Wanted: Dead or Alive

by Faye Byrd

  She comes readily and kisses me with all the passion I’m accustomed to ‘til the whoops and whistles in the background bring us back to reality.

  She pulls back and smirks. “It’s beautiful. Now, how I’m gone let ‘em lovesick fools know you mine?”

  Shocked, I open my mouth, but no words come out. “I, uh, er—”

  Fortunately for me, Lawman stands and slaps me on the back, interrupting my stuttering. “We got a nice jewelry store three doors down. I’m sure they got something just right to keep ‘em lovesick fools away.” He chuckles and retakes his seat.

  “Sounds perfect,” Cowgirl utters, studying me closely.

  I lean in, kissing her lips lightly. “Let me propose this toast and we’ll be on our way.” Then I spin with Josie still in my arms and grab my whiskey, holding it up. “Here’s to marrying the most special person alive. She’s everything a man like me could ever ask for in a woman.”

  Baby Face and Piano Girl stand and hold up their glasses. “Amen,” they say in unison before pouring ‘em back.

  The rest of the room follows suit.

  Afterward, we head on down to the jewelry shop and pick us a matching set of bands ‘fore thanking Lawman for his hospitality and getting back on the trail.

  We’re up on a ridge overlooking the small wooden building. “Me and Baby Face will take the front and you two ladies bring up the rear. No one gets out of that building ‘til we get what we came here for. Got it?”

  Baby Face nods, happy to do anything I say, but not them women folk. Cowgirl huffs and crosses her arms. “Why we always got to take up the rear? You act like ya the only one who can bust through a door.”

  “Yeah,” Baby Face’s sidekick chimes in. “You two act like we weak and frail, when really, we all know who runs this posse.”

  I ignore Piano Girl’s whiney self and look to Josie, rolling my eyes. “You know I don’t think you’re weak, far from it, but this holdup is more important than the bank heist. This is the most important holdup of my life, and I want it to be perfect.”

  Cowgirl sighs a big, girly sigh and turns to Piano Girl. “We do it Nathan’s way.”

  She huffs but knows better than to open her mouth to Josie.

  Case closed.

  I smirk. “Let’s go.”

  We bust through the small wooden doors, guns drawn. “Everybody get your hands up!” I yell to the three people standing there with dropped jaws.

  Hands fly into the air as confused expressions replace the shock from seconds ago.

  “Baby Face, you and Piano Girl keep eyes on the door,” I order, tilting my head for Josie to join me.

  She takes my flank, and we move farther up the aisle. “Who’s the preacher here?” she asks, shifting her gun between our hostages.

  When nobody speaks up fast enough, she walks to the closest one and shoves that double barrel right into their chest. “I asked, who the preacher here is,” she says it all real slow like.

  The man finally snaps from his daze and starts stuttering, “He … he is.” He points to a man on the right side of him.

  “See how easy that was?” Cowgirl smiles at him, and even he’s affected by it. He starts to smile back, ‘til the woman beside him elbows him in the ribs.

  I approach the preacher. “Me and my woman here would like to get hitched. And you gone be the one to do it,” I say matter-of-factly. It ain’t like he’s got a choice.

  “Y … You want me to marry ya?” His dumb act only pisses me off even more.

  I step closer, right up in his face. “What? You think we ain’t got no right to get married just ‘cause we outlaws?”

  “N … No, sir. I didn’t say that. God recognizes all unions made before him,” he replies, and he better be glad, too. I don’t mind hunting down a more willing preacher man.

  “Then it’s settled,” Cowgirl breaks in, walking to my side. She grabs my hand and pulls me to stand before the altar. “You two, over here to witness.” She points with her gun where she expects the hostages to stand. “And you”—she turns back to the slack-jawed clergy—“what you waitin’ on?”

  The preacher snaps his jaw shut and makes his way to stand before us. He meets my eyes first, and receives a nod. But when he looks to Josie, the beaming smile she’s sporting is contagious.

  With a smile of his own, he joins us in unholy matrimony.

