Hearts Are Wild

by Patrice Michelle

  Lily was speechless. He was mad at her? For going riding? What in the hell was the matter with this man? “Excuse me?” Her gaze went to Luke, who wasn’t looking at either of them. “I was with your employees, Mr. Stevenson. Doing what I paid to do on the Red Bea—”

  Ohmygod. Lily’s hand went to her throat as her eyes cut back to the treeline. The Red Bear Ranch.

  With a click from his tongue, Luke’s pinto jumped forward. “I’m going to help Darrell and Curt.” He tipped his hat Lily’s direction, then gave a “Heeyaw!” propelling his mount from a side-stepping shuffle into a canter then a full gallop away from the fuming Shain and shell-shocked Lily.

  Chapter Nine

  Lily’s attention snapped back to Shain, who sat frozen beside her, his hand gripping Rialda’s reins. We’re alone. Again. Lily’s stomach flip-flopped and her mouth went dry. There was something not right about the whole business. The looters. Nhya and Shain’s parents getting killed. The giant red bear.

  Lily felt as if she’d landed in a Quentin Tarantino film. Uzi-toting killers were sure to spring out of the bushes at any moment, while she and Shain were having mind-blowing sex.

  Wetness instantly flooded her pussy at the suggestion. Ohmygod…I am depraved. “Well,” Lily stammered, pushing hair behind her ears. “I saw a giant red bear. You’re not going to convince me otherwise.”

  Shain grunted and released her reins. “I suppose anything’s possible.”

  She looked at Shain in surprise. The faraway, thoughtful expression on his face unnerved her. “Shain…your sister. We-uh-she’s been worried about you.”

  Shain gave a ghost of a smile. “I called her the night before last. She’s pissed but she’ll get over it.”

  “Oh,” Lily said, irritation pricking that she still had no idea where Shain had been or with whom. Jealousy flared and she flicked Rialda’s reins. “We’d better catch up with the others.”

  She didn’t get far. With a deep snort, Shain’s stallion stepped forward, blocking her mount’s path. Rialda bobbed her head against the black beast as the stallion nibbled her neck affectionately.

  Lily sighed. Of course. Gentle, dappled Rialda and the muscled beast were mates.

  “No.”

  “What?” Lily said, forgetting all about her anger as she stared at Shain’s delicious lips, then his blazing brown eyes.

  Dark eyebrows lifted. “I said, no, we’re not catching up with the others.” Shain pulled Rialda around. “Let’s go.”

  “But, where are we going?” Lily asked, butterflies churning in her gut—and other areas.

  Shain’s smoky gaze glinted with deviousness. “A tour. I promised you one, didn’t I?”

  Remembering how their last ‘tour’ ended up, Lily’s entire body cheered, with her mind quick to chastise. Shain cast one last glance at the woods before giving his stallion a nudge. Rialda jounced into action at the stallion’s flank, taking Lily along for the ride. They cantered across the meadow toward the thick stand of trees north of the fence line. As they rode, Lily couldn’t help but recall how erotic it had been to ride with Shain, the saddle rocking against her pussy, Shain’s strong arms on either side of her, his lips above her ear.

  This wasn’t nearly as fun but Lily consoled herself with the thought that it was probably a good thing. She was getting way too attached to a guy who thought it was normal as apple pie to stay out all night on a whim.

  They rode in companionable silence for nearly an hour, skirting the fringe of the woods. Forest scents and sounds mingled with the steady pound of horses’ hooves and soon Lily was immersed in the earthy rhythms. Her mind continued to trip over the bear sighting and Shain’s strange reaction to it. She vowed to question him again at the first opportunity.

  Suddenly Shain pulled up and Lily’s mount followed suit, slowing to a trot, then a full stop. Shain stood in his stirrups and Lily frowned, wondering what he was looking for. With a quiet cluck of his tongue, the stallion bobbed his head, then side-stepped into the densely packed woodland.

  “Wait!” Lily called, urging Rialda forward. Rialda didn’t hesitate. She slipped past the low-hanging feathery pine boughs and into the shadowed forest. Once inside, Lily waited impatiently for her eyes to adjust and scanned for Shain. There! Only a few yards away, sitting straight in the saddle and staring at her with that unfathomable, polished mahogany gaze.

