Renegade Love (Rancheros) (24 page)

Esteban went for the knife sheathed at his belt. “Now you die.”

Rosa rushed to her husband’s side, grabbing his arm. She stumbled as he shoved her away, but she quickly righted herself and grabbed his arm again and whispered for only him to hear. “You are not like him... you are not a renegade.”

He shook his head, his glazed eyes clearing as if he was emerging from a trance. Then he turned away from her.

Her arm fell away and this time she didn’t reach out again, she knew she had reached him.

“Go near my wife again and the next time I’ll kill you,” Esteban said with a cold resolve that had Rosa shivering. “Now get off my land and stay off it.”

It took the beaten man several attempts to get to his feet. He spit blood as he did and could barely see out of one eye as he stumbled away without saying a word.

Esteban turned on her with such fury that she fell back against the ladder.

He pinned her against it with his body, his hands grasping the rungs on either side of her head. “What did I tell you about leaving the hacienda?”

She swallowed hard trying to moisten her dry lips so that she could speak.

“Do you realize what kind of danger you placed yourself in?”

Her mouth remained too dry to form any words, and though a bit of fear remained to prickle her skin, she couldn’t help but notice the fine film of dirt that covered his clothes and clung to him. He had traveled the trail hard and though it didn’t show, she knew he had to be exhausted.

Her hand went to his face to touch it lightly, not sure if he would turn away from it. But he didn’t turn away, nor did he stop her, surprisingly he turned his cheek to meet her touch.

“You are tired and in need of a good washing and much sleep,” she said softly.

His hand shot out to wrap around her waist and yank her against him. “You will join me in both.”

It was a command, one he would not see disobeyed and as his mouth came down to claim hers, she knew she would not disobey him, for she realized that he needed her.

His kiss may have been possessive, but there was an ache to it that tore at her heart. Could he have missed her as much as she missed him? His hungry kiss certainly made it seem that way.

With reluctance, he eased his mouth away from hers returning again and again to nip at her lips until he finally said, “You should not have been in the orchard alone.”

She remained silent, letting him chastise her, not fearing once that he would raise a hand to her like the Curros had done. He would not suffer the punishment on her that had been inflicted upon him.

“I will lock you in our bed chamber the next time I am away.”

“There is an easier solution,” she said softly.

His eyes narrowed. What is that?”

“Don’t leave me again.”

Had she heard a catch to his breath or had she wished it had been his reaction?

“I come and go as I please, and you will do well to remember that.” His tone was stern, his words curt, as if he scolded.

She wanted to tell him that she loved him and cared what happened to him, but her response caught on her tongue. She wasn’t sure what had stopped her. She believed she had the courage or was it his response she feared?

“Come with me,” he said in that commanding way of his and took her hand in his.

His hand was warm, his hold firm, as if he didn’t intend on letting go and it rushed a tingle up her arm. She walked along with him in silence, wishing he would share his thoughts with her and wanting to share her own with him, but debating whether it would be wise.

Esteban was still trying to calm himself. Rage had blinded him when he had seen Carlos nearly on top of his wife. He would have killed the man. After all he had warned him about stepping foot on his land again, and if his wife hadn’t been there... he would have. But her words had killed his intentions. She didn’t believe him a renegade any longer and perhaps it was time for him to do the same. Pacquito not only expected him to kill Carlos, a man Pacquito always thought expendable, but he also wanted him to. Esteban’s actions would have sent a clear message that he was still a renegade, still one of Pacquito’s men. Rosa whispered words had reminded him of that. Now Carlos could return to Pacquito beaten but alive, sending him a message that he was no longer one of them, he was free.

He had also wanted to throttle his wife for disobeying him and going off on her own without vaqueros to protect her, though now he simply wanted to strip her naked and slip inside her and get lost making love to her.

