Microsoft Word - RecklessBounty

by test

  After all, he and Lady Devlin didn’t even share the same room. How do you think I was able to get Tyler to seduce her so easily so he could gain the information that I sought?”

  She stared up at him wordlessly. He swiftly moved forward and tilted her chin up so she stared straight into his eyes. They reminded her of sapphires and they were almost the same shade as Devlin’s. Her wet mouth suddenly went inexplicably dry. Her hands started to glow.

  She clasped them tightly in her lap, praying he hadn’t seen that. She had to control herself. She loved Tyler; he was the only man for her.

  Jordan pressed his lips against her closed mouth, and then pulled away from her almost immediately.

  “Though I would have desired a much different reaction from you, I know when I am defeated.” With that he removed his hands from her.

  “What do you mean? ” she asked. She considered his body language, and decided that he was quite hot to trot for her.

  “Most women would be wet and willing by now, and they’d be melting in my arms. Yet here you stand unaffected by me. Which only means one thing,” Jordan said, standing just out of range of the door’s sensors.

  She still remained in the same place. Intrigued, she asked the question that he had baited with his announcement.

  “What does it mean?”

  His eyes lost all of their glitter, and he looked as if he’d just lost his best friend.

  “It means you’re terribly in love with Tyler, and that you will never have enough room in your heart for anyone but him. The loss is mine, I assure you.”

  He moved into the doors sensors, and the door whooshed open. He glided out of the room, and for a split second Samantha wasn’t sure if she wanted him to go.

  Well, if Jordan were so sure of her heart’s affections she just wished that Tyler would get rid of his obstinate denseness and come to realize he was the only man she loved.

  Samantha quickly undressed, and she allowed herself to focus her thoughts on Tyler. She reached into the shower, and activated the strong flow of hot water. She sighed with contentment, and stepped into the pulsing shower. The water streamed across her back as she washed her hair. She thought back to the day, and snorted realizing it had been the longest day in her whole life.

  She had faced everything, and yet here she stood with only a few scratches on the outside, and a whole lot more on the inside. She began humming, continuing her luxurious shower. Thick moist steam rose up around her. Oh, God she was in Heaven!

  Water trickled into the valley between her breasts, and she stopped humming, when a skittering noise caught her attention.

  On guard, she quickly turned around when she felt a presence behind her. She flung the RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 91

  door to the shower open, nearly hitting the man that stood naked in front of her. Samantha furrowed her brow, staring at him. She stood proudly in front of him, and didn’t mind one bit that he could see everything that she owned.

  He opened his arms, and she fell into them. They stumbled back into the running shower, and slammed the door behind them.

  RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 92

  Chapter Ten

  Samantha woke up, stretching languidly out in the bed. She let out a sleepy, purring moan that started deep in her throat traveled up her windpipe and out her mouth. She curled against the warm form next to her, and sighed deliciously, as she felt his feather light breath on the nape of her neck. He rested his lips against the middle of her neck, and softly kissed her sensitive spot. A rush flowed through her, and she purred like a kitten. His touch was pure bliss.

  It could take her to places she’d never imagined.

  The widest smile she’d smiled in ages formed across her lips, and she turned around in his arms. She stared up in adoration at him, and felt reawakened desire surge through her. He brushed his lips lightly against hers, and she leaned in for more. Reaching her left hand up she brushed it through his wayward hair. His green eyes softened, as the bedside lamplight danced across the surface of her wedding band. With that, he hungrily kissed her mouth again, and she forgot the question that had lain on her lips. In his arms she could forget the entire galaxy. He was her world.

  No other words had passed between them, save for the sweet nothings they had whispered between each other. She hadn’t wanted to spoil the moment by dredging up the past.

  What had occurred between them would never disappear. They just had to learn how to get past it. So far, she thought they’d done a pretty bang up job at pretending that it had never happened.

  They had the entire future stretched out in front of them. She grimaced. A future that could be snatched away in a heartbeat...if she failed to find the real murderer.

  Tyler kissed her again, softer this time. The burning hunger diminished from his kiss.

  She frowned. Love shone in his eyes, basking her in a soothing warm glow. Her hand traced down beneath the covers, and she flattened her palm against his muscled chest. It felt warm, and his steady heartbeat pulsed against her hand.

  “I’m sorry for all of the pain I caused you, Samantha, my love.” His voice was soft, but held an age-old pain. She blinked.

  “Pain? What pain? You just gave me pleasure, which quickly transformed into bliss.

  I’m afraid I don’t follow what you’re trying to say.” His eyes clouded. Mists swirled within his emotion packed orbs. She fell silent. A slight sigh escaped her before she could reign it back in.

  “I was referring to the pain I caused you when I abandoned you.”

  “Abandoned? ” She snorted. “I’m no babe in arms, sweetheart.”

