Arizona Temptress

by Smith, Bobbi

  “Since we’ll be leaving so early, I think I’ll go on to bed then,” Chica said as she rose to leave the room. “Mr. McCaine, thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

  “You’re more than welcome,” he answered.

  “Yes, thanks,” Lucia told them as she stood up and quietly followed the other woman from the room.

  With only the presence of family, the mood became more relaxed, and they passed the next hours in easy companionship.

  Jennie, however, sitting so closely to Rick on the sofa, thought the evening would never end. She had been surprised by the rush of desire she’d felt when she’d returned to the sitting room and had seen him for the first time wearing some of Jake’s clothes. The whiteness of the shirt he’d borrowed from her brother had only served to emphasize his darkly tanned good looks, and the slim-fitting black trousers clung tightly to his muscular thighs. Jennie’s pulse had been racing as she’d gone to him, and throughout the entire meal, she’d been hard put to keep her manner nonchalant. Now, as she sat beside him, their positions looked casual, but in reality, they were anything but, as the heat of his leg pressed tightly to hers and the accidental brushing of his arm against the side of her breast kept her constantly aware of his nearness.

  All Jennie could think of doing was losing herself in the power of his passionate possession and yet, she had to sit there calmly and pretend that she wasn’t on fire with desire for him. Finally, when she could stand it no more, she forced a yawn and moved to excuse herself.

  “If you don’t mind.” She tried to sound exhausted when, in reality, her body was feverishly alive. “I think I’m going to call it a night. I can hardly wait to sleep in a bed again.”

  “I know the feeling.” Carrie laughed. “Somehow a bedroll just isn’t as comfortable.”

  Leaning down to give Rick a quick, rather chaste kiss, Jennie left the room and the others soon followed. When, at last, everyone had retired, Hildago and Mac made their way slowly to the master bedroom, their arms around one another’s waists.

  “You were quiet tonight. Is there something troubling you?” Mac asked, having noticed how subdued she’d been all evening.

  “I’m just glad you are home, Mac,” she told him simply, still not ready to tell him about Eve’s message. “I was lost without you.”

  “I’m glad to be back, too. There’s nothing I like better than coming home to you.” Closing the door behind them, Mac leaned down to kiss her and they came together in a passionate embrace.

  “I need you so much, Mac.”

  Hildago had been worried all night. She knew she had been wrong in not telling him right away about the letter, but she hadn’t wanted to ruin the happiness of the evening. And now, when the time was as right as it ever would be to tell him the bad news, she selfishly wanted to share in his loving just one more time before the pain of Eve’s return ripped everything apart. She wanted to show Mac how much she really needed him. Then, she thought, she would be able to handle whatever happened with Eve.

  Their lovemaking was wild and tinged with Hildago’s desperation as she strove to please him in every way she could. And when he finally entered her, she cried out her pleasure, feeling, at last, complete as he filled her with his love.

  Mac was surprised by her fervid response, and he cradled her to him, caressing her gently until, sated, he finally drifted off in sleep.

  Lucia paced her darkened room, clutching the note she’d written to Rick and waiting impatiently for the moment when she could set her plan into action. She had heard Jennie return to her own chamber some moments before, and she was now anxiously anticipating Rick’s return to his bedroom.

  Stalking to the french doors, Lucia once again glanced out across the courtyard and was pleased to see that Rick had, at last, retired for the night and was standing in the open patio doorway of his room, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. Her eyes feasted on the sight of him as he stripped off the garment, and she drank in the beauty of his rugged, male frame as he turned away and disappeared back inside. Lucia shivered in excitement as she imagined that very soon he would be coming to her, wanting the love that only she could give him.

  Hurrying across the room, she moved out into the hallway and went in search of a servant to do her bidding. Finally locating a young maid busily straightening the sitting room, she called out softly to her.

  “Excuse me.”

  “Yes, ma’am? Did you need something?” the servant asked attentively.

  “I was wondering if you could take a note to Rick Peralta for me?”

