The Lady and the Lawman (30 page)

“
Hello.”

“
I
had a good time tonight, Mrs. Masterson. Did you?”

She
nodded her reply. The moon was bright and shone on his face, his dark
eyes the color of whiskey.

“
All
the time I was dancing with you, I thought about how good you feel in
my arms.” He squeezed his fingers against about her waist. “I
like having you close to me, Maggie.”

He
lowered his head the final few inches to bring his lips to hers. It
was a light kiss, his lips brushing hers so softly, almost a whisper.
But even such a slight kiss made her head spin. She couldn't think
straight when he held her. He acted as if she were a piece of fine
china, but she wanted to be devoured as if she were the food served
on it.

What
was happening to her? She'd be mad at him one minute, then
practically brainwashed by his kisses the next. She relied on his
presence, his strength. She needed him.

I
love him.

What?
The
revelation surprised her. She felt a heavy weight settle in her
stomach, but it lifted as quickly as it came. Wonderful tingly
sensations flowed through her veins. Were these feelings that came
with being in love?

A
smile curved to her lips.

“
What
are you thinking about that's got you smiling like that?” he asked
as he brushed a finger along her cheek.

She
was afraid to share her revelation with Grant. He couldn't love her
in return. Why would he? She'd been nothing but trouble for him since
they first met. What if he didn’t say he loved her in return? She
didn’t know how she could handle that kind of rejection, so she
kept her feelings close to her heart.

“
I...liked
the kiss.”

He
smiled. “I'm glad. There's more where that came from. If you want.”

***

Margaret
hadn’t been in Grant’s house—their house—since their wedding
night. All was quiet and dark when they entered. It was stuffy, the
air thick from their absence. He lit a lamp by the front door then
went and opened several windows. Cool night air floated through along
with the smell of roses from the neighbor’s garden. When he was
done, he took her hand and led her into the bedroom.

Placing
the lamp on the nightstand, he faced her. “I’ll sleep in the
other room.” Taking the blanket from the foot of the bed, he walked
toward the door.

“
Grant.”
Her voice was a mere whisper. It was now or never. He was letting her
come to him. He was so handsome, so kind to her, it was difficult to
resist. She wanted his hold, his touch, to lie with him and never let
go. She wanted his love.

But,
no. She couldn't do it. She couldn't say it, couldn't ask for him to
stay, to give her what her body so desperately desired.

“
Good
night,” she said, meekly. Her nerves were too great. Fear had won.
He nodded and closed the door silently behind him, leaving her alone,
the lamplight flickering orange in the room.

***

Grant
settled in to the armchair nearest the stove, pulling up a navy blue
lap blanket his mother had made. He tried to get comfortable, but
knew it would be impossible. The clock on the mantle reminded him of
how long the night would be.

The
decision was Maggie's. It had to be. He couldn’t force her to make
love. The indecision showed on her face again tonight, and he knew
she had almost said yes, to share more than a bed together.

Screams
in the darkness woke him. Not sure if it had been minutes or hours
since he’d left her, he jumped up and barged into the bedroom,
practically ripping the door off of its hinges, his gun ready to
shoot whatever threatened. Another scream pierced the quiet night. He
moved to the bed, putting the gun on the nightstand on the way. He
sat down next to her and grabbed her shoulders. Shaking her, he tried
to release her from the grasp of her nightmare.

“
Maggie!
Maggie, wake up. It’s me.”

“
Grant?”
Her voice was tentative, afraid.

“
Shh.”
He soothed her by rubbing his hands up and down her back. Her face
was sweaty when she pressed it against his cheek. Brushing back her
hair from her sticky brow, he turned her face to his. With the
moonlight, he was able to discern her features. Her eyes were wide
with fear. “It’s all right now.”

She
nodded against his chin, exhaling a pent-up breath.

“
Want
to tell me about it?”

“
William...”
She shook her head. “No, just hold me, please.”

He
settled his large frame onto the bed and he pulled her into his side,
his arm around her back, her head resting on his ch
est.
He stroked h
er
silky hair.

Hell,
she’d scared him. Only now was his breath returning to normal. As
his wits returned, he focused on her
body pressed so perfectly against his. He wasn’t sure if he was
strong enough to endure her soft curves.
Her
hair was so soft beneath his touch, he wanted to catch his fingers in
it and pull her head back for a never-ending kiss.

Once
again she was wearing one of his shirts, and it had never looked so
sexy. A hint of shoulder teased him as the fabric hung loosely on her
thin frame.

“
Maggie,
I—” He adjusted himself on the soft mattress, hoping a bit of
distance might help his condition.

“
No,
don’t leave! Please stay with me.” She tightened
her arms around his waist, all but pinning him in place.

“
I
need to get more comfortable then. Will you let me go for just a
minute?”

