If we pull off our roles and they let us come to visit. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. We’d best get to sleep. Tomorrow’s a busy day.”
“You’re a very understanding and special woman, a good friend, and a perfect partner. My last confession wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be. I’ll have to thank Dan for choosing Bethany Wind for this mission.”
“That’s what true friends are for, to be there when we need them. I hope I never disappoint or fail you, Navarro; you mean a lot to me.”
“Same here, wife.” He also tried to sound playful and calm, but his heart pounded and his body flamed as he took in her beauty and tender words. If he didn’t know better, he’d think…Don’t be loco; she’s only being nice and kind, a real lady. And ladies don’t go for half-breed bastard loners. Jessie was an exception and it won’t happen for you again.
Beth smiled then rose to prepare for the night, sure to be a long one. At least he liked, respected, and accepted her. That was a splendid beginning, wasn’t it?
An hour later, Beth was still awake and tense under the half moon. Things Kate Carter had told “Elizabeth Lawrence” in Tucson raced around inside her head: “Be brave, take risks…Go after what you want…Starting tonight.”
Tonight was the last totally private evening they would share before reaching their target area where they’d be on constant guard. Beth wondered if she should attempt to gain a hold on him before he saw Jessica. She wondered if Navarro could ever give her his battered heart to heal and cherish? She understood his feelings and dilemma because after losing Steven, she thought she’d never love or desire another man. But she hadn’t expected to meet someone like the overwhelming legend who had blown into her life as an unforeseen whirlwind and swept her away. While pursuing him, she could mask her true emotions behind the role she was ordered to play. Yet, that gave her only a short time to steal the key Jessica possessed so she herself could unlock the door to his heart to free him to love Bethany Trask Wind, to become the real Beth Breed.
As her quivering fingers stroked the ebony carving from Zack, she hoped it was meant as an implication she should also have the living lone wolf. It troubled Beth to admit it was going to hurt even more to lose her fake husband than it had been to lose her real one, but that was true.
I’m sorry, Steven. Please understand and forgive me, but I can’t help what I feel. I’ve failed to resist him and avoid this predicament. I love him and want him, and I’m going to use every skill and charm I possess to win him. As for you, my beloved lone wolf, I pray the Fates dull your sharp wits so you won’t see my snare coming at you until it’s too late to elude it. Goodbye, Steven. I’ll lay you to rest where you belong.
To capture him will be the most difficult and hazardous assignment I’ve accepted. This time, I’ll be risking far more than my mortal life; I’ll be putting my heart, soul, and spirit in jeopardy of rejection and anguish.
Beth summoned courage to put a bold and beguiling plan into motion. She flung aside the top section of the bedroll, screamed, and leapt up. As she reached for a pistol, Navarro joined her with one in his hand. She realized he had reacted with haste and agility to come to her aid.
“What’s wrong?”
“Something was crawling on me.” Feelings for you, her mind added, so she wouldn’t be telling a lie. “Sorry if I woke you.” But I had to.
“I wasn’t asleep. Let me check out your bedroll.” He knelt and with caution lifted the top to look inside. “Too dark to see anything in there.” He lifted it by the bottom and shook it with the opening away from them. He dropped it in a pile and scanned the area with eagle eyes. “Whatever it was, you must have scared it away when you yelled and jumped.”
“I don’t know what got into me; I’m not usually afraid of insects or snakes.”
He cuffed her chin and smiled to soothe her agitation. “You were just caught off guard while dozing.”
“Maybe dreaming or a wild imagination?”
Navarro slipped an arm around her gown-clad waist and said, “Maybe, that happens sometimes when you’re half-asleep.”
Beth placed a hand in the middle of his back and nestled close to him to rest her head against his shoulder. “More excitement is just what we needed on an evening like this, right, husband dearest?” she murmured.
Navarro chuckled as his hand drifted upward into her free-flowing mane of copper delight and enjoyed its silkiness. She exuded the smell of fresh wildflowers. It was nice to have her cuddled up to him. He savored the way she showed no aversion to his touch, how she accepted him with such freedom and completeness, such trust. Some man, he mused, was going to be damned lucky to get this special woman.