  “To Rick Peralta?” The girl’s eyes grew round, reflecting her speculation at the content of the missive that Lucia was holding out to her.

  “Would you have the time to take it to him? It is only a note of thanks. He rescued me from Malo, and I wanted him to know how grateful I was.” Lucia hoped she sounded earnest enough.

  The maid’s expression softened, and she smiled as she took the letter. “Of course. I’ll do it right now. The men have only just gone to their rooms, so I’m sure he’ll still be awake.”

  “Thank you. It’s very kind of you.” Lucia smiled warmly and started back to her room, taking care to keep her exuberance from showing.

  For the third time in as many minutes, Rick strode to the patio doors and glanced out across the court in the direction of Jennie’s bedroom. Though he knew she had to be discreet and wait until she could leave her room unobserved, it did not lessen the agony of his eager anticipation. God, how he wanted her! Each passing minute seemed an hour as he waited for her to come to him, and he wondered how he’d ever existed without her.

  Rick had thought Jennie an uncommon beauty when he saw her dressed only in riding clothes. But when she had joined him for dinner, he had been amazed at her transformation. Clad in more feminine attire, she was positively gorgeous! The gown she had worn was far from revealing, but her innate sensuality had been enhanced by its very softness of style.

  His heart had been thundering in his chest through the long meal and then, when they’d been forced to linger in the sitting room—well, suffice it to say that it had been more a chamber of horrors than a family’s parlor. With her nestled so gently, so trustingly against him, it had been all he could do not to take her right there in front of everybody! The feel of her hip pressing so close to his and the brush of her breast against his arm had strained his control to the very limit. He had been more than relieved when Jennie had made her excuses and gone on to bed for it had given him the opportunity to leave, too.

  Now, here he stood alone in the darkness, remembering the sweetness of loving her, and his patience was wearing thin. He was just about ready to throw caution to the wind and go get her when the knock sounded at his door. Mumbling a curse under his breath, he stalked across the room and threw wide the portal.

  “Yes? What is it?” he asked more sharply than he’d intended.

  “I just have a note for you, sir.” The maid held Lucia’s letter out toward him.

  Rick frowned as he took the offered missive from her. “A letter? Yes, well, thank you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Turning back into his room, Rick closed the door and moved nearer to the lamp so he could read the mysterious note.

  Rick

  It is important that I speak with you at once. Meet me in sitting room.

  Lucia

  Scowling, he tossed the letter onto the table near the nightstand. The last thing he felt like doing was talking to Lucia, but he was afraid that if he didn’t go, she would be brazen enough to come to his room. And if there was one thing he didn’t need, it was Lucia knocking on the door when Jennie was in his bed. Rick looked out across the courtyard one last time to make sure that Jennie wasn’t on her way and then, after pulling on a clean shirt, he left his room to see what it was Lucia wanted.

  Lucia had been observing his every movement and the moment he left, she made her move. Wearing only a dressing gown that one of the maids had given her earlier in the
day, she darted across the patio and into Rick’s bedroom. She made fast work of rumpling the sheets on his bed and then quickly threw off her wrapper and snatched up the shirt he had earlier discarded.

  Clad only in a seductive nightgown, Jennie silently left her chamber and made her way toward Rick’s. Her excitement was great as she remembered the bliss of his embrace, and she quickened her step, eager to be in his arms once again. She noted with pleasure that he had left the french doors ajar, and she slipped into the room, softly calling out his name.

  “Rick?” Jennie was totally unprepared for the sight that greeted her, and she stood in numbing silence, staring at Lucia. The other woman was standing at the foot of Rick’s bed wearing only his shirt! “Lucia! What are you doing in here?” she demanded as she stepped farther into the chamber, not wanting to believe her eyes but knowing the damning evidence could not be denied.

  “Now—Don’t be upset—Rick didn’t mean for this to happen—I was supposed to hurry.” She groaned with fake remorse.

  “What are you talking about?” Jennie was outraged.

