Give Me A Texas Ranger (4 page)

She knew he’d kiss her again if she tried to talk to him, so she lifted her arms to his shoulders and let her breasts rise and fall against his chest with each breath.

He raised his head and smiled at her as if he could read her mind. His hand circled round her braid and he tugged until she leaned her head back, offering him her throat.

He unbuttoned the first few buttons of her high-collared gown and began nibbling along her throat. He stopped where her heart pounded just below the surface of her skin and kissed just there. Then, as if in thanks for her offering, he returned to her mouth and kissed her lightly, playing with her tongue. He didn’t have to say he missed her—he was showing her. There’d been no need to tell her he had to touch her—she knew.

When she pulled him closer, she felt his low moan more than heard it. “I know, Anna,” he whispered against her ear. “I know.”

Slowly, the kiss grew deeper. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. He stepped back and tugged at the ribbons holding her robe. When she protested, he pushed her hands away. When she tried again to hold her robe closed, he placed both of her hands behind her with one strong grip he opened the robe with his free hand.

She wiggled, trying to get free. He was going too fast, being too bold. She wanted a gentle lover, a slow lover, a hesitant…the feel of his hands tugging her robe free made her forget her list of wants.

She wouldn’t stop him and he smiled down at her, knowing what they were doing was new and frightening to her.

“Easy now, Anna. Just relax against me. I wish there was time to go slower,” he whispered as he kissed his way from her ear to her lips. “You know I’m not going to hurt you, don’t you?”

She nodded and moved her hands to his shoulders, barely aware of when he’d released her.

“I’m going to touch you, if you’ve no objection. This will be no light brush over your clothes, like before. When I’m finished there will be no doubt you’ve been handled a bit.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “And, darling, you’re going to love every minute.”

When she opened her mouth to question this, his kiss stopped the words and his hand moved over the cotton of her gown to grip her breast boldly while his strong arm circled her. She jerked and twisted, but he didn’t let go. Her breast filled his hand. His grip was strong, almost hurting her, but he didn’t turn loose or let her free.

When she pulled her mouth from his, he let her turn and gulp air. His fingers spread out, pressing her breast against her pounding heart. She saw fire in his eyes, but she felt no fear of him, only of herself and what he might awaken in her.

She tried to turn away, but he didn’t move. They both knew she could stop him with a word. She was fighting years of closing herself off from any tenderness, any loving touch, any passion. This cold, hard man seemed to understand her when no one else had even tried.

“Kiss me, Anna,” he whispered, almost angry. “Kiss me.”

She turned toward him, seeing the need in his eyes, and then the surprise as she raised her chin and moved her mouth to his. After a moment of hesitation, he took her offering fully.

When she finally calmed and stilled in his arms, he kissed a tear from her cheek and loosened his grip around her. “There now, that wasn’t so bad, was it, darlin’. You’re more afraid of something new than of me.”

It crossed her mind that he was mad. She was with a madman. Who bossed her around. Who saved her life. Who kissed her with a passion that would probably set them both on fire any minute. He thought he could kiss her and handle her just because he wanted to. He treated her like a treasure. Like a woman. Like a passion too deep for either of them to understand.

His hand gently brushed over the thin layer of material covering her shoulder.

When he leaned down to take a first taste of her throat, she pushed away and moved into her tent.

He followed, knowing that he’d be welcomed as he moved up behind her, circling her waist and pulling her back against him. He wasn’t imprisoning her now—she could have stepped away, but she leaned into him and sighed at the whirlwind of feelings circling through her body.

He kissed her ear and she heard his breathing, fast and heavy like her own. “Unbutton your gown.” He spread his hands out wide at her sides.

“No,” she whispered.

“Unbutton your gown.” His order was muffled as his mouth moved down her throat.

“Only a few,” she whispered back in compromise.

Her fingers fumbled, opening the buttons as he kissed his way to the hollow of her throat. There was something raw and hungry in his touch, as though he’d waited a lifetime to hold her.

