Wringing her neck sounded good. So did putting her over his knee or just hog-tying her so she’d be forced to listen to him once and for all.
It was time to clear things between them. Ranait O’Brien had been a pain in his life for far too long. Noticing that she’d reached her horse, he pushed himself faster, ignoring the pain in his foot as he put on a spurt of speed.
Almost within arm’s reach of Renny, his hand shot out. Renny shrieked, dodged him and made a flying leap for her horse. The animal neatly sidestepped. Renny hit the ground belly first with a resounding thud.
Tyler tripped over her and stumbled. He caught himself, then whirled back to check on Renny, who lay motionless.
His heart flew up into his throat and he felt the blood draining from his face, taking the anger with it.
“Renny,” he said hoarsely as he shoved her horse away from them. He fell to his knees. She still hadn’t moved. Didn’t even seem to be breathing.
He’d never met a woman who could play his emotions from one extreme to the other with so little effort.
Reaching down, he touched the side of her neck. “Renny? Dammit, Renny, answer me. Are you all right? Don’t you dare be hurt, Ranait. You hear?”
He reached down to touch her. She was trembling, shaking. He let his breath out. She was alive. Thank goodness.
“Renny, can you move? Please, tell me you are not hurt.”
Renny continued to shake, which made Tyler’s chest hurt. His heart seemed to be shrinking. “You are not going to die on me, Renny. You hear?”
His hands touched her shoulders gently. The trembling increased. Afraid to move her, yet needing to see how badly she was hurt, Tyler took a deep breath and turned Renny over slowly, his large hands gentle.
“Renny, please, talk to me—”
His plea broke off. To his shock, Renny’s eyes were wide open. Her misty-blues were not only free from pain but filled with laughter.
Her lips twitched, then she giggled, her giggles birthing into a full fit of laughter.
Tyler sat back on his heels, stunned, at a loss for words. Had she lost her mind? “Renny, please stop. I’m sorry. This is my fault. Tell me where you hurt.” From her struggle to breathe and laugh, Tyler thought for sure she was seriously hurt and that hysteria was claiming her.
He tenderly brushed bits of grass and rock from her face. Her forehead and chin were scraped. He ran his hands down her arms and over her chest to feel for broken ribs. His face warmed when his hand skimmed over her soft breasts.
Renny’s laughter hitched at the contact. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “Got to check to see if you broke anything.” He moved to stand. “I’ll get some water, clean you up, then we’ll see where you’re hurt.”
Renny shot out a hand and caught his arm. “Fine. I’m fine,” she gasped.
Tyler sat back on his heels, looking and feeling both confused and worried. She’d hit the ground hard. He could see that she still had trouble drawing in air.
“You are not fine, Renny.” He vowed to take care of her. He’d never yell at her again. This was his fault. All he’d wanted was to help her, be a part of her life, and have her want to be a part of his.
After this, she’d probably never want to see him again. Deep inside, a loud, long cry rose. This was his fault.
“Winded,” she said, getting his attention. “Just winded.” She struggled to get up.
Tyler quickly helped her sit. Unconvinced, he watched her. She’d had an accident a month before. Had she reinjured her head? He watched her carefully.
After a few minutes of gathering her breath beneath his watchful stare, she sent him an amused grin then rolled her eyes. “Doing it again, Troll.”
He frowned. “What?” He felt unbalanced.
“Playing nanny.”
Warmth flowed back into him. She was all right. Had to be if she could sit there and tease him. His first thought was to yell at her for scaring the life out of him but he was too relieved that she hadn’t hurt herself.
He lifted a brow. “Excuse me, but you’re the one who went flying nose first into the dirt. Was a pretty stupid stunt,” he said, jumping to his feet. She obviously had not done any harm to that hard head of hers.
Renny tipped her chin up at him. “And whose fault was that, I ask?”
Before he even opened his mouth, she’d hopped to her feet, proving she was perfectly fine.
“Yours,” she said. She brushed herself off.
“How do you figure that one, Miss O’Brien?” He’d damned near died of heart failure while she’d been laughing. Laughing!
“You made me,” she said defiantly. “You were chasing me.” She shoved her hands onto her narrow hips and glared at him.
He glared right back, his stance matching hers right down to the hands on hips. “You stomped on my foot,” he bellowed. “I warned you. By God, I warned you,” he said, advancing on her, ready to pick up where they’d left off.
Renny stood her ground. “Don’t you touch me.”
Standing toe to toe with her, Tyler deliberately bumped against her, forcing her to stumble back just a little. He said nothing. Just towered over her, forcing her to tip her head back a bit more.
Truthfully, he wasn’t sure he trusted himself to touch her. He was furious and at the same time, enamored, and so very relieved that she was standing there acting normal.
Tyler adored Renny and he was frustrated with her too. He wanted to hold her, love her, and he wanted to throttle her lovely neck.
Renny caused such contradictory feelings and emotions to rise up and choke him, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with her.
“Move back, Troll, or I’ll stomp your other foot.”
Her threat made his decision for him. Reaching out, he grabbed her chin, hard enough to keep her attention, but not hard enough to hurt or bruise.
