Nevada Heat (22 page)

He grabbed her hand in one of his and turned the toward him. Gently he placed a single kiss there and smiled at her again.

“You're smiling," she whispered.

"Ain't surprised."

“I like it." Miranda laid her head down on his breast again.

“Well, I'm glad. But if we don't get outta this sun damn fast, you ain't gonna be seein' a smile on my face again for days."

She rose up and cocked one eyebrow at him. He grinned. “You been sleepin' for a couple of hours and that durned sun's been beatin' down on parts of me that ain't seen so much sunshine since I was a bare-ass boy back in Texas!"

A bubble of laughter burst from her and Miranda's head dropped to Jesse's chest. Immediately she straightened up, surprised to find that he was right. His skin felt as though it was on fire. And, she realized with a start, her left side was just as hot!

As if reading her mind, Jesse pushed himself to his feet then drew her up, too. "C'mon, M'randa. Let's cool you off some."

A canyon breeze ruffled past, sliding over her too warm body with delicate, cool fingers. A glance overhead told Miranda that their short time at the tank was nearly over. Soon they would have to head back to Bandit's Canyon. And try to pretend that none of this had happened.

Instinctively she knew how it would be. Once he was among the others, the shadows would return to Jesse's eyes and his smile would fade. He would be polite but distant. He would stay clear of her. Just as he'd always tried to do. She sighed and reminded herself that he'd made no promises. That he'd said nothing about love or forever. That nothing real had changed.

Miranda looked into his eyes and saw the same sad knowledge there. He shared her regret that their time together would be so brief. A secret, private time, enjoyed only by the two of them.

She had a sudden, overwhelming urge to wrap her arms around him and hold him tightly. To somehow make time stand still and allow them to remain in that afternoon always.

"Miranda?"

She looked up to his fathomless, shimmering, grass green eyes.

"Miranda, don't. Remember what I said before?" His hand squeezed hers gently. “Don't think. Just feel." Jesse's thumb moved over her knuckles with bewitching slowness. "For today, Miranda. Just feel."

Her fingers curled around his and her heartbeat faltered, then quieted again when his lips curved in a tender smile. Together, they crossed the few feet of scarred rock separating them from the clear, cold pool. They moved carefully down the slanted steps into the water and she gasped at the icy shock against her heated flesh. His arm encircled her waist to steady her and she leaned into his strength gratefully.

It seemed the most natural thing in the world to swim naked in the afternoon sun with Jesse holding her tightly. His whispered voice in her ear as gentle as his hands against her back, her breasts pressed close to his chest, the touch of his lips, the sunshine on his dark, wavy hair, the restrained strength of his arms and hands.

Even the shadows that haunted him were as familiar to her as breathing. And Miranda didn't know how she would live without him.

Chapter 13

Serena chatted happily while she worked on her new dress. The woman was so pleased with herself, her new son, and her husband's imminent return, she didn't even notice that Shelly had almost nothing to say.

The afternoon seemed to be crawling by. It was all Shelly could do to sit still. Not even the sweet weight of baby Jesse in her arms as she rocked him was enough to get her mind off Miranda. And Jesse Hogan.

Little Jesse fidgeted and rubbed his tiny fist across his face. Absently Shelly patted his bottom and began to hum softly. She couldn't very well just go off and leave Serena and the baby to fend for themselves. But the minute the town started stirring, Shelly would get someone in to sit with Serena. Then she'd be free to go and look for the missing couple. And Lord help Jesse Hogan when she found them.

She stopped rocking suddenly. Why should she do the looking? Wouldn't it be better if she just told Birdwell of her suspicions? A slow smile curved her lips as she remembered the last time some passin' through outlaw tried to get close to Miranda. The man had been laid up for near a month in the bunkhouse. But as soon as he healed, he climbed aboard his horse and nobody'd seen him since.

The baby whimpered and Shelly started rocking again. That's just what she would do. Once they were rid of Jesse Hogan, things would get back to normal around town.

Serena said something and Shelly shook herself. Now that she had a plan, she could relax and pay more attention to what she was doing. She smiled at Serena and said, "What?"

#

Swimming would never be the same again.

Miranda watched as Jesse dived from the rock ledge into the tank. His strong, lean body knifed through the water, barely making a splash. He stayed underwater for what seemed forever and Miranda understood how he must have felt when he'd seen her "drowning."

Her gaze moved over the still surface of the water as she watched for his appearance. When he finally came up for air, she released a pent-up breath as he made his way straight to her at the tank's edge.

She went into his arms without a word, and when his lips touched her neck, Miranda tilted her head eagerly, hungry for his touch. It seemed as though she couldn't get enough of him. Every time he moved away, she wanted to call him back. She wanted to feel the hard strength of his broad back beneath her palms. She wanted his mouth at her breast, wanted to hold him deep inside her.

The cold water lapped gently around them as Jesse pulled her close. His hands moved over her behind, up the swell of her hips, along her rib cage to her breasts. As his thumbs moved gently over her nipples, Jesse's lips and tongue teased the sensitive skin at the side of her neck.

Miranda sighed, letting her fingers trail down his back. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, then bent her head to kiss his sun-warmed shoulders. Jesse's hands moved over her body slowly, gently, as if he was memorizing every curve, and then he covered her mouth with his own. His tongue swept the inside of her mouth and Miranda melted against him, tightening her legs around his waist even as her tongue moved, to match his stroke for stroke.

She heard, him groan, and as his hands moved to cup her behind she felt his readiness hard against her belly. He shifted position on the wide rock step bracing his legs far apart, and then moved one hand to let his index finger skim lightly over her sex. Miranda's body jerked in response to the delicate touch, and instinctively she tried to get closer.

