Shadow Walker

by Connie Mason

  Heaving a sigh, Cole followed Dawn more slowly. When he entered the cabin, she was busily fixing supper.

  “Are you going to leave now or wait until morning?” Dawn asked tonelessly.

  Cole had to think about that one. There were circumstances to consider, decisions to make. It wasn’t as simple as Dawn had made it sound. How could he just go off and leave her, knowing what was likely to happen after he was gone? If Dawn didn’t starve to death, she would become prey to human predators. All manner of riffraff would soon be sniffing around the cabin. The thought that Dawn might seek employment in a brothel set his teeth on edge. Dawn was no whore. She had simply done what she had to do in order to survive.

  “If it’s all right with you, I’ll stay the night. All that digging has done me in.”

  Dawn turned her concerned gaze on him. His complexion was ashen. She saw blood staining his shirt and knew his wound was bleeding again. Stubborn man.

  “You’re bleeding. Sit down, I’ll change your bandage and see how much damage you’ve done to yourself.”

  Cole obediently seated himself on one of the two rickety chairs while Dawn turned back to the stove and poured warm water from the kettle into a bowl. She brought the water to the table and found a clean cloth.

  “This might hurt,” she said as she peeled away a layer of bandage that had adhered to his wound. Once the wound was bared, Dawn sucked her breath in sharply. The edges were raw and red.

  “Is it infected?” Cole asked, wincing as she removed remaining remnants of the bandage.

  Dawn bit her bottom lip as she studied the wound. “You’ve certainly aggravated it, but I don’t think it’s infected. All that digging—”

  “You could have prevented it with a simple word.”

  She met his gaze unflinchingly. “Yes, I could have. Hold still while I apply a clean bandage.”

  She worked in silence. She could tell that Cole was exhausted so she didn’t attempt conversation. Not that he would be very interested in what she had to say now that he had what he wanted. Common sense told her that his kindness and his caring had been but a ploy to recover the money. Men were all alike. Not one of their intentions was pure. Everything they did had ulterior motives.

  “There,” she said, stepping back and surveying her handiwork with a critical eye. “Don’t move. Supper will be done soon.”

  “Thank you.” Cole wanted to say more but had no right. He wanted to tell her he’d protect her, but that wasn’t true. He wanted to say she’d be all right after he left, but lying wasn’t his way. He wanted … Oh, God, when he thought about what he really wanted from Dawn, he grew hot and cold at the same time.

  Supper was consumed, and Cole rose to help Dawn carry the dishes to the sink. It had grown dark, and a kerosene lamp chased shadows from all but the darkest corners of the room.

  “Don’t bother,” Dawn said curtly. “You’re tired. Go to bed. I’ll take the bedroll tonight.”

  “Dawn,” Cole said, turning her around to face him. “That’s not what I want and you know it. I want you to come to bed with me. I want to make love to you.”

  His hands were hot upon her shoulders, igniting flames throughout her body. She gazed up at him. The sharp angles of his cheekbones were stark beneath his taut skin, making his features harsh in the flickering light, and his eyes glowed a pure emerald green. Dawn recognized his hunger and was frightened by it.

  “Are you afraid of me, Dawn? You shouldn’t be. I understand that you’ve known nothing but pain from men, but I want to change that. Come to bed with me. Let me show you that all men aren’t animals. Do you know what I want to do to you?”

  Dawn’s eyes grew round with dismay. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. All she could do was shake her head from side to side.

  “Let me tell you,” Cole said, bringing her between his thighs so she could feel the proof of his need. “There will be no pain, only pleasure.” His eyes fell to her chest. “You have beautiful breasts, did you know that? I saw you nude once.” She gasped loudly as he continued. “I followed you to the riverbank and watched you bathe. I want to caress you all over with my hands and lips. I want to taste every inch of you. I want to take your breasts into my mouth and suckle your nipples. I want to hear you moan and cry out my name with joy, not pain.

