Beyond The Horizon (34 page)

“You’re entertaining company, Nigel,” Shannon returned. “You’re just what I need right now.”

Clenching his fists, Blade fought the urge to take Nigel Bruce by the scruff of his neck and toss him off the porch.

“There is a spring ball next week. Would you allow me the pleasure of your company?”

Shannon nearly refused, then thought better of it. Why shouldn’t she have a good time while Blade was cavorting with whores? It wasn’t as if Nigel could take Blade’s place, but he was amusing enough to distract her from her dismal thoughts.

“I’d be happy to go with you, Nigel.” Though she agreed readily enough, her heart wasn’t really in it.

Expecting a refusal, Nigel was thrilled by Shannon’s unexpected acceptance. “Splendid!” He was so pleased with himself that he grabbed Shannon and kissed her soundly on the lips before she realized what was happening. Then he turned abruptly and bounded down the steps. He passed within inches of Blade, whose rigid self-control was within seconds of shattering.

Shannon stood in the doorway staring thoughtfully after Nigel. She was shocked when Blade suddenly materialized from the deep shadows, his bronze features and midnight eyes grim with cold fury. He frightened her and she turned to flee into the house. When she turned to slam the door in his face, he was close on her heels. Grasping her waist, he pushed her through the opening and followed her inside. He shoved the door shut with his foot and stood glaring down at her.

“It didn’t take you long to replace me, did it?” he spat disgustedly. “Have you bedded the remittance man yet?” He hated himself for taunting her so cruelly, but he couldn’t stop the words from tumbling past his lips.

“How dare you!” Shannon’s Irish temper exploded, hitting Blade squarely. “I’m no longer any of your concern. I begged you to marry me, but you refused. It’s my business now who I see or don’t see.” Not one to mince words, Shannon was ever forthright in expressing her mind.

“It wasn’t my idea to break our—our—”

“—affair,” Shannon said bluntly, for lack of a better word.

“Dammit, Shannon, what we had was no shoddy affair,” Blade said defensively, fighting the self-accusing thoughts plaguing him.

“Prove it!” she challenged. “Marry me.”

“I will, but not now.”

“Good-bye, Blade. Mama always said I inherited the Branigan pride, and I’ve choked down enough pride for your sake. I can swallow no more. Keeping our love secret and sneaking around shames me, and I’ll have no more of it.”

“God, you’re beautiful when you’re angry, Little Firebird.” Blade grinned with easy arrogance as their gazes locked in silent struggle, each aware of something binding and powerful building between them. Shannon’s breathing grew shallow and labored. Blade hadn’t so much as touched her and yet she felt the heat of his caress, tasted the flame blazing inside him.

Before Shannon could stop him, he pulled her up against him and his lips were on hers. He caught her with her mouth open and took full advantage of it. While she struggled and shoved impotently on his hard, unyielding chest, Blade kissed her with a power and passion that was so blatantly sensual, Shannon felt hot spurts of blood surge through her veins despite all her efforts to remain unresponsive.

One muscular arm hooked firmly around her; her soft curves molded against his ungiving length. He kissed her hungrily, aggressively, his tongue plunging deeply into her warm, moist mouth. Finally, just as he intended, she quit struggling and her moans of outrage changed to soft little sighs of rapture.

“Can you honestly say another man stirs you the way I do?” Blade asked when he finally released her.

Shaken, Shannon remained stubbornly mute, unable to move or deny his words. “I thought not,” Blade smirked smugly.

Finally Shannon found her voice, a strangled sound deep in her throat. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Because I want you. Because I can’t stand this coldness between us—and because I love you.”

“But apparently not enough,” Shannon observed with bitter emphasis.

“More than you know,” Blade acknowledged cryptically. “I want to make things right between us.”

“How do you intend to do that?” Shannon challenged skeptically. “Are you prepared to give up on this investigation?”

The time came for Blade to make a decision and he did, in his usual forthright manner. Life without Shannon was no life at all.