Beth made a slight move to position a bare foot between his unbooted ones. Her arms encircled his narrow waist and she leaned against his hard and virile body. She nestled a fiery cheek to his cool, bare chest and heard his heart beating at a rapid pace. “I always feel safe and alive with you, and I enjoy your company so much. I hope this assignment lasts a long time because it’s going to be strange and sad to be alone again afterward.”
“I’m glad you have confidence in me, but don’t go missing me till I’m gone,” he jested. A dizzying swirl of sensations and observations assailed him. As if having a mind of their own, his eager arms embraced her and held her clasped to him. He rested his cheek atop her head. Her unbound breasts, their peaks taut and erect, seared his naked torso through a cotton nightgown. He heard Beth’s dreamy sighs and throaty noises. His loins burned with need for her as her fingers roved the flesh of his back and her soft face caressed him. His voice was husky as he teased, “Taking advantage of the moment to practice your wifely role, eh, partner?”
“Yep. This kind of lesson is wonderful.”
He stopped stroking her hair and back to cease the intoxicating pull on him. “It’s also mighty late for work, isn’t it?”
“Nope, never too late to prepare for something so important.” She made sure her lips tantalized his bronzed skin as she spoke. She suppressed any nibbles of guilt or shame about trying to seduce him. “When I first met you, I was nervous about working with such a legend, especially one who seemed displeased to be teamed up with me.”
He kissed her forehead and said, “I’m real sorry about that, but I’m used to riding and working alone, and I wasn’t sure of your skills.”
“It doesn’t matter now because we’re past that point.”
He was as hot as a branding iron in a fire. Didn’t she see that she and this sensuous situation were stimulating and tempting? He had strong willpower, but he wasn’t made of stone. It had been a long time since—
“I’ll confess: in the beginning, I was afraid this romantic part of the marriage was going to be too hard for me to perform.”
“But you’ve learned it isn’t?”
She looked up into his hazel eyes. She took one hand from his naked back so its fingers could tease over his lips. “Not since we became such good friends.” She smiled. “It’s actually a lot of fun. I’m grateful to you for alleviating my doubts and insecurities. Yours, too.” She lifted herself on tiptoes and pretended to give him a kiss of gratitude. Afterward she teased, “You too tired for duty or did you wed an unappealing female?”
Navarro’s hands cupped her expressive face. “I hope being appealing won’t become a problem for us, partner.”
Me being appealing or you? As he closed his mouth over hers, Beth surrendered her lips and will, and hoped he wouldn’t withdraw from her.
Their tongues met, played, and mated with feverish delight. The kiss was different from those during previous practice sessions; it was long, deep, delving, titillating. One drifted into many more. Their hands roamed, caressed, and enticed as their bodies yearned to become one. Unnoticed by either, their burdened souls begged for release from troubled pasts, for a new bond to be forged in this perfect match. A cool breeze wafted over their exposed flesh but the sultry heat of passion warmed them to their cores.
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A nearby coyote sent forth mournful howls that broke Navarro’s concentration. He was stunned to realize he was on the verge of taking her, and she appeared willing to let him. He warned himself it was crazy to lose control like this while on duty during a tricky case and with a fellow agent. He struggled to recover his stolen wits. “That’s enough practice tonight. Why don’t I sleep over here and you take my spot over there in case your visitor returns to snuggle up? Can’t blame him for trying.”
He was halting the heady situation before it could go farther! So much for a daring seduction scheme, Bethany Wind. It took enormous fortitude to let him retreat without coaxing him to continue, as she didn’t want to appear wanton. She was tempted to accept his offer but knew she’d never get to sleep inhaling his manly smell on his bedding so she said, “Thanks, but I’ll stick to mine. If my pest returns, I’ll handle it.”