  A touch of a frown traced his lips. “You know what I mean.” His eyes hardened. “I should have never gotten up on my high horse. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was just so damn frightened.”

  “Frightened? A New California gunslinger can’t frighten you, so why should I think that anything in my...in our life could? I know why you wanted me to quit bounty hunting.”

  “Do you? It wasn’t because I felt challenged if that’s what you think.” His soft voice caused goose pimples to emerge across her exposed arms.

  “Of course. I know you didn’t feel like a lesser man with me as your wife. You thought I’d end up like my father.” If she’d been anywhere else, she would have been sucked back into the void that traumatic experience had caused in her life. But she was in the safest place she RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 93

  knew. She was with Tyler.

  He closed his eyes, for the briefest of moments and then opened them again. “I never thought you’d meet the same end. I feared you’d meet your death when you found yourself in too tight of a jam. I felt helpless. I couldn’t stand not being able to foresee the future. I don’t want to be the one left behind.”

  She smiled. “We can’t think of how we nearly messed up our lives. We’ve found our way back to each other, Tyler. I won’t let you go, now that I have you in my arms again. We’ll get through this, I promise.” She lifted her hand from his chest and cupped it against his cheek.

  He caught her hand, kissed it then held it gently. “Promise me one thing.”

  “Name

  it.”

  “Promise me, that you won’t put yourself on the line for me. If....”

  “Don’t think about it. We’re not going to talk about something that will never happen.

  I’m going to find the real killer. Then we’ll have our happily ever after.”

  “I don’t want you putting yourself in mortal danger for me.”

  “Too late,” she grinned. “As soon as I fell for you, I put myself-- my heart in mortal danger. This world isn’t worth living if it doesn’t have you in it.” Their lips met, and they sank deeper into the mattress.

  “I should leave now, as in right this minute,” he whispered. His voice conveyed his reluctance and yet she could tell by the look in his eyes that he had to leave. She hated saying goodbye. Hated it.

  “Leave? ” she asked
. Well, she’d tiptoed around spoiling the moment and he’d just forged right ahead. He’d really stepped in it, this time. He’d stepped in it right up to his knees. Her eyeballs felt as if they were going to pop straight out of her head. “You can’t leave when we’ve just found our way back together. I don’t care what happened in the months when we were apart. I want you. Only you. Any of the things you did, any of the women you met....”

  “What women? You’re the only woman that’s haunted my dreams, my every thought. I thought I’d go mad…I wanted you so badly. You’re in my heart. I’ve never given my heart to any other woman, so do you honestly think I could take what we have so lightly?”

  She wetted her lips. “You’re almost too good to be true. I’d say you’re better than a knight in shining armor. You’re a prince.”

  “Thank you.” A cheeky glint entered his eyes. “I always knew I was special.” He chuckled and brushed his lips lightly against hers once again. “Samantha, much as I’d like to stay and have a second honeymoon with you, I must run. Really,” he stressed.

  He stared back at her. Hesitation danced in his eyes. Coupled with another look that would probably emerge victorious. Determination. Shit. It had only been a few hours. They needed more time. Her eyes flickered to the clock.

  “I can’t stay here. Lord Devlin’s people might discover that I left my quarters. The guard had fallen asleep when I slipped free, but she should be waking soon, it has almost been four hours. And, besides, you were the one that fell asleep for two of those hours.” He’d been trailing his hand up and down her back all during their chat. His hand stopped, and pulled her close. He kissed her and then released her. She reached for him again, and pulled him back.

  “Samantha.” His voice held irrefutable longing, and yet she could see his point of view. If Lord Devlin’s henchman and henchwomen found him missing…there would be hell to pay. Heaving a great sigh, she lifted her hands off of him.

  “You’d better go. Mind you, I’d like to take you and try running for it again, but....”

  “Samantha, we can’t run our whole lives. You have a family that would miss you. And RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 94

  my family, save for Dylan would crack open a new bottle of champagne if they heard I was on the lam. I am quite certain daddy dearest is right now partying in the hopes that I will be prosecuted to the full extent of New Monaco law.”

  True. Sadly, Tyler was right. She had never run from anyone or anything in her whole life, it was pointless to start now, especially when she had so many years left ahead of her.

  She watched him and narrowed her eyes. She sighed. He was moving slowly which meant that he didn’t want to leave. He had to leave. He was right. She hated it when others were right, and she was wrong. They could have all of the fun they wanted once he was a free man. But that moment seemed a lifetime away.

  She slid to the edge of the bed and reached her arms out for him.

  “I’ve missed you so much!” Samantha whispered.

  He turned back to her and she could see the temptation in his green eyes. He wanted to rip his clothes off and jump back into bed with her. But he buttoned the last button on his shirt, instead.

