“Oh, did you go out and get a medical degree in the ten minutes I was in the bathroom?” There, when overcome by lustful enticement, break out the sarcasm.
Ice blue eyes narrowed. “Fine, but you may have a concussion, so I’m going to have to wake you up every few hours. No medical degree, just basic first aid knowledge.”
Well, shoot. She was being a bitch when all he had done was help. It was no wonder the guy didn’t want to be involved with her.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a jerk.” She tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear. “I guess I’m still a little freaked out and handling it badly.”
His gaze softened. “Come here.”
Willingly, she went to him. The sad fact was, she would do just about anything he asked of her. The man had power over her that he wasn’t even aware of. Maybe it was best they didn’t move their relationship further.
Grasping her hand, he led her over to the cot. She sat down on the creaky cloth, praying it would hold her. It looked older than her great uncle.
Dade knelt in front of her. His large hands slid through her hair, softly fingering her scalp. How could hands so strong, so calloused from a hard day’s work, be so gentle? He felt her cut, examining the small bump. She winced when the pads of his fingers brushed over it, stinging the tender skin. He gave her an apologetic smile before his gaze returned to her wound, brow furrowed in concentration. He looked so serious. She wanted to lean forward and kiss him. Brush her lips against his own until that hard scowl on his face melted. But she wouldn’t. She was already acting like a child. No need to add fool to the list.
His hands left her hair. Ripping open a small square package, he warned her, “This might sting.”
“What is it?”
“Alcohol pad. It’s a small cut, but I want to make sure it’s clean.”
She nodded. Though he was gentle, the first swipe of the cold alcohol against her skin stung. What was that saying? The burn means it was working. She sure as hell hoped so. Pain was so not her thing. She was a wuss. A distraction was what she needed.
“What is that thing anyway?” she asked, indicating the bag with a nod of her head.
“Emergency bag.” He finished with the alcohol, thank goodness, and spread some clear gel along her cut. “Some basic first aid supplies, flashlight, and a few other necessary items that come in handy for survival in the wilderness.”
Sexy, caring, and prepared. Could the man get any more appealing?
He reached for the flashlight. “Look straight ahead.”
She squinted as he shined the bright beam in her eyes.
“Your pupils are reacting normally. That’s a good sign.”
Yippee.
“How does your head feel? Fuzzy? Having trouble concentrating?”
Trouble concentrating on anything but how much she wanted his hands back on her, yes. “No. It’s a little tender to the touch, but other than that, I feel fine.”
He nodded. “I think you’re okay. I’ll wake you in a few hours just to be sure, but I’m fairly certain you don’t have a concussion.”
That was one problem solved. Now, what was she going to do about this raging case of lust. One tiny room, no clothes, and a warm, romantic fire. Scratch the romance novel. This was the set up to a porno.
He rose, and suddenly, she found herself face to groin. What she wouldn’t give for that quilt to slip open just a few inches. She could just imagine what treasures were hidden behind the—
Whoa. Was that quilt tenting?
“Elizabeth!”
Tearing her eyes away from Dade’s, um, tenting situation, was hard—ha, pun intended—but she managed.
“Well, you’re the one who put it right in my face. What else am I supposed to look at?”
“Go to sleep.”
“Spoilsport,” she muttered, lying down on the rickety cot. “Where are you sleeping?”
He lowered himself to the quilt he had spread out. “Right here.”
The floor was made of hard planks of wood, and that quilt wasn’t very thick. Her cot squeaked as she tried to get comfortable. Honestly, she was afraid one wrong wiggle would split the old thing in two. “Guess neither one of us will be comfortable tonight.”
A soft chuckle rose from the floor. “My great-grandfather built this place back at the turn of the century. It was just a shelter to protect him from the elements on hunting trips. My granddad added the indoor plumbing in the forties. Our dad wasn’t much of a hunter, neither are Colt and I, so it’s kind of fallen into disrepair. I’m just thankful it’s still standing.”
A boom of thunder shook the walls. She pulled the covers up to her chin. “Hopefully, it remains that way through the storm.”
Silence, then, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The way he said that, the tenderness with which he spoke, made her insides turn to mush. She wanted to tell him she cared for him. They should give this thing between them a chance. It was obvious he had some feelings for her. His body sure wanted her, judging from its reaction to her stare. The suggestion was right on the tip of her tongue, but she knew he would argue again. So instead, she said, “I know.”
Chapter 17
“Lizzy? Wake up, sweetheart.”
There he went with that sweetheart stuff again. Lizzy tensed as strong fingers stroked her cheek. She was way too sexually frustrated for Dade’s endearments and gentle touches. If the man wasn’t going to do anything about it what was the point?
“I’m awake.” She shifted on the stiff cot, but any semblance of comfort eluded her. “How the hell can anyone sleep on this old thing?”
A sexy, deep chuckle wrapped around her as Dade lowered himself back to the floor. “I don’t think anyone has slept on that thing in about fifteen years.”
That would account for the clouds of dust choking her nose and mouth every time she moved an inch on this dang torture device. “So glad I could break the streak.”
