Two Texas Hearts

TWENTY-NINE

KORA STOOD AND CLOSED THE STUDY DOOR AND pulled the curtains. She knew he was still weak and she should probably insist he sleep, but she wanted to be alone with Win tonight.

When she returned to his chair, he motioned for her to stand between him and the fire. ‘‘I need to look at you, Kora. Do you mind?’’

‘‘No,’’ she whispered, unsure of his meaning. She didn’t know if her cheeks burned from blushing or the fire’s warmth. How could he want to look at her? Didn’t he know she’d always been invisible? She’d heard the way folks talked about some women, the way boys talked of girls. That they were pretty or beautiful, or grand. No one ever said things like that about her. They usually only commented on how they hadn’t noticed her.

He didn’t say a word as she leaned her hair back, letting the heat dry it. He just stared as she stood before him. The fire danced in his eyes as a slow smile spread across his lips.

‘‘Are you warm enough?’’ he finally whispered.

Kora felt his words were touching her somehow across the space between them. ‘‘Yes,’’ she answered.

‘‘Then take off the wrapper.’’ His voice was low, a little rough as always, but she wasn’t the least afraid.

Slowly she pulled the belt free and let the wrapper slip from her shoulders. The camisole she wore was bound at the waist by her muslin underskirt. The skirt pulled the silk tight over her breasts.

She reached behind her and pulled the ribbons of the skirt. It tumbled, joining her wrapper. Her underdrawers were damp from the rain and clung to her knees.

For a long while, Win was silent, but she could feel him watching her. Devouring her with his gaze. With the firelight behind her, he could see the outline of her body clearly through the thin clothing. His change in breathing confirmed her theory. Kora smiled and turned slowly.

Finally he offered his hand and she moved to him, sitting on the arm of his huge chair as she had before.

‘‘I’ll never get over how easy you come to me,’’ he whispered. His fingers brushed her throat as though he were touching velvet. ‘‘Even when I hurt you, you come back to me. I didn’t have to win your hand, or promise you foolish things like love. I don’t have to flatter, or give you things, or pamper you. You just come to me. You’re like a rainbow that follows my stormy life.’’

It was the first time he’d ever said such things. Kora knew it by the awkwardness in his voice.

‘‘I’d think of you all soft, but when Cheyenne came in earlier, he told me you threatened to kill Andrew Adams.’’ Win laughed. ‘‘Did you really hit him with that old rifle and threaten to slit him open with a knife?’’

‘‘I did,’’ Kora answered. ‘‘I think he was afraid of me by the time we got to the settlement. He’s probably glad to be rid of me.’’

‘‘Well, I’m glad to have you back.’’ He pulled her across his lap and kissed her as she’d wanted him to when she first got home.

Kora sighed and relaxed against him. ‘‘Am I hurting you?’’ She would have sat up, but his hand on her shoulder held her in place.

‘‘No,’’ he said. ‘‘Be still, Kora. You’re where you belong.’’

As he stroked her hair, he asked, ‘‘Do you think Andrew is a part of moving the cattle across my land?’’

‘‘No. He would be if he were smart enough, but the man has no idea that my kidnapping was just what they wanted. He thought he was just getting a wife and if he kept me around a few days I’d decide to stay.’’

‘‘And would you have?’’

Kora opened her eyes and stared at him. ‘‘No,’’ she answered. ‘‘I’d have died first. I’d have killed him if he’d tried to bed me. Just his touch made me shiver.’’

Win could hear the anger in her voice. Cheyenne might have told him the facts, but Kora provided the emotion. ‘‘Tell me every detail,’’ he asked. ‘‘From the time he kidnapped you until Cheyenne and Jamie found you. Let every detail out, and then we’ll never have to speak of it again.’’

Kora looked down. ‘‘I’m not sure I can,’’ she whispered.

‘‘Everything,’’ he answered. ‘‘You’re safe in my arms now.’’

Slowly she began to talk. She told of the pain of being tied to the chair and how Andrew slapped her. She shivered when she spoke of the way he’d grabbed her hip and tried to hurt her. Of how he demanded she promise to be still when he bedded her that night. She related meeting Rae and how the woman had helped her.

While she talked Win stroked her gently, wiping away a tear, moving his hands along her arms, silently washing away the pain.

