Dreams of Forever: Seduction, Westmoreland StyleSpencer's Forbidden Passion

by Brenda Jackson

  He came closer into the moonlight, into her line of vision. His hair was flowing around his shoulders and she wanted to hook her finger around a few strands and pull his mouth down to hers, to take possession of his tongue the same way he had taken hers that night. She wanted to—

  “The stars are really out tonight.”

  McKinnon’s comment brought her back to the present which was just as well, since her thoughts were going places they had no business venturing. Following his gaze, she tilted her head back and glanced up into the sky. “Yes, they are, but in my book if you’ve seen them once, you’ve seen them all.”

  “Hey, you better not let Ian hear you say that. He’s the astronomer in the Westmoreland family.”

  Casey smiled. “Oops, I forgot. And speaking of Ian, I guess everyone is getting prepared for his wedding next month. I hear it’s supposed to be one grand affair at the Rolling Cascade Casino.”

  McKinnon nodded. “Yeah, and I bet Lake Tahoe won’t be the same when Brooke becomes a permanent part of his security team.” A few moments later he added, “And speaking of Lake Tahoe, you looked good that night at Delaney’s birthday party.”

  A tiny tremor passed through her. She doubted he gave many compliments. “Thank you. You looked rather dashing yourself.” And he had. They hadn’t said more than a few words to each other that night, but she had noticed him and it seemed from his compliment that he had noticed her, as well.

  “I talked to Norris when we got back from town. He said that our fathers dropped by to check on Spitfire while we were gone.”

  “Spitfire?”

  “Yes, she’s the mare that Thunder impregnated. Corey’s the one who gave her to me a couple of years ago. We agreed then that he would get her first foal.”

  Casey glanced up at him. “You like Corey a lot, don’t you?”

  He glanced over at her wondering why she’d asked the question. “Yes. He and my dad were friends before I was born. I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t a part of my life.”

  He smiled and Casey blinked thinking that was the first smile she’d ever seen on McKinnon Quinn’s lips. “Do you know what one of the things I admired most about him while growing up is?”

  “What?”

  “His love for his family. He was a young single man, yet every summer he would invite all of his nephews and his one lone niece to spend the summer months with him, and he would always include me.”

  “Sounds like all of you had a rowdy good time every year.”

  McKinnon chuckled and Casey found the sound rich and sincere. “Trust me, we did. Especially those times Delaney got left back in Atlanta and we could get into all kinds of trouble without anyone telling on us.”

  Casey smiled. “Sounds like Corey would let all of you get away with murder.”

  “Oh, we knew how far to take things with him. But he would make everything we did fun for us. How he kept all of us over those summers months without going insane is beyond me.”

  Casey paused a moment to digest his statement. Had her father known about her and her brothers, they would have been included in those summers, as well. But he hadn’t known.

  When a few moments passed and she didn’t say anything, McKinnon said softly, “Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned those summers.”

  Casey glanced up at him. It was as if he’d read her thoughts. “No, it’s okay. Besides, you can’t rewrite history, McKinnon. I don’t begrudge any of you for the times you spent with my father when Clint, Cole and I didn’t. It’s not anyone’s fault.” But my mother’s, she wanted to scream.

  McKinnon brushed a lock of hair back from her forehead, thinking the short, sassy style looked cute on her. The glow from the moon highlighted her features in a way he found incredibly sexy.

  “McKinnon?”

  “Yes?” He heard that little tremor in her voice; the same one that had been there right before he’d kissed her.

  “I think I should go back inside now.”

  “Why? I kind of like it out here, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but…”

  He heard the apprehension in her voice at the exact moment his gaze was drawn to her mouth. “But what?”

  She sighed, and he watched the sound escape through her lips. In fact, he actually felt the warm breath against his own lips, which meant he had subconsciously lowered his head closer to hers.

  “The last time we were out here together,” she finally said, “something happened to make you avoid me for a week.” She decided not to spell it out to him since she was sure he knew what she was talking about. “If you’re going to have any regrets about anything we do, then I’d rather we didn’t do it.”

  “Anything like what?” he asked, inching his lips even closer to hers.

  “Whatever,” she said, nervously chewing her bottom lip.

  As quick as she’d ever encountered, he darted his tongue out and slowly began licking around her lips, trailing a path from corner to corner. “By anything, do you mean something like this?” he asked as his tongue continued to toy with her lips.

  “Yes,” she whispered, barely able to get the word out. “Something like that.”

  “And what about this?” he asked, reaching up, drawing her face closer with his hands, so close she could see the dark intensity in his eyes. He began nibbling on her lips, gently, thoroughly, seemingly partial to the plumpness of her bottom lip. After hovering there for a few seconds, he then moved to her top lip, giving it equal play.

  She felt her stomach clench, felt the heat forming between her legs and wished he would stop torturing her and just go in for the kill—she was dying a slow, sensuous death with every teasing stroke of his tongue.

  “I like kissing you,” he whispered against her moist lips.