She was beyond thought and full into pleasure. Slowly, hesitantly, she began unbuttoning more tiny buttons. He rewarded her with kisses along her neck and his fingers moving over her body.

When she reached the buttons between her breasts, he whispered again, “Now, pull the gown down off your shoulders.”

He watched her slow progress. First one shoulder, then the other. The robe dropped to the floor but the soft gown hung at the tips of her breasts.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

She wondered if he was aware that he said the words aloud.

His hands moved to her shoulders and began to slowly slide down. He played with the material hiding her from him. He hadn’t pushed her in this, he hadn’t forced her. He’d simply asked and she’d done what he wanted. He could not possibly be as surprised as she was.

She closed her eyes, expecting him to shove the cotton down and stare at her, but he didn’t. He turned her slowly in his arms and drew her against him and held her for a while. She’d never felt so treasured.

Anna cried softly against his shoulder without knowing why. All her life she’d discouraged men with a turn of her head or a frown. She’d been in mourning, or too busy, or thought herself too old. But there was nothing hesitant in this man’s advance. Nothing shy.

She shook, aware of just how close he stood and how unbelievably natural it felt to press her body so close to his she could feel his heart pounding.

When his mouth found hers once more, he was giving, not taking. The kiss was long and pure. Her bruised lips took the pleasure of it like cool water.

Finally, he broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers. “We have to talk. I haven’t got much time even for this heaven.”

“I thought you didn’t like to talk.”

He grinned. “Believe me, there are a million things I’d rather do with you than talk, but this time it’s important that you follow orders.”

“Your orders?”

“Yes, my orders. That gambler back at the stage station, Frank Sanders, is part of a gang led by a man named Thorn. We’ve both seen Sanders and therefore can identify him. Which means Sanders, and maybe Thorn, will want us dead as soon as possible. I want you to promise to stay in the camp until I get back. Trust no one that Sergeant Cunningham doesn’t trust.”

He squeezed her shoulders. “Do I make myself clear?”

“I’m not in the habit of being bossed around, McCord.”

“Well, I’m not in the habit of caring about anyone.” He swore and added, “There is nothing I’d like more than to bed you right now and we both know I could, without you stopping me.”

“Would you have stopped if I’d said the word?”

“I would. I will.” He set his jaw as if testifying in court. “I said the words and I meant them. I had to let you know you had control. I know I came on a little fast and strong, but on my honor I would have stepped away if you’d ordered me to.”

“A
little
fast,” she mumbled, knowing her lips were bruised from his kisses and her throat probably black and blue from where he’d taken the time to nibble on her flesh.

He kissed her forehead. “I’ve a mission to finish and if I bed you tonight, I might end up leaving you alone with child. I’ll not do that, Anna.” While hugging her, he let his honest words flow over her. “I have a hunger for you, like I’ve never felt before. I don’t know if it’s that I want to believe you could belong to me, or if part of me already belongs to you. This doesn’t feel like something we can cure in one night.”

She was shocked by his caring. She had no doubt that he wanted her, but now she knew he cared. “You might get killed on this mission? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“The odds aren’t with me this time. I feel it so strong I’d already decided before I climbed on that stage that this would be my last ride as a Ranger.” He lowered his head and kissed her bare shoulder. “If I make it through the next few days, will you be waiting for me? I’m not asking for any promises, I’m just asking that when I knock on that door again you’ll throw the bolt and let me in.”

She stepped away, shaking. He hadn’t asked her to let him
stay.
This wasn’t a marriage proposal or even a promise of one, but it was as close as she’d ever come to one again. She had always been a proper lady. What he was asking was that she’d welcome him in. Not just to her house, or room, but to her bed.

She fought back a sob, longing for him to whisper “forever” between them, but knowing she’d not ask for so much. She might never have him stay. Without a single doubt she knew it would take all the strength she had to take only what this Ranger could offer and then watch him leave when their time was over.

“Anna,” he snapped. “Stop breathing so fast. You’re driving me crazy.”

