Pure Temptation

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “What are you doing?”

  Even from this distance, the mischief was obvious in her smile. “Getting you hot.”

  “I’m already hot!” Squirming in the saddle, to be more accurate. Panting, lusting, longing for relief from this agonizing need to be deep inside her.

  “Then hotter.”

  “Damn, Tess.” Her shirt was scented with her cologne, and something even more erotic, the fragrance of Tess, aroused and ready for love. He bunched it in one fist and held it to his nose. Oh, Lord. That scent…memories of lying between her thighs, of tasting her, whirled through his fevered brain. “Why does your shirt smell so…good?”

  “A little trick I read in the book I brought along tonight.”

  “What trick?”

  “Oh, you just find a way to convey your own…special perfume to your lover. They say it works better than any manufactured perfume from the store.”

  He watched her through a haze of desire. “They would be right. You’re not wearing panties under your shorts, are you?”

  “No.”

  “So you took this shirt and put it—”

  “In a very special place. Then I sent it back to you. You know, the motion of this horse is…very nice.”

  Mac groaned. “Ease up on me, Tess. I’m a desperate man.”

  “The book says anticipation is everything.”

  “Bull. Anticipation is excruciating.” He heard the gurgle of the river ahead. Almost there. Smelling the water, the horses picked up the pace, and he tortured himself with imagining the sweet jiggle of Tess’s breasts in the moonlight. He reached down and pulled the blanket out of his saddlebag and tucked her shirt in its place. He had no intention of wasting time once they got to the river.

  Tess headed Peppermint Patty down the embankment and was off her horse in no time. She left the mare ground-tied, as she and Mac always did when they came down here at night. The horses weren’t going far in the dark, and they provided a good warning system for snakes.

  Mac’s view of Tess was blocked by her horse as he dismounted holding the blanket. But when she stepped out from behind Peppermint Patty into a pool of moonlight, Mac lost his grip on the blanket. She was naked.

  “Does this come close enough to your fantasy?” she murmured.

  As he gazed at her standing in the silvery light like some nymph from a fairy tale, the water rippling and flashing behind her, his throat tightened with desire. “It goes beyond it,” he said huskily. “I don’t think I could dream something this beautiful, so I sure hope you’re real.”

  “I’m real.” She walked toward him across the sand and he noticed the small book in her hand. “And I want to make love with you, Mac.”

  Make love. His throat ached with emotion as he faced the truth—making love was exactly what he’d be doing, perhaps for the first time in his life. But for Tess, this might only be a stepping stone, an initiation into pleasures she would one day enjoy with another man. He had to protect his heart. “I see you have your reference book, there,” he said, trying to keep his tone light.

  “You said you wanted to see it.”

  “Oh, I do.” But technique didn’t seem to matter so much now. Still, she wanted an education, and he’d been chosen to help her learn. That in itself was an amazing gift he’d been given, and to expect more would be greedy. He leaned down, picked up the blanket and shook it out, settling it on the sand. She stretched out on it while he started taking off his clothes with shaking hands.

  The process took longer than he wanted because he couldn’t stop looking at her lying there like some sort of nature goddess. He never would have guessed that their old meeting spot by the river could turn into such a seductive place. More than seductive. Tess made his heart ache with her beauty.

  Sunday night she’d totally captivated him with her white satin and rose-colored bedroom, but there was something even wilder about this scene. Not far away a pack of coyotes howled and yipped, hunting, perhaps even mating by the light of the full moon. The sound stirred basic instincts deep within him. He’d do well to ignore them. They could only get him into more trouble.

  “Coyotes,” Tess said.

  “Yeah.” He took off the last of his clothes and reached in the pocket of his jeans.

  “They sound so…primitive.”

  He caught the note of urgency in her voice, as if her reaction was the same as his. Heart pounding, he knelt beside her on the blanket. They were only playing at this, he told himself. He would be crazy to get serious. “So, professor, what do you want to try?”

  She opened the book and leaned away so that moonlight fell across the page. “This.”

  The coyotes howled again as he gazed down at a black-and-white artist’s drawing of a couple mating in the way that wild creatures mated. He sucked in a breath, knowing that was what had filled his mind as he’d listened to the coyotes’ song, yet never imagining she would want such a thing, too. But oh, to love her like that, with the night sounds around them and the river rushing by…he ached with the wanting of it.

  He glanced at her and a tremor passed through him. This primitive mating would have great significance for him, which made it dangerous, but for her it might simply be a unique experience. “You’re…sure?”

  Slowly she closed the book. Then she sensuously rolled to her stomach. Before he realized it, she’d risen to her hands and knees, offering her round bottom in the age-old invitation of a female to her chosen male.

  His body could not refuse. Hot blood thrummed through his veins as uncivilized needs took hold of him. Grasping her hips, he moved into position behind her. A guttural, untamed sound rose from his throat and he fought the urge to drive deep and claim her in the way of the wilderness. Instead, he probed gently, not wanting to frighten her.

  Desire surged in him when he found her moist and ready. Still he held back, slipping his hand around her waist and down, massaging the tight nub that heightened her response. With a little cry that was almost a plea, she tilted her hips, and he could restrain himself no more. He slid smoothly into her waiting channel.

