She turned her head slightly, caught his thumb between her teeth, gently nipped it and then kissed it. Her hands came up, gathered his large hands between her own as she pushed him back against the pillows. "I promise I won't hurt you," she mocked gently, tenderly.
"You've relieved my mind." His mouth caught hers in a rush, hard and crushing. She met him ravenously, her hands pulling him even closer. She needed his warmth, the hardness of him.
He rolled over, taking her with him. Feverishly, she pulled his shirt apart, tugged it off his shoulders. It slid unnoticed to the pale gray rug.
Palms down, she spread her fingers, sweeping her hands over the hair on his chest, the pads of her fingers smoothing up over his shoulders. Soap and aftershave whirled about her. Drugged on his scent, she dipped her head, lips and tongue tracking a course across his body.
His face looked hard, eyes darkening as he watched her. She loved the feel of him. Gently, her lips roved over the flat of his stomach, his chest, sliding upwards to his neck and seeking the hollow behind his ear, his still-damp hair tickling her nose.
She kissed the curve of his jaw, down along his neck, lips and tongue caressing his collarbone. The man was all lean muscle. Her fingers splayed across his ribs, tracing a tiny scar, playfully working across his skin.
She levered herself up, looking down at him. "You're beautiful," she whispered tenderly, then laughed shakily and shook her head. "I can't help it, I love touching you."
"Touch away," he rasped. "But I get to do the same."
She pressed against him, her arm resting across his stomach. She inhaled deeply, trying to catch her breath. She felt as if she had run hard.
Her fingers rifled through his hair. His hair was so fine, the light and dark strands sliding through her fingers.
He turned onto his side to face her, dislodging her arm. His fingers found the hem of her shirt, lifted it upward, slowly, his eyes on her as warm palms moved along her ribs and up over her breasts.
It became even more difficult to breathe. Licking dry lips, she allowed him to pull the shirt off, felt his care as he released her hair. She wore no bra, she was naked from the waist up, as was he.
His mouth found her breasts, teasing her. Restlessly, she churned against him. She wanted him crushed to her.
His fingers worked along the soft skin of her stomach, the slight hollow of her navel, then the button of her jeans. His eyes met hers.
Her nod was slight, she could manage nothing more. Her stomach quivered with small convulsions as he undid the button, pulled the jeans down over her hips, leaving only her briefs in place.
Work-hardened hands ran gently, sensually over her legs, down her thighs to slim ankles. A large palm cupped her heel and pulled the jeans entirely from her legs.
She stretched against the cool sheets, an overall sensual ache sweeping to the core of her. The look in his eyes made her feel like the most desirable woman alive.
She caught her breath as his lips touched like a hot brand on the faint pinkish scar that ran along her neck. She jerked her head back, moving to push him away. He forestalled her, catching her nervously trembling hand as he dropped another kiss on the scar, gently, carefully.
She placed a hand on either side of his head and pulled him to her.
Their bodies did a slow, sensuous dance, side by side.
"Sloan." She released his name on a sigh.
"Come to me, Jacie." He pulled her against him, imprinting her with every hard line.
She feared in that moment her heart would burst from her chest, it beat so fast. His mouth trailed across her jaw, caught her mouth, played with her lips, then followed the flush of pink across her cheeks. She traced his lips with her tongue, darting at him.
Her hips moved, and she felt his nakedness against her own, hardness touching softness. She ran an exploratory palm down his chest, over the flat rigidity of his stomach, her curiosity knowing no bounds.
Time skipped away, sensation took over, melting all worry, making her live for the moment. Nothing mattered but this man, her lover. She hurried him when he went slow, reacted to him, wantonly begging, without words, for more.
He caught her closer, enveloping her. She clutched fiercely at him, afraid she couldn't get enough of his heat. Eagerly she took him in, giving back in equal measure.
Sloan held her tight, elation gripping him. Wildly their flesh met, plunged, rose again. Sensation overcame everything; the touch, taste and scent of Jacie was imprinted on his mind. Excitement held them, flung them wildly, then shattered all around them.
