Devils on Horseback: Nate (9 page)

“If you bring these a little closer, I can do more than lick them.”

Elisa nodded and inched forward. His mouth closed around the nipple at the same time the head of his cock nestled against her cleft. Moisture teased him as he sucked and bit at her.

“Oh God, that feels so good,” she breathed.

Nate was desperate to touch her soft skin, to cup her ass as he slid into her.

“Untie me, sweetheart.”

“Uhm, then we have to move.”

“I promise it will be even better.” He thrust upwards, rubbing her clit until she shuddered with need. “Come on, let me free.”

Elisa sat up to straddle him, and when the full heat of her pussy encased him, he forgot to breathe. Sweet Jesus, she was perfect. He slid back and forth, absorbing the heat, the sensation, the pleasure.

After she freed his left hand, Nate grabbed one plump breast and held it to his mouth, sucking her deep while he continued to slide against her wetness.

When his right hand was free, he reached down to position his cock at her entrance. He couldn’t wait any longer or his body would explode too soon without even being inside her.

“Now what?”

“Now you ride, sweetheart. Hang on.”

Tight, so tight. Her pussy gripped him as he entered her inch by inch. It was only her second time and he didn’t want to simply thrust in for fear of hurting her. He needn’t have worried. She sat up and the movement pushed him fully inside her.

“Nate,” she cried. “Oh my God.”

The sheer perfection of the moment gave him pause. Nate had never experienced a flood of ecstasy so poignant, it made his eyes sting with moisture. It was as if they had been made to fit together.

He kicked off his pants and she groaned.

“Ready?” he said through clenched teeth.

“If I get any more ready, I’ll be done.” Her eyes were wide with arousal.

Nate strangled out a chuckle, hanging on to his own self-control with iron will. He cupped her round behind and pulled her up to the point where he almost slid out, then lowered her back down.

Elisa was a quick study. “I’ve got it now, cowboy.”

She picked up the rhythm and rode him like any good horsewoman. A slow canter designed to drive him mad.

“Can we pick it up to a trot, at least?”

“Hmm, how about we just head for a gallop?” She leaned down and fused her mouth with his, tongues tangling briefly.

When she sat up, Nate decided he’d never seen anything so beautiful. Her unbound, riotous hair, the sheen of perspiration on her freckled face, the pert nipples tight enough to cut glass, and the expression of pure pleasure. He drank it in like a thirsty man, eager to quench his need.

He reached up and tweaked her nipples while she showed him exactly how she could gallop. Fast and fierce. Her pupils dilated until he saw almost all black and he could tell she was close. He held back, pulsing with the need to spill his seed. Nate was still a gentleman and wanted to be sure Elisa found her own release.

One hand found her hot button and rubbed it between thumb and finger. Within moments, she clenched around him so hard, he saw stars.

“Nate!”

His orgasm ripped through him making lights sparkle behind his eyes and his heart thump so hard, he thought it might crack a rib. He thrust upwards, burying himself deeply inside her, so deep he knew he touched her womb, her soul.

Nate’s fingers dug into her hips as hers dug into his shoulders. After a perfect, amazing minute, the waves of ecstasy began to recede. She collapsed on his chest, breathing hard from her gallop.

“Holy shit.”

Nate chuckled. “I wouldn’t quite put it that way, but I agree with the sentiment.”

She pinched his arm. “You talk too fancy.”

“My mother insisted on it.” He kissed her forehead. “It’s a habit now.”

When she slid off him, his body cried out from the loss of her heat. She snuggled up next to him and laid her head on his shoulder.

“That was even better than the first time.”

He wrapped her in his arms and they lay together as man and woman. The tremors of their lovemaking still shook his body.

“If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t believe it. You are a natural temptress, Elisa Taggert.” He pressed his lips to her temple.

“You’ll do as you promised?” She twisted to look up at him, her eyes once again crowded with shadows.

“Yes, I will, but no more shooting or fighting.”

“Can we do this again?” One of her fingers twirled the hair around his nipples.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

Nate didn’t know how to explain to her that he had no intention of marrying her and therefore couldn’t imagine taking advantage of her again. At least that’s what his brain said.

“I’m not staying in Grayton after this is all over.”

She frowned. “I know that. I’m not asking you to marry me, Frenchie. I liked what we did and I want to do it again. Where’s the harm?”

