Twenty-eight

Marley gathered herself and slipped from his arms. “I want to see this injury that you insist is nothing.”

If he needed treatment, she was going to see that he got it.

Roan gave a long-suffering sigh and slipped out of the jacket. “At least I didn’t entirely ruin the shirt this time,” he joked. “That should earn me a point or two. I told you it’s nothing.”

She pushed up his shirtsleeve and examined the wound. “It still needs a good cleaning. I’ll get some water.”

“Whatever makes you happy. I’m learning that it doesn’t do a lick of good to argue.”

“I just wish you’d learn to stop flirting with death,” she said from the small, open kitchen. The man was going to give her a heart attack one of these days. He must have some powerful guardian angels. One thing for sure, he was keeping them very busy.

That he’d stood in the path of bullets and knives for her and her family made her eyes burn.

Gathering a clean cloth, some gauze, and the water, she returned. The bullet had grazed his forearm, causing little enough damage. She was glad he was right, and she was glad about something else as well—that she’d insisted on cleaning it. Any excuse to run her fingers across his skin and feel the rippling muscles underneath was worth it.

Roan’s strong forearms were a testament to a life spent doing heavy work. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and, had indeed, plunged into any task on the ranch with zeal. That was one of the things she admired about him.

After washing blood from the wound and applying ointment, she wrapped gauze around his arm. “Roan, I’m curious about something. I hope you don’t think I’m prying.”

“What would you like to know?”

“Why are you drifting? You’re smart, and you know so much about a lot of things. You could be a banker or teacher or anything you want, yet you choose not to.”

He touched his finger to her cheek and said softly, “Those jobs wouldn’t give me what I crave. Money can’t fix everything. I was looking for a place that my heart would recognize as home. I’ve found it here.” He brushed a kiss on her lips. “I was searching for you.”

Marley swallowed the lump that suddenly blocked her throat. He was right. If he’d gotten a different job in some other town, she never would’ve known he existed.

She’d have died without ever knowing love.

“I’m glad you found me.” She cupped his jaw and stared into his smoldering gray eyes. “You came into my life like a gentle summer storm. You stole my heart, changed my dreams, gave my life new purpose. Hold me. Hold me, cowboy, and don’t ever let me go.”

He gave a hoarse cry, pulled her against the hard planes of his body, and ground his mouth to hers. Marley welcomed the raging hunger that swept over her.

She wanted to run her hands over his body, feel the wild beating of his heart that matched hers.

She wanted him naked beside her, on top of her, inside her.

She wanted to inhale his scent and know that he was hers.

Marley’s fingers trembled as she worked to remove his shirt. She had to put out the fire inside her somehow or be roasted alive. Thank God for the rain that gave them this time. Who knew what was about to happen. This might be all they had.

To die without knowing what it was like to make love to Roan—to lie in his arms until trouble yanked them apart—would be the greatest tragedy.

Roan appeared to share her burning passion. His touch was branded on her skin as he removed her clothing. With the last bit of fabric gone from her body, he slid his hands slowly down her throat, across her collarbone to the curve of her breasts, where he flattened his palms over her nipples. A low moan rumbled in his chest.

He picked her up and carried her to the bed, setting her down on it. He didn’t join her at first.

He stood beside the bed instead, running his hands through his hair. Breathing hard, Marley met his eyes. “Roan, this is right. We may not have anything after this night. They’re waiting for us out there in the blackness. We’re as good as married, as far as I’m concerned, and if we survive, we will be.” A sob tore through her. “I want to be your lady—fully and completely. Just once before I die.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“As positive as I’ve ever been about anything.” Sitting up, she put her fingers into his gun belt and tugged him closer. “I need you. We need each other.”

The last of his resistance melted away. He removed his gun belt, boots, and trousers, dropping everything in a heap on the floor.

Not bothering to turn back the covers, Roan lay down on his side next to her. The storm’s fury beyond the walls didn’t come close to the raw desire and hunger raging inside Marley. She ran her fingers across his broad chest and down his belly to his jutting need, and closed her hand around his hardness. Moisture created a sheen between her thighs.

Thunder shook the windows, and a second later, a jagged flash of lightning illuminated the room.

“I’ve waited a long time for this,” she murmured.

“You did, huh?” He lay on his side, caressing her back, kissing and kneading her breasts. When he captured a nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rolling the swollen nub, Marley’s building desire grew to unimaginable heights. She’d never felt anything like this. Fire swept down to her thighs and settled between them, throbbing and pulsing. She wound her fingers in his hair and pulled his face to her breasts. She arched her back to give him greater access and felt pleasure rush over her as he took her nipple in his mouth.

