Shadow Walker

by Connie Mason

  Firm, warm lips moved restlessly over her body, his mouth and tongue creating havoc wherever they touched. Her breath came in harsh, panting gasps. She could think of nothing but Cole and the wonderfully arousing things he was doing to her.

  “You’re hot and wet for me, sweetheart,” Cole whispered against her lips as his hands tested her hot center. He found a place she hadn’t known existed, a place where a single touch produced exquisite pleasure. She shuddered and cried out. “You’re ready for me, love.”

  “I didn’t know it could be like this,” Dawn whimpered between gasps.

  “It gets better.” Cole slipped a second finger inside her, and she moaned so loud he went still.

  “Did I hurt you? You’re awfully tight.” A vague warning nagged at him, but he shook it off.

  Dawn shook her head. “It’s not pain I feel but something … something that defies words.” She wet her lips, wondering if she should tell him she was still a virgin. She was ignorant when it came to sexual matters. Would he know? Or even care? Her thoughts became distracted. She couldn’t think while Cole’s hands and kisses fueled the fires of passion inside her.

  His stroking grew more frenzied. Dawn jerked and panted. His palms and fingers brushed her between her legs again and again, his fingers piercing her, his hands wet with her sweet essence as he brought her to the pinnacle of some great discovery.

  A brilliant explosion wracked Dawn. Her body arched off the bed. Moans fell from her lips.

  Intensely caught up in the very first climax of her life, Dawn was barely aware when Cole removed his trousers, parted her legs with his knee and rose above her, his face stark with need. She clenched her teeth when she felt his sex probe between her legs, demanding entrance into her tight sheath. He cupped her buttocks, raising her high off the bed as he thrust inside her. Dawn bit her lip to keep from crying out as his fullness stretched her. She feared he would break her in two.

  Cole encountered resistance and frowned. Something was wrong. It was almost as if Dawn was a … but no, that couldn’t be. Dawn had been a wife for five years. He pushed harder, shoving himself deeper inside her. She stared up at him, her blue eyes stark with shock and pain.

  Cole went still. But Dawn wouldn’t permit him to stop now, before she found the answer to all her questions. The pain didn’t matter. Cole had given her a taste of heaven and she wanted more. Wanted it badly enough to endure the brief pain of his entry into virgin territory. Grasping his buttocks, she urged him to continue, refusing to let him withdraw.

  Cole appeared confused. “Dawn, I don’t understand.” But the heat of her exploring hands and the walls of her tight sheath squeezing him produced feelings too overwhelming to question. Nothing but sudden death would prevent him from forging ahead, thrusting himself inside her sweet warmth and bringing them both to a pleasurable conclusion.

  Flexing his hips, Cole thrust forward. His body was hugely aroused; a fine sheen of perspiration beaded his forehead. He reached the barrier of her maidenhead and went still, staring down at her, his eyes hard, stark, determined. Her face contorted with pain, Dawn stared back, offering no excuses, no explanations.

  “Sweet Lord! You’re a virgin! It’s too late to stop now, love.” His words were strained, as if speaking was an effort.

  Then he plunged into her, breaking through her maidenhead, stretching her with his thickness and filling her with a single powerful thrust. Dawn whimpered, gripping his shoulders as pain exploded through her. Cole soothed her with tender words until she quieted. Then slowly, carefully, he began to stroke inside her. Dawn felt herself stretching to accommodate him, the pain lessening with each successive stroke. Soon her body became accustomed to his size and hardness and she moved her hips experimentally. It was all the invitation Cole needed.

  He thrust once, then again, one after another, until Dawn found herself meeting him stroke for stroke, pushing her hips upward against him as he rode her hard and deep. Release came abruptly, plunging Dawn into a chasm of blinding pleasure. It was more intense, more shattering than what she had experienced a few moments ago when he used his hands to send her over the edge. Cole drove in and out relentlessly, one pounding thrust after another as wave after wave of rapture engulfed her. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected mating with a man to be like this. Then she felt him go rigid, heard him cry out, felt his seed splashing hotly inside her, and still he continued.

  Finally his frantic thrusting movements ceased and he collapsed against her, his arms holding her as if he’d never let her go. Several sweet moments passed before he moved off her and onto his back. Once his heart slowed, he rolled onto his side and propped himself up on one elbow. His eyes narrowed as he stared intently at her.