Navarro had seen her stare at him in what seemed to be disbelief and dismay before she lowered her lashes and head in what had to be shock and embarrassment over her careless behavior. He understood her feelings because he, too, was accustomed to having self-control and clear wits. He couldn’t explain to himself or to her how they had gotten so carried away with each other, and he hoped the unfinished intimate episode wouldn’t cause problems between them. He didn’t want to make her reluctant or afraid to get near him or to touch him for fear of arousing him to the point he tried to lure her into his grasp. For their safety and success of the mission, she had to be able to trust him under any circumstances. As he wondered how to restore her confidence and faith in him, he went down on his knees to unfold a stubborn bottom corner after spreading her bedroll on the ground.
Beth did the same at the top, then sat on its center, which put them in close and enticing proximity as he shifted at the same time to speak to her. Before either could retreat or find a distracting tactic, the agents’ gazes merged. Neither seemed able to break away. Unextinguished embers burst into new flames of desire; but this time they couldn’t escape the roaring blaze that intended to consume them. They wanted…They needed…
His hand reached out to caress her flushed cheek as his eyes roved her lovely features. “It wasn’t just practice, was it?”
Beth’s fingers trailed over his full lips as she shook her head. Give it one more try. She hastened to her knees and hugged him. She buried her forehead against his bare chest and almost whispered in a ragged voice, “I’m sorry if I was forward and shameless”—she raised her head to fasten her gaze to his—”but you disarm me so fast and unexpectedly at times. I’m afraid you’re a very desirable man, Navarro Breed, so don’t fault me for thinking of you in the wrong way at times like this.”
“Same goes here, Beth Breed, but we don’t need problems.”
“There won’t be any if we don’t allow it, right?”
He bent forward to kiss her cheek, but she turned her head and their mouths made contact. Her taste and mute beckoning cut the leash on his weakened control. His arms locked her against him. His lips and tongue explored hers with fervor. When she responded in like kind, he was lost. His body demanded and ached to possess hers and, even if he had wanted to, he couldn’t resist its bold order.
Between feverish kisses, they sank to the bedroll to share an urgent union. Though she had carefully planned this seduction, what happened within and between them was spontaneous and instinctive.
They feasted on hungry kisses. Their ravenous hands explored and teased. As their mouths meshed, their appetites became greedy. In leisure, he nibbled at her lips; he trailed his over her fiery cheek, teased her earlobe, and wandered down her silky neck. As he did so, she pressed kisses on any spot her mouth could reach. Their cravings and suspense mounted. While tantalizing her with his lips, he eased her gown up to her throat. His ardent mouth trekked over her breasts, stimulating and hardening their peaks even more. His eager tongue swirled over the rosy brown points, lavishing moist attention on each in turn.
When he’d lifted himself from her to pull up her gown, Beth had taken bold advantage of the moment to unfasten his long underwear. He shifted to help her slide them past his hips. Her fingers massaged his firm buttocks, then grazed over his strong frame. She stroked his shoulders, neck, and arms as he worked magic and delight upon her body and mind. She was enthralled by the sensuous way he caressed the full length of her body with his, arousing her kindled passions to a higher level of yearning. She loved his hard, lean body flawless except for the scars. She traced several lash marks from end to end, their raised surfaces reminding her of the agony and humiliation he had endured from his father and brutal prison guards.
Her thoughts left that troubling area to seek another destination, one with a different kind of diversion. He straddled her left leg so the privacy slit in her bloomers was accessible. His deft fingers found and explored the mound between her thighs; she could hardly wait for his sweet invasion. She quivered in anticipation as he slid between her legs and guided himself within her, a contact that was rapturous and breath-stealing. She locked him in place and surrendered to his raw, hot, swift, and urgent lovemaking.
Navarro was engulfed by staggering sensations. Her overtures, actions, and responses thrilled him to the center of his being where she had ignited a fire he didn’t quite understand. His desire was so great that he could think of nothing except fulfilling it. He was astounded by his effect on her. She wanted him, she needed him, and she was taking him. She didn’t care who or what he was or had been. He had the ability to enchant her beyond restraint, the talent to arouse and to satisfy her. She seemed to be holding back nothing from him, offering him all she was. Never, his mind told him, had he felt such a potent flood of emotions. She was as radiant and inspiring as the loveliest sunset, as fiery as the hottest desert day. He couldn’t touch her soft skin enough, stroke her sensitive breasts enough, taste her sweet lips enough, or appease either of them enough to let this be their only stolen union.
