“You’re mine,” he whispered fiercely, sealing her lips with a branding kiss meant to make her his forever. She arched against him, begging him to complete the union.
“Now,” she whispered, her voice tremulous, “please love me now, Sam. Take me, I need you so badly. Please…”
He slid his large hand beneath the curve of her hip, bringing her upward. His body trembled with barely controlled desire. He checked himself, not wanting to hurt her. She moaned and gently he invaded the sweet, moist depths of her being. He felt her tense and halted momentarily. Tears wet her thick auburn lashes, spilling down the sides of her face. Her eyes…oh, God, her eyes were shining with love. He felt himself close to exploding; he wanted to bury himself in her. But no, not the first time. Life was too precious, too short for them. He wanted her to feel pleasure, not pain over their first union. She had felt enough pain because of her first marriage.
“It’s all right, Sam,” she whispered. It had been so long…so long. How could she tell him that Todd had made her shudder when he touched her? She had welcomed the divorce, had wanted no man to touch her again. Not until now. It had been over a year since her body had slid into dormancy. But Sam was coaxing her senses into new life.
A tender smile curved his mouth. “It will be, honey,” he promised, slowly bringing her into rhythm with him. “Just relax, let me help…it’ll be good for both of us…”
She closed her eyes, seeking, finding his strong, cherishing mouth. The momentary discomfort soon gave way to pleasure and she arched fully against his strong, virile body. Somewhere in the spiraling world of happiness they found together, she climaxed violently, and a wild cry tore from her lips. She fell back, completely sated, fulfilled and loved. Moments later, she felt him tense, too. A low growl came from him as he clutched her tightly to him. A tender smile touched her lips when he brought her against him afterward. Her fiery red curls spilled out across the dark mat of hair on his chest.
She tasted the salt on his jaw as she placed small kisses on the corners of his mouth. Her heart had blossomed fully and all she wanted to do was share the aftermath of the joy he had brought to her. Barely opening his eyes, Sam pulled her damp form on top of him. A smile lingered on his face as he looked up at her.
“Has anyone ever told you how loving you are, Kelly Blanchard?” he asked huskily, tracing the curve of her damp cheek.
Kelly barely shook her head. “No,” she whispered.
Sam ran his hand down her long, beautifully formed back. His hand came to rest on her nicely rounded rear. “You give everything you have, honey. You don’t hold back. That’s rare. But then,” he murmured “you are one in a million.” And how he loved her for that! But the admission remained frozen on the tip of his tongue. It was too soon to tell her. She needed time to think about him, about them.
Kelly smiled indulgently, tracing the outline of his mouth with her fingertip. “You’re a gentle giant, Sam Tyler,” she said huskily. “And you know something?”
“No, what?”
“You are indeed a tamer of women.”
“Just redheaded witches,” he corrected. “Come here, let me hold you for a while.”
She complied with his request, allowing him to position her next to his body, with his arms around her keeping her safe. Always safe….
Nine
Coots Matthews wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand and squinted through the heat waves. The blowout continued to roar behind him as he turned toward the approaching figure. Sam Tyler’s face was stony, his blue eyes narrowed slits of barely contained anger.
“Where is she?” Tyler yelled above the noise.
“Kelly?”
“Who the hell else did you think I meant?”
Coots grinned slightly. “You might as well settle down, Sam. She’s been hard at work ever since the chopper dropped her off six hours ago.” He looked Tyler up and down. “You don’t look any the worse for wear. What happened? She give you the slip?”
Sam muttered a curse. “Yes. Is Kelly at the pipe monitoring equipment?”
Coots nodded. “Yeah. Let her stay there. I got Colly watch’n over her. I need you here. We’re about ready to make a dry run with the blowout preventer attached on the hook of the Athey wagon. I want you to direct the operation.”
“What about that sheik?”
“The government’s still got him chasing guerillas.” Coots patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, he’ll leave us alone.”
