Rue Allyn Read online

  Instantly he unwrapped one arm from around her waist, appalled that he’d hurt this precious woman. He kept his other arm solidly around her back, giving her as much support as she needed until she decided she could sit by herself.

  “Oh, dear.”

  He followed her gaze to her chest where bruises and scrapes adorned the delicate skin that showed through the tatters of her shirt.

  “Does that hurt as bad as it looks?”

  “Not as bad as my hand, see.” She lifted her left hand, showing her palm.

  He’d seen fresh butchered meat that looked better than her palm. “We’d better get you back to the cabin and cleaned up. Wouldn’t want that to become infected.” Using all his strength and flexibility, he stood with her still in his arms, and walked toward their horses. As he walked he became aware that his right hip throbbed, so much so that his steps hitched. He must have come down on the hip when he leapt after Kat to keep her from tumbling over the cliff.

  “No. Don’t take me back to the cabin.”

  “Don’t be foolish. We need hot water, bandages, and disinfectant, if you have it.”

  “We have hot water right over there, and once my shirt is clean we can tear that up for bandages.”

  Ev looked in the direction she pointed to see steam rising from behind a slight rise in the earth west of the waterfall.

  “Hot springs?”

  She nodded. “A string of them. The ones farthest from the fall are the hottest. Most are too hot for a bath, but they are progressively cooler the closer they get to the falls. The area behind the falls is riddled with caves that I think must have been pools millennia ago. I’ve seen Spirit Talker bathe the sick and injured in these springs. Every person recovered completely.”

  Ev cocked a brow at her. “You think a pool of hot water is going to magically heal your injuries?”

  “I don’t know about magic, that’s Spirit Talker’s area of expertise, but I do know that a warm bath is good for aches and pains. You yourself wanted to wash my hand with warm water.”

  “I don’t know.” He’d had enough mumbo jumbo growing up with a father who refused to send for a doctor to heal his ailing wife. Illness — even illness inflicted by repeated beatings — was God’s punishment on the wicked, and God would heal the wicked in his own good time.

  “It can’t hurt.”

  Ev looked from Kat to the steam to the horses and back. “We’ll give it a try. But if you don’t feel better in fifteen minutes, I’m taking you to your cabin.”

  At the side of the pool he set her on her feet.

  “Can you stand?”

  “I’ll manage, if you’ll help me get these clothes off.”

  “You want me to help you strip?” The idea was appealing for all the wrong reasons. They were both hurting, and he shouldn’t be having a single prurient thought. Somehow he couldn’t be around Kiera Alden and not think about her with her clothes off or what he’d like to do with her once she was naked.

  “With my hand the way it is, I can hardly do it myself.”

  “Uh, yeah. I suppose you can’t.”

  He found that he was nervous as he hadn’t been since he stole his first kiss in the choir loft of the church his itinerant daddy never preached in. Ev wiped dirt and sweat from his palms and forced his big fingers to go slow and easy. He didn’t want to hurt Kat more than absolutely necessary.

  With the release of each button he saw more of her flesh. Her skin was soft, the color of pale cream. When the shirt finally hung open, he lifted his hands and gently pushed the cloth over her shoulders. Her breath hissed as the linen rasped down her arms. Red welts and abrasions streaked the tender undersides. A large purpling bruise covered her left side, descending from her rib cage to somewhere below her denims.

  Unable to stop staring, he gave the shirt an aimless toss. He waited for her to tell him to continue. His hands hovered near her waist.

  “We’d better get the pants off too. Spirit Talker never left anything on the people he placed in the hot spring.”

  Before dealing with the denims, he knelt, untying the laces of her moccasins.

  “Use your hand on my shoulder for balance and lift your leg.”

  One at a time the moccasins slid off. Not bothering to stand, Ev looked up at Kat. “You’re sure about this?”

  She smiled at him, light sparkling in her eyes.

