Silken Savage (39 page)

His dark eyes flashing, Roberto openly admired the female guests. “Ah, Adam! Home so recently, and already you have collected the best Pueblo has to offer!”

He bowed low and kissed each of their hands in turn. “Such beauties! Surely you can spare one for me, cousin!”

Adam laughed. “That depends on the lady, Roberto, but the choice is more limited than it seems. Justin may take offense if you work your wicked Latin wiles on Melissa, and I would have no compunction about murdering you if you so much as look twice at Tanya. Therefore, you will have to try your excessive charms on Julie and see how you fare.”

Never breaking stride, Roberto turned smoothly to Julie, his teeth flashing in a devilish smile. “But, cousin, you have just offered me the choicest of morsels, and I am a starving man!”

Julie’s brow creased in a frown. Jerking her hand from his, she snapped, “Nobody has offered you anything, sir! I’m not to be picked up like — like some item at a church bazaar!”

Roberto’s eyes widened along with his smile. “Ah,
senorita,
but I love a challenge! It will be interesting to match wits with such a spirited woman, and to see how long it will take before you fall into my arms like a ripe summer peach!”

“My goodness!” Julie exclaimed as the others struggled to smother their laughter. “You will wait an eternity before I throw myself at the likes of you!” She stamped her foot in exasperation.

Far from being discouraged, Roberto threw his dark head back and laughed heartily. “We will see, my little spitfire! We will see.”

All in all, it promised to be an interesting visit for everyone.

Late that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Tanya checked on her sleeping sons. Then, guided by the moonlight filtering in through the windows, she slipped quietly into Adam’s bedroom.

Adam heard her before she ever touched the door-knob. He’d lain awake, listening to her every movement in the room next to his, anticipating her arrival.

Now, he watched as she approached his bed, moving like a wraith as the moonlight caught the gossamer threads of her white nightgown and turned them to silver. Her hair was loose, lying in soft waves across her shoulders.

“You look like an angel,” he said softly, catching her hand and pulling her down beside him on the bed. His fingers caught at the hem of her gown until his hand rested on her bare thigh. There he traced the panthershaped scar, now three years old but still visible. “But you have the devil’s own brand on you.”

“Then I must be a fallen angel, for I am a willing slave who adores her master,” Tanya whispered as her lips found his and clung.

For only a moment, Adam let her control the kiss. Then his own lips claimed dominance over hers, staking their claim and parting them beneath his insistance. His tongue traced their shape and slid smoothly past her sharp, even teeth into the moist cavern of her mouth. Her own tongue darted up to duel with his, and he caught it softly between his teeth, sucking sensuously, causing her breath to quicken.

Her hand reached out to caress the muscled wall of his chest and continued onward, exploring each scar and rib with her seeking fingertips. His lips at last relinquished hers, only to travel a path across her jaw to her ear. Shivers raced across her skin, raising gooseflesh even as a flame ignited within.

As his lips nuzzled their way into the baby-soft skin of her neck, the hand on her thigh caressed its way upward to the curve of her hip, his thumb searching out the ridge of her hipbone and the hollow of her stomach.

Tanya moaned as his mouth left her shoulder to find a breast through the cloth of her gown. Her breast swelled at his touch, and she arched toward him as if to an unspoken command. His teeth found her nipple, his tongue laving the fabric across its sensitive tip. Tanya felt the heat building inside her, her muscles tensing in anticipation as she threaded her fingers into his dark hair and gloried in his touch.

“Panther! Adam!” she whimpered.

Bracing her half over him, Adam whisked the gown over her head. “We never had this problem to contend with in our tipi,” he murmured as his mouth reclaimed its now naked prize. His teeth once more caught a nipple, and his tongue teased it mercilessly. Tanya gasped in delight as flames of desire raced through her. Again she drew in a sharp breath and clutched him closer as his hand feathered a path up her inner thigh and found the moist warmth between her legs. There his fingers lingered over her most sensitive pleasure points until she squirmed and whimpered beneathhim.

Her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, for even as he brought her untold pleasure, she caressed and fondled him, urging his body to join hers in the age-old dance of love.

