He carried her into the cabin and laid her on the makeshift bed he’d fashioned out of roughhewn logs and covered with a straw-filled bed tick. Wool blankets cushioned the mattress, and he pulled another over her to keep her warm while he started the fire. He tried to concentrate on striking the flint rather than the ravishing woman lying behind him, but the memory of her supple body cradled in his arms imprinted his thoughts. Just imagining her reaching for him, drawing him into the bed with her, their bodies pressed together, was enough to drive him mad. The images enticed certain areas of his body until the rough fabric of his trousers grew uncomfortably taut. If he didn’t get a handle on himself soon, he’d go up in flames just like the logs in the fireplace. Satisfied that the wood had caught, Jared turned around and found Adriana’s midnight blue eyes open and looking around the cabin. Then they shifted to him, and he could see the reflection of a hundred questions mirrored in her gaze. “Sheriff?” she asked. “Miss Sheer.” He settled onto the edge of the bed, removed his hat, and ran a hand through his hair. The decision he’d made in bringing her here now seemed more of a mistake in the midst of her innocent stare. “I can explain why you’re here.” Her brows arched high while her lush mouth stretched into a slow, seductive smile. “Sheriff, if you wanted me alone, all you had to do was ask.”
Seducing the Sheriff by Shannon Robinson
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. Seducing the Sheriff COPYRIGHT 2011 by Shannon Robinson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Contact Information:
[email protected] Cover Art by Angela Anderson The Wild Rose Press PO Box 706 Adams Basin, NY 14410-0706 Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com Publishing History First Cactus Rose Edition, 2011 Published in the United States of America
Dedication To my amazing children, Tyler and Alexis. Keep striving for your dreams and remember that life is short, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... it's about learning how to dance in the rain! I love you both all the way to the moon and back.
Chapter One Sheriff Jared Buchannon stood in the alleyway beside Lady Cornelia’s Saloon, concealed by the evening shadows, and waited. Two hours he’d been there. Two long hours of watching people enter and exit the saloon, the beat of his heart increasing each time the doors swung open. The moon was rising, slowly inching into the space of sky. If he stayed much longer, his position would soon be revealed. He rubbed his palms down his thighs, massaging the strain in his muscles from standing in one place. His legs ached as though he’d sat astride a saddle all day, but he couldn’t sit or walk it off. The risk of being seen was too great. More important things than his discomfort depended on his success tonight. The wooden doors flipped open, and a couple flounced out into the night. He looked for long, curly hair as black as the shadow he skulked in but settled back against the brick wall when strands of blonde blew past his hiding spot. The breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding surged from his mouth. Jared removed his Stetson and swiped an arm across his brow. The nervous tension flowing through his veins made him feel too much like the degenerates he pursued in life. Five years he’d held title as Sheriff of Brazos Point, and in those five years, not one outlaw had crossed into his territory and escaped. Well known 1
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for his unrelenting pursuit of justice, Jared prided himself on keeping a clean town. That all changed with last week’s bank robbery. For the past six days, he’d searched for the man responsible for stealing thousands of the townspeople’s dollars. The posse assembled within an hour of the robbery, but it was just enough time for an afternoon storm to wash away any tracks they could have followed. Still, Jared pushed on, trusting the screaming instincts within him that some clue would turn up as long as he kept looking. He hadn’t met an outlaw yet who evaded the justice due them. The justice he delivered. Sooner or later, they made a mistake. After six days of nothing, Jared wondered if this time would be different. Then he received the telegram. Jared settled his hat back onto his head and leaned against the wall. It burned his pride to resort to such tactics in order to catch an outlaw, but this was the first time he had no clues to the man’s whereabouts. No matter what it took, he would bring justice to light. Even if it meant kidnapping the outlaw’s sister. The saloon doors swung open, emitting the raucous noise of music and excitement inside. He tensed and waited for the heavy fall of boots to descend the stairs. When he heard nothing, he peered around the corner. If it weren’t for the moonlight, his gaze would have passed right by her. She was dressed in a long black gown that matched the hue of her hair and hung off her shoulders. The creamy skin of her bare shoulders appeared stark white in the gleam of the moon. A translucent black shawl draped over her arms and circled around her back. Adriana Sheer was stunning. Never had a woman aroused him as she did. Just looking at her 2
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swept all sense from his mind. A moment passed before he realized she was strolling down the road and he still stood in the alley shadows. Adriana had arrived in Brazos Point five months ago. No money, no travel bag, no family waiting to pick her up at the depot. Only a story as tall as the old oak in front of his parent’s ranch about her stage coach being robbed by Indians. She searched for food, clothing, and employment. She found all those within the dusty establishment of Lady Cornelia’s Saloon. From the moment he laid eyes on her dark curls and equally dark eyes, she fascinated him. Behind her hooded gaze and sensual smiles, he knew lay a story. One he’d tried to beguile out of her for the past few months, but she held tight to her secrets. He told himself it was just his inner detective working to uncover the mystery behind the beautiful woman, and not the intense desire he felt every time she sauntered by him. Now that he knew the truth, he understood why he’d felt the need to get to know her more. Shaking himself, Jared pulled a bottle of chloroform from his vest pocket and withdrew the cork. He dribbled a few drops onto his handkerchief, corked the bottle, and put it back inside his pocket, then looked down the empty road to be sure no one was around. With steps as silent as a mountain lion stalking his prey, Jared crept up behind Adriana, lifted his hand, and covered her mouth with the rag. She froze with the stiff tension of shock before releasing all hell upon him. Her nails raked the flesh on the back of his hands. Her booted heels alternated kicking his shins and stomping his feet. He wrapped an arm around her rib cage and pressed her flailing body against his. Several curls fell from the chignon on top of her head and brushed his face. A faint yet musky aroma of rose oil attacked his 3