"Sloan!" Her cry was soft, breathless, her fingers gripping him fiercely. He held her close, protecting, guiding her until she shook with the fever, then became boneless, defenseless. Satiated.
His woman, he thought, pushing the hair tenderly from her face. She had placed her trust in him and given him everything, letting down her defenses.
He buried his lips deeply in her throat and traced a path across her cheekbone, over lids blue-veined and delicate.
He knew he had committed himself big time, and he felt it was right. He and Jacie could make a life together. They could combine their two worlds. There was always a way.
She snuggled down against him. He kept his arm around her as she slept. He pushed her hair back with a feather-light touch, watching her. He recalled his father telling him that despite everything, he would never have given up knowing Sloan's mother. Now, he understood what his father had meant. When you loved someone, it was really that easy. Sloan knew he loved Jacie. When she woke, he would tell her.
Ω
Jacie walked into her cabin early the next morning, her mind racing over the night she had spent with Sloan. It occupied her thoughts to the extent of all else.
These past weeks she had learned about Sloan the man, now she knew Sloan as a lover.
An ache began deep inside.
You should have stayed beside him and woke him, the voice in her head chided. She had wakened earlier in Sloan's arms. She had relished the closeness, the memory of their lovemaking, however, part of her needed time to absorb the implications of such a step, so she had slipped out before he woke. She wondered now if she had made a mistake.
She started as the telephone rang. Disbelieving, she looked at her watch, wondering who would call at seven in the morning.
"Hello?" She heard rasping breaths, as if someone were out of breath.
"Jacie, you're there! I've been trying to reach you all night. I'm sorry to bother you―"
"Bonnie! What is it?"
There was weeping on the other end of the line. "Oh, Jacie, I lost my necklace when I was out there...out at Timber Falls."
"Your necklace?"
"You remember, the one my father gave me, it's a family heirloom, irreplaceable. After I left―I was upset, you were so mad at me and I don't blame you. I stopped on the road just outside the ranch at a small pull-off.
"I couldn't drive, I had to collect myself. I got out to smoke a cigarette. I walked around for a bit and that's the last time I remember having the necklace. That must be when I lost it.
"Maybe it slipped the chain. I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I'm frantic." She spoke so rapidly Jacie had a hard time understanding her.
"Slow down, Bonnie."
"Our conversation had bothered me so, I'm so sorry..."
A stirring of guilt gripped Jacie. "All right, Bonnie, that doesn't matter now. Tell me where this place is."
"After you leave the ranch, there's a sign and a small pull-off. I'm sure that's where I must have lost it."
"I think I know where you’re talking about. Is it right by a big pasture and along the dirt track?"
"Yes, yes. Oh, thank you, Jacie. If I don't recover that, I'd never forgive myself. I heard it’s supposed to rain and I’m afraid it’ll be lost forever. I’ll drive back out."
Jacie sensed the relief in the other woman's voice. "If I should find it, I can mail it to you. That’s a long way to drive―"
<
br /> "I couldn’t drive last night. I got a motel room in a town about an hour away."
Jacie sighed inwardly. "Okay, I’ll see you when you arrive."
Jacie hurried into the barn and almost collided with Renee.
"Good morning, Jacie."
"Can I use one of the horses?"
"They've all been fed, take your pick."
"Thanks, Renee, it's going to be a short ride."
"Is everything okay?"
"A friend of mine lost her necklace. She thinks it might have been just outside the ranch. I’m going to look before it rains."
"That's kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack," Renee said doubtfully. "Do you want some help?"
"I’ll help you Jacie."
Surprised to hear Brad’s voice behind her, she whirled around. "Brad! You’re up early."
"I came to say goodbye. I’ll ride out with you then I’m leaving."
Jacie looked at him a moment, then shrugged. "All right. If we find it, you can give it back to Bonnie."
