There were dark shadows under those gorgeous eyes. Didnt matter. Shed be striking if she were dead-sick with the flu. She had the bones, the style, the attitude. No one was going to miss noticing Daisy Campbell-at least no guy was, not in this life.
She wasnt, though, even remotely the way she billed herself.
For a woman who complained about being stuck with him-and yelled loudly to the sheriff how desperate she was to get him off her hands-she didnt act remotely thrown about taking responsibility for an injured stranger. In fact, she was taking no-fanfare, no-fuss, damn good care of him. She also acted sassy and snappy, but those hands of hers were gentle and so was the concern in her eyes.
Every contradiction seemed more interesting than the last. For a woman who looked as if French couture was her raison dêtre, she sure made a feast out of an ordinary cup of potato soup. And although she carried herself as if a ton of servants usually trailed after her, shed shown a ton of practical common sense about storm survival.
He didnt get it.
He didnt get her.
Something strange was happening here. Really strange. Teague didnt like surprises. He didnt mind being attracted to her-hell, no man had control over that. His you-know-what couldnt tell whether a woman was potentially catastrophic or not. But his brain did.
Shed given him the message loud and clear that she was a rolling stone.
Hed fallen in love with one of those once before. Had no reason to volunteer to be kicked in the head a second time.
Still. There was no harm in just looking at that spectacularly interesting face. It was one of those favorite guy fantasies, being marooned with a beautiful woman with no one else around. Its not as if there were any chance of their getting close. Hell, he couldnt imagine laying a finger on her.
Teague couldnt have closed his eyes, because that howling wind was itching on his nerves, and he hurt in too many places to really rest.
But suddenly his eyes opened. Any mans would. Because out of nowhere there seemed to be an extremely warm, mobile, voluptuous woman plastered against him.
More than his eyes popped up, in fact. It occurred to him that the same woman pressing warm, firm, full breasts against his chest and winding a leg around his hip, was precisely the same one hed just sworn-seconds before-that hed never lay a finger on.
Youre awake, Teague? Dont get shook. Its just me.
Maybe it was pitch-black in the room, give or take the yellow firelight behind the screen, but he fully, fully realized who was wrapped around him.
We lost power. Since it was already down across the road, its really amazing we had it this long-especially in this kind of snowstorm. When its morning and theres more light, Ill go down to the basement, see if I can get the Cunninghams generator fired up. For right now, though, were sealed up in this room as tightly as we can be. I know its cold and getting colder. The fire alone cant keep up with subzero temperatures like this. But if we stay close, combine blankets and body heat, well be fine.
Okay.
We could be snowed in for a couple more days, but theres no way itll be longer than that before someone comes to rescue you. Weve got food and water and firewood. We may be cold, but well be able to manage.
Okay.
Nothings going to happen to you. I know youre hurt. Being stranded has to feel a lot more unnerving if youre hurt. But I lived in Vermont my whole life. I can do whatever we both need doing. Dont worry.
I wasnt worried.
I realize this has to be uncomfortable for you-
In spite of his pounding head and throbbing ankle, he reached over and kissed her. He wasnt trying to shut her up. He didnt give a damn if she talked and kept them both up all night. But he did mind her treating him as if he were a schoolboy who needed nonstop reassurance.
The kiss might have been impulsive, but it still seemed a reasonable, logical way to tactfully let her know he was a man, not a boy.
And that seemed the last reasonable, logical, tactful thought he had for a long time. Seconds. Minutes. Maybe even hours.
She was cold. Heaven knew how long shed been freezing up in that chair, but her lips were chilled, her hands even more so. The instant his mouth connected with hers, though, she stopped moving altogether. She seemed to even stop breathing. Her eyes popped wide. His were already open, waiting for her. Both of them were suddenly frowning at each other in the shadow of the blankets.
There was a lot to frown about, Teague acknowledged, since they were obviously near-complete strangers, and neither expected any problem with intimacy. At least he hadnt, for damn sure-but now hed tasted her, he had to go back for another kiss.
She tasted like sleepy woman. Thick. Sweet. Her neck had the barest hint of scent. Not perfume exactly, but the echo of something clean and natural and softlavender, he thought. A whisk of spring in a night that couldnt have been darker or colder.
And that was the last time either of them had to worry about the cold night. Body heat suddenly exploded between them. They could hardly move under their combined blankets, which was almost funny, since neither suddenly needed any of that blanket heat, anyway.