  “You owe me an explanation.”

  Dawn pretended to misunderstand. “I … don’t know what you mean?”

  “I think you do.” He rose abruptly, lit a lamp and brought it close to the bed. Then he spread her legs, staring at the smear of blood staining her thighs, then at his own sex, still wet with her virgin’s blood. “You were a virgin, lady. You’re not a wife. You’ve never been a wife. Why in the hell didn’t you tell me?”

  Dawn cringed beneath Cole’s accusations. “I didn’t think it mattered. You said you’d show me pleasure and you did. Forget the virgin part.”

  “I wish to hell I could.” He set the lamp on the bedside table and settled back down beside her. “I’m waiting.”

  Dawn sighed, reluctant to bare her shame to Cole but unable to prevent it. Billy had accused her of being inadequate, but Cole had just proven him wrong. She had responded explosively to Cole, received pleasure and given pleasure. At least she thought Cole had enjoyed what they’d done together.

  “Billy was never a husband to me,” Dawn blurted out. “He blamed me for his inability to perform. He said I wasn’t woman enough to please him. But the blame lay wholly with him. Once, when Billy was roaring drunk, he told me he had been wounded during a bank robbery. It happened a long time ago. He was wounded in a place that made it impossible for him to …”

  Cole was stunned. “I get the picture. Cobb couldn’t function sexually.”

  Dawn flushed and looked away. “There were certain things whores did to him, but I refused to do them.”

  “So Cobb beat you when he couldn’t bed you properly,” Cole assumed.

  “He took his anger and frustration out on me. He beat me when he wanted sex and couldn’t perform. He beat me if I so much as looked at one of his men. He lied about what we did in bed to make it appear as if he bedded me regularly. The only reason he didn’t share me with his men was because he feared they would learn I was a virgin. He didn’t want his reputation as a virile lover ruined.”

  “Why in the hell did he marry you if he couldn’t use you like he wanted?”

  “I was so very young,” Dawn said slowly. Memories of the naive girl she’d been made her eyes grow misty. “Billy hoped my youth would invigorate him, but it didn’t. His men didn’t suspect he was half a man. He kept me around as proof of his virility. He lied about what he did to me in bed, but I was grateful he refused to share me with his men.”

  The more Cole heard, the more he wished he could resurrect Billy Cobb and give him the beating of his life. He wanted to crush Cobb like an insect, pull him limb from limb, inflict excruciating pain.

  “Why didn’t you leave during one of Cobb’s absences? You could have gone to the law.”

  Dawn gave a snort of mocking laughter. “I was fifteen. Billy terrified me. I was afraid of what he’d do to me if I left and he caught me. Besides, I had nowhere to go. I feared the law would jail me simply because I was Billy’s wife. If I ran to my father, he would return me to Billy or sell me to someone just as brutal. As I grew older and wiser I realized I had to escape or risk death beneath Billy’s fists. I tried to run away a few times. I didn’t get far. Billy always found me and beat me so viciously I couldn’t move for days.”

  Cole couldn’t bear to hear an
other word about Dawn’s suffering under Cobb’s harsh treatment. When she started to sob softly, he pulled her into his arms, cradling her against him.

  “Don’t cry, love. Forget Cobb. He’ll never hurt you again. He’s planted in Boot Hill, exactly where he belongs.”

  “But there are others like him,” Dawn hiccupped. She was thinking of her future. Once Cole left, she’d be stalked by scum every bit as evil as Billy. Sam and Spider were still out there somewhere. Where could she go to escape them?

  “They won’t get their hands on you,” Cole promised. He’d already decided he couldn’t leave Dawn alone and unprotected. He hadn’t worked out the particulars, but an idea was forming in his brain; an idea that would place Dawn far from harm’s way. All he had to do was to get her to agree. And even if she didn’t agree, he’d do whatever was necessary to insure her safety.

  Dawn wanted to believe Cole, but she knew how men operated, and there were more Billy Cobbs in this world than Cole Websters. Besides, what could Cole do to protect her once he moved on to another job? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

  “Trust me,” Cole said, observing Dawn’s skepticism.

