Her flesh radiated with heat where his roughened fingers had grazed the slope of her cheek, taming those strands back into place. “I’d love to go with you.”
“You know that if you do, everyone here at the ranch is going to the dance and they’ll know there’s something going on between us? Are you ready for that?” He studied her thoughtful-looking gray eyes. “And if you don’t want them to know, I’m fine with not showing up at the Armory with you. I want to make you happy, Kai. Not stress you out.”
Her heart turned with fierce emotions over his low, concerned voice. How could she ever think Gil didn’t care for her? He had been showing it to her in small ways nearly every day. Never touching her. Never doing anything except to let her know that he cherished her. And that was the feeling washing through her right now. She moved her hands slowly up and down his Levi’scovered thighs. “I considered that,” she admitted quietly. Raising her eyes, she met his. “I’m okay with it, Gil. Are you?” She saw that male smile of his that made her lower body go hot with longing.
“It will be our first official date. And I’m not worried what anyone else thinks. All I’m concerned about is what you think.”
Just the damp, nubby texture of the Levi’s beneath her fingertips made Kai ultrasensitized to Gil. She could feel the tension in him as she moved her hands. It was a nervous reaction, not meant to be teasing him, but he probably didn’t know that. “I don’t even own a dress,” she lamented.
“I don’t own a suit, either.”
She laughed, feeling suddenly free in a way she never had. “Well, then, it looks like I need to shop and so do you.”
“Mine will be easy. A suit is a suit.”
“I think I’ll get Cat to go with me. She’s got a good eye and she won’t lie to me and tell me something looks good on me when it doesn’t.” Kai was beginning to melt beneath his blue gaze. Gil didn’t hide how he felt about her—it was there to read. She languished between his legs, knowing it was an intimate gesture, but what she craved was this kind of easy flow between her and Gil. She hungered for it. And she was starved for him. Getting up her courage, she said, “Gil? I want to kiss you…nothing more…but kiss you.”
“You were reading my mind,” he growled, his smile disappearing. “Come here… I’ve been dreaming of kissing you, every night before I go to sleep…”
She flowed into Gil’s opening arms, feeling him draw her to him, against his hard body, the tension easing out of her as she tilted her head upward to meet his descending mouth. This time, there was no hesitancy between them. This time Gil took her mouth hungrily, and she was no less starved for him. Her body became like a willow relaxing against the hard oak of him. Kai was more than aware of the erection pressing against his Levi’s, her belly tingling with memory, with wanting him in every possible way. His scent flared into her nostrils as she allowed him to guide her against him, leaning fully into him, glorying in the taste of him.
It felt like the past had overlaid her present, his mouth against hers questing, asking, giving, taking. A moan rose in her throat as his tongue barely brushed each corner of her mouth. Heat scalded her lower body and she pressed herself wantonly against him, hearing a low, deep groan rumble through his chest as he crushed her mouth beneath his. Her breath went ragged, her fingers caressing his sweaty nape, tunneling up through his short, damp hair. A sense of love floated through Kai as she felt Gil ease off a bit, cherishing her lips, cherishing her, his hands supporting her head, angling her, teasing her more deeply. And when his tongue slid against hers, a faint cry lodged in her throat, and she became damp between her thighs.
As if he realized it was too much, Gil eased his mouth from her wet one, his breath shallow, his eyes narrowed and burning upon hers. Kai managed a trembly smile, sliding her hand up across his cheek, his stubble inciting tiny fires in her fingertips. Her heart ached to do so much more. It would be so easy to lie in the grass and have him take her. The ache in her entrance was turning into an almost painful throb, begging to be touched, begging for his skilled attention. Blinking slowly, dazed by the power of his kiss, she whispered, “Nothing has changed, has it?” She saw Gil give her a faint smile, his eyes glittering with hunger for her.
“Nothing’s changed, Dove,” he said gruffly, and cupped her cheek, drawing her forward, kissing her tenderly, not like before.
