No doubt he was accustomed to having far younger women than her in his bed. And even though her body was firm and curved in all the right places, she felt self-conscious as his blue eyes slid slowly over her.
She swallowed as his jeans dropped to the floor, then tried to speak as he shoved them and his boots out of the way. He was all long, lean muscle, a man in the prime of his young life.
I Heat bloomed pink on her cheeks as she unwittingly touched a hand to her messed hair. I must look horrible, she said huskily. Im sorry.
Groaning, he knelt before her and drew her into his arms. Oh, hell, Maura. Youre the most sexy and gorgeous woman Ive ever laid eyes on.
Her head twisted back and forth against his bare shoulder. Theres no need for you to go overboard.
A low chuckle rumbled from deep in his throat. I went overboard that first night I kissed you. I havent been able to think of anything else since. Ive been wondering, imagining how it would be to make love to you. And now
Cupping her face with both his hands, he looked into her eyes and Maura felt her heart swell with a longing that had nothing to do with physical desire and everything to do with an emotional bond.
I dont want to make love to an athletic body, Maura. I want a flesh-and-blood woman, whos all soft and lovely and feels just right in my arms. I want you.
By the time he uttered the last word, his lips were against hers and Mauras doubts had flown through the cracks in the wall.
Quint wanted her. Really wanted her. And that in itself was enough to send her senses spinning, to make her forget everything, including the storm outside.
With his lips fastened hungrily to hers, he eased her back onto the cot, then stretched out beside her. Tiny shivers of pleasure raced down her spine as their bared skin touched, the heat of their bodies melded together and his hard arousal burgeoned between them.
Whirling in a foggy haze, the kiss continued until she was completely starving for air. Yet when he did finally tear his lips from hers, she wanted to cry at the loss. But her disappointment was short-lived as he quickly began to nibble at the sensitive spot beneath her ear, then followed that with a trail of moist kisses down the side of her neck.
By the time he reached the valley between her breasts, her fingers clenched against her palms and her body arched toward his, toward the mindless magic his mouth was playing across her skin.
One by one, he slipped the straps of her bra down her shoulders, unfastened the hooks, then tossed the garment to the floor.
She sucked in ragged breaths, while beneath a veil of lashes, she watched his gaze settle hungrily on her breasts. The desire raging in the pit of her belly twisted into a fiery ache and with a low groan, she clutched his shoulders and urged him down to her. Amidst the sound of the storm, she heard the sharp intake of his breath and then his mouth was against one nipple as he took the tight bud between his teeth and laved it with his tongue.
Inside Maura, something snapped like a twig and all the pent-up hunger shed been trying to contain flooded through her like the downpour outside. Suddenly she couldnt touch him enough, taste him enough. Her hands raced over his hot skin, exploring the hard muscles of his arms and back while her lips scattered broken kisses along his collarbone and up the side of his neck where her mouth tasted the wild beat of his heart.
She was barely aware of him removing her panties and his shorts. A sea of sensation was washing over her, tugging, smothering, begging, wiping away all sense of perception. And when he positioned himself above her, she reached for him with a fierceness that frightened her.
I hope youre protected, he mouthed against her ear, because I have nothing with me.
Closing her eyes, she turned her lips into the side of his face. I am, she whispered, then with a choked groan, added, I want to feel you inside me, Quint. I want to feel us together. That way.
Oh, Maura. My lovely, lovely, Maura.
The raw huskiness in his voice, the tenderness in his blue eyes, pierced her chest and sank straight to her heart. Suddenly her throat was burning and her eyes were stinging, and before he could guess at the emotions hed evoked in her, she buried her face against his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
And when he entered her, the pleasure careening through her body was so great, so all-consuming that she was totally unaware of the stream of tears marking her cheeks.
Chapter Seven
Much later, as Maura lay curled against Quint, her cheek pillowed by his chest, she listened to the even rhythm of his breathing, the slow beat of his heart, and knew they were sounds that would be with her for the rest of her life.
Hed taken her on a passionate trip the likes of which shed never experienced. Even now, when she thought of how her whole body had exploded with pleasure, she was shocked and fascinated, dazed that he could have turned her into such a wild, uninhibited woman.
