Golden Chances (Borrowed Brides 1)

Faith cried out a second time. He captured her mouth with his, smothering her protests. She unlocked her legs from around him and tried to pull away. He pushed closer, immobilizing her with his greater weight. “Be still, dammit,” he whispered harshly against her mouth. “Your squirming is making it worse! Be still!” Reese fought to maintain control.

His body strained with the effort. He tried to stop, but that control was beyond him. He had waited too long, wanted too much, and dammit, she had brought this on herself.

Her arms went around his neck. Her legs tightened around his hips. She gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and pressed her face against his shoulder. Her tears dampened his skin. Her nails carved tiny crescents in the back of his neck, but she held on as he lifted her hips with his hands and began to move. Slowly at first, then faster.

The pain subsided to a dull ache, then disappeared completely as a new, different ache took its place. She moved instinctively, matching his thrusts with thrusts of her own. She listened as they matched the sound and motion of the train, the blood roaring in her ears as loud as the train rumbling down the track. She clung to Reese, straining to grasp something just beyond her reach. She pressed closer to him, her mouth seeking his. She licked the salt from his lips, then thrust her tongue through the seam. Her mouth began to imitate the motion of their bodies. The roaring was louder in her ears. She began to shiver uncontrollably, her muscles contracting painfully. Then suddenly she was surrounded by pleasure. She called out his name. In surprise. In wonder. In glorious, heart-stopping, release.

Reese felt the trembling of her body, heard her call his name and sigh in blissful surrender. He paused, then allowed his body to have its way, moving in and out, faster and faster, until…

Her name was a guttural cry, wrung from the very depths of his body. He shuddered in her arms and spilled himself inside her warm, welcoming body.

Chapter Fourteen

Faith smiled shyly up at Reese. She had never dreamed what went on between a man and a woman could be so magnificent, so unbelievably beautiful. The wonder of it took her breath away.

They lay sprawled across the big bed. She stretched, luxuriating in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Her toes touched the calf of his leg. She was brimming over with emotions, and she wanted to share them with the man who had taken her to the stars. Faith wiggled her toes against his leg to get his attention.

Reese jumped as if she’d burned him, then moved away. He looked down at her, but he didn’t smile back. His eyes were harsh, their depths burning with an angry light.

He studied her. She looked like a wanton. Her eyes were soft. Her lips were red and pouty, bruised from his kisses. The tender skin on her neck and breasts showed signs of abrasion from his beard. Her black hair fanned out over her pillow. It had been braided. When had he unbraided it? She smiled at him, stretching sinuously, like a sated kitten. Well-fed, contented. Well-loved. He could almost hear her purr. And why shouldn’t she purr with satisfaction? Why shouldn’t she be content? She’d used him. Played him for a fool. Lied. Damn her for the deceptive, little bitch she was! He had been duped!

“Unless there’s been another virgin birth I haven’t heard about, you owe me an explanation. And, lady, it had better be good.” His voice sliced through her veil of rosy contentment like an Arctic wind.

“I don’t understand,” she said warily as she reached for the sheets.

“You don’t? Well, let me explain it.” He pinned her to the mattress with his frosty gaze. “Joy is not your daughter! You are not a widow! There is no Champ Collins! And that wedding ring you’re wearing is a fake! You are a fake, Mrs. Collins. Is that clear enough for you to understand?”

“How did you find out?” Faith’s eyes widened, and the color drained from her face. “How long have you known?” She clutched the covers to her chin as she whispered the questions.

“Oh, that’s rich!” He got up from the bed and began to pace, unfazed by his lack of clothing. “I may have been taken in by your saintly widow act, but I know enough about women to know a virgin when I bed one.”

“Oh.” Her reply was barely audible, but Reese heard it and it added fuel to his fire of anger.

“Yes. Oh.” He stopped pacing and whipped around to face her. “Did you think I’d be too inexperienced to know the difference?” That idea made him almost as angry as her deception. “Dammit, woman”?he refused to say her name?“if I had wanted an untutored, green, inexperienced, wide-eyed, virgin, I’d have advertised for one!”

She seemed to disappear before his eyes, to blend right into the bed. She pulled the covers tighter.

That irritated him. “Don’t bother.” He flung the words at her. “I’ve seen all you’ve got to offer.”

She looked as if a slap would have been kinder than the words he threw at her. Tears welled up in her eyes. He had spoiled the most beautiful experience of her entire life. He had ruined it.

Reese saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes and the stricken expression on her face. “Damn!” he said. “Don’t start with the tears. It’s too late for that.”

She wrapped the sheet around her and swung her legs off the bed.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“I thought I heard Joy,” came the timid reply.

“Get back in bed.” He reached for his trousers. “I’ll go.” He slip

ped on his clothes and boots and stalked out the door.

Faith rolled over in the huge empty bed. She curled up into a ball and let the tears roll down her face. She cried hot, burning, silent tears. She cried until there were no tears left, then lay awake, waiting, listening for Reese’s return.

At dawn, she climbed out of bed and tiptoed into the washroom. There was no sign of Reese. She bathed quickly with cold water, hastily washing away the traces of his lovemaking. She finished bathing and tiptoed back to the bedroom. After buttoning herself into her old, black silk, she began to pack her meager belongings.

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