“No, but I’m ready to tell the world how much I love you, that you’re mine until the end of time.”

“Oh Blade, I love you so much,” Shannon cried, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

“Show me how much, Little Firebird,” Blade groaned, his need for Shannon an aching torture.

With an agile combination of hard muscles and strong shoulders, Blade swung Shannon up in his arms and carried her to the dimly lit bedroom. Carefully, he lowered her atop the soft surface of the bed. Leaning over her, he cupped her flushed face, gently brushed her eyes, nibbled her bottom lip and whispered into her mouth, “I’m going to light a lamp so I can see all of you.”

He was back in a few minutes and sat on the bed facing her, one long leg folded beneath him, the other foot balanced on the floor. For a long breathless moment, he did no more than gaze at her, lightly caressing her upturned cheek, thinking how incredibly lovely she was. He leaned over her, kissed the moist corner of her mouth and said, “I’m going to love you, Shannon Branigan, and tomorrow we’ll see the chaplin and arrange for our marriage.”

“Yes, oh yes,” Shannon agreed eagerly as his arms came around her and his hands moved lovingly over her body.

She made no effort to assist as Blade began removing her clothes—first her shoes, then her stockings, gliding them languidly down her legs and off. Next her petticoat came away with effortless ease. Then Blade was kissing her again, his hands moving deftly beneath the folds of her skirt. His breath was hot against her cheek, igniting a fever deep within her. Shannon arched to him, threw her head back and sighed as his questing fingers skimmed her trembling thighs. Instinctively her knees fell apart and she shivered in delicious expectation.

Shannon felt as though she might burst into flame, and with breathless whimpers urged him to touch her where she burned the hottest. With an impatient gesture Blade removed her dress and tossed it aside.

With practiced skill, Blade kissed and caressed the trembling woman in his arms until she was squirming and thrashing, begging him to end his loving torment. When his heated lips climbed the soft mound of her breast and closed around its arching peak, sucking on the hard nipple, the air exploded from her lungs. She was aware only of the sweet aching pleasure his lips gave her as they moved over her chest to her other nipple, his teeth raking tantalizingly over the sensitive crest. Boldly his tongue toyed with her before taking her fully into his warm wet mouth to suck vigorously.

Shannon murmured in protest as Blade’s warmth left her, but he returned in moments, pressing her to his naked flesh, once again kissing and sucking her breasts. Shannon was almost beside herself with ecstasy. At last his lips released his sweet treasure and slid down over her delicate ribs. Her eyes flew open when his hands rested on her hips, lifting her to the hot, teasing warmth of his mouth.

“I want to taste you all over,” Blade murmured against the trembling flesh of her belly.

“Blade …”

Opening his mouth he touched his tongue to her.

Shannon called his name again and spasmed from intense pleasure. Abruptly his hands slid around to grip her bare bottom, wanting to take her all the way with his mouth. Holding her close he sank his face deeply into her, feasting, stroking her with his tongue until she was panting and tossing in wild delirium. The sweet tension was unbearable, spiraling hot and molten upward from where he was kissing her. It felt so marvelous she never wanted Blade to stop, would surely die if he did.

“Blade, please, please …”

Blade’s hands tightened, cupping her rounded bottom, teasing, lashing, until he took her over the top. Her climax came in jerking spasms, her fingers digging into his bronze back. He stayed with her while total ecstasy claimed her, until the last tiny tremor passed and her body went limp. With gentle, trembling hands, Blade placed Shannon atop him, soothing, patting, pressing kisses to her damp temple until her pulse slowed and her breathing returned to normal.

“Come with me, Little Firebird,” he whispered as he lifted her hips and sank full and deep into her.

“I don’t think I can,” Shannon sighed, limp and sated.

“It’s all right, love, just relax,” Blade said, smiling with wicked delight. Did he know something she didn’t?

