Morgan met his demanding kiss with such complete abandon, it sucked the air from his lungs. Her passion was a welcome surprise, so unlike the soft-spoken woman he was used to. Repeatedly, he forced his actions to slow. His hands pushed her shirt up, and she helped him pull it over her head. Gabe grinned, perspiration beading his forehead.
“You’ll have to show me how to undress you proper,” he panted. He dipped his head to kiss the valley between her breasts that were still confined in some flimsy, lacey contraption for which he had no name.
“We’ll figure it out together,” she whispered, and arched her back, guiding his hands to the hooks that held the thin straps together.
Gabe eased himself over her when the strap gave way. “I’ll take it from here,” he growled, and kissed her again. His hands explored her silky skin, her flat abdomen, the curve of her hips, and the swell of her breasts. His mouth followed the trail of his hands, and the slight shudders his touch elicited in her gave him courage to continue.
Morgan’s hands did their own exploring, as she slowly got to know his body. She dipped her fingers under the waistband of Gabe’s jeans, and he groaned with passion when she freed him from his pants. Chills of pleasure raced down her spine when Gabe slowly unzipped her pants, and pulled them off, one leg at a time.
He stared down at her, his appreciative gaze, so tender and dark with passion and love, bringing tears to her own eyes. It’s what she’d longed for all these weeks, to hear him tell her that he loved her. It hadn’t been her plan to end up in his bed when she came to his cabin to talk to him, but there was no other place she’d rather be. Gabe’s slow, almost hesitant lovemaking, confirmed that this was not a mistake.
Gabe broke his kiss, his hands still roaming languidly along her hips and thighs, sending shivers of delight through her.
“Morgan, I want you to know that . . . I got a clean bill of health from the doc in town,” Gabe rasped breathlessly. He leaned over her, an expectant look in his eyes as if he waited for further permission. “I’d never put you at risk because of my prior indiscretions.”
“Clean bill of health?” she mouthed, her mind too foggy to comprehend his meaning at first.
“Oh,” she said lamely when comprehension hit her. She hadn’t even considered protection against disease. After Logan’s birth, she’d taken measures to make sure there would be no more accidental pregnancies. A rush of heat, desire, and love flooded her at the simple fact that Gabe had gone and had himself checked out, and that he cared enough to let her know.
“You have nothing to worry about with me, either.” She chuckled softly, and wound one hand behind his neck, pulling him closer. Stroking his whisker-roughened cheek with the other, she drew him to her, their lips colliding as he eased himself inside her.
Morgan arched her back in time to his slow and sensual strokes. Gabe kissed her long and slow while their bodies rocked against each other, this big and strong man bringing tears to her eyes with the gentle way in which he made love to her.
Her entire being was filled and surrounded by him, in the way he tenderly kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts. The way in which he touched and explored her with his hands, intentional and slow, melted their souls into one. When he brought her to a height of pleasure she’d never experienced before, they both panted and collapsed against each other in a tangle of limbs and damp skin.
Gabe lay on top of her, holding her in a tight embrace. He buried his face against her neck, his breathing labored in her ear. Morgan stroked the sweat-slickened muscles along his back. He’d been so tense before, but now trembled under her touch. His hold on her didn’t ease when he rolled to the side, pulling her snugly up against the length of him. Morgan held on to him in silence, touching and kissing him lightly.
His lonely, difficult upbringing had undoubtedly taught him to be tough and not show emotions, and he hadn’t known love from anyone, maybe not even from his mother. Morgan may not have had the most loving mother, but her father had doted on her, and she'd never wanted for anything. She could only imagine how this would have shaped Gabe into a bitter, hardened man, yet he was so tender, so gentle, and caring, he simply yearned for love and acceptance.
He raised his head, and their eyes met. His lips curved in a slow smile. It was a mixture of satisfaction and something else, as if something haunted him. Morgan waited, studying him while he worked out whatever was going through his mind.