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senses. The swell of her breasts rested atop his arm, sending a surge of heat straight to his groin. Amazed at how such a small woman could be so strong, he held on tight, disregarding the stinging pain her blows caused. He sagged in relief when she ceased struggling and slumped against him, unconscious. Quickly, he bent and hoisted her into his arms. Her slim body weighed no more than a sack of barley as he carried her toward the horse he had waiting nearby. Jared picked her up with one arm wrapped around her torso and with his other hand, grabbed the saddle horn and lifted himself onto the stirrup. He swung a leg over the saddle and sat, draping Adriana across his lap, and rode out of Brazos Point without notice. An hour passed before they reached the small cabin he’d prepared. Nestled in the center of a copse of cedar elm trees, invisible from the passing trail a mere fifty feet to the north, it was the perfect location to put his plan into action. He’d found the cabin while tracking Sally LaBouff’s drunk husband a few months back. Mr. LaBouff had passed out on top of his horse, and the horse had wandered from town, leaving Mrs. LaBouff in a heady panic. She’d begged Jared to go search for the man. When he stumbled upon the deserted shelter, he hadn’t known then how fortunate the find would turn out to be. Jared reined the horse to a stop. With careful precision, he lifted Adriana high and stood up in the stirrups, then simultaneously twisted his body and swung one leg over the horse before jumping to the ground. He looped the horse’s reins over the small tie post beside the cabin, then checked to see if Adriana had woken from the sudden jolt of their landing, but she remained asleep. He carried her into the cabin and laid her on the 4
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makeshift bed he’d fashioned out of roughhewn logs and covered with a straw-filled bed tick. Wool blankets cushioned the mattress, and he pulled another over her to keep her warm while he started the fire. He tried to concentrate on striking the flint rather than the ravishing woman lying behind him, but the memory of her supple body cradled in his arms imprinted his thoughts. Just imagining her reaching for him, drawing him into the bed with her, their bodies pressed together, was enough to drive him mad. The images enticed certain areas of his body until the rough fabric of his trousers grew uncomfortably taut. If he didn’t get a handle on himself soon, he’d go up in flames just like the logs in the fireplace. Satisfied that the wood had caught, Jared turned around and found Adriana’s midnight blue eyes open and looking around the cabin. Then they shifted to him, and he could see the reflection of a hundred questions mirrored in her gaze. “Sheriff?” she asked. “Miss Sheer.” He settled onto the edge of the bed, removed his hat, and ran a hand through his hair. The decision he’d made in bringing her here now seemed more of a mistake in the midst of her innocent stare. “I can explain why you’re here.” Her brows arched high while her lush mouth stretched into a slow, seductive smile. “Sheriff, if you wanted me alone, all you had to do was ask.” **** Adriana stifled the laugh that threatened to erupt from her mouth at the astonished look upon the sheriff’s face. His eyes widened until they appeared near to popping out of his head. His brows arched high enough to touch the lock of brown hair that swept his temple. The extravagant charade he played was enough to shock anyone, but if this was 5
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his way of telling her he was interested, she wasn’t about to throw a fit about it. Ever since she had stepped from the stage coach into Brazos Point and spied the tall, fine-looking gentleman wearing a gold star, she wanted him. Adriana wasn’t a delicate miss who shied away from her feelings, nor was she the dancing whore her employment alluded to, but when she saw something she wanted, she wasn’t afraid to take it if the opportunity presented itself. Seeing as she was lying on a bed with the man of her recent fantasies sitting two feet away, it seemed that opportunity had arrived. “Well, Sheriff, are you just going to sit there slack-jawed, or are you going to jump under these here covers with me?” she asked and patted the space beside her. “I, um,” Jared stuttered, then cleared his throat. “Miss Sheer—” “I think we can skip the formalities. Call me Adriana, darlin’.” “Ah, well, Adriana.” He coughed. “That’s not why I brought you here.” “Really?” She glanced around the room. “Well, why else would you truss up a woman like this? Cozy cabin, warm fire, soft bed. Sure seems like the perfect setting for a lovers’s interlude.” She walked her fingers over one by one until they rested on his arm. “Frankly, Sheriff, I’ve been waiting for you to make a move ever since I arrived in Brazos Point.” “You have?” He seemed to perk up from the knowledge. Then, with a single blink, his face settled into a mask of wide-eyed confusion. “What?” She smirked. “Why, Sheriff, I do believe your face is brighter than the wild strawberries I used to pick in the fields of my grandma’s farmstead.” He loosened the shirt button at his neck, inhaled deeply, then rose to his feet and strode across the 6
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room, as though more space between them would help unfurl his speech. His long legs moved with an all-powerful grace as he walked toward the fireplace, each thigh muscle flexing, rippling, and she couldn’t help but notice the telling bulge at the center of his trousers when he turned back around to face her. If the space that bulge occupied was any indication, she had one hell of a night ahead of her. “Jared...” She stopped at his quick look. “May I call you Jared?” He nodded and ran a hand through his wavy brown hair. She couldn’t wait to get her fingers in that exact spot as he lay above her, moaning her name… She shook her head. “If my demeanor shocks you, I apologize, but there’s no reason to be shy about this, Jared. I appreciate the lengths you’ve gone to, even if it wasn’t necessary. If you’d have just asked, I’d have come here willingly.” She pushed aside the striped blue woolen blanket and swung her legs off the side of the bed, sitting up. Her skirt bunched up, falling just below her knees, leaving her calves bare but for her stockings. Jared seemed unable to answer, flustered, like a rabbit staring at a snare, knowing it would be caught if it stepped forward but unable to turn away from its curiosity. She loved the way his cheeks bloomed like a rose when he was embarrassed. It wasn’t often she met a man who was shy about his desires. Most tried to get her into bed with less than the words she offered to Jared now. Too bad for them she’d been holding out for the one man who captured her attention. Adriana rose from the bed. “It doesn’t matter how we got here.” She stepped toward him. “What matters is what we do while we’re here.” That seemed to snap Jared out of whatever reverie he was lost in, and he backed a step. “Hold 7
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on, Adriana.” He held a hand up. “I appreciate your interest, but honestly, I didn’t bring you here for a rendezvous.” She arched her brows and tilted her head. “Then why did you bring me here?” Jared’s silence hung like a thick blanket in the air between them. He held her gaze, whiskey-colored eyes met hers, searching, hesitating, holding onto the moment as though he needed it to last forever. When he finally opened his mouth, it was to say nothing she expected to hear. “I need you to help me arrest your brother.”