“The harm is in the fact that we’re not married and this could result in a child. Are you prepared for that?” He didn’t want to be so blunt, but in the ways of the world Elisa was still so young.

She scoffed. “I can’t catch a baby that fast. Besides, it doesn’t matter. Any child that I bear will always be loved.”

It was that simple to her, but Nate knew better. There were worse things in the world than having a bastard child, but he didn’t want her to have to bear that burden because he couldn’t keep his pants buttoned. Regardless of what Elisa wanted, Nate would not make love to her again.

Chapter Eight

Nate waited until she slept before he left her bed. Drained emotionally and physically, he could barely think past the fact that he needed to get away from Elisa. At least for a little while. He’d promised her he’d look into the bill of sale and he meant it.

He’d be walking a fine line between his loyalty to his friends and his need to fulfill a promise. Bonne Chance was tied to a hitching post in front of the house. Elisa’s father was nowhere to be seen, thank God. Nate hopped on the horse and rode like the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels.

When he reached the camp and came tearing in like a madman, Zeke and Lee jumped to their feet, guns at the ready.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you at the stream?” Zeke glanced at Gideon sleeping comfortably under the trees.

“Where’s Jake?”

“He went to town to get some medical supplies. We used up all the bandages on Gid.” Zeke grabbed hold of Bonne Chance’s reins. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Elisa Taggert kidnapped me.” He spit the words out of his mouth like a bad taste.

“What? What did fancy pants just say?” Lee hooted. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

Nate didn’t respond to Lee’s teasing, he met Zeke’s concerned gaze. “I need to talk to Gideon.”

“I think you’re right.” Zeke’s careful expression revealed nothing of what he was thinking.

Nate hoped his actions didn’t ruin his friendship with the only family he had. He walked over to Gideon, trying to determine exactly what he was going to say. Words had always been his shield against chaos, something he desperately needed now.

Gideon sat up against a tree, a bandage firmly tied around his left arm. As Nate approached, his eyes opened and he blinked a few times. His face was a little pale, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.

“What’s happened, Nate?”

Nate sat on the grass beside Gideon and rested his elbows on his knees. “Are you feeling better?”

“It’ll take a few days to get most of my strength back, but it’s just an ache now. The bullet passed clean through the muscle, fortunately no bone damage.”

Nodding, Nate chose his words carefully. “I’ve done something stupid, Gid.”

“Tell me what happened. Something’s been bothering you for days and you haven’t said anything about it.” Gideon was always the keenest of the bunch.

“I met Elisa Taggert the day we came to Grayton. Right then, I knew she was trouble in trousers. I tried to avoid her, but somehow we kept running into each other.” Nate swallowed the regret he didn’t have the right to express. “A few nights ago, after she caught me at the river alone, she forced me to take my clothes off and somehow we ended up having sex.”

“Somehow?” Gideon raised one brow.

“Okay, it was the usual way only it was against a tree. My point is that I didn’t mean for it to happen since she was a virgin.” That fact still pinched his conscience hard. If he had known…that was just a load of shit. Elisa was in his blood from the second he’d seen her. Their joining was inevitable, and unavoidable.

“You took her virginity against a
tree
?” Gideon punched the ground. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking at all. Can you understand that? She makes me lose the one thing that makes me sane. I’ve lost my mind over her, Gid. I-I can’t go two minutes without thinking about her.” Nate’s eyes stung and his heart wept with possibilities that would probably never happen. She’d never be his wife, never bear his children. The first woman he truly loved. After what he and the Devils had done or would do for the almighty dollar, he knew he couldn’t ever be with her.

“I’m sorry, Nate.”

“So am I, more than you ever know.” Nate sucked in a much-needed breath and took a moment to regain his self-control. “There’s more.”

“I figured as much.” Gideon gestured to proceed. “Go on. Let’s hear all of it.”

“She kidnapped me earlier today.”

Nate didn’t expect Gideon to laugh, but damned if he didn’t burst out with gut-busting guffaws.

“It’s not funny.”

“Oh yes, it is! Nathaniel Marchand, the dapper, self-controlled gentleman, kidnapped by a young girl half his size.” Gideon wiped his eyes. “It’s more than funny, it’s just desserts.”

“I don’t think it’s funny. She practically took my arms out of my sockets and shaved a few layers of skin with that rope.” Nate sounded petulant to his own ears.

“How did she kidnap you?”

“I don’t want to tell you.”

Gideon laughed harder. “Did she kiss you then knock you out?”