“I knew I could hurt my brother by making his wife disappear,” he finally said, his voice low and raspy. “Now I understand exactly how much. I wish I could tell him how sorry I am for what I did.”
Morgan reached up and touched his face. “I think he knew that you’d be sorry,” she whispered. “And the reverend made sure they’d be together again.”
“I’m grateful he sent me here.” Gabe kissed her softly.
“I love you, Desperado,” she whispered against his lips, and he pulled her more firmly into his embrace.
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this, but I’m sure of one thing,” he said, his voice rather weak, after minutes of holding her in silence.
“What’s that,” she purred against his shoulder.
Gabe loosened his hold and eased slightly away from her. His chocolate eyes sparkled with passion when she glanced up to meet his gaze. His lips curved in an easy grin, like the one she’d seen him wear in that photograph. Her heart melted in her chest, and her limbs flooded with warmth. She’d always wanted to see that smile from the picture, and here it was.
“I’m going to make an honest woman out of you as soon as those mustangs are put out to pasture tomorrow.” His grin was replaced by a serious stare.
Morgan rose up on one elbow, and studied him. “An honest woman?” Her forehead wrinkled.
Gabe chuckled. “This ain’t the usual or proper way to do this,” he said, and sat up, pulling her with him. “And I know it’s rather sudden.”
He reached for her hand, and held it in his much larger one. His fingers stroked lightly across her knuckles. He raised her hand to his lips while looking into her eyes. That smile returned that made her heart flutter in her chest, and for once he looked free and relaxed from all the worries that had haunted him for so long.
“I was hoping you’d do me the honor of becoming my wife, Miss Bartlett,” he continued in a sultry voice.
Morgan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Gabe, I--”
He leaned forward, and touched his lips to hers, drowning out her response, then drew back slightly.
“I want you to know that this wasn’t something meaningless for me, Morgan. I’ve been lying to myself all this time. I love you, and I ain’t gonna walk away now.”
He stroked her cheek with his fingers while still holding her hand in his.
“You were right all along,” he continued. “I need to start looking to the future. I’ve let hate rule my life, but you’re showing me what it’s like to love someone. I’ll work hard to be the kind of man you can be proud of to call a husband . . . and a pa for Logan.”
“This wasn’t meaningless for me, either, Gabe.” Morgan choked the words out. Her throat constricted. Gabe wanted to marry her? It all seemed so sudden, and unexpected, but she couldn’t imagine her life without him in it. She gripped his hand.
“I know you’ll be a great husband and father,” she whispered.
Gabe looked at her, his eyes roaming her face. “Does that mean you agree?”
“Agree to what?” she teased, smiling seductively at him.
A thoroughly devilish grin spread across his face. He growled, and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her on top of him. Morgan quickly straddled him, and pushed her hands against his chest.
Gabe held her at the waist, his eyes dark with desire, and guided her on top of him, filling her completely. Ripples of pleasure rushed through her when he bucked beneath her, and she gripped his hands as he held her.
“Agree to marry me,” he said, and raised his upper body for a
kiss. “I’ll even let you wear the britches and ride astride from time to time.” His grin widened, and he rolled her onto her back. “I’ve got a lot to learn, but I know you’ll teach me the proper ways to be a good husband in this time.”
Morgan wrapped her legs around his waist. “I think you’re doing just fine on your own, Desperado,” she murmured against his lips, drawing him closer. “And yes, I’ll marry you,” she added, unable and unwilling to answer any other way.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Morgan held Logan against her hip and hurried down the dirt road toward the barns. Just beyond the one that housed the horses used in riding lessons, trucks with livestock trailers stood idling in a large clearing in front of one of the bigger paddocks. Men shouted and whistled, and horses whinnied back and forth from the barns and nearby pens, greeting the new arrivals.
She would have been at the barns sooner before the trucks arrived, but Logan hadn’t wanted to lie down for his mid-morning nap, and had been rather cranky. She’d had no choice but to stay close by after he’d finally gone to sleep, and wait until he woke. She hadn’t wanted to impose on Rachel again by asking her to watch him, even though her friend had offered. Morgan had declined, feeling guilty for leaving Logan with her for most of the previous afternoon. Rachel was due to deliver her baby any day, and she had enough to do with her own kids.
