To Tame a Renegade (28 page)

“It’s the only way to keep Chad from leaving.”

“I think you’re wrong.”

“About you loving Chad?”

Sarah’s cheeks pinkened. “I… I suppose you’re right about that. It’s been difficult to admit it because of my distrust of men. No man has ever been as good to me as Chad. I think you’re wrong about Chad loving me, though. He feels responsible for me, and he does care for me in so far as he’s able to care for any woman. But love is a strong emotion. And we both know Chad’s emotions are on shaky ground. He’s utterly consumed by what happened at the Rocking D. There’s no room in his heart for me and Abner.”

“Shall we disprove your theory?” he challenged. He gave her a dimpled, heart-stopping smile that would have made most women swoon.

“Do you truly mink the subterfuge will keep Chad from leaving?”

“I’m willing to give it a try. How about you?”

Sarah nodded slowly. She didn’t know Ryan very well, but he seemed to have his brother’s best interests at heart. She prayed it was so, and that she could trust him.

Chad suspected something was going on between Ryan and Sarah, but he had no idea what it could be. In the following days, he noticed that Ryan and Sarah were often together, their heads bent in intimate conversation. He couldn’t imagine what they had to talk about. It made him madder than a wet hen to see Ryan coaxing a smile out of Sarah, and treating Abner with easy affection.

He tried to tell himself he didn’t care, that once the sale of the Rocking D was completed and the money banked, it didn’t matter what Sarah did with her life. He’d asked for no commitment, nor did he extend any hope that he’d return to Dry Gulch any time soon. He just hated to see Sarah get mixed up with Ryan. He loved his brother dearly, but Rogue Ryan wasn’t the type of man Sarah needed. Once he got what he wanted from Sarah, he’d go on to his next conquest It made Chad spitting mad to think that Ryan had seduction on his mind when he hired Sarah as housekeeper.

One day Sarah announced that she was going to the hen house to gather eggs. When Ryan followed a few minutes later, Chad decided to tag along behind his brother. He found them both in the barn, apparently meeting there for a prearranged tryst. Chad saw red as he slipped noiselessly into the barn. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Then he saw Sarah in Ryan’s arms and the breath slammed from his chest. His anger was such that he feared he’d kill someone if he didn’t leave immediately. He spun on his heel and stormed out of the barn.

“I think he saw us,” Sarah whispered when she saw Chad make a hasty departure. “He looked mad.”

“I knew he’d follow me when I left the house minutes after you did.”

A worried expression marred Sarah’s delicate features. “What if we’re wrong? What if Chad doesn’t give a hoot what I do?”

“You saw how he reacted. He’s cross-eyed jealous. But even if he isn’t, I kind of enjoyed our little flirtation.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Holding a beautiful lady in my arms isn’t hard to take.”

Sarah blushed and stepped away. She didn’t know how to take Ryan. Did he really have his brother’s best interests at heart? Sometimes she wondered.

Chad spent the rest of the day fuming in impotent rage. Every time he visualized Sarah in Ryan’s arms, he wanted to do someone bodily harm. Sarah was headed for trouble if she succumbed to Ryan’s seduction. He knew what his brother wanted from a woman. Hell, he’d been just like Ryan two years ago. It was amazing how time and events changed a man.

Chad shoved his food around on his plate that night at supper, annoyed at the way Ryan was teasing and flirting with Sarah. If Sarah’s blushes and shy smiles were any indication, she appeared to be enjoying every minute of Ryan’s flirtation. He decided abruptly that it was time to have a talk with Sarah. Given any encouragement, Ryan would have Sarah in his bed before she could blink her eye. It was up to him to warn her about his brother’s reputation as a womanizer.

Sarah tucked Abner in bed that night, then went to her room. Ryan had gone out to the bunkhouse after supper and she had no idea where Chad was. He appeared angry and withdrawn at supper and Sarah was surprised that Ryan’s charade was working so well. Chad had said nothing more about leaving, and the longer he stayed the less likely he’d be to get out before spring. Weather had been exceptionally mild of late, but the winter was well on its way.

Sarah shivered as she undressed, washed, and slipped into a flannel nightgown. The nightgown had just settled around her ankles when the door burst open and Chad stepped into the room. He closed the door and leaned against it, glancing around as if surprised to find Sarah alone.

“Where’s Ryan?” he asked harshly.

Sarah froze, shock and anger warring within her. “How should I know?”

Chad shrugged, walking deeper into the room. “You and Ryan are awfully close these days.”

Sarah felt a surge of joy. Had Ryan been right? Was Chad jealous? “What of it?”

Anger sizzled through Chad. “You don’t know Ryan. He’s a womanizer. He’ll break your heart. You’re an innocent, Sarah. Falling for Ryan isn’t in your best interest. Have you bedded him yet?”

Sarah stepped back as if struck. How could Chad say such a mean thing to her? Lashing out at him seemed her only defense. “What if I have? You don’t want me.”

Chad nearly leapt across the room to reach her. Seconds later she was a captive in his arms, molded against him, chest to chest, thigh to thigh. He stared down at her, his teeth bared in a feral smile.

“Not want you? Where in the hell did you get that idea? Not a minute goes by that I don’t want you.”

Chapter 14

T
he breath caught in Sarah’s throat. The wanting was mutual. She needed Chad as desperately as he needed her. She could pretend that he loved her as much as she loved him, but her heart knew better. In this relationship, love was one-sided. Falling in love with Chad had truly surprised her. Her experience with Freddie Jackson had led her to believe that all men were brutal animals who took what they wanted when it wasn’t freely given. Nothing in Sarah’s life had prepared her for Chad Delaney.