  And for the second time in his life he felt an incredible sense of connection, even stronger than the first time. And with that arose an urge he’d never known—the compulsion to pour himself into this woman and watch her grow round with child, his child. His body chafed against the barrier he’d placed between seed and womb and called for him to complete the connection and fill her with his essence.

  And he could not. With a groan of pleasure mixed with deep frustration, he drew back and pushed forward with more force, lightly slapping her with his thighs. She murmured encouragement, and he increased the pace, pummeling her gently yet firmly as the sandy clearing filled with the sounds and scents of mating. They became slick with sweat in the heat of the night air as the slap of flesh against flesh grew faster and more defined. Their gasps and soft cries melded with the call of night creatures, the wind in the trees and the ripple of water over stones.

  She tightened around him a moment before she was rocked with convulsions. Her undulations drew him into more frenzied movements as instinct told him now was the time, the time to plant his seed. He erupted in a forceful climax, crying out her name and holding her close to receive him. And the mating dance that had shaken him to his soul came to a powerful…and fruitless…end.

  TESS LAY on the blanket, curled with her back nestled against the protective curve of Mac’s body, and wondered how she’d created such a terrible problem. She’d fallen madly, passionately, desperately in love with her best friend. What had started out as fun and games, a fine adventure together before she headed off to her new life, had become more important than anything else in her world.

  She didn’t believe a woman should sacrifice a bright future in order to be with a man. Yet that’s exactly what she wanted to do. She knew that Mac wouldn’t leave Copperville as long as his parents needed him on the ranch, so any woman who wanted to be with Mac would have to stay in Copperville, too. And s
he wanted to be with Mac, to make love with him, to laugh and play with him and make babies with him.

  Especially make babies. She wanted to be his mate, to make love again the way they had a little while ago, only without protection. She’d leaped from being a virgin only days ago to wanting it all—marriage, motherhood, years of lovemaking with this man.

  It wasn’t the way she’d pictured herself. From as long as she could remember, she’d been determined to escape the confines of this small town, to be sophisticated and worldly. She’d vowed to live in a big city, travel to exotic places, have many lovers.

  Then, when she’d tired of all that, she’d settle down, probably right here in Copperville, and raise a family.

  Now all her worldly plans seemed hollow and lonely. What good was any of it, if she couldn’t have Mac there to share it with her? She’d rather stay here and be a ranch wife than lose Mac.

  Not that Mac was asking. He’d never given any indication that he thought of her in those terms. He didn’t act as if he wanted to settle down and marry anyone, as a matter of fact, let alone her. He’d never even been engaged.

  He stroked her hip. “Whatcha thinking about, twinkle-toes?”

  She decided on a partial answer. “Oh, just that it’s too bad I’ll be heading for New York the end of August.”

  He kneaded her thigh. “Because this is so much fun, you mean?”

  “Yes.” More than fun. She’d become involved, heart and soul, but she dared not tell him.

  “It’s fun, but in a way it’s a good thing we have a limit on the time we can be together. We’d never be able to keep it a secret if it went beyond August.”

  “True.” Perhaps he was happy with the secret arrangement, considering that he wanted to keep his status with her brothers intact. The only way her brothers would tolerate a sexual relationship between Mac and Tess was if they were getting married. Immediately. Mac didn’t want marriage at the moment, apparently, so the secret had to be kept.

  “Ready for a little skinny-dipping?”

  She turned toward him. “We’re really going to?”

  He gave her a quick kiss. “Sure. We’re all hot and sticky. It’ll feel good. And besides, it’s part of your education.”

  “Mac, I don’t think we can have sex in the middle of that river.”

  “Why not?” His grin flashed in the moonlight. “Because it isn’t in your book?”

  “Because you won’t have a pocket to stash your condom in.”

  “Tsk, tsk. You take away a girl’s virginity, and suddenly she thinks sex is only about intercourse.” He got to his feet and pulled her up with him. “Come on. Let’s see what happens when you stand thigh-deep in rushing water without a bathing suit on.” He took her hand and led her toward the riverbank.

  Excitement swelled within her. That was another thing she loved about Mac. He had a heck of an imagination. Still, she wondered if he’d thought of that sort of stimulation on his own. “Have you been reading my books?”

  “Nah. But I went down to the drugstore and bought one of those magazines they keep behind the counter. The article was about hot-tub jets, which we don’t have, so we’ll have to improvise.”

  And improvise he did, although there was much laughing and splashing and playful groping before he finally had her positioned the way he wanted her. He’d so awakened her sensuality that he easily convinced her to accept the river as a teasing lover. Holding her steady, adding his own caress to that of the water, he coaxed her to let the current stroke her intimately, bringing her to a crescendo of feeling. At the moment of release she couldn’t tell whether the bubbling water or Mac’s caress had sent her over the edge.

  While she was still gasping in reaction, he swept her into his arms and carried her back to the blanket. He made love to her while they were both still wet and slick as otters, so their bodies slid together as if they were oiled. She’d never known such triumphant freedom. She felt lithe and supple, capable of anything. They twisted and turned on the blanket, exploring different positions, alternate ways their bodies could move and shift yet still give unbelievable pleasure.