Then he began a slow, steady surging of his hips and miraculously, a wild sweet pleasure built inside Shannon. She gasped, amazed that desire could flare again so swiftly.

And so it went throughout the night. Sometimes their mating was as hot and wild as an inferno, other times slow, lazy, sweet. They made love, rested, then made love again—and again—until sheer exhaustion plunged them into a deep dreamless slumber, still clinging to one another, arms and legs entwined.

Blade was annoyed to discover he had overslept the next morning. He intended to be gone long before daylight. But sleeping with Shannon in his arms had been so incredibly wonderful that he had slept peacefully for hours. He dressed hurriedly and quietly so as not to disturb Shannon. Guilt assailed him when he thought how thoroughly he had exhausted his Little Firebird. She had been extraordinarily sensual last night, so wonderfully wanton, so delightfully sexual. God, he loved her! She looked like an angel lying in bed, her skin flushed from his loving, her mouth swollen from his kisses. He didn’t have the heart to waken her.

Before Blade let himself quietly out the door, he scribbled a brief note and placed it on the pillow beside Shannon. He meant what he said when he told her they would talk to the chaplain today about their wedding. But first he wanted to change his clothes and tell Wade Vance about his decision.

Blade had just reached his quarters when he was grabbed from behind. His hands were tightly bound and he was forcibly restrained before he realized what was happening. Snapping his head around, Blade was stunned to see Lieutenant Goodman grinning evilly at him while three burly enlisted men held him prisoner.

“You’re under arrest for murder, Injun.”

Chapter Eighteen

S
hannon stretched luxuriously, her body tired beyond
belief yet feeling more content and at peace than she could ever remember. Knowing that Blade loved her and that they would soon be man and wife made up for all the heartache she’d suffered in the past. The terrible war, losing her beloved father and brother, being forced from the home she loved, were all sad memories she intended to bury. With open arms Shannon embraced the future. A wild new land, a steadfast love, and the promise of tomorrow all beckoned to her.

She spied Blade’s note immediately. His special scent still clung to the pillow as she snatched up the single sheet of paper. A dreamy smile curved her kiss-bruised lips as she read his words. He’d be back after he talked with Wade Vance and informed him of their plans to wed immediately.

Since it was Saturday, Shannon took her time bathing and dressing, reliving every delicious detail of their night together. She had thought it physically impossible for a man to love a woman so many times in so many ways, but Blade had proven just how little she knew. His stamina was amazing, she thought, giggling.

Shannon ate a leisurely breakfast, devouring every morsel; her appetite was enormous. But as morning edged toward noon, she began to fret. A nagging fear tugged at the corner of her brain, an unexplained dread that could only be rationalized in her woman’s intuition. As she paced her small parlor, anxiety rode Shannon, and some sixth sense told her Blade needed her. She had no idea where to begin looking for him, but Major Vance’s quarters seemed like as good a place as any.

As Shannon strode across the parade ground, she noted the increased activity, more than was warranted for a Saturday morning. Alarm bells went off in her head, though she was unable to give her fear a reason.

“Shannon, have you heard the news?”

Shannon whirled to see Claire Greer hurrying toward her, bursting to tell someone her scandalous news. Shannon’s heart beat like a triphammer; she didn’t want to ask but knew she must.

“What news, Claire? What happened?”

“Major Vance was murdered in his quarters last night.”

“Oh, no!” came Shannon’s shocked reply. She was truly fond of the man and devastated to learn of his death. She could well imagine what it would do to Blade, for they had been close friends for years. No wonder he hadn’t shown up yet. She turned to leave. Blade would need her now.

“Wait. There is more,” Claire said, placing a restraining hand on Shannon’s arm.

Impatient to leave, Shannon slanted an inquiring look at Claire. “Well, what is it? Have they arrested the killer?”

“Yes, and you’ll never be able to guess who it is.”

“Claire, I don’t have time for guessing games.”

“The half-breed was arrested early this morning and charged with Major Vance’s murder.”