  Cause sure as hell, we ain’t wanted in heaven.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The River

  JOSIE

  As soon as we’re far enough away from the church, we all pull to a halt. As much as I hate it, it’s time to say goodbye to our little gang. I’m gone miss the extra company, but I also know it in my gut that someday we’ll be together again. A day when we can all live a quiet, peaceful life.

  Pulling Star’s reins to a halt, the light catches on the pretty ring Nathan done got me, and an involuntary smile curves my lips. I’m so lost in the way the sun glimmers off the facets that I miss Nathan trying to help me down from my horse.

  “Cowgirl, what’s got you all sidetracked?” he asks with a knowing smirk as he reaches up to assist in my dismount. And it’s not like I need help or anything, it’s probably ‘cause he feels just like me. So sad to be saying “see ya later” but so happy to soon be alone.

  I match his smirk as I slide down the front of his body all on purpose. “Just thinkin’ ‘bout … later.”

  He freezes in his spot, his jaw gaping just a little. “Why ya torturin’ me, baby? Why you gone go and say stuff like that?” His voice is all gruff, sexy and low, and I get tingles just hearing it.

  “Oh, I’m gone torture ya all right, it’s just gone have to wait a little bit.”

  A throat clearing causes my eyes to slide past my outlaw to the pair that’s waiting behind us before focusing on Nathan again. “Later,” I whisper, nudging him ‘round to face our posse.

  “Well, uh, I guess this is it,” Levi says, his tone sad, a little quiet.

  My outlaw steps forward with his hand out. “Baby Face, I can’t even begin to say how thankful I am for everythin’ you done did for me, for us both. We gone miss ya as surely as the day is long.”

  Levi grabs Nathan’s hand and gives a sharp tug, pulling him in close and wrapping his arms around him. With a couple hearty pats, he pulls back and says, “It sure was one fun ride hangin’ with you two. We gone miss ya, too. And we appreciate everythin’ you did to help us.”

  It’s enough to make me teary … almost. I am gone miss these two, but right now, I’m so ready to be alone with my outlaw that I kinda wish they’d hurry up.

  A bump to my side causes me to cut my eyes to the little woman that’s done sidled up next to me. “‘Em boys gone be lost without each other,” she says, her eyes focused on the men in front of us.

  I sigh and turn to her. “Minnie, I really am gone miss y’all, both of ya. Come here.” I pull her in and give her a quick hug then lead her closer to the guys. “Levi, you better take care of the both of ya, and we’ll be waitin’ on the day we see ya again.”

  “You bet, Miss Josie, I promise, I’ll keep us out of the hands of the law,” Levi assures me.

  I nod and reach for my outlaw, pulling him back to my side. “You damn well better.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He smiles and looks to Minnie. “Ya ready, woman?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” she tells him, already climbing back on her horse.

  Me and Outlaw watch as the two of ‘em ride away, and all we can do is hope that we’ll see ‘em again. And somehow, I bet we will.

  Several hours later, Nathan rides up ‘side me. “Care to make a stop by the river?” he asks, tilting his head to the water that’s trailing through the wilderness beside us.

  “Sure.” I shrug. “Star and Arrow could use some water.” We guide ‘em down the embankment, as carefully as possible, and lead ‘em to the water where they drink their fill ‘fore we tether ‘em to a tree close by.

  Nathan spreads a blanket
and gets out the canteen, along with some dried meat for a snack, and we both settle down for the first time as husband and wife. Every time my hand moves, I can’t help but let my eyes stray to the rings that now have a permanent spot there. It causes a thrill to run through me just thinking ‘bout what they represent. I’m a wife again, but not just any wife; I’m Nathan King’s wife. The most amazing man ever to make my acquaintance.

  Thinking of the devil, he invades my space and takes my hand. “Can ya believe it, Cowgirl? We man and wife now. You belong to me.”

  I lean in close, almost touching his lips with mine. “I already did belong to you.” And then I push my lips hard against his. It’s a demand more than anything.

  His hands waste no time reaching out to pull my body as close as possible while our tongues battle together. As we fall back onto the blanket, my fists grip his hair in an attempt to pull him inside me. I can’t get enough; I want him more than ever before.

