Shoulders erect, a practiced smile on her face, Jordan marched out to the corral. The men were so intent on what they were doing, they didn't see her at first. For a second Jordan considered leaving, but she stayed and waited for one of them to notice her, preferably the tall half-breed, whose dark tan accented the solid muscles that played beneath his dark skin.
But since they weren't paying any attention to her, she used the opportunity to watch Gray Hawk when he wasn't aware of her scrutiny. Jordan knew of the strength it took to keep the cows from moving and kicking out when the hot iron scorched their flesh, yet he handled it with ease, as though he'd done it all his life.
Her heart swelled with pride.
Now that she had time to get used to it, she found she liked his hair shorter. He was so much more...civilized. Dressed as he was, he seemed like any other white man, except his skin and hair were a hint darker than most. He looked up abruptly meeting her stare. Her pulse skittered as his gray eyes bored into her. Slowly a smile came to his face, and she relaxed, smiling softly in return.
Lord, he was handsome.
Turning the calf loose, Gray Hawk said something to Shane, who glanced her way and smiled. She waited as the three came toward her and took the lemonade she offered.
"Thanks, we needed that right about now," Shane said, wiping a sheen of sweat from his forehead with a bandana. He handed Hank a glass, then drained his own, and setting it back on the tray, he headed back to work.
As Hank joined Shane, Gray Hawk took a little longer. He watched her over the rim of his glass, his eyes sparkling as though he knew exactly what it was she was thinking. Jordan glanced down at his hand on the fence rail. His long dark fingers were strong and callused, and she remembered for a moment what it felt like to have them on her body. How she yearned to have them there again.
She glanced up to find him grinning.
"You look nice," he said, looking over his shoulder at the men who were waiting for him. "Then again, you always do." He motioned to Shane and Hank that he'd be a minute more.
"Thanks," she said, overjoyed by his compliment, glad he noticed the efforts she went to.
Taking off his hat, he ran his fingers through his hair that was damp with sweat. The rock-hard muscles in his bicep rippled beneath his smooth, dark skin.
"I better get back," he said, his gray eyes pinning her to the spot. "Maybe I'll see you later." Perhaps she was only hearing things, but she could have sworn he'd asked it as a question.
The smoldering flame she saw in his eyes startled her, yet excited her at the same time. She ached for the fulfillment of his lovemaking, knowing it was the only way she would find peace again. "Maybe," she replied, her voice sounding huskier than normal.
"Okay," he said with a devastating smile that set her heart racing. She watched him walk away, then realizing she no longer had an excuse to be standing around and watching him, she headed back to the house.
Chapter 15
GRAY HAWK was tired and filthy. Many of the men ate their supper and passed out on their cots, exhausted from the long day of branding. Though his body yearned for sleep, he couldn't go to bed without a good scrubbing.
Grabbing clean clothes, he rolled them into a ball, and closed the door to the bunkhouse. It was a starry night, not a single cloud in the sky, the moon casting its glow upon the land.
Gray Hawk glanced at the large log home and the light that shined brightly. What he wouldn't give to walk up the steps, knock on the door, and see Jordan one last time before he closed his eyes this night.
Since he'd been at the Triple T, he had seen her every day, and each time she grew more daring. He noticed her smiles came quickly, and her gaze at times was down right seductive--seductive for an innocent.
He knew each time she stepped outside of the house, and was also aware of the way she watched him, even though she pretended not to. His heart pounded furiously seeing the blatant desire, knowing she wanted him.
Walking the familiar path to the pond, he let his mind wander, thinking of his family and the life that he had left. He thought about his father every day and worried about his failing health. Yet this new life was going well. He liked the long days in the saddle, the tending of the cattle, fixing fences--seeing Jordan.
He whistled, planning to make good use of the pond tonight. The sky was cloudless, the full moon bright, allowing him the opportunity to stay longer than usual. It would give him time to think about his future and what he planned to do. He knew he couldn't stay at the Triple T forever, living off of Shane's charity, but returning to his village wasn't an option now. His vision had told him to follow Jordan, and it was here he would stay, at least for awhile.
Hearing something, he stopped in mid-stride and listened. His eyes narrowed, his muscles tensed. He heard again the light rustling of meadow grass behind him--then it stopped.
He was being followed.
Instinctively his hand moved to the hilt of his knife as he continued toward the pond.
JORDAN QUESTIONED her motives. What was she doing following Gray Hawk into the trees in the middle of the night? What did she expect to say when he caught her following him? "Hi, I just wanted to talk," sounded completely ridiculous.
But she couldn't stop--not now. It was driving her crazy knowing he was around, but unable to share a moment alone with him. There was always someone around preventing them from having even a second to themselves. Sure, they shared some glances, a smile, or a nod, but she yearned for more. Exactly how much more, she couldn't quite decide. Letting him get a good distance ahead of her, she made sure to keep low just in case she lost her nerve and needed a quick escape.
At first Jordan thought maybe Gray Hawk had decided to leave the ranch without saying anything to anyone, until she recognized the trail that Rebecca and Tanner took when they went to the pond. Realization of why he was going there came slowly. Obviously he was going to bathe. What if she got there and he was naked? The thought of seeing Gray Hawk without a stitch of clothing on sent her heart racing with excitement. Then again, perhaps she should just turn back to the ranch.