  “I came to thank him for all of his help—and, well, I guess we just got carried away.” Lucia deliberately stumbled over her words so that they sounded more believable. “I know how much he loves you, and I wouldn’t want to cause you any trouble—”

  “Cause me any trouble?” She glared at the barely clad woman with distaste. “You haven’t caused me any trouble. You may have just saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life. Where is Rick?”

  “Oh, he, uh—” Even as she spoke the door opened and Rick walked into the room, totally unaware of the maelstrom that was brewing.

  “Jennie—Lucia? What the—”

  But before he could continue, Jennie raged toward him, more angry than she’d ever been in her life.

  “Why you—” she seethed and without hesitation, she drew back and slapped him full force. Blinded by tears, Jennie stormed away, leaving Rick watching her in stunned bewilderment. Coming face to face with Lucia, Jennie felt no regret as she gave her a hearty shove backward that sent her sprawling obscenely on the bed. “You want her? Well, you’ve got her!” And with that Jennie fled the room.

  Not wanting to give Rick time to think, Lucia moved sinuously off the bed and came to stand before him. “Rick—I’m so sorry.”

  “What the hell is going on here?” he thundered, trying to brush past Lucia and go after Jennie.

  “Wait, Rick, I’ll explain.” She grabbed his arm and momentarily halted his progress.

  Easily shaking off her grip, he glared down at her, understanding for the first time what a conniving bitch she really was. His movements reflecting his barely controlled violence, Rick picked up her discarded dressing gown and threw it at her. “Cover yourself and get out of here!”

  “No, please, let me tell you—”

  “Tell me what?” He sneered viciously. “How you tricked me into leaving so you could play out this charade in front of Jennie?”

  “But, Rick! I know I can please you!” she pleaded desperately as she realized that instead of winning him for her own, she had just lost him completely. “I love you!”

  “You don’t know the meaning of the word! Get out of my sight or I swear I won’t be responsible for my actions!” Rick turned away from her as she stripped off his shirt and nervously tugged on the wrapper.

  “Rick?”

  “Go.” His voice was flat and emotionless as he fought to control the fury that raged within him.

  Lucia stared at him helplessly for a moment and then fled the room.

  When Rick was sure that she’d gone, he drew a shaky breath and nervously raked his hand through his hair. Now what was he going to do? He knew he had to go after Jennie—to explain everything and try to make her understand, but the little scene Lucia had just staged had been so convincing.

  As he glanced blankly around the room, he spotted the note on the table and grinned broadly in relief. Picking it up, he raced after his love, determined that their night of ecstasy not be ruined by Lucia’s selfish plotting.

  “Jennie!” Rick spoke in low harsh tones as he tried to open the courtyard door to her room that was now locked tightly against him. “Jennie, let me in. I have something I have to show you!”

  “Go away.” Her answer was hushed yet full of venom.

  “Jennie, this is important. You know that I love you. How can you doubt that after all we’ve been to each other?” Silence greeted his declarations. “Jennie—I don’t want to, but if you don’t open this door right now, I’ll break it in.”

  Jennie glowered at the locked doors resentfully and then slowly climbed off her bed. She had no doubt that Rick would do exactly what he threatened, and she did not want to risk waking the rest of her family. With a trembling hand, she unlocked the portal and opened the doors slightly to glare out at him.

  “What do you want?” she asked in a tight voice.

  “Jennie—” he began, but she cut him off quickly.

  “I thought you said you had something to show me? Well? What is it?”

  “Here. Read this.” He handed the note to her and the moment she released the door to take it, he shouldered his way into her room.

  “I don’t want you in here!” Jennie protested as he walked passed her.

  “Read it, Jennie. Then tell me you want me to go and I’ll leave.”

  Jennie unfolded the sheet of paper and read it quickly before looking back up at Rick. “What is this?”

  “Lucia sent that to me to get me out of my room so that she could sneak in.”

  “What are you talking about? I saw her there, wearing your shirt—and in your bed.” Tears stung her eyes as she remembered the trauma of finding the other woman in his room.

