Ana Leigh by The Mackenzies Page B

Paralleling the railroad track, he kept the horse at a slow trot, skirting the town before he turned off and headed toward higher ground.
    Rose relaxed, leaned back, and closed her eyes. As they moved away from the town an occasional breeze fanned her face, but not enough to stir a hair on her head. Regardless, she had to admit it was better than returning to a hot, stuffy room. The quiet night soon became a soothing balm, and the trotting horse’s hooffalls dulled into a rhythmic lullaby.
     
    Her face was in shadows as she slept.
    Zach reined in and climbed out of the buggy. Gently, so as not to wake her, he lifted her out and carried her beneath a cottonwood. They were high enough to catch a breeze now, and his gaze roamed her face as she slept, her head in his lap. The soft glow of moonlight had deepened her hair and the provocative fragrance of her perfume embraced him.
    He was a fool. He’d allowed himself to let his emotions get involved in this flirtation with her. Lord, how she fired his blood! All he could think about was making love to her. Trouble was, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, his feelings for her were beginning to go beyond just wanting her physically.
    It had taken him a while to figure out what there was about her that fascinated him so, that put her above any woman he’d kissed and ridden away from before. That one element he hadn’t been able to identify until today, when she’d spoken about Wes Sturges. It was her vulnerability. Underneath all that feistiness, grit, and toughness lay a sensitive little girl who’d been knocked down so often it was a wonder how she could keep picking herself up.
    And he wanted her so badly, he ached. Yet he knew he’d end up hurting her, just like her father and that bastard Sturges had done. If he had any decency, he’d stay away from her and give her a chance to get on with her life.
    But the die had been cast from the moment he’d walked into that Harvey restaurant and looked into her eyes. He could tell she realized it, too. The chemistry between them was undeniable—on the verge of boiling over. It no longer was if , it had become when .
    Rose opened her eyes and for a long moment stared up at him.
    “You’re so beautiful, Rose.” With passion-filled eyes he gazed down at her. The air was charged with a hushed expectancy.
    “What’s happening between us, Zach?”
    The warmth of his smile carried to his eyes, and he tenderly cupped her cheek. “Don’t you know, honey?” he asked in a husky whisper.
    She closed her eyes when he lowered his head. Their mouths fit perfectly to one another’s. He increased the pressure and felt her hand on his neck, holding him. Her lips were soft, moist, and tasted delicious. She parted her lips and he slipped his tongue between them. As their tongues coupled and dueled, hot passion surged through him like a brushfire out of control. He was so hard and aching he thought he’d explode.
    Zach slid his hand down the column of her neck and found the opened neckline of her gown. Her skin felt like satin, and he dipped his head and licked it with his tongue. It was warm, sweet, soft; it tasted like Rose. He had to taste more of her.
    Opening more of the buttons, he parted the front of her gown, then slid his hand under her chemise and cupped her breast. It was firm and full, and the nub hardened to a peak.
    Lord, she felt good. Hot blood pounded at his temples. Lowering his head, he rasped the nipple with his tongue, then sucked it into his mouth. She moaned and arched her back. The pressure of her hand on his nape encouraged him further, and he shoved up the chemise and caressed her breasts with his hand, mouth, and tongue until she clutched at his shoulders, moaning and writhing.
    Raising his head, he reclaimed the divine taste of her lips.
    “Don’t stop, Zach. For a few moments, make me forget everything but you and me.”
    Her words froze him. Tears were glistening in her eyes, and she looked helpless,