A Marriage Deal with the Outlaw

by Harper St. George

  When his face was level with her sex, she said, “Castillo—”

  His mouth opened over her—there!—and he kissed her just as he’d kissed her mouth. Though he kept his left arm immobile, he pushed against her thigh a little with his shoulder while his right hand pressed her left thigh, opening her further to him. His tongue dipped inside her, and he groaned a little. “You taste good, Carolina.” His voice was nearly a growl and that, combined with his tongue, sent tremors of pleasure coursing through her. The only sound in the room was the soft, damp sound of his mouth against her.

  The flat of his tongue pressed against her clitoris, making the nub throb and ache for more of his attention, and he obeyed her wordless cries. He teased her with a few swirls of his tongue before sucking her into his mouth. She nearly came undone when he did that, falling back against the pillows and not even caring that she was shamelessly splayed out beneath him. Then he moved downward, dipping his tongue inside her and starting the rhythm all over again. She moved her hips desperately to ease some of the ache building inside her.

  “Please, more, I need more.”

  She didn’t realize she was talking out loud until he whispered, “Shh...” against her tender flesh.

  Then his tongue flicked over her again, nearly drawing her out of her skin. Her body clenched and unclenched, desperate for something to ease the ache he’d caused. And he did heed her whispered cries. As he went back to laving her, one broad finger slipped deep inside her. It was just enough and not nearly enough all at the same time. She arched toward his touch and he withdrew only to drive back into her and suck all at the same time, creating an amazing friction that promised release. Her entire world narrowed to him and his touch on her body. A tiny wave of pleasure crested over her, followed quickly by another. His tongue stroked her, building her up higher, until her whole body trembled and everything broke apart.

  Soft waves were still crashing over her when he climbed up her body to lay fully on top of her, catching her mouth in a deep kiss. She could taste her release on him and found it oddly appealing that they’d shared something so intimate. It only made her want to share so many other things with him. Wrapping her arms around him, she relished the silk of the warm skin of his back before moving down to cup his buttocks through his trousers. He groaned and flexed his hips into her. She gasped at how good it felt when his hardness pressed against her sensitive sex. He’d only just brought her more pleasure than she’d imagined was possible and she already craved more.

  “Carolina,” he whispered her name over and over as he kissed from her mouth to her ear.

  Without waiting for permission, she moved her hand between them, stroking him through his trousers. He gasped against her ear. “I want to touch you,” she said, already working the fastenings so he couldn’t let some misplaced sense of duty to her honor make him tell her to stop.

  “You should not,” he said against her neck, but he made no attempt to stop her. In fact, he raised his hips a little so she could slip her hand inside and grip him.

  “Oh, Castillo.” He was bigger than she’d thought. She’d felt him through his clothes, but having him in her hand offered her an entirely new perspective. “You’re bigger than I expected.” His response was to bite her neck, an action that was about a hundred times more pleasant than it was painful.

  Testing the size and shape of his erection, she stroked the length of him with her palm. “Is it okay if I squeeze?” A strangled groan was his only response, so she gently squeezed her hand around him, testing his hardness. When she slackened her hold, his hips pressed forward in what felt like an involuntary thrust into her palm. “You’re so much harder than I thought you would be.”

  He groaned out her name, thrusting again, and she flexed around him. She wasn’t certain if that meant she’d gripped him too hard or not, but he rose to look down at her. “We should stop before I come.” He didn’t seem inclined to remove himself from her hand, though, and the slight distance was enough that she could look down and see his hard length in her hand.

  “I want you to.” She couldn’t see him nearly as clearly as she wanted. She longed to have the time to explore him, but it had to be almost morning by now and they’d already stolen too much time. “Please, Castillo? Please let me help you?”

  He shook his head. “It’s not right.”

  “How is it different than what you did for me? I could put my mouth on you—”

  He groaned, almost like he was in pain, and covered her mouth with his before she could finish. Then he drew back just enough to whisper against her lips. “It’s not the same. I’m not an innocent. I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t take that innocence from you.”

  “You’re not taking anything. My innocence is mine to give to whomever I want. I want you, Castillo. I choose you.”

  He mumbled something in Spanish and rolled over onto his back, taking her with him. “Only your hand,” he warned and then covered her hand with his and showed her exactly how to stroke him.

  It was fascinating watching the muscles of his body tense and flex as she pleasured him. His hips pumped up from the bed as he thrust into her rhythm. Unexpectedly, his palm found her bare breast and closed over it. She leaned into his touch, her body still alive with need, but this was about him. It was only a moment before his body started to tighten, and he gritted his teeth against the coming wave of pleasure. He groaned her name, his eyes squeezed shut, and then his release warmed her palm. She hardly had a chance to savor the moment of satisfaction, because he tumbled her onto her back, one hand in her hair as he kissed her breathless.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Castillo had to get up early the next morning and stayed out all day riding the property from one end to the other. The wedding was coming up and Castillo was worried Derringer was planning something for that day. Though the man must’ve taken a hit the day before by losing so many men along with his son.

