Rafe's Redemption Page 19

  “Get ready. I’m coming.” His words were a muffled groan. “God. A h, Christ, yes.”

  Long spurts coated the back of her throat, triggering her own orgasm. Her muscles clenched, rolling wave after wave of pleasure through her pussy, her entire body. Rafe continued to feather kisses over her nub, her curls, her thighs, until the lethargy wrapped her in a sleepy cocoon.

  “My God.” She brushed a final kiss to his cock. “I never imagined that being possible.”

  His grin curved against her leg. “There are a lot of things I bet you’ve never imagined.”

  Crawling up the bed, she snuggled into his arms.

  “Lucky for me I’ve found you to show me all the things I don’t know.”

  “Mmm. I’d say lucky for both of us.”

  ****

  Half an hour later, they trudged alongside the creek.

  Rafe led Moses, insisting she learn to feel more comfortable in the saddle. Each step broke through the top layer of crusty snow. The snow sparkled bright enough she pulled her hat lower to shade her eyes. Their breath puffed out in the crisp air.

  When they reached the first place he kept his traps, Rafe helped her from Moses. He held her until she had her balance in the knee-deep snow, then pressed a quick kiss to her mouth before walking to the water.

  A fter oiling the trap’s metal hinge, he added a horrible smelling scent and reset it in the creek, the evil-looking teeth open and ready. This was the pattern as they made their way downstream.

  The sun was high in the sky when they stopped near a bluff that overlooked a large valley below. Pure white snow, dotted with evergreens stretched on for miles below them.

  “Look how beautiful this is,” she said, motioning Rafe to her side.

  His gaze never left her face. “Incredibly beautiful.” She smiled but insisted he look. “Really. Look.” He surveyed the valley with a sigh. “I know. It’s even prettier in the spring. It would make the perfect homestead. You could put a big house there.” He pointed to a copse of trees. “A nd run cattle on this end where the creek turns.” His expression filled with excitement.

  Obviously he had given this some thought.

  She nodded. “It would be wonderful. Who owns it?” He shrugged. “Don’t know that anybody does.” The wistful tone of his voice washed over her. “A fter I finish with this trap, want to eat and rest awhile?” Her stomach rumbled. “I am hungry.”

  He laughed. “Sweetheart, you’re always hungry.” She swatted his arm and went to retrieve the saddlebags. He tied Moses beneath a huge pine tree like the one they had used as shelter on the way to Lesterville. Resting on a bed of pine needles, Rafe leaned against the large trunk and pulled Maggie into the vee of his legs.

  The sun peeked through the branches and warmed her face; his body warmed her from behind, his cock pulsing to life each time she wiggled.

  “You’d best stop that.” His voice held more seduction than warning.

  “Why?” She wiggled again.

  “I didn’t make you wear extra clothes just to strip you naked in the snow.”

  She chewed her lip. Surely the heat they made would keep her warm.

  She twisted in his arms. “Is there a way to do…it without lying down?”

  Heat flared in his eyes.

  “There is.” She grinned. “Show me.”

  He groaned. “You’d still get cold.”

  “No, you won’t let me.” She slid her palm beneath his coat, feeling the heat radiate off his muscled chest, the thud of his heart. “Tell me what to do. Please.” Leaning in she nuzzled his ear, trailed her tongue along the rough edge of his jaw until she reached his chin. Then she nipped him.

  He groaned again. “Maggie. Damn.” Climbing to his feet, he yanked off his coat, then pulled her to her feet.

  “Face the tree and brace your hands on the trunk.” His voice sounded thick, strangled with need.

  She did as he asked, the rough bark biting into her palms. Warm breath fanned her neck, her ear as he stepped behind her and worked the buttons on her pants.

  His hands shook as he tugged them down her legs to pool at her ankles.

  She glanced over her shoulder. A nd oh, thank God, she did. He fisted his cock and pulled it free from his pants. Turning, she cupped his sac, giving it a gentle squeeze before stroking his length.

  “Now what?”

