He pulled a few inches away, his gaze meeting hers as his fingers shoved the material away to reveal her underclothing.
‘‘I touched you last night while you were sleeping,’’ he whispered as his gaze lowered.
‘‘I know,’’ she answered, feeling her skin warm to his stare. ‘‘I said I didn’t mind.’’
‘‘And now?’’ He moved his fingers lightly over the silk of her camisole. ‘‘Do you mind now?’’
‘‘No,’’ she answered as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
‘‘I’m glad,’’ he whispered. His hand moved maddeningly light over her. ‘‘You’d think I’d have had my fill after holding you all night, but it wasn’t near enough. Not even close.’’
He pushed one strap gently off her shoulder. The silk slipped lower. He slowly pushed the other strap down. The silk dropped so that he saw the swell of each breast and the hardened peaks just beneath the lace. ‘‘I won’t be sleeping in the study again.’’ He brushed his fingers over her. ‘‘I want your body within reach all night.’’
‘‘All right,’’ she whispered as she leaned her head back, enjoying the pleasure of his touch.
Slowly his hands slid to her waist, then began the climb upward, buttoning her blouse. Each button seemed a struggle, and his fingers fumbled across the lace. Finally, when he reached her throat, he raised his eyes to hers. ‘‘I have to go,’’ he whispered as his fingers brushed her chin. ‘‘With you standing before me like this it makes leaving you difficult.’’
Kora forced her thoughts to the problems of the ranch and not the memory of his touch. ‘‘Have you learned anything?’’
‘‘Nothing,’’ Win’s voice was still thick with passion. ‘‘But I told Cheyenne to let you in on every detail. You have a mind for reason inside that body that drove me mad last night.’’
‘‘I’ll keep an eye on Wyatt. I still think he may know more than he’s saying.’’
She smiled a smile that almost made him forget what they were talking about. Their attraction for each other seemed to be sharpening her mind and dulling his, Win thought.
‘‘I’ll be here when you get back tonight,’’ she promised and saw the moment of doubt in his eyes.
‘‘Stay buttoned up until I get home.’’ He kissed her lightly. ‘‘I’ll tell you everything that happens today over supper, then I want to undress you.’’
‘‘I’ll keep supper warm until you return.’’ She smiled. ‘‘If you like.’’
His hand tighted at her waist. ‘‘I like what I see and what I feel very much, Kora. What about you? Would you enjoy me undressing you completely tonight?’’
She closed her eyes. ‘‘Yes,’’ she whispered. ‘‘I think I’d like that very much.’’
‘‘I won’t hurt you,’’ he promised as his fingers lightly circled over her back. ‘‘I never wanted to hurt you.’’
‘‘I know.’’ She slowly moved her hands to his shoulders. ‘‘I’ll be waiting for you tonight.’’
He bent and touched his mouth to her lips. A shock seemed to vibrate through his body. With one mighty sweep, he pulled her off the floor and into his arms.
She could taste the hunger in him as his lips pressed against hers and the kiss turned to fire between them.
Then, as quickly as he’d held her, he set her down and was gone. Kora felt light-headed. Slowly, with trembling hands, she checked the buttons of her dress, knowing she’d open it again tonight when he asked. His hunger for her made her feel all warm inside. She felt beautiful and cherished and desired. He might never say the words, but for the first time in her life, she felt loved.
The fire in his eyes fascinated her, and his slight touch had made her want to give him anything he asked. He was a man who seemed to need nothing… except her.
She hurried to the kitchen, knowing Winter would be back as soon as he saddled up. He made a habit of always stopping in before riding out. Always a second goodbye. He’d say nothing, but she’d meet his eyes and they’d both know he wanted to touch her once more.
As Kora worked, Jamie still complained about Wyatt ignoring her. Kora also paid little attention to her sister. She could still taste Winter’s lips on hers and her cheeks were warm from his touch.
‘‘Mornin’!’’ Wyatt yelled from the doorway. ‘‘Win says you got coffee ready.’’