  Ev swallowed once, set his fingers on her belt and slipped the catch free then loosened the buttons that held her denims closed. He treated her legs with the same care that he’d given her arms. Fortunately the cloth of her pants was tougher than that of her shirt. Only yellowish bruises sprouted on her legs, no cuts or scrapes, or worse. When she was nude, he sat back on his heels, placed his hands on his knees and stared at the ground.

  “Ev, look at me, please.”

  He shook his head. “I shouldn’t.”

  He didn’t know where this unaccustomed shyness came from. He’d never before hesitated to remove a woman’s clothes when invited or look at a pair of pretty breasts or a shapely bottom.

  “Please.”

  The pleading in her voice was new, and that more than anything had him lifting his head to meet her gaze.

  “Do you find me unpleasant to look at?”

  “You’re beautiful. I’ve never seen a woman so pretty, nor one with as much courage as you, Kat.”

  “Then after you help me into the spring, perhaps you’d be willing to join me.”

  “Do you realize what you’re asking for?”

  She nodded. “Mmm hmm. I may have thought you were someone else, but I remember enough of that kiss now to know I want more.”

  “If I touch you, I won’t be able to stop.”

  The smile that dazzled and enchanted him spread across her face, and a rosy flush deepened on her chest, neck, and face. “I hope not. And Ev … you can call me Kiera.”

  He rose and swept her into his arms, giving her no chance to change her mind. Striding to the bright turquoise pool she pointed at, he eased her into the water.

  Her sigh was a siren song of ecstasy. Lord he wanted her to make that sound for him. More, he wanted to hear his name on her lips in just that breathy pleasured tone.

  • • •

  Sighing, Kiera closed her eyes as her body slid into the warm water. She rested on a thin shelf of rock that supported little more than her bottom. Shifting she sought the pressure stream from the small opening in the earth through which the water bubbled to the surface. A second sigh escaped as the water softly pummeled her aching body. She kept her arms on the lip of the pool. She wasn’t ready yet for the arrow sharp stings she knew would come when she submerged her hand’s open cuts in the mineral rich fluid. As the tightness in her body released, she slitted her eyes open, watching Ev through her lashes.

  Thumbs hooked in his belt loops he stood motionless at the edge of the pool. He wore a pensive frown, and the angle of his shoulders plus the jut of his hips to one side suggested that he contemplated leaving.

  Abruptly he straightened, his frown now more determined than pensive. His fingers fairly flew to open his shirt. He left the dark cloth hanging open to frame his broad chest, a truly magnificent set of muscles, and the twirls of dark hair that disappeared beneath the belt buckle. He did a balancing dance to remove each boot. Then straightened, unfastened his belt buckle, unbuttoned his denims and shoved them down his legs along with his long johns. His thighs and calves were thick and strong from years in the saddle. His feet long and free of hair. Where his hips narrowed a thicket of dark curls blanketed his scrotum. An impressive erection rose from the thicket.

  With every move, every revealed patch of sun-bronzed skin, Kiera felt her gaze widen. Her nipples grew turgid, and desire twisted low in her belly. She wasn’t an innocent — not anymore. She knew what her body’s response to Ev’s nudity meant. She’d had a lover, and she’d seen naked men of all shapes and sizes. You couldn’t live in a bordello or take lewd photographs for a living — no m
atter how reluctantly — and not see, really see, naked men.

  However, the man before her wasn’t a subject of a photograph, a stud, or one of Madame Duval’s clients. This was Ev, her friend and her enemy. The man who’d cared for her when she was sick, who held her when she wept, who kissed her with a passion beyond anything she could recall, and who would turn her over to a judge and jury that in all probability would hang her by the neck until she was dead.

  She couldn’t blame him for doing what he believed was right. He honestly thought that justice would prevail. He was wrong. The past three years only underscored what she’d learned growing up — that justice had little to do with innocence and everything to do with greed, influence and money. Nonetheless, she decided that for now, in this moment, nothing mattered but having Evrett Quinn’s arms around her, his kisses on her lips, and his body joined with hers. She wanted to give him a gift as great as the one he’d given her. She couldn’t save his life, like he had hers, but she could love him, if only for a little while.

