resting beside her, so she took the time to study him. He was handsome, magnificently so. Her gaze traced the strength of his features, the strong line of his jaw, the firm line of his lips. She smiled as she remembered the pleasure those lips had given her. She let her gaze sweep down his body, across the hard plane of his chest, and then lower. A faint blush stained her cheeks and she quickly averted her gaze. She was surprised to discover that she wanted to kiss him again . . . to see the passion in his eyes that was just for her. He was everything she'd ever dreamed of in a man. Besides being good-looking, he was strong, intelligent, and determined. She wondered how she was ever going to be able to leave him now. . . .
As she continued to gaze at him, Brand sensed that she was awake and opened his eyes. His blue-eyed gaze burned hotly as he stared at her. Her golden mane tumbled about her in a riot of soft curls; her eyes were aglow as she met his regard and the softness of her slightly parted lips stirred the heat within him again. His body hardened in response to the memory of loving her, and there was no denying he wanted her agai
n.
Brand gathered her to him. Without saying a word, he kissed her. It was a gentle exploration, a far cry from the explosive need that had swept them away earlier. This time, they came together slowly, sweetly, taking the time to cherish each touch, each kiss. They learned how to pleasure one another, seeking those most sensitive places with caresses and kisses designed to rouse one another to mindlessness, until nothing mattered but their coming together, sharing love's most precious embrace. They rocked together in the age-old rhythm, thrilling in the closeness, enthralled by the gift of their loving.
They spiraled to the heights, perfect in their mating. Ecstasy claimed Sheri, and she clung tightly to Brand as rapture's tempest burst around her, taking her to forgetfulness and beyond. Brand held her close as he joined her in that shimmering splendor. They were one as they collapsed together, limbs entwined.
After a moment, Sheri rose above him, her hips still pressed intimately to his. She gazed down at him lovingly. Seeing the cut near his eye again, she leaned forward, her bare breasts brushing against his chest, to press a soft kiss to the wound.
"Who hurt you?" she asked.
"A drunk at the saloon was looking for a fight, that's all."
"And you obliged?" She gave a half-smile.
He shrugged, not wanting to think about what had happened. "Hancock and Long came in and broke it up."
"What was it about?"
"What is it always about? The man took a dislike to me because I'm a half-breed."
"I'm glad I've got better judgment than he does," she said in a throaty voice. "Brand?"
She waited to go on until he'd lifted his gaze to hers.
"Why did you come to me tonight? All along, you made it clear that you wanted nothing to do with me, and yet now. . . ." She was at a loss for words to describe the wonder of what had just taken place between them.
"Life is much easier when you're alone."
"It's also much lonelier."
He lifted one hand to trace a path down her cheek. "It's very lonely."
Sheri dipped her head to brush a gentle kiss over his lips, determined to make sure he was lonely no longer.
It was several hours later when Brand quietly got up and began to pull on his clothes. Sheri had been sleeping when he'd left her side, but she soon awoke when she realized that he was gone from her.
"Brand?" She said his name sleepily, as she sat up clutching the sheet to her breasts "Where are you going?"
"It will be dawn soon. I have to go. I don't want to be seen leaving your room."
She knew he was only thinking of her and her reputation, but she hated the fact that he had to sneak off like a thief in the night. "You could just stay," she said with a devilish smile. "I could tell Maureen that I'm not feeling well and won't be out today. Then we'd never have to leave the room."
He pulled on his shirt and fastened it, then started to tuck it into his pants. "The idea is tempting. . . ."
Sheri was slowly learning how provocative she could be and how much power that gave her. She did not want to be parted from him yet, so she let the sheet fail away as she rose to her knees before him. "Kiss me once more before you go. . . ." she invited him.
Brand stopped in mid-motion to state at her. She was perfection, and she was offering herself to him. Unable to resist just one last kiss, he moved to the bedside. Sheri lifted her arms to him.
"Are you sure you want to leave me already?" she asked huskily.
Brand wasn't sure of anything right then, except that he needed to have her in his arms again. With a growl of need, he pulled her against him, ravishing her mouth with a devouring kiss. He'd meant to let her go, but Sheri had learned much about how to please him these last, long, hot hours. She slipped her hands beneath his shirt to push it up, then she bent to press a searing kiss to his chest.
Brand felt as if lightning had jolted through him at the intimate touch of her mouth. Caught up in a frenzy of undeniable need, they fell together upon the bed. They strained against each other, each seeking the release that only the other could give. Brand freed himself from his pants and Sheri eagerly guided him to her. Their joining was fast and powerful. Their passion was fiery and explosive, and when it had been spent, they lay beside each other, panting and breathless.