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Chapter Two One thing Jared had perfected over his tenure as sheriff was the ability to read faces. The minuscule nostril flare, a quick intake of breath, the exaggerated widening of eyes in disbelief were all telling actions of a person with information to hide. Even a blank stare was a dead giveaway that the person was working exceptionally hard to remain stoic. But when Adriana began to laugh, everything he thought he knew about false concealment fled his conscious brain. The sound was unlike any he’d ever heard from a woman. None of the trilling tinkle of giggles from her lips, no, her music was rich and honest. Genuine. She held nothing back in her release of amusement. While his confusion over her reaction increased, so did his pleasure at the sound she emitted. Desire surged through his body, manifesting in a heavy weight at the pit of his stomach, then stretching into his already stiffened groin. He resisted the urge to reach a hand down and shift himself away from the course fabric of his pants. “My brother?” Her words shook with laughter. “You want me to help you arrest my brother?” He bristled at her ironic pleasure. “Yes, Adriana. Your brother was the one who robbed the bank last week. Lucius Crane was seen leading the gang away from town.” 9
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“What makes you think he’s my brother?” “I sent out word that I was looking for information on Lucius. Where he came from, who his family was, anything I could use to help me track down his whereabouts. A telegram came in yesterday revealing your connection to him.” “Hmm,” she murmured, then walked over to the fireplace and stuck her hands over the fire as though to warm them. She stared into the flames a few moments, and he stared at her. Orange and yellow light flickered over her face in a soft glow that accentuated her smooth, delicately shaped features. He wondered if her cheeks would prove to be as soft as they appeared. “I can only assume you knew about his plans.” Her eyes shot over to where he stood. “But if you help me track him down and bring him to justice, I won’t reveal your involvement.” “You think I knew about this?” Her mouth tightened and her nose crinkled, turning her once smiling face into a scowl. “How dare you.” “What else am I supposed to believe, Adriana? You arrive only a few months ago and, for the first time in our town’s history, the bank is robbed. Then I find out the culprit is your relation. Tell me that’s not a coincidence.” “That’s exactly what it is.” She tossed her head and planted her hands on her hips. “I had nothing to do with that robbery. I have nothing to do with that life.” Life? Jared studied her. She seemed pretty determined in her denial of being a part of the crime her brother had caused. But was she telling the truth? Had she not been involved? Either way, she was his key to bringing Lucius to justice. “If you know where he is, tell me. No man deserves to steal from another, and I have every intention of making sure he doesn’t do it again,” 10
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Jared promised. “I don’t know where he is,” she answered. “And I’ll be honest, Jared. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. He is, after all, my brother.” “So you would just let him steal from your friends, townsfolk who’d made you feel welcome since you got here?” “No. If I knew where he was, I’d go get the money and bring it back.” “Really? And he would just hand it over?” He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Sure doesn’t sound like someone who’s far from that type of life.” She stuck her chin out and glared at him. Her breathing was deep and heavy, each breath drawing out her chest. He couldn’t help but notice the alluring way her chest rose with the movement. Her gown accentuated her full breasts enticingly. The fire in her eyes simulated the heat from the fire burning behind her, and he wondered what it would be like to turn that fire into a burning passion. “Look, I didn’t have anything to do with that robbery, and if I could go back in time to stop it from happening, I would.” Her shoulders sagged, and it seemed that some of the fire behind her bottomless eyes died out. “But I can’t turn in my brother. I’m sorry, Sheriff. I can’t help you.” “Fortunately for you, that won’t be necessary, Miss Sheer. I have another way to bring your brother in.” **** Adriana tried to contain the anger building within her, but it threatened to pierce through the wall she’d erected. She wanted to scream. When she had finally begun to relax and think she’d left behind all her problems, they came sneaking back up on her. Was this the way it would always be? Would she never be free of her demons? 11
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Damn Lucius. Damn him for setting his sights on her town. Not that he’d had knowledge she was living there, but it didn’t matter. He should have stopped robbing when she’d told him to. He should have left behind the gang and begun a new life with her, one filled with promise and happiness like they used to have. Instead, he’d taken that away from her, too. She didn’t blame Jared for what he had to do. He was the sheriff, after all. But if she could get her hands on Lucius, she’d strangle him herself. “I don’t follow, Sheriff. How else are you going to get Lucius to return the money?” Jared sat down on the bed and placed his elbows on his thighs, one hand rubbing his chin. He regarded her with those intense amber eyes she’d come to favor. When they passed on the boardwalk in town and he locked those eyes on her, the urge to melt into his arms hit her so strongly she had to pull out her fan to chase away the heat filling her cheeks. “How close are you and Lucius, Adriana?” he asked. “Close?” She frowned. “Considering he didn’t even know I lived in Brazos Point, not very close.” “If that is indeed true, what about before you moved here? Were you close then? Where did you come from?” She bristled at his probing questions. Her past was better left in her memories, locked away where the pain and sadness could not touch her, and she preferred to keep it there. “Where I came from is none of your business. I’m here now, and this is where I reside.” “Okay. But I need to know what your relationship is, or was, with your brother. If something were to happen to you, would he come to your rescue?” “Well, of course he would. He wouldn’t just leave 12
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me—” she stopped and wet her lips with her tongue. “What’s your point, Sheriff? Are you going to hurt me?” “No, I’m not going to hurt you. But if Lucius would do anything to help you, then that’s exactly what I’m counting on.” He smiled, and she fought to focus on the conversation and not the way her stomach flipped inside her at his grin. “Why?” she asked, unsure if her brother would even bother to help her after the way she’d left him. “By morning, my deputy will have spread word that you have been arrested for conspiracy with Lucius Crane. He will telegram every town within a hundred miles of us so we cover as much territory as possible to locate your brother. The message will also note that if he turns himself in, you’ll be released.” He sat up straight and took a deep breath. “If what you say is true, then it shouldn’t take Lucius too long to come back for you.” Adriana had to admit the man’s strategy was good. The only problem was if Lucius decided to come for her, it wouldn’t be to turn himself in. No, he would race in with guns loaded and risk his life to free her. She had no idea how many people would be hurt in the end, but she knew for certain that she’d be one of them. The home she thought she’d found would be ripped away from her, just like before. Though the plan seemed solid, one part didn’t make sense. “If I’m being arrested, then why am I not at the jailhouse?” “I don’t expect Lucius to ride into town and allow me to arrest him. I don’t want my townspeople harmed, Adriana, so it’s best to bring the fight where there’s less chance of that happening.” His reasoning made sense. She certainly wouldn’t want anyone else harmed either. That was not something she cared to carry on her conscience. “So, where exactly are we?” 13
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“Far enough away that I wouldn’t recommend trying to escape and walk back to town.” She scoffed at him and turned around. The cabin was small, with barely enough room for the bed and fireplace. But it was clean. The wood shone as though it’d been recently polished. It had a dirt floor, but that appeared freshly packed, as there were no upturned patches or rutted holes. Drapes of pale green covered the two windows in the cabin; the only source of decoration found inside. The bed was larger than the typical one-person cot she normally occupied and appeared much more comfortable— especially with the sheriff perched on its edge. If only he’d invited her here because he wanted to, instead of bringing her here for the pure reason of justice. Her attraction to the sheriff had been immediate. There wasn’t another man in Brazos Point she cared to consort with. She couldn’t shake the thought that, once again, her hopes were being shattered. Damn it all. She was sick of having to give up her dreams, sick of having everything she’d ever wanted ripped away from her. It wasn’t fair. Where was the justice she deserved? Who would come to arrest the thieves who kept stealing her dreams? No one. For years, she’d been waiting for someone, something, to come along and make everything right. It was time she learned the only one who could change her life was…her. “How long do you expect to keep me here?” she asked. Jared rose from the bed, his lean form stretching inch by inch until he towered over her. His was the type of body a woman could cradle against, her head resting upon his shoulder, his strong arms wrapped around her. Just looking at him had desire crawling up her throat until she felt she would choke on it. “I don’t know. We’ll see how long it takes for 14
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your brother to get the news,” he answered. His response lit a spark within her. A spark that with just the merest hint of wind could fan into a flame. They could be in this cabin for days. Together. Alone. Hell, if all her hopes were going to be burned up anyway, she might as well take the opportunity and indulge in the only dream possible amidst this reality. She took a few steps forward and tilted her chin to look up at him. With a gaze her profession demanded she perfect, she smiled at Jared. “So, Sheriff, while we wait, what do you recommend we do?”
