“Jake … I need …”
“What do you need, Kid?” he grated.
“I don’t know!” she cried.
But Jake knew. Slow, hot, hungry, his body thrust into hers. His hands caressed the woman, shaking and wild beneath him. He thrust his tongue in rhythm with the joining of their two bodies.
Jake felt her body clenching around him, felt the tension building in her until it exploded in a series of volcanic shudders, wringing cries of pleasure from her throat.
Jake’s body thrust powerfully within her until at last he spilled his seed, claiming her for his own.
Jake heard Anabeth’s shuddering sigh as her clenched muscles relaxed, totally exhausted by the violent coupling.
He slipped to her side and pulled her close, wanting to feel her warmth. He kissed the heavy fringe of dark lashes feathered on her cheeks, causing her to make a soft, murmurous sound of pleasure.
His throat was thick with feeling, and he had to clear it to speak. “I …” Jake was reluctant to speak the words of love that described his feelings. But he would not deny himself the pleasure of touching her, of holding her, of joining himself to her—for however long they were together.
Anabeth’s hand slid across Jake’s sweat-slick body to his hip. “That was …” She sighed. “I can’t describe it. Beautiful. Amazing. Incredible. Unbelievable.”
“You liked it, huh?”
Anabeth’s breath puffed across Jake as she released a throaty chuckle.
The pad of Jake’s thumb slid across her kiss-swollen lower lip. “A man doesn’t want to talk at a time like this,” he said in a husky voice.
“What does he want to do?” Anabeth asked in an equally husky voice.
“He wants to …” But sleep wasn’t at all what Jake wanted to do right now.
His lips sought hers. A gentle taste, a softly passionate claiming.
Anabeth whimpered softly. “Jake.”
His name sounded like a prayer. He took a shuddering breath. “You’ll be sore,” he said bluntly. “We have to stop this right now.”
“I don’t hurt, Jake. But I ache. Here.” She took his hand and laid it low on her belly.
Jake groaned and slid a finger into her. She was wet and ready. He felt every beat of his heart pumping blood to his extremities, making him pulse with need.
Anabeth reached out to touch Jake tentatively, innocently. He jerked as her trembling fingertips caressed him.
“So soft,” she said in a breathless voice. “And so hard.”
Jake’s throat released a low, very masculine laugh. “You’re crazy, Kid.”
She grinned impishly up at him. “Crazy for you,” she teased.
He saw the wary look in her eyes, as though she had said too much. He dragged her into his arms and held her tight.
“We’re both crazy,” he said. “But somehow I don’t want to be sane right now.”
His mouth found hers again. He felt her body tremble with need, felt his own body’s shuddering response.
This time he joined them quickly. His body thrust into hers hard and fast and deep. His mouth claimed an already swollen nipple and he bit and soothed the hurt, suckled hard and strong with all the need he felt to swallow her whole, to make her a part of himself so she could never go away and leave him alone.
He made a raw sound as his body climaxed within her. He was aware suddenly that her legs surrounded his hips, that her heels dug into his buttocks, forcing him more tightly against her, keeping his pumping body buried inside her as she arched upward.
He caught her hoarse cry of pleasure with his mouth as his body emptied itself deep within her.
Neither of them had the energy to move, but Jake knew the cool night air would chill them unless they sought shelter. He picked her up and carried her the length of the valley.
When they arrived at the stone house he joined her in the big brass bed that had been hers alone.
With his woman in his arms, with no thoughts of Claire or gold or dangerous outlaws, Jake fell deeply, soundly asleep.
17
Jake woke the next morning with a frown etching his brow. He had a vague feeling of unease, but he couldn’t identify its source. He rolled over and realized he lay sprawled across Anabeth Calhoun’s bed. He remembered that he had made love to her twice by the pond and once in this bed in the middle of the night. Now he was alone.
“Kid?”
She didn’t answer. He swore under his breath when he realized he had left his clothing by the pond. He sought out his saddlebags for more long johns, some jeans, and a wool shirt. He had also left his boots at the pond, so he pulled a pair of moccasins from his saddlebags as well.