As they rode out to the east pasture she kept thinking of Sloan. She shouldn't have left before he woke this morning. How could she think she needed to think further about what had happened between them? She loved him. She would look for the necklace and then go find him and make it up to him for leaving. That thought made her smile in anticipation.
§ Chapter Fourteen §
"So things seem to be going well for you, Jacie?" Brad asked.
Jacie looked over at him, having been lost in thoughts of Sloan. "Yes."
Brad didn’t look like he’d had a good night’s rest. He hadn’t shaved and looked pretty rough. She felt a moment’s sympathy but knew Brad’s problems were of his own making.
"Here we are," she said with relief, casting a worried glance at the sky. It had gradually become overcast, the sky a sullen gray. "You start looking here along this area and I’ll check over by the ledge."
She dismounted, dropped her horse’s reins and walked over to the ledge. The quicker she began looking the quicker she could get back to Sloan.
She could see fog creeping up the wall of rock. She had never seen fog roll along the ground like it did in the Catskills.
After an hour, she was convinced they wouldn’t find it. It had been barely two hours since she had left Sloan, yet she hadn't been able to stop thinking of him, their lovemaking, the entire night of loving. Lord! How could it have been so wonderful, so perfect?
"There's no way we'll find anything out here," she muttered, looking around for Brad. Jacie suddenly noticed a figure appear out of the woods.
Bonnie walked towards her across the field. She had never seen her dressed so casually in jeans, T-shirt and hiking boots.
"Bonnie," she said, "how did you get here so quickly? Where did you park your car?"
"That’s not important."
"We couldn’t find the necklace."
Bonnie shot her a surprised look. "We?"
Jacie saw Brad climb up from a small ledge. "I looked down over the ledge," he said, "but I doubt we’ll find it." He looked at Bonnie in surprise.
Bonnie said angrily. "Why is he here?"
"What’s going on?" Jacie said suspiciously.
Bonnie stepped back from them and pulled her hand out from behind her back. She held a small gun.
"Geez! Bonnie!" Brad said, horrified.
Jacie stepped back, fear a huge tightness in her throat.
"You’ve ruined everything. I wasted months of my life on you," Bonnie spat.
Jacie put her head back, comprehension dawning. "It was you all along." She looked around quickly but the area was wide open, there was nowhere to run.
"You’re both fools!" Bonnie said. She turned to Jacie. "You’ve jeopardized his life by bringing him out here."
Jacie tried to keep her terror in check. The hard, angry glitter in Bonnie’s eyes held her transfixed. "Is this about the money?" She needed to buy time.
"I set it all up. I’ve got the withdrawal papers ready, my passport, and you’re still walking around."
"Angel Falls," Jacie said in a low voice.
Bonnie laughed. "You two! Taking stupid chances in a foreign country. You made it so easy."
"You weren’t there," Brad said, edging closer.
Bonnie pointed the gun at him and he stopped. "I didn’t have to be," she said contemptuously. "I had somebody on the inside."
"And they tampered with my equipment," Jacie said, realizing Sloan had been right.
The woman she had considered a friend gave her a cold smile.
"Even if you kill me, you won’t get the money," Jacie said.
"Don’t you worry, I’ve always had a talent for signatures. Did you know you'd made a Last Will and Testament leaving everything to your best friend?" She laughed. "It’s going to show up fully executed in your belongings." Bonnie looked contemptuously at Brad. "We’re a lot alike. You wanted the money too, but when they find you two dead, they’re going to think there was a struggle and you tried to kill Jacie. If they ever figure out it wasn’t him, I’ll be long gone and a bit richer." She pointed the gun directly at Jacie. "Back up toward the ledge."
Jacie's stomach heaved with fright, but she didn’t move.
"Do it," Bonnie snarled.
"No!" Brad said, lunging toward her.
The gun discharging rent the air, echoing around them. Bonnie and Brad struggled for the weapon, stumbling back toward the ledge. Another shot sounded.
Jacie heard Brad’s grunt of pain. She ran to him as he doubled over and fell on the ground.
"Back away." Bonnie pointed the gun at her.