“Do that and I’ll turn you over my knee.”
Her eyes went wide then darkened to blue-fire sparks. “Try it and you’ll be sorry.”
The thought of touching her made his fury give way to desire. “I think not, Renny. Lot of things I might be sorry for but spanking that sweet little behind of yours isn’t one of them.”
He felt the slight tremble in her jawline. Staring at him, watching his eyes latch on to her mouth, she licked her lower lip.
“Don’t even try, Troll.”
“Hmm, no? Well maybe there is something better for us to do.” He lowered his head.
“Don’t think so. Don’t think we have anything further to say.” Renny chewed nervously on her bottom lip. She tried to pull away.
Tyler chuckled. “Wasn’t thinking of talking,” he said, drawing closer.
Renny glanced back the way they’d come. “Uh, we better catch up to the others. Going to get dark soon.”
Tyler grinned at her obvious nervousness and discomfort. His fury didn’t faze her, yet the thought of his kiss made her nervous. He tucked that bit of information away. A weakness. He might actually have found a chink in her hard armor.
Desire hummed through him as he moved in for the kill. “Reed’s making camp. Lots of light left.”
“Camp? We’re not stopping yet!”
“Camp,” he repeated softly. “We’re stopping for the night.” His lips brushed hers. His hands slid down her jaw to her shoulders then wrapped around her, holding her loosely in the circle of his arms.
Renny’s eyes were locked on to his. “Says who?”
“I say,” he murmured. “I need some time.”
“Time for what?” Her voice was a low, husky temptation.
“A kiss.”
She forced a laugh. “Why would I want to kiss an ugly tro—”
Tyler tightened his arms slightly, one hand giving a not-so-gentle tug to her l
ong braid. “Never figured you for a coward, Ranait.”
Once more Renny tipped her chin. This time her nose brushed against his. “I’m no coward. And you know it.”
His mouth moved closer until he was a mere breath away. “Prove it. Dare you to prove how brave you are.”
“Fine.” Refusing to give him anything to hold over her head, Renny slid her hands into his hair, tangled her fingers in the dark golden strands, then pulled him down.
She pressed her lips to his, intending to give him a single, hard smack and then step back. But the moment her lips touched his, she was a goner.
She went soft as butter in his arms. Her hands gripped him hard and her body fell forward, forcing him to tighten his hold on her.
The warmth of him, the taste of him, had her control snapping like a twig. She kissed him as though her life depended on it. She didn’t give him the chance to lead or to control the intensity. She was in charge and like a starving man sitting down at a banquet, she devoured.
Her tongue demanded entry. No sweet, simple little kiss for her. She wanted everything he had. Demanded it. His breathing was as harsh and loud as her own.
“More,” she said.
“Sweet heaven,” he whispered.
And it was, Renny thought. It was sweet, and hot, and it demanded everything within her, more than she was willing to give. She tried to pull back.
“My turn,” he said, his voice thick with desire.
“Too much,” Renny said. Everything that had gone on between them in that short argument—the anger, the fear, the sheer silliness, the name-calling, and the kiss—were doing what nothing else had done up until that point.
The walls that held in her emotions and fears were slowly eroding and crumbling. She needed his anger, not his kindness. She didn’t want his kisses or the sweet tenderness of his arms around her.
Everything she’d withheld, all those emotions that would make her seem weak and out of control, emotions that were buried deep inside her, were now rushing to the surface.
Her heart pounded as need coursed through her like a tide of floodwater sweeping over a bank.
She’d kept tight reins on her emotions for so long that she was afraid of letting them go. And the kiss she was sharing with this man demanded everything from her. If she lost control in a kiss, she’d lose control of everything. And that frightened her.
She whimpered. Tyler’s fingers were in her hair, tearing her braid out, tugging the tightly woven strands free.
“So soft,” he groaned as he ran his fingers through her silky red hair.
The wind whipped the loose strands around them. It formed a fiery veil. Heat rose, seemed to burst from her.
She was going to go up in flames. “Have to stay strong,” she moaned. She had to stop, couldn’t let passion, and the temptation of this man, take from her what had kept her steady and sane for so long.
“Baby, you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known.” Tyler’s breath was hot and sweet, his tongue gentle as he taught her a new dance, one that from that night onward belonged to only them.
“No…”
“The strongest…”
Tyler tangled his hands in her hair, bunching it up so he could also cup her head in his big, gentle hands. “God, Renny!”
Renny felt her control slipping. Her hands were roaming over him, clinging to his hard shoulders, tracing the ridge of muscle, moving to his strong back before grasping his head, her fingers tangled in his hair.
When his mouth shifted down to her throat, she leaned her head back, giving him free access to caress and lick and suckle tenderly.
“Don’t want to stop,” she said, yet she fought to regain control.
“Not going to, baby,” Tyler said. “Can’t.”
Renny let out a sob and found his mouth. She needed this. Wanted this. For just a little while she desperately needed to let herself go. She didn’t want the worry, the responsibility. For just a little while, she wanted to be free.
“Want more,” she moaned.
Tyler drew in a deep, shuddering breath. He pulled back and stared down at her. “Renny, we’ve got to stop.”