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Chapter Three The air in the room grew unbearably warm as Adriana gazed up at him, blatant invitation evident in her eyes. He struggled to maintain his composure, unwilling to give in to the temptation he so wanted to taste. Her head barely topped at his shoulders, and he had to look down to meet her gaze, down below her chin, down to where her full pale breasts peeked over her bodice. As though to accentuate her need, Adriana inhaled deeply; her twin beauties rose higher. Jared forced his eyes back up to meet hers, which twinkled at him gleefully. He had no doubt she knew exactly what she was doing to him. Already his loins felt ready to explode from the need to touch her, feel her, caress her soft skin. He wanted her beneath him, writhing, her body spread for him as he brought her to the peak of climax, then pushed her over. He wanted to hear Adriana cry his name. He sucked in a breath and walked past her toward the door. “I need some air. I’ll be back in a moment.” “I’ll be here, Sheriff,” she answered, her voice softer than a fiddler’s melody. Jared pulled open the door and walked outside, shutting the door behind him. The cool night breeze did little to ease the burning heat inside him. For months, he’d fantasized about the sensual dancer. 16
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When he first saw her dance at the saloon, he knew the image would be embedded in his mind for the rest of his life. With titillating steps and elegant limbs, she enthralled her audience. Her body flowed like water down a creek bed. Adriana was not a woman a man could forget. Now when his fantasy was coming true, beckoning his attention, he ran out the door. If it weren’t for the situation they were in, he would have jumped at the chance to be with Adriana. Even now, his body ached from wanting her. But how could he seduce the sister of the man he was going to arrest? How could he take advantage of her when he was going to betray her? The tone of her voice told of how much love she felt for her brother, even if her words stated otherwise. She’d never forgive him for arresting Lucius. He tried to shake off the increasing sense of disappointment by focusing on the care of his horse. Jared removed the saddle bags and his bedroll, then took off the saddle and blanket before brushing the animal down. So intent on the effort put into each stroke, he barely heard the cabin door creak open. He stopped brushing and lifted his head to look at the cabin. Yellow light filtered outside as the door gaped open, silhouetting Adriana as she peered out. Jared held his breath and waited to see what she would do. The horse blocked him from view of the cabin, giving him the perfect opportunity to catch her trying to escape. She glanced around before tiptoeing out the door. Without thought, Jared dropped the brush, raced from the horse, spread his arms wide, and captured Adriana in his embrace. Her scream resounded in his ear, and her feet slipped beneath them. They fell to the ground hard, Jared on top of her. “What the hell are you doing, Jared?” Her chest 17
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heaved with exertion and, he figured, shock at being thrown to the ground. “I might ask you the same question, Miss Sheer,” he breathed. She put her hands on his chest and pushed. He didn’t move. “I need to use the privy.” “What?” Then her words sank in, and he felt like a foolish schoolboy. “Oh damn, I’m sorry. I thought you were trying to escape.” She smiled and wriggled her hips. His cock swelled and pulsed with desire. Every ounce of his body screamed to rub against the soft juncture between her thighs. “Why would I leave this behind, Sheriff?” Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down. Her lips pressed against his, molding, demanding a response. Her tongue slipped out, traced his upper lip, and he caved. His tongue plunged into her mouth, tangling with her tongue. They wrestled for control, each pushing against the other in tormented desire. She tasted so sweet, so decadent; he knew he could never have enough. She dragged her hands through his hair, pulling him closer, pressing her body up against his. He slid his hands down to her hips and rubbed himself against her softness. Adriana released a moan into his mouth, and he thought he would lose himself like a lad. Trying to contain his urgent need, he pulled away from the kiss and rested his face into her hair. The potent scent of roses infused his senses, and he could only wonder what her bare skin would smell like. Then she pressed a kiss to his cheek, and he lifted his head. Her hair spread out around her head. Leaves and twigs entwined her dark strands but made her appear like a forest nymph, a dream agent he could only imagine. Her beauty glowed like the moon above them, soft yet dazzling. He must be 18
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dreaming. No other way could he really have Adriana Sheer in his arms. “What are you looking at?” she asked. “Just you.” Surrounded by her oval-shaped face and rosy cheeks, her eyes devoured his gaze, drawing him toward her. A thousand ways to possess her came into his mind. A million things he wanted to do to her, share with her. He wanted to strip off the barriers between them, bare their bodies skin to skin so nothing separated them, and purge his desire until it was spent from his blood. The only problem was he didn’t know if his desire for her would ever fade. “Jared,” she placed her hand on his cheek, “as much as I don’t want to end this moment, I really do need some privacy.” “Oh, right.” His cheeks warmed as he scrambled to his feet then reached his hands down to help her up. She leaned into him as she rose, pressing her breasts to his chest. He hadn’t thought it possible, but his arousal got harder. “I don’t suppose you have a chamber pot in those saddle bags?” She snickered. “I didn’t see one in the cabin.” “Uh, no. That’s one essential I’m afraid I didn’t think of.” He stared at her as she walked into the brush, unable to focus on anything but the sway of her hips. She looked over her shoulder at him, and a teasing smile crossed her lips. “Do you mind?” “Sorry.” He turned around and shoved a hand through his hair. Embarrassment shadowed some of the poignant need that had enflamed his body mere seconds ago. How could he have let that happen? There was no way he could have relations with Adriana, yet here he was, ready to rut like a stallion without hesitation. 19
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How was he supposed to spend another moment with her when every cell of his body was begging to love her? **** Adriana watched Jared lay his bedroll down on the cabin floor and tried to keep her mouth shut. The seductress within her wanted to demand he pack the darn thing away and join her on the bed. His refusal to discuss what had happened between them outside was infuriating. Every time she tried to bring it up, he interrupted her, claiming they needed more firewood, the horse needed tending to, or some other excuse. She was tired of his excuses. She wanted to feel his lips on hers again, feel his body on hers again, feel their heartbeats mimic the acceleration of the moment. There was so much she wanted to share with him. And so little time in which to do it. Jared lifted the casing off the oil lamp. “It’s late, Adriana. Sleep well.” He snuffed the light with a single breath. The room dimmed. Only the soft glow of the fire illuminated the cabin. His bulky silhouette imprinted the wall behind him. She sat on the edge of the bed and watched him settle down on the sleeping mat. His tall, lean frame stretched out; his hands met and linked together to cushion his head. She didn’t know how many days they would have together. She didn’t know when Lucius would come to get her. All she knew was that when he did, she would have to say goodbye to the life she’d found in Brazos Point and to the man she’d found. When that moment came, she would leave, but she wanted memories to take with her. She wanted something to cherish the rest of her life. Something only Jared could give her. Adriana never approved of Lucius’s chosen profession, but she was beginning to realize that his 20