For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of the dying fire.
“You can come down here if you like. It’s warmer by the fire anyway.”
Wow, an invitation to join him? Did he understand how crazy he was making her? Maybe this was a new form of torment.
“You sure? Romantic firelight, only the blankets separating us, you might not be able to keep your hands off me, cowpoke.”
“Shut up and get down here.”
She chuckled. Slipping off the cot, she made sure the quilt was fastened tight around her naked body. Joking was one thing, action was another.
The fire had dimmed to a few flames—mostly just glowing embers—but it still gave off heat. That was nothing compared to the heat burning through her body as she lay down next to Dade. His eyes appeared darker in the dim light, more serious. As if the man could get any more serious.
The floor wasn’t much more comfortable than the cot, but it was warmer, and at least now she didn’t have to worry about that sham of a bed breaking in the middle of the night. She’d already injured her head. No need to injure her butt, too. One bump for the day is enough, thank you very much.
“Better?” he asked.
Depended on what he meant. The floor was better than the cot, but it was also closer to him, closer to temptation. His quilt was still wrapped around his waist, hers knotted between her breasts. It wouldn’t take much more than a flick of the wrist and they’d both be naked. She was more than willing, but Dade…
“Have you ever been in love?” Oops. The words kind of just slipped past her lips without her brain knowing.
It was a nosy question, but no one ever accused her of being shy, and she did want to know more about him. There had to be a reason he was denying this attraction between them. A lost love would explain that.
A dark expression passed over his face. That means yes.
He propped his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. His hard muscles contracted with the movement. She had to remember to keep her attention focused on
his face and not his yummy, washboard stomach. She waited for his answer, not really expecting to get one. Colored her surprised when he actually spoke.
“Once.” His gaze stayed upward, body vibrating with tension.
“What happened?”
His head swiveled toward her, and the grim wariness in those deep blue eyes made her rethink this line of questioning.
“Why do you want to know?”
Because she wanted to crack into that fifteen-foot wall the man had erected around himself. Of course, she couldn’t say that or he’d go all stoic cowboy again. Instead, she said, “I can’t sleep because of the storm.”
Partly true. The thunder had quieted, but the rain was still beating a heavy rhythm on the roof. The wind howled though the trees, but it was the man beside her keeping her awake.
“Would you rather talk about how many bags of sugar the bakery has gone through in the past month?” She really hoped not. She wanted to get to know Dade better. Maybe if she understood why he was so reluctant to get involved with her, his rejection wouldn’t hurt so much.
“Her name was Rachel.” He spoke softly, staring off into the fire. “We met in Aspen. I was in town on business. She’d just moved there from New England. I asked her out and she said yes.”
New England? Probably some fancy, rich girl who knew proper manners; a calm, polite woman with an even temperament, a perfect match for him. Lizzy hated her already.
“I went down to Aspen every weekend to spend it with her. I didn’t want her to come to the ranch until I knew it was serious. Six months in, I knew she was the one for me. So, I bought a ring. Asked her to marry me that weekend.”
He’s been engaged? A sick feeling—not jealousy, nope, not at all—churned in her gut. Since there was currently no Mrs. Denning at the ranch, she wagered a guess things hadn’t turn out well.
“What did she say?”
His jaw clenched. “No.”
What an idiot. She wanted to find this Rachel woman and smack her upside the head. Who would say no to Dade Denning? The man was sexy, kind, courageous. Okay, so he could be a bit of a stick in the mud, but once you got to know him, it was all part of his charm. How could Rachel say no?
“What happened then?”
He turned those cool blue eyes on her. “She died.”
Not the response she expected. Waiting—because she knew the story was far from over—she stared back at him.
“She had a brain tumor. Inoperable.”
And suddenly her heart sank to her toes. Shame burned hot and heavy. Two seconds ago, she wanted to smack the woman, a woman who had an inoperable brain tumor. Thank goodness she hadn’t voiced her callous opinion out loud. How awful for Rachel.
How awful for Dade.
“She found out about it a few months after we started dating. Didn’t tell me because she was still trying other avenues.” His eyes closed as pain washed over his face. “None of them worked.”
When he opened them again, anguish filled their blue depths. Her heart broke for this strong man.
Without a thought, she threw an arm over his chest, squeezing tight. She wished she could take away his pain with her embrace, but she knew that was impossible. “I’m so sorry, Dade.”
His hands came down to stroke her back, returning the hug. “She said she didn’t want to put me through the pain of losing her, so she broke things off. Moved back to the east coast to be with her family.”
That was stupid. He was already going to lose her. All Rachel did was make him lose her twice. First by rejecting his proposal, then when she—but Lizzy had never had to face her own mortality. Who was she to say what was right in that situation? Rachel had only been trying to protect Dade. The only way the woman knew how. Still, the whole thing was crappy all around.
“She died two months later.”
Tears fell of their own volition, tracing cold, wet paths down her cheeks. To love someone and lose them that way just seemed so unfair. Now, she understood his hesitancy. It would be hard to open yourself up to a relationship again after going through pain that great.