Sam’s mouth thinned. “The bastard had better stay away.”
Coots nodded. “Don’t worry, he will.”
Sam glared in the direction of the three large pools of water. He could make out the figures of Kelly and Colly in the distance. Just wait until I get my hands on you, Kelly, he promised to himself. Disgruntled, Sam walked toward the trailers, which were now surrounded by a cyclone-type fence with concertina barbed wire at the top. More than anything else, he was angry at himself for allowing Kelly to slip out of the hotel room as he slept. After seven restless nights and the exertion of making love with her, he had fallen into an exhausted sleep. The last thing Sam remembered was Kelly’s warm, yielding body next to his.
Growling an epithet, he climbed the steps of the shack and went inside. Coots drank deeply from a jug of water and then passed it over to him.
“We got phase two completed, Sam. We’re finished digging that twelve-foot hole around the pipe. Colly and Boots used steel cable attached to two bulldozers to saw off the gas pipe. We got a smooth surface to work with now. I just got the blowout preventer wrapped in asbestos and foil to protect it from the heat.” He gave Sam a slap on the shoulder. “Kelly looks pretty good considering everything.”
“Well, she’s going to get her rear paddled before the day’s over. Damn her bullheadedness.”
Coots chuckled drily, a broad Texan grin spreading across his face. “She’s got spunk. A real hellcat.”
Sam became serious. “You sure Hassad won’t be around?”
“He’ll stay away. ‘Sides, Boots told the government officials that if they didn’t keep Hassad away from our site, we’d pack up and leave. I think that convinced them we meant business.”
“Good,” he growled, reaching for his dusty construction hat. Throwing it on his head, he said, “Let’s get that preventer stationed. There’s a certain redhaired witch I want to have a confrontation with later.”
* * *
Kelly had just completed her initial research. Earlier she had watched the helicopter land and had prepared herself to meet his angry attack. But to her relief, Coots detoured him, postponing the inevitable showdown.
Colly was paged on the hand-held radio he carried. He waved to Kelly.
“I’m needed at the blowout. Sam and Boots are going to try to position the preventer on that pipe.”
She nodded, feeling weak beneath the harsh rays of the sun. Since she’d returned to the site, Kelly had noted subtle differences in the camp. The most important was the fact that the shacks were now guarded by government troops. That knowledge eased some of her immediate fear. Everything concerning the capping of the blowout was proceeding smoothly and she took a deep steadying breath.
“I’m going over to the shack, Colly. I’m getting tired.”
He nodded. “Go ahead. We’ll meet you there for supper later.”
* * *
Kelly watched from the trailer window as a fifty-two-ton blowout preventer was lifted by a crane and attached to the Athey wagon. A counterweight balanced the entire contraption, permitting the athey wagon to be moved forward and backward by the men on the bulldozer. Fascinated as to how they would maneuver the monstrous blowout preventer directly into the flame, Kelly watched their progress. Sam stood behind the shield next to the driver of the bulldozer. Continuous streams of water cascaded down upon them. She inhaled deeply. Thank God Blanchard pipe was standing up to the job.
Later, the extended boom angle was carefully measured and stakes were driven into t
he ground where the bulldozer would halt to place the blowout preventer into the flame. After the figures were dutifully recorded in Boots’s notebook, everyone backed away from the roaring inferno. Kelly was exhausted but she rummaged around to locate enough canned food to make a hearty stew for the men. Her stomach was knotted in anticipation of greeting Sam. Pressing her lips together, Kelly tried to ignore the guilt she felt about sneaking out of the hotel room after Sam had fallen asleep.
The door was jerked open and Kelly gasped, spinning around. Sam stood in the doorway, glaring at her. His face was glistening with sweat; his dark hair was plastered against his forehead. He took off his hardhat and moved inside.
“You look like hell,” he growled, coming around the table and closing the distance between them.
Kelly maintained her position, refusing to yield. “Well, I can’t say much more for you!”
