Stone Cold Surrender (32 page)

move.
He
would
see
to
it.
He
would
lay
temptation
at
her
feet,
then
wait
for
her
to
act
on
it.

“Ready?”
he
asked,
looking
over
at
her.

“Yes.”

“Okay
then,
let’s
go.”
They
started
at
a
slow
pace
since
he
wanted
her
to
get
the
feel
of
the
animal
beneath
her.
He

wanted
her
to
be
aware
of
everything
around
her;
the
way
the
sun
was
beginning
to
rise
over
the
mountains,
the
rustle
of
the
wind
through
the
trees,
and
the
sound
of
pine
needles
snapping
under
their
horses’
feet.
And
he
wanted
to
make
sure
she
was
aware
of
him;
the
man
who
wanted
her.

If
she
wasn’t
aware
of
it
now,
she
would
definitely
be
aware
of
it
later.

They
rode
in
silence
for
the
first
few
hours,
only
engaging
in
conversation
when
he
pointed
out
something
of
interest
to
her.
He
liked
the
way
she
appreciated
her
surroundings.

She
might
be
a
city
girl,
but
it
was
apparent
she
was

enjoying
embarking
on
their
journey.

“Thirsty?”
he
asked,
wondering
if
the
ride
had
taken
a
toll
on
her
yet.
The
sun
had
come
up
fully
now
and
the
heat
of
it
was
beaming
down
on
them.
He
was
grateful
he
was

wearing
his
hat
and
that
she
had
followed
his
suggestion
and
had
worn
hers.

“Yes,
I’m
thirsty.”

“How
about
a
drink
of
water?”

“That
would
be
nice,”
she
said,
as
he
brought
the
horses
to
a
stop.

“Just
sit
tight
while
I
get
the
canteen.
Mr.
Quinn
told
me

before
we
left
that
during
this
past
year
he
and
McKinnon
built
a
cabin
that’s
located
halfway
to
Corey’s
place.
They
use
it
when
he
and
his
sons
go
hunting
in
these
parts.
He
said
that
we
could
use
it
if
we
liked.
So
if
we
make
it
there
before
nightfall,
we
won’t
have
to
sleep
outside
after
all.”

He
idly
stroked
the
back
of
his
horse,
wishing
it
were

Madison’s
body.
He
then
added,
“And
there’s
a
place
up
ahead
where
we
can
camp
for
a
while
and
eat
lunch.
If
we
continue
at
this
pace,
we
should
be
able
to
make
it
there
before
it
gets
much
hotter.”

The
look
on
Madison’s
face
indicated
that
she
hoped
they
would.
He
grinned.
She
was
being
a
real
trooper.
A
lot
of
women
would
be
whining
and
complaining
by
now.
He

remembered
the
first
time
his
father
had
decided
to
take
Delaney
camping
with
him
and
his
brothers.
He
shook
his
head
at
the
memory.
That
had
been
the
first
and
the
last
time.

He
got
off
his
horse
and,
after
making
sure
both
of
their

mounts’
reins
were
securely
tied
to
a
nearby
tree,
he
went

to
her
saddlebag
and
pulled
out
the
canteen,
then
walked
over
and
handed
it
to
her.

She
quickly
took
it
from
him.
“Thanks.”

He
watched
as
she
opened
the
top
and
tipped
the
canteen
up
to
her
mouth.
Some
of
the
water
missed
her
lips
and

drizzled
down
her
chin.
He
was
tempted
to
lap
it
up
with
his
tongue.
He
had
thought
about
tasting
her
that
way
a
lot

lately
and
intended
to
get
his
chance
real
soon.

He
continued
to
watch
her;
getting
turned
on
just
from
seeing
how
her
throat
moved
as
the
cool
liquid
flowed
down
it.
His
eyes
were
so
focused
on
her
throat
that
he
didn’t
notice
that
she
had
stopped
drinking.

“Stone,
you
can
have
this
back
now.”

He
blinked.
“Oh,”
he
said,
reaching
for
the
canteen.

“Thanks
again.
The
water
was
delicious.”

“You’re
welcome.
It’s
natural
spring
water,”
he
said,
thinking
that
she
was
delicious,
too.
Instead
of
putting
the
canteen
away,
he
pulled
the
top
back
off
and
began
drinking
some
of
the
water,
deliberately
tasting
where
her
mouth
had

been.

When
he
finished
he
licked
his
lips,
liking
the
hint
of
a
taste
of
her
that
he
had
gotten
from
the
canteen.
He
glanced
up

to
see
her
watching
him.
She
didn’t
say
anything
but
just

continued
to
look
at
him.
And
he
looked
at
her.
Then
he
felt
it,
that
deep,
hard
throb
in
his
gut
that
made
him
want
to

snatch
her
off
the
back
of
the
horse
and
tumble
with
her
in
the
grass.
His
body
was
already
hot
and
was
beginning
to
get
hotter,
in
need
of
physical
contact
with
her.

He
saw
how
her
cheeks
darkened
and
he
saw
the
moment
desire
filled
her
eyes.
He
also
saw
how
fast
the
pulse
was
beating
in
her
neck
and
the
way
she
took
out
her
tongue
to
moisten
her
already
damp
lips.
His
gaze
slowly
dropped
to
her
blouse
and
saw
how
the
nipples
of
her
breasts
were

straining
against
the
material.
Her
breathing,
as
well
as
his,
was
erratic.
He
heard
it.
He
felt
it.
He
wanted
to
taste
it.

“You
had
enough?”
he
forced
his
gaze
back
to
her
eyes,
as
he
tried
like
hell
to
get
his
thoughts
and
mind,
and

especially
his
body,
back
under
control.

“Enough
of
what?”
she
asked,
her
voice
soft,
somewhat

husky
and
definitely
sensual.
Her
gaze
was
still
holding
his.

“Water.”

She
blinked
and
he
saw
that
her
features
relayed
both
her
confusion,
as
well
as
her
longing
for
something
she
didn’t
quite
understand
yet.
But
she
would
in
time.
He
would
see
to
it.
“Yes,
I
had
enough,”
she
said,
after
drawing
in
a
deep
breath.