She had been on his mind night and day since he had left the hacienda and all he could think about was returning home to her. He had only been away a couple of days and he had cursed and complained to himself every minute of the days he had been gone. The brief trip had been worth it and he was relieved to learn that Pacquito’s men had retreated, for now. Pacquito would often do that, hit a place, retreat, wait, let the people feel safe again and let down their guard, and then hit with fury.

If there was one thing that Pacquito’s men feared most, it was his unpredictable temper. One minute he could be laughing with you and the next minute he would shoot you dead. And there wasn’t anyone who escaped his wrath, not even his family. And worse, he enjoyed tearing families apart.

Esteban squeezed his wife’s hand glad that she was there beside him as he led her to their bedchamber. He intended to have time alone with her and he would let nothing, absolutely nothing, interfere with it.

“Esteban, you’re back.”

Esteban scowled, though when he turned to face his mother, he softened his expression. Not enough obviously, since she took a step back away from him.

“I am so pleased that you have returned,” Dona Valerianna said, then took a breath and added a heartfelt, “I missed you.”

Esteban had been all too aware that his mother had feared him since his return and not once had she told him that she had missed him. But then he had never told her how very much he had missed her, her gentle voice, her caring ways, and most of all her loving arms.

The words spilled from his mouth without him realizing it. “I missed you as well,
Madre
.”

Rosa slipped her hand out of her husband’s and stepped back hoping one of them would take the first step and one did... Dona Valerianna went to her son and threw her arms around him.

Esteban’s arms circled her and held her tightly.

“I love you so much. I am so happy that you are home,” his mother said through a stream of tears.

He wanted to tell his mother that he loved her, but the words stuck in his throat. And he could not help but wonder if his mother would still love him if she knew of all the terrible things he had done. Still he hugged her tight, wanting to linger in her arms that had so often comforted him as a child and had hugged him frequently, simply because she loved him.

Rosa kept her tears at bay, though it wasn’t easy. Esteban needed this as did his mother. He needed to hear her tell him that she loved him and that she was happy he was home, though Rosa got the distinct feeling that when she saw her son this time, she knew that he was truly home.

“Did you just get home?” his mother asked taking a step back, but leaving her hand to rest on his arm.

“Only moments ago and as you can see I am in need of a washing, clean clothes, and sleep.”

“I will send servants with food as well.”

“Not necessary, I’m not hungry and my wife will help me with the rest,” Esteban responded hastily wanting nothing more than to be alone with Rosa.

His mother patted his arm. “Then rest and we will see you at supper.”

“Your mother loves you very much,” Rosa said as they walked to their bed chamber.

“She loves the young son she knew, not the son who returned home.”

Rosa stopped and stared at him. “How can you say that when you haven’t even given her a chance to get to know the man you have become?”

Esteban tugged her along, his eagerness to be alone with her growing him hard. “And she never will.” He couldn’t take the chance, for then he would risk losing his mother’s love forever.

“Your mother would never stop loving you, unlike mine who never loved me from the beginning. Your mother has cherished and loved you since the day you were born and nothing will change that.”

They entered their bed chamber and Esteban stepped away from her, shaking his head. “You are a fool if you believe that. My past will prevent anyone from loving me.”

Rosa raised her chin. “It hasn’t stopped me from falling in love with you.”

Esteban was too stunned to respond or turn and face his wife. He let her words sink in and they trickled down deep, weaving their way inside him, spreading warmth until they touched his heart. He shut his eyes a moment savoring the sensation. Never would he have thought that she would love him and never would he have thought to feel such...
feel
. Her words had made him feel, something he thought he’d never do again.

After being with Pacquito a while and giving up on ever escaping, he had learned to lock every bit of emotion away. If he hadn’t, he could have never survived his ordeal. But his wife’s words had cracked that lock and forced their way in and brought a joy that continued spreading and opening places he had believed long dead, and it felt good, so very good.