Instead Jesse moved his hands to her waist and gently pulled away from her. He ignored her protests and determinedly lifted her up until she was sitting on the rock ledge.

“Jesse," she whispered, and reached down for him.

"It's all right, M'randa." He stepped closer to her and looked up at her face as he gently stroked the soft, smooth skin of her abdomen.

“What… ?"

“Let me show you, M'randa," Jesse whispered, and kissed the inside of her thigh. The muscles in her legs tightened, but he didn't stop. He ran his tongue over her flesh, and when she squirmed, the edges of his teeth stroked her tender skin.

Miranda bent low, trying to join him in the water. She'd had enough of the gentle teasing and wanted to feel his body slide into hers. But Jesse wasn't finished.

"Just lean back, Miranda." He smiled up at her and planted a kiss just inches from the aching center of her.

"Lean back?"

“Yes, darlin'. Lean back. Relax now." His voice was low, and she recognized the desire in his eyes.

Slowly she laid her palms flat on the rocks and leaned her weight on them. Miranda stared up at the late-afternoon sky, and when she felt Jesse tug at her legs, she scooted forward a little. His lips and tongue again began to move over the sensitive flesh of her thighs. No sooner had he begun on one leg than he switched and lavished his attention on the other. His fingers moved over the juncture of her legs, and her hips moved with every touch.

Then she felt his breath, warm and close on the tender skin his fingers had been toying with. She straightened and looked down at him. Her breath caught and she fought down a sudden urge to run and wrap a blanket around herself. Instead, helplessly, Miranda watched as his long, tanned fingers gently held her damp folds open, and before she could say anything, Jesse's mouth covered her.

She gasped. Her entire body stiffened with shock and pleasure. There was no escaping the warmth of his tongue as he explored the secrets of her body. Deliberately, teasingly he licked at the center of her until she thought she would go mad. It was luscious, warm, and embarrassing and she never wanted him to stop. Miranda groaned and threaded her fingers through his hair. She opened her thighs wider, urging him silently.

Unable to help herself, she looked down and watched his mouth move over her with tantalizing slowness. Her breathing ragged, Miranda emptied her mind of everything but the sensations Jesse brought to her. The now familiar ache swelled in her body and she welcomed it. Eagerly she felt it build and she gave the ache free rein, knowing that a pounding, throbbing release would not be far behind.

Jesse's arms snaked out of the water, wrapped around her buttocks, and pulled her closer to the edge. His tongue flicked, darting caresses at the bud of her desire as his fingers slipped inside her warmth. Miranda jumped, then braced her hands on his shoulders. There was too much to feel at once. His mouth, his fingers, then his other hand slid to her behind and Miranda knew she would die.

Her body tormented by far too many delicious feelings at once, she tried desperately to race to the pulsing completion waiting for her. Jesse was relentless. His mouth and tongue stroked at her center and suckled her more gently than she'd thought possible.

The ache in her grew and grew until it spiraled out of control, sweeping her along with dizzying speed. And when she finally reached the edge of completion, Miranda groaned and rode the crashing wave of pleasure tearing through her.

Eternity passed in a heartbeat and everything was still. Stunned, Miranda hardly knew what was happening when Jesse lifted her down into the water, set her on the step, and pushed himself into her body. But once he'd entered her, she welcomed him and held him until he found the pleasure he'd given her.

#

Only an hour later it was time to go back. They dressed in silence, as if each of them wanted to ignore the fact that their time together was over.

Miranda, suddenly, unreasonably shy, kept her back to Jesse. The magic of the afternoon had vanished, leaving only the silence of the rock canyon in its wake. But in the span of a few short hours, all of her carefully laid plans had been shattered.

Her dreams of what Bandit's Canyon could be someday dissolved in the face of what she'd experienced here in the secret tank. She let her gaze move over the familiar scene. No matter what happened in the future, Miranda knew that sooner or later she would have to leave the canyon. She couldn't live her life surrounded by the memories of Jesse. And she realized that long after he'd gone, the canyon would echo with his voice. From that day on, every time she dived into the water, she would feel Jesse's hands on her body. Every time she laid the old flowered quilt over her bed, she would remember lying atop it in the sun with Jesse.

"Miranda?"

She froze. Her fingers tightened over her belt buckle and she held her breath, bracing herself for whatever might come.

"Miranda, we have to talk before we go back down."

"No." She shook her head. She'd rather leave the afternoon as it was. She didn't want to tear it apart now with questions and discussion. “You don't have to say anything, Jesse."

"He stepped up behind her. “Yes, I do." His fingers curled around her upper arms. "Miranda."

“Jesse,” she cut in, "please. Don't say you're sorry."

Don't let the day end with one or both of us making excuses or giving promises we have no intention of keeping, she thought Her head dropped back on her neck and Miranda wanted to curse and shout. Why couldn't he just leave it alone? Let their time together be what it was… stolen hours. She pulled a deep, shaky breath into her lungs. "Don't tell me it was all a mistake."

“Miranda.” His fingers tightened, he bent his head down and whispered in her ear. “If that was a mistake, then God help me. Because I can't be sorry."

Her eyes squeezed shut, and even when he turned her around to face him, she didn't open them again. She felt him cup her face in his hands and noticed that his fingers were trembling.

"Jesus, Miranda," he continued. “I don't know what to say to you."

Relief in her voice, she said softly, “I already told you. You don't have to say anything."

His thumbs moved gently over her features. He went on as though she -hadn't spoken. “I never expected to…"

“To what?" Her eyes opened and she stared at him, captivated by the confusion in his gaze.