Too Close To The Fire/Too Hot To Handle (Montana Men 3) (11 page)

Nausea
swirled in Dianna’s gut. “What?” Her voice sounded faint.

Taylor
smirked. “You didn’t honestly think I fucked you because I had the hots for
you. Did you? I accomplished exactly what I set out to do. Revenge is sweet
with a little added spice on the side. Good pussy, by the way, just not a
keeper.” He turned and sauntered into the jungle. “Don’t leave without me, princess,”
he flung over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t want you to get gobbled up by some
hungry creature.”

Dianna
clenched her trembling hands. She pressed one against her mouth to keep from
crying. Pain slashed her heart. Well, like he said, she’d gotten exactly what
she asked for—and then some. Oh, God. Her period was due in a couple of days.
She never skipped or was ever late. He’d taken her twice in the last
twenty-four hours. He said there was no risk, but could she trust his word?

Then
what? He had no feelings for her. Bile rose to the back of her throat. Damn,
she was not going to be sick. On all fours, she scrambled to a corner and lost
the meager contents of her belly. Shit! Hurrying to clean up and dress, she
waited for Taylor to return from the edge of the jungle.

As
he drew near, he stopped and eyed her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re
pale as death.”

“I’m
fine. I’m not your problem, Taylor. Can we just leave?” She picked up the pack
and took off through the jungle.

“Where
are you going?”

She
didn’t answer, just kept walking. She had no plans to talk to him for the rest
of the day, or ever again. This was so not going to be a good day.

“Shit.”
Taylor grabbed the second pack and took off after her.

Chapter Thirteen

Love is like the measles, we all have to go
through it.

~Jerome K. Jerome

North Western Australia

The Kimberly

February 10, Tuesday

Taylor
eyed Dianna’s jean-clad ass with appreciative regard. She marched ahead, an
angry soldier determined to get as far away from him as fast as she could. He
clenched his jaws. Too damn bad—she was stuck with him, and he had a feeling
they were going to be stuck with each other for quite some time.

That
is, if she didn’t get herself killed first. She was determined not to listen to
him when he told her to slow down and conserve energy, to watch where she
placed her feet. He felt like grabbing her and shaking some sense into her
head.

No
matter what he said, she ignored him.

Worse,
she was not speaking to him. It drove him mad when she stopped talking to him.
Hell, the woman was a holy terror whether she talked to him or not. He watched
her delicious ass sway from side to side and felt his dick stir. She got under
his skin without trying. She always had.

Why
did this one woman have the power to make his fucking cock brick hard? He
followed behind her, his fists clenched with frustration. She’d worried he
might have made her pregnant. An ache settled in the region of his heart. He
wished to hell he could. He’d have her knocked up in a heartbeat, but then
she’d have to—he stumbled.

Whoa—back up a minute. Where on earth had
that thought come from?

Make
her pregnant in a heartbeat?

Was
he a total idiot? He’d be stuck with her for the rest of his life.

And
what’s wrong with that?

Everything!
She’s a spoiled rich bitch.

She’s
beautiful. Sexy. And she flips your switch.

I
could never make her happy—never give her what she wants—needs. Besides, she’d
make a lousy mother and—crap!

She’d
make a beautiful mother.

He
wanted that with her. Wanted her. A child with her. Damn it, he wanted her with
every fiber of his being.
He wanted
to bury his cock in her hot channel again and just soak inside her. Most of
all, he wanted to plant his kid in her. Yeah. He wanted to chain her to his
side for the rest of their lives. Jesus Christ, when the hell had he fallen in
love with her?

I’m
not in love with her!

Oh,
you are so far gone, you sap.
You’re
head over ass in love with her.

“No,
I’m not!”

“Sorry?
Did you say something?” Dianna paused and looked at him over her shoulder. She
was breathing hard, her breasts heaving underneath
his
T-shirt. By God, he wanted to tear that red shirt off her.

He
licked his lips. “Oh, you’re speaking again. I said you need to slow down.”

Taylor
tightened his lips. He’d fucked her twice. Big deal. Once he didn’t remember.
The second had happened so damn fast, he’d exploded inside her before he knew
it. Hell, so what? That didn’t stop him from wanting to do her again. This
time, he’d take his time and taste every inch of her flesh, savor her passion.
He’d bury his face between her thighs and not come up for air until she was a
puddle of weakness from orgasmic pleasure.

He
ached to feel her beautiful mouth wrapped around his hard cock again, sucking
him dry. Shit, he was such a goner. “Dianna! Stop. We need to rest. At this
rate, we’ll use up our water.”

She
stopped, flopped down on the thick green of the jungle floor and turned to
glare at him. “The sooner I escape you, the better.”