This wasnt him, wildly kissing her, recklessly running his hands down her lithe, supple body. It couldnt be. He wasnt remotely a wild or impulsive man. He was the kind of man who paid attention to every detail, who did things right and thoroughly. But damn. Right then there were only two of them in a winter wilderness. A caveman whod drawn his chosen mate under his bed of furs.
If she accidentally kicked his ankle, hed undoubtedly cry like a baby.
But until then, the caveman thing was taking over his head, his hormones, his pulse. Either that or the taste of her, the touch of her, was acting like an uncontrollable fever. He didnt respond to a woman like this. A few kisses never packed this kind of punch. And sex-the kind of sex that mattered, that pulled out all the stops-only happened between two people who knew each other damn well.
He didnt know her at all.
But it felt as if he did. Maybe his reaction was explainable, two people caught in extraordinary circumstances, but it feltshe feltas if no other woman had ever touched him. She made an oomph sound, a groan, when his mouth chased after hers yet another time. Lips teased, trembled together, then parted. Her tongue was already waiting for his.
Her rich, thick hair shivered through his fingers as he cradled her head, holding her securely to take her mouth, to dive for that sweetness again. She was already surfing on that channel. Her arms wound around him, tugged around him, as if she could anchor him to her. Through tons of blankets, tons of clothes, he could still feel her breasts throbbing, heating against his chest. Still feel the tension in her long, slim legs, still feel the chaotic burn, the urgency, of a connection neither wanted to break.
Thered been no one who kissed like her, and Teague sensed, never would be, never could be. Maybe hed survive without another taste, but he couldnt swear to it.
The fire sizzled and spit.
Dark shadows danced on the walls.
Blankets tangled and fought. His head, his ankleboth hurt. But not like the ache building deep in his groin. This was champagne hed never tasted, a high hed never expected. It pulled at him.
She pulled at him.
He didnt believe for a second that she intended to respond this way. Wildly. No inhibitions. Just need, hanging as naked between them as secrets. Longings bursting to the surface because no one thought theyd needed a lock to protect them, not this night, not this way.
Shed been through hell. Shed never said that exactly-but it was there, in her eyes, her touch, that kind of urgent take-me-take-me-because-I-want-the-hurt-to-go-away. He knew the words to that song. When you were hurt, you wrapped yourself up tight, so the wounds had a chance to heal. Youd have to be crazy to ask for a fresh hurt before the old scars healed upyet loneliness was always the worst when youd been hurt. It took you down. Made you doubt whether anyoned ever be there for you again. Made you worry what was wrong with you, that someone youd given your best to hadnt loved you enough.
Hell. He not only knew that song. He knew the refrain and every verse. But as he increasingly sensed her vulnerabilityhe was stuck increasingly sensing his own.
He tore his mouth free from her, tried to gulp in some oxygen, when all he really wanted to do was gulp in her. Now. All night. Forever, and then all over again. Daisy
He tore his mouth free from her, tried to gulp in some oxygen, when all he really wanted to do was gulp in her. Now. All night. Forever, and then all over again. Daisy
I know. This is insane. She was struggling for oxygen just as he was, looking at him with dazed dark eyes. But damn. I just wasnt expecting this.
Neither was I.
Do you always kiss this well, or am I just really fantastic at bringing it out in you?
Um, something tells me theres no way I can answer that question without getting my head smacked.
Gentle fingers lifted to his cheek. I wouldnt hit you in the head, cher. Not when youre already wounded. I wouldnt do anything worse than slug you in the stomach, and thats a promise.
Thanks. I think.
Were both getting some common sense back, arent we.
Yeah, he said regretfully.
Im up for doing impulsive things. For going with the moment. For living. But maybethis is just a little too impulsive.
I know. But he still couldnt keep the regret out of his voice. I never do stupid things.
No? Well, heaven knows, I do. Ive made so many stupid, impulsive mistakes that really, I could give courses in blundering the wrong way through life. I could teach you how.
From you, he said, Id like to learn.
She chuckled, a seductive whisper from her throat. How about if I promise, Teague, that sometime during this blizzard
He waited to hear the end of her comment. And when she said nothing else he tilted his head so he could easily see her face.
The eyes were shut, little breathy snores sneaking from her damp, parted lips again. Shed fallen asleep. Just like that. Leaving him harder than stone and with an unnamed promise.
He hoped to hell that wasnt an omen.