  “I want to bring you to climax with my mouth and hands. Do you know how wonderful that could feel? No, I can see by your expression that you don’t know what I’m talking about. But you will if you let me show you. But the best will be when I come inside you.” He closed his eyes, his hands tightening on her shoulders. “When I’m inside you I’ll bring you slowly to climax, and it will be sweeter than anything you’ve ever known.”

  “No! Stop!” Dawn said, clapping her hands over her ears. “You lie! You have what you want. Why are you tormenting me?”

  “Damned if I know,” Cole said, wishing he could taste her mouth. “Unless it’s because being near you torments me.”

  “I’m ugly and skinny and … and a half-breed.”

  Cole shook his head. “You’re beautiful.” He took a handful of her long hair, brought it to his mouth and let it slide through his fingers. “Your hair feels like silk. Black as midnight and sweet smelling.” He kissed her full on the lips. “Your lips are full and lush, I could go on kissing them forever.” He stared into her eyes. “Your eyes are so blue they rival the sky.” He touched her cheek, then let his hand slide down to cup her breasts. “Your skin is smooth and golden. It’s true you’re a tad thin, but your breasts are perfect. Wouldn’t you like to know how wonderful it would be to lie with someone who appreciates you?”

  Dawn shook her head to clear it of the wicked images Cole’s words built in her mind. They turned her insides to liquid fire. She felt her body grow soft and tried to deny the tingling centered between her legs. Pleasure with a man? Was there such a thing? She doubted it, even though her body wanted it. Obviously, Cole had been without a woman too long, and since she was handy …

  “I don’t believe a thing you’ve said,” Dawn replied as she pulled herself free of his arms. Being so close to him was too distracting. She couldn’t think clearly.

  “You should,” Cole said with profound regret.

  “I can’t,” Dawn protested as she turned back to the dirty dishes. “You’re leaving tomorrow. Even if all those things you said were true, I can’t do what you want. I’m not a whore. Billy didn’t …”

  “Billy didn’t what?”

  Dawn shrugged. What purpose was there in telling Cole she was technically still a virgin? “Never mind, it isn’t important.”

  “Did Cobb and his men hurt you?”

  Dawn sent him a sidelong glance. “Why do you care?”

  Her question caught him off guard. Why, indeed? He hadn’t known Dawn long enough to care. But, surprisingly, he did care about Dawn.

  “I’m not a heartless bastard. I had a job to do and I did it.”

  Dawn stared at him, her expression unreadable. “If you intend to leave tomorrow you should get some rest. You’re not as strong as you think. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”

  “You’re probably right,” Cole said, turning away. He was having difficulty convincing his body that he didn’t want Dawn. “I’ll take the bedroll tonight. This is your cabin and your bed, I have no right to take it from you. Good night, Dawn.”

  Dawn didn’t trust herself to speak. She was still flustered by what he’d said to her. Just thinking about those things filled the lower regions of her stomach with butterflies. While he was telling her what he wanted to do to her, she’d found herself longing to feel what he was describing just once in her life.

  Dawn kept her face carefully averted as Cole stripped and crawled into his bedroll. After putting away the last plate, she blew out the lamp, slipped into her nightgown and sought her bed. The night was exceptionally warm, and Dawn tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. She waited until Cole’s steady breathing indicated he was sleeping before rising. Wit
h little effort she located a sliver of soap and a towel and left the cabin.

  Cole heard a stealthy footfall and came awake instantly. He opened his eyes in time to see a billow of white ease through the door. Dawn. His gaze flew to the moneybag lying beside him. It was still there. Dawn had made no effort to steal it. Rising, he quickly donned his pants and boots and followed. It took only a moment for him to realize she was going to the river.

  Dawn paused on the riverbank, admiring the play of moonbeams upon the diamond-studded surface of the water. It was an almost magical sight. She lifted her face to the balmy breeze, welcoming the coolness against her skin. Her nightgown was plastered against her body, outlining every curve and indentation.

  Cole reached the river and halted, realizing that Dawn had come here simply to bathe. He tried to convince himself to leave. Then Dawn stripped off her nightgown and all his good intentions fled. She looked like a golden goddess, her head thrown back, her moon-kissed face lifted high. Moved by the vision, Cole sighed as she waded into the river.

