Microsoft Word - RecklessBounty (22 page)

Man, she’d just died and gone to Heaven!
The Excalibur’s
sonic showers paled in comparison. It was much cheaper, and hell, it never ran out.

“Yes.”

She sighed again, and nearly melted right in front of him. They spent the rest of the meal enjoying idle chitchat, as her mind kept wandering back to Tyler. Was he safe? Was he as apprehensive about the future as she was? Should she even give a damn after all of the grief he’d put her through?

She placed her questions aside, and perused the Red Falcon with as much impatience as she had ever experienced. She wanted him out of her room so that she could strip down to nothing, and jump into the shower that seemed to beckon to her.

She felt grubby, and she couldn’t wait to scrub
all
of the dirt off of her. From what she had been through that day, she wouldn’t be surprised if the grime had worked its way into her pores.

But the Red Falcon still sat there looking supremely satisfied, and then she wrinkled her nose, when she remembered the grand bed that was thrust up against the furthest wall.

Well, if he thought that they were going to enjoy a tumble in it, then he needed something long and sharp thrust up his backside. ‘Course she could always throw him on it, and then knock RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 90

him out. She prepared herself for the worst, when he suddenly stood up and moved toward the bed.

“Don’t get any disgusting ideas. Remember I just ate. You don’t want me to lose my cookies,” Samantha warned, jumping to her feet. Of course, being with a man like him wouldn’t disgust her as she felt quite certain he would be a good lover but she had to ditch him somehow!

He smiled slowly down at her.

“Do not fret, dearest Samantha. I told you that we only needed to keep up appearances. I have spent a sufficient amount of time with you. Devlin only needs to
think
that I have shagged you. He doesn’t need to know the details, nor does Devlin expect me to stay with you all night.

After all, he and Lady Devlin didn’t even share the same room. How do you think I was able to get Tyler to seduce her so easily so he could gain the information that I sought?”

She stared up at him wordlessly. He swiftly moved forward and tilted her chin up so she stared straight into his eyes. They reminded her of sapphires and they were almost the same shade as Devlin’s. Her wet mouth suddenly went inexplicably dry. Her hands started to glow.

She clasped them tightly in her lap, praying he hadn’t seen that. She had to control herself. She loved Tyler; he was the only man for her.

Jordan pressed his lips against her closed mouth, and then pulled away from her almost immediately.

“Though I would have desired a much different reaction from you, I know when I am defeated.” With that he removed his hands from her.

“What do you
mean?
” she asked. She considered his body language, and decided that he was quite hot to trot for her.

“Most women would be wet and willing by now, and they’d be melting in my arms. Yet here you stand unaffected by me. Which only means one thing,” Jordan said, standing just out of range of the door’s sensors.

She still remained in the same place. Intrigued, she asked the question that he had baited with his announcement.

“What does it mean?”

His eyes lost all of their glitter, and he looked as if he’d just lost his best friend.

“It means you’re terribly in love with Tyler, and that you will never have enough room in your heart for anyone but him. The loss is mine, I assure you.”

He moved into the doors sensors, and the door whooshed open. He glided out of the room, and for a split second Samantha wasn’t sure if she wanted him to go.

Well, if Jordan were so sure of her heart’s affections she just wished that Tyler would get rid of his obstinate denseness and come to realize he was the only man she loved.

Samantha quickly undressed, and she allowed herself to focus her thoughts on Tyler. She reached into the shower, and activated the strong flow of hot water. She sighed with contentment, and stepped into the pulsing shower. The water streamed across her back as she washed her hair. She thought back to the day, and snorted realizing it had been the longest day in her whole life.

She had faced everything, and yet here she stood with only a few scratches on the outside, and a whole lot more on the inside. She began humming, continuing her luxurious shower. Thick moist steam rose up around her.
Oh, God she was in Heaven!

Water trickled into the valley between her breasts, and she stopped humming, when a skittering noise caught her attention.

On guard, she quickly turned around when she felt a presence behind her. She flung the RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 91

door to the shower open, nearly hitting the man that stood naked in front of her. Samantha furrowed her brow, staring at him. She stood proudly in front of him, and didn’t mind one bit that he could see everything that she owned.

He opened his arms, and she fell into them. They stumbled back into the running shower, and slammed the door behind them.

RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 92

Samantha woke up, stretching languidly out in the bed. She let out a sleepy, purring moan that started deep in her throat traveled up her windpipe and out her mouth. She curled against the warm form next to her, and sighed deliciously, as she felt his feather light breath on the nape of her neck. He rested his lips against the middle of her neck, and softly kissed her sensitive spot. A rush flowed through her, and she purred like a kitten. His touch was
pure
bliss.

It could take her to places she’d never imagined.

The widest smile she’d smiled in ages formed across her lips, and she turned around in his arms. She stared up in adoration at him, and felt reawakened desire surge through her. He brushed his lips lightly against hers, and she leaned in for more. Reaching her left hand up she brushed it through his wayward hair. His green eyes softened, as the bedside lamplight danced across the surface of her wedding band. With that, he hungrily kissed her mouth again, and she forgot the question that had lain on her lips. In his arms she could forget the entire galaxy. He
was
her world.

No other words had passed between them, save for the sweet nothings they had whispered between each other. She hadn’t wanted to spoil the moment by dredging up the past.

What had occurred between them would
never
disappear. They just had to learn how to get past it. So far, she thought they’d done a pretty bang up job at pretending that it had never happened.

They had the entire future stretched out in front of them. She grimaced. A future that could be snatched away in a heartbeat...if she failed to find the real murderer.

Tyler kissed her again, softer this time. The burning hunger diminished from his kiss.