  “Are you going to stand there all day?” she asked.

  He shook his head and stepped from his clothing into the pool.

  “Are you certain about this?” his voice a low rasp.

  She reached out her good hand to him. “As certain as I can be.”

  “I’m not the kind to settle down, Kiera.”

  “Neither am I.” She was certain that settle meant something different to her than it did to him. She drew him closer so he stood between her knees, in waist high water.

  “Then why?”

  “Because I nearly died out there.” She tilted her head toward the cliff. “I need to know I’m alive, to feel that living connection with another human being, with you.” She released her hold on the spring’s edge, suppressing a hiss of pain when her lacerated palm encountered the minerals in the water. Using her grip on his hand, she drew herself closer, surrounding his hips with her legs.

  The hair of his upper legs abraded the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, and she shivered. She locked her ankles behind him, resting her heels on his buttocks and applying an easy encouraging pressure. She looked up at him to see barely leashed desire conquer his face. “Kiss me, Ev. Please.”

  He didn’t speak or hesitate but bent, brushing his lips across hers. The shift of his hips brought his erection close enough to tease her with the treat of pleasures to come. Then taking her in his arms, he kissed her fully, licking and nipping.

  Her lips tingled, and seeking relief from the torturous pleasure, she opened her mouth. She wanted him inside her. Her arms went around his neck, fingers tangling in the damp locks at his nape.

  His tongue circled her lips. His hips shifted away, withdrawing his teasing erection.

  Her eyelids drifted shut, and she moaned a protest.

  The moan of protest became a moan of urgent satisfaction as tongue and cock plunged in concert.

  Her hips lifted to meet his thrusts; her mouth suckled his tongue. Pleasure streaked from lips, breasts, and groin, enveloping her body with yearning delight.

  He lifted her higher with one arm, exposing her wet breasts to cool air.

  Her head fell back.

  His mouth fastened on one nipple, tugging and sucking. His fingers played with the other breast. The combination of heat and cool, touch and tongue nearly drove her mad. Her back arched, and her hips writhed. She wanted, wanted … she wasn’t certain quite what she wanted, but she knew in her soul only Ev could give it to her.

  “Ev, please, please. Ev.”

  His thrusts quickened.

  Each stroke prompted a sweet, exquisite ache that she wished would last forever, even as she knew she couldn’t take much more.

  “That’s it, Kiera, say my name. Look at me and say my name.”

  She opened her eyes and saw in the honeyed depths of his gaze the same passion that built inside her. She smiled at him.

  Incredibly he thrust faster, harder, deeper, and in the moment when sensation overwhelmed, when desire cast her from her body to some Elysian field where only the two of them existed, she screamed. “Ev!”

  Climax quaked through her in waves, pleasure leaked from every pore, and Ev’s arms formed the only reality.

  Slowly, so slowly, she became aware of the warm water soothing her body. Of Ev reclining beneath her, keeping her above the rocky bottom of the pool. Of harsh ragged breathing and a soul deep sense of rightness that she belonged here in this moment in this man’s arms.

  She lifted her head, smiling at Ev and froze.

  “What? What is it? Kiera, are you all right? Did I hurt you?”

  “Sssh. Do you see that?” she whispered.

  “What?”

  “A pair of wolves, beside the spring next to this one.”

  “Wolves!” He released her and headed for the edge of the pool.

  “No, don’t get out. The mineral odor is blocking our scent. If you leave the pool they may think you’re a danger to them. Stay put.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Get your gun, if you have to. It’s close enough. Move slowly and don’t startle them.”

  Ev retrieved his pistol, keeping his eye on the wolves. Even he could tell they were a mated pair. One was heavily pregnant and limping. The other, a male, kept close to the first, frequently scenting the air as if keeping watch.

  The female approached the spring that sat roughly fifty feet from the pool occupied by Kiera and Ev.

