Cowboys and Highlanders (92 page)

Train captured her hand and rolled towards her. “You’re mad as hell at me.”

“I lied.”

“I thought you said you’d be a good girl.”

“I lied about that, too.”

Train swooped down on her lips, aggressive, demanding, plunging his tongue into her mouth. She moaned and opened wider. Damn, she was sweet and hot. He licked his way into her mouth, dipping in for taste after taste. Her hips rocked and he leaned into the pressure. They kissed, devouring each other. Train crushed his chest against the soft pillows of her breasts. Nipples prodded against the thin fabric of her chemise. He wanted flesh on flesh. But that was further than he was prepared to go.

Marion’s arms wrapped him tightly. Her hands roamed aimlessly. White-hot desire licked, igniting him into flames. Eager fingers moved down the side of his torso, teasing him with anticipation. He slanted his head and kissed her deeper. His thin underclothing did little to conceal his erection. He was hard and evidence of his desire dampened the fabric. Instinctively, he pressed his shaft against her thigh and ground hard.

Train continued to kiss her, gasping a breath in time with hers, then sliding his mouth over hers again. Tasting. Tempting. He groaned when her hand slid over his hip and around to the front. Her feminine fingers traced his erection through his underclothes.

He inhaled sharply and pulled away from her lips. Lightheaded, he closed his eyes for a moment. “Please.”

He froze when Marion reached inside. “Oh my God,” she whispered, lifting his heavy weight in her hand. Her fingertips barely touched as she encircled him. Slowly, she lowered her hand and fully stroked the entire length.

Train found her lips again as she continued to manipulate him, stroking the length with firm then soft pressure.

“It’s your turn.” She trailed kisses along his chest as she worked her way down his torso.

“Marion,” he sat up and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Please, don’t.” He closed his eyes and fell back against the pillows bringing her with him. He didn’t want her like this…like a whore. But she was soft, and warm, and she stirred him in ways he didn’t want to control.

“It’s okay,” she said, kissing him again. She lay partially across his chest and continued to tempt him with her mouth, this time demanding more. As he met her ferocity, she took him into her hand again. Her kisses matched the rhythm of her hand. Faster. Harder.

Pressure built in his balls. Heat streaked along his spine. “Damn.” He jolted in a turbulent release. He swore again, gripping the pillow tightly as he emptied his seed into her palm.

He wrapped his arms around her middle, holding her close.

“I think I will like belonging to you,” she whispered into the darkness.

* *
*
* *

Marion woke with a start when TJ pounded on the door. “I want to live here,” she purred, stretching like a feline. Sighing, she sank back into the deep folds of the bed.

Train tossed off the covers. “It’s going to be a long day.” He draped his legs over the side of the bed. When he reached down to grab his trousers off the floor, Marion couldn’t resist the corded muscles of his back. She rose to her knees and ran her hands around his shoulder. She pressed her lips against the side of his neck. Twisting around, Train brushed his lips lightly against hers. “As tempting as you are, sweetheart, we can’t stay.”

Train dressed quickly. “TJ moves fast. Normally he only gives a body time for a cup of coffee. I think I can persuade him to stop at a diner before we head out.” He paused before opening the door. “He’s going to assume a lot more happened last night.”

“I wish it had.” She jumped from the bed unable to keep the smile from her lips. “But you’re teaching me patience. I don’t know how I can hate you and not keep my hands off you.” Actually, now her need reached new heights. Train made her body ache. Coupled with an insatiable want to be with him, she was reaching desperation. “You profess to want to marry me and have all the self control.”

Train smiled, his crooked grin accenting his dimples. “I’m not as strong as you think. It wasn’t easy,” he drawled. He left the room as Marion picked up her dress.

In the main room, TJ was too polite to ask questions regarding the sleeping arrangements. “We received some information on those inquires we wired yesterday.”

“I don’t see the point in looking now, I don’t have any money to contribute.” He also didn’t know how he was going to build a stable, a house, and make or buy furniture to sit on now that he’d spent every dime he had on Marion’s contract.

Technically, Marion could push Sandy to give her part of the profits, except that hadn’t been their arrangement. Marion had no claim to the business until after Sandy’s death.

“Joseph--”

Train’s head whipped around so fast, it cracked. TJ hadn’t called him by his given name since his mother was alive. He’d grown accustomed to Allison using it, but it wasn’t familiar to him anymore.

“I promised your mother in her last days that I’d watch out for you. We’ve got too many years between us not to cut through the bull. Hell, you followed me around from the time you could walk.”

“I made it hard for you to impress the girls.”

TJ chuckled. “Five year olds tend to talk, just ask Sissy. She’ll tell anyone who will listen what she overhears between me and Allison.”

“I know.” Train snickered, not really embarrassed, but knowing TJ would be. “She also relays information about what she sees.”

TJ groaned.

“Don’t worry. It was nothing too wicked.”

“Bottom line, Train, is that I want to go ahead with our plans. We’ll order the lumber and get the house up first. I’m sure you and Marion want privacy.”

He nodded, thinking about last night in the big bed. “Let’s hope I can convince her to stay. But until then, can she stay in the house?”

“Allison wouldn’t have it any other way.” He scratched his head. “Spring seems a long way off, but we’ll have to wait until then to start acquiring stock. The best choices are in California.”

“There’s a place in Wyoming that has a good reputation. I could make a short trip before winter.”

“Not before the first snow,” TJ interrupted.

“Since when has a little snow stopped a Train,” he joked. “I know you’re serious or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We can raise the house, and keep the new horses in your stables until next spring. Marion won’t like the isolation at the lake. She’ll probably want to stay with you and Allison while I’m in Wyoming.”

“You could take her with you.”

“Where?” Marion asked, coming out of the bedroom. She had her hair plaited again. Train was surprised to see her without any makeup.