The instant he stepped outside the door he spotted Dog.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on her.”
Dog howled. It was an awful sound, full of pain and aching with loneliness.
Jake felt the hairs stand up on his arms. “What’s wrong, boy?” Jake searched the horizon for the danger he could feel all around them. “Where’s the Kid? What’s happened to her?”
Then he saw the sheen of blood on the dark fur. At the same moment, Dog swayed and collapsed.
Jake was beside the animal in an instant. He smoothed his hands over Dog’s fur and found several knife wounds in his side. It was the first time he had ever touched the animal.
Dog whined and licked his hand.
Jake felt a well of tears in his eyes. “Dammit, no! You can’t die, you mangy animal!”
He wasn’t sure Dog would even let him help without turning vicious. But he had to try. He picked up the animal, but instead of biting him Dog lay quiet in his arms. Jake carried Dog into the house and laid him gently on the floor. He grabbed one of his shirts from his saddlebag and tore it into strips.
“No time for stitches now, but this ought to keep the wounds closed and stop the bleeding. You’ll have to wait for the rest, boy, until I find the Kid.”
Jake performed his makeshift surgery as quickly as he could, knowing that he had to leave Dog and go find Anabeth. He felt a killing rage by the time he left the stone house wearing his gunbelt.
Jake searched the length of the valley with narrowed eyes. The outlaw gang was here somewhere. He had known he and the Kid were living on borrowed time. That time had run out.
Jake knew the only reason Dog would have approached any human close enough to get stabbed was if he had been protecting Anabeth. Which meant that she was in deadly peril. He followed the trail of blood Dog had left, keeping to the shadows of the cliffs.
Jake moved slowly, sniffing the wind, listening for the echo of the slightest sound that didn’t belong to the valley. He reached the other end of the valley without finding the Kid, knowing somehow deep in his gut that she wasn’t there.
He found the spot where she had been stolen. There was blood on the ground and signs of a violent struggle. But was it all Dog’s blood? Had the Kid been hurt? Jake felt his insides clench. Cold gray eyes searched the rim of the valley. He knew Rankin was up there somewhere, waiting for him.
Jake followed a narrow deer trail he soon realized led up out of the valley. He had nearly reached the top of the cliff when a voice he recognized called out to him across the valley.
“I’ve got the girl, Kearney. I’m willing to trade her for the gold. She won’t tell me where it is. But I figure if you want to see her alive again, you will.”
“You lay a hand on her, Rankin—”
“Don’t waste your breath with threats. The gold for the girl, Kearney. That’s the only deal I’m going to make.”
“Jaaaake!”
Anabeth’s cry of pain made Jake roar with rage. “Rankin! Leave her be! You’ll get the gold! Just tell me where you want me to take it!”
“You bring it out of that valley, hear? You bring it right to me!”
“Where? Damn you, where?” Jake shouted.
Rankin stood on the rim of the valley, too far for Jake’s handg
un to do any good. “Over here, Jake.”
“I want to see her, Rankin. Before I do anything, show me she’s all right.”
Rankin turned to look over his shoulder and a moment later Solano appeared with Anabeth. Her hands were tied, but otherwise she looked fine. Jake saw the bloody rag tied around Solano’s arm and realized Dog had gotten in a few licks of his own.
Rankin grabbed Anabeth by the hair and said, “Here she is, Kearney. You have a piece of this yet?” He ran an insulting hand down across her breasts all the way to her belly. “Better-lookin’ than your average whore, eh, Kearney?”
Jake gritted his teeth, refusing to be baited into responding. Rankin wasn’t going to hurt the Kid—yet. Jake would make sure the outlaw paid for every bruise on Anabeth Calhoun’s body.
“I see her, Rankin. You just make sure you’re waiting for me when I get there with the gold.”
“I’ll be here,” Rankin said, “till sundown. Then I think maybe I’ll have to get some sleep. I bet the girl can warm up a man’s blankets pretty good. What do you think, Kearney?”