  And apparently he feels the same, ‘cause he’s already stripping me of my clothes, and I let him, help him even. And then, when I’m naked as the day I was born, I jump up and run to the creek’s edge. Stopping to look back at my outlaw, who’s jaw is a gaping, I giggle and dive into the water, swimming out to the middle.

  When I finally get far enough away, I turn back, and what I see causes me to lick my lips. Nathan is standing on the bank, naked, a cocky smirk playing on the corners of his lips, his arms crossed and his dick jutting out in front of him.

  Hard as a rock.

  As if I have no control, I start swimming toward him, but he holds up his hand, stilling me in my spot. I watch as he wades into the water and it slowly covers him inch by glorious inch. Goosebumps run over me from head to toe as he moves closer. My fingers itch to dig into his flesh and pull him to me.

  When he’s only a foot away, so close I can touch him, he stops moving and dips down, coming back up and pushing our bar of soap through his wet hair. My eyes lock on his hand, mesmerized as he moves it down, across his neck and even further to his chest. The droplets of water slither down his stomach and into the creek while the bar of soap leaves a lathery sheen in its wake.

  Even surrounded by all this water, my mouth done gone dry. I’m transfixed; my eyes unable to look away as he slowly backs up, revealing even more skin for his soap to lather. And when he fists himself and pumps twice, I attack, throwing my body forward so fast he don’t have time to do nothing but catch me.

  My lips fuse to his, and my legs wrap ‘round his waist, my need for him so out of control I burn everywhere our skin meets. Pulling back, I nip his lips. “Outlaw, what you think ya doin’, teasin’ me like that?” I ask, all worked up and breathy.

  He chuckles, low and sexy. “What?” He’s all innocent looking and stuff, but I know better. “I was just washin’ up. It ain’t my fault ya mind was thinkin’ dirty thoughts.”

  I follow his arm down where he has me gripped at the waist and slowly pry the bar of soap from his fingers. Then, I let go and fall back into the water with a giggle, swimming just a few feet away.

  “Maybe I need a wash, too,” I say all sweet like as I stand, revealing everything from the waist up.

  His jaw slackens as I start at my stomach and make my way up my body. When I get to my breasts, I rub the bar in circular motions, paying special attention to the buds that are tight as can be. A groan echoes across the water but I don’t look up, I can’t look up ‘cause if I do, I’ll crumble. I’ll go to him like the wanton woman he makes me.

  Instead, I focus on myself, my own skin that glistens in the evening sun. Water splashes and I involuntarily moan as his hands surround me. He dunks us under so fast I come up sputtering, and then, he throws me over his shoulder and starts trudging back to shore.

  I laugh and smack his ass. “Outlaw, I lost the soap.”

  “Forget the soap, Cowgirl.” His voice is so low and gruff that it sends shivers racing over my naked body.

  As soon as my back hits the blanket, my legs wrap ‘round him, holding him tight to me. “I didn’t even get to wash my hair,” I say all breathy and not even caring.

  “No?” His brows rise, and he runs his fingers over the tangled wet mess. “I’m sure we can fix that … after.”

  “After?” I repeat, pretending I don’t have a clue at all what he’s talking about.

  “After I make you my wife in every sense of the word,” he whispers as if he’s in awe of the very words that done left his lips.

  His mouth starts at my collarbone, brushing wet kisses back and forth, just enough to drive me mad. But then he starts talking, whispering reverently between each worshipping pass of his lips on my skin.

  “Do you know how long I waited for you?” Nip. “I didn’t even know, Cowgirl.” Suck. “I didn’t think anyone like you even existed.” Lick. “I was only existing.” His eyes meet mine, and they burn into me. “Now, I’m alive, and it’s because I have you.”

  I clamp my legs tighter and grab for him, pulling his mouth to mine, and we collide. All tongue and teeth and lips and it’s divine. Our bodies move in time with our mouths, creating a friction so right, I’m already on the edge.

  I snatch my lips away and stretch my neck as he don’t quit, he just finds more skin to envelop, devour, claim. A low moan escapes and he rises up, staring into my eyes as he fists himself between us. My slickness only aiding as he slides back and forth through my folds.