She frowned. Love shone in his eyes, basking her in a soothing warm glow. Her hand traced down beneath the covers, and she flattened her palm against his muscled chest. It felt warm, and his steady heartbeat pulsed against her hand.

“I’m sorry for all of the pain I caused you, Samantha, my love.” His voice was soft, but held an age-old pain. She blinked.

“
Pain?
What pain? You just gave me pleasure, which quickly transformed into bliss.

I’m afraid I don’t follow what you’re trying to say.” His eyes clouded. Mists swirled within his emotion packed orbs. She fell silent. A slight sigh escaped her before she could reign it back in.

“I was referring to the pain I caused you when I abandoned you.”

“
Abandoned?
” She snorted. “I’m no babe in arms, sweetheart.”

A touch of a frown traced his lips. “You know what I mean.” His eyes hardened. “I should have
never
gotten up on my high horse. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was just so damn frightened.”

“
Frightened?
A New California gunslinger can’t frighten you, so why should I think that anything in my...in our life could? I know why you wanted me to quit bounty hunting.”

“
Do you?
It wasn’t because I felt challenged if that’s what you think.” His soft voice caused goose pimples to emerge across her exposed arms.

“Of course. I know you didn’t feel like a lesser man with me as your wife. You thought I’d end up like my father.” If she’d been anywhere else, she would have been sucked back into the void that traumatic experience had caused in her life. But she was in the safest place she RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 93

knew. She was with Tyler.

He closed his eyes, for the briefest of moments and then opened them again. “I never thought you’d meet the same end. I feared you’d meet your death when you found yourself in too tight of a jam.
I felt helpless
. I couldn’t stand not being able to foresee the future. I don’t want to be the
one
left behind.”

She smiled. “We can’t think of how we nearly messed up our lives. We’ve found our way back to each other, Tyler. I won’t let you go, now that I have you in my arms again. We’ll get through this,
I promise
.” She lifted her hand from his chest and cupped it against his cheek.

He caught her hand, kissed it then held it gently. “Promise me one thing.”

“Name

it.”

“Promise me, that you won’t put yourself on the line for me. If....”

“Don’t think about it. We’re not going to talk about something that will never happen.

I’m going to find the real killer. Then we’ll have our happily ever after.”

“I don’t want you putting yourself in mortal danger for me.”

“Too late,” she grinned. “As soon as I fell for you, I put myself-- my heart in mortal danger. This world isn’t worth living if it doesn’t have you in it.” Their lips met, and they sank deeper into the mattress.

“I should leave now, as in right this minute,” he whispered. His voice conveyed his reluctance and yet she could tell by the look in his eyes that he had to leave. She hated saying goodbye.
Hated it
.

“
Leave?
” she asked. Well, she’d tiptoed around spoiling the moment and he’d just forged right ahead. He’d really stepped in it, this time. He’d stepped in it right up to his knees. Her eyeballs felt as if they were going to pop straight out of her head. “You can’t leave when we’ve just found our way back together. I don’t care what happened in the months when we were apart. I want you. Only you. Any of the things you did, any of the women you met....”

“What women? You’re the only woman that’s haunted my dreams, my every thought. I thought I’d go mad…I wanted you so badly. You’re in my heart. I’ve never given my heart to any other woman, so do you honestly think I could take what
we
have so lightly?”

She wetted her lips. “You’re almost too good to be true. I’d say you’re better than a knight in shining armor. You’re a prince.”

“Thank you.” A cheeky glint entered his eyes. “I always knew I was special.” He chuckled and brushed his lips lightly against hers once again. “Samantha, much as I’d like to stay and have a second honeymoon with you, I must run. Really,” he stressed.

He stared back at her. Hesitation danced in his eyes. Coupled with another look that would probably emerge victorious.
Determination
. Shit. It had only been a few hours. They needed more time. Her eyes flickered to the clock.

“I can’t stay here. Lord Devlin’s people might discover that I left my quarters. The guard had fallen asleep when I slipped free, but she should be waking soon, it has almost been four hours. And, besides, you were the one that fell asleep for two of those hours.” He’d been trailing his hand up and down her back all during their chat. His hand stopped, and pulled her close. He kissed her and then released her. She reached for him again, and pulled him back.

“Samantha.” His voice held irrefutable longing, and yet she could see his point of view. If Lord Devlin’s henchman and henchwomen found him missing…there would be hell to pay. Heaving a great sigh, she lifted her hands off of him.

“You’d better go. Mind you, I’d like to take you and try running for it again, but....”

“Samantha, we can’t run our whole lives. You have a family that would miss you. And RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 94

my family, save for Dylan would crack open a new bottle of champagne if they heard I was on the lam. I am quite certain daddy dearest is right now partying in the hopes that I will be prosecuted to the full extent of New Monaco law.”

True. Sadly, Tyler was right. She had never run from anyone or anything in her whole life, it was pointless to start now, especially when she had so many years left ahead of her.

She watched him and narrowed her eyes. She sighed. He was moving slowly which meant that he didn’t want to leave.
He had to leave. He was right.
She hated it when others were right, and she was wrong. They could have all of the fun they wanted once he was a free man. But that moment seemed a lifetime away.

She slid to the edge of the bed and reached her arms out for him.

“I’ve missed you so much!” Samantha whispered.

He turned back to her and she could see the temptation in his green eyes. He wanted to rip his clothes off and jump back into bed with her. But he buttoned the last button on his shirt, instead.

Close but no cigar, sometimes she just couldn’t catch a break.

“God, you don’t know how much I have missed you, we haven’t had enough time for me to show you just how much,” Tyler promised, pressing his searing lips against hers. Flames of passion crackled between them, and she longed to pull him down the length of her and reacquaint herself with him once again. “Without you I wouldn’t still be alive!” Tyler brushed his fingertip across her puckered lips.