Dragon Fire

by Linda Ladd

  Stone sought her mouth, anxiety grating the words he uttered against her lips. "I can't go on without you. You've got to think about us, the way it was before we came to Mexico. Think about me, Windsor. Think about how much I love you and need you. Empty your mind the way you used to do. Reach inside yourself and feel with your heart." His breath rasped raggedly as she put her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest.

  "I love you more than life itself. I swear I won't hurt you," he whispered, trying not to rush her or frighten her. He kissed the top of her head and pressed his mouth to her temple, then to her cheek, then at last to her trembling mouth. Her lips tasted sweet and soft, the way he remembered, and he forced himself to hold her lightly, gently. But he had to fight his own battle for self-control, steeling himself against the passion that ignited like lightning in his heart and rushed through his blood like a stream of fire. With iron restraint, he scattered kisses along her bare shoulder, then lifted her off her feet, bringing her up against him so that his lips could find the soft swell of her breasts.

  When she did not pull away, he swung her into his arms, lowering her to the bed, lying beside her, holding her close but making no move to do more. Instead, he savored the feel of her pressed against him after so many long weeks of hoping and dreaming for just such a moment. Then, when she grew relaxed in his embrace, when she slid her arms around his neck with a contented sigh, he began to stroke her back with his open palm, slipping his hand beneath the blouse to rest against skin that felt like smooth, hot velvet.

  In time he raised himself on one elbow, leaning over her, bending down just enough to brush her lips. He fit his mouth against hers, tasting, teasing her lips apart until she began to kiss him back. His heart pounding, he almost lost sight of reason, kissing her harder, wanting her so desperately that he thought he'd die if he couldn't have her.

  Then Windsor arched against him, her breasts heaving, her breathing short and shallow, and Stone grew bolder, sliding both hands beneath her skirt and tracing a path up her bare legs to cup her hips. Windsor moaned, a pleasured, helpless sound, and Stone pulled her tighter against him, his lips seeking her naked flesh, stroking her body gently with both his hands and his mouth until she writhed and clutched him to her.

  His pulse pounding in his temples, pumping through his veins, he rolled atop her, his fingers sliding into the silk of her hair, his mouth forging down on hers as he joined himself to her, overjoyed when at last they became one the way they were meant to be, the way he wanted them always to be. When her release came she cried out, her body going rigid as pleasure rolled over her in undulating waves. His own moment of ecstasy came swiftly, powerfully, shaking him to the core, finally leaving him limp and sated.

  Even then he kept her possessively against him, her soft arms clutched tightly around his neck, the thumping of her heart merging into a single beat with his own. And in those moments of tenderness, with his love come back to him, he knew that never in his life had he experienced such unparalleled joy.

  25

  Hours after the candlewick had sputtered and extinguished in a puff of smoke, Stone was awakened by the clatter of wheels rolling across the cobblestoned drive just below the balcony. Windsor's warm body was lying intimately against his side, and he eased carefully out of bed, not wanting to disturb her.

  Exhausted by the heat of their passion, she slept peacefully at last, unplagued by endless tossing and strangled cries of fright. Stone, too, felt content, for they had eliminated one of the major barriers left separating them. The rest would come down in time. Gently, he covered her bare shoulders with the soft coverlet, then dressed quickly, fervently hoping the newly arrived coach had brought his sister, Carlisle, back to the Hacienda de los Toros.

  The moment he stepped onto the patio veranda, he heard the commotion going on in the front salon. Voices filtered up the main staircase as he stood gazing over the railing.

  Dona Maria stood beside the large adobe fireplace. She had obviously just awakened, for she still wore her long white nightgown, covered by a brown velvet wrapper. She was in the midst of a rather impressive bout of cooing and gushing over the two babies being held up for her inspection by a dark-cloaked nursemaid. Stone smiled. Such behavior seemed a bit astonishing from such an elegant, imperious lady, but he had grown fond of her during the weeks she had been so gracious to Windsor.

  But it was his sister's face that he sought with great eagerness, and he grinned when she entered his line of vision. She put her arm around Dona Maria, laughing and giving the older woman a hug. At that moment he realized with some surprise just how much he had missed his feisty little sister. He had not seen her often enough lately.