  At the edge of the spring, the female wolf lay down and extended her left paw into the steaming water. She whimpered a bit but soon lowered her head to the ground and appeared to sleep.

  The male paced back and forth occasionally circling the area around the spring where his mate lay. Eventually he went over to her and nudged her with his muzzle.

  The female lifted her head and stood. She shook the wet paw then put it on the ground testing her weight on it. She let out a short yip and bounded off with the male following.

  “Well, if that don’t beat all. I’ve never seen a wolf act like that. Have you? I could swear that paw was broken when she put it in the water.”

  “I’ve never seen a wolf come this close to people, but I’ve heard of incidents like this. The Shoshone consider the wolf to be very wise. I’ll have to ask Spirit Talker what he thinks about this encounter. As for her paw, take a look at my hand.”

  She extended her left hand to him.

  He holstered his gun then took her fingers in his. There wasn’t a mark on her palm. No scrapes or cuts on her arms and her bruises were almost entirely gone. He turned his head staring in the direction where the wolves disappeared. “Amazing.”

  “Yeah, amazing.” But Kiera was looking at Ev.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  In the pre-dawn light, Ev watched Kiera sleep. She was unlike any woman he’d ever met — practical, forthright and unashamed of her actions both private and public. They’d made love repeatedly over the past two days. Each time he swore to himself would be the last time, and each time he was unable to resist the lure that was Kiera. Today their intimacy would have to end. Justice required that he bring Kiera to Laramie for trial, and Boyd’s life depended on their return. Even though the deadline was two weeks or more away, Ev knew they should leave for Lake Yellow Stone today.

  “You’re frowning. I can’t have that.” Laughter sparkling in her eyes, Kiera rose above him and leaned down to kiss him.

  His response was instantaneous — inhaling, absorbing her essence as if he’d never get enough. He shifted her onto her back. Where has all my resolve gone?

  With that thought, he tore himself from Kiera’s arms and the bed, reaching for his clothing before her protest could hit his ears.

  She lifted up on her side, her head supported by one hand. “Is something wrong?”

  He shook his head, looking at her lovely face. “We need to get back to Lake Yellow Stone.”

  “Why?”

  Ev thrust a hand through his hair. “Because this … ” h
e gestured toward the bed. “Nice as making love with you is, this isn’t right. We’ve both got responsibilities, and we can’t ignore them for very much longer.”

  She shuttered her eyes and lay back down. “You’re right.”

  Her tone was flat. Her whole body spoke of resignation and regret. He hated that he’d caused the change, extinguished the spark of easy delight in her eyes. What choice did he have? With all his heart, he might want to believe her innocent of all accused crimes, but his belief wasn’t enough. She had to stand trial and be declared innocent in a court of law before he could allow himself to imagine any kind of future for them.

  Why that mattered he wasn’t sure. What kind of life could there be for a woman with a man who wouldn’t put down roots? The kind of life his mother had? He’d never allow that. He’d live his life alone to prevent it. But Kiera … Even after the trial, he couldn’t see them together. They were both too independent — too restless and stubborn — to be able to build an enduring relationship.

  He finished dressing. “I’ll tend to the horses.”

  She shifted, swinging her feet over the edge of the bed and reached for her buckskins. “I’ll get breakfast started. We can make plans for returning to the Shoshone village while we eat.”

  After breakfast, he left closing the cabin door harder than he’d intended.

  • • •

  Kiera started at the loud bang of the door closing. She’d wanted to object, to argue, when Ev made his pronouncement about returning to Lake Yellow Stone. She hadn’t. She knew their time together was limited. Ev’s declaration that they needed to return indicated more than awareness of the days left before Boyd’s time ran out. Clearly Ev was bothered by the contradictions of making love with a suspected criminal. While she didn’t like the decision to leave, she respected his feelings. Staying longer would be worse than leaving.

  It would take her a day to get ready, so they’d leave the following morning. Maybe she could convince him to give her one more night. If he did, that one night’s desire would have to last her a very long time, perhaps even a lifetime.