GoldLust (5 page)

Two Weeks Later

Emma sat on the couch in her house and flipped through a
book impatiently. She only made this trip back to town to get her tent from the
man who was repairing it and was supposed to be in and back out to her claim in
one long day. But Opal asked her to stay for dinner and offered to cook because
she wanted to discuss some business. Emma was pretty sure she didn’t want
anything to do with Opal’s business, but her errands in town had already taken
longer than expected. Hiking in after dark wasn’t an option. Emma would hear
Opal out, see what kind of business the woman had in mind.

From the smell coming out of the kitchen, it might be worth
it to stay just for Opal’s meal.

Emma set down the book. She couldn’t focus on it anyway.
Instead she wandered into the kitchen to find Opal stirring something over the
stove.

“Do you need any help?” Emma offered.

“Just keep your hands out of my pots,” Opal threatened with
a smile.

“I already tried to get my hands on some of that delicious-smelling
goodness,” Kate said as she sat at the table watching Opal cook. “She’s very
protective.”

When Emma first walked in, Kate looked as if she was lost in
her own little world and hadn’t said more than an empty “hello” all afternoon,
but now she smiled up at Emma, completely hiding whatever it was that had been
on her mind.

“Why don’t you pour yourselves a drink.” Opal motioned to a
dark-green glass bottle on the counter. “I bought wine to celebrate our first
month together, and to celebrate the success of my business.” Opal lifted her
glass and took a sip. “It’s imported from Europe, one of my boat captain
customers found it for me, and it’s quite delicious.”

Emma grabbed two glasses from the cupboard and set them on
the counter, and then Kate grabbed the bottle and filled the glasses with the
dark-red liquid.

Opal raised her half-empty glass to Kate and Emma and said,
“Here’s to success, however you define it.”

Success could definitely be defined in myriad ways.

Kate, Opal and Emma clanked their glasses together and each
woman took a sip. It was fruity, and bittersweet and not nearly as bad as the
whiskey that most men had as their alcoholic beverage of choice. Emma could
definitely get through a glass of this.

Opal dished out the food and set it on the table. It was
beef and potatoes and carrots in a delicious-smelling brown gravy. Emma scooped
a huge spoonful into her mouth, and it tasted as amazing as it smelled. The
girl could cook.

“So what’s this business idea you have for me?” Emma wanted
to hear it before the wine and a full belly affected her judgment. Not that she
thought Opal would try to take advantage of her, but Emma had to always be on
guard, had to protect herself. There was no one else to do it. Even when Ben
was alive, she did more of the looking after than the other way around.

“I want to propose selling whiskey to the men who come to
visit me. The women up the street are doing it and bringing in a lot of money.
They charge fifty cents a drink and I think we could get double that. We can
split the profits fifty-fifty. I just thought since you’re rarely here, you
might not mind making a little extra money this way. And when you’re home, we
could close down the saloon…so to speak.” Opal looked Emma in the eye,
unflinching, as she waited for an answer.

“You want to turn my kitchen into a saloon?” The proposition
was sound, at least on the money end, but what about the logistics of having a
house full of drunken, randy men?

“I’ll be sure not to let anyone drink too much. You know how
I despise drunk men anyway. It’s just a chance to do a little entertaining and
make some extra money for both of us. It’ll probably be good to have a little
saved up for the winter. Kate will be gone, but you could easily replace her
rent with this money and you wouldn’t need to find another renter.”

Opal was one hell of a saleswoman, but Emma didn’t expect
anything less. She had a great point. Emma didn’t want to have to find another
renter, especially over the winter. And she still hadn’t found gold.

It would make things easier if she had the extra cash.

Emma blew out a long breath. “We can try it, as long as it’s
okay with Kate. It will be louder in the house, and you can set limits to the
hour of night you would like everyone out.” Emma looked at Kate as she waited
for her response. It was doubtful that Kate would say anything against it even
if it bothered her. Emma needed to make sure she had a say.

“It’s fine with me. I’ll just stick some cotton in my ears.
I do every night anyway,” Kate said with a chuckle.

It probably wouldn’t be a problem, Opal liked to shut down
shop pretty early in the evening. Emma hadn’t known that the reason was because
Opal despised drunken men, but it made a lot of sense as to why she stopped her
services so early.

“We’ll give it a two-week trial period. That’s when I’ll be
back next.” She didn’t know what she was worried about. Opal was responsible
and polite, and could afford to replace anything that got broken, not that Emma
owned anything of value anyway.

“Fantastic. You won’t regret this,” Opal said. “Now drink
up, ladies. It’s time for a celebration.”

The women ate the fabulous food and drank Opal’s wine, and
two hours later they were all a little giddy. And then Emma and Kate turned in
for the night and Opal went to work.