She stopped as an owl hooted at the same time Gray Hawk disappeared into the trees. What would he think when he caught her watching him? But even as the thought crossed her mind, she continued, knowing she had to see him or spend another long night tossing and turning.
Hearing the splash of water, she considered waiting for him, but only for a moment before moving closer. Sinking down into the brush, she parted the shrub, and her mouth went dry as she watched him slicing through the water, his powerful arms stroking the water. He stopped and grabbed a bar of soap off the bank and began lathering his skin. Jordan stared as he ran the soap over his body, his hard chest, his muscular arms, and then down lower, his hand disappearing beneath the water. She swallowed hard, knowing she had made that very soap with her own hands.
Unable to continue hiding from him, she stood, ready to call out when he stepped from the water. The words died in her throat and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of all of him. She stood with mouth open, rooted to the spot, unable to move. Jordan had never seen a naked man before, except for an illustration in a medical book her uncle kept in his library.
Now her body tingled as her gaze fell past his massive chest to his hard stomach and lower still to his long, thick manhood.
He was not built like the man in the book. Not even close.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat, her gaze jerking back to his face to find him staring straight at her.
His eyes smoldered as they raked over her. He dried himself slowly, every move seemed calculated, and not once did she break eye contact. It was as though he dared her to look away. Well, she wouldn't disappoint him, since she couldn't stop staring to save her life. He was beautiful: long, lean, and powerful. A man any woman would like to call her own.
Throwing the towel aside, he took a step toward her.
Suddenly mortified at what she was doing, Jordan took a step ba
ck, and stumbled over a rock. Falling hard on her bottom, she quickly scrambled to her feet, grateful it was dark enough to hide her burning cheeks.
Rivulets of water clung to him, and she could see his skin was goose pimpled in the night air. A shiver raced up her spine that had nothing to do with the cold as his gaze slowly caressed her face with hot desire.
Opening her mouth, she found herself at a loss for words. Every line she'd memorized for days now faded away under his heated stare. He reached out in invitation. When she accepted and touched his fingers, sparks seemed to fly between them.
Then his hands moved to either side of her face, his thumbs lightly caressing her lips. In his eyes she could see the same longing that she felt. His fingers moved down her neck, stopping on the pulse beating wildly in her throat. He smiled softly, before continuing down along the swell of her breasts.
Her eyes closed, her head fell back on her shoulders as he teased her nipples, bringing them to hard peaks. Fire moved from her breasts, spreading toward the part of her that yearned most for his touch. It was almost like a pain, but such a sweet pain, and she knew that only he could ease the torment growing inside her.
He kissed her jaw, then her lips. Hungrily she accepted his kiss, pulling him tight against her, needing to feel his hard body against hers.
Gray Hawk was mad with desire. He wanted to take her to the ground, to make sweet passionate love to her right there, but a part of him resisted, wondering if she would hate him once it was over.
Jordan moaned low in her throat, and he smiled. This time there was no turning back. Her desire had gone too far. Putting her at arms length, he took a deep, steadying breath. Her face was flushed, her eyes dark with wanting as she stared at him with burning desire. Her nipples were pebble-hard against the thin material of her blouse. He'd never wanted anyone like he wanted her. Tonight would be a night neither one of them would forget.
"We'd better get back before someone notices we're missing," he said, knowing full well it would be morning before anyone would bother searching for him. Giving her a chance to back out before it was too late, he added, "I'll get dressed."
As he turned his back on her, Jordan felt many emotions; most of all rejection. Maybe he found her undesirable? Her body was trembling with the passion he had built within her. By his response, she knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him. His desire was all too evident. Maybe he was remembering the times before when they had come this far, and she had denied him. "Wait!"
He stopped and turned toward her, and she was there, her hand on his shoulder. "I..."
Gray Hawk felt his defenses weaken the moment her hand touched his flesh, but he would not take her, not unless she agreed. "Tell me what you want, Jordan?"
Biting her lip, she knew this was it. Now or never. "I want you," she blurted. The muscles under her hand stiffened, making her wonder if she was wrong by saying what she felt. But when he groaned and his lips found hers, she knew it was no mistake.
Her arms encircled his neck once again, pulling him toward her, pressing into him, needing to get closer. It seemed his hands were everywhere at once.Gray Hawk lowered her to the soft grass, covering her with his naked body.
"Jordan," he whispered against her lips. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
She smiled up at him, never so sure of anything in her life. "Yes," she whispered against his lips. "I want you, Gray Hawk."
With a driving hunger, Gray Hawk kissed her with all the desire he had pent-up for far too long. His hands moved down her lithe body wanting to memorize every curve. He kissed her neck, her breasts, her flat stomach, and the tight curls nestled between her thighs.
Her pulse jolted as he pulled her hips up to meet his mouth. With an abrupt intake of breath, she squeezed her legs together, horrified at what he was doing.
"Relax. Let yourself feel how wonderful making love can be."
