Fiery. Passionate. And stubborn as all get-out. Might take it into that pretty head of hers to see what was taking him so long. Last thing he needed was the subject of his inquiry getting lost in a blizzard, leaving too many unanswered questions regarding her husband’s death.
No point in waiting. Storm wasn’t going to let up. The door wouldn’t open wide enough for his shoulders and the rope. He shoved the rope out the door, then squeezed through and picked up the rope once again. For a moment, he stood still, searching for his bearings. The wind still blew from the northeast.
Keep the wind to the left on the trip back. Still dark. No moon visible. The going was tougher than the trip out. No fucking wonder. Snow was a foot deeper too. Most of his path had filled in while he was in the stable.
Just keep the wind to your left.
He hadn’t gone far when he stumbled and fell over an obstruction in the snow. Digging frantically, he uncovered a body. He swept off the Stetson covering the face and discovered long black hair spilling over the snow. “Son of a bitch!”
Her face was waxen. Her pale lids gave not so much as a flutter. He shook her. “Natalia!” And still no response. He pulled her flaccid body from the drift, intending to take her back to the stables. The house was too far to carry her and a large bale of rope. He needed to warm her up, and quick, if she was to survive the freezing cold.
He should’ve known she’d pull something like this. He trudged forward, thankful the stable wasn’t far and he could still make out his trail. His breathing grew ragged. As small as she was, her body was dead weight, and the cold had made him sluggish.
Hell! Both of them were in danger of freezing to death if he didn’t get a move on.
Ahead of him, the hulking darkness grew. The stable.
He had to put her down to get the door open again. He sucked in another breath and laid her down with a soft thump. Strength fading fast, he pulled the door open and took her by the booted ankles and dragged her inside, away from the cold, then collapsed on his butt, completely exhausted.
By comparison, the stables felt heated, but they wouldn’t for long if he didn’t close the door. A minute more and he’d get up. He would.
All right, maybe it took more than a couple breaths before his foggy brain cleared. Damnation! He got to his feet, pulled the rope inside, then dragged on the door until it closed. Natalia still hadn’t moved. He knelt over her and put his head to her chest. Yes, he could still hear a heartbeat.
“Natalia. You’re safe. We’re in the stables.” No good. He pulled her back to an empty stall, where straw covered the floor. An old horse blanket was folded over the stall divider. That would work, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to like what he was about to do next. Unfortunately, in her extreme condition, he couldn’t think of any other way to warm her up.
He grabbed the wool blanket and knelt beside her. He threw aside his borrowed coat and unbuttoned his shirt, shivering as the air hit his bare skin. Then he pulled her arms from the wet coat she wore and unbuttoned her flannel shirt. Unable to see in the low light, he couldn’t resist touching her. The silken smooth skin was cold and a faint pulse beat in her throat.
She’d probably kill him when she woke up. If she woke up.
Smothering. Warm and yet cold. Shaking. Natalia struggled, then, aware of bare skin next to hers, she relaxed. A dream. One of those dreams that left her shaken and wanting more than a mere dream-lover could give. She let out a contented sigh. Might as well enjoy the dream while it lasted. So much better than the snow outside.
The snow outside?
Shivering, she tried to inch up on her elbows…and couldn’t. Something warm and heavy lay on top of her. Panicked and unable to see anything in the inky blackness, she began to struggle.
“Talia, it’s all right.”
At the sound of Jared’s voice, her eyes flew open. “What are you doing on top of me? Where are we?”
“We’re in the stable. I found you outside in the snow. You were almost frozen.”
“So you brought me back into the stables and just thought you’d take my clothes off? And yours too, while you were at it? Was that your reward for saving my life?” She twisted and turned, trying to get out from under him. “Move!”
“You were almost frozen to death. I had to warm you up.” She felt his fingers brush the hair from her cheek in a soothing gesture.
“So stripping me naked was the way to do it?” She pushed at his unyielding bare chest. “Get off me.”