  “Jennie, love, nothing happened. It was all a ruse.”

  “How can you say that?”

  “For God’s sake, sweetheart! I wasn’t even there!” Rick could see that his last statement had made an impact on her, and he pushed his advantage. “Lucia’s never made any secret of the fact that she wanted me, you know that. I guess she thought that if she could drive a wedge between us, I would turn to her.”

  “How do I know that you didn’t meet her in the sitting room and then take her back to your bedroom?” Jennie challenged, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.

  “Why would I have taken her to my room when I knew that you were due there at any minute? Think, Jennie. Does any of it make sense? I’d waited all day just to hold you. Do you really think that I would have traded a lifetime of love with you for a brief moment of lust with Lucia?”

  “Oh, Rick!” A shiver of emotion went through Jennie as she realized how close she had come to throwing away her love, and Lucia’s note dropped unheeded to the floor as she went to him. “I love you! I didn’t want to believe it, but—”

  “Hush, darling.” He soothed her, relief flooding through him as he held her close. “It’s all over now.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.”

  Rick drew back to look down at her, savoring her beauty. “I love you, Jennie. I couldn’t let anything come between us. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost your love.”

  “You’ll never have to worry.” She sighed, nestling against him. “I’ll never doubt you again.”

  Rick bent to her then, his mouth meeting hers in a flaming kiss that rendered them both breathless. Without speaking another word, he swept her up into his arms and strode from her room, not stopping until he’d entered his own. Carrying her to the bed, he lay her gently down before quickly turning out the lamp.

  “I love you, Jennie.” His tone was husky with excietment as he shed his shirt and then quickly joined her.

  The room was dark, save for what little moonlight streamed through the windows, but to the lovers it made no difference. Theirs had become a world of all the senses, not just sight.

  Sighing, she reached out to him, caressing the leanness of his ribs. “And I love you. Rick?�
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  “What?”

  “I’m sorry I slapped you.” Her words were heartfelt.

  “Hush, darling. It’s not important. What’s important is here—and now.” Trapping her hand, he held it over his heart, and she could feel its powerful rhythm. “I want you, Jennie. I’ve been aching to hold you like this all day.”

  Moving brazenly closer, she smiled and teased, “Did you only want to hold me?”

  “Actually,” he confided, his eyes darkening in passion as he finally gave full vent to his long-supressed desires, “I did have something a little more exciting in mind.”

  “Oh? Show me,” she murmured as his mouth found hers in a long lingering kiss.

  Her love for him was so great and her need for him so overpowering that she gave herself over to him with no reservations. It had been so long since last they’d loved. Her hands were never still as he shifted closer, and she clung to him weakly as his lips descended to press heated kisses on her breasts through the gossamer material of the gown. When Rick slid one leg erotically between hers, Jennie gasped and arched against the enthralling hardness of his male frame.

  “You are so lovely,” Rick said, drawing back to stare down at her. “So lovely.” With a single finger, he traced teasing patterns over her nipples where his kisses had left the filmy cloth damp, and she moaned low in her throat at his play.

  “Rick, please, love me,” Jennie begged, wanting to feel his welcoming weight upon her and the surge of his manly power filling her aching emptiness.

  Rick gave a low answering chuckle but made no move to possess her fully, yet. He had been waiting too long to rush the moment, and he wanted to savor every second of it.

  Gently, he stripped the gown from her and, after tossing it carelessly aside, he kissed her again, pulling her full-length against him. Jennie moved restlessly as his every arousing touch drove her closer and closer to the edge of bliss.

  Rolling Jennie on her back, Rick trailed passionate kisses along her throat and then dipped lower to claim her breasts, drawing each throbbing peak into his mouth in turn and suckling them gently until she cried out her pleasure. Tossing feverishly beneath him, Jennie wrapped her legs about his hips, straining ever nearer as his mouth continued its play, and she arched to him in uncontrollable ecstasy when he moved lower to explore the essence of her womanhood.