Every time Gil called her by this endearment, her heart flooded with overwhelming love for him. The word vibrated deep in his throat, like an invisible hand caressing her. Never had Kai felt more loved than in this moment, because each graze along the slope of her cheek, trailing down the side of her neck, fire erupting wherever his fingertips wandered, weakened her resolve even more. Lifting his hand, he sent his fingers through her hair, her scalp bursting with pleasure as he lightly massaged the area. Kai felt worshipped. And only Gil had ever given her this gift. Until this moment, Kai hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him in her life. He treated her as if to him she were the most valuable and priceless person on the planet. His mouth was cajoling, wanting her participation, but in a slow, exploratory way. She moaned and melted helplessly against him, her head in the crook of his arm as he continued his tactics to ask her to surrender fully to him.
And then she heard a truck coming.
So did Gil, and he gently eased her up on her feet, his hand on her arm to make sure she was steady.
Giving him an apologetic look, Kai nervously smoothed her hair, looking toward the crown of the hill above them. The truck hadn’t appeared yet, thank goodness. She’d have died of embarrassment if Talon and Cass had seen them kissing like this. Her whole body felt like a flame roaring out of control. She was shaking inside, her lower body feeling hot, wet dampness coating the insides of her thighs, soaking her panties. Gil turned her on like a blowtorch. Her body was highly reactive to him in every possible way.
“Dove? You might want to come over here,” Gil said, and smiled a little, guiding her from between his legs, helping her stand next to Mariah after handing her the reins.
Flustered, Kai whispered, “My God, Gil…” She searched his amused-looking gaze. “What happened?”
“Us,” he rumbled. “We’re good together. That hasn’t changed one bit.” He glanced toward the hill, seeing the white ranch truck, weighted down with fence supplies, slowly cresting the top of it. Gil studied her. “To be continued after the Armory dance,” he promised her in a growl.
Kai touched her lower lip, still wet from his slow exploration of her. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice sounding very far away to her. “Yes, I’d like that.” She saw the pleasure burn in his eyes over her response.
“Good, because I think it’s time we got a hotel room in town and took this all the way. I can’t kiss you without wanting all of you, Dove. You know that.”
Yes, she knew that. Glancing down at her thighs, she was afraid the material would be darker than the surrounding fabric. She felt the wet slickness between her thighs. Gil had almost brought her to orgasm with just a kiss! One kiss! Giving him a disconcerting look, she said, “That sounds good.”
“I’ll take care of it,” he promised her, watching the truck approach. It wouldn’t be lost on either one of those operators that he had one hell of a painful erection. Gil wasn’t concerned. If they teased the hell out of him, he’d take it in stride because Kai had come to him of her own accord. And he sensed how close she was to orgasm. He’d wanted to slide his fingers between her legs, put just the right amount of pressure on her entrance, let her ride against his hand and watch her come. He felt so damned elated and happy he could barely control the feelings pouring through him. Even the ache of his erection took second place to the joy sweeping into his chest, grabbing his heart, giving him the one thing he wanted most with Kai: hope. Hope for a future with her. It was another step they were taking together. And she was controlling the pace, the process.
One look at her swollen lips, her flushed cheeks and her gray eyes like soft, sparkling diamonds of aro
usal, and Gil knew that what they would have in bed was solid gold. And he was going to exploit that connection with Kai as much as he could.
Kai mounted Mariah, looking like a woman who had been more than well kissed. Gil gave her a reassuring look as the truck continued toward them. As he searched her wide, luminous eyes, he no longer saw confusion in them. Only desire. He’d been right in allowing her to lead them. Now she was more than ready for another important step in their growing relationship. And he could hardly wait for that Armory dance to arrive.
*
“WHAT DO YOU THINK?” Kai worriedly asked Cat. They were in a dress shop in downtown Jackson Hole. Kai wore a summer dress, a soft green color reminding her of newly sprouted leaves found only in the spring. Nervously, she smoothed the silk folds of the fabric.
“Wow,” Cat said, sitting up in the chair. “You look so different, Kai.”
Giving Cat a pleading look, she said, “It’s that bad?” Because she had grown up without a mother to teach her about clothing, about how to be feminine, all Kai knew was she liked the look of the ponte-shaped dress with side ruching and a square neck. The sheath was slimming and she felt pretty in it, but Cat had more experience with girly stuff than she did.