  “Trusting doesn’t come easily when I’ve experienced the vile things men are capable of.”

  She rolled away from Cole and felt a twinge of discomfort between her thighs. The tiniest of groans escaped her lips. Cole heard and suffered a pang of guilt.

  “Are you sore? You should have told me you’d never been with a man before. I could have been gentler.”

  “Technically, that’s not true,” Dawn said, recalling Billy’s hands on her and the things he’d done attempting to stir his manhood to life. She’d hated every second of it.

  “It’s true as far as I’m concerned,” Cole said, rising abruptly. “Lie still. I’ll see what I can do to make you more comfortable.”

  Cole poured water from the pitcher into a bowl, found a soft cloth in the cupboard and returned to the bed. “Spread your legs, love.”

  Dawn hesitated too long for Cole’s liking. He knelt between her thighs and held them open with his knees while he brought the wet cloth against her center. He cleansed her with gentle thoroughness. Then he washed himself, aware of her eyes upon him and the redness staining her cheeks. When he’d finished he set the bowl aside and smiled at her.

  “Better now?”

  Dawn nodded, shifting her gaze away from that part of him that had suddenly and quite visibly grown larger. Not only was she comfortable, but his touch had created a wanting inside her. Now that she knew the kind of pleasure Cole was capable of giving her, she couldn’t help wanting it one more time before he left her forever.

  Cole slid into bed and gathered Dawn against him. His hands went to her breasts, covering them possessively, then pushing them up to accept his kisses. Dawn felt her nipples swelling as Cole tugged them between his teeth and sucked them, first one then the other into his mouth. She moaned. She felt as if her body no longer belonged to her. Cole had awakened her to passion and she was eager to experience that wondrous feeling again. She held his head against her forcibly as he suckled her, listening to his hoarse groans, answering them with small breathy sighs.

  Abruptly Cole released her, reluctantly putting distance between them. “I’m sorry, love, I shouldn’t be doing this. You’re sore. This is your first time. It’s just that … dammit, I want you again.”

  Dawn moaned with disappointment as she felt the warmth of Cole’s body leave her. She reached for him. “No! Don’t leave me. I want you, too. I’ve been denied this kind of tenderness all my life.”

  Cole gave her a smile that warmed her soul. Then his hungry mouth covered hers. He kissed her endlessly. His hands roamed over her, stroking her throat, her breasts, her belly. He caressed her hips, the pointed tips of her breasts, her swollen, aching sex.

  Dawn could feel the explosive power building within him. The ripe tip of his thick sex rubbed against her, making her aware of his need. She touched him. Tentatively at first, but when Cole closed her hand around him she couldn’t resist stroking the velvet hardness pulsing against her palm.

  “Oh, God.” His big body shuddered and he closed his eyes, ecstasy racing through him as he allowed her to stroke him, pitching his hips upward as he thrust himself against her palm. He allowed her to continue several agonizing minutes before shoving her hand away. He was breathing hard, gnashing his teeth against the urgent need to possess her.

  “No more! I need to come inside you now!”

  Rearing up on his knees, he spread her legs wide. Thrusting forward and upward, he pushed his bulk inside her. Abruptly Dawn lost the ability to reason, responding spontaneously to her body’s needs as Cole thrust and withdrew, bringing her effortlessly to the brink of madness. The exquisite torment went on and on—until with a hoarse cry she found that final, climactic fulfillment. Waves of emotion rippled through her as she dimly heard Cole cry out her name.

  Moments later Cole rolled to his side, bringing Dawn against him. His chest heaved as he fought for breath. Not since his beloved Morning Mist had he felt like this with a woman.

  Dawn snuggled against Cole. Words were unnecessary; her body spoke volumes about the wonderful things Cole had made her feel. She had saved up enough memories to last a lifetime. Tomorrow Cole would go on his way and her dreary existence would continue as if he had never entered her life. She would have no money, no way to support herself, but she’d get by. She was tough. She’d survived Billy’s cruelty all these years, hadn’t she? She closed her eyes and let sleep claim her.