“Body-to-body heat. That’s what you needed.”
“No, I beg to differ. That’s what you needed.” Ever since she’d first seen him in her sitting room, she’d thought about taking him to her bed and riding him until they were both exhausted, but it should’ve been with her permission. Dios, she’d missed everything. Maybe not everything after all, since she suddenly became aware of his hard cock jabbing her belly. “Just what happened here?”
“Nothing happened, except I saved your ungrateful life.”
“But your—um, body is very aroused.”
“You’re a beautiful woman, Natalia.” His voice had a low, sensual quality that thrilled her. “Any man would be aroused.”
“You looked at my body? Sí, I’m sure that was a vital part of saving my life.”
“I am a man.”
“That is very obvious.” And she was a woman, and Dios, this man’s cock was so close to where she desperately needed it to be.
“In case you haven’t noticed, it’s damned dark in here. Couldn’t see much. More by feel.”
“And I’m sure you felt plenty.” She squirmed against his hard cock. “But you know, I think this body-heat thing is working,” she admitted.
Over her, he shrugged. “You’re alive. I’d say it’s working.” He caressed her breast, tweaking the nipple.
“Yes,” she gasped, as a thrill of pleasure shot to her core. Of their own volition, her arms went around his back. “Are you sure you needed to get so naked?”
“If something works, don’t question it.”
He leaned forward and kissed her neck, then nibbled on the lobe of her ear. A guttural moan erupted from her throat. Her thighs parted. “Now.”
“No.”
She went up on one elbow. Was the man crazy? Or was he another man who couldn’t bear to make love to her. “No? You have me naked as the day I was born. What do you mean ‘no’?”
“Too soon. There’s more.”
His voice, low and seductive with the hint of promise, sent a shiver up her spine. More? She liked the sound of that. “I want more.”
“Be nice, Talia. I’ll give you what you want…and more. On my terms. Not yours.”
He slipped his hand between their bodies and slid a calloused finger in and out of her pussy, then flicked her clit with his thumb. Her inner muscles contracted from his intimate touch. Her hips rose to meet him, but he pulled away. Whimpers of need emanated from her throat. ”Don’t leave me like this.”
He chuckled, a deep rumble she could feel through his chest. “Not going anywhere. It’s still snowing and it’s cold outside. Don’t be so impatient.”
Natalia let out a sigh of frustration. Jared didn’t understand. No, he couldn’t. Reginald had never loved her. Never wanted her. Even taunted her, saying she was nothing more than a whore for wanting his attentions. He seldom took his pleasure with her in the normal fashion, and never, ever considered her need for release.
“It’s going to be a long night. And I have no intention of leaving you high and dry.”
Although he couldn’t see it, she smiled up at him. He did understand.
He dipped his head and kissed her, softly at first, then harder. His tongue parted her lips and brushed against hers. Hunger drove her as she thrust her tongue to meet his. His calloused hands were on her breasts. She gasped for air as he pulled her nipples, teasing them into tight pebbles. He licked and sucked one, nipping it with his teeth. Exquisite sensations of pleasure shot to her lower bel
ly and then to her core.
She caressed the sides of his strong face, then splayed her fingers down to his flat male nipples. He moved his hands to cup her buttocks. Her hips arched, and he nuzzled his face down to her belly, his mustache soft and tickling as he dove farther.
His tongue was wet and warm as he licked between her legs. Her thighs trembled from the unaccustomed onslaught of pleasurable sensations. In the dreams that haunted her unfulfilled nights, she’d never imagined such pleasure.
“You like that, don’t you?”
She cared not that he sounded amused. It felt too good to lie. “Sí. Very much.” She wriggled her hips, anticipating what came next.
Again he chuckled. Who knew making love was a matter of amusement? Not she. Not until now.
“Lift your legs…high,” he demanded.