Emma lay alone in her bed while the sounds of Opal and some
man thrusting into her came drifting down through the floor. She put a pillow
over her head, but it didn’t stop the moans of pleasure from disturbing her
peace, and images of James naked in the cave kept invading her mind. Damn the
man anyway.

Her body burned with pent-up need as she lay tossing and
turning, hoping for sleep and not coming even close. Emma could have had him
doing the same thing to her if she hadn’t been so sensible, so stubborn. It was
only human, a natural part of being a woman, to want a man’s cock between her
legs.

But Emma didn’t have to take a man home with her to feel
pleasure. She moved her hands down to the burning need between her legs. She
knew what she liked, knew how she needed to be touched. Why couldn’t she take
care of her own needs? It was what an independent woman needed to do, and she
was damn sure staying independent.

Emma entered a finger into her wetness. It wasn’t James’
cock, but it would have to do. No emotional drama could be caused by her
finger, unlike James. He would always bring trouble. Lots of it.

Emma moved her other hand to her breast and squeezed the
nipple between her fingers just as James had. Her core started to hum.

She moved one finger in and out of the wetness and heat and
then added another. Opal’s moans filled the air along with the slapping of some
random man’s thighs against hers.

Maybe Opal had it all figured out. She had complete
independence, plus her body was being satisfied all the time. The woman made a
ton of money pleasing men. It wasn’t a bad lifestyle. Not nearly as bad as Emma
had thought before she met Opal. Some of the girls had it a lot rougher though.

No, Emma could never be a prostitute. Not unless things were
so dire and it was the only way. She wouldn’t choose it. There were other ways
to keep her body satisfied and keep her independence.

Emma relaxed her head deep into the pillow and moved the
hand on her breast to the front of her quim, while she continued moving the other
in and out of her wetness, searching for release.

Solo satisfaction was going to have to be her solution. She
couldn’t risk getting her heart involved with a man like James, and didn’t want
live the rest of her life without release.

Emma circled her nub and her breath became a pant. She was
close to finding the pleasure she needed. A man wasn’t necessary, but James’
cocky smile still popped into her head. Even alone in her house he tormented
her.

Her fingers worked faster, circling and stroking and plunging,
bringing herself higher and higher until the surging release came on strong and
fast. Her body jolted in pleasure, hips arched upward, head pressing hard
against her pillow, and finally her torment was over. Emma found the relaxation
she was searching for.

To hell with James and the trouble he caused her body. She
could deal with it herself very effectively.

But she couldn’t hide the need to be held in two strong arms
afterward, to fall asleep next to the warmth of a man. Her woman parts might be
taken care of, but there would always be that little nagging in her heart that
wanted more, that wanted a man.

Emma walked silently through the forest with only the slight
cracking of branches to signal her movement down the path toward James’ camp.
The sneakiness of her movement was mostly to give herself the opportunity to
turn back without him knowing she came his way. She had to give herself a
chance to do the smart thing and stay away from the man.

The sun dipped low, painting the sky in bright oranges and
pinks, and the air was cooling off quickly. A view too beautiful not to share
with another human being, at least that was what she told herself the entire
walk over.

Emma had been at her claim for only one day since her last
trip back to town, but was already looking for a little company. She didn’t
need James’ company. She didn’t need anyone, but what would it hurt to take
James up on his offer of friendship? It could get awfully lonely out here.

He was making a fire when she walked up. His big, burly body
bent over the pile of stacked wood, grabbing a log and tossing it onto the
fire.

“Hello.” She didn’t know exactly what to say, or even where
to begin when it came to James. Hello was the only safe bet.

He wasn’t startled by her appearance in his camp, at least
he didn’t act startled. He probably heard her coming.

He finished tossing the wood onto the fire, but didn’t face
her, didn’t say anything for a minute. It made Emma wonder if coming over here
had been a good idea. They had a lot of history and not much of it was good. He
had offered to be her friend, but it could have been him being polite. It
wasn’t likely though. James wasn’t the type to say things just to be polite.

“Have you eaten? I could make you something,” he offered,
sounding just as uncomfortable as she felt.

“I already ate. Stopped working early today.” Emma stopped
out of frustration at not finding any gold. She considered once again that this
whole gold rush might be all a big lie. If she hadn’t seen the pictures of the
buckets full of gold that the owners of this land found here, she might have
left a while ago. They were finding gold all over Alaska, it had to be here
too. Facing the fact it might be a scam, that there was nothing in this area,
had so many other complications for her. And in a way, she could be considered
a part of that scam.

“But thanks for the offer,” Emma said, and he smiled at her.

Maybe he was really going to take this friend thing
seriously. He hadn’t said anything offensive in the first few minutes, which
was out of the ordinary considering their past.

He walked around to the side of the fire closer to Emma and
sat down on a log. His eyes focused on the dancing flames and hid any emotion.