Her
chin bobbed against his chest and she loosened her death grip.
Climbing from the bed, he removed his gun belt and badge in record
time. Should he leave his clothes on? Hell, she was his wife and if
he was going to get to sleep in his bed with her anytime soon, it was
damn time he moved things along.

It
took mere seconds to strip off his clothes, a large pile on the floor
at his feet. Sensibilities be damned. She was seeing more of him, of
any man, than she ever had. Rock hard, he must be quite a bit of an
adjustment for his new bride.

In
order to keep from scaring her any more than he probably just did, he
slipped beneath the sheets and pulled her on top of him in one swift
motion. Long tendrils of her hair fell on his face and shoulders like
a cascading waterfall. He brushed them back with his large hands.

“
Grant,
I....”

Damn,
he’d given her time to change her mind and something to be scared
about. No time for retreat now, though. He pulled her head down to
his for the first of what he expected to be many kisses. Hot breath
mingled before their lips touched, then tongues. Tentative at first,
she let his tongue taunt hers, but soon she was tempting him, luring
him with her hot mouth.

His
desire had to be more than apparent to her now. The length of her
body matched his, one of her legs nestled between his. His shirt had
thankfully ridden up her lithe body and
he
caressed her smooth thighs a
nd
higher to cup her round bottom.

Groaning,
he deepened his kiss. Could he ever get enough of her?

She
wasn’t timid any longer. The passion he’d seen, he’d so
desperately wanted, flared red hot. She now kissed him back, her
tongue thrusting to meet his, her hands just as wild with abandon.
She was learning his body, his shape.

“
Don’t
leave me ever again,” she whispered, her breath hot against his
neck.

Joy
sprung from his chest at the words he so longed to hear. Rolling, he
held her close but offered her better access to the part of his body
so needing her touch.

“
I
don’t know what to do.” Tentative, she whispered into his chest.

“
I’ll
show you.”

And
he did.

***

His
hands slid up her back beneath the shirt to stroke her. Slowly, his
thumbs
curved
around her thin frame to caress the sensitive sides of her breasts.
Lightening shot through her at the surprise touch. Thumbs weren’t
enough for her or for Grant because his broad hands soon slid from
her slim ribcage to cover her breasts fully.

Gasping
at the caress, she unconsciously arched her back, pressing into his
palms, into his thumbs now brushing across her sensitive nipples.

Desperate,
incredible, amazing was how she described his touch. S
he
had no idea it would be like this. A light pinch of his nimble
fingers made her cry out. His hands moved everywhere, but it still
wasn’t enough for her.

Sensations
she didn’t understand were mounting. Frustration mixed with sheer
pleasure. She didn’t think she could take any more of the painful
bliss, but at the same time didn’t want him to stop. It was nothing
like William's ruthless groping.

Grant's
hands fumbled and finally undid the buttons down the front of her
shirt. She felt the coolness of the night air touching her bare skin
as his mouth took over where his hands had ministered. Naked, exposed
to Grant’s eyes, she felt embarrassed, if only for mere seconds.
Passion quickly blocked all apprehension.

Wet
kisses, soft caresses with his mouth,
his
tongue drifted lo
wer
to her flat belly, leaving her breasts tingling and very lonely.
Stubble scraped on her smooth hip as his hot mouth moved even lower.

“
Oh,
Grant!” She called out his name, not sure whether from want or from
surprise at the direction of his mouth.

His
hands slid over her thighs, parting her legs for his lowering head.
She felt the curls of his hair tickle her stomach as...

“
Sheriff!”

The
male voice and banging on the door brought Grant’s head up. His
hands gripped her thighs.

“
Sheriff!”
The pounding continued.

“
Damn.”
Grant gave her a scorching kiss before climbing off her. The cold air
from the bedroom replaced his heat. Her body, tingling and throbbing,
practically screamed from loneliness. Grabbing the thick quilt from
the bed and wrapping it around his waist, he left her alone so he
could answer the banging.

“
This
better be damned important!”

She
heard Grant’s bellow from the bed. Cold, she pulled the sheet up to
cover her nakedness. Only Grant’s voice could be heard, the other
too muffled to understand. Curiosity was strong, but modesty won out
and she stayed where she was, waiting for Grant to return.

“
All
right, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

His
large frame filled the doorway, his hand on his hip holding the
blanket in place. He ran his hands through his hair, making it stand
up on end in places.

“
What’s
happened?” she asked, worried.

“
There’s
been a murder.”

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

“
A
murder?” Margaret sat straight up in bed, one hand clutching the
sheet in front of her. My God, what was this world coming to?

Grant
tossed the quilt onto the bed, still warm from his body. The view was
spectacular, even in the darkness. Moonlight showed off his hard lean
muscles, long legs and broad, square shoulders. Dark hair curled on
his chest and narrowed as it worked its way down his body. Desire—for
her—was evident. She gulped.