  “Turn back around before I come in your hand.” He spoke through gritted teeth.

  Hmm. What an image. Maybe next time. Right now what he had planned sounded more interesting. She gripped the tree again.

  “I’m going to drop the seat flap on your underwear.” Two buttons, and his warm palms smoothed her bare bottom. His groan rumbled. “If you think you can take the cold, I want to unbutton your shirts enough to touch your breasts.”

  “Yes.” The idea was getting clearer. Him taking her from behind. Her breasts in his hands, his cock in her pussy. A t least, she assumed that was his idea. The only other place it could go was—She swallowed. What a naughty, delightful, terrifying thought. But his fingers had been inside her ass already, the probing scorch of pain had pushed her to a dark, sensual place she wanted to visit again.

  “Christ,” he hissed, rolling her nipple between his fingers. “I can’t wait.” He slid down her stomach and slipped between her legs. “Mmm. So wet.” The tip of his cock slid along her crevice, like a railcar on rails, following the only path it could. She felt him bend his knees, then—A h, God. He buried himself deep inside her cunny. Her legs trembled, her muscles clenched. He felt bigger this way. Harder.

  “You like it, sweetheart?” The question scorched her ear.

  She nodded, moaned, unable to speak.

  “You know I want you here.” The slick feel of his thumb pressed against the puckered muscle, until it popped inside. “I want my cock buried in this sweet ass, one hand on your cunt, the other on your breasts.” His erotic words were hot against her neck as he set a slow, pumping rhythm.

  She swallowed hard, but couldn’t stop the moan that escaped. “Yes. I know.”

  Her pussy twinged and started to tingle as his finger mimicked the slide of his cock. So damned good.

  So…A h. A hhh. He added another finger to her ass, stretching, probing, sending over the edge of sanity.

  “Rafe…I’m going to—to—”

  “Come for me.” His other hand circled her nub. Over and over and over, until…

  Wicked spasms of pleasure rolled through her, making her tremble, making her clutch the bark of the tree, digging her nails in searching for support as the world spun and Rafe thrust. Over and over and over he pumped, her cunny sucking his cock deep.

  Pleasure burned along her veins. His balls slapped her mound, faster, faster. Then he stiffened. “Oh, Christ!

  Maggie.” His fingers bit into her hips as he pulsed, pouring his seed inside, the hot spurts setting off another set of tremors in her pussy.

  Panting, he sagged against her, pressing open-mouthed kisses to her neck.

  “Did I hurt you?” He straightened, turning her, his gaze gray and stormy.

  “No.”

  “I was too rough.” He brushed a loose curl from her face. “Too…depraved.”

  “No. I liked the feel of you. Everywhere.” A delicious shiver tumbled over her.

  He smiled, then dragged her into his arms and kissed her, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth. “See what happens when you don’t mind?”

  She gave him a playful smack on the chest. “When didn’t I mind?”

  “I told you to quit wiggling. You didn’t listen and look what happened.”

  She gave his lean body a slow perusal. Even with most of his clothes in place, her insides stirred with desire.

  “Mmmhmm. I’m looking.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Time for food. Before you get any more ideas.”

  ****

  The large tree proved to be useful for more than just sex. Maggie set the food out picnic style on Rafe’s coat, a
nd they ate the biscuits, salt pork, and cookies.

  “Thank you,” she said, snuggling into his heat.

  “For what?” His voice was low in her ear, and he kept one arm draped around her waist.

  “For today. For showing me this.” For sharing his dream. She wished Rafe could raise cattle or whatever his heart desired. More and more, she wished his heart desired her.

  “You’re welcome.” He nuzzled the back of her neck.

  “I guess we’d better head out. It won’t feel half as warm once the sun goes down.”

  She nodded and stood, started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.

  “I need a kiss. Otherwise, I don’t think I can walk anymore.”

  She smiled innocently. “What about Moses?” Rafe laughed and pulled her into his embrace. “He’s not a good kisser.”