Heat crept up her neck, and a smile spread across her face at the memory of yesterday. A delicious chill raced down her spine, and warmth spread through her abdomen. Gabe. He’d finally told her he loved her. Well, he’d done more than tell her. He’d shown her with his heart, body, and soul. A guy didn’t make love the way he had if he didn’t mean it.
She smiled at her son, who started to giggle in response to her happy mood.
“Soon we’re going to be a family, Logan, and you’ll have a real dad.” Morgan kissed the top of his head.
“Da da?” Logan mimicked, then turned his head toward the loud whinnies and neighs of the horses. “Hoss-ey.” He pointed with his finger.
“Lots of them,” Morgan said, and quickened her strides.
Several people stood along the paddock fence, while others were on horseback. One of the trucks faced out from the enclosure, and hooves banged and clanked against wood and metal in the trailer. A second later, several horses charged from the trailer into the paddock, then more followed. The animals ran to the end of the fence and back, turning when a wrangler on horseback inside the enclosure waved his hat, and the horses veered and charged back down to the far end of the paddock.
Gabe. Morgan’s eyes locked onto him. He stood out from the other riders, looking so at ease in the saddle. The horse he rode turned and stopped, then moved forward, without any apparent prompting, at least none that was visible to her. Her pulse increased at the sight of him.
The truck rolled forward, and several more riders blocked the gate as the next trailer pulled up to unload another group of horses.
Morgan hung back, scanning the crowd of ranch hands. Every one of Jake’s wranglers was present, and a few others she’d never seen before. These must be the volunteers Mr. Banks had brought from the sanctuary. She spotted him standing close to the gate with Jake, and headed toward them.
“Morgan.” James Banks smiled brightly and vigorously shook her hand when she approached.
“I see they’re all here safely.” She beamed.
Mr. Banks, an older man wearing faded jeans, a flannel shirt, and old cowboy boots, smiled. “I was just thanking Mr. Owens, and telling him how much the sanctuary appreciates this, and it’s all because of you.”
“We’ll find a permanent place for them, Mr. Banks.” Morgan glanced at Jake. “I’m very grateful to Jake, as well, for his generous offer.”
Jake nodded his chin toward some of the dude ranch guests who had come to watch the activities. “Mustangs generate interest. Cattle drives might be fun, but I bet none of the guests have seen a bunch of wild horses before. Might be fun to take some people out on the range to observe the horses in the wild. It might spark interest for their preservation.”
A cowboy shouted from the side of one of the trailers, and Mr. Banks excused himself to talk to him. The truck rolled away from the paddock. Jake was instantly at Morgan’s side when the old man left. He grinned broadly, and stared off toward the enclosure.
Morgan followed his gaze. Gabe rode his horse past the wranglers blocking the gate, and headed straight for them. Her heart skipped a beat. He stopped his mount directly in front of her, and in one fluid motion stepped lightly from the animal’s back.
“Owens,” he said, nodding toward Jake. He removed his hat, and, before Morgan had time to react, stepped up to her and curled his arm around her waist, drawing her up against him.
“Morgan,” he said in a low, sultry tone. “I’ve missed you.”
Morgan had no chance to say anything. Gabe lowered his head and kissed her, his lips teasing her mouth, to the point that her knees nearly crumbled beneath her. Logan screeched in her ear, and Gabe slowly pulled back.
He grinned at her, then tousled Logan’s hair, making the boy giggle. Morgan could do nothing but stare in amazement at the transformation in his demeanor. All the tension had left his features, replaced by that sexy grin, and chocolate eyes that sparkled with life, and with love. Her lips pulsed, and her heart beat fast in her chest.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered.
Logan squirmed in her arms, and Gabe reached for him. “What do you say we lighten your mama’s load a bit?”