Wat Rankin waited for the big man to answer, but he was met with silence. He slipped back off the rim out of sight. No telling how quickly Kearney could get to a rifle. Wat turned to Solano and said, “Take her back down by the horses and tie her up. Be watching for a double-cross. I don’t trust Kearney.”
“Jake will kill you,” Anabeth hissed.
Rankin laughed. “Better men have tried, Kid.”
Anabeth jerked her head away as he chucked her under the chin. “Don’t touch me! You vermin! You vulture! You back-shooter!”
Rankin froze and turned to stare at Anabeth. “What’s that you say?”
“I saw you shoot my uncle in the back, you yellow-bellied coward!”
“Bring her here, Solano,” Rankin said.
“But, señor, I should take her down below and—”
“Bring her here,” Rankin repeated in a menacing voice.
The Mexican put a hand on the woman’s elbow and escorted her over to Rankin. “I will wait below, señor.”
Anabeth glared at the long-haired outlaw. “You’re going to pay for what you did to my uncle.”
Wat grinned. “Looks like you’re the one who’s gonna pay, Kid. With all that gold.” He laughed and grabbed her chin with a dirty hand. “Maybe you’d like to share it with me,” he said suggestively.
“I’d rather die!”
He sneered. “That can be arranged, too.” His hand slid down to her throat. “After I’m finished with you.”
“You’re finished right now!” Jake said.
Rankin whirled with his arm around Anabeth’s throat, planning to use her as a shield. Her hands were tied in front of her, but her feet were unbound. Anabeth found Rankin’s kneecap with her heel and kicked him as hard as she could.
Rankin cried out in pain. He slung Anabeth away as he lost his balance and fell, keeping his face averted so Jake couldn’t later identify him as Will Reardon. Anabeth went careening toward the edge of the plateau at the top of the cliff.
Jake got off a shot, but Rankin quickly disappeared over the opposite side of the slope where he and Solano had left their horses. Without a clear target, Jake held his fire. He heard the clatter of hooves as the outlaws made good their escape.
“Jaaake!”
A look back at Anabeth had Jake’s heart in his throat. She was teetering on the edge of the cliff, hanging on by her fingernails. He quickly holstered his gun and ran to help.
“Hold on, Kid!” he shouted. “I’m coming!”
“Hurry! I’m falling!”
Jake grabbed for Anabeth’s tied hands just as she let go. Her feet dangled over fifty feet of nothing.
“Hang on, Kid. I’ve got you!”
Anabeth didn’t have breath to answer. She simply pedaled her legs trying to find some toehold that would help her get back up on the rim.
Anabeth had underestimated Jake’s immense strength. His shoulders bulged as he leaned back, dug in his heels, and slowly but surely pulled her up.
And right into his arms.
Anabeth felt his heart pounding in his chest, felt his body trembling.
“You’re safe now,” he murmured. “That was too close, Kid. Too damn close!”
At first Jake kissed her on the forehead, then on the temple. He kissed her eyes closed and finally made a low, shuddering sound when he found her mouth with his.
He tore his mouth away to demand, “Where the hell were you that you got yourself caught?”
Anabeth shoved herself upright with still-shaking hands. “I was out walking.”
“Walking?”
“Along the rim. I was on my way back down into the valley when Rankin caught me.”
“What were you doing up here by yourself?”
“Thinking.”
He didn’t ask about what. After what had happened between them last night he wouldn’t have minded some time alone to think himself. “You know we have to leave here now. Rankin will be back. Next time he’s liable to bring reinforcements.”
“Dog—”
“He’s back at the house,” Jake said. “I did what I could for him but … I don’t know if he’s going to make it, Kid.”
Anabeth clutched at Jake. Her eyes filled and her throat swelled closed. “Jake …”
“I know, Kid.”
Anabeth hid her face in Jake’s shoulder. “Dog was trying to save me from the Mexican when he was stabbed,” she murmured.
“I thought something like that must have happened.”
She lifted her head and looked into Jake’s somber gray eyes. “If I hadn’t tried to tame him, he might not have been hurt,” she choked out.