Oh, my, what had had happened? Making love to Quint had only shown her how much shed done wrong. Shed not known that her ex-husband had been a selfish lover. Because Gil had been her first and only lover, shed not had anyone to compare him to. But now, after Quint had touched her, lifted her to the sky and back, she realized shed been missing so much, had wasted so many years on a one-sided relationship.
I think the rain is letting up, Quint murmured against the top of her head. But who cares? I could stay here all night. Just like this.
Moments ago, hed pulled the Navajo blanket over them and now that the cooler air from the storm was filling the old storeroom, the warmth from the woven wool was welcome.
Mmm. Im thinking I could stay here forever, she said drowsily. But something or someone would eventually show up to interrupt us.
She could feel his sigh ruffle her hair and then his hand was alongside her cheek, tilting her face up to his. When she looked into his blue eyes, her heart squeezed with bittersweet longing. Would he ever want to be with her again like this? Was she crazy to want to snatch what pleasure she could, whenever she could?
Maura, before we leave here I wanted you to know that this thing thats happened between usI hadnt planned. Just in case you thought Id calculated all this
He broke off as the upper part of her began to shake with soft chuckles.
Whats wrong? he asked. Am I funny or something?
Oh, Quint, she murmured, then scooting her whole body upward, she planted a kiss on his cheek. For as long as I live, I would have never thought any such thing. You planning this with me? Its funny.
His expression sober, he arched one brow at her. Really? Whats so funny about it?
Seeing he wasnt amused, she pressed her cheek against his. Im sorry if that didnt sound quite right. Its just that youyou can have any woman you want, Quint. The idea that youd purposely pursue me is well, ridiculous.
With his hands in her hair, he eased her face back from his. Maura, I think I need to set your thinking straight about a few things. Im not a playboy. I dont go after women.
Of course not. You dont have to.
With his hands in her hair, he eased her face back from his. Maura, I think I need to set your thinking straight about a few things. Im not a playboy. I dont go after women.
Of course not. You dont have to.
He groaned with frustration. Okay, let me put it this way, he said. Since the breakup with Holly, Ive tried to date, to get interested in other women. And yes, Ive had a few females deliberately try to catch my attention. But none of them sparked anything in me. Until now. Until you.
Could she believe him? Yes, she decided. Because he was talking about sexual desire, about that special spark of chemistry between a man and a woman. He wasnt talking about love. That was a whole other thing. A thing that he would never likely bring up. Nor would she.
Swallowing at the thickening in her throat, she said, Then Im very flattered, Quint, that you were attracted to me.
One corner of his rugged mouth turned upward. And Im very flattered that you wanted to get this close to me.
Her hand settled on the curve of his shoulder, then slipped down the hard, corded slope of his arm. Oh, yes, she thought, she wanted to be close to this man in a thousand, million ways.
When you take a woman on a ride, you really take her on a ride, she teased softly.
He looked at her with faint disdain and then suddenly he was laughing, twisting her beneath him, and lowering his face down to hers. Youre good for me, Maura. You make me laugh. And thats not easy. Just ask Jake what Im really like.
Her fingertip traced heart-shaped patterns upon his face. Id rather ask you.
He looked at her, his eyes gliding hungrily over her flushed cheeks and swollen lips, the tangled hair hiding one green eye.
Im not an easy man to like, Maura. Im quiet and moody. And small talk mostly bores me. Id rather be with my horses. I dont particularly like money and I hate crowds.
Her lips curved into a sexy little purse. Mmm. You sound like a terrible sort of man. Anything else I should know?
Yeah. I dont know anything about being romantic and even if I did, I wouldnt bother.
Why?
Because romance is looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. And when a woman looks at me, I want her to clearly see the flaws shed be getting.
In order to keep her away? Maura decided the answer to that question didnt matter. She was looking at him and the future with clear eyes. Quint was a straightforward guy. Shed gone into his arms knowing not to pin any sort of hopes and dreams on the two of them being together permanently.