She did as he instructed, and the moment his mouth kissed the core of her desire, she moaned, the sound foreign to her own ears. Who would have thought that such a wicked thing could bring such wonderful pleasure.
Her fingers wove through his dark hair as she raised her hips off the ground. She knew it was sinful, but she couldn't help but watch him, entranced with what was happening between them. At that moment he looked up, his eyes burned with desire as he continued his wicked kiss. The momentum built like hot lava moving through her veins until she knew she would go mad. Then like a damn bursting, wave after wave of sensation flooded her, and she cried out, sure she would die from the pleasure.
With the last fluttering of her climax, Gray Hawk thrust deep within her silky warmth, plunging past the barrier that told him he was the first. His heart rejoiced to find her pure and he knew from that moment on she belonged to him alone.
He glanced down into her passion-flushed face. Her eyes were wide and dreamy, staring up at him. "Am I hurting you?" he asked, stilling within her.
Jordan looked up at him in wonder. How could a person feel so much pleasure? Already the sharp pain she had felt was waning, and in its place that wonderful stirring again. He filled her so completely, the sensation so wonderful, she lifted her hips against him. "Don't stop," she said, sighing as he moved again.
Lifting her hips, she urged him on. When he kissed her, she hesitated only a moment as she tasted herself on his tongue before giving herself to him fully and completely, the pleasure radiating outward until every nerve ending screamed for release.
Her response overwhelmed him as her hands moved down his back, pulling him to her urgently, her hips rising to meet him with every thrust.
In his dreams he had hoped it would be like this, and to have it happening was almost surreal.
Taking a nipple between his teeth, he teased it with the tip of his tongue. She arched against him, moaning with pleasure. He stilled within her again, wanting to savor every moment, wanting to love her so completely she would never forget it was he who had made her feel this way.
Her fingers wove through his hair, urging him closer to her breast. He could feel the mad thumping of her heart, matching his own as her tight sheath squeezed his hard length. When she lifted her hips to meet him, he pulled out only far enough that the tip of his manhood teased and kissed her hot desire.
She groaned, and as he plunged within her once again, she cried out, her hips moving furiously against his. He could no longer hold on, and as he felt the first fluttering of her climax, he soared with her in uncontrollable joy and ecstasy.
SHANE WALKED out of the house just as Kari was getting into the wagon. Rebecca and Tanner sat side by side, dressed in clean clothes, while Kari was wearing an attractive dress that he was seeing for the first time. His brow furrowed. What was she up to now? "Miss Hoffman, where you off to this morning?"
She turned to him, and breathing a heavy sigh, opened her parasol. "Into town. But first I'm dropping the children at school. There is a new schoolmarm in town who just arrived last week. She was kind enough to come by the house the other day and inquire if Tanner and Rebecca would be coming. Hank said Tanner used to attend, so I felt it would be all right with you."
"Still, don't you think you should have asked me first?"
Her chin lifted a full inch. "I tried, but you don't seem to have the time to listen. If memory serves, I was trying to gain your attention the other evening when we were interrupted by one of the ranch hands, who I might add, you always have time for."
"Please, Dad, we'll be late," Tanner cut in, his expression so earnest and hopeful, Shane didn't have the heart to deny him. Not that he would. He wanted his son and niece to have a good education.
Kari's expression was triumphant. "You needn't worry that it will interrupt your schedule. I will pick them up on my way home from work this afternoon."
Why, the little minx was gloating. The corner of his mouth lifted as his gaze slipped to her bosom that was amply displayed in her new gown. Then her words hit him. "Work?" he repeated. "But you have a job here."
> "No, you were giving me charity, as you made it well known."
"I was only teasing you."
"Really?" Raising a tawny brow in his direction, she replied, "Well, I've got a real job, Mr. Catalono, and if I don't hurry, I'll be late." Flashing a blase' smile, she turned to Tanner. "Let's be on our way."
Shane scratched his head as the wagon left him in a cloud of dust. When had he lost control of his life? The women were taking over, giving him more time to spend in the fields with the men. And for all that he tried to tell himself the women were only staying temporarily, he had to admit that he liked them living with him. He woke in the morning and his breakfast was ready, the kids were bathed, the house was clean. Sure, Hank had done a fine job, but he lacked in a few areas--and it was nice to have female company. Plus, it was good for Rebecca to have the women's influence in her life--and it was good for Tanner as well. In fact, Tanner seemed rather fond of them.
But now Kari had got a job in town just to spite him. She had been a little bristly the other day when he made the comment about letting her cousin do all the work? He shook his head, that woman took everything literally.
Chapter 16
JORDAN HUMMED to herself as she rolled up the sleeves of her dress. Normally she dreaded wash day. But not today. Today was different. Today she was different.
Her whole life had changed last night. Her body was still humming from being in Gray Hawk's arms when he showed her how wonderful making love could be. Not once, but twice, and then they went for a swim in the pond. He had washed her tender flesh, bringing her to ecstasy once more. Never had she felt so loved--or so alive.
She'd slipped quietly into her bed late last night, and slept in this morning. She smiled as her stomach did a little flip, still finding it hard to believe that they had actually made love.
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