“Then
you’ll go on alone. I’m resting.”

“You
always have to have your way.”

“Look,
what are you so peeved about? Because I fucked you or because I’m not in love
with you?”

“You’re
such a bastard. I don’t want or need your love.”

“Ah,
so you’re mad because I fucked you.”

“I’m
not mad because of that.”

“What
then? You want me to do you again? I’m sure as hell willing.” He fumbled with
his zipper. “Come and get it, sweetheart.”

“You’re
a jerk.”

“I
am, but I’m the jerk you want.”

“Keep
your zipper zipped. I’m not interested in another quick tumble.”

Taylor
grinned and looked around, noting the next rain clouds headed toward them. “We
need to find shelter for the night. Once the rain reaches us, it’ll get dark
fast. Then we can work on stretching out that quickie.”

She
hissed.

He
laughed.

Fifteen
minutes later, Taylor halted and pointed. “Look up there? That looks like some
sort of an abandoned jungle house.”

“What?
No.” Dianna narrowed her eyes. “It’s a big tree with vines wrapped around it.
It looks bigger and house-like because of all the thick vegetation.”

“Oh.
Well, crap.”

“But
I see what looks like a cave, over there.” She pointed to her left.

“Where?”
Taylor stepped beside her. “Ah, you’re right.” He took off in the direction of
the questionable shelter.

“Taylor,
wait! Don’t just charge in there. There might be an animal in it, or snakes.”

Taylor
ignored her, shoved the vines aside that nearly concealed the entry, ducked and
took a long look. “Wait here while I check it out.”

“No.
I’m coming with you.”

He
grabbed her upper arms, and squeezed her shoulders. “Are you insane? There
could be a wild animal in there, or snakes.” He waggled his brows. “Maybe a
Redback spider or two.”

“Yeah
and there might be scorpions.”

He
sobered instantly. “You had to say that? You’re waiting here. Give me the
flashlight.”

Dianna
shoved the flashlight into his hand. “Fine. I’ll wait here. Go get bitten by
something.”

“Shut
up.” Taylor entered the opening and shined the light around. “It’s nice and dry,”
he shouted. “We’ll be comfortable in here.”

“Can
I come in?”

“No.
I’m still looking around.” A few minutes later he yelled, “Hey! Holy hell!”

“What?”
Dianna charged inside, breathless. Terror gripped her heart. “What is it? Did
you see something?”

“See?
No. But I hear something.”

“What?”

“Listen.
I think it’s a waterfall. You hear it?”

Dianna
grinned. “It is a waterfall.” She grabbed his hand. “Come on. We can take a
bath.”

“Wait.
Wait!” He jerked her to a halt. “Let’s make camp first, then we’ll hunt down
the waterfall.”

They
set up a makeshift camp, spreading out the sleeping bag and the fur coat.
Dianna looked around. For temporary shelter, it wasn’t bad. The rain pounded
outside, but inside the cave, they’d remain dry. The floor was loose, reddish,
sandy dirt. With the ground so soft, Dianna figured they’d actually get some
rest for a change.

The
walls of the cave were bumpy, but at some point in time, Aborigines had left
their mark. Centuries of culture and art splattered the bumpy stone walls, leaving
a trail of colorful, vivid history behind. She eyed the white handprints in
assorted sizes, the drawings of kangaroos in exaggerated shapes and warriors
with spears, dark-skinned people settled around campfires.

Dianna
wondered how many centuries ago they’d left their drawings behind.

“Interesting,
huh?”

She
nodded at Taylor and returned to straightening the fur coat. Tonight, she
intended to bask in sleep.

Thirty
minutes later, they’d tracked down the waterfall.

Dianna
eyed the cascading falls. The inviting pool looked clear. “Where do you suppose
the water comes from?”

“Don’t know. Maybe
from an over-flooded stream from all the rain.” Taylor dropped his bundle of
clean clothes. “When we’re finished bathing, we can wash our clothes and
stretch them out to dry on the big rocks over there.” He pulled his shirt over
his head and tossed it aside, then stripped to his boxers.

“Whoa.
Wait. What are you doing?”

“What
does it look like I’m doing? I’m not showering in my clothes.” He dropped his
boxers and stepped to the edge of the pool.

Dianna
stared, her jaw gaping. “It isn’t very big.”

Taylor
cut his gaze to where her eyes were fastened. “You have to give it a reason to…shit,
it’s big enough when it needs to be.”

She
jerked her eyes away from his cock and met his fierce gaze head on. “I wasn’t
talking about…
that.”

“That
is what you were looking at.”

“I
meant the waterfall isn’t very big.”

“Uh-huh.”