  “What are we doing?” Lily asked, her heart up in her throat. “Is this part of the tour?”

  Shain nodded. “There’s something I want to show you.” With a flick of his reins, he turned the stallion and started down what Lily realized was a faded trail weaving between dense, moss-covered trees. She and Rialda followed, Lily’s curiosity piqued. A gentle breeze worked more hair loose from the knot she’d fashioned this morning before setting out. Lily felt her entire body relax as they traveled in slow silence, the calm, nearly supernatural ambiance of the forest cocooning her. Birds called softly overhead and Lily saw the occasional gray squirrel scurrying for a better vantage point to watch them pass.

  The trail soon faded away to nothing and Lily watched in amazement as Shain picked out a path, leading them down a narrow, granite studded ravine, past a swift flowing brook and up the other side into woods so thick it seemed almost impossible that they would be able to pass through.

  Shain seemed perfectly at home in the forest, his focus fastened on the nonexistent trail, leaving Lily plenty of opportunity to observe his powerful back and sun-streaked hair. Hmmm…she longed to touch her lips to the rich, sienna skin of his neck and kiss him in that tender spot between jaw and ear.

  She shivered, desire raging through her at such a simple thought. The sky broke through the canopy overhead in sparkling slivers and Lily raised her face, taking a moment to quiet her raging hormones.

  “Lily.”

  At Shain’s deep rumble, Lily opened her eyes. “Oh,” she said breathlessly as her gaze fell upon a small, secluded glade.

  They’d stepped out into a clearing that was only a half acre or so, with grass so green it was nearly painful to look at. Blue sky crowned the picturesque scene and directly in the center of the clearing sat a log cabin, its weather-roughened logs warm and golden under the bright August sky. Wildflowers in blue were scattered throughout the lush meadow, competing with tiny white daisies that frosted the tops of hummocks.

  It was amazing. Beautiful, in a desolate, wild way that left her breathless with anticipation. Of what, she wasn’t sure but, as her gaze found Shain’s, she realized that his eyes were dark with the same uncertainty.

  Shain dismounted, gave his horse a pat on the rump, then walked over to Lily. He held up a hand and Lily took it, slipping off of Rialda, who, as soon as she was free of her rider, trotted to catch up with Shain’s stallion. Shain’s hand was hot against her palm and Lily breathed deep, trying to quell the burst of nerves tumbling inside her.

  “What is this place? Does someone live here?”

  “Not anymore.” Shain raised a hand and pulled the pins free, allowing her hair to tumble free. His fingers trailed lightly against the side of her neck and Lily shivered, her lids heavy.

  “Used to be my great-grandfather’s place. Then my grandmother’s.”

  Lily opened her eyes to view Shain’s stubbled jaw only inches away, his lips at her temple where he placed a gentle kiss. Every nerve in her body sang at the sensation.

  Shain pulled her forward. “He built it over a hundred years ago. Left the reservation to reclaim land that his family had lived on for the past four centuries.”

  They stopped in front of the weathered but solid door. “That would have been a big risk back then,” Lily commented, understanding enough of the territory’s history to know that just wasn’t done—with much success.

  Shain’s mouth quirked into a grin. “Not such a risk. He didn’t even tell his family where he was living until later.”

  His hand rested on the latch for a second before he opened the door and ushered Lily over the
threshold. The tingling was back and she drew a deep breath as she stepped inside. Her gaze traveled the expanse of the modest room. It was clean, uncluttered and pleasantly cool. A large stone fireplace occupied one wall, shelves on another and, off to the right was a small, yet serviceable kitchen with an old-fashioned wood burning stove.

  Light from a large plate glass window spilled across a sofa and two handmade chairs in the center of the living room. A single doorway led to a back area.

  Lily looked up as Shain entered. “My great-grandfather, Hank, built everything by hand or dragged it up on horseback.”

  “He sounds amazing,” Lily commented as she walked further in to stare at the beautiful woven blanket draped across the sofa. “Did he live here until he passed?”

  Shain strode to the shelf and picked up a beaten silver frame. “He did. But it wasn’t a long life.” He handed her the picture. “I like to think it was a happy one. At least that’s how our grandmother—his daughter—told it.”