“Any luck today?” Emma stood uncomfortably as she asked the
question, already knowing the probable answer. She didn’t know why she even
asked it.

“Nothing. If I don’t find anything by the end of this
summer, I’m going to quit. Go back to logging or something.” He shook his head,
frustration obvious, and Emma wondered if he blamed her for his predicament.
She wasn’t the one to write the article, but she had been married to the guy
who did. She wouldn’t blame James if he held it against her.

“Yeah. This is probably going to be my last summer as well.
I feel as if I need to keep Ben’s dream alive, but I don’t need to kill myself
working and get nothing in return.”

It was a tough reality to have to face. What if there wasn’t
any gold here? What would she do next? She hated to think about going back to a
city somewhere and getting a job after this, but it might be what would have to
happen. Ketchikan didn’t have many opportunities for an unmarried woman.

“Let’s talk about something else,” she suggested and sat
down on the dirt a few feet away from James.

It was too depressing to think about having to leave. She
didn’t have many marketable skills and she had no interest in finding a man to
support her.

“Okay. What do you suggest?” he asked.

“Let’s talk about us.” She hadn’t planned on being so
forward, or even bringing up the subject, but it
was
something she
wanted to discuss.

Emma sat safely on the dirt, away from James, but when he
got up to toss another log into the flames he moved to sit beside her on the
ground. His thigh pressed against hers, and her body warmed from the inside.
She still wanted him, no matter how hard she tried to deny it. But that fact
wasn’t going to do either of them any good.

“Us?” He raised his eyebrows and stared at her with a
serious expression. “Okay, how do you see this friendship going?” He stretched
his legs out toward the fire and leaned back on both arms, looking relaxed…and
very attractive.

“I don’t know.” Emma let out a frustrated breath. She hadn’t
planned on talking about this, didn’t really know what to say. “We could be
polite to one another, have friendly conversation.”

It sounded very unconvincing, especially when her body was
screaming out for so much more from this man. She could shake the feelings into
almost non-existence when she was away from him, but as soon as she was
anywhere near James’ body the urges to be touched by him came back in full
force.

“That sounds okay.” His eyes sparked with challenge. “What
would you think about us having a friendship with certain…benefits?”

“Benefits?” Her eyes darted to the fire, away from his
knowing grin. Was James really proposing what she thought?

“Yes, benefits.” He slid closer, thigh pressing fully
against hers. Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and the simple touch
sent heat to her core. “They would be benefits I’m pretty sure you’re
interested in.” His words were growled, and a shiver of wanting shot through
her.

James turned to face her and leaned closer. He was near
enough that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek, but she couldn’t look
at him. Didn’t dare let him see just how much she did want him, wanted the
exact benefits he was offering.

James brushed Emma’s cheek with his thumb and grasped her
face in his strong hand, turning it so she couldn’t help but look at him. She
didn’t resist. Maybe she should have, but his commanding touch made her want to
do anything he suggested.

James moved his lips closer and then pressed them gently to
hers, feeling so familiar but wrong at the same time. Emma’s mouth parted
before her brain had the chance to stop it from happening. Her body wanted
more, but she couldn’t be more than friends, she wasn’t even sure she could be
friends with James.

“Don’t try to hide from me again. You want me just as much as
I want you.” James growled the words and pulled her tighter against him. His
warmth infiltrated her space in a delicious way.

Emma didn’t respond, not with words anyway. She couldn’t
stop the feelings that she should be denying him, denying herself. They felt
too good to even consider stopping.

James kissed her again, this time hard, full of passion, his
tongue exploring every inch of her mouth. Emma’s body hummed. She did want
this, but it wasn’t right. She couldn’t commit to being in a relationship with
James.

She pulled away from him, hating every second of it, but she
couldn’t lead James on. “I don’t want anything more than friendship. I don’t
want to get married, or do your laundry or sewing.” Her words were breathy, her
body so damn affected by him already.

“Marriage or laundry or sewing is not what I’m asking from
you. I want your body. Plain and simple.” His words were a growl that sent a
shiver of lust straight to her core, made Emma forget any of the other protests
she had created in her mind. Left her breathless, speechless.

James moved his hand to her inner thigh and rubbed up it,
stopping just before touching her center. She hated that he stopped. Emma
burned so damn hot for him, needed him to touch the depths of her, to put out
the flames.

“Don’t tell me you don’t want the same. It’s just you and me
out here. You don’t have to prove anything to anybody.” He stared at her, his
dark eyes reading her every thought. “Who do you think you’re going to fool? We
both know it’s what you want. Why can’t you admit it?”

She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. He was right. She
wanted him more than she had ever wanted a man. He was offering her just what
she needed, sex without commitment. How could Emma say no?