When she finished, Win was right, she let go of the anger. She stretched and relaxed as his hands moved gently over her.

‘‘What about my touch?’’ he whispered against her ear.

‘‘I love your touch,’’ she answered.

‘‘Then, darling, I’m going to touch you tonight.’’

She wanted Win close, closer than she’d ever allowed anyone. Somehow it had always felt right to let him touch her. And tonight it felt like heaven.

Win’s fingers spread over her camisole, molding the silk to her warm flesh. Slowly he pulled the ribbons free, but he seemed in no hurry to part her garment. He ran his fingers from her throat to her waist, feeling the sides of each breast before bringing it into view.

His hands were large and rough from hard work, but the way he touched her made her feel valued and beautiful. He brushed his fingertips over the lace, pushing it slightly down until the camisole barely covered each peak. He moved the back of his fingers over her sides, sliding along the material, pressing gently so that the valley between her breasts deepened.

The firelight sparkled in his dark eyes, telling her of his pleasure as words never could. He took his time exploring her body gently so that he could touch her wherever he liked and see all he wanted. His palm slid up her leg and pushed her drawers high, then he tugged suddenly, pulling the waist until her bare skin showed and the garment clung to her hips. As he had with the top, he pushed it lower and lower, a fraction of an inch at a time.

His large hand circled her exposed abdomen, pushing the camisole higher and the underwear lower. Then he stopped, one hand at her waist, the other in her hair, and looked at her.

‘‘Do you mind this?’’ he finally asked, as if expecting her to say yes. ‘‘I’ve heard some women do.’’

‘‘No,’’ she whispered.

‘‘And if I touch you like this every night?’’

‘‘I wouldn’t object,’’ she answered as she stirred slightly in his lap, stretching, knowing the thin garments revealed more with each move. ‘‘I like it a great deal.’’

He rewarded her by sliding his fingers more boldly over her warm flesh. He cupped her head and raised her lips to his. The kiss was long and searching, leaving her lips pouty and her mouth hungry for more. He’d break the kiss to stare at her, watching her thinly covered chest rise and fall until her breathing grew regular once more. Then he’d pull her mouth to his again.

Slowly Kora’s tired muscles relaxed. She matched his kiss with equal longing, and when he released her lips, she rested in his arms, loving the way he stared at her. His fingertips would trail between her breasts in long lazy strokes, then the hunger would return and he’d raise her mouth to his again.

When he finally pushed the silk aside, she was begging for his touch. Her breasts felt full and hard with need.

He shifted her, pulling her up in his lap.

‘‘Relax, darling,’’ he whispered. ‘‘I’m not going to hurt you.’’

She leaned her head against the side of the wingback chair as his mouth traveled down her throat.

‘‘Shhh,’’ he mumbled as he moved his hands to her back and pulled her to him, capturing her breast in his mouth.

Kora stiffened at the sudden flood of sensations and tried to push away as her soft flesh was pulled farther into his warm mouth and he began to taste her fully. But she didn’t make a sound as he held her fast, ignoring her efforts to pull away. His grip was strong and his hunger grew as he continued to feast on her. Finally her jerky movements slowed and she stopped trying to move away. She settled into his arms and allowed him to taste.

When she’d settled against him, he raised his head. As he stared into her eyes, he cupped her wet breast with his hand and fondled it gently. She knew he was giving her time to object, but she didn’t say a word. With a slow smile, he leaned over her and kissed her.

‘‘That was wonderful,’’ he mumbled against her lips. ‘‘Now turn, darling, and let me taste the other. I’ll have my fill of you tonight.’’

She hesitated, still feeling the warmth of his mouth on her skin and the taste of him on her tongue. His breath was warm against her throat as he waited.

Slowly she turned, offering him the other virgin breast. He took it as he had the first, hungrily. She jerked again at the sudden feel of his mouth, but he held her close, not allowing her to break free. As he had before, he made her flesh his, and as he did, she relaxed in his arms.

When he finished tasting, he leaned his head back and took a deep breath, one hand resting on her back, the other covering one tender breast.

‘‘You taste so wonderful,’’ he whispered. ‘‘Like a wine I’ll always crave.’’

His thumb moved in lazy circles over the point of one nipple. Kora sighed in pleasure. His touch was spreading a warmth through her body. She couldn’t believe she’d first pulled away, for now she longed for more.