  I’m a squirming mess; all I want is for him to push inside to make me whole. And when he finally does, our eyes connected, mutual groans of satisfaction fill the air. Buried as far inside as my body will allow, he leans in and kisses me reverently.

  “I love you, Josie,” he whispers as he pulls back and pushes in again.

  I’m so lost in the sensations warring inside that I’m unable to respond, unable to even think. All I can do is feel. And I feel it all. Everything he’s trying to convey. His period of loneliness and resignation. His surprise and pleasure in finding me. And finally, his love and worship of me.

  It’s all there burning between us, building us higher than we’ve ever been. And when the pressure becomes too great, I give in, let go. I come undone beneath him, shattering into a million pieces.

  And he owns every single one.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The Tiny Town

  NATHAN

  The next three weeks pass in much the same way. We stay out of sight and keep to the wilderness, traveling north at a steady pace. We finally cross the border into the Idaho Territory, and we’ve decided it’s time to take a little look-see around to check if we known in these parts.

  Now, this here part’s gone be tricky, though. ‘Cause if we go into town and get recognized, the whole plan’s gone be shot to hell. Getting spotted means word will spread on our whereabouts, and it’ll make the whole hiding away up north idea null.

  “So how we gone do this?” Cowgirl asks, breaking me from my thoughts.

  I take a deep breath and prepare myself to say words that I definitely don’t want to utter. “I guess ya right, Cowgirl.” I slowly lift my eyes to hers.

  And she’s a smirking. “Course I am.”

  I move close so fast it causes her to gasp and wrap my arms ‘round her, eye to eye. “Course ya are, but, baby, don’t ya know how scary it is for me?”

  Her eyes soften, and she reaches out, her fingers scratching against the back of my neck. “I know it scares ya, Outlaw.” She pushes my head closer, so close our lips are just brushing together. “But I got this. It’s a piece of cake.” Then she kisses me, hard, and my mind can’t think of nothing else ‘cept the feel of her lips.

  Reacting on a need I ain’t been able to satiate since she’s been mine, I latch on and push her back, her clothes already being freed from her body. I’m a desperate man in a mild situation that feels like it could be the end of the world, even though I know in my heart she’s fully capable.

  Her moans do nothing but spur me on, though. It’s just a distract
ion, and I know it in the back of my mind, but I can’t make myself stop. I need her so bad. I need her to assure me she’s here and always will be.

  A little while later, lying spent and naked with her head on my chest, she raises up to look at me. “You know ya gone be just out of sight, right?” Her eyes are soft as they beg me to give up my worry and just trust in her ability to do what needs to be done.

  I cup her jaw and run my thumb over her cheek. “Damn right I am, eyes on you every possible second.”

  Her lips lift in a small smile, and she turns her head just enough to capture my thumb and suck it into her mouth. I groan, watching as her lips envelop it and almost growl when her tongue wraps ‘round it doing all kinds of wicked things.

  “Cowgirl,” I say on a moan. “If you wantin’ to really do this, ya gone have to stop ‘fore I don’t let ya go nowhere.” My other hand instinctively reaches down to push against my quickly hardening erection.

  Instead of stopping, she pops my thumb out, and her lips venture down, all the way to where my hand is clasped around myself. Removing it, she replaces it with her lips, immediately sucking in deep.

  This has been our routine. Ever since she became my wife and we lost the posse, I can’t keep my hands, lips or dick away from her. And if her actions are any indication, she craves me the same.

  That’s why it took us an extra week to reach the Idaho Territory.

  My fingers dig into the blanket beneath us as she works me over in the most sensual way. I can’t stop my hips from bucking to meet her luscious lips on every stroke. Sliding one hand up, I grip her hair like it’s a lifeline.

  But when she cuts her eyes to mine and watches me as I watch her, I can’t take it anymore. I buck harder and hold her to me while I spill deep into her throat with a growl.

  She smirks and moves back up my body, my eyes trained on her tits as they slide over my stomach and meet me, chest to chest. “Damn, Cowgirl, what ya tryin’ to do to me?” I ask as I grip her ass between my hands, my fingers already seeking her softness.