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tactics made sense. Stealing was unlawful, but she didn’t have a choice. She was going to do whatever it took to steal Jared Buchannon’s heart. She bent and removed her buttoned ankle boots, set them aside, and stood back up. With her breath in her throat and determination in her veins, she began undoing the buttons of her black satin brocade overdress. One by one, they slipped from the small holes with ease until she was able to slide the dress off her shoulders and down her arms, where it pooled at her feet on the floor. Jared’s gaze slid over to rest on her. Clad in her corset and petticoat, she reached for the ribbons on her bodice and, keeping her eyes locked on Jared, drew the laces out slowly. His amber eyes darkened, and the hitch in his breathing spoke measures to her actions. She ignored the trembling of her fingers and focused on the desire building inside of her. It felt good, this feeling of intimacy, power, and seduction. She wanted to seduce him. She wanted to see his eyes light up with interest, the kind with which most men plied her when she danced. Though she’d never taken any of them up on their invitations, she wanted Jared to issue one. His invitation she craved. The laces slid from the stays easily, and the corset came off. Her chemise was silk, nearly transparent, and she could see the shadow of her nipples through the thin material. She released the ties of her petticoat, and it sank to the floor with the other garments. Jared sat up. She expected him to tell her to stop, encourage her, or say something, but his silence continued. Confused but resolved to complete her purpose, she slipped one strap of her chemise from her shoulder and down her arm, then did the same with the other strap. The chemise slipped from her body like a feather in the wind. 21
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The sudden chill of air against her naked flesh swept tingles up her spine. Her breasts felt full and heavy. Her nipples tightened into hard buds. She ran her palms down her sides, over her belly, and hooked her fingertips into the garter resting on her left thigh, never breaking contact with Jared’s stare. The resilient band glided from her thigh, down her knee to her ankle, her stocking dropping along with it. She tugged the garment from her foot and turned to the other garter. Butterflies spread their wings and flew around her stomach, but she kept her mind focused on what she wanted…which was currently watching her every move. When she slid the remaining stocking and garter from her leg, she straightened. Jared’s eyes gleamed with lust. Her body flushed with pleasure. She brought desire to his eyes. Exalted with the knowledge, she beckoned to him. Jared rose to his feet and crossed the small space between them, stopping mere inches from her naked body. “Adriana,” his voice was low and husky, “I don’t want to hurt you.” She lifted her hand and pressed it to his cheek. “I need you, Jared. Please.” He stared down at her for a long moment; so long she thought he would surely refuse her. Then he cupped her face with his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. His lips pressed hers gently, softly, a light caress meant to tease and tantalize the senses. Never had a man kissed her with such tenderness, such reverence. She closed her eyes and simply absorbed his kiss. He shrugged off his deerskin vest and proceeded to unbutton his cotton shirt. She helped pull the shirt off, one arm at a time, and pressed her palms to his chest. A soft coat of dark hair covered him. She ran her fingers through it, over his solid 22
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pectorals and down to his abdomen. A rush of anticipation swept up her spine. Her fingers trailed over the edge of his trousers, seeking admittance. Jared’s hands gripped her hips then trailed up her torso until his palms cradled her breasts. The feel of his large, hot calloused hands on her sensitive flesh was enough to drive her mad. She arched against him, aching to be possessed by his touch. His thumbs flicked over her nipples, and she bit her lip to hold in a gasp, but the act sent wave after wave of desire crashing throughout her body. She softened. Her nipples burned. The secret place between her legs grew damp. As the storm grew inside of her, so did the intensity of Jared’s kiss until it seemed he would consume her in his urgency. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. His mouth plundered hers. Tasting, taking, tormenting. Every touch ignited flames of carnal pleasure upon her. She clung to him, begging for more, unable to get enough. He stooped and swept her into his arms so quickly she hadn’t time to comprehend his intention until she was already being placed onto the bed. She stared up at him, cushioned by the pillows and blanket on the mattress, and watched him shed his boots, trousers, and flannel drawers. A shiver crested up her spine as the hard stalk of his erection was revealed. Jutting out from a nest of curly dark hair, it looked formidable; a weapon to impale her. But she knew better. Jared would never hurt her, and no matter how her nerves swarmed with uncertainty, she trusted that fact. From the moment she’d laid eyes on him, her fantasies consisted of only him. She’d pictured him reaching for her, their bodies entwined together, loving one another. She’d imagined what the feel of his body pressed against hers, into hers, would be 23
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like…and it was like nothing she’d fantasized. To have Jared love her in reality was so much more than her imaginations. He settled over her, leaning on his elbows so not to have his full weight crushing her. He pushed open her thighs with his knees, and she felt the tip of his arousal against her moist center. Instinct had her arching upward, but he yielded away from her demands. “Easy, love,” he murmured. “This is not something I wish to rush through.” He trailed kisses over her face, down her neck and shoulders, and lower still. He nuzzled the valley between her breasts before turning his lips toward her nipple. When his tongue flicked over her, she cried out. Desire hit hard, shooting from her breasts down to her core. She writhed beneath him as Jared alternated from one nipple to the other, showering each with moist attention. When he sat back, spread her legs wide, and placed his mouth at her hidden entrance, she screamed his name. Sensations like nothing she’d ever experienced ripped through her body. He tormented her with his lips, tongue, and teeth, scraping gently over her pert bud then sucking on her, drawing her sensitive flesh into his mouth. She trembled and moaned aloud at the immense heat flowing through her, the aching pleasure he caused. Waves of sensation built and built upon one another, and she yearned toward them, reaching for the unknown but knowing Jared could give it to her. Each suckle he plied on her body crested her higher until it seemed her whole body throbbed. “Jared,” she moaned and gripped the blanket with her fists. “Please…oh please, I need…” “Tell me, darling,” he breathed against her. His warm breath felt like heaven upon her quivering flesh. “Tell me what you need.” 24
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“Oh,” she whimpered. He sucked harder. “Oh god, Jared, I need you!” At her words, he moved over her, kneed her thighs open and positioned himself at her entrance. He bent his head to capture her lips, then surged forward… And pushed through the restraint of her body to claim her soul.