  She could tell and wondered if he realized he wasn’t exactly kissing her, just tormenting her. Then, without warning, she had a fantasy flashback of him doing this very thing in her dream, almost making her beg before finally giving her what she wanted. She had never experience lust before now. Didn’t have an inkling of how profound and potent it was. Had never known how it felt to want a person to an extent that was mind-blowing.

  But what was making her feel heady was the fact that she knew he wanted her, too. The tightness in his jeans, the large bulge she felt pressed against her was evidence of that fact. And the more he tortured her mouth, the more he was working the both of them into a state of extreme arousal.

  Deciding she’d had enough, she gripped a section of his hair. He stopped, looked at her, their eyes just as close as their lips. She saw the desire, the need, the outright hunger in his gaze, and then none too gently tugged on his hair and pulled his mouth down to hers.

  She opened hers over his, not knowing exactly what she was doing but having a good idea of what it was she wanted. And when he parted his lips, she inserted her tongue, determined to find that pleasure she’d found before.

  She didn’t have long to wait.

  He launched into the kiss full speed, demonstrating his ability and flexibility; an impact she felt all the way to her toes. The fact that all the blood in her body had rushed south would explain her recklessness, her desire, this ingrained need to have her way with him, she decided. Sensations ratcheted through her and she was driven to satisfy this hunger she had never felt before, this need to—

  “Sorry to interrupt.”

  Casey and McKinnon quickly ended their kiss but he held onto her tight, refusing to allow her to put distance between them. “What is it, Norris?” he asked in an irritated tone, ignoring the curious look on his foreman’s face. It wasn’t the first time he’d been caught kissing a woman and it probably wouldn’t be the last.

  “Spitfire’s in trouble.”

  “Damn.” McKinnon muttered under his breath, easing Casey out of his arms.
“What’s wrong with her?” he asked in a rough but worried voice.

  “She’s in labor and having problems. I called Paul but Beth said he’s over at the Monroe’s spread taking care of their sick cattle. She’s not sure when he’ll be able to get here.”

  Casey had regained her senses enough to absorb most of the conversation between McKinnon and Norris. She knew that Beth Manning was a park ranger who worked with Durango and that her husband, Paul, was the vet in the area. Before she could think of anything else beyond that, McKinnon, ignoring Norris’s presence, brushed his lips with hers and then whispered against her moist lips, “I have to go.” And then he was gone, rushing beside Norris to the stables.

  * * *

  “Is she all right, McKinnon?”

  McKinnon glanced up as Casey walked into the barn. She had changed from her nightgown and robe into a pair of jeans and a top. The outfit was more practical and, in his book, just as sexy.

  He swallowed deeply and glanced back at the mare in the birthing stall. “I hope so, but it seems her first foal is giving her one hell of a time.”

  “Oh, poor baby.”

  “Yeah, and the daddy over there isn’t handling things too much better,” McKinnon said as he glanced over at Thunder who was anxiously prancing back and forth in his stall. “If you’ll take care of Spitfire and try keeping her calm, I’m going to move Thunder to one of those empty stalls in the back. The less he knows about what’s going on, the better.”

  “Sure,” Casey said, moving closer to the mare. McKinnon had talked like Thunder was a person rather than a horse, and she knew her brothers felt the same way about their horses.

  Alone with Spitfire, she spoke gently to the mare, trying to keep her calm. She had been around pregnant horses enough to know when the time came for them to deliver, they had a tendency to increase their anxiety levels, just like humans. Having a baby, no matter who was doing the having, was no picnic.

  “She’s okay?” McKinnon asked, stepping back into the stall sometime later.

  Casey glanced up at him. “Yes, she’s doing fine. Have you heard anything from Paul?”

  “He called my cell phone while I was moving Thunder. He’s left the Monroe’s and is on his way, so hopefully he’ll have something to calm Spitfire down.”

  McKinnon came to stand closer to Casey. “You’re probably tired after all you’ve done today. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night. Why don’t you go back up to the guesthouse and go on to bed.”

  Casey stared up at him. He was trying to get rid of her, to put back into prospective what he thought their relationship should be yet again. “I’m fine, McKinnon and since tomorrow is Saturday, I can sleep late if I want.”

  He met her gaze for a long moment and said nothing, but she felt him putting his guard back up. She couldn’t help wondering why he refused to let her get close. A part of her said let it go, that if that’s the way he wanted to be then so be it. Another part, the part that felt there was more to it than what she was seeing, decided not to let it go. There was a reason for McKinnon’s behavior and she intended to find out what it was.

  * * *

  “Isn’t he a beautiful colt?” Casey said excitedly about the foal Spitfire had given birth to a couple of hours earlier. Both mother and baby were doing fine, and proud Poppa Thunder had whined proudly.

  “Yes, he most certainly is,” McKinnon said as the two of them walked back toward the house. “And I know your dad is going to be pleased.”

  “I’m sure he will be.” After Paul arrived, everyone got busy and there was no time to concentrate on anything but the business at hand. But now they were back to square one.

  “You mentioned something about sleeping late in the morning. Does that mean you plan to stay on the ranch all weekend?” McKinnon asked, his voice neutral as if he didn’t care one way or the other.