“Please,” she moaned. “Don’t stop.”

He slid his hand between them to the juncture of her thighs and rubbed the blood-engorged flesh there. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over her. As she gasped for breath, Roan finally moved atop her and filled her with his need.

A few moments of pain made her gasp, but soon joy took its place.

Outside, the rain pounded on the tin roof. Inside, she matched the rhythm he set and soon found her hunger building again. She gripped his back, trying to pull even more of him inside. She wanted all of him.

This man who’d seen so much sorrow and pain was taking her to paradise, where there was nothing but unending joy.

Above her, Roan’s breath became ragged as he sought release of his own. Their bodies danced to music that spoke of belonging and love.

Marley gasped, sliding over the edge of insanity. She floated there, mindlessly adrift on a sea of bliss. Nothing mattered—not the storm, nor Ruby, and not Will Gentry’s madness. She was with Roan, and they were one body, one soul, and shared one deep love.

He rolled off and lay beside her, struggling to breathe. She fumbled for his hand and held it, trying to keep the closeness they’d found. Another bolt of lightning flashed through the window, the storm showing no signs of abating. She prayed it never would. That they could stay safe in her cozy little house forever.

Marley brought his hand to her lips and kissed his palm. “When I was a little girl, I used to hide under my bed during storms. They terrified me to the point where I would sob and go into hysterics. Instead of pulling me out, Papa would crawl under there with me and tell me stories until the storm passed. I wish I was a little girl again and could do that. I’m so scared, Roan. I’m terrified of Gentry, but I can’t hide from that kind of evil. It’ll find me anyway.”

Roan propped his weight on his elbow and smoothed back her hair. “If I could take that fear from you, I would in a heartbeat. I can’t promise that I’ll be able to stop him, but I can promise that I’ll fight to the last breath.”

“I’ll never ask you to die for me. If you lose your life because of me—I don’t think I could live with that.” Her bottom lip quivered as she held back tears. “Please say you’ll let the sheriff take care of him.”

“We are the law here, Marley,” he said gently. “It’s us and him.”

“I know. We won’t let him win. He has no power over me. Let’s not waste the time we have being sad. Roll over on your belly.”

“The lady is full of orders.” He groaned but did as she requested. Marley knelt above him, massaging his neck and shoulders until he relaxed.

“Ahhhh, lady. I think I’ll stay like this. I’ve never felt so good. Well, no. I take that back. A few minutes ago, I felt the best I have in my whole life.”

“I’m glad. So did I.” She worked her way down his back, pausing at the crisscrossed scars his father’s belt had left. She bent to kiss the raised flesh, imagining the pain he’d endured. How he’d survived that, then the beating and dragging at Mose Mozeke’s, she didn’t know. It must’ve been fate.

“Are your hands getting tired?” Roan asked.

“Nope.”

She moved slowly down his back to his waist. He was so perfectly formed. Broad shoulders, lean waist, long legs, and a rear end that could sure fill out a pair of jeans. After he’d been able to get up and around, well, she’d secretly admired his rear, fascinated by how it moved when he walked. Now she ran her hands over the smooth flesh, then bent to leave kisses.

“I want to paint you sometime. Just like you are now.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“If I agreed, the next thing I’d know you’d have it for sale someplace.” He rolled over and shook his finger at her. “I’ve seen a few of those art places—and the people who go there—and I’m not going to have women ogling my man parts. No thank you.”

“But—”

Before she could blink, he grabbed her and was lying on top of her.

“If anyone needs to be admired, it’s you.” He nibbled on her ear. “When I first woke up in your bed, your voice sounded like an angel, and I thought I was in heaven. My eyesight was so blurred, but I could make out a few of your features, and I never saw anyone so beautiful. And then I noticed the gun you had aimed at me and quickly forgot about being in heaven.”

His hand moved down to rest on her stomach.

“And where did you think you were then?” she asked breathlessly.

“In some sex-starved woman’s lair.”

“Oh, you did not!” She playfully slapped his shoulder.

“I just knew that wherever I was, I wanted to stay there.”

He raised above her and plunged himself into her again, and she forgot everything except the man who could make her body sing.

They climbed higher and higher toward the goal. As she tumbled over the other side, Roan murmured in her ear, “I love you, my beautiful Texas Star.”