“That’s why we can’t be together,” he said, confirming her suspicions. “My heart died with Rachel. I don’t have anything left to offer you except my body, and you deserve so much more than that, Elizabeth.”
True, but so did he. He might think his heart was dead, but he was wrong. A heart can break with loss, but it doesn’t die. She watched Maggie’s heart break when she lost her mother, and again when her grandmother died. Lizzy’s heart broke both of those times, too. Losing someone you loved hurt, but it didn’t kill your soul. If it did, you would join them in the ground.
Somehow, someway, she was going to prove to Dade his heart was still beating, that it could still love. Even if he never loved her, the man was too good, too kind, to lock away his heart forever. Rachel was dead, but he wasn’t. He was still living, and she was going to show him there was so much to live for.
She let her hand caress his chest, petting, soothing. Moving lower, she started toying with the knot at his waist.
“Lizzy, what are you doing?”
Her lips pressed softly on his pectoral. “Why don’t I worry about what I deserve, and you just let me give you what you need.” Because this man was in need of some serious loving.
She circled his nipple with her tongue, taking a soft bite that made him hiss through his teeth. All the while, she undid the knot. The quilt fell open, and she stroked his hips, his thighs, reveling in the feel of his skin, smooth velvet over steel.
“Dammit, Lizzy, you have to stop.”
“Don’t want to,” she mumbled, placing soft kisses along his neck. “It doesn’t have to be more, Dade. It can just be what it is.”
She lifted her head, staring into those beautiful blue eyes. Pain, confusion, lust, need, all warred in their depths. She latched onto the last two.
Bringing her hand up, she twisted the knot on her quilt free. He sucked in a breath as the cloth fell, revealing her completely to him.
His large hands came up to cup her breasts. She moaned as he squeezed, circling her stiff nipples with his thumbs.
“Damn, you have the most perfect breasts.”
“Glad you think so,” she said breathlessly, because all the air had left her body at his touch.
He continued to play with her breasts as she went back to work on his body. He had a delicious six-pack, and she was intent on memorizing every inch of it with her fingers, which she trailed lower until she ran into a very hard, thick part of his anatomy.
Oh, yes. This was what she wanted.
She grasped his cock, stroking him from tip to base. He shuddered, thrusting into her hand on a groan.
“Elizabeth, wait…”
She stopped, praying he wasn’t going to say no again. Another rejection would be more than even her healthy ego could take.
“Are you sure? I can’t give you anything but sex.”
“I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.” Because not having Dade was almost too much to bear. If all he could give her was his body, then she would take it, because she was afraid she might already be falling in love with this man. Anything would be better than nothing.
His mouth came down on hers then, hard and demanding. She opened readily. His tongue stroked in, and she met it with fervor. Damn, the man could kiss. He tasted like coffee and heaven. His hands roamed over her body, electrifying every inch of skin they touched.
He rolled them until she was flat on her back. His lips left hers and trailed a hot path down her neck, across her collarbone, until he scraped his teeth along her right nipple. A shockwave of pleasure roared through her body as he bit down gently. Leveraging himself up on one elbow, his mouth paid loving attention to her breast as his other hand slid down her body, over her hip, and came to rest between her legs.
For a moment, he did nothing, simply cupped her heat. Her legs shifted restlessly begging for him to do something, anything, to ease the building tension
inside of her. Circling her nipple with his very talented tongue, his mouth moved to her other breast. And then—holy schmoley—his fingers finally started to move. They stroked her sex, working her body into a bundle of nerves. One finger gingerly slipped inside her, and she arched up into his touch letting out a loud moan.
“Damn, you feel amazing.”
Was he talking? How could he be talking? Lizzy felt as if she had no air in her lungs at the moment. Her brain certainly wasn’t working. All she could do was feel and—
A second finger joined the first, and she bit back a scream of pleasure. His thumb found her. He started to circle the tiny bundle of nerves, pumping his fingers in and out of her in a maddening rhythm. Oh God, she wasn’t going to last much longer.
“Dade…I…need…”
“I know what you need, sweetheart. Just let it go. I’ve got you.” He soothed her, taking little love nips at the sensitive spot behind her ear. How the hell did he know that was there?
His fingers quickened their pace inside her, and his thumb circled faster. She could feel the peak coming. A tingling sensation started deep inside her. Her inner muscles started to clench and she exploded with euphoric bliss.
“Damn, that was beautiful,” his voice said reverently. “I need to be inside you. Now.”
Hey, she wasn’t arguing. In fact, she was pretty sure all her bones had turned to mush. Can’t argue when you had mush for bones.
He reached to the side, and she heard a zipper then a rip of foil. When he came back to her she finally got a look at the goods. Dear Lord, he’s huge. Guess the old wives’ tale about big hands and big feet was right.
She watched as he rolled protection down his length. “Emergency bag?” she asked wryly. Good thing he thought of it. Her mind had been thinking of nothing but getting the man inside her. Her body clenched with anticipation.
He grinned. “Condoms have all kinds of uses in the woods. Have to be prepared.”
She returned his smile. “Gotta love a boy scout.”
Love on the Wild Side Page 11