She looked at him and then down at the gown almost falling off her breasts with each breath. Crossing her arms over her, she began to pull up her gown.

His hands shot out to grip her wrists.

She met his eyes, no longer cold, but stormy with anger and need.

“Don’t,” he said, gritting his teeth.

He hesitated as if refusing to explain why.

“Let go of me,” she said. “Stop.” She felt like she was bending him to the breaking point. She guessed there were very few things in his life he wanted or needed. Apparently she was one of them, but if he didn’t let go right here, right now, they would never be equals, and for her there could be no other way.

“Stop,” she said again, almost calmly. “Turn loose of me.”

She saw the blink of his eye and knew she’d stood down a fighter who’d never backed away.

His grip loosened and gave. He stepped away and raised his hands in silent surrender.

She’d broken him, but passion still fired in his gaze like a fever out of control. “Sit down.” She pointed to her traveling trunk.

He raised an eyebrow, but did as he was told. The trunk was too high to be a chair, but made a good bench and put her a head above him.

She walked over to stand directly in front of him. “You’ll never take anything from me, Wynn McCord. Not one thing,” she said. “Get that clear. You’ll never take me. I think you’ll have to learn to come toward me some other way than at full charge. If there is to be anything between us, there will be no orders.” She’d give him everything, if he asked, but nothing if he demanded.

She sensed he was in uncharted territory, but he was a strong man and his face showed nothing of how he felt. His glare was so strong she swore she could feel it on her skin.

Slowly, she lowered her crossed arms and her gown slipped back to where it had been, barely covering the peaks of her breasts.

He glanced from her chest to her face, trying to read what she was offering. “I know no words, Anna. I’ll never come a’ courting. I’ll never know what to say or how to tell you the things women want to hear.”

“I don’t expect such things,” she said. “But I do expect honesty.”

“You’ve told me that before, Anna.”

She smiled. “And next time taking it a little slower wouldn’t hurt.”

Carefully, he raised his hands to her waist and tugged her toward him. Then he lowered his mouth and planted a feather kiss on the top of each breast before he looked directly into her eyes and said, “I’ll work on it if you’re willing to put up with me.” He lowered his head and she felt his smile against her skin.

Anna began to shiver as he moved over her flesh. Her hands rested on his shoulders as he drew her to him and nuzzled between her breasts, then turned slowly from one to the other, breathing her in as if she were a flower.

When he straightened, he grinned at her as his hand moved up her ribs and tugged her gown down.

For a while he just looked and moved the tips of his fingers over her gift to him. “You are so beautiful,” he said again as he lifted the weight of one breast and brushed his finger over her skin.

She would have fallen with pleasure if his arm hadn’t held her up.

He stood and carried her to her cot. When he lay her atop the quilt, he knelt beside her. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I don’t want to frighten you.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Part of her wanted to fight, to break away and run, not from him, but from herself. From feelings so long denied she’d forgotten how to live.

His big hand stroked over her bare body, pushing the gown lower until it barely covered her hips. She closed her eyes and moaned softly as he kissed her. Again and again, he moved up to her lips, his kiss deep with need as his hands branded her.

She relaxed, giving over to the pleasure of his touch. When he stopped, she opened her eyes, wondering how this man could have gotten so close, not with tender words and soft touches, but with honesty in his longing for her.

His hand spread out across her abdomen. “I have to go.” He said the words slowly, as if forcing them out. “But I’ll have your word you’ll stay in camp before I go. Nowhere is totally safe, but you’ll be surrounded here.”

She didn’t trust her voice. She simply nodded. He’d just shown her how much he wanted her. With his words he was telling her how much he cared for her.

She’d thought he would continue touching her, but he stepped away and picked up her robe. Silently she stood, barely aware of the gown falling away as she stepped into the robe he offered.

He tied it above her waist and took one of her hands, kissed it, and then pulled her to the door.

“Hell’s fires won’t keep me from coming back,” he whispered as he pulled her to him one last time.

They held each other tightly for a minute, then he patted her on the bottom and pushed away from her.