His white uniform clung to his body. “If you didn’t look so damn pale, I’d take you over my knee, Kelly.”
“Don’t you dare try, Sam Tyler! And quit being so angry at me! You forced me to do this! I didn’t want to leave you. But you got it into your head to put me on a plane against my wishes.” Her green eyes narrowed.
He halted, drinking in her fiery beauty. Suddenly, all of his anger dissipated. A slight grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. “You wanted to stay longer, eh?”
She avoided his amused, provocative gaze. “Go to hell. You’re just an arrogant male after all!”
He laughed, gripping her arms and bringing her against his body. “And you’re an arrogant little wildcat.” His smile disappeared as he studied her in the intervening silence. “You look pale. You feeling all right?”
Kelly shrugged. “Just a little tired,” she lied. Actually, she had done too much the first day. She craved the sanctuary of sleep once again. But she didn’t want anyone to know just how bad she felt for fear of being sent back to Abu Dhabi.
His fingers become more gentle on her arms. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No…I don’t have much of an appetite yet, I guess.”
“Come and sit down. You should take some salt tablets, eat a few bites and then hit the sack.”
The encouragement in his voice gave her momentary strength. She sat across the table from him, toying idly with the stew she had made. He glanced up once. “You aren’t eating.”
A frown creased her brow. “Quit picking on me!”
“Now you’re turning into a shrew. Why don’t you go to bed?”
Kelly rose. “I will. Goodnight, Sam. And”—she chewed on her lower lip—“I’m sorry I left you. I didn’t want to but…”
He nodded. “I know why you did, Kelly. I don’t agree with it, but that doesn’t matter right now.” He wanted to add, I’m just concerned about losing you. “Lock your door this time.”
She grimaced. “Don’t worry, I will!”
She slept restlessly, kicking off the light cover over her. The noise of the blowout roared across the landscape, the light from the gigantic red and yellow torch making it seem like daylight outside the complex. Once she woke with a start, thinking that she heard Hassad’s men sneaking into her room. The dancing shadows on the walls were a reflection of the blowout. Emotionally exhausted and physically weak, Kelly put her head down once more on the uncomfortable pillow, willing herself to sleep.
What seemed like moments later, Kelly sat upright, awakened by her own screams. Horrified, disoriented, she sobbed.
“Kelly!”
Wildly, she looked around the room.
“Kelly! Open up!”
Sam. It was Sam’s voice! Choking on a sob, she got to her feet and flew to the door. Hands shaking badly, Kelly finally managed to unlock it. The door was jerked open and she stood forlornly in front of Sam. His face was tense, his eyes filled with worry as he anxiously looked at her. Dressed in only a pair of briefs, he held a .357 magnum revolver in his hand, ready to use it.
Tears coursed down her cheeks and she uttered a little cry and fell into his open arms. “Oh, Sam,” she sobbed, burying her head against his chest. “It was horrible! Horrible!” she cried.
She was aware of other men’s voices in the background and Sam replying. He led her over to her sleeping mat after closing the door behind him.
“Come on,” he soothed, “lie down here with me. You’re just having bad dreams, honey. Sshh, it’s all right. I’m here and no one is going to hurt you.”
She sought the protection of his body and her weeping gradually abated. Sam gently removed the damp, tangled strands of auburn hair from her wet cheeks. He lay with his back against the wall, her head resting on his shoulder. She shuddered convulsively.
“You’re safe,” Sam whispered against her ear. “Come on, relax, Kelly. Hassad isn’t here. We probably woke you up when we came in the shack a while ago. I’m sorry.”
She swallowed against a lump in her throat. Gradually, she remembered hearing the low murmur of men’s voices. In her nightmare-ridden state she had confused Sam and the others for Hassad’s men. “I’m sorry, Sam,” she said brokenly. “God, I feel like such a baby…I’m just not like this….”