Somewhat glad of the dark, she fought against the heavy blanket covering both of them, spread and drew up her legs. She was totally vulnerable to whatever he wanted. He knelt between her thighs and buried his face between them. His tongue danced around her clit, alternately sucking and licking it faster and faster.
Her legs jittered as waves of pleasure crashed through her body, stunning her with their intensity, her inner muscles clenching and releasing. “Dios,” she moaned.
Jared quickly covered her mouth with his hand. “Careful, you’ll scare the horses.”
Lying beside her before she regained consciousness, he’d been terrified he hadn’t found her soon enough. That she still might die. Now, if he didn’t have her soon, his cock felt like it would explode. He slid his hand between them, grabbed his dick and rubbed the head up and down her wet cleft, then thrust home. Driving into the depths of her slick warmth, he propped on his elbows and cradled her face in his hands, kissing her arched neck. Her slender legs tightened around his waist as she rose to meet each thrust.
His hunger matched hers. The more he thrust, the more he wanted her. Needed her. Her pussy tightened around his cock, squeezing and releasing him until he was on the verge of losing all control. Beneath him, her writhing body seemed to burn with the fire of their passion. With his last bit of control, he slowed the pace of his thrusts, focusing on the tight, silken feel of her wet pussy.
“Faster, please.” Her plea was drawn out, slow and low, her breathing ragged in his ear as her heated body bucked with each responding thrust.
In spite of his intention to pull out before it was too late, he surrendered. With a groan gathering from the very depths of his balls, he pumped into her heated core until he exploded like a charge of dynamite. Talia’s nails dug into his shoulders as she climaxed with him.
Gathering her in his arms, he rolled to his side, taking her with him. He gently brushed back the hair spilling across her face. Like his, her face and chest were damp with perspiration from their lovemaking.
“Thank you,” she said with gasping, warm breaths that tickled his ear.
He tilted his head to the side. “For the fuck or for saving your life?”
“Both.” He felt her shoulders lift in a shrug. “However, if you hadn’t saved my life, I suppose there would have been no…fucking.”
“You suppose right, Talia.” He shifted until her body was spooned in his arms, her firm ass tucked close into his crotch. “Still have to keep your body warm.” Although it was damned warm under the layers of their coats and the horse blanket.
A sigh of contentment was the only reply she made, her body relaxing sweetly along with his. “Talia?”
This time all he heard was a soft snore.
Damnation, it would be a long night before he could relax enough to sleep. The wind picked up, howling like a hungry wolf on the trail of prey. A shiver ran through his body. They’d have to dig themselves out in the morning to get back to the ranch house, but for now, they were alive and out of the worst of the blizzard.
Talia’s head rested on his arm. At least she could sleep. The storm wasn’t what was keeping him awake. He was here for a reason, not to fuck a confession out of Montrose’s widow. Once the blizzard was over, he planned to stay close and observe her actions. He didn’t want to believe Montrose’s father was right in his suspicions. Natalia Montrose was temperamental and proud, but if she had killed her husband, she’d have done it herself in a fit of anger.
She would have carved Reginald’s heart out and fed it to coyotes—yes, he could see her doing something like that. But pay someone else to kill him? Not her style.
Chapter Seven
White everywhere. Drowning in an icy sea, enveloped by the cold, she fought her way to the surface. Chills ran through her. Swim. Swim. She willed her arms and legs to move. Too cold. Too tired. Too afraid to die. A scream erupted from her throat. Her arms flailed…
“Talia. Talia. Wake up. It’s a nightmare. You’re safe.”
Confused, she opened her eyes. Dark. “Did the candles go out?”
“We’re in the barn. Don’t you remember?” His tone held a note of disbelief.
It all came rushing back. Falling in the snow and awakening in his arms, her bare breasts skin-to-skin with his furry chest. “Sí, I remember,” she said with a grin, even if he couldn’t see her expression. How could she forget the first time she’d achieved satisfaction that wasn’t the result of her own fevered manipulations? “You warmed my body with yours”—she squirmed to face him, her hands playing up and down the strong muscles of his back—“and then you proceeded to take full advantage of my vulnerability. I thought maybe you were a gentleman, but alas, I fear you are the rankest of opportunists.”