  The frame was cool in her hand and Lily nearly gasped she stared at the yellowed photo. She gazed at Shain, her heart tripping. “You look so alike.” Lily’s finger traced the spitting image of her handsome cowboy. With longer hair and a few added years, they could be twins. And their eyes held the same intense, passionate gaze.

  “You said he died young,” Lily said softly as she handed the photo back to Shain. “What happened?”

  “He was shot.” Shain placed the photo back onto the shelf.

  Lily moved in closer, trying to shake off the tingling that was back with a vengeance. “You mean, like murdered, or accidentally shot?”

  Shain’s expression hardened. “I mean assassinated. And by someone he trusted.”

  A cold knot tightened in Lily’s abdomen. “But why?”

  It wasn’t quite a shrug but Lily was certain that Shain was suddenly uncomfortable with their subject matter. She wanted, no, needed to know why. “Shain, why would someone your great-grandfather trusted decide it would be a good idea to kill him?”

  “Because the bastard wanted something he had no business having.”

  “What did he want?”

  Shain’s jaw clenched and Lily could feel the tension seeping off of him like steam escaping a pressure cooker. “It doesn’t matter. The point is…” He turned to face her, his arms crossed, biceps bulging from beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his blue cotton shirt. “You can never be too careful. Too cautious about those you let in and those you keep out.”

  Lily leaned in, her head tilted to capture all of Shain’s steely countenance. “So am I in?” She waved a hand. “Or would you like me to step back outside?”

  The man didn’t so much as blink but the nearly imperceptible twitch at the bottom of his jaw told Lily she’d struck a nerve. Her face colored as hot flesh fastened around her upper arms.

  “Why don’t you tell me, Lily?” He leaned in until his luscious lips were nearly even with hers. “Do you want to be in?”

  “I-I…” Lily ran her tongue over her lips, imagining how it would feel to have his mouth fastened on her breast. His hand sliding across her damp slit. “Oh, hell.” Collapsing into the startled cowboy, Lily pressed her lips to his. He was still for only a fraction of a second before he crushed her to him, his mouth welcoming hers with fervor. Fire spread to every limb as Lily deepened their kiss, her tongue snaking out to play along the even contours of his white teeth.

  “Goddamn,” Shain whispered into her mouth before lifting her entirely free of the floor and into his arms. Lily kept her arms wrapped tightly around Shain’s neck, her face pressed into the male-scented flesh between cheek and ear. In three steps, they were inside the small bedroom. Lily looked down a second before she found herself on the raised bed. The handmade patchwork quilt was soft beneath her back, and as she gazed up at her startlingly handsome lover, she knew there was no going back. No pretending that her experiences at the Red Bear with Shain and his family could simply be a pleasant holiday memory. She had feelings for this bear of a man.

  Feelings…

  Shain made quick work of his buttons, shedding his shirt to expose the bronzed breadth of his sculpted chest, all the time feasting on Lily’s face, drinking her in.

  “Take off your shirt and shoes,” Shain commanded.

  Lily sat up, her hands moving on autopilot to do Shain’s bidding, blisters and aches forgotten. She pulled off her boots, letting them thunk to the floor before slowly unbuttoning the white shirt. She slipped each arm free before tossing it into a corner, leaving her in her skintight cotton chemise. She hadn’t worn a bra and her nipples were diamond-hard, thrusting against the thin cotton with direct intent.

  Shain was motionless above her, his eyes hooded. “Now your pants.”

  With quick movements, Lily pushed the jeans past her hips and down each thigh until she was on the bed in only her low-rise lace underwear and top. Lily moved to her knees on the bed, putting her even with Shain’s taut abdomen. She leaned in and pressed her lips to the scar above his right hip, then traced the ridge with her tongue. His skin was salty, warm—exactly as Lily knew it would taste. Delicious. Perfect.

  Raising her hands she rested them on Shain’s hips, then hooked her fingers into his belt loops and pulled the cowboy closer to her demanding mouth. “So beautiful,” Lily whispered, repeating Shain’s words to her in their first explosion of lovemaking. She felt his hands move to her shoulders where they pushed the thin straps of the chemise down onto the curve of her arm, exposing the tops of her breasts.