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Chapter Four The sight of Adriana undressing was the most delectable view Jared had ever witnessed. Her lush body bared inch by inch as she removed her clothing had him in agony from the ache in his loins. She was perfect. Beautiful. With full breasts and a waist that tapered to lush thighs, she was everything he’d imagined and more. Oh, so much more. The moment she uttered her need for him, Jared knew there was no going back. He’d longed to hear those words from her lips. As soon as he tasted her mouth and touched her naked skin with his, he was lost in a haze of pure lust. Lost in the need to have her, love her, and shower her with pleasure so she would never forget this night between them. With her guttural moans urging him on, he plunged inside of her… And straight through her maiden’s barrier. He stopped moving and looked at her. Adriana’s eyes were closed tight; her face a mask of pinched pain. God forgive him, not for a moment had he thought she was a virgin. Shame surged through him. He wasn’t any better than the men who visited the saloons, thinking one whore was the same as another. Adriana wasn’t a whore, nor had she ever been. But she gave herself to him. He pushed aside thoughts he would revisit later and caressed her face. “Adriana,” he murmured. When she didn’t move, he pressed on. “Look at me, 26
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darling.” She opened her eyes. Moisture swarmed her twilight blue orbs. He gazed at her, stroked her cheek with his hand and kissed her lips gently. “I’m sorry, Adriana. If I had known, if I had just thought to ask, I would have been gentler.” A thin smile crossed her lips. “I’m all right, Jared. There’s no need to stop.” Her strength amazed him. She felt pain, yet she bore his shaft within her as though there were no discomfort. Still she wanted to please him. Amazed by how such a woman could touch him so deeply, he vowed he wouldn’t be the only one to feel pleasure this evening. He trailed his hand from her cheek, down her throat, and over her chest to cup one large breast in his hand. Knowing how much she’d enjoyed his ministrations earlier, he massaged her nipple with his thumb. It stiffened under his touch. “Jared, mmm…” Her moan became a breathless sigh as he lowered his head and teased her nipple with his tongue. His body tense, he focused all his strength on remaining still inside her. A feat he found most difficult as the feel of her tight sheath around his cock demanded he thrust forward and find satisfaction deep within her body. But she wasn’t ready. She needed a few moments to adjust to him, to soften for him, and he wanted their joining to be a memory of pleasure, not pain, to her. He swirled his tongue over her nipple, crested up her lush breast to her neck and nipped at her shoulder. The shiver that trembled through her body reverberated into his, and he felt her dampness shroud his shaft. He trailed his tongue up her neck and slanted his lips over hers. With forced patience, he coaxed her to open to him, allowing him entry to plunder and savor her sweet mouth. Every taste 27
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increased the torment flooding his body, yet he waited. Then she began to move. She hesitantly arched upward, burying him deeper within her. He allowed her total control, remaining still other than to lift his hand to her other breast and strum her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “Jared, it feels so..so..” “Wonderful, Adriana?” He pinched her nipple gently. “Amazing?” She moaned and tilted her hips, drawing him in further. “Because that’s how you make me feel, Adriana. And I want to make certain you feel the same.” She looked at him, searching his face, her gaze so intent he felt he could lose himself in her eyes. Then she reached her hands up and pulled his head down, pressing her mouth to his. Her tongue touched his, tentatively at first then grew bolder, tasting him, inflaming him. Her fingers threaded through his hair then trailed to his shoulders, down his back, and stilled on his hips. Jared’s head throbbed—hell, his whole body throbbed—from the sensation of her hands resting on his body, her sheath wrapped around his cock. He bit his lip, focusing on the pain rather than the intense desire to thrust into her wetness. “Jared?” He met her gaze. “Yes, love?” “Show me. Show me how good it can feel,” she entreated. He smiled. “My pleasure.” Slowly at first, he moved in and out of her. Each forward thrust pushed him deeper and deeper into her channel until the full length of him was completely surrounded by her warm, wet sheath. The slick slide of her flesh against his fanned the fire within him to a burning blaze. 28
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“Oh Jared,” she gasped and clung to his shoulders. Her movements began to match his, instinct guiding her motions, meeting each thrust. He fought to keep it slow, gentle, so not to harm her any further, but the desire to consume her completely surged through him. When Adriana dug her fingers into his shoulders and wrapped her slender legs around his waist, he could no longer contain his passion. Surging into her, he increased the rhythm until he felt her muscles tighten around him, indication of her mounting desire. Sensing her need, he reached a hand down and rubbed her budding pearl that had made her quiver with desire when he had licked and suckled it before. She screamed his name and tremors shook her body. He buried his face into her hair and rode the waves of release with her, each wave swelling higher and higher until finally bursting into an allconsuming climax that spread from his center outward, enveloping his entire body in pleasure. When his body ceased trembling, Jared slowly rolled to the side and gathered Adriana in his arms. She nestled into the hollow of his shoulder, draped one arm across his chest, and released a faint moan. He couldn’t help but feel smug at the sated tone within her murmur. He stroked her hair, her skin, amazed that she lay beside him. Numerous times he’d imagined her in his arms, the passion they could share, but those fantasies were no comparison to the reality. Adriana was a beautiful, passionate woman, and it beguiled him to know he’d been the first man to experience that passion. But why? Why had she given that to him? He didn’t want to interrupt the moment, but the questions clamoring inside his mind would steal his sleep until her answer was given. 29
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“Adriana?” “Hmm?” she mumbled. He placed two fingers under her chin and tilted her head up to his. Her eyelids were heavy; fatigue evidenced in the peaceful set of her features. But her eyes glowed as she gazed at him. Her mouth parted as a satisfied smile crested her lips. “What brought you to Brazos Point?” “A stage coach.” She smiled, and he couldn’t help but grin back at her jest. “To be honest, Jared, I didn’t have a destination. Wherever the coach took me was where I wanted to be.” He frowned. “So it was just a draw of fate that the coach stopped here?” “Yes, I suppose it was fate.” She paused, her gaze roving his face for a moment, then gave a deep sigh. “I grew up in Arkansas. Little town named Valley’s Edge. Not much to it. We didn’t even have a postal depot. Had to rely on the pony riders to stop if we had missives to send.” She ran her hand over his chest, her fingers threading through his coarse hair. He waited patiently for her to continue, and stroked the smooth, satiny skin of her arm with his hand. “My pa died in the war. I wasn’t old enough to remember him, but my brother was. He told me stories about Pa, so even though I couldn’t remember his face, I had my brother’s memories of the kind-hearted, hardworking man he was. Mother took sick a couple years after Pa’s death, and we moved to Grandma’s farm so she could help me take care of Mother. We’d only been there a few months before the sickness took her from us, too.” Adriana wasn’t looking at him now; instead she stared at the wall and revisited the hurt in her memories. Tears welled in her eyes, and he caught one with his finger as it fled down her cheek. So much pain, so much loss. Strangely, he intuited that 30
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it wasn’t the last of her suffering. “Grandma raised us after Mother died. I loved the farm. She had a couple of milk cows, a few stable horses to help with the plowing, and chickens. The first chore she gave me was to feed the chickens.” She chuckled and covered her mouth with her hand. “I can still remember running like a scared fox as those chickens chased after me for their ground corn feed, Grandma clutching her stomach and laughing at me.” “We had chickens too, on my parents’ farmstead,” Jared said. “Many times I felt the peck of their beaks if I was too slow with the feeding.” She sniggered, then grew quiet again. He thought of his parents as her silence stretched. He couldn’t imagine what life would have been like without them, especially as a child. Not having their closeness. Not having their strength to rely on. Not having their love to surround him, even when they had to discipline him for foolish antics. He counted himself fortunate to still have them in his life and swore he’d tell them that when this was all over. When Adriana’s desire for him vanished as he locked her brother away. There was no doubt Lucius Crane would be convicted and hung for the robbery. The townspeople would learn of Adriana’s relationship to the outlaw, and he didn’t imagine she’d stay in Brazos Point afterward. Where would she go? Would she jump on the next stage coach and trust in fate once more? The thought induced a sick feeling to his stomach. “I was sixteen when Grandma died.” He looked at her, horrified at the amount of death she’d seen in her young life. She continued, “I don’t know why she died. There were no signs of sickness. Just didn’t wake up one morning. We used every penny we had to buy her a nice coffin. You know, the kind with a silk lining? She deserved something nice.” 31