  Dawn ducked her head beneath the placid water and used the soap to work up a lather. Her eyes were closed and she didn’t see Cole walk to the water’s edge and sit on the log that had until recently held Billy Cobb’s ill-gotten gains.

  She’s as graceful as a gazelle, Cole thought as Dawn arched her back and dipped her hair into the water to rinse it. Cole lost his breath when she lifted her hands and splashed handfuls of water over her breasts. Driven by fierce need, he stripped off his pants and boots and waded into the river.

  Dawn heard a noise behind her and spun around, flinging her long hair from her eyes with a sweep of her hand. She saw it was only Cole, and her first reaction was one of relief. Against her will, her gaze fell to his groin, and relief turned to shock. He was hard, heavy and fully aroused. She traced with her eyes the curling pelt of red hair that narrowed from the breadth of his chest to his taut belly, her gaze finally settling on his sex, where it rose thick and high against a nest of dark red.

  “May I join you?” Cole asked as he waded through the water to reach her. “A bath sounds wonderfully refreshing.”

  “I thought you were sleeping.”

  “I was, until I heard you leave the cabin. Would you like me to wash your back?”

  “Certainly not! The river is all yours. I’m finished.” She started toward the shore, careful to avoid him. Suddenly she slipped into a deep hole and went under. She came up sputtering.

  Cole reached for her, steadying her while at the same time bringing her up against him. “Are you all right?”

  “I will be as soon as you let go of me.” Suddenly her gaze fell on the bandage covering his wound. “I wouldn’t get that wet if I were you. Infection is always a danger to open wounds.”

  Cole’s reply was to sweep her into his arms and carry her to the shore.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Avoiding infection.”

  “Put me down.”

  Dawn’s skin burned where it touched Cole’s. She felt feverish and unsettled. She’d never felt desire before and didn’t know how to handle it.

  He gave her a wicked grin. “Very well.” His gaze was intent as he let her slide down his nude body, giving her the full benefit of his hardened sex.

  Then he kissed her, lifting her face and covering her lips with the heat of his mouth. He kissed her long and hard, licking the seam of her lips until Dawn opened her mouth to admit his tongue. The kiss seemed to go on forever as his tongue imitated the thrust and withdrawal of his hips grinding against her loins. She’d never known a kiss could be like this, could feel like heaven.

  When he ended the kiss, Dawn was trembling so badly her legs refused to move. She looked longingly at her nightgown lying a few feet away on the ground. Cole saw her dilemma, scooped up the garment and handed it to her.

  “I don’t think you’re as immune to me as you think, lady. Why are you trembling?”

  I’m trembling because you make me yearn for things I don’t understand. “I’m cold,” Dawn said in a muffled voice as she flung her nightgown over her head and settled it over her nude body.

  “You’re a liar,” Cole challenged. “You want me but you’re too cowardly to admit it.”

  Dawn stared at him in total confusion, then she turned and fled.

  Chapter Six

  Cole entered the cabin and saw Dawn standing beside the bed. She stood poised in a golden circle of lamplight, her expression frightened and uncertain. Cole’s heart nearly stopped beating when she approached him slowly, with a purpose and determination that took his breath away.

  Dawn was aware of what she was offering Cole. She had arrived at a rather startling decision during the few minutes it had taken to reach the cabin from the river. She wanted Cole to teach her about passion. She wanted to learn about loving from a man as different from Billy Cobb as night was from day. She had no idea what life held for her after Cole left and she wanted to give her virginity to a man of her own choosing. Someone who would take it gently instead of ripping it from her by force.

  Dawn had reached Cole’s side now. Shyly she tugged his hand and brought it to her breast. A ragged groan slipped past Cole’s lips. His sex jerked and swelled and grew instantly hard. He seemed to be walking around like that a lot lately.

  “What’s this all about, Dawn?”

  Dawn licked her dry lips. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined willingly giving herself to a man. “I … I want all those things you promised me, Cole. Once in my lifetime I want to feel pleasure.”