  Until a year or so ago, she had been in the Sacred Heart Convent in New Orleans, to which his brother, Gray, had sent her for her schooling after she had marched with a women's suffrage parade and exhibited various other acts of female defiance. For the most part, however, he hadn't seen his sister because he had been more interested in pursuing Emerson Clan than in spending time with his family in Chicago. Only lately had he begun to realize just how misguided his priorities had been.

  While he watched, Carlisle flipped back her hood, tucking a wayward strand of golden-red hair into the thick coil secured at her nape. As she removed the storm-spattered, blue serge cloak draping her shoulders, a tall man took the wrap and shook the rain from its folds.

  "Oh, Chaso, Carlita, your niños are so beautiful," Dona Maria was saying as she lifted one swaddled bundle from the arms of the Indian nursemaid. "And they're such big boys. Why, anyone who sees them will think they're at least six months old, and they're barely three! Tomas, aren't they precious?"

  "They look just alike," their sixteen-year-old uncle observed, peering at the baby his mother was holding.

  "Twins have a tendency to resemble each other, Tomas," Chase Lancaster said dryly, chuckling as he settled his other son in the crook of his arm.

  Eager now to speak with Carlisle, Stone moved down the steps, his hand sliding along the black wrought-iron rail. When he had almost reached the bottom, Dona Maria caught sight of him and turned at once to Carlisle.

  "Oh, Carlita, how could I forget to tell you! Look who is here! Your brother Stone. He and his friend have been my guests for several weeks now."

  "Stone's here?" Carlisle cried, grabbing hold of Dona Maria's arm.

  "I sure am, and it's about time you arrived," Stone answered in Dona Maria's stead. Carlisle whirled around; then, with a cry of joy, she flew toward him. Stone laughed, opening his arms for her usual enthusiastic greeting.

  "Oh, Stone, we've been so worried about you!" she scolded. She hugged him tight before demanding, "Where have you been? And why haven't you gotten in touch with us before now? So much has happened to all of us, I don't know where to start!" Her bubbling words slowed down as she leaned away and peered accusingly up at him. Her onslaught of questions renewed the moment she regained her breath. "And what on earth are you doing here in Mexico? The last we heard, you were heading for San Francisco! And what about Emerson Clan! Did you find him?"

  "Maybe if you'd let the poor man say something, Carly, you'd get a few answers," suggested her husband with a low laugh.

  Stone turned to Carlisle's husband. Chase Lancaster was tall, his six-foot frame lean and strong. His dark blond hair was bleached lighter on top from the sun, and he wore it combed straight back from his forehead. His face was deeply tanned, making his dark blue eyes look even more intense and assessing. He didn't in the least resemble his dark-haired, dark-eyed mother and younger brother.

  As Chase joined them, he settled an arm around Carlisle's shoulders and smiled down at her. With that one loving gesture, Stone had no doubt that they enjoyed a happy marriage.

  "I'm sorry, Stone, but I'm just so thrilled to see you!" Carlisle exclaimed, her green eyes glowing in the affectionate way Stone remembered so well. Ever since she was a little girl being raised by Gray and him, she had been full of brass and high
spirits, which had gotten her in trouble more often than not. "Stone, this is my husband, Chase Lancaster. I bet you didn't even know I was married, did you?"

  Finally, for the first time since Carlisle had caught sight of him, Stone was allowed to speak. "No, I didn't, not until Dona Maria told me. But I didn't know about Gray's wedding either until after it happened, so don't feel guilty."

  "I'm glad to finally meet you, Stone," Chase said, extending his hand to shake. Stone clasped it, suddenly remembering Chase's relationship to Stone's sister-in-law, Tyler.

  "Thanks. I've heard a good deal about you, too, from your cousin, Tyler. When she and Gray returned to Chicago last summer, you were just about all she talked about. How is she?" His eyes sought Carlisle. "And Gray? I telegraphed them when I arrived here and asked them to come with you if they could, but I haven't received an answer yet. Have they had their baby?"