“Amazing,” Cat laughed, “and it looks so good on you, Kai. That sheath emphasizes how beautiful you really are. Who knew? All I ever saw you in was jeans and a tank top.” She chuckled some more. Standing, she gently smoothed the cap sleeves on each upper arm. “I love this neckline on you,” she murmured. “It reminds me of a trapezoid shape, but it sure emphasizes the length of your neck.” Cat fussed some more with the ruching on the sides of her dress. “This design really emphasizes your small waist. Wish I had one that small, but it ain’t gonna happen in this lifetime.” She smiled into Kai’s eyes and, stepping back, she said, “Slowly turn around?”
Kai did so, feeling odd in the slimming dress, the hem barely touching her knees. She didn’t want a dress above her knees because she felt almost naked. But this dress, the color, the way it draped her body, felt right to her.
“Oh, I like it.” Cat sighed, stopping her and running her hand down her back. “And a hidden zipper. It sure gives your dress a beautiful line, Kai. It’s unbroken and it flows so nicely around your great-looking body. You sure got the right genes this time around.” She smiled. “Keep turning slowly. Let me just see how it moves on you.”
As she faced Cat, Kai slid her fingers down the smooth, gleaming silk. “So? You think it’s okay for the Armory dance? Not too, well, you know? Tight?”
Cat stood back, hands on her hips. “With the auburn color of your hair, that green just emphasizes your face, your eyes.” She gave Kai a wicked look. “I don’t think Gil is gonna be able to keep his hands off you.”
Kai flushed—she had told no one of their growing relationship. “Oh…well…it’s just a dance. And everyone else in the family is going.”
“Uh-huh,” Cat murmured, grinning. “I’ve seen how Gil watches you when you’re not looking, Kai,” she said, and tittered.
Kai chewed on her lower lip, touching the soft material. “He’s a good person.” She knew it sounded rather lame.
“Well, you are certainly gonna set that man back on his heels, that’s for sure.”
Giving her a stressed look, Kai said, “Do you think this is too much? I mean, is everyone there going to be wearing Western clothes? Is this too… I don’t know…citified?”
“No. I was talking to Miss Gus the other day and I was having the same worries because I like sleek-looking outfits. She said people wear any and everything from dress up to dress down. Some do come in Western clothes, but a lot of the richer women of the valley whose husbands own a corporation or are filthy rich wear the latest New York and Paris fashions. So, I think you’ll fit right in.”
“I just don’t want to look dorky.”
“Trust me, every man in that place is going to be so jealous of Gil Hanford,” she promised. “Go ahead and get changed. Do you have earrings? A necklace?”
“No.”
“I know,” Cat said, “you were in the Army. Being girly wasn’t encouraged.”
Kai bought the beautiful dress. Cat took her over to the shoe department. She refused to wear high heels with pointed toes, knowing they were uncomfortable and ruined a woman’s feet over time. Instead, Cat found a nice pair of white sandals with a low heel that suited her. In the jewelry department, Kai opted for a pair of tasteful sterling-silver earrings, which complemented her gray eyes, and a thin chain with a heart that slid back and forth on it when she moved. Cat liked her choices and Kai was so grateful to the woman, who definitely had more awareness of women’s fashion than she ever did.
“Now,” Cat said, leading her out of the store, “I think you should get your hair washed, shaped and a slight trim.” She touched Kai’s hair and smiled. “It’s such a beautiful color, Kai. You’re going to take Gil’s breath away. Do you have a shawl or a jacket to wear over your dress? It gets cold in the evenings.”
“No,” she said. “I’m hopeless, huh?”
Giggling, Cat walked with her down the wooden sidewalk toward a hair dresser’s studio that was located on the other block. “Not hopeless. You didn’t have a mom to help you navigate the woman’s world of fashions, is all. This way, we’ll get your hair trimmed and then we’ll go to another store I know that has nice evening wear accessories.”