Life had treated Chad nearly as shabbily as it had her, Sarah reflected. He wore the burden of guilt willingly, believing himself responsible for four deaths, when in truth he was blameless. Chad was a remarkable man. Sarah found no flaws in his character. He was basically kind and exceedingly compassionate. He made love to her as if she were special. He gave her back her self-worth.

Chad regarded Sarah with trepidation as he waited for her to either deny or confirm her involvement with his brother. When she continued her silent introspection, he gave her a little shake.

“Dammit, Sarah, tell me. Have you let Ryan make love to you?” His voice sounded as if it had been scraped raw.

“What would you do if I said yes?”

Chad’s expression hardened, his arms tightened around her like a vise. “I’d beat him to a bloody pulp. He’s only playing with you, Sarah. You don’t know Ryan like I do.”

“Ryan has been awfully good to me and Abner.”

“Ryan isn’t a monster. He isn’t cruel or heartless. He’s merely a womanizer. He can’t help it. It’s in his blood.”

“I don’t expect a commitment from Ryan,” Sarah informed him.

“If you’re bedding him, you damn well better ask for a commitment,” Chad growled.

Sarah lowered her voice to a whisper. “I never asked
you
for one, Chad.”

“We’re not talking about me, we’re talking about Ryan.”

“You’re the only man I’ve made love with, Chad. I don’t count Freddie Jackson. What he did to me was an obscenity.”

A great shudder passed through Chad. He stared at her for the space of a heartbeat, then lowered his head and claimed her lips. At first his kiss was hard, demanding, possessive, men his mouth softened, becoming teasing and seductive. He nibbled at her lip, then drew her full lower lip between his teeth. His hands cupped her face, holding it in place while his mouth ravished hers. Blood pounded in his veins, seared his skin, and pooled between his legs. He wanted to make love to her; he needed to be inside her, to taste her sweet passion once again.

Her lips were warm, pliant against his, and when she began to make frantic little cries deep in her throat, he knew there was no turning back.

“I want to make love to you,” he whispered hoarsely.

“I want that too,” Sarah moaned, clinging to him as if he were her anchor in a storm that threatened to sweep her away.

“Can you accept me the way I am, sweetheart? I don’t know if I’ll ever defeat my demons, but if I do…” His sentence ended abruptly. He didn’t want to give Sarah false hope. He couldn’t predict the future.

“I didn’t always trust you, but I’ve always accepted you, Chad. You’ve been a wonderful friend to me and Abner.”

Her words shamed him. It made him feel as if he were using her. “You make me feel like a heel. You deserve better than me. Perhaps I should leave.”

Sarah’s arms tightened around his neck “Don’t go.” Her voice held a note of desperation. “I need you. Make love to me, Chad.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very sure.”

He gave her a dazzling smile and gently disengaged her arms from around his neck. Gazing deeply into her eyes, he began to unbutton her flannel gown. Seconds later, he whisked it over her head and tossed it aside She stood utterly still as his admiring gaze swept the length of her, pausing briefly on her breasts before continuing down past her flat stomach, to the curly black patch between her legs.

Abruptly he dropped to his knees, grasped her bottom, and pressed his lips to her stomach. He was aware of nothing but her enticing scent, her delicious taste, the feel of his hands on her, and his blood thickened with sweet languor. Yet there was a power to it. He’d never felt stronger in his life.

His hands slid between her thighs, parting them so his mouth could find her. His tongue darted into the fragrant, dewy folds, holding her hips as his mouth devoured her. He felt her go rigid, heard her cry out, felt her fingers dig into his hair. He made a gurgling sound deep in his throat. His shaft was hard and heavy and ready to burst.

The buzzing in Sarah’s ears grew louder. She felt her knees grow weak as Chad’s mouth worked unspeakable magic on her pliant flesh. When his thumb began to massage the hard little nub at the apex of her thighs, she went wild. She exploded in a rush of pleasure so intense she thought she’d die of it. Then she did. When she came to her senses a few minutes later, she was lying on the bed beside Chad. He had removed his clothing and was bending over her, smiling down at her.

“What happened?” she asked as she lifted her hand to the hard planes of his face.

“Did you like it?”

“It was… wonderful.” She glanced down at his sex and saw that he was still massive and fully aroused. “Can I do that to you?”

The mere thought of Sarah’s mouth on him made his shaft jerk and spit “You don’t have to.”

She leaned up on her elbow and stared into his eyes, her own darkened by desire. “I want to.”

His heart hammered in his ears as he clasped her head between his hands and slowly brought it down to his groin. She nuzzled blindly against his belly, stroked him with her tongue, then drew his erect flesh into her mouth.

She tasted him fully, moving her mouth up and down the pulsing staff as her hands roamed his naked flesh, memorizing every glorious inch of his powerful form. The scent of his arousal titillated and provoked as she savored the saltiness of him on her tongue. She felt him stiffen, knew he was close to the edge, and reveled in her own sense of power. Then suddenly he lifted her and brought her on top of him.

“Take me inside you,” he said on a breathless gasp. “God, woman, you can’t begin to imagine what you do to me.” He raised her slightly, flexed his hips, and thrust forward, impaling her in one long slide.

Sarah could find no reply to match the indescribably erotic feeling of Chad’s turgid flesh pushing into her as she thrust down against him, bringing him deeper. Then all conscious thought fled as she lost herself in the pleasure of his loving. When her climax came she embraced it fully, gloriously, vaguely aware when Chad shouted her name and spilled inside her.

Sarah came to her senses slowly. She gave Chad a languid smile when she felt his lips grazing across her shoulder blades, stopping briefly to press against the rapidly beating pulse at the hollow of her throat. She gave a gurgle of contentment when his mouth continued down to her breasts, plying the tip of his tongue to her nipples.