  She was sure Mac was enjoying himself. His murmured words told her so, and when his tone roughened, she knew he was in the grip of fierce passion. When at last he surrendered to that passion, she held him tight and absorbed the strong tremors that shook him. She couldn’t imagine living without this, without him. Perhaps, if she loved him well enough and thoroughly enough this summer, he’d realize he couldn’t live without her, either.

  THE SUMMER PASSED far too quickly for Tess. For every creative lovemaking scheme she dreamed up, Mac came up with one to match it. She suggested a day trip to Phoenix. They checked into the honeymoon suite of a hotel where no one would know them and spent the day in bed. He flew them up to Flagstaff where they hiked to a mountain meadow and made love in a field of daisies under a bright summer sky.

  They experimented with velvet ropes, furry mittens and feather dusters. While they were in Phoenix they stopped into an X-rated boutique and dared each other to buy something. They came out of the shop with body paint and flavored massage oils.

  The charged hours Tess spent with Mac seemed painted in brilliant color, while the rest of her life seemed to be cast in shades of gray. She went through the motions of a normal summer, playing cards with her sisters-in-law every Wednesday night, baby-sitting for her nieces and nephews, having lunch with her mother, planning the surprise anniversary party for her parents. But none of it seemed quite real, because she couldn’t tell those she cared about that a most significant and wonderful thing had happened to her—she was completely in love with Mac MacDougal.

  And she wanted to tell the world. She especially longed to confide in her mother, who would be a great source of advice. When her sisters-in-law discussed their husbands, whether in frustration or delight, Tess wanted to be a part of that conversation, to join the ranks of women openly, proudly in love.

  Mac seemed just as involved with her as she was with him, although not a word of commitment ever came from his mouth. During the hot weeks of summer, they shared everything, it seemed, except a future. It was as if she were about to be shipped off to war and might never come back, so the subject of a happy-ever-after could never be broached.

  Aside from that, she thought they were no different from any other couple just discovering passion and love, except that their relationship was known only to themselves. At first she’d thought secrecy was essential to her summer project. Sharing the secret with Mac had felt delicious and naughty. Now she was sick of it. But she couldn’t tell. Not ever, unless Mac agreed, and she couldn’t imagine him agreeing. And that made her soul ache.

  BY THE FIRST WEEK in August, Mac had come to the painful conclusion that he should break up with Tess. He should have ended their affair long before this, in fact. He was obviously good enough for her in bed, but not good enough to consider altering her career plans for, not good enough to let the world know about their love affair. He’d watched for any wavering on her decision to move to New York, and there was none.

  As he headed to her house for another night of lovemaking, the truck splashing through puddles left by a heavy afternoon rain, he cursed himself for being weak. If he couldn’t treat sex with her as a casual roll in the hay, fun while it lasted but forgotten when it was over, then he should get out now and start putting himself back together.

  In fact, that’s what he’d do, by God. Tonight. He wouldn’t make love to her. He ignored the sick feeling of disappointment in his gut at that thought and vowed to carry through with what was right, what would ultimately save his sanity.

  He’d walk into her house and tell her this activity was eating into his time, causing him to get behind on some paperwork for the ranch. That much was true. He’d taken over the books for his parents a couple of years ago, and at the moment he was making a sorry job of it.

  He arrived at the town’s traffic light as it turned red, and although his was the only
vehicle at the intersection, he stopped anyway. As he sat waiting for the green, a horn beeped behind him.

  Glancing in the rearview mirror, he spotted Rhino Blakely’s truck with Rhino driving and Hammer in the passenger seat. Mac raised a hand in greeting and fought down the guilt that swept over him every time he unexpectedly met members of Tess’s family. Tonight he didn’t have to feel guilty, though. He was going over to Tess’s house, but he wouldn’t be there long. It was over.

  Rhino hopped out of the truck and ran forward to knock on Mac’s window.

  Mac rolled it down. “What’s up?”

  “Joan and Deena went to a movie, and me and Hammer feel like a darts tournament at the Ore Cart tonight. What do you say?”

  Mac hesitated only a split second. If he had somewhere to go, that would force him to make the break with Tess. “Sure. I have to swing by Tess’s house for a few minutes, but I can be there in a half hour or so.”

  “Great. Light’s green.” Rhino ran back to his truck.

  Mac rolled up the window and crossed the intersection. Fate must have stepped in to make him take this necessary step, he thought. Here he’d been thinking of what he needed to do, and along came some help in the form of Rhino and Hammer. If he ended it with Tess tonight, the brothers would never find out about the wild activities going on under their noses.

  Even Tess probably needed some time to regroup before she went to New York. She might not realize it, but she’d probably have a tough time giving up what they’d shared this summer.

  The rest of the way to Tess’s house, Mac ran through all the reasons to end the affair. They were all good reasons, yet he felt as if someone had dropped a load of copper ore on his chest as he walked up the steps to her porch and opened the door. Walking away from another night of wonderful lovemaking and knowing he wouldn’t make love to Tess ever again might be the hardest job he’d ever given himself. He’d have to be strong.