"About d.a.m.ned time."

Even though he couldn't feel it, she kissed his back.

He made her feel so special.

"Twist a little on the upstroke baby," he ordered.

"Like this?" she asked, setting the suggestion to action. He jerked as if shot, his head arched back and then fell forward. His hands came down on the pommel, gripping hard.

"Son of a b.i.t.c.h, just...like...that." She did it again and again, picking up speed as moisture leaked down the shaft, smoothing it back into his flesh as she planed his mood though the surface of his c.o.c.k. Smoothing out his rough edges, taking away the hardness and giving him what she could. "Baby, I'm going to come."

"Not yet."

"It's not like you're giving me much choice."

"Oh." She hadn't realized she could control the pace.

She gentled her approach, matching her rhythm to the slow, easy gait of the horse, drawing his c.o.c.k up and out on the forward stroke, bringing it down and back on the downstroke. He fought her, punching up in short jabs, trying to get the speed back, but she snuggled into his back and kept to her own pace. This was her gift. She'd deliver it how she wanted."Are you trying to kill me?"

"I'm trying to pleasure you." This time on the upstroke she cupped the tip in her palm. It overflowed the center like a big juicy plum, ripe to bursting.

Moisture pooled in the well of her palm. She rubbed back onto the head in easy circles. He groaned and shuddered. His c.o.c.k surged against her palm. More silky moisture replaced the first. She scooped it up on her middle finger.

"Don't look," she whispered and she brought her hand back.

"At what?"

Before he could turn and see, she slipped her finger into her mouth, sucking it clean, letting his salty flavor spread through her mouth. Wanting this small part of him. When it was gone, she wanted more. More of his taste. His compliance. His acceptance. Heavens, she wanted him.

He turned in the saddle, catching her with her finger in her mouth, his eyes dropping to the sight, pausing before burning like black fire as they met hers.

"Did you like that little taste, Sunshine?"

With her cheeks so hot that she felt sure they'd catch fire, she whispered, "You weren't supposed to see."

He unb.u.t.toned his coat and pushed it back. "Did you like it?"She nodded. Her gaze locked on his c.o.c.k as it rose from the V of his fly. Dark, throbbing, powerful, hungry.

Her p.u.s.s.y swelled and clenched with antic.i.p.ation. She took her finger out of her mouth and touched it to the tip, smiling as his c.o.c.k danced.

"I like that." She ran her finger down the side, tracing the curve of the vein to the base.

"You do?"

"Oh yes." She wiggled her finger under the tight material of his pants, reaching the soft skin at the top of his s.c.r.o.t.u.m before the material cut off access. He grunted as she sc.r.a.ped gently with the edge of her nail.

"I like touching you, too."

"I know." She pulled her finger free, retracing her path back to the moist tip. "It's one of my favorite things about you."

"All men want to touch a beautiful woman. It's not a reason for finding favor." He c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at her in that half-play, half-serious way that made her want to smile.

"I know." She leaned her cheek against his arm. That he found her beautiful was a miracle she couldn't get over. She closed her fist around him. He arched into her touch. She tested his readiness with a squeeze. He bucked and pre-come dribbled over her hand. She opened her fingers, letting the silken fluid pool on theopened her fingers, letting the silken fluid pool on the edge of her palm. "But I like being able to give to you."

"Look at me, Sunshine." He caught her hand in his, holding her tight against him. She did. All play was gone from his face. He was still aroused, but he was serious too. "Be careful that you don't give me more than you can spare."

"You're always taking care of me."

"I'm warning you." He shook his head, his hair rustling across his coat. When it comes to you, I'm a starving man."

"I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be."

"I can't be." She pumped him through her fist, knowing he was close to coming from the way his c.o.c.k hardened to steel and throbbed. She squeezed him until his breath hissed between his teeth and his c.o.c.k jerked in her grip before whispering, "I love you."

She watched his face as her words threw him over the edge, his teeth gritted against the agony of sensation jerking his body. His eyes closed as he moaned deep in his throat, and in her hand, his big c.o.c.k pulsed jet after jet of his hot come. She let it spill over her fingers, washing her in his seed, his pleasure, marking her as his.

She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, catching the excess. She milked him gently, watching as another spurt welled, feeling his shudder all the way to her soul. Oh,she liked him like this. Open to her, nothing held back, letting her in further than he ever had before, seemingly vulnerable. Though no man as tough as Clint could ever truly be vulnerable, she enjoyed the illusion.

A bead of fluid lingered on the broad head. She curled her finger around it. His moan as she stole that bit of seed sent a thrill of hot desire to her womb. She looked straight into his slitted eyes as she lapped it off her finger. His body jerked again and his lip lifted as a growl emanated from deep in his chest.

"Come here." His arm curved behind her shoulders pulling her around until she sat across his thighs.

Clint turned her face up and kissed her hard, nipping her lower lip when she didn't immediately open for him.

Kissing her deeply when she did as always, opening herself to his needs. G.o.dd.a.m.n, she was too generous.

She'd give him everything if he asked for it, no holds barred. A man who had a woman like that had a treasure, but he'd have to guard her very carefully, place the limits for her that she couldn't. He hugged her tightly.

"I'm not like this with anyone else." The confession floated upwards on a puff of frosted breath. Though he probably wasn't meant to hear the hint of fear in her voice, he did. She worried way too much.