  She giggled at his silliness. He pressed her against the tree and captured her lips. His cold nose brushed hers as they tasted each other. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer and sucked his tongue into her mouth.

  A groan rumbled through him.

  She teased her fingers through the hair at his nape, tugging on the silky strands in tandem with each pull on his tongue.

  He slipped his hands down her sides, then around to cup her bottom. With slow thrusts he rubbed his cock against her belly. His touch inflamed her, made the ache start in her pussy again. She needed his fingers there. Or his mouth. That would make the need go away again. A t least for a while. A shiver raced prickled down her body at the thought of what they’d done.

  He raised his head and took several deep breaths before backing up.

  “You tempt me beyond reason.” His voice was ragged. “I can’t seem to control myself around you.” She smiled. “Good. I don’t want you to.” He cupped her cheek and rubbed her cold lips with his thumb. “Come on, before I forget why I can’t make love to you here and now.”

  “Why can’t you?”

  He chuckled. “Because it’s getting dark. If we leave now, by the time we get home, it’ll be time for bed.” He winked.

  “Well, what are we waiting for?”

  “Nothing. They say time waits for no man. I think that applies to women, too.” A firm smack on the bottom followed his words. “A nd I want all of you I can get.” While we can. He didn’t say it, but it rang in Maggie’s ears all the same. A cting as if Simon would never find them, or that she could hide Rafe was foolish. The time she had with him here in the cabin might be all she had.

  Ever. She had to take everything she could from this, love him as much as possible, experience as much as possible with him. Before it was too late.

  ****

  The next morning Rafe closed the door on the large flakes fluttering from the sky. “It’s snowing,” he announced, unsure if the change in weather made him happy or sad. Moses’ leg was healed enough to leave today, but with another storm moving in…

  “Do you still want to leave for Fort Craig today?” Maggie looked up from the bacon she was frying.

  He shook his head. “We’ll wait. I don’t want to risk you getting sick.”

  “A nd what?” She crooked an eyebrow. “You don’t get cold?”

  “A ll I meant was you’re not used to the extreme weather here.” He smacked her bottom. “Don’t go getting a knot in your drawers.”

  “Humph. Shows what you know.” A tempting smile curled her lips. “I’m not wearing drawers.”

  “Jesus, Maggie.” His heart jumped into his throat.

  “A re you trying to kill me?” He cornered her against the table for a long kiss.

  “I’ll never get this meat fried if you keep doing that,” she scolded breathlessly.

  “It was your fault.” He held his hands up in innocence and chuckled at the scowl she gave him.

  “A nyway, since we may be here a while longer, I’m going to cut some more wood. What are you going to do today?”

  She flopped the salted pork into the pan before she answered. “I could come with you.”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m going up to the ridge behind the house. The trail is pretty rough. But…I wouldn’t complain if you made some cookies while I’m gone.”

  She laughed. “I swear you’ve got a sweet tooth the size of the Mississippi.”

  He didn’t bother to deny it. He could cook—some—

  but couldn’t bake worth a damn.

  “Everything you make always tastes so good,” he cajoled shamelessly.

  She shook her head in mock disgust. “A ll right, you flatterer. I’ll make you something. But you better get a move on, or it will be dark before you get back.”

  “A re you trying to get rid of me?”

  “No, I—”

  Covering her mouth with his, he stole the denial from her lips. “I know.” He gave her one more kiss. “I was just teasing you. In fact, I think you’re kind of sweet on me.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded.

  “Could be. But a lady doesn’t tell.” The words were barely out of her mouth when she frowned. “A nd don’t say I’m not a lady.”

  “Why would I say that? You’re the most dignified woman I know.” Where was this doubt coming from?

  Her father?

  A pink flush climbed her face. “Well, most ladies don’t…” Her gaze drifted to the bed.

  “Maggie. How could I think less of you because of the things we share?”

  She shrugged.

  “I promise you I don’t. A nd I don’t want you to think badly about yourself. A ll right?”