  Cole was astounded, and so aroused by her words, he had to forcibly stop himself from tossing her on the bed and thrusting himself into her hot center. Luckily, his good sense prevailed. Judging from Dawn’s words, he felt certain she had never experienced pleasure and he wanted to be the one to bring her to climax, slowly, with gentle coaxing and tender caresses. He prayed for the fortitude to withhold his own pleasure until she attained hers.

  “Are you sure, sweetheart? I won’t force you.”

  Dawn looked straight into the blinding depths of his green eyes and was never more certain of anything in her life. “Yes, very sure.”

  Cole’s breath whooshed out. “Let’s get rid of your nightgown,” he said as he pulled the garment from her body and tossed it aside. For several long minutes he merely stared at her.

  Dawn felt the heat of his gaze slide over her and wanted to hide herself from him. She knew she wasn’t shapely, and Cole was quiet for so long she feared he thought her ugly. Her hands flew to her breasts, and she looked longingly toward her nightgown. This was all a mistake. Whatever had made her think she could compete with the other women Cole had known?

  “No, don’t hide yourself from me,” Cole whispered as he pulled her hands away from her breasts. “I meant it when I said you are beautiful.”

  Dawn’s eyes never left his face. “Thank you for lying. You make me feel beautiful.”

  “I want to make you feel so much more,” Cole whispered earnestly as he swept her from her feet and followed her down onto the bed. He searched her face in the dim light, then touched her cheek with his fingertip. “Your face is nearly healed and you’re as lovely as I knew you’d be.”

  “I’m not really lovely.”

  “To me you are. Is your back still sore? I’ll try not to hurt you. If I do anything you don’t like, you’ve only to tell me and I’ll stop. I want you to feel only pleasure this night.”

  “My back is nearly healed,” Dawn said, more than a little bemused by his words. She found it difficult to believe that a man could actually care about the pleasure and needs of the woman he bedded. It was a concept that boggled her mind after her experience with Billy.

  “I’m going to kiss you, Dawn,” Cole said, smiling into her eyes. “Open your lips for me.”

  He took her into his arms and lowered his face to hers. Dawn parted her lips, dimly aware that his chin and cheeks were shadowed with rust-colored stubble. His beard looked soft, no
t bristly like Billy’s unshaven jaw, and she ran her finger tentatively down one side of his face. She shivered with awareness. Touching him was pure magic.

  Cole’s mouth covered hers. Little tongues of fire licked at her flesh as his kiss deepened. She felt his hands on her body, cupping her breasts, his fingers plucking her nipples, making them hard. She groaned in disappointment when his hands left her breasts, then gasped as they moved lower, dancing teasingly across her skin, pausing to explore her navel, sending fingers of raw flame across the sensitive flesh of her stomach.

  For the first time in her life Dawn wanted to please a man, but she didn’t know how. She wanted to make him feel the same wonderful things she was feeling. Almost shyly she used her own small hands to caress Cole’s flesh, ringing his flat male nipples, running her fingers through the soft red hair on his chest. His body differed from hers in so many ways. His stomach was ridged with rippling muscles, and her exploring fingers discovered bulging tendons on his smooth back.

  Dawn knew she must be doing something right, for Cole lifted his mouth from hers and groaned. There was a rough note in his voice as he bent to kiss her breasts. “Oh, God, love, your touch drives me wild.”

  A thousand glittering sparks ignited inside her as his mouth tugged gently at her nipple. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment as Cole coaxed indescribable sensations from her body. She arched against him as his burnished head moved from one peak to the other, lavishing them with the rough wetness of his tongue.

  “Do you like that?” Cole asked as Dawn writhed beneath him.

  Heat enveloped her from head to toe. “Oh, yes, it feels … wonderful.”

  “There’s more, love, much more.”

  As if to prove his words, his hand slid lower down, into the thatch of dark curls at the juncture of her thighs. She stiffened, but relaxed again when he kissed her, letting the heat of his mouth soothe her fears. She had barely recovered from his kiss when she felt his finger slide inside her, traveling on the slickness of her desire. He pierced her so deeply she began to tremble all over. His mouth sucking vigorously at her breasts and his fingers moving inside her drove her mad with wanting.