  Castillo tried to feel a sense of victory over that, but all he felt was hollow. The lives lost were senseless. Derringer was the only man Castillo wanted to bring to justice for what he’d done.

  The sun was low on the horizon, slowly making its way down past the mountains. Beautiful rays of pink and orange painted the land and sky. Normally Castillo would take a moment to appreciate the beauty, but he was too busy appreciating the beauty of the woman on the second-floor veranda. She stood next to the railing, her head resting against a post as she gazed out into the distance, looking east, away from the sunset. He wondered if she was looking for him. His heart thumped harder.

  Last night was vivid in his mind. He could still smell her on his skin. Every time he’d closed his eyes that day, he’d seen her splayed out before him. Her skin pink against the white sheets as she whispered his name and dug her fingers into his hair. He laughed because he was dead tired and already rigid with wanting her again. He wanted to go to her and pull her into his arms, to hear her tell him that everything was going to be all right as she curled herself around him. They’d go to sleep and he’d keep her in bed all morning the next day. Being with her made him feel like everything could work out. She made him feel as if there was a dawn at the end of this long stretch of night he’d been going through.

  There were enough guests now that he could hear the din of their conversation from across the yard. He’d planned to go in through the back, since he was a bit dusty from riding and needed to change his clothes. But they’d already come out for the sunset, indicating that he’d probably missed supper. He was too tired to care and his arm ached. He’d go into the kitchen and find something left over.

  Carolina was on the opposite side of the house from everyone, as if she’d come out from her room to look for him. He moved across the yard from the stables, hoping that he wouldn’t draw any attention as he skirted the edge of the house and took the stairs leading up to the second floor balcony
. His boots were quiet on the wood floor as he made his way to her. Somewhere about halfway across the veranda, he caught a hint of her lavender scent. He wanted to wrap himself in that scent.

  “Carolina,” he said when he was close enough that he was certain the people downstairs wouldn’t hear him. She stiffened but melted into him when he put his arms around her. He had meant to wait, to stand there and talk to her, but as soon as he came close his hands reached for her and he pulled her back against him.

  “Castillo,” she whispered and turned her face up to him.

  His fingers cupped her cheek as he leaned down to kiss her without bothering to look to see if anyone else was watching them. When he was with her, she was all he saw. It was as if he was sucked in by her flair for life, as if he only woke up when she was near. Her taste was so familiar to him now, he craved it as he drank from her lips.

  Clenching her fingers in his hair, she moaned a little, deep in her throat, as she opened to him. After a moment he pulled back enough to take a breath and stare down into her pale blue eyes. “I missed you.” It was the most honest thing he’d ever said to her. There was no skirting the truth or leaving anything out. He’d missed her every moment that he’d been away, starting with the moment he’d left her bed that morning.

  She smiled and, though the light was faint, he noticed a blush stained her cheeks. “I missed you, too.”

  He kissed her again and then dragged his mouth over her cheek to her neck, unable to get enough of her. He raked his teeth across the sensitive skin below her earlobe, smiling when she gasped. He wanted to touch her all over and find every single place that made that sound fall from her lips. There was something alluring about her strength and independence, and the way he could make her beg with her need for him. And he needed her, too.

  Need. How had that happened so quickly? Last week he’d been empty, but now he was filled with her warmth and craved even more of it. He wanted to hold her, to protect her and bask in the heat of her intensity. She was brave and intelligent, and possessed a fierce curiosity. All his life he’d imagined he wanted someone soft, demure and biddable. She was everything he never knew he wanted in a woman, and he couldn’t get enough of her.

  He kissed down her neck, breathing in her scent as he tasted her with the tip of his tongue. She was perfect. She leaned into him and he folded his arm around her, unable to resist touching her more and closing his hand around her breast. Her hand covered his to hold it there.

  “I can’t understand this.” She didn’t elaborate, but he knew she meant this pull between them. He didn’t understand it, either, but it didn’t matter. It was there and he simply wanted to savor it and whatever time they had together. He was a danger to her, but surely risking this little bit of time together wouldn’t hurt much, as long as he didn’t take more.

  She curled the fingers of her other hand tighter in his hair, and pulled a little, sending a shiver of pleasure down his spine. He was hard against her already and wondering how he’d ever get through the next days of her presence without taking her innocence. If she asked him right now he’d take her into her room and this time he’d let her use her mouth or whatever else she wanted on him.

  Finding her puckered nipple through the fabric of her dress and undergarments, he circled it with his thumb. She sighed and pulled his mouth to hers for another kiss. Her tongue stroked his as she took control of the kiss this time. He could only imagine how exciting getting her in bed would be. She was too strong willed to allow him to take the lead the entire time and he loved that.

  “Caroline?” Prudence called to her from somewhere inside the house, probably the hallway outside her bedroom door.

  Castillo jerked his head up, aware for the first time of how far he’d allowed things to progress with the voices of the guests not very far away. His heart pounded as he realized what getting caught could mean for her. While a very large part of him wanted everyone to know that she was his, the rational part of him knew that she wasn’t and that she could never be. She belonged in another life, far away from him and his sins. It took every bit of the strength of will he possessed to let her go, but he dropped his hand and stepped away.