He lowered his mouth for another taste, only this time he didn’t hold her. She could pull away at any time. Yet, she remained. When he raised his head, she shifted, offering him the other. Her skin was sensitive now, flushed with warmth, wet from his kiss.

Slowly she accepted his touch, his mouth, his tongue all along her body. Slowly she relaxed, allowing him to move her, and mold her, and taste her wherever he liked. Slowly the silk disappeared completely and flesh touched flesh. She was lost in the beauty of being cherished.

When she was long drunk on his touch, he stood and pulled her to the couch. He lifted a blanket and wrapped it over her bare shoulders, then lowered her to the cushions. Kneeling beside her, he kissed her until the room filled with stars and she stretched contentedly.

He no longer had to tease her mouth open. With the touch of his lips on hers, she freely opened, giving him what she knew he hungered for. Her body responded to his hands, warm and soft and willing.

Without a word, he opened the front of the blanket and traveled down her throat. Now she cried in pleasure, feeling a bolt tingle through her. As he nibbled, she began to move slightly from side to side.

His hand slid down her body, opening the blanket. Pressing his palm gently against her abdomen, his mouth moved back up to her lips with his kiss.

‘‘Relax, my love,’’ he whispered. ‘‘Come easy to me now. I’m not going to hurt you.’’

She smiled and opened her mouth to his exploration. His hand inched down between her legs and began to softly brush across her as the kiss deepened.

Again she began to rock, only now his hand between her legs moved with her. She told herself she was giving him what he wanted, but she knew it was a lie. She was taking all the pleasure she could endure. She cried out softly with pure joy, and he increased the pressure between her legs.

Passion’s river flowed over her once more. Only now there was no pain, only pleasure. She felt him touching her, satisfying her, making love to her.

She moved faster, feeling her body shaking with desire. Now she was rocking from side to side against the soft cushions, wanting more. All the blood in her body, all the heat, seemed to be moving to where he stroked. As his fingers pressed deeper into her, he twisted his free hand around her hair and pulled her head back as he covered her mouth with his own.

This time when the scream came it was one of pleasure, exploding within her, and not of pain. He tasted her climax in his kiss and felt her press against his hand in uncontrollable movements.

She drifted back to shallow waters with his kisses light across her face. Now his touch was a part of her, as casual as breathing. There was no shyness, only an overwhelming feeling of being loved.

He wrapped her in the blanket and lay beside her.

‘‘That was…’’ She circled her arms around his neck. ‘‘That was so…’’

Win laughed against her hair. ‘‘I know.’’

His voice was rough, but his hands gentle as they caressed beneath the blanket. ‘‘Go to sleep now, wife. I plan on touching you all night long even while I’m sleeping.’’

And he did. Kora woke twice to find him kneeling beside her, once more setting her body afire as his hands pulled her into the deep waters of passion. He’d please her until her body shook with desire, then he’d hold her again as she slipped back into sleep. He was learning to be gentle, she was learning to be his.

By first light she felt as if she’d slept soundly for a week. She stretched and opened her eyes to find Win staring down at her. He was fully dressed in clean clothes and held a cup of coffee in his hand.

‘‘Did you sleep well?’’ he asked as he hid his smile with a swallow of coffee.

‘‘Yes.’’ Kora pulled the blanket over her shoulders, embarrassed at the memories of what he’d done. She’d never dreamed a man could touch a woman so. And to do it again and again.

He offered her his cup. ‘‘Drink this,’’ he ordered. ‘‘It’s still raining and there’s a chill in the air.’’

Kora swallowed several gulps, feeling not only thirsty, but hungry. ‘‘Thank you.’’ She returned the cup, trying to be formal without allowing the blanket to slip. ‘‘I’ll get dressed and cook breakfast.’’ As she moved, her body ached slightly. He’d touched her all over, and kissed her where she thought no one would ever kiss. He’d made her feel beautiful.

Win just stared at her as she picked up her things and pulled on her wrapper. She could feel him following her movements but guessed he couldn’t think of any more to say than she could. The night seemed a dream away. Something they’d never speak of in the light. She folded the blanket and moved slowly to the door.

Just as she touched the knob, he said in his usual gruff voice, ‘‘Lock the door again, darlin’.’’

She turned toward him and smiled. Without a word she turned the key.