The feel of his cock growing hard against her belly drew her mouth into a smile. So, he enjoyed her touching him. Good. She reveled in an unaccustomed power. Maybe that was why Reginald would never respond to her—he couldn’t risk giving her the smallest amount of control over him.
“What’s wrong?” Jared asked, caressing her cheek. “A minute ago, you were all soft and warm. Now your body’s tense.”
Natalia shook her head. “Just remembering how it was before. I was always…tense.”
“He didn’t know how to please you?” Jared’s lips were at the hollow of her neck, and he traced a path of fire down her skin with a single finger, sending rivulets of desire to pool in her lower belly.
She wanted to beg for more of his touch. Would have been happy to get on her knees if necessary. Her hips seemed to lift of their own accord as his fingers slipped into the valley between her thighs.
“Last time, I was pretty quick on the trigger. It’s been a while for me.”
“And this time?” She couldn’t help but tease him by asking, “Am I still in danger of freezing to death, Señor Fields?”
“You’re in no danger. This time it’s because you want it. Do you…Talia?”
She loved the way he shortened her name and the sexy tone he used when he said it. “Sí. And whether you know it or not, you are still saving my life.” Possibly her sanity as well. Dios, what a drab, passionless life she’d lived for eight miserable years. Whether Jared was a financial adviser, as he said, or the worst type of drifter and confidence man, he’d saved her life and given her the kind of pleasure of which she’d only dreamed.
And once the blizzard was over, she would learn more about what he was up to, but for now…she needed another fucking.
She clamped her thighs around his hand and began to writhe, moving her hips up and down. “I want more…now.”
“Happy to oblige you, ma’am.”
Smiling in the dark, she opened her thighs and reached for his hard cock to guide him home. She locked her ankles around his waist, and he hugged her to him, then flipped over until he was on his back and she on top, truly able to ride him like the fine stallion of a man he was. She leaned over him, her breasts touching and being tickled by the light fur of his chest. Her nipples tightened into thrilling beads of sensation.
He snared one of her breasts, clamped on to one of her tetillas and grazed it lightly with his teeth, sending spikes of pl
easure to her pussy. His hands cupping her ass, he thrust deeply as she rocked up and down on his cock, slowly at first, then, as the heat began to build, she increased the pace until her inner muscles tightened hard on his cock and wouldn’t let go. Dios, she’d never felt anything like this before.
Her body on fire, she rode until something deep within her shattered and sent her flying over the edge. He increased the rhythm of his thrusts, each one deeper than the one before until he seemed a part of her. She arched her back against his raised knees and emitted a low, shuddering moan which crescendoed into a scream… Or would have if Jared hadn’t clamped his hand over her mouth. He continued pumping into her until, a few seconds later, he gave a final thrust and groaned.
Her body slick with perspiration, she giggled and fell across his chest, burrowing her face into his neck. “Now who’s going to upset the horses?”
Nuzzling her ear, he gasped for breath. “Maybe they’ll get used to hearing your strange, catlike noises.”
“Maybe they will.” If she had anything to say about it, they would. Her body was warm and relaxed against his firm one, as if hot water flowed through her veins. How would she ever allow this man to leave her sight and go back to his supposed dreary life of watching over other people’s money? Making him her prisoner of love would make her much happier. Even the thought pulled her lips into a smile.
His mouth found hers. “You’re smiling,” he whispered, never moving his lips from hers.
“And you’re not?” she said, challenging him. Tenderly, she brushed back the shock of hair from his forehead.
“Oh, most definitely I am, Talia. Can’t remember smiling this much—not in a long time.”
“Then stop talking and smiling and kiss me.” She snaked her arms around his neck, rubbing her cheek against his prickly one.
Taming Talia Page 5