The problem was that he didn’t know how to respond. Or was it that he felt himself such a vile creature that he didn’t deserve her love? One thing he had learned about his lovely wife was that she spoke the truth and often spoke it from her heart, leaving herself all too vulnerable... like now.

She laid herself bare to him, barer than if she stood naked before him. And she patiently waited for his reply, but how did he reply? Did he admit that he felt the same? Dare he even admit it to himself? When he had laid eyes on her for the first time he had thought his reaction nothing more than pure lust, for he had turned hard at the sight of her. It had been his heart slamming against his chest that had made the difference. Never before had he experienced that with a woman. And though he had fought against the marriage, and would not dare admit it, he had wanted Rosa as his wife.

His conscious, which he had thought had long deserted him, had reared its head and warned him of her innocence, though she was innocent no more. But he had yet to corrupt her, though he feared that somehow, someway he would.

Words continued to fail him, though he had learned that action could speak so much louder than words.

He turned slowly, and with unhurried, though strong strides, he went to her. She did not back away from his approach, she stood firm, her chin up, though her lips quivered ever so slightly.

His response was instinctive; he reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and brought her flat up against him... and kissed her.

She didn’t give thought to her response. She acted instinctively. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body closer against his.

Her eager response fueled his arousal. He didn’t think he could get any harder, but as her eagerness grew, so did he.

He had wanted to take his time making love to her, but he had gone too long without her and his need for her was too great. He was already grinding himself against her, though it was in response to the way she moved against his thick hardness. It seemed her need was as great as his.

Later he could take his time with her. Right now his need was beyond control. He was about to tell her that he couldn’t wait when the words rushed out of her mouth.

“I can’t wait. I need you right now.”

Damn it, if he almost didn’t come right there and then. He had her flat on her back on the bed in no time. And with just as much speed slipped off his boots and out of his pants, then threw her skirt up, and hurried into her with a swift thrust.

She cried out in sheer pleasure. Until he was inside her, she hadn’t realized how much she had missed him, missed this intimacy, missed this man she loved. She wanted, needed beyond any rationale sanity to touch him, have him completely naked, be naked herself so that nothing, absolutely nothing, separated them.

“I need to be naked. I need you naked,” she blurted out.

“And I need to be inside you,” he argued with a smug grin, a quick kiss, and a hard thrust.

Dropping her head back, she moaned and brought her bottom up driving him even deeper into her.

He threw his head back and groaned, then lowered his mouth to her exposed neck, raining kisses and hungry nips along it. He never tasted anything so satisfying in his life. Her skin was warm, sweet, and intoxicating, and he was addicted to it.

He reared back and practically ripped his shirt off, then grabbed her blouse and pulled it up to bunch in his hands. She raised her shoulders and head and he hurried it off her, the skirt followed. Slipping his arm around her waist, he yanked her up, and then grabbed her bottom to push her close against him.

She pressed her cheek to his. “I love having you inside me.”

“By the time I’m done with you, you may regret those words.”

She brushed her lips across his and whispered, “Never. Ever.”

Her words sounded like a whispered promise that she would always keep, and he couldn’t stand it any longer. He was too near to exploding and he wanted her to join him.

He took firm hold of her bottom and urged her against him setting a rhythm, then issued a soft warning, “I’m going to make you come hard.”

She tilted her head to look at him and with a faint smile asked, “How many times?”

“Challenging me?”

“Are you up to it?”

He grinned and set a faster rhythm.

They climaxed so fast that it shocked the both of them, their cries of pleasure echoing around the room and before it ended, Esteban slipped his hand between their bodies and teased her small already pulsating nub.

Her passion escalated again, her hands going to his shoulders to hold on tight as he once again drove her to dizzying heights of pleasure and once again she exploded in a mind-stunning climax.

Rosa was letting the exquisite pleasure rush through her when suddenly he shifted against her, lowered his mouth to her nipple and rolled his tongue over the hardened orb again and again and again, setting her passion to flaming.