It was too close to the truth and Nate felt his cheeks heat. Gideon hooted.

“That’s neither here nor there. After she got me back to her house, she tied me, ah, to the furniture and made me look at some documents. About O’Shea and her mother’s suicide.”

Gideon’s laughter disappeared. “Her mother committed suicide?”

“Not according to Elisa. In fact, her mother’s journal has different handwriting than the suicide note, and from the bill of sale supposedly signed by her. The really odd thing is the ranch and cattle sold for twenty dollars.”

The truth was there in front of them. O’Shea cheated the Taggerts and murdered Elisa’s mother.

“Do you have proof?”

“Not yet, but I have the bill of sale that Elisa claims is the real one. If I go to the local attorney who registered the sale and the county seat, I can compare this document to what’s on file.” Nate shook his head. “If it’s true, then we’re working for a murderer, trying to complete the destruction of the family he’s already decimated.”

He gazed into his friend’s concerned blue eyes. “I don’t want to do anything that will go against the Devils, but I can’t, in good conscience, not investigate Elisa’s claims.”

“I understand.” Gideon sat up straighter and stared into Nate’s eyes. “Do you love her?”

Nate searched his heart and found a deep affection for Elisa that he’d never experienced before. That damn uncontrollable passion that made him think sideways. “I think I do. Gideon, what does that mean?”

“That means the Devils may have to switch sides.”

Nate was afraid of that, afraid of what his carelessness might cost them, afraid his world had just fallen completely off its axis and headed out into the unknown.

“That might put all of us in danger.”

“We’ve been in worse situations.” Gideon sounded so matter-of-fact about it.

“Gideon, I don’t want to risk your lives because of something I’ve gotten myself into.” Nate’s heart nearly stopped beating at the thought that his own stupidity might lead to the ultimate sacrifice by a friend.

Gideon touched Nate’s shoulder. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, or for any of the Devils. You are my family, my brothers. We stand together as one, always.”

Nate’s throat closed up at Gideon’s words. It was how he felt, but hearing it out loud was what he needed to grab hold of his runaway panic. They would stand together and fight together, no matter what side they were on.

“Do you understand?” Gideon’s gaze never wavered from his.

“Yes, I do. Thank you, Gid.” Nate shook Gideon’s hand. “I couldn’t, I mean, you all are…” Words failed him. Nate searched for them, but couldn’t find what he needed. Elisa had turned him into a blithering idiot. An idiot who had to stop thinking with his dick and start thinking with his brain again. All their lives depended on it.

Jake Sheridan got by in life by being charming or sneaky depending on the situation. The curmudgeon who ran the general store wanted to know what the bandages were for, and when Jake wouldn’t reveal the exact reason, the other man kept at it like a damn woodpecker.

“You’re them fellas camped out on O’Shea’s land right?” The older man grinned and Jake had to control the urge to roll his eyes.

“Yes, sir, we are. Doing just a spot of work for Mr. O’Shea.” Jake glanced around the store. “This is a mighty fine store you’ve got here.”

Marvin puffed out his scrawny chest. “Thank ya kindly. What did you say your name was?”

“Sheridan. Corporal Jacob Sheridan. A Confederate criminal.”

Captain Nessman’s voice crawled up Jake’s spine. He had hoped to avoid seeing the man again, yet here he was like a boogeyman come to life.

“I am an ex-Confederate soldier, Captain Nessman,” Jake said affably. “I’m no criminal.”

A white lie, sort of. He hadn’t committed any crimes in the state of Texas anyway.

“Was this man purchasing merchandise in your store, Marvin?”

The way he said the storekeeper’s name made Jake’s blood run cold. Something was brewing, which meant he was in danger. He had to get out of there fast.

“Thank you for your time, sir. I’ll be on my way.”

“No, he didn’t buy a thing. Kept pestering me for bandages and such.” Marvin sounded smug. “I think he might’ve stuck something in his pocket. Is he really a criminal?”

“Oh yes, he sure is. I’d be happy to take him into custody.”

Before Jake could reach the door, Captain Nessman took him down with one punch to his lower back. Jake fell to his knees, trying to block the agony out long enough to get back to his feet and run. Pain exploded on the back of his head and the dirty wooden floor rushed up at him.

Elisa felt like grease on a hot pan, bubbling, jumping and popping. She’d had no experience being intimate with a man before. She couldn’t help but think that perhaps telling Nate about Mama’s death and the sale of the ranch could backfire and make matters worse instead of better.