He shifted her higher in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, breathing deeply of the scent of rosesand contentment.

"I know you, Sunshine. I may not know where you've been, but I know who you are, and you're mine.

You've always been mine." He accepted that now. He didn't know why, but he wasn't fighting it anymore.

Danny growled beside him. He followed the dog's lead, looking across the field. A lone rider approached.

He reached for his rifle.

"Sunshine, b.u.t.ton me back up. We've got company."

He held the rifle clear as she knifed upright, her breath coming in short gasps, her hands soft and shaking as she eased his semi-hard c.o.c.k back under his coat. She couldn't get him back in his pants, and her breathing grew almost desperate.

"That's fine. Leave it like that." The rider was too far away to make out features, but he didn't recognize the horse. He kicked his foot free of the stirrup. Clint kept his voice calm, as he urged Jenna around. "Now turn and put your foot in the stirrup and get back up behind me."

"But-"

"No buts. Just do it." If it came to a confrontation he wanted his body between her and any bullets. As soon as she was settled he motioned to his side. "Take the revolver out of my holster." There was a long hesitation in which she didn't move. "Now, Jenna."

She took it, following his orders, shaking so badly hewas afraid she'd fall off.

"You're not going to need it. It's just a precaution."

"I don't know how to shoot."

"Nothing to it. c.o.c.k the hammer, aim for the chest, and pull the trigger." The rider came closer. He wasn't getting any more familiar.

"I can't."

"If I go down, you start firing and don't stop until the chambers are empty. Danny growled again. Clint levered a round into the Spencer's chamber, the barrel resting on his thigh, pointing at the stranger."

"Oh G.o.d, you can't go down." She spread her palms over his chest as if to shield him. The muzzle of the revolver pressed up into his chin.

He moved it aside. "It's not in my plans for the evening."

"You have plans?"

"Big plans." He squinted against the sun. There was something familiar about the rider now. "They start with stripping you naked and end with my tongue buried in your p.u.s.s.y."

"How can you think about that at a time like this?"

"With you for a wife, it's a wonder I think of anything else." If he wasn't mistaken that lump boring into his spine was her forehead and she was grinding itback and forth.

"Please be careful."

"I won't let anything happen to you."

"I don't want anything to happen to you."The fierce whisper sent his heart to pounding and slipped beneath the familiar cold antic.i.p.ation of battle.

"Then I guess we'll just have to keep this encounter friendly." Which might be easier than he thought as he recognized the rider. Mark Dougherty wasn't his favorite person, but he didn't think their meeting would come to a killing event. Nevertheless, he didn't lower the rifle.

"You can probably relax. It's Eloise's brother. He's not anyone's favorite, but I don't think he's a danger."

If a body discounted the rumors that he'd taken up with a gang of no-goods and started down a bad road.

Jenna didn't relax at his a.s.surance. After a brief pause, her shaking grew worse. Dougherty drew up alongside.

"Evening McKinnely."

"Evening." Jenna all but buried herself in his back.

"That one of the Emporium's girls?" Dougherty jerked his chin in Jenna's direction.

"The Emporium burned down a year ago."

"For sure someone took it over."

They had but he wasn't going to get into that discussion with his wife behind him."You heading back to your sister's?"

"Yeah, I thought I'd visit a bit."

Which probably meant he'd run out of money. Clint eyed him. The man seemed to have aged ten years in the year and a half he'd been gone, his blond good looks dissipating under the influence of too much alcohol and too little exercise.

"I'm sure she'd appreciate the help." Not that Clint thought Mark would be much help. The man was shiftless to the bone, but Eloise seemed to love having him around. There was no accounting for taste.

Mark moved his horse closer. Danny growled.

Behind him Jenna stiffened. The shaking stopped, and beneath his arm, the muzzle of the revolver lifted and pointed. For a woman who said she couldn't shoot at someone, Jenna was taking d.a.m.ned careful aim. Clint tipped his hat down over his eyes, absorbing the information.

"That's close enough."

"You're not being very neighborly." Mark pulled his horse up.

"Can't help it. My dog doesn't like you."

"And you let your dog do your thinking?"

"He hasn't failed me yet." Clint shrugged.

"They said you'd turned strange after you quitmarshaling. Soft even." Mark's bark of laughter was forced. He palmed his coat away from his belt. Clint wasn't impressed with the move or the stomach that overhung the other man's buckle.

"They say a lot of things." He smiled. He clamped his elbow down on the muzzle of the revolver Jenna was trying to shove forward.

"You going to introduce me to your companion?"

Mark asked.

"No." Clint kept his answer short and to the point.

Jenna relaxed infinitesimally.

"You didn't use to be so unsociable." Mark's thin mouth disappeared under the lash of the slight.

"Your memory might be failing. I've always been d.a.m.ned unsociable."

"b.u.t.ter wouldn't melt in your mouth when you were courting my sister."

"Walking her home when she worked too late at the store isn't courting."

"It d.a.m.ned well better be, seeing as how you were out alone with her after dark."

"If you were that worried you could have walked her home yourself."

"I was busy."

Busy only if you counted gambling and whoring.Clint shrugged. "Seeing as she's married, I'd say it's all water under the bridge."