Kai was nervous about the dress. How she looked. She was used to being in the background, not out in front. But she wanted to look beautiful for herself and for Gil. The dress had felt incredibly comfortable to wear, not so tight she couldn’t breathe or move around in it. And looking into the mirror, Kai had thought she looked even more slender in it. She was glad she wasn’t short waisted. A dress like this would make a woman look like an accordion if she was. But with Cat’s eye and knowledge, Kai felt she had the right clothes for the dance. And, God, it had been ages since she danced! Smiling a little, Kai knew she had to warn Gil that she wasn’t exactly from Dancing with the Stars.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
GIL HAD NEVER seen Kai in anything but Army uniform or wrangler gear. He had a tough time, as he drove her in the pickup to the Armory, keeping his gaze off her. She seemed nervous when she had walked out into the living room of the ranch house and all the men whistled and gave her looks that made her blush. Cat had told the guys to cool it, placing a protective arm around Kai’s shoulders.
Gil hadn’t said anything, shocked at how beautiful she looked in the light green silk sheath dress. He’d never seen her with makeup on, either. Her lips were a soft pink, a hint of charcoal above her eyes, a natural blush to her cheeks.
When their eyes met for a second, Gil smiled at her, feeling his whole body tingle with anticipation. He’d been dreaming of this moment with Kai for so many years. He would have her alone, in his arms and he intended to love her until she knew to the depths of her soul how much he needed her. Knowing it was too soon to tell her, Gil was grateful she’d given him this sign of trust.
As they pulled into the packed Armory parking lot in Jackson Hole, he felt her tense a little. “Relax,” he murmured, turning off the truck engine, sliding his arm across the seat and his hand closing in on the small, dark green shot-with-silver shawl that covered her shoulders. “You look incredibly beautiful, Kai.”
“I’m just not used to wearing clothes like this.” She picked at the hem of her dress, and then Kai gave him a wry smile, touching her lips momentarily. “I can’t remember the last time I wore lipstick. I honestly can’t.”
“Brings out the shape of your lips,” he soothed. “And it doesn’t hurt to be a woman every once in a while. I think Cat did a nice job with your hair and makeup.” The shyness in her eyes, the uncertainty of herself as a gorgeous woman, made his heart open even more. Realizing Kai had no mother figure to show her the feminine side of herself, Gil caught and held her gray gaze. “Dove, you’re with me tonight. Okay? I’ll be at your side. And if
men look at you, they’re damned jealous of me because you’re mine.”
Giving a jerky nod, Kai whispered, “Okay. Thanks… I’m just a nervous wreck, Gil. And I don’t know how to dance very well.” She grimaced. “I was a wallflower in high school. I was afraid of boys. And, really, none paid any attention to me, which was just fine with me.”
Gil grinned and leaned over, lightly touching her mouth with his. “Their loss, my gain,” he rasped, looking deep into her eyes. “And, as for dancing, I won’t embarrass you, but I’m not exactly a great one on the dance floor, either. We’ll just take it at our pace. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said, smiling a little, drowning in the dark, burning look Gil gave her.
“Ready?”
“I think so…”
Kai walked on Gil’s arm through the packed parking lot. Above them the stars hung large and heavy in the dark heavens. They were like scattered diamonds thrown across the black velvet sky, as if celebrating this night. She heard music drifting out of the opened doors of the Armory, saw many people coming from around the parking lot and walking toward the building. It was dark, but the sulphur lights in the lot allowed Kai to see what other women were wearing. Some looked incredibly elegant in floor-length gowns. Others wore pantsuits. Still others sported more Western-like dresses or skirts and blouses. She did spot a number of women who were wearing clothes similar to hers, sleek and fashionable looking. Some of her nervousness was tamped down when she realized she wouldn’t stand out and look odd or different from everyone else.
Kai felt safe and protected on Gil’s arm. He wore a tan Western suit, the cut showing off his broad shoulders and chest. His dark brown Stetson brought out the ebony color of his military-short hair. He smelled of sage soap and she inhaled it deeply. He had cut his stride in half for her, sometimes looking down at her, a hint of a smile on his mouth.
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