  She whirled to face him, and her eyes were wide in panic. Her expression surprised him, so he paused. “I need to talk to you. Something’s happened,” she said. There was a metallic click from her room, as if the door had been opened and it drew her attention.

  He wanted to take her in his arms and make that look go away. His mind raced with a million different things that could’ve occurred while he was gone. “What’s happened?”

  “Caroline!” Prudence’s voice was louder this time, coming from inside the bedroom.

  Caroline shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. “Go. Just go. We can talk later.”

  Castillo grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in to place a quick kiss on her forehead before rushing to his room. It’d be best, in his current state, if Prudence didn’t find him with Caroline.

  * * *

  Castillo bathed and dressed quickly, anxious to find Carolina again and figure out what was wrong. He took a moment to wolf down a cold plate of leftovers in the kitchen before setting out to find her. Everyone had returned to the salon, and the usual evening activities of music and conversation after dinner, so he had no choice but to join them to talk to her.

  His gaze found her as soon as he stepped inside the room. She was talking to Emmy and smiling, but when she saw him he could tell that it didn’t reach her eyes. She almost looked anxious, just as she had last night. What the hell was going on? Someone standing next to her shifted, blocking Castillo’s view momentarily. It was a tall, thin man, a newcomer Castillo hadn’t met. His hand cupped Carolina’s elbow possessively before moving over to settle on her back as he leaned in and murmured something near her ear. It was a proprietary gesture that made jealousy flare to life in Castillo.

  Carolina was his. He started to make his way over, but Tanner came between him and his adversary.

  “Welcome home, son. I know you met him briefly last night, but I’d like to introduce you to Abner Cunningham. He’s an old friend of mine from Boston and he’s been thinking of investing in some of our breeding stock.” Tanner smiled, unaware that he’d intercepted Castillo, and indicated a man who appeared to be in his fifties.

  Clenching his jaw, Castillo tried to force his heartbeat to return to a normal pace as he turned to greet him. “Very good to meet you again.” The man gave him an easy smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Samuel stood on his other side and gave Castillo a nod, resuming the conversation about horse breeding Castillo had interrupted.

  A quick glance confirmed that the newcomer had firmly established his place at Carolina’s side. Though he didn’t appear to be a part of her conversation, he stood there with his hand on her. Castillo could hardly tear his gaze from that point of contact, but he did, moving it upward toward the man’s face. The newcomer turned his head, finally glancing toward Castillo. He was shocked to see it was the man from Victoria House. The man who’d looked at him so oddly that night they’d found Johnson.

  Fear and anger wrestled for control of him. It was no coincidence that Castillo had seen him at the brothel. Though Castillo had no idea who the man was, Bennett’s warning was fresh in his mind. This had to be the insider, and he had his hands all over Carolina.

  Tanner followed Castillo’s gaze and said, “You’ve noticed our other visitor. A Mr. Grant Miller from Boston. Caroline’s mother invited him out.”

  Caroline’s mother and aunt had just walked up to their group. Her mother smiled. “He’s such a charming gentleman and from a good, strong Boston family. He’ll be good for our Caroline.” She glanced at her husband and got his nod of approval.

  A sickening dread settled in Castillo’s stomach. Had they already promised her to this stranger or had they merely arranged an intr
oduction? The fact that Miller’s hands were on her and that he’d traveled so far from Boston told Castillo it had to be more than a mere meeting. “Does Miss Hartford agree?”

  Her mother’s smile never changed as she said, “She will.”

  Not to be left out, Prudence asked, “Does it matter if she agrees?” Castillo wasn’t sure if she was asking him or Carolina’s parents. The look of displeasure on her face was obvious, but then she caught his eye and he realized the question had been for him. She was asking him what he planned to do about it. Castillo wondered the same thing. He wanted to go over and rip Miller’s hand away from her.

  “Of course she’ll agree,” her mother answered. “She wants to go to school in the autumn and Grant is a good man.”

  “He’s a solid choice,” her father added, perhaps because he’d noted Castillo’s interest in her earlier in the week. He met Castillo’s gaze and explained, “His family are third-generation foundry owners. Their family’s iron was used to build the railroads. He’s a good choice for her. He’ll allow her to indulge her ambition while giving her stability.”

  “Indulge her ambition?” They spoke as if her dream was some passing fancy she would eventually outgrow.

  “Castillo,” Tanner began in a warning tone.

  Samuel cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable for the first time. “We have to ensure her future. It’s our job as her parents.”

  Castillo empathized with their position, but he despised their methods. Apparently Prudence did, too, because she sniffed and turned her head away. Castillo didn’t know what he could do short of offering for her hand on the spot. That was out of the question with his criminal past and the mission before him. Even after Derringer was taken care of, he seriously doubted Carolina would agree to return home with him to the hacienda. There were no people for miles, and if she stuck with tending the ranch hands she’d have very few patients. That wouldn’t make her any happier than Miller would.