Dianna
licked her lips. In spite of her determination not to lower her gaze, it fell
back to his shaft and soft sac. She looked up quickly. “We can’t just strip?”

Taylor
waggled a brow. “What’s a matter? Never been skinny dipping?”

“Not
since I was a kid.”

“Why
not?”

“It
isn’t civilized.”

“Jesus,
Dianna, who the hell wants to be civilized? Live a little. Come on, princess,
strip. No one’s going to see but me.”

“No.”

“Shy?
You’ve had a good look at me. I want a better look at you. Besides, I’ve pretty
much seen and touched all there is to see and touch. I swear I’ll control my
impulse to pounce. Come on, fraidy cat.”

“I’m
not afraid.” Dianna reached for the hem of her shirt. She hesitated. “Turn
round.”

Taylor
folded his arms across his wide chest and shook his head. “Nope. I wanna see
every inch of your skin.” His eyes blazed with lustful intent. “I wanna taste
you all over, princess.”

Speechless,
Dianna tugged her shirt over her head and flung it aside. Acutely aware of
Taylor’s burning gaze on her breasts, she saw all his attention had latched on her
nipples.

“You
know, you have the most incredible, mouthwatering nipples. I love the rich
coral color.”

“I
thought you didn’t like my breasts.”

“I
said nipples, not the same thing as breasts. However, I’m getting used to the
sight of your breasts…they’ll do.”

“They’ll
do?
What? Because nothing else is
available?”

He
gave her a cocky grin. “A starving man never complains about the meal in front
of him.”

“Or
what the cook uses to heat up his meal?”

He
frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ah,
well.” She dropped her thong on the ground and spread her legs wide. “If I had
a blow dryer, I’d heat up your snack.”

“Shit,
leftovers again?”

Dianna
blinked. “Bastard.”

Taylor
lunged toward her, and before she could make an attempt to escape, he picked
her up and tossed her into the pool. She rose out of the water spluttering and
slinging wet hair out of her face. “No fair,” she cried. “You cheated.”

“Uh-huh.
I intend to cheat again.”

Dianna
swallowed hard. Her breath caught in her throat when he stepped into the pool
and stalked slowly toward her. She couldn’t help staring at his cock. It stood
up straight as a flag pole. She wondered ridiculously what he’d do if she
saluted it.

“Taylor,”
she whispered. “I don’t think this is wise. You don’t even like me.”

“My
cock likes you.” He glanced down, then lifted his gaze to her face. “It likes
you very much. And it’s hungry. Are you going to refuse to feed Harry?”

“Harry?”

He
locked his hard fingers onto her shoulders and dragged her closer. “Make Harry
happy. Harry hungry.”

Dianna
giggled. “You’re an idiot.”

She
knew very well Taylor would probably turn back into the ass he was, but right
at this moment, she didn’t care. She needed him. More, she wanted him.

He
pulled her into his arms and placed her hand around his throbbing cock. “It’s
burning for you, princess.”

“Just
one thing…is this time for revenge or a mercy fucking?”

“Fuck
revenge. Fuck mercy. I’m not giving you any clemency, and I’ve had my taste of
revenge. It sucks. This time is all about you and me.” He rubbed his mouth
against hers, slowly deepened the kiss.

Dianna
caught her breath as his tongue tangled with hers. She never knew when he
lowered her to the soft bank of the pool. She felt only his body surrounding
hers, the light touch of his fingers on her breasts, rubbing her nipples, the wet
drag of his mouth on her skin as he kissed his way to her aching channel.

She
dug her fingers in his sleek shoulders when he entered her in a single thrust.
Locking her legs around his lean waist, she moaned and matched the rhythm of
his slow thrusts. “Ride me hard,” she urged.

Taylor
nodded and set a fierce, faster rhythm that stole her breath. Dianna didn’t
know how much time passed or how long they stayed in the pool. Hours later,
Taylor carried her to their bed. She knew it was nearly dawn before he pulled
out of her for the last time and rolled onto his back.

He
turned, spooned his body around hers, and wrapped a sinewy arm around her
waist. “Sleep,” he whispered against her nape. “I’ll wake you when it’s time to
leave.”

Dianna
felt too limp and exhausted to reply. She wondered what morning would bring, if
Taylor would still treat her as his lover or his enemy.

She
didn’t want to think about it. For now, he was her lover and she wanted to
savor this time. She closed her eyes and surrendered to the weightiness of
sleep pressing down on her.

* * * *

Sleep
didn’t come so easily for Taylor. Touching Dianna, loving her the way he’d just
done had been a huge mistake. Making love to Dianna for the last several hours
made him wonder just what kind of fool he was.

Okay,
surely she wasn’t expecting a proposal. It was just sex. Granted, it was great
sex, but—