  Instantly, Carlisle's happy expression faded into sadness. "Their baby lived for only three days, Stone. Last February, Tyler and I were in an accident. A coach hit our sleigh, and Tyler went into labor too early. It was a little boy. All of us were devastated when he died."

  Stone saw the way she looked at her own healthy children and understood her sorrow. His insides tightened into a hard curl when he remembered how eagerly Gray had looked forward to the birth of his first child.

  "I'm sorry. They must have taken it awfully hard."

  "Yes, they did, especially at first, but after the twins were born, they seemed to accept things a little better. The good news is that Tyler thinks she might be with child again. We're all hoping she is."

  "That goes for me, too." Stone smiled at Carlisle. "I'm glad you're all right. I couldn't believe it when Dona Maria said you already had two children."

  Carlisle's laugh veritably bubbled with happiness. "Chase and I couldn't either! But come, you haven't even seen your nephews yet." She pulled him with her to where Dona Maria was still crooning over the blanket-swaddled infants.

  "This is Enrico," Carlisle told him, pointing to the one in his grandmother's arms, "and this little fellow is Esteban. We named him after Chase's good friend, Esteban Rivera."

  "How in the world do you tell them apart?" Stone asked as Carlisle tenderly arranged a soft blanket more securely around one of her sons.

  "Well, I'll tell you. Enrico's always fussing, and Esteban is as good as gold."

  Chase laughed, agreeing with his wife, but as Stone looked down at the tiny boys, both happy and content in the loving care of their parents, all he could think about was poor Carlos. Again Stone cursed himself for delivering the innocent child into the care of a madman. Even though Stone knew Clan wouldn't hurt his son, he found it impossible to live with the knowledge that he had betrayed Nina's trust. Suddenly he turned as cold as winter inside. His face must have revealed his feelings, because Carlisle reached out and took his hand.

  "What's the matter, Stone? Aren't you feeling well?"

  A brief silence ensued until Chase seemed to notice Stone's reluctance to answer. "Maybe your brother would like to visit with you alone for a while, Carly. You two certainly have a lot of catching up to do. Mama and I can help Juana put the boys to bed. I'm sure you wouldn't object to that, would you, Mama?"

  "No, I certainly would not. I have waited many long months to hold these precious little ones in my arms."

  "Gracias," Carlisle murmured to her mother-in-law, then smiled as her husband bent and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll be up soon, after Stone and I have had a long talk."

  "All right," Chase said, and turned to Stone again. "You don't know how happy you've made my wife by showing up here so unexpectedly. I hope you're planning a lengthy visit."

  "I don't know yet how long I'll stay, but I'm grateful for your hospitality."

  As the others carried the children upstairs, Carlisle looped her arm through Stone's. "Now you come along with me, because I want to hear everything you've done all these months you've been away."

  Carlisle sat on the tufted cushions of the maroon leather sofa that faced the hearth. She watched her brother walk to the fireplace, then waited for him to speak. When he continued to stare silently into the flames throwing reddish lights against the grate, she realized he was, as always, reluctant to share his problems with her.

  Although they had always been close—Stone had been her ally against Gray's stricter discipline—he had rarely confided in her, even before the Confederates had thrown him into the awful prison camp down in Georgia. After all the suffering he had endured there, he had grown even more aloof and hard to reach.

  Now she sensed that he had changed in other ways. The first moment she had gazed into his eyes, and despite his smile, she had seen the shadow of pain. Even that was better than the horrible cold, bitter look he'd worn just after the war when he'd come home, wasted away to a human scarecrow. Suddenly she felt anxious for him. What on earth had happened since she'd seen him last?

  "Stone? Please tell me what's wrong. Is it something to do with Emerson Clan? Did you find him?"

  Stone's shoulders stiffened. "Yeah, I found him."

  Carlisle saw the way his jaw was working. It took him several minutes to control his agitation. Carlisle waited patiently.

  "He captured someone I care about," he finally managed to get out. "He hurt her." The last few words were gruff with pain. Carlisle's compassionate heart went out to him. She shivered, remembering how terrified her sister-in-law was of Clan, even now, months after he had accosted her in Chicago.