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“I’m so sorry, Adriana.” He smoothed her hair down with his hand and pulled her tighter against him, wanting to comfort her, wanting to take away her sadness, but knew the pain of losing a loved one was something that would never go away. “What did you do then?” he asked. “Oh, we tried to keep the farm going. Or at least I tried. Lucius was twenty-one then, but he wasn’t much into plowing or milking cows. He rather enjoyed taking off for days at a time, coming back with some money, but it was never enough. One day I learned he’d joined up with the Border Raiders, one of the worst gangs in Arkansas. He changed his surname to Crane, thinking folks wouldn’t know it was him, but they knew. People in town talked a lot, even when they knew I was listening.” A scowl wrinkled her forehead, and he could imagine the awful gossip she’d had to endure. “He’d taken to robbing coaches, sometimes trains. I told him to stop. Told him I didn’t want the money. What he was doing was wrong, and dishonest, and not what Grandma or our folks would have wanted. “The bank foreclosed on the farm, and Lucius tried to talk me into leaving with him. He said the gang had a place where their women and children stayed. He was right furious when I refused. But I wasn’t having any part of that. So I sold the few things I had and left Valley’s Edge.” “And came to Brazos Point,” he added. “But why did you hire on at Lady Cornelia’s Saloon when you arrived? There’s many folk who would’ve taken you in. Ol’ John probably would’ve given you a job at the hotel.” “Maybe he would’ve. But I didn’t know anyone, Jared, and the only thing I knew I was good at was dancing. The boys in Valley’s Edge used to say that when we had the Christmas barn dances.” Jared listened, and anger at her brother’s 32
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stupidity surged through him. Lucius should have been there for Adriana. Instead he’d left her alone, a young girl vulnerable and forced to work in a saloon to fend for herself. He could attest that she was good at dancing—she was phenomenal truly—but that wasn’t fit employment for a young woman. She lifted up her head and placed her hands on his chest to sit up. Her long hair fell over her shoulders and tickled his chest. He tried not to notice her nakedness, but it was near impossible when she was mere inches away from him. His body tightened and desire surged through his blood. “I don’t want to talk about the past anymore, Jared. I don’t want to talk about the future. I just want to be here, now, with you.” Adriana leaned over him, and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close. She kissed him with such ferocity, such passion, that he immediately hardened for her. She swung a leg over and settled on top of him. A groan tore from his throat at the feel of her tender, warm heat on his shaft. Her breasts arched above him, soft yet firm, and he couldn’t resist the need to touch her. They were heavy in his palms. He lifted his head and captured one nipple in his mouth, teasing it with his tongue, nipping with his teeth. It hardened into a tight peak, and Adriana gasped. “I want to feel it again, Jared. Make me feel good again.” Her innocent words drugged his senses more than any whiskey could, and he brought a hand down to tease her soft folds and see if she was ready for him. Finding her damp with passion, he lifted her up and positioned his cock at her entrance. “Take me inside you, Adriana,” he urged. Slowly, she lowered herself onto him. Inch by sweet inch until he was fully engulfed by her satiny, wet core. “Oh god, Adriana,” he released on a breath. “You feel like heaven.” 33
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With tentative lifts, she moved up and down, then growing more confident, faster and longer, nearly coming off him before thrusting back down. He pushed up, meeting each thrust. His heart raced, pounded, as she captured him in a passion so intense he felt he would explode. She rode him with abandoned restraint; her head flung back, her palms pressed to his chest as leverage to her thrusts. He gripped her hips, then as he felt the stir of her climax, moved to her shoulders and pulled her forward so she lay over him, her breasts against his chest. He claimed her mouth as her body broke over his in a shuddering release. His own surged forward as her muscles milked his shaft, exhausting his passion. Moments later, as he watched her fall asleep, her lips swollen from his kisses, her cheeks flush from exertion, he knew that the hardest thing he would ever have to do was let her go.
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Chapter Five Two days passed in a whirlwind of passionate lovemaking. They couldn’t seem to get enough of one another. So often in fact, that Adriana wondered if this was the way for all lovers. Surely not, or most folk would never leave their homes. She was happy, happier than she’d been in many years, and content to be in Jared’s arms. As each day dawned, she found herself wishing for one more. Just one more day to feel his lips on hers. Just one more day to hear her name from his mouth. Just one more day to love him. For love him she did. It filled her heart with an absolute necessity she couldn’t deny. Each touch, each caress built onto that love until it encompassed her entire being. When she first met Jared Buchannon, she was attracted to him. She wanted to know him. She wanted him to want to know her. Making love with Jared was unlike anything she’d ever imagined. He filled her with complete happiness and joy, merging their bodies into one entity of pleasure. And it wasn’t just the physical aspect she adored. He shared stories with her, telling her of his childhood and family. He amazed her with his desire to learn more about her: what her favorite flower was, her favorite smells, even her dreams. They communicated as though they’d known each other for years. If only she had years to share with him. 35
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Jared taught her more about herself than anyone ever had. She experienced with her body, learning what pleased her, what pleased him. He gave her a confidence she’d never had on the dance floor. Even though her beauty captivated others, she had not felt beautiful inside. Her work was not something she was proud of. It was necessary, a means to provide for herself, but nothing more. Jared made her feel beautiful. He taught her that beauty was more than a pretty face or a dance. Beauty was the love they shared. Not that he felt the same love she did. Adriana wasn’t so naïve that she imagined Jared in love with her. As much as she’d desired to steal his heart away, it was not to be. Their relationship was a ripple in his life, a moment to remember but not to last. There was no doubt in her mind what the outcome would be once Lucius arrived. She clung to each passing moment, knowing that the next one could be their last. **** Jared turned the spit holding his afternoon catch. The smell of roasted rabbit wafted through the air, making his mouth water. Adriana was inside the cabin, slicing wild potatoes, leeks, and other vegetables he’d dug up for the stew they would add the rabbit meat to. He settled back onto a log and took a deep breath. It was so easy to believe this was their normal life. Sharing a meal with Adriana. Sharing a bed with her. He could picture them like this every day, building a life together, sharing a home. The faint sound of children playing seemed to drift through his mind. He’d never been one to think about settling down. His life revolved around being sheriff of Brazos Point. He didn’t have time for a wife and children, or taking care of a home. 36
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But now, preparing dinner and knowing that Adriana waited inside the cabin made him wonder if he hadn’t been wrong about his plans. Why couldn’t he come home to his wife every night? Why couldn’t he enjoy the delights of fatherhood? There was so much he was missing out on. The main thing being…he was missing out on love. And when this was over, he would miss Adriana. He pulled the rabbit from the fire and wrapped it in a towel to carry inside. He pushed the cabin door open and smiled as he saw Adriana kneeling beside the makeshift table he’d constructed out of two stumps and a plank of wood. It was easy to imagine her standing beside a real table, one he’d build high enough so she wouldn’t have to stoop or kneel to prepare their meals. She smiled at him as he walked inside, and his stomach knotted. Just looking at her caused his heart to swell. She was so precious, so beautiful. He wanted to spend hours just staring at her, loving her. “I’ve heard New Mexico is growing rapidly. The climate is similar to Texas, and I’ve grown used to the heat here, so that won’t be a burden to adjust to.” She sliced carrots vigorously. “New Mexico?” Unease crept into his chest. “What do you mean?” She kept her eyes locked on the vegetables. “When I leave, Jared, I think I’ll go there.” So she’d made up her mind. He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. How could he have expected her to stay? Once he arrested her brother, she would never want to see him again. She would never touch him again. She would never smile at him again. The thoughts ripped through him with an agony he’d not known before. Quickly, he strolled over to her and lifted her up to him. 37