“All you did was love Dog. And he loved you back. I’d say it was a pretty good trade.” Jake realized how natural it seemed for the beast to trust the girl. He wondered when he had begun to feel the same way. Because he did trust Anabeth. Enough to give her his heart. Enough to take the risk of loving her himself.
He felt vulnerable. Too much so to admit to the girl how he felt. He wanted to savor the knowledge for a while before he shared it with her. But the thought was there. He just wasn’t sure what he wanted to do about it.
Anabeth laid her head back on Jake’s shoulder and said, “Why did you tell Rankin you had the gold? Have you found it?”
Jake shook his head. “I was stalling for time so I could save your troublesome hide.” He rubbed his hand down her back and felt her shiver. He tried to think of a good reason not to kiss her again. And couldn’t.
He slid his fingers into her hair and angled her head back so he could claim her mouth.
Jake’s lips were gentle at first. Anabeth slipped her tongue out to taste the seam of his lips. When he gasped, she thrust it inside his mouth.
Jake groaned softly as he felt her tongue come seeking the soft underside of his upper lip, the serrated edge of his teeth, the taste of him. She slipped her bound hands over his head and threaded her fingers into the hair at his nape.
“Jake,” she whispered. “I thought I’d be killed. I thought I’d never see you again.”
He tightened his arms around her. “I couldn’t bear to lose you, Kid.”
Both seemed to realize suddenly what they had said. And what it might mean. A lawman and an outlaw admitting that they cared about each other. It was a situation full of pitfalls. And one neither was ready yet to acknowledge or confront.
Jake reacted by sliding out from under her arms. “We’d better be on our way.” He pulled his knife and slit the rope that had held her wrists together. But he didn’t let her go without checking the burns left by the hemp, soothing the raw skin with his lips.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere else? I saw blood—”
“It was Dog’s.” Anabeth saw concern in Jake’s gray eyes, but nothing more. He was letting her know that what had happened last night belonged in the past. That he hadn’t forgotten who he was, or who she was.
“I’m fine,” she murmured.
“Then let’s get Dog and get out of here,” Jake said.
Anabeth suggested they rig a travois for Dog and lead the horses up the deer trail that led out of the valley.
“Is that the trail I was looking for and never found?”
Anabeth nodded.
Jake shook his head. Now that he knew where it was the trail seemed perfectly obvious. He wondered how much of his failure to find it was due to not wanting to leave Anabeth Calhoun behind.
“Let’s go, Kid.” Jake stood and grabbed Anabeth’s arm to pull her upright. When she cried out he immediately shifted his hold on her. “I thought you said you weren’t hurt anywhere else?”
Anabeth put a hand on her tender shoulder. “It’s just a bruise where Rankin grabbed me.”
Jake’s eyes looked dangerous as he scanned the horizon for the outlaw who had hurt Anabeth. His woman. He didn’t know where the thought had come from, and he was damned uncomfortable with it, but he didn’t deny it. Anabeth Calhoun belonged to him in the most elemental way a woman could belong to a man. He didn’t dare think ahead to what he was going to do about it.
When they arrived back at the stone house, Anabeth knelt beside Dog and spoke softly to him, calling his name. “You’re going to be all right, Dog. I’m going to take care of you and make sure you get well.”
Dog rewarded her with a soft whine and a thump of his tail.
Anabeth carefully unwrapped Jake’s makeshift bandages. “He needs to be stitched. Do you think he’d lie still while I do it?”
“I’ll hold him for you, if that’s what it takes.”
Anabeth raced to her bedroom and found her sewing basket. She was trembling so much she had to try twice before she could thread the needle. Then she hurried back into the other room and sat on the floor beside Dog.
Jake joined her there, kneeling at Dog’s head. He gently laid his hand on Dog’s neck. He was ready, if necessary, to use more pressure to hold the animal still. “Go ahead,” he said to Anabeth.
Anabeth saw the trust and encouragement in Jake’s eyes, but was still reluctant to start.
“If you can cut a bullet out of me, you can stitch Dog up just fine,” he said.
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