“It isn’t every day you get drugged and kidnapped, either,” he responded drily. “You’re being a little too hard on yourself under the circumstances.” He leaned over and pressed a light kiss on her temple. “When I came back from Nam I had nightmares that lasted for years.”
She sniffed. “Really?”
“Really.” He ran his hand over her sweaty body, noting that her nightgown was completely soaked. “Let me get you a dry gown or you’ll catch pneumonia.”
“Don’t leave me!” she begged. “Not yet…”
Sam relaxed, pulling the dry coverlet up across her shoulders and tucking it around her back, hips and long legs. “I’ll stay as long as you want, honey,” he soothed, embracing her gently. “Just close your eyes and sleep.”
The beat of his heart calmed her. The figure of Hassad receded from her weary mind and Kelly nuzzled against Sam. Safe at last, she fell into a heavy slumber.
* * *
Kelly awoke to the same steady heartbeat that had helped her to sleep. During the night, she had pressed herself against Sam and had thrown one leg carelessly across his own. Her arm spanned the breadth of his torso; her head was tucked beneath his chin, her reddish gold hair streaming across his chest. She still felt exhausted from the terrors of the night. Sam’s hand rested protectively on her shoulder and his breath was soft and shallow. He was still asleep. Languorously, Kelly opened her green eyes, her gaze following the solid line of his chin. Sam’s face was relaxed and almost boyish-looking in sleep. A tender smile curved her mouth as she silently thanked him for holding her all night.
The roar of the blowout continued unabated in the background. The rays of the sun were slanting into the room at a low angle, indicating that it was probably around six a.m. Sam stirred, his hand brushing the curve of her breast, then coming to rest upon her ribcage. Slowly, he opened his blue eyes. Strands of dark hair lay across his forehead. Kelly reached up, running her slender fingers through the strands, and brushed them back into place.
“Good morning,” she whispered, her lips a mere inch from his mouth.
He gazed at her through half opened lids. “It is,” he agreed, his voice still thick with sleep. “This is the way it should have been,” he muttered.
“What?” she asked, a smile lingering in her eyes.
“Yesterday morning when I woke up. You weren’t there. I expected to wake up and see you sleeping in my arms.”
She leaned forward, her lips brushing his strong, masculine mouth. A shiver coursed through her as she felt him slide his hand upward to caress her breast. “I had other plans, Sam Tyler,” she told him throatily.
He smiled, rising up on one arm and tucking her into the curve of his body. Her red hair flowed across the pillow, making her skin appear paler than ever. “I’ve got a few plans myself,” he admitted, tracing the curve of her
cheek with his finger. “And you’re included in them.” He caressed her shapely lips. “Whether you like it or not.”
“Don’t start giving me ultimatums!” She was up in one fluid motion. “You ought to know by now, that doesn’t work.”
A lazy grin pulled at his mouth. “I love it when you get angry. Do you realize your eyes are like an incredible green fire?” Sam reached up and pulled her back into his arms. He pressed his mouth insistently to her lips and felt her response. Her lips were soft, searching, parting beneath his mouth like the petals of a flower. Gradually, he raised his head so that he could study the gold flecks in her wide, lustrous eyes. “That’s better,” he growled. He wanted to make love with her again, but this wasn’t the time or the place.
“I’ve got to go in a minute,” he said. “Kelly, there’s something that’s been bothering me and I want to ask you about it.”
She nodded. Her body craved more of his kisses. The memory of their lovemaking a day before swept through her like white-hot lava. No man had ever made her feel more alive, more of a woman, and she knew that her love for Sam had much to do with it. “What?” she asked, her voice wispy.
He rested his hand near her hip. “That first day I met you, I saw Gage Wallace drive up as I was leaving. And then the second time I came to your office, he was with you again.” His hand tightened on her waist. “Does he mean something to you, Kelly?”
Her features contorted and she struggled to sit up. “Oh, he means something all right. Sam, he maneuvered my ex-husband out of their partnership in our steel company. And then he tried to court me, which made Todd jealous.”
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