  “My parents are off the mountain visiting with yours for the weekend. In fact, I’m going with both parents to a play in town tomorrow night. You’re welcome to join us if—”

  “No, thanks. I’ll have work to do.”

  She nodded, knowing this was his way of putting distance between them again. “All right. Then I’ll see you later.”

  Before he could comment, and whether he intended to do so was doubtful, she turned and walked quickly toward the guest house.

  * * *

  Savannah called and invited Casey over for Sunday dinner. Durango would be working that day and she hated eating alone. Casey appreciated the invitation to get off McKinnon’s ranch for a while since once again he had made himself scarce where she was concerned. Besides, Casey appreciated the company of a female close to her age, and since meeting Savannah at Chase’s wedding the two had developed a close friendship.

  They talked about a lot of stuff but Casey would be the first one to admit their current topic was one she wouldn’t mind changing. She glanced over at Savannah as she finished her meal. “Why do you think something is going on between me and McKinnon?”

  Savannah tilted her head and smiled. “Because there is,” she said simply. “You can deny it all you want but it’s there. But honestly, I think you really don’t recognize it for what it is.”

  Casey knew that was definitely a possibility since she had little experience with men. “And how do you know it’s there?”

  Savannah’s smile widened. “Because I’ve seen the two of you at several functions. I’ve watched how you look at each other when the other’s not noticing. I know firsthand how that is because that’s how things started with me and Durango. Things got so intense between us that we were in bed together the day after we met.”

  She then rubbed her stomach and grinned. “And as you know, the rest is history.”

  Casey chuckled. “But the two of you are so much in love, which means the marriage didn’t happen because you got pregnant.”

  “That was supposed to be the reason but that’s the clincher,” Savannah said, smiling broadly. “We didn’t know we were in love. Or maybe deep down somewhere we knew it but were afraid to acknowledge it. I’m just glad we came to our senses. I can’t imagine my life without Durango and I want the same thing for you and McKinnon.”

  Casey shook her head. “Whoa, back up, hold on. I think your eyes are so full of love for Durango that you think everyone else’s eyes should have that same glow. But to set the record straight, there’s nothing going on between me and McKinnon.”

  “If you think so, but I believe otherwise. Whenever the two of you are together, it’s like spontaneous combustion just waiting to happen. And I don’t think you fully understand just how explosive that can be.”

  Umm, after two kisses, which she had no desire to discuss at the moment, she did know how explosive passion could be. “Okay, I’ll be the first to admit I’m extremely attracted to McKinnon. What woman wouldn’t be? But an attraction is as far as things go. He has chosen the life of a bachelor and right now I’m trying to figure out what I want to do with my own life. So much of it has been filled with nothing but lies.”

  She chuckled harshly. “Do you know I was so wrapped up in all that fairy-tale stuff my mother used to feed me about her and my father that I wanted that same type of love for myself to the point that I’m still a virgin?”

  Casey sighed deeply. There was no turning back now—she’d revealed her secret. In a way she was glad to get it out. She’d never had a sister and her brothers were the last people she could talk about something like that.

  “I think it’s wonderful that you’re still a virgin,” Savannah said, shifting to more comfortable position in her chair. “I wished I had saved myself for Durango. My one and only guy before him was a selfish bastard and I regret the day I ever met him, let alone slept with him.”

  She glanced over at Casey before she continued. “But then I had no reason to
believe in tales of romance and love. My father was the biggest bastard of them all. Trust me when I say he didn’t set a good example.”

  “Yes, but at least you hadn’t been fed lies your whole life,” Casey said softly.

  “No, but I still think you have a lot to be thankful for. Your mother took very good care of you and your brothers. That couldn’t have been easy for a single woman, and it seems you were all raised with good values. Not all kids can claim that, Casey. And before she died, your mom wanted all of you to know the truth when she could have carried the information to the grave. Although you missed not having a father around while growing up, you did finally get to meet him, and look what a wonderful man he is. I’ll trade Jeff Claiborne for Corey Westmoreland any day.”

  Silence engulfed the room for several seconds before Savannah spoke. “There might be something else you’re overlooking.”

  “What?”

  “Why your mother fabricated the story that she did. That could have been her way of coping with life, of dealing with the realization that the one man she loved more than life itself had a heart that belonged to another. That had to have been hard on her.”

  Casey gazed at Savannah, thinking she’d never thought of it that way. For the past two years she had been so angry at what her mother had done that she’d never given thought to the pain her mother must have endured knowing that no matter how much she loved Corey, he hadn’t loved her back.

  “I want you to promise me something, Casey.”

  Casey lifted a brow. “What?”

  “If you ever do come to realize you care for McKinnon, don’t give up on him and walk away, no matter what. I’m not a psychic by any means, but I feel something. Even when he appears happy I can detect his sadness and I don’t know why. It’s like there’s something private eating at him but I have no idea what it could be. I’ve caught him looking at me and Durango during some of our play times with a pensive look in his eyes. And although he claims he doesn’t ever want to marry and have children, I think that deep down he really does. I’ve tried talking to Durango about it but he refuses to discuss certain things about McKinnon with me. But then I have to respect that the two of them share this special bond.”