  Close but no cigar, sometimes she just couldn’t catch a break.

  “God, you don’t know how much I have missed you, we haven’t had enough time for me to show you just how much,” Tyler promised, pressing his searing lips against hers. Flames of passion crackled between them, and she longed to pull him down the length of her and reacquaint herself with him once again. “Without you I wouldn’t still be alive!” Tyler brushed his fingertip across her puckered lips.

  “You have to go,” she urged. Her voice dropped to the barest of whispers.

  He leaned against the mattress, and it took all of her willpower to keep herself from tearing his clothes off his body. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she shivered. The temperature in the room dropped dramatically when his warmth had abandoned her. She was freezing!

  She would have to find something to put on. She followed him to the door. Before he could activate the doors sensors, she reached out for him.

  “Be safe, ” she murmured, kissing him one last time.

  “Me? I’m more worried about you. You’re the one that will be doing all of the work.”

  “Oh, I’ll be fine. I’ve got a good crew, don’t you know. I’m also living a fairly charmed life. Don’t fret about me. You just count the hours until we’re back in each other’s arms.”

  “What else is there to do?” A smile broke across his face. Her heart fluttered. She was happy to say that Tyler belonged to her.

  Always.

  She watched with a heavy heart as he slipped out into the dimmed hallway. She hoped that he would make it back to his room without ever having his absence discovered.

  Samantha moved over to her luggage, and pulled out a pair of slinky pajamas. Once she had them on, she curled back underneath the covers sighed, and drifted off to sleep once again.

  She felt herself drifting toward consciousness when she felt something hot and wet lick at her face. She brushed her hand up against it, wrinkling her nose at the smell of foul breath. Still believing that she was dreaming, she tried to push the offensive creature away from her. She hated it when her sister allowed her pet to come into the bedroom. “Stop it, Ned,” Samantha murmured, frowning. Ned was a little too giving with his slobbery kisses.

  Her eyes flew open in horror as realization struck her.

  Ned the foundling pup that Johanna had rescued when they were children had died on Earth FOUR years ago. She screamed. At that precise moment her eyes connected with two RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 95

  black eyes. The shaggy dog tried licking her face again but jerked back when she jolted upright.

  She stared around at her unfamiliar surroundings. Then when she saw the gaudily flashing lights above her, she finally understood what had happened to her.

  Either she was still dreaming, or someone had purposefully put her down in one of the seediest areas of New Monaco, with devious thoughts in their mind. This part of the planet didn’t look like any fairy tale.

  She looked down at herself and dismay rang through her. She quickly realized that not only was she by herself in unfamiliar surroundings, but she was also scantily clad. What made things even worse was that she had none of the weapons that she relied upon so heavily. She was royally screwed. No communicator, no shoes, and no one to trust.

  The shaggy dog had an aura of familiarity to him. In her half-asleep state, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. But he was different. Special even. Weird. But then everything about her and around her always seemed to have an element of weird to it.

  “Just freaking terrific!!! ” she muttered, pushing herself to her feet. She sniffed at the air.

  She’d landed in a heap of garbage. She picked a fishbone off of her stomach and threw it back onto the ground. Her stomach rolled. She didn’t want to think about the other stuff crawling around in the garbage heap.

  The cold pavement was under her bare feet and she grimaced as she considered her unusual predicament. She’d kill the person that had put her down here. As soon as she was done with them they would be begging for mercy. This was some really sick and twisted joke. One name came to mind. Devlin. He had to be responsible for this.

  Rage boiled through her as she imagined how her wrath would affect the person that had perpetrated such an unthinkable strike against her. If it had been Devlin, he’d just used up all of his get out of jail free cards. Bastard. How could he do something like this to her? He was taking spite to a whole new level!

  “UNBELIEVABLE! ” Samantha fumed. The cool pavement was quickly turning hot under her bare feet. As the two suns rose higher in the sky, the heat would only get worse. Of course, they were small suns…so she wouldn’t be cooked…but still…it would be HOT. It was New Monaco’s springtime. But as the hours passed, the pavement would get quite steamy. If someone had de
cided to put her down here on purpose they could’ve at least had the decency to provide her with the proper footwear.

  At her loud exclamation a few ruffians at the end of the alley stared at her hungrily. “Oh, just give me a frigging break! I so don’t need this.” They were looking at her and licking their lips. She knew what they had in mind. And there wasn’t a hope in hell of them ever getting it.

  She had two options, she could run or she could stand her ground and make all of them rue the day that they were born. ‘Course she never ran away from any situation, and she was usually the one that did the chasing.

  “Hey, Arnold, let’s say we have some fun with the young filly,” one grizzly looking man said, teetering from side to side. It was way too early in the morning for her to be dealing with this. Yep, she’d throttle Devlin when she could find him.