They lay in her bed,tangled together after another demonstration of pleasure, her robein a sad state of disrepair while he remained almost completelyclothed. They’d been in such a whirl for each other, they’d onlymoved aside what was necessary, such that he still wore his boots.Damn, what was it about her that made him barely lower his trousersbefore he were on her?
Pushing up, she straddledhim as she gathered the fabric of his shirt in her grip. “You’rewearing too many clothes.”
Weren’t that the God’shonest truth. Grin tugging at him, he sat up. “Well now, darlin’,we can’t have that.” Smoothing his suspenders over his shoulders,he helped her pull his shirt over his head. Placing her palmsagainst his chest, she pushed him gently and he obeyed, lying backagainst the bed. He watched her as she examined him, her eyesturning heavy-lidded as she splayed her fingers over his chest,digging lightly into his skin. “Darlin’, you keep doing that andyou’re going to get yourself in trouble.”
Her lips quirked. “Whatsort of trouble?”
Hands tightening on herthighs, he said, “The kind we both like.”
Her gaze flew to his. Heoffered a bland smile, but lust coursed through him, tensing hismuscles and hardening his cock. An answering lust flared in hereyes, but she lifted herself off him, tucking herself into his sideas his arm curled around her.
“Will MissMargaret be attending you soon?” Unable to stop touching her, hedragged his fingers up the curve of her waist and then reverseddown to her hip. Up her ribs, down to her hip.
Her lips rubbed againstthe skin of his shoulder as she shook her head. “I’ve given herleave to take a day. I…didn’t wish to work today.”
Amusement tugged. “Didn’tyou?”
“No.”
Lips brushed the top ofher head. “Wait here.” Pushing from the bed, he shrugged back intohis shirt.
“Where areyou going?”
“I’ll beright back.” He brushed a kiss against her brow and before shecould protest further, he’d left. Not ten minutes later hereturned, bearing a tray laden with bread, jelly, cheese and ham,and a pot of what smelled like coffee. Arranging a kind of picnicon the bed, he handed her a full cup.
Raising a brow, she said,“Breakfast?”
“You needyour strength, darlin’. I ain’t done with you yet.”
Ducking her head againstyet another blush, she sipped her coffee.
Companionable silencerose between them. A small smile played about her mouth as she atethe food he’d brought her, and a curious pride swelled his chestthat she was eating something he’d prepared, that he’d provided forher. Surreptitiously he watched her, her tongue catching a straycrumb, the movement of her throat as she swallowed. Lust curled inhis belly, and he wondered if she would mind if he suggested theyleft the rest of the meal until after.
His gaze drifted to herneck. The scar there was faint but jagged. Guilt tugged at him.Christ, he should tell her. “Can I ask?” he saidinstead.
She paused, that smallsmile fading. Slowly, she nodded.
“What did hedo?” he asked, as gentle as he could manage.
“It was justbefore I turned thirteen.”
Gaze on her, he didn’tsay a word, but guilt and apprehension were an unpleasant swirl inhis gut.
Eyes downcast, shecontinued. “He— They— One day, I had a family. The next, he and hisgang had taken them.” She swallowed. “I don’t know why they came.My father had a cattle ranch, but we weren’t wealthy. Not like myuncle.”
“InSacramento.”
She nodded. “They…Theycame, and they… My brothers tried to fight, my sisters too, but weweren’t— It wasn’t enough. One of them held me down and the knife—”She exhaled slowly. “When I woke up, they were gone. And I was theonly one left.
“It took methree weeks to travel to Sacramento. I couldn’t talk, but I madeit, and my uncle took me in.” She met his gaze, and determinationburned in her pale eyes. “I need to find him, Jake. I need to makehim pay. I need vengeance for my family.”
Christ, he had to tellher. He had to— “I ran with Callihan. For a month, when I wasseventeen.” His jaw worked. “I should have told you.”
Her lips parted, a softpuff of surprise. Jaw set, he watched her for reaction.
Nothing. Her face wascompletely expressionless, and apart from that small exhalation,she had not responded at all.
“I’m sorry Ididn’t tell you before.” His hands clenched on the bedspread. “Whatcan I do?”