Morgan released her son into the arms of the man who’d managed to melt her heart even more than she ever thought possible. He set his hat back on his head, nodded to her, and turned to his horse.
“What are you doing?” she asked, when he lifted one booted foot into the stirrup.
“It’s time this boy learns to ride, don’t you think?”
“Right now?” Morgan glanced around. Jake had disappeared.
“Just a quick ride, while those mustangs settle and those vehicles leave. We won’t be moving them out onto the range for a while yet. How those horses didn’t kill each other or break limbs in those things, I’ll never understand.” He nodded toward the trailers.
Logan giggled when Gabe set him on his lap atop the big horse, and Morgan fought off her momentary panic. Gabe wouldn’t do anything that would put Logan in danger. Her son was enjoying himself, laughing and babbling. His little hands patted the saddle horn, then he reached forward and grabbed at the horse’s mane. Gabe’s arm was wrapped securely around him like a safety belt.
“He’ll be all right.” Gabe grinned down at her, and Morgan nodded.
Gabe rode a few circles around her, headed up the fence line and back, talked to some of the cowboys, and returned to where Morgan stood. Love and happiness welled up in her chest. Gabe was going to be an incredible father, and Logan clearly loved him already.
Gabe lifted Logan down into her waiting arms. The boy began to cry, flailing his arms and reaching back up to Gabe and the horse.
“Now look what you’ve done,” Morgan scolded, glaring up at Gabe. She swayed Logan back and forth in her arms, shushing him to try and console him.
Gabe laughed. “He won’t be a city slicker much longer.” He leaned forward in the saddle, the leather creaking. A wide, sinful grin spread across his face as he stared into her eyes.
“And it’s about time I get you on a horse, too,” he said in a husky tone.
Morgan chuckled nervously, and shook her head. “I like looking at them, and feeding them carrots, but I’m not so sure I want to ride one. I tried once, when I was here a couple of years ago, but it didn’t go so well.”
Gabe reached for her arm and pulled her closer to the horse. He bent down further, and his hand slid behind her neck. He kissed her again.
“A rancher’s wife should know how to ride,” he whispered against her cheek. “And all you need is the right man to teach you.”
Morgan smil
ed. Rancher’s wife. It all sounded too good to be true.
“Well, I suppose if you think you’re the right man for the job, how can I say no?”
Gabe leaned down for another kiss, but broke away and straightened in the saddle when whistles and catcalls behind them mixed with Logan’s continued protests to get out of her arms. Someone called Gabe’s name, and he frowned.
“Guess I’d better get back to work,” he grumbled.
“Yes, you’d better.” Morgan plastered a smile on her face. As happy as she was that the mustangs were here, she couldn’t wait to spend more time with Gabe.
She gazed up at him, their eyes locked in silent communication that they’d both rather be somewhere private. Gabe finally tipped his hat, nodded, and nudged his horse forward.
Morgan stared after him. The man was the epitome of a rugged cowboy, even in his new jeans and modern, white t-shirt. She walked along the fence line, glancing at the horses that looked scared and nervous in the pen, and joined Jake and Mr. Banks, who stood by a group of riders, Gabe in the middle.
Logan grabbed onto the top fence rail, and Morgan held him so he could see the horses, while she kept glancing toward Gabe.
Gabe looked around the group. “Who all’s been on a horse drive before?”
Four of Jake’s eight wranglers raised their hands, including all the girls.
“But it was just moving saddle horses from summer to winter pasture,” Lisa said. “I don’t think any of us have dealt with mustangs before.”
Gabe looked from one person to the next. “See that paint mare off to the left, Daniel?” Gabe pointed into the pen. The tall cowboy nodded.
“She’s the lead mare. I’m putting you at the head of the drive, and you’ll be in charge of flanking her. Get her going in the right direction, and the others are more likely to follow. No telling with confused and nervous horses, though. You herd cattle, but you have to lead horses.”
Diamond in the Dust (Second Chances Time Travel Romance Book 3) Page 21
