People Will Talk (15 page)

"I want you so bad, I hurt," he
murmured.

He felt the tremor go through her, a longing
that surfaced in her eyes.

She hesitated only a second, her voice almost a
whisper. "Shall we go to the cabin?"

Her willing acquiescence made the blood jump in
his veins. Bending, Bret kissed her, the play of their mouths and
tongues stoking the fire in him. She felt small and soft in his
arms, need and longing all wrapped in the sweetest, most fragrant
package he'd ever held.

******

Chapter Eight

He drew her down to the ground, the thick grass
beneath the tree cushioning them. Every kiss pulled them closer to
the flame. Bret sampled her mouth over and over, his hands urgent
on her body. Everything about her enflamed him, the sweet curve of
her bottom in his hands, the catch of her breath when he nibbled
beneath her ear. He felt her hands on him, urgent and
restless.

The softness of her mouth beneath his was
hungry and giving. He pulled her closer, seeking contact even
through their clothing. She moaned when he cupped her breast in his
palm. Bret unbuttoned her shirt swiftly, pulling back the fabric to
find one nipple with his mouth. He stroked her, reveling in the fed
of her skin against his.

He felt her writhing beneath him, her head
thrown back, her legs intertwined with his as he rocked against
her. Moving to suckle her other breast, Bret tried to slow the
pace. He fondled her, his free hand sliding down to the apex of her
thighs. Even through her jeans, he could feel the heat of her body.
Slowly, he cupped her, his own excitement rising with her every
moan.

Never in his life had the blood pounded so hard
in his veins. He couldn't analyze it, didn't even want to think
about it. Some things didn't need evaluation.

Later, he'd worry about the future, about her
reaction to his offer on the land. Now, he wanted her more than
anything, needed the moments in her arms like a drug.

"Bret," she gasped, "someone ... might see."
The fog in his mind cleared enough to reassure her.

"There's no one here." His voice sounded
unnatural and rough to his own ears. "The ranch hands are in the
east pasture."

His hands unerringly loosened her belt and the
button at the waist of her jeans. He pulled her shirt free and his
hand met the smooth glide of her stomach.

"You're sure there's ... no one
around?"

"Yes." He couldn't think, couldn't lose himself
in her fast enough. Still, he struggled to stay in control. Nora
murmured and moved eagerly against him, her lips reaching for his,
her hands tearing at his clothes. He held still as she tugged the
shirt from his back, enjoying the silken glide of her
fingers.

Her lips traced a warm path along his
collarbone, each kiss a declaration. Every movement-the press of
her bare breasts against his chest, the stroke of her hands on his
belly-told of a woman on fire. She kissed him with an open hunger,
an unashamed sensuality that made him wild.

Kneeling, Bret drew her up with him. He skimmed
her jeans down her slim hips. Poised on her knees beside him, her
open shirt hung from her shoulders, her front-hook bra dangling
like a miniature vest. He became more aroused as he looked at her.
Her breasts were bared to his gaze, the nipples erect, the soft
hair between her thighs luring him closer.

Snatching up his shirt, he threw it on the
ground behind her and gently urged her back so he could wrest her
boots from her feet. In seconds, her jeans landed in the grass, her
slender legs apart in the most erotic pose he'd ever
seen.

He shucked his own boots and jeans in record
time. Kneeling in front of her, Bret bent to kiss her breast, then
moved down to the delicious softness of her stomach. With one hand,
he cradled the small of her back as he sought the soft, moist
treasure between her thighs. He traced the softness, the damp flesh
there an invitation. Her thighs were warm and firm against
him.

He felt her shudder, the action sending a
ripple through his own body as if they were connected. The faint
trembling in his muscles signaled the slipping away of his
control.

He'd never felt so joined with a woman, never
needed anyone the way he needed Nora now. Her skin glowed in the
light. Hunger and yearning thudded in his stomach like a fist,
sucking the air out of his lungs.

He knelt before her, struggling to draw in his
breath, a clog of emotion blocking his throat.

The sharp spring smell of new grass filled the
air. Bret leaned toward her, stroking the full curve of her breast,
loving the soft moan that escaped her as her head fell
back.

She slid a hand over his shoulder, smoothing
down over his chest to pause at his heart. Her knees widened ever
so slightly as her hand dropped lower. Bret flinched as she found
her goal. Exquisite shafts of sensation followed every movement of
her hand. He steeled himself to hold still against the pleasure, to
let the raging sensations ripple over him.

Her touch whispered over his heated arousal,
light but not hesitant. She seemed to love the shape of him, the
palm of her hand smoothing every sensitive inch.

Bret felt his teeth clench, heard a swishing of
blood in his veins, and knew he had to draw back. He gripped her
hand, stilling her movement as he bent his mouth to
hers.

This time, he didn't fumble with the condom.
Every movement was swift and sure, driven by passionate, consuming
need. Kneeling before her, he entered her welcoming dampness. With
every push there was a pull, a rocking, driving union that put his
body in shock and displaced his mind. He felt locked with her, in
her, blindly, completely given over to her. Every thrust felt like
a further connection, a fusing of hearts and bodies. Setting her
arms back over her head, he bent to kiss her breasts.

She tasted of heaven and earth and everything
in between. Bret felt the sudden trembling of her body, heard her
gasping breath as her body spasmed around his. She called out his
name as if searching for a lost lover.

The rushing of his breath caught in his chest
as he buried himself in her, driving toward the highest, brightest
moment. In a spinning, racing tumble, he felt every part of himself
splintering into ecstasy.