He stepped into the kitchen with Cheyenne a few feet behind. The Indian was leaning heavily on his crutch, indicating yesterday’s trip had not come without a price.
‘‘Win said he’s going to cover the south rim again today,’’ Wyatt announced, ‘‘but I think I’ll stay around and keep you ladies and Cheyenne company, at least until the riders who were out all night come in. Then I might wander down to the settlement and look for a game.’’ The gambler tossed a gold coin in the air and winked at Jamie. ‘‘That is, if I can think of nothing else to do.’’
Jamie walked past Wyatt as if he were invisible and she heard nothing. ‘‘Morning, Cheyenne,’’ she said in a voice laced with honey.
Before Cheyenne could answer, Jamie stood on her tiptoes and kissed him hard on the mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck vise-tight.
Kora and Wyatt stared.
Jamie broke the kiss suddenly and walked out of the room, leaving Wyatt staring after her with his mouth open and fire in his eyes.
Cheyenne wiped his mouth hard with the back of his hand. ‘‘I’d like that coffee if it’s ready.’’ He limped to the table as if nothing needed to be said about what happened.
‘‘I’d like to kill her!’’ Wyatt stormed.
Kora poured the coffee. ‘‘She’s just upset about last night.’’
‘‘Well, she didn’t have to take it out on me!’’ Wyatt snapped.
‘‘On me, you mean,’’ Cheyenne answered without emotion.
Wyatt wasn’t listening. ‘‘I’ve hardly spoken to another girl since we’ve been stepping out. She knows how I feel about her.’’ He paced the kitchen. ‘‘First she looks at the stars with the doc and now this. I don’t know how much more I can take.’’
‘‘Maybe you should marry the girl, Wyatt. Then at least she’d leave me out of the fight.’’
‘‘I’m not the marrying kind.’’ Wyatt stared at the door where she’d exited. ‘‘But I’m not going to stand for this. She knows she’s my girl and it’s time she started acting like it.’’
When he stormed out of the room, Kora glanced at Cheyenne. ‘‘Do you think I should call Win in to try and stop him?’’
‘‘You mean before Wyatt gets himself killed?’’ Cheyenne laughed. ‘‘No, I never was too crazy about the gambler anyway. I’ll pick up the body parts she throws over the banister after I’ve had my coffee.’’
Winter returned to a silent kitchen. As he reached for his hat, he heard something crash from the floor above. He glanced in question at Kora and Cheyenne, but neither of them moved. ‘‘What’s wrong?’’
‘‘Nothing,’’ they both said, grinning.
Cheyenne cleared his throat. ‘‘The gambler just might be asking for Jamie’s hand. By tonight we’ll either have a wedding or a funeral. My money’s on the funeral.’’
Though Win nodded, his mind was on something else. He grabbed Kora’s hand and pulled her out of the kitchen without another word. On the porch he let go of her fingers and faced her. ‘‘Remember,’’ he whispered. ‘‘No matter how late, wait up.’’
Kora smiled. ‘‘I’ll stay dressed.’’ She draped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him soundly, even though they both knew half the ranch could be watching.
‘‘You’re awfully bold, woman.’’ He smiled when she let him go.
She raised an eyebrow. ‘‘Do you mind?’’
‘‘Not a chance,’’ he answered as he walked away.
Riding south, Winter began at the corner of his land and rode toward Break’s Settlement. He’d moved most of his cattle to the north pastures, but a small herd of longhorns still roamed among the uneven ground by the south edge.
He’d always liked the sturdy longhorns. They were powerful animals with their long curved horns and ornery dispositions. But they were survivors. He’d brought other lines in working on improving his herd, but it was always the longhorns who survived the hard winters and hot summers.
About midafternoon he saw a cow low in the draw, stuck in a muddy creek. For a moment he watched her struggling, thinking how strange that the animal would get herself in such a mess. She was far deeper in the water than she would have needed to go to get a drink.