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“Jared, what are you doing?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Our dinner—” “Can wait,” he finished. “I want you, Adriana.” He captured her mouth, desperation fueling his intensity. With swift movements, he divested both of them of their clothing, nearly ripping Adriana’s dress in his haste. They fell to the bed in a passionate frenzy, clutching, feeling, tasting. He drove into her slick heat. She arched up to meet his pounding thrusts, begging him for more. As she came around him, her body trembling with passion, he spilled inside of her and cried her name, holding onto the moment as long as possible so he could feel and feel and cherish the feeling forever. **** The high-pitched sound of a horse’s whinny sliced through their comfortable silence, alerting them to someone’s arrival. Jared sprang to his feet, pulling Adriana up with him. He rested his hands on her waist and gazed down at her. “That must be my deputy. He’s the only one who knows where we are.” She trailed her fingers along his shoulders. “If he’s here, that must mean that my brother—” “Has come back,” he finished for her. He lifted a hand and cupped her chin, tilting her face up. The light kiss he placed on her mouth caused the butterflies in her stomach to flutter and regret to surface. This was it. If Lucius had returned, that meant her time with Jared was over. In just a few moments, the magic they’d shared would be just memories. The tingles his touch wrought over her skin would fade. Months would go by, and even her dreams would obscure his features. Adriana shook her head. She was being foolish. Their relationship was never meant to last forever, 38
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and she’d known that. But that didn’t make the pain any less. They dressed quickly, and with one last look around the small room they’d shared so intimately, she followed Jared outside. When he suddenly stopped, she nearly ran into his backside. “Jared?” She reached out a hand to his back to steady herself. When he didn’t answer, she looked around him and gasped. Lucius stood about ten feet away, pointing his pistol directly at Jared. “Lucius?” Relief at seeing her brother alive swelled through her. He looked much the same, albeit a little thinner in the face and his clothes were worn. But he was alive. He’d come for her. Even though a part of her had wanted him to stay away, to leave her here in Brazos Point with Jared Buchannon, she was glad he hadn’t turned his back on her after she’d refused his assistance. She stepped toward him, but Jared reached an arm out, stopping her. “Where is my deputy, Crane?” he demanded. “What did you do to him?” Lucius sniggered. “Don’t worry, Sheriff, the only thing he’ll be worrying about is the headache he’s got when he wakes up.” He took a menacing step forward, his gun never wavering. “You let go of my sister, Sheriff, and we’ll all walk away from here just fine.” Adriana pushed past Jared and held out a hand as he tried to stop her. “Jared, stop. The last thing I want is for you to get hurt.” She turned to Lucius. “Why, Lucius? Why did you have to rob this town?” “Ah, Adriana,” he said, his mouth puckered in a contrite scowl, and he removed his hat to swipe an arm across his brow. His once golden hair had faded to a dirty, matted mess. “I swear I didn’t know this was your town. I wouldn’t have come here if I’d 39
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known.” She nodded. “I reckoned you didn’t know. But that still doesn’t make it right. These townspeople worked hard for that money you stole. You have to give it back, Lucius. All of it.” He slapped his hat back on his head and briskly walked over to his horse. He untied two leather bags from the saddle and threw them toward Jared. “I knew you’d say that. Damn girl, always had too much compassion in you.” He gestured his gun toward the bags. “There you are, Sheriff. Every cent. But I’ll not be getting arrested today.” He waved to her. “Adriana, let’s go.” She looked at Jared, and her throat tightened painfully. He stared back at her, his face an unreadable mask. Tears filled her eyes, and she fought to blink them away. She didn’t want him to see her cry. She didn’t want him to see her weak. She could do this. All she had to do was follow her brother. “Goodbye, Jared.” With sobs threatening to burst forth, she turned away from the man she loved and toward a future filled with fading memories. “No.” She spun around. “What?” He crossed the few feet between them and took her hands in his. “Your brother can ride off to California for all I care. But not with you.” She frowned. “Jared, I don’t understand.” “The money will be returned to the townspeople now. We can say you managed to convince Lucius to turn over the money before he left. Everyone will believe you’re a hero, Adriana.” His eyes glowed brightly. “What are you talking about, Jared? I can’t stay here.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. Why was he doing this? She just wanted to leave. “Let me go.” He cupped her face in his palms and brushed his 40
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thumbs over her lips. “I can’t do that, Adriana. I love you too much to watch you leave.” Her mouth fell open. Hope flickered in her breast. “You love me?” “Stay with me. Stay here in Brazos Point. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life sharing that love with you.” He brushed his lips over hers. She pulled back and gazed into his eyes, into the love shining at her. “I love you, Jared. I can’t imagine living life without you.” She brushed her lips over his. Then she looked back to where her brother stood waiting, a sly grin on his face. “Well, little sister, I suppose you’re staying now?” With a quick smile to Jared, who nodded and released her hands, she went and hugged her brother. “Take care of yourself, Lucius. Please. I don’t want to read about your death in the local paper.” He smirked. “Don’t worry yourself about me, Adriana. Just have a happy life.” “A bit of advice to you, Crane.” Jared’s voice was deep, serious, a tone which boded no question. “Stop breaking the law. By all rights, I should be arresting you now.” He looked at her, and she smiled at the love shining from his eyes. “But I love your sister, and I don’t want to hurt her. With your actions here, I see you don’t either.” “No, I never wished that. Be good to her, Sheriff. She deserves it.” Lucius hugged her hard then turned to mount his horse. Without another glance at her, he kicked his horse and rode through the trees, leaving her behind. She stared at the spot he’d been, tears falling from her face, until she felt Jared’s hand upon her arm. She turned and saw him kneeling down at her feet. “I want you to marry me. Will you have me, Adriana Sheer?” 41
Shannon Robinson
Joy surged from her heart and spread into her body and soul. She may have lost the family she’d loved all her life, but they would live in her memories. Now she had the chance at happiness and beginning a new family with the man she loved. “I love you, Jared Buchannon, and with all that is inside me, I will have you.” He stood and swung her up into his arms. She laughed and twined her hands about his neck. “Shouldn’t we get that money back to town?” “They’ve waited this long already. What’s one more night?” He pressed his lips to hers in a binding kiss and carried her into the cabin to begin the life she’d dreamed about, the life that was now hers, with the man who would love her forever.
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A word about the author... Shannon Robinson is a full-time student, mother, and wife who enjoys life with her two beautiful children and wonderful husband. When she gets a few moments to spare, you’ll find her curled up with her laptop, creating new worlds for readers to enjoy, or indulging in a new book to read. Shannon is a lover of the outdoors and a fan of scrapbooking and baking—even if she does burn the cookies. Her favorite pastime is, of course, her writing. Her stories range from sweet to sensual to a bit naughty, as she loves to explore all aspects of romance. She invites everyone to visit her website to read more about her, new books coming soon, and other projects she’s working on.
Thank you for purchasing this Wild Rose Press publication. For other wonderful stories of romance, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.thewildrosepress.com. For questions or more information contact us at
[email protected]. The Wild Rose Press www.TheWildRosePress.com To visit with authors of The Wild Rose Press join our yahoo loop at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thewildrosepress/