He might have called out her name as well. All
he knew was the touch of her around him as he shuddered. Burying
his head in Nora's neck, he drew in the sweet smell of her and for
the first time in his life, fought back a sudden moistness in his
eyes.

Nothing had ever prepared him for loving
Nora.

He rolled onto his side, drawing her with him,
locking her in his arms, unable to speak. For once, he could find
no words.

Suddenly, everything was up for grabs and he
knew he would fight whatever battles were required to keep her in
his life.

"Dammit, Jim I know she offered less for the
land than I did. How much less?"

"Quite a bit," Jim said heavily, his face
clouded.

"I could withdraw my bid," Bret said, his words
coming slowly as he slouched in the chair across from his friend's
desk.

“
You’ve been after that property
for years,” Jim reminded him. "It's the best place for your
airstrip. That Beechcraft Barron you've been looking at won't land
in a cow pasture."

"I know." Bret's hand clenched. The downside to
knowing how to finagle things in life was that you ended up wanting
it all.

"Nora will get over losing the property. There
are other places she can set up that riding school of
hers."

"She has her heart set on this land," Bret said
grimly.

"Maybe you could just talk to her," his friend
suggested. "Tell her that you've had your eye on that plot since
way before she came back to town. That having the airstrip right
there-"

''I'm not in that good with her." Bret
interrupted with an irony he knew Jim couldn't appreciate. Nora's
hunger for him was as immediate and intense as his was for her, but
she'd never given the least hint that she'd give up her dreams for
him. And something inside him didn't want to ask her to.

Jim Snorted. “You haven't met a woman you can't
charm.”

"My reputation is way overblown."

His friend laughed. "Excuse me? I remember the
crowds of women around you when you were rodeoing. And you're a
local hero after winning the Association race ten years in a
row."

"There's only so much mileage you can get out
of that."

"Get real," Jim protested. "You never have to
buy your own beer. Every cowboy within twenty miles around dreams
of breaking your streak."

Bret shook his head. "Maybe so, but that
doesn't have anything to do with Nora."

"Of course it does. Women like
winners."

If only things were so simple. Bret stared out
the window behind Jim's desk, not really seeing the streaming rain.
"Things with Nora- Well, I just don't want to blow
this."

Surprise broke over Jim's face. "So you're just
going to withdraw your offer? That doesn't seem reasonable from a
business standpoint. Mrs. Turner might not even consider Nora's
offer." He broke off, looking flustered. "It is low."

"And Nora is Stoneburg's official jezebel,"
Bret inserted for him.

"Well, it's probably just mean spirited talk.
Some folks don't have anything better to do." Jim shuffled some
papers on his desk. .

"They're talking, all right." Bret straightened
from the chair. "You're right about one thing, Jim. I don't have to
do anything right this minute."

It could still work out. There were at least a
dozen obstacles to Nora getting that land. And even if she did
manage to overcome them, things had gone too far for him to confess
now.

Too many people knew about his plans for the
Turner property. If he withdrew his bid, Nora could still hear
about it. And if she did, he was likely to see an ugly end to her
warm embraces. On some level, she still held back from him, even
without knowing of his interest in the property she
coveted.

Bret shoved his hands into his pockets. He'd
just have to bide his time and hope his luck held out.

"Just come look at it, Nora," Bret said,
propped against the stall as he watched her fussing with Chessie's
tack. "There are fifteen acres just outside of Bluegrove. It has a
barn that's in pretty good condition and plenty of room for a
riding ring."

She brushed at a spot of mud on the leg of her
jeans. "I can't now. I have to go change. I have that appointment
with Mrs. Turner this afternoon."

"That's hours away. We'll run over to
Bluegrove, see this property and be back with time to
spare."

"You must think she'll reject my offer. That's
why you want me to look at this other property," Nora
accused.

Bret tried to draw her into his arms. "It never
hurts to have options. Maybe you'll like this place
better."

"I won't." Nora tugged free, remembering her
promise to herself to try and stay Bret-free for at least a day.
Ever since they'd made love in the pasture, she'd felt irrevocably
bonded to him, connected in a way that made no sense. Despite all
she knew about men, everything felt different with him.

Even though she knew it wasn't.

It still amazed Nora that she'd allowed herself
to roll around naked in an open field with Bret. There'd still been
no talk of love between them. If she'd completely left sanity
behind, she'd ask him how he felt about her. But the thought of an
answer she didn't want to hear left her paralyzed.

Still, she loved him, even without knowing the
terms of their relationship from his viewpoint. With her heart wide
open, she was taking the biggest risk of her life.

"Do you think anyone would notice if we got
naked right here and did the wild thing?" Bret murmured against her
temple as he cupped her bottom. ''I've taken to carrying a few
condoms."

Nora squirmed in his grasp, her body heating to
near readiness at the thought. "We're in the middle of a busy
barn," she said shakily as he nibbled her neck. "Anyone could walk
in."

"Let's risk it. All I can think about is making
love with you." He caressed her breast through the chambray shirt
she was wearing.

"Bret, please," she whispered raggedly. "One of
your ranch hands could walk in.”

"Okay." He straightened with a regretful sigh.
"At least come with me to this property. It's a glorious day. We
should enjoy it since we're bound to get another thunderstorm
soon."

"I don't know," she hesitated, struggling with
an urge to go home and get dressed for the appointment.

"Come on. It'll take your mind off Mrs.
Turner." He took her hand and tugged gently, leading her out of the
stall.

"Are you sure we'll be back in time for me to
change? I can't go to see Mrs. Turner smelling like a
horse."

"We'll just nip over there and come right back.
I promise." He tucked her hand in his. "And I try never to break a
promise."