  “A ll right.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips brushing his skin as she spoke. “Thank you.” He almost told her he loved her. It was on the tip of his tongue when he stopped. Tonight. When they were in bed, after he made love to her, he would tell her how much he had grown to love her. “I’d better go.”

  “Be careful.” She traced the lines around his eyes.

  “You look so tired. Maybe you should wait until tomorrow.”

  “You know you wouldn’t let me get any rest if I stayed here. Insatiable woman.” He grinned when she gasped, then gave her another kiss. “I’ll be fine. Lock the door behind us.” He turned to Wolf. “Come on, boy.”

  ****

  Rafe stopped at noon to eat. It had been a good day so far. The travois was half loaded with firewood.

  He pulled the food from his pocket and sat under a large spruce tree similar to the one he had loved Maggie beneath. Images of her filled his mind. He could see her body, slick with sweat from lovemaking, her blue eyes glazed as she smiled at him…Damn. His cock hardened.

  He was going to have to learn to control his thoughts or he’d be constantly stiff.

  Giving Wolf half the bread, Rafe gulped the lukewarm coffee left in his canteen. The snow had let up for now and peaceful silence surrounded him. He yawned. Hell, he was tired. Too many nights of missed sleep, but God, it had been worth it. He grinned and leaned his head against the tree. He would just rest his eyes for a minute.

  He woke with a start. Damn! How long had he slept?

  The cloudy sky offered no hint as to the time.

  “Why did you two let me sleep so long?”

  Wolf raised his head and yawned.

  Moses opened one heavy lid and nickered.

  “Well, we’ve got to hurry now. Otherwise Maggie will be worried.” Rafe picked up his canteen and grabbed his ax.

  With luck he could be to the cabin in an hour.

  A twig snapped behind him as he checked the travois straps. He stiffened and reached for his pistol.

  “Well, well. Look who we have here. The man with the winning bid.”

  Rafe’s heart skittered to a stop. He knew that cultured accent. Slowly he straightened, forcing a nonchalance he didn’t feel.

  “Yup, just the man we wuz lookin’ fer.”

  Rafe turned, praying he was wrong. Damn it! Skinner Joe nodded as Rafe faced him.

  “Didn’t think I’d come here,
did ya, blue belly?” He gave a low laugh. “But I ain’t scared of you, and we gots unfinished business.”

  Michael stood back in the trees holding their horses.

  A nd a gun. His grip appeared loose on the rifle, but it was primed and ready to fire.

  Rafe’s pulse hammered, but he kept his expression bland. “You’ve got no reason to be looking for me. We finished our business in Cougar Creek.” He held the ax in front of him, hiding his gun hand.

  “Naw. We ain’t near finished.” Joe grinned and fingered the trigger of his pistol. “Seems your gal has something that belongs to Mr. Monroe. He wants it back real bad.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t pretend she hasn’t opened the satchel.” Michael stepped forward. “That bitch is always drawing a damn picture.”

  Rafe swallowed hard, his mind racing for an answer.

  Joe motioned at Rafe with the barrel of his gun.

  “Might as well make this easy on yourself. You’re gonna die here today.” He smiled and spit a stream of tobacco on to the snow. “Mr. Monroe gets his papers,” his voice was pure evil, “and I get the bitch.”

  Rafe stiffened, ready to draw. “I don’t think so.” No way in hell would he let them near Maggie. “Wolf, come!” The dog bounded out of the trees.

  “Fuck!” Michael screamed as he struggled to control the horses as they spooked. “Shoot that thing.” Joe turned and took aim at Wolf.

  Rafe dropped the ax, drawing his gun the same time as Michael raised his.

  Two shots rang out.

  Michael looked stunned. The rifle dropped to the snow as he looked at the stain spreading across his shirt.

  White hot pain burned Rafe’s temple. His heart pounded. Sweat poured off him. He blinked as Joe’s image blurred, then disappeared. Black dots danced around him. Nausea threatened to buckle his knees.

  Where was that bastard? Rafe wiped his brow. Why was his hand covered in blood?