Jacie knelt beside Brad. Blood poured from his thigh. Turning her head, she saw the horses held their heads high in the air, startled and quivering. A low rumbling began, like thunder in the distance. A heightened sense of danger knifed through her. "It's the herd." She could see a rising cloud of dust just beyond a small knoll.
"Shut up."
"They're stampeding," Jacie insisted. "We have to get away from the ledge. We have to run toward the trees!"
Bonnie looked back at the approaching herd. Alarm finally registered on her face.
Jacie tried to get Brad up, but in seconds, she knew it was useless. The cattle were running full bore toward them now, the width and breadth of the herd making it impossible for them to reach the trees and possible safety. They would be caught in the middle of the stampede.
Bonnie darted past them, running across the field.
She pulled Brad closer to the ledge as the first animal raced by. She was conscious of the sheer drop a mere three feet from where they were. She looked out across the herd but she couldn’t see Bonnie.
There was nowhere to go. The cattle edged closer, hooves pounding the earth. Dust rose chokingly.
At a certain moment, she knew death was imminent. There was nowhere to go but down, down over the ledge into the ravine.
With dread, she watched the cattle shift almost as one, pushing them further toward the edge.
Jacie helped Brad as he tried to rise. Almost in slow motion, he fell to his knees. She clawed at him as he lost his balance and slid part way off the ledge.
Landing brutally hard on her stomach, she managed to grab the back of Brad’s shirt. Spots jumped before her eyes as she hung onto him. Brad’s fingers clawed the dry earth, trying to grab onto something, anything.
"Hold―hold still, Brad―" Even as she gasped the words, she felt the shirt rip from her fingers. "Brad!"
He fell from sight.
Disbelieving, she closed her eyes. "Oh, my God!"
The ledge beneath her trembled, a portion of it crumbling away. When she realized she too was going to fall, she tried to scramble backwards. Shards of stone bit into her flesh as the ground gave away. She held on a moment, her arms on the sandy ledge. Her legs dangled as she attempted to find a foothold.
An awful emptiness filled her as time seemed to stand still. She felt herself falling.
Ω
Sloan looked into the office and found James inside. "Have you seen Jacie?" he asked.
Looking up from his paperwork, James looked at the clock on the wall. "She was in the barn this morning, about two hours ago. Renee said she and Carlton were going for a ride. I don't know if they're back yet."
"Jacie went for a ride?" Uneasily, Sloan thought it was odd. He hadn't been happy that Jacie was gone when he woke, but the note she’d left had made him smile and he knew he'd see her at some point that morning.
"I'll see if anyone knows their whereabouts." He looked at his watch, an unfamiliar twisting in his gut. He left the office and strode outside.
"Sloan! Sloan!" Michelle rode furiously across the parking lot. Her horse slowed and he grabbed the animal's reins. Looking into her alarmed face, that sickening fear grew worse.
"I was riding along the road pasture...two gun shots...the cattle stampeded..."
An icy wave enveloped him. "I had them penned. Is anybody out there?"
"I don't know, but two horses came back―"
Dread consolidated into a hard knot.
"―without riders," Michelle finished breathlessly.
He felt as if he'd been punched. "Jacie." He didn't know he’d said it aloud until he saw the alarm darken Michelle's eyes.
James appeared beside him and gripped his shoulder. "Sloan, what's going on?"
He turned to his brother. "You know how jumpy the herd's been, well somebody's been shooting and the cows have stampeded. Jacie may be out there...and Carlton."
He took off at a run toward the barns, James beside him. "Get in touch with the Sheriff's office and call around for extra help. You'd better set up a search party. I want every available horse saddled and ready to go."
At the barn he led his horse from the stall and quickly slid the bridle on.
"Sloan!" Michelle called, "Your saddle―"
"No time." Bareback, he urged his horse in a canter, his thoughts on Jacie. Nausea churned his stomach. He couldn't lose her. He had just found her. He couldn't lose her.
Ω
Heartstealer (Women of Character) Page 19