The faint hint of light in the eastern sky drove Brand from her bed. His expression was intense as he quickly finished dressing, then leaned back down to press one last kiss to her lips.
Sheri wanted to deepen the kiss. She wanted him to stay. Though she knew what damage it would do to her reputation if they were found out, right then it didn't matter to her. All she wanted was to be in Brand's arms, to have him love her as she loved him.
She realized then for the first time the full extent of her feelings for him, and her heart swelled with the knowledge. She did love him. How else could she have given herself to him so freely without any regret or hesitation? She loved Brand, but he didn't love her. She wanted him to never leave her, but it was no good if she had to beg. He had to be with her because he wanted to be, and for no other reason.
Brand was filled with regret as the common sense urge to leave in order to save her reputation battled with his need to stay and make love to her yet another time. He knew she would not deny him if he went to her. He knew she would welcome him back to her bed with open arms. But he had to protect her. He was no good for her. They had had this one night, but it must end here . . . now. There could be no more to their relationship.
"Sheri, I . . ."
"Don't . . ." She cut him off, knowing what he was about to say. She looked toward the window and saw the dawn. "You have to go."
Sheri looked up at him once more, their eyes meeting in a poignant moment. Then she looked away, fearing she would betray her own feelings for him, fearing that he would see everything she felt for him there in her expression.
After a long moment, Sheri looked back, thinking he was still there, but as noiselessly as he'd come to her, Brand had gone. She wondered in silent anguish if she would ever see him again.
Getting up from the bed, she donned her nightgown and lay back down. It was still early enough that she could get some sleep before she was to meet Maureen for breakfast.
Try as she might, though, rest would not come. Memories of the night's heated splendor and the glory of Brand's loving played in her mind. Haunted by the possibility that she might never see him again, she tossed and turned for over an hour. She tried to come to grips with what had passed between them. She had given herself to him freely, without reserve.
As brazen as it was, Sheri would never be sorry for as long as she lived.
Brand moved quietly down the back alley, heading toward the main street where he'd left his horse tied up all those hours ago. The last thing he wanted to do was draw any attention to himself. It was important that no one find out where he'd been. He would not allow anything to harm Sheri in any way. He would get out of town as quickly as he could and take his time riding back to the fort. He had some serious thinking to do. As be stepped out into the main street, though, he saw a crowd of men gathering down closer to the saloon where he'd tied his mount.
"Look! There he is! I told you this was his horse! I told you he'd be back for it!" Shouted the man who'd been with Hale as he caught sight of Brand.
Brand stopped. His instincts told him to run, but he stood his ground. He had no idea why everyone was so concerned that the horse was his. Cautiously, he ventured forth.
"There he is! That's him!" said another man who'd been in the saloon the night before.
Sheriff Warren saw Brand coming and waited for him to approach. This was ugly, but he had to do it.
"Sheriff," Brand said, nodding toward the lawman. All he wanted to do was mount up and get out of there, but somehow he knew it wasn't going to be that simple.
"We been wondering where you were," Warren told him curtly.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"Yes. You're under arrest," he announced,
drawing his sidearm in anticipation of trouble.
Brand was shocked. "For what?"
"The murder of Marcus Hale."
Chapter Fifteen
Brand, the Half-Breed Scout, or Trail of the Renegade
The Turmoil
Brand's touch was gentle as he checked Rachel's wound. She gazed up at him, focusing only on him, studying his handsome features as she tried to distract herself from the pain of her injury.
"The bleeding's stopped. You're going to be all right."
"Thank you," she said softly, giving him a slight smile. She was amazed that such a big, strong man could be so kind.
Brand heard something outside the cave just then, and, worried, he got up to investigate. Gun in hand, he prepared for the worst as he crept outside.
Mercy had been searching the area for what seemed like hours, hoping for some sign of her friends. She'd found the dead Indians, but saw no trace of Brand or Rachel. She was almost in tears, for her terror was great.
"Here!" Brand called out to her in a low whisper. Mercy spun around to find Brand emerging from hiding. "Thank heaven I've found you! Where's Rachel?"
"She's been wounded. She's here in the cave. Where's the horse?"
She quickly told him where she'd left if tied.
"Stay with Rachel while I go get him. We have to move and we have to move fast."
He rushed off to get his mount and was soon back.
Rachel was in pain, but did not complain as Brand helped her onto the horse's back. She had to get through this. She had to get to Sacramento. Carl was waiting for her . . .
"You're crazy," Brand ground out as the sheriff advanced on him. "I didn't kill anybody!"
"We heard you threaten him, breed!" yelled the man who'd been in the saloon. "We heard you say you were going to kill Hale, and now he's dead."
"And injun style, too!" another man added.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Brand countered.