Fear made Renny shake her head. “No,” she cried. “Don’t leave me. Don’t let me go. Not now. It’s too late. Can’t stop it.” Unexpected tears fell from her eyes.
“Let me feel. Please, Tyler, let me feel.” Tears rolled down her face, a small but steady stream.
Tyler’s heart gave an almighty wrench. “Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry, Renny. That’s not fair.” He groaned and gathered her tightly to him. He kissed the tears from her face, then swallowed the sob that left her lips.
He’d rather she stomp his foot than shed tears. He knew how to handle a riled-up Renny but hadn’t a clue what to do with a fragile, broken woman.
He swung her up in his arms and strode to the tall grass beneath a small grove of elm and cottonwood near the stream. Setting her down, letting her slide slowly down the length of him, he tipped her chin with one finger.
“I won’t leave you, baby. I won’t let you go. I’m here.” Taking her hand into his, he placed her palm over his heart.
“Feel my heart beating for you. I want you, Renny. As a man wants a woman. If we kiss again, I’m not going to stop. I need you too much.” He pulled her tight against him, letting her feel the extent of his need.
Melting against him, Renny slid her arms up, her fingers caressing the sides of his face, her fingertips soft against the shadow of his beard. “Show me how much you want me, Tyler.”
Unable to resist, Tyler took them once more into that wonderful world of taste and touch. This time, he deepened the kiss, demanding more, and gave all that he had to give. He tried to go slow and gentle but she wouldn’t let him hold back.
He sensed her need, was even a bit afraid of it, but could do no less than she asked.
“Feel what you do to me, Renny.” This time he pushed her hand down until she touched him through his jeans. She moaned and stroked him until he thought he’d burst.
Turning her gently in his arms so her back was flush against him, he wrapped one arm around her waist. His other hand boldly cupped one breast.
Her head dropped onto his shoulder. He nuzzled her neck. “Feel what I can give you.”
Slowly, he unbuttoned her blouse and slid his hand inside. The thin shift she wore had been softened by time and washing. His fingers slid over her softly rounded flesh and found her nipples already hard.
Needing to feel her flesh against his palm, he unfastened her pants, pulled the shift from her trousers and slid both hands up over her abdomen.
He moaned when his fingers found her soft breasts. He caressed one breast until it was capped with a tiny, hard, rosy peak. She was small, barely fit his palms, but perfectly formed.
He caressed both nipples, his hands covering her breasts, claiming her. “Feel me touching you,” he whispered in her ear before lightly nipping her small, pink lobe.
Tyler’s hands drifted down to her hips and pulled her hard against him. He dropped onto his knees, pulling her down with him.
“Feel me. Feel my need.”
He held her to him for a brief moment before spinning her around and once again bringing their hips together. This time, his hands slid down to cup her buttocks, his fingers digging into her soft flesh.
Renny cried out and moved restlessly. “Tyler.” She sounded afraid. Each breath was a short gasp and she trembled in his arms. She didn’t push away. Instead, she clung to him.
“What do you feel, baby?”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I—I just feel.”
“Me too, baby.” He lowered them both to the grassy mat. “Need to feel more. All of you.” He pulled off her shirt, then her shift, and laid her down on her back.
>
Afraid that she’d protest or that maidenly shyness might take control, he lowered himself over her and kissed her breathless.
Driven by buried emotions, Renny gave herself to Tyler. Even if she didn’t understand all the sensations racking her body, making her feel weak and out of control, she knew enough about mating to know what would happen.
So she took her turn at controlling the kiss, forcing his tongue back into his mouth, following. She nipped, tasted and claimed him as he’d claimed her.
Her fingers quickly unbuttoned his shirt and slid up beneath his undershirt. “Off,” she moaned.
The clothing was yanked off, then his skin touched hers. Heat to heat. Hard to soft. Heartbeat to heartbeat. She moved restlessly beneath him as her hands roamed down his back.
Tyler broke the kiss and lifted himself up. Renny stared into his eyes, gray pools of heated desire. She ran her fingers through the thin mat of hair on his chest and over his tiny, hardened nipples. She felt a groan rumble up and out from deep inside him.
Tyler fell back onto her and rolled, bringing her above him. Before she knew what he was going to do, he was touching her, fondling her breasts, teasing her nipples.
She threw her head back and gave up all need for control. For now all she wanted to do was feel, and give those feelings a place to go.
Once again they rolled. She tried to bring his mouth to hers but Tyler slid down her body.
He took one nipple into his mouth and suckled. Renny’s back arched. She cried out. Over and over he kissed and suckled and caressed until she trembled with a terrible need.
“Tyler!”
“Feel, Renny. Feel what I do to you.”
“Can’t. Too much. Afraid,” she whimpered as his lips trailed down the sensitive flesh of her belly.
She reached for him, silently begging him to let her hold him. She needed him. He was an anchor in a world where she was spinning out of control.
“Look at me, Renny.”
She stared down into his smoky eyes as his hand slid down into her pants. He cupped her womanhood, felt her wet warmth slick his fingers as he touched her.
White Vengeance Page 12