  Cole felt Dawn relax against him, heard the even cadence of her breathing and realized she had fallen asleep. It was just as well, he thought. He didn’t know how she would react to the plan he had devised for her and would just as soon wait until tomorrow to broach the subject. It would create a tremendous upheaval in her life but it was something he had to do. Unless he assumed responsibility for her, her future didn’t bear thinking about.

  What kind of life could Dawn expect after he left? Every man in the territory would want to make her his whore, and he couldn’t allow that. His plans for her future were far better and much safer than anything she could arrange for herself. He slipped into slumber content to have settled Dawn’s future so handily, at least in his own mind.

  “Is anybody home?”

  A loud pounding on the door woke Cole from a sound sleep. He sat up groggily, aware of the warm, fragrant woman curled beside him, and of bright sunshine streaming through the cabin.

  “Cole! Answer me. Are you in there?”

  The doorlatch rattled, and seconds later the door swung open. With sunlight streaming behind him, only the outline of the man’s body could be clearly seen. He was big, rugged, and wore guns on his hips. He paused a moment in the doorway, hands poised above his guns as he studied the situation. He spied Cole in the bed and relaxed.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. Never thought I’d find you in bed this late in the morning. You sick or something?” As yet he hadn’t seen Dawn lying quietly beside Cole.

  “Morning, Sandy. Wondered when you’d show up,” Cole said, dashing gritty sleep from his eyes. He started to throw aside the blanket, realized that Dawn was awake and staring at the door in horror, and pulled it back into place.

  Sandy strode into the cabin and approached the bed. The huge smile died on his face when he saw the small female figure trying her darndest to hide beneath Cole’s body. Embarrassed, he flushed and looked away.

  “Uh, sorry, Cole, didn’t know you had company. I’ll just wait outside for you. Sorry, ma’am,” Sandy said, tipping his hat in Dawn’s direction. He turned abruptly and hurried out the door.

  Holding the blanket to her naked breasts, Dawn sat up slowly. “Who was that?”

  Cole stretched and grinned. “That long drink of water is my partner, Sandy Johnson. I’ve been waiting for him to show up. He’s been out tracking Cobb’s gang. He must have followed them to Dodge. He probably checked in with the sheriff and learn
ed I was out here. I’ll get dressed and go talk to him. Call us when breakfast is ready.”

  “You want me to cook breakfast for him?” Dawn squeaked in horror. “After the way he found us together?”

  “Sandy is a grown man, love. I’m sure nothing he’s seen surprises him. You’ll like him, I promise.”

  Cole dressed quickly and went outside. Dawn dressed more slowly, wondering how she would ever face Cole’s partner. Calm finally returned when she realized she’d probably never see Sandy Johnson or Cole Webster after today.

  “The sheriff gave me directions to the cabin,” Sandy said when Cole joined him outside. “He didn’t say you had a woman with you.”

  “Dawn is Cobb’s wife.”

  “Didn’t know the bastard had a wife. Sheriff Tayler said Cobb was planted in Boot Hill, and that Duke Riley is in jail waiting for his hanging. I followed Riley, Pickens and Lewis to Dodge. Have you seen anything of Pickens or Lewis?”

  “I didn’t want to kill Cobb but he gave me no choice. Pickens was here. He caught me off guard. Plugged me in the shoulder. I’m pretty sure I wounded him. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of Lewis, but I’ll bet anything he’s not far away.”

  “They want the loot from the train robbery. Have you recovered it yet?”

  “Found it yesterday.” Cole didn’t explain why it had taken him so long to find the stolen money, and Sandy didn’t ask.

  “What about the woman? Is she mixed up in all this?”

  “Leave Dawn out of it,” Cole growled dangerously. “She’s innocent. She was brutalized by Cobb during all the years of their marriage. She had no part in those robberies.”

  Sandy sent Cole an assessing look. “Don’t get your dander up. I’m not accusing her of anything. Our job is to recover the money, and we’ve done that. It’s the sheriff’s job now to bring the gang to justice.”

  Dawn stuck her head out the door and announced breakfast. Sandy took a good look at her and whistled softly. “A damn good-looking woman, Cole. Half-breed, if I’m not mistaken.” He shook his head in bewilderment. “You surprise me. It’s not like you to get involved with a woman while on an assignment. If she’s Cobb’s woman, he probably shared her with his men. You’re usually more discerning about who you bed.”