Dont worry, she replied. I wont be expecting flowers.
He stared at her for long moments and then his mouth crushed down on hers in a kiss that wiped everything from her mind and stirred the want in her all over again.
Maybe wed better stay here a little longer, he whispered huskily. Until the rain stops.
Almost a week later, Quint found himself driving up the narrow dirt road that led to his grandfathers ranch house. For the past few days, hed fought the urge to return to Apache Wells. He didnt have the time or energy to make the forty-mile drive often. Hell, he didnt need to remind himself that he had a ranch of his own to run. With cattle to buy, fences to build, feeders to erect and horses to move from the Chaparral to the Golden Spur, he hardly had time to draw a good breath. But here he was anyway, he thought wryly. Because, in spite of his work and exhaustion, he desperately wanted to see Maura again.
Maura. With her wine-red hair and sea-green eyes. Shed bewitched him. Thats what shed done. He could scarcely close his eyes without thinking of her naked, her hips arching up to his, scattering his senses like bits of grass in the wind. Hed expected to enjoy making love to her. After all, she was pretty and sexy; a combination hard for any man to resist. But hed also expected the incident to be a brief encounter to enjoy for the moment, then sweep entirely from his mind.
Face it, Quint. The woman turned you inside out. She shot you straight to heaven, then let you fall back to earth with the slow rocking motion of a drifting feather. Youd never felt anything like it. And now youre beginning to wonder if shes something special. The sex was special, you fool. Not her. Get over it.
The cynical voice that had followed Quint around for the last six years tormented him until he braked his truck to a halt in front of the house and climbed out. Yeah, it probably was pure sex that had pushed him to drive forty miles this evening when he should have been taking an early night at home, he thought. But what was wrong with that? He was a man after all. And a man had needs.
To his surprise, he found Abe in his recliner, the television off and a Bible lying open on his lap. Maura wasnt anywhere to be seen.
Hey, Gramps, he greeted.
Looking up with surprise, Abe carefully folded the book together. Well, he said mockingly, the long-lost grandson has finally decided to honor me with a visit.
Quint grimaced. Dont give me that bull. I was just over here last week. You expect me to come over here and hold your hand every day?
Abe wiped a hand over his drooping white mustache. No. After one or two days your smart lip would get mighty tryin, he countered.
Quint took a seat on the end of the couch, while looking and listening for signs of Maura. The house seemed exceptionally quiet and he couldnt smell any sort of cooking coming from the kitchen.
What are you doing in the house? Quint asked him. I thought youd be down at the bunkhouse, playing cards with Jim and having coffee.
If you thought that, what are you doing in the house? Abe parried.
Quint was shocked to feel his face flushing with heat. There was no point for him to hide his interest in Maura. Abe was too crafty for that. I wanted to talk to Maura.
Well, you should have called first. She aint here.
Quint had called three days ago. His conversation with Maura had been pleasant but brief, during which hed told her hed see her in a few days. The few days were up and here he was feeling like an idiot for presuming shed be sitting around his grandfathers ranch, waiting for him to make an appearance.
Where is she?
Abe placed the Bible on the end table next to his chair. Shes at the hospital.
It was all Quint could do to keep from leaping to his feet. Hospital! Has something happened to her? And you didnt call me?
Beneath his bushy brows, Abe leveled a disgusted look at him. Hell, boy, if something was wrong with Maura you think Id be sitting here?
Relief pouring through him, Quint rubbed his palms down his thighs. No, he conceded gruffly, I guess not.
Damn right I wouldnt, Abe stormed back at him. Id be right by her side. Thats how a man shows his love.
Caught by those last words, Quints brows arched with dismay. You love Maura?
Abe snorted as though Quints question was absurd. Of course I love her. Ive loved her from the first moment I laid eyes on her.
Hell. Thats exactly what Quint had feared all along. I see.
No, damn it, you dont see. You havent seen much of anything about women since that silly little Johnson gal threw you over the fence for another man. You think theyre all like her, that theyve all got their claws out for you. Well, if youd take the time to look, youd see that Maura doesnt have any claws. Thats one of the reasons I love her.