James kissed her again, demanding. His tongue invaded her
mouth, tasting, teasing, possessing her.

She couldn’t say no, didn’t want to.

“Yes.” Emma said the word simply, letting go of all the
resistance.

Having James was what she really wanted, what she needed
right now.

He tugged on her shirt, pulling it up and over her head, and
her fingers worked to unfasten his pants.

James left hot kisses on Emma’s neck, down her shoulder and
then on her breasts. A jolt of pleasure shot through her. She did need his cock
to quench the fire that burned between her legs, the fire that had been burning
since the first time he had touched her. She hadn’t planned any of this, but he
was definitely what she needed.

Emma stripped out of the rest of her clothes and James
quickly did the same. In a matter of minutes, they were both naked together
again. But this time it was going to end with very different results than the
last time they were naked together. She wouldn’t say no, wouldn’t let her
sensibilities override her needs this time.

James took Emma’s hand and led her toward a blanket. It was
the same blanket they’d lay on when she saved him from the creek.

“I’ve wanted you for so long.” James’ words were hot against
her earlobe, his cock was hard against her belly.

“Mmmhmm,” was the only thing Emma could come up with to express
the way she was feeling. There were no words, no real way to explain how James’
touch made her feel.

James pulled Emma down onto the blanket and then straddled
her. His body covered her with warmth and strength. Her heart pounded and
wetness surged to her opening.

Emma was really going to do this. She was going to let James
touch her in the ways only a man could. It was the perfect compromise. She had
lived too long, seen death too closely to worry about the unimportant things in
life. It was way too late to save her virginity for marriage. She wasn’t
looking for marriage anyway. What she needed was simple, James’ thick cock
between her legs putting out the fire that threatened to eat her alive if she
didn’t do something about it real soon.

The muscles of James’ arms flexed as he held himself above
her, strong and solid. His mouth moved to her breast and she sucked in a sharp
breath as his tongue flicked against her nipple. Another jolt shot through her.

“I need you, James.” She hadn’t meant to say the words. But
she did need him, and that scared the hell out of Emma and invigorated her at
the same time.

“Not yet, sweetheart. I’m going to make sure you have to
come back for more.”

James moved his mouth to her other nipple and gave it the
same tormenting treatment, circling it with his tongue and then sucking it into
his mouth.

Her moan echoed into the wilderness. It was natural for a
woman to want a man to do this to her. All the animals did it out here. She was
only doing what nature intended.

James kissed down her stomach and then let his tongue slide
lightly across her nub. Emma’s core quivered with need. Her hips jerked upward,
needing more, needing his cock.

He flicked his tongue against her nub again and again, and
her core throbbed and just when she thought she would lose control, he moved
up.

“Please, don’t stop,” she moaned, needing the release that
was so close.

“I like it when you beg,” he said and she didn’t find the
need to be offended like she should. There was another need that was much more
pressing at this moment.

James kissed her belly again, and then moved up to position
his cock at her entrance.

“Yes. Ohhhh yes,” she moaned her encouragement and thrust
her hips toward him. She needed his cock, needed James.

He slowly slid his thick rod into her heat and wetness. Her
walls clenched around him, every inch torturously slow. She couldn’t breathe,
couldn’t think. Her hips arched upward, urging him to move faster, needing
release.

James moved in and out another torturously slow stroke and
the world started to disappear. The only thing she could focus on was the
pleasure, close, about to overtake her body.

“You’re so damn beautiful.” His words broke through her
euphoric haze and in that moment, she realized she was falling in love with
James. Hardheaded, conservative James.

“Fuck me now. Please,” she moaned, needing to forget about
love, needing him to take her over the edge, meet her physical needs.

He did exactly what she asked. His thighs flexed and James
pounded his cock into her over and over. And the waves of pleasure screamed
through her body.

“Aaahhhh, James.” Her quim clenched around him, clenching
and releasing and repeating.

He slammed his cock into her again and again, and then
groaned and jerked as he released his seed deep inside her.

James froze for a minute, grinned down at her in that sexy
way only he could, and then he rolled off Emma. The absence of his cock left a
sudden emptiness inside her that scared the hell out of Emma. It was an
emptiness she never wanted to feel, never would have felt if she wouldn’t have
opened herself up to James. Even in her pleasure-induced haze she could see
that, see the danger.

Emma couldn’t have this, couldn’t have James on any sort of
regular basis. He was too dangerous to her heart.

James put a blanket over the top of them and pulled her
against his naked body, holding her tight, skin against skin sharing warmth.

It felt so good, so right, but she shouldn’t be doing this,
shouldn’t be falling for James, shouldn’t be lying in his arms. Tomorrow she
would come up with a plan to rid her system of this need for the man. Tonight
she would let herself enjoy him—pretend things were different because being
pressed up against him felt too damn good to stop.