  Smiling, Lily allowed her tongue to trail over the rippled muscles of his abdomen, lapping gently at the scar near his hip and stopping at the top button of his jeans. Moving her hands past his hips, she slid them across the denim to the button fly. Lily took a deep breath and worked each silver button free. Seeing and feeling the massive bulge pressing against her fingers, Lily’s heart hammered and goosebumps shivered across her back and shoulders. Sitting up, she pushed his jeans over his powerful hips, sucking in a breath as his engorged cock sprang free.

  Shain leaned back slightly, his hands tightening on her shoulders as his breath rasped out. Desire raged through Lily and, with quick hands, she shoved his jeans down into a pile at his ankles before kneeling lower and breathing out across his member. Bringing up a hand she cupped his testes, entranced by the weight of them on her palm. The spicy, male scent of him filled her senses and Lily used her other hand to grip the base of his cock. “I need to taste you,” Lily whispered before flicking out a tongue to lap the pearly bead at its tip.

  Shain’s throaty growl spurred her on and Lily wrapped her mouth eagerly around his cock, twirling her tongue over the firm curve of molded flesh, sucking him in deeper as her hand worked along his length.

  She was rewarded with an almost painful moan. His pelvis rocked into her mouth, his hands gripping her shoulders. Lily took him in, loving the feel of him inside her mouth, unable to control her own moans around his cock.

  “Woman, you’d better find something else for your lips to do before I—”

  Lily gripped his ass and worked into a fierce rhythm that gave no quarter and asked none. With a roar, Shain bucked against her, spilling himself into her mouth. Lily drank him in, using her hand to milk him dry before releasing him and sitting back on her heels.

  Looking up, she smiled, feeling wanton and not giving a damn.

  * * * * *

  “Stand up, woman,” Shain ordered, every fiber of his body whipcord tight.

  Lily moved to her feet to stand on the bed, her toes sinking into the soft quilt. Her breasts were now even with his face, the tiny camisole top barely concealing the high, pale globes and their hard-tipped nipples.

  One look…one thought of her going down on him like she just had, and Shain was hard again. So goddamn hard he wondered if the woman didn’t possess some kind of magic.

  Magic…the power of spirit.

  Shain shook his grandmother’s voice out of his head and refocused on the ou
tstanding woman in front of him. Damn, she was a goddess in more ways than one and Shain realized that he could no longer think of her as a needy little manhunter. Shain had been intimate with enough women to know the difference between a woman wanting to please and a woman wanting to love. There was more than simple lust in her actions.

  Miss Lily Whitman was loving his body, not fucking it. And as Shain’s eyes drank in every delicious inch of her, stopping at her flushed face and swollen lips, he wondered if she realized it herself. Their eyes met and he was lost in the ocean-deep green.

  As long as she keeps loving me, I don’t care what she thinks she believes.

  Shain knew that couldn’t be true, not with all that was at stake, but at the moment it was the only reality he cared about. He lifted a finger and drew it down the side of her cheek. “Take off your shirt.”

  She hesitated only a moment before pulling the camisole over her head with both arms and tossing it aside. Her breasts were taut with anticipation, the pink buds hard enough to cut glass. Shain longed to crush her to his mouth but that wasn’t how he wanted things to go—yet. She needed to understand that he was the one in control. That he was the master of what happened here on the ranch. This was his world and, if she wanted to play in it, she had to follow his rules, his lead.

  With his hands in fists at his side, Shain leaned next to her ear. “Turn around and take off your panties. Bend over when you do it, so I can see your firm ass.”

  He pulled back and smiled at the startled look on Lily’s face.

  “Now,” Shain said with a flick of his wrist. He had to force himself to stay motionless as she turned and, with slow movements, hooked her fingers into the narrow straps of her panties.

  Sweat beaded on Shain’s forehead at the erotic sight of her easing the panties down inch by slow inch. When she reached mid-thigh, she bent at the waist and Shain wrapped a hand around his throbbing erection in an attempt to restrain himself from plunging into her wet core. As she bent lower, she exposed a glimpse of her glistening lips and Shain’s grip tightened on his cock. When her panties were finally over her feet, Lily paused and stepped out, her body quivering.