After she cleaned up, it was time to relieve Daniel on watch. First she had to check on Da and make sure he drank some water. When she went into his room, the bed was mussed as if he’d been sleeping, but he wasn’t there.

She headed into the kitchen and found coffee on the stove. Pouring herself a mug, she thanked whoever had been kind enough to make it. She hoped it would revive her, help her focus. It wasn’t like her to be so confused and out of sorts.

“Do you love him?”

Da’s voice from behind made Elisa jump a foot in the air and splash hot coffee on her hand. She yelped like an old hound dog. “Da, you scared me to death. What are you doing? Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

“I’m sitting here drinking coffee. You came in, you paid me no never mind, figured you’d just wanted to get your own before you started talking.” He sat at the table, a few crackers in front of him and a mug of coffee.

For the first time since Mama’s death, Da seemed to be himself. He actually looked clear-eyed. Not only that, he looked like himself again. The little girl inside her wanted to squeal and run to hug and kiss him. It had been more than three years since any affection had passed between them. The very thought of following through on her impulse made her uncomfortable. It would be too awkward.

“I noticed you didn’t answer the question, Elisa girl. Do you love him?”

She opened and closed her mouth without answering. She hadn’t had a discussion with herself yet about how she felt about Nate Marchand. She had given herself to him, gifted him with the one possession a young woman could offer any man, ruined herself for any kind of proper marriage. Da’s question was a good one, but it didn’t have a simple answer.

“I’m not sure, Da. I…there’s definitely something between us.”

His bushy eyebrows rose an inch. “Something, eh? Sounded like more than something to me. You forget my bedroom is on the other side of the wall from yours.”

Elisa’s entire body flushed. She just knew her cheeks were like pink flags of naughty behavior. To think that Da had heard everything they’d said and done was more than embarrassing, it was mortifying.

“That’s not what I meant.” Elisa’s natural defensiveness took hold. “Taking a man to your bed doesn’t mean you love him, Da. Even women have needs.”

“Needs, is it? I’d hoped we’d brought you up better than that. Your mother, God rest her soul, taught you how to be a lady even if you don’t wear dresses. I didn’t think you would have… Tell me this. Was this the first man that you were with?” Da’s bald-faced questions made her squirm.

Elisa swallowed the denial that rose to her lips. He knew all about it. He’d heard it. No wonder he was sitting in the kitchen. Probably too embarrassed to sit and listen any further. Had she shouted Nate’s name? She couldn’t remember.

“Yes, Da, he was.”

“That answers my original question then.”

Was it that simple? Would she have given herself to anyone other than Nate? Did she love Nate?

“Da, I’m not sure that I—”

“I am. You’ve known love all your life, Elisa girl. You know I loved your mother, God rest her soul, more than life itself. And even though she wasn’t as strong as you, your mother gave you and Daniel all the love she had.”

She agreed with everything he said. Elisa may have grown up without a silver spoon in her mouth, but she grew up with something even more valuable. A family who loved her and each other.

“So I’m going to ask you one more time.” Da leaned forward, his gaze intense and focused on her. “Do you love him?”

“Yes,” she whispered, unable or unwilling to say it louder.

“Is he a good man?”

Elisa wanted to say no, but it wasn’t true. Nate was a good man. “Yes, Da. He’s an honorable man, and a good man.”

“Will he help us?”

Anger with a healthy dose of frustration surged through her. Elisa threw the cup into the sink, coffee splattering all over the window behind it. “You’ve been sitting on that rocking chair for a year, letting me and Daniel take care of this ranch. Do you even know what’s going on? Do you care? Suddenly you’re here again and you want to know if a stranger can help us. A stranger who was hired to get us off the Taggert ranch. Where the hell have you been?”

Da responded with only one word. “Lost.”

Elisa’s tirade ran itself out and the hurt in her father’s eyes gave her pause. She’d never been one to mince words, always called a spade a spade, yet this time she’d done some damage. The urge overcame her and she ran to her father. As she dropped to her knees, she wrapped her arms around his waist and tears stung her eyes.

He held her tight and whispered, “Elisa girl.”

She finally had her father back.

Nate readied Bonne Chance for the ride into town and then to the county seat, a city about thirty-five miles east. It would take him the better part of two days to get there and back, without running his horse into the ground. He wanted to be sure he was prepared for all eventualities, even those that required a gun.