Rugged Texas Cowboy
Page 23
She was flying, soaring in a world of dark pleasure unlike anything she had ever known, feeling her body as though it were an alien creature, erupting again, then again, as her orgasm ripped through her soul and—rather than tearing her asunder—made her whole.
For the first time in her life, she was whole.
She didn’t know how long she lay there, her body convulsing in the aftershocks of the pleasure, but she knew Jack was with her. His arms enfolded her, holding her tight, his face buried at her neck as his body shuddered atop hers.
Then his head turned, his lips ghosting over her ear.
“Angel-mine,” he whispered. “I love you.”
A smile tugged at her lips as she drifted sleepily within the waves of pleasure that still surged through her.
“I love you, Jack,” she whispered in turn then. “Now remove these chains before I’m forced to kill you.”
She tugged tiredly at the restraints. There wasn’t a chance in hell she could sleep like this, and she wanted nothing more than to sleep.
A rough chuckle sounded, but he moved, hurriedly releasing her wrists and ankles before dragging his nude body back up the bed.
“Let me catch my breath and we’ll try that again.” He yawned as Angel brushed the nipple clips that had fallen beside them on the bed out of her way.
“Sure.” She snuggled against him. “In the morning.”
He sighed deeply.
“We’re going home in the morning,” he said, his arms tightening around her. “To my ranch. Then later, I think we might like to live in Ireland for a while. Later.”
“Home.” Her eyes closed, a smile tilting her lips.
Yes, she was going to go home.
EPILOGUE
Joseph Manning hung up the phone and stared at the portrait that hung over the fireplace of the family room his wife had so loved.
“I did it, my love,” he whispered, smiling at the laughing violet eyes that showed the wit and charm that had been so much a part of her. “Just as you said I would. I found our daughter her American warrior.”
At first, no one could have ever imagined Jack Riley was a warrior. A charmer. A playboy. Not a warrior. But the weeks he had spent at the estate had given Joseph another insight into the young man. A loner because he believed what he sought didn’t exist. A man who feared love was an illusion.
And, ahhh, the sparks that had flown whenever his Angel was in the cowboy’s company. She had lit up like a grand light, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks flushing as she fought against the attraction that was so very apparent.
In those weeks Jack had stayed with them, he had watched them seek each other’s company, only to bicker like children fighting for supremacy.
He had known Jack for many years, but he had never seen him react so to a woman. And he knew his daughter better than she imagined. She had fallen in love so easily, yet had fought it so hard.
“Well, love, I was looking forward to returning to your loving arms,” he sighed, though without regret. “But I think when we meet again you would like to know of the grandchildren that will soon be coming. Perhaps a fine granddaughter looking like yourself that the torque will bless as well.”
He lifted the glass of wine that sat at his elbow and toasted the portrait.
“I miss ya, love,” he whispered, his chest aching with the loss. “But I was blessed in you.”
He sipped at the wine.
It had been many years since he had visited America. Perhaps it was time to return. To see the fine ranch Jack spoke of and to share in the happiness he could hear in his daughter’s voice.
“Just a short visit, love,” he whispered, glancing at the portrait once again. “Shall we go?”
She was gone these many years, but he knew she traveled with him, no matter where he went. She was his heart.
Just as Angel was now Jack’s heart. As Jack was Angel’s.
A generation for the torque to bless.
Coming soon …
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Cowboy and the Captive
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Cowboy and the Thief
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Epilogue
Also by Lora Leigh
Praise
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Originally published separately as Cowboy and the Captive and Cowboy and the Thief.
RUGGED TEXAS COWBOY
Copyright © 2017 by Lora Leigh.
All rights reserved.
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St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / December 2017
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