  "We understood that you were traveling with a nun," she said gently. "Was she the one who got hurt?"

  Stone nodded.

  Again quiet descended over the room. Carlisle's brows furrowed with worry as her brother paced across the room and back again. "What happened to her? Can you tell me?"

  Stone stopped where he was, and she watched his face change, taking on hard, angry lines. "He beat her up, and he"—he choked on the next word—"raped her. And it was my fault, goddamn him to hell."

  "Oh, no, Stone, I'm so sorry," Carlisle murmured, but inside she felt true horror. Clan had threatened Tyler with the same thing when he had held her against her will, but Gray and Stone had managed to save her. "Is she all right now?"

  "She's better. We made some progress tonight."

  "She's here with you?" Carlisle asked, surprised until she recalled that Dona Maria had mentioned another houseguest.

  "I needed a safe place to bring her, and I remembered you were supposed to be visiting Lancaster's ranch. She was in pretty bad shape at first, but she's trying to get over it."

  Carlisle waited for him to elaborate, but instead, he leaned his elbow against the stone mantel, his eyes fixed on the fire.

  "Who is this girl?" she asked after a lengthy pause. "Is she someone special to you?"

  Stone didn't turn around. His answer was low. "I love her. I want to marry her, but she won't. I don't know what's going to happen between us."

  Carlisle sighed, wondering why life was always so hard. "Don't give up hope, Stone. Chase and I went through some terrible times just before the twins were born. I left him and went home to Chicago because I was afraid he couldn't forgive me for some of the things I'd done. Did Dona Maria tell you that I got involved with the guerrilleros when I first came here?"

  Stone turned to look at her, a frown on his face. "No, she didn't. What happened?"

  "Do you remember the girl I shared a room with at Sacred Heart Convent, Arantxa Perez? Her brother, Javier, told me lies about Chase and President Juarez, and I was naive enough to believe him." She lowered her eyes, still racked with guilt over all the pain she had caused by her youthful foolishness. "Chase's best friend, Esteban, was killed trying to rescue me from the guerrilleros. I didn't think Chase was going to get over that either, but he's finally accepted it."

  "It's different with Windsor. She was brought up in China. She does things differently than we do. She thinks differently than we do."

  Carlisle frowned.
"I don't understand, Stone. Is she a nun, or what? Where did you meet her?"

  "She's not a nun. She was disguised as one the first time I saw her. Believe it or not, she thought I was Emerson Clan."

  "Emerson Clan! How can that be?"

  She listened as Stone began to relate his story to her, starting on a day in Chicago when he and a woman named Windsor Richmond had boarded a westward-bound train. He prowled restlessly around the room as he spoke, his voice sometimes so full of anger that his words actually trembled. Carlisle's horror grew as the tale progressed, especially when he described what Clan had done to Windsor and the Mexican girl named Nina.

  "When I got them back, we were in the mountains near Saltillo, and a campesino took us to the Gomez hacienda."

  "Papa Gilberto? Why, I was there, too! Did he tell you?"

  "He's the one who suggested I come here."

  "My God, I just can't believe how strange all this is. Who would have thought Clan would have gotten involved with the revolution down here? But the uprising is over now, Stone. Chase and his Nacionales destroyed the major stronghold of the guerrilleros months ago."

  "It's not over for me as long as Emerson Clan's heart is still beating," Stone ground out savagely.

  "You're not going after him again, are you? Not after all that's happened!"

  "As soon as I know Windsor's all right and safe where he can never get to her again, then I'll go after him. And I'll do it alone this time, the way I should have in the first place."

  Carlisle didn't try to dissuade him. His eyes had burned with vengeance for years. "What about Windsor?"

  "I was hoping you'd help me, Carly. I think there may be some things she can't come to terms with on her own, but she can't seem to bring herself to tell me, either. Maybe she'll be able to talk to you. She needs a friend."

  "Of course I'll be her friend. She must be very special if you care so much for her."

  "Yes, she is."

  "Stone, please don't go after Clan again. Don't you see that Windsor will need you here with her after all the terrible things she's been through?"