Beth clutched at this magnificent man who knew how to titillate and sate her as Steven never had. Wild and wonderful feelings consumed her. She reveled in the sensation of her flesh against his. As her nightgown bunched under her arms and wadded at her throat, she realized they were so eager that they hadn’t removed their few garments, just shoved them out of the path of questing lips and hands. Despite their rush, it wasn’t carnal copulation; they were making love. As ecstasy captured her in its throes, she trembled, sighed, and held on tight for the joyous ride.
Navarro galloped away with her, unable to bridle his passion any longer. He knew she was moving with him, eager to reach their triumphant goal together. She was a gifted partner in and out of bed. Again, for a brief moment, he thought about how lucky some man would be to win her.
As they reached the pinnacle of pleasure, golden splendor shot over and through the breathless couple, leaving contentment—total serenity—in its wake. Unable to separate so soon, their lips and bodies remained joined as they came down to earth together.
Navarro rolled to his back and took her with him, to nestle against his side. He hadn’t felt this sated and happy in years, not since…He kept himself from jerking upward and fleeing. How, he worried, could his wits and body be so weak as to betray his beloved when he was this close to her? He had sworn his love and loyalty to Jessie forever; he had broken that vow with Bethany Wind. He had allowed another woman to arouse and fulfill him as no other—Don’t even think such a stupid thought ‘cause it can’t be true.
Beth perceived his sudden mood change. If she had been ignorant before about how powerful Jessica’s hold was over him, she couldn’t deny it now. Or perhaps, she mused, Navarro only feared opening himself up to another rejection and heartache. With his keen wits, couldn’t he comprehend she would never betray and hurt him as Jessica had? She would love him and stay with him forever if he but asked.
Navarro propped on his side and gazed at her. She had willingly submitted to him, but he should have been stronger. She looked so serene in his e
mbrace, but he must not mislead her. “I’m sorry, Beth; I didn’t mean for this to happen. Forgive me?”
She knew—without delay—she must let him see she wasn’t repulsed, angered, or upset. She stroked his angular jawline and urged, “Please don’t apologize or fret. It’s obvious we were both swept away. It’s been a long time since I…” She lowered her revealing gaze for a moment and felt her cheeks flush. “You know what I mean. I hope this doesn’t give you a bad opinion of me.”
The astute lawman was certain she had never done anything so reckless. His self-esteem and pride were enlarged by the fact she had chosen him. She had said she found him attractive, but he was still amazed and relieved by how she viewed and accepted him. He had revealed dark and dirty secrets, weaknesses, and flaws, but she still found him desirable as a man and partner. Or maybe it was only like she said: she needed to be held, comforted, and sated tonight. Just because she was a lady didn’t mean she lacked physical urges that yearned to be fulfilled. “It doesn’t, and I hope you don’t have a low opinion of me for taking advantage of you.”
His tardy reply didn’t dismay her because of the nearspellbound way he was studying and caressing her. “You didn’t coerce or oblige me to do anything, and my opinion of you couldn’t be higher.” Ignorant bliss filled her as she presumed she had shared a part of him that Jessica never had, an intimate bond, a chance to win him. She reasoned that Navarro and Jessica couldn’t have made love under the noses of her family, ranch hands, and the ever-present Matt. She smiled and snuggled up to evict any lingering dismay and doubt in him.
Navarro tapped her cheek. “What’s this sly smile about?”
“I just realized this may help us play our husband/wife roles better. At least, it helped expell any mutual reservations or tension we had. It should calm us down and make us more responsive to each other before witnesses. We’ve both been holding back on doing our best play-acting because we were afraid we’d get aroused and something like this would occur. People at the ranch might have picked up on our caution and become suspicious. This way, partner, we won’t have to be nervous about a strain tripping us up and exposing us. The Cordells have been married a long time, so they would probably sense we were bridled around each other and wonder why. We can’t afford to evoke mistrust in any area of our cover story. Now, we don’t have to be wary about how we behave. Right?”
Chase The Wind Page 22