“If you’re ready.” TJ picked up the leather satchel containing his clothes.

“I need food.” She sounded grumpy.

Train smiled when he looked at Marion. He liked this woman, rough around the edges. A woman capable of taking care of herself who didn’t need her hand held constantly. Train wanted a woman with spirit.

After a fast breakfast, they walked to the livery.

“I still don’t see why we can’t take a wagon to the ranch.”

Train saddled his horse, removing his bedroll and supplies. “Give me your bag,” he said. He handed TJ their belongings to secure to his horse. “I need to lighten the load,” he answered her unasked question. “He’s a strong horse,” he said, patting Clive. “But, it’s a long way to carry two riders.”

“All the more reason to get a buggy, I say.” She folded her arms in front of her chest and rolled her eyes.

“Ready?” He held his hand out to her. “Just think,” he said, lifting her onto the horse. “You’ll have the pleasure of torturing me all day with your body. Won’t that be fun?”

“I guess there is a bright side.” She wrapped her arms around his waist after he mounted in front of her. TJ handed up his rifle, and Train carefully secured it to the saddle horn. “Why do you need a gun?” She rested her chin on his shoulder.

“A gun is a great equalizer.” He kicked the horse in the ribs.

TJ and Train kept an easy pace for the horses as they left Copper City. They passed the brothel. Train felt Marion sigh as her hands went limp around his waist. Hopefully, she’d find life with him a cut above the place she’d left behind. Taking her hand, he held it against his stomach to show he understood.

Marion’s body molded against him. The ride became rougher the farther they travelled away from town. “I have a canteen if your throat gets dry.”

“I hope it’s filled with something other than water,” she said smartly.

“Sorry, you’re stuck with water. You drink too much whiskey anyway.” He enjoyed the way her body stiffened against him. “Here--” He put the reins in her hand so his were free to roll a cigarette.

“Aren’t we a talented pair?” She tried to look around him to see where they were going. TJ rode a few yards ahead.

Using his hand to shield the flame, he tucked his chin close to his chest and lit the cigarette. He quickly lifted his head up and inhaled deeply before handing it to her.

“I’ve come to a conclusion,” he said.

“And what would that be?”

His lips brushed against her fingers as she held the cigarette for him. “The best part about you is the very thing you use to discourage me.”

“Actually, Train,” she used her free hand to wrap around his waist and rest dangerously close to the front of his jeans. “It is the best part of me that I have been trying to show you.”

“Now you want to talk dirty?”

Marion couldn’t see his smile, but she’d heard it. The brilliance of wearing a thin cotton dress had not been apparent until that moment. She gently tugged on the fabric with each step of the horse’s gait as not to alert Train. “No, I want to get dirty.” She gave a final tug leaving her thighs bare as they rested against his.

Train wrapped the reins around the saddle horn and gripped tightly around Clive’s belly with his legs. He couldn’t resist running his fingers over her exposed flesh. His eyes darted between TJ’s back and Marion’s milky-smooth thigh. His trousers became unbearably uncomfortable. He tried to adjust his erection from his position in the saddle.

Marion’s triumphant laugh vibrated against his back.

“You are wicked, woman.”

“I’m going to make you miserable, Mr. Joseph Spencer.”

“Hey now, none of that,” he said of being called by his formal name. “No need to be mean. We’re just having a bit of fun. Joseph is fine for Allison, but I am not Mr. Spencer. Just the sound of it makes me uncomfortable.”

Her hand climbed higher on his stomach. “Care to make a wager?”

“Are you going to cheat?”

“Absolutely,” she definitively stated.

“I’m listening.” He put one hand on the reins, but couldn’t bring himself to remove the other from the silky softness of her inner thigh.

“One week. I bet you can’t last one week without sleeping with me, and no, I don’t actually mean sleeping.”

“What is my prize?”

“I think that should be obvious. I’m your prize.”

Train squeezed her thigh. “It seems I’d win even if I lost.”

“Exactly,” she said happily.

“If, despite all your efforts, I resist for one week, you agree to stay with me…permanently.”

Marion was quiet while she considered the magnitude of a potential loss. No efforts thus far had changed Train’s mind. He was determination to wait.

“Before I agree, I need more information. Since you live in the shack, where am I sleeping? I can’t very well plan an assault if we’re not living together.”

“Already willing to admit defeat? No confidence in your abilities, I see.”

She knew he was provoking her, but she wanted the challenge. “If I win, not only do I get your impressive trophy, but you forget about this marriage nonsense.” Before he had a chance to argue, she continued. “If you win, Train, I’ll marry you and get my trophy.”

“Sweetheart, you just made a deal with the devil.” He removed his hand from her thigh and yanked her dress down.

“Believe me,” she said. “I know you have a wicked streak as wide as the devil’s. I aim to use it to my full advantage.” She rested her forehead against his back. What had she done? Her competitive nature wouldn’t let her intentionally lose, but deep down she acknowledged she’d like to see him win.

Marion was glad TJ gave them privacy at the onset of their journey by riding several yards ahead. But as lunchtime approached, she was ready to get off the horse, stretch her legs, and eat.

Train spurred their horse ahead to ride side by side with TJ.

“Anytime you’re ready to give the horses a break,” he said.

“Forget the horses. What about me?” Marion itched from the sweat dripping down her back. Sticky and wet, her dress clung to her torso, making her even more uncomfortable, not to mention having her legs spread against the man haunting her thoughts since they’d met. No, the situation couldn’t get any more difficult.

They tethered the horses close to the river, allowing them to quench their thirst. Train removed the saddles and spread a blanket on the ground. When Marion returned from the trees, she plopped down and pulled her boots off. Stretching her legs out in front of her, she wiggled life back into her toes.