Not until he had brought her to wondrous heights, her body quivering, her muscles still contracting about his seeking fingers, did he move over her. His own body screaming for release, he entered her welcoming warmth, feeling her envelop him in her velvet sheath. Gritting his teeth, he willed his body to go slowly, savoring each glorious sensation. In slow, easy movements he stroked her upward along the slopes of passion, until at last his body took control. Her nails scored his back as his hands gripped her hips and held her to him. More and more swiftly he plunged into her pliant body, leading her with him until they both careened over the edge of eternity. His mind barely registered her teeth biting into his shoulder as she stifled her cries of ecstasy, his own deep moans muffled in her hair. Sweat-drenched and replete, they drifted contentedly off to sleep, Tanya’s head snuggled securely on his shoulder, Adam’s leg thrown possessively across hers.

Tanya awoke to Cheyenne love words whispered in her ear, followed by a series of kisses planted along her spine. She opened her eyes to realize it was still dark; her inner clock told her she’d slept only a couple of hours.

“Mmn,” she sighed, cuddling closer to the heat his body radiated. “This is nice.”

“About time you woke up, lazybones,” Adam teased. “I thought maybe I’d have to resort to tickling your feet the way the cubs used to.”

“What do you want?” Tanya giggled past a yawn.

“Guess.”

“A snack? A glass of milk?” she offered with an impish grin.

“I’ll have the snack if you are on the menu.”

“Hungry devil, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely starving!” He nibbled on her neck to prove his point, then made love to her with infinite thoroughness, driving Tanya mindless with desire before he finally satisfied her consuming need for him.

More than once that night he woke her, sometimes taking her gently, sometimes urgently, but always with love.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had you to myself like this, to hold and love and touch all through the night,” he whispered.

“Too long,” Tanya agreed, then teased, “but it seems you are trying to make up for it all in one night. I’ll never be able to walk properly tomorrow. What will I say if someone notices?”

Adam laughed. “At least you have an excuse! You can blame it on the long ride out here. What excuse I will give, I can’t imagine!”

“An extraordinarily long ride of another sort?” Tanya suggested provocatively.

“Shocking, Miss Martin! Truly shocking!” He gave a fair imitation of Ruth Wright, reducing Tanya to a state of giggles.

At breakfast the next morning, the dark shadows beneath their eyes caused comments.

“Tanya, are you ill?” Julie inquired solicitously. “You look as if you didn’t sleep a wink last night.”

Tanya nearly choked on her toast. “Strange bed,” she muttered shortly.

Roberto smiled wryly. “That is understandable, but why does Adam look so tired as well?”

“All that thrashing about in the next room,” he offered between bites.

“I’m sure I’ll settle in soon, Adam,” Tanya assured him. “I’d feel guilty thinking I was causing you to lose precious sleep.” She smiled demurely.

Rachel gave her guests a tour of the house, which was spacious, elegant, practical, and homey all combined, with the distinct Spanish flavor of a busy working ranch. In contrast to the Martin home, the rooms were large and airy, the furniture sturdy and built to accommodate the larger male frame. The color schemes were bold and bright, blending Indian and Spanish cultures, and there was little of the frilly, dainty effect that Aunt Elizabeth preferred.

Tanya loved it, and felt very much at home immediately. Also, she felt comfortable with Rachel. Unlike many other mothers-in-law, Rachel did not display any resentment toward the woman who had captured her son’s heart. If anything, she seemed relieved and grateful that Adam had found a woman capable of sharing all aspects of his unusual life. From her own sad experience, Rachel knew it took a special kind of woman, strong and adaptable, to stand up under the pressures of the Cheyenne life. She had not been able to cope, and had brought sorrow upon herself and White Antelope whom she had dearly loved. Tanya seemed to thrive in any atmosphere, and Rachel admired her ability to do so, for it boded well for their future together.

Rachel adored her grandsons. Right from the start, she took over their care, helping to dress and feed them, taking them with her about the house and yard. She brought them out to the stables and showed them the horses. Together they explored the barnyard, feeding the chickens and ducks, visiting the corrals, viewing the cattle.

At first Tanya feared she would spoil them, but Rachel did not hesitate to be firm when the situation warranted. She strictly forbade the inquisitive Hunter to visit the stables, barns, or cattle pens alone, stressing the dangers.

Another dimension was added to Hunter’s life while at the ranch. Rachel began teaching him a few words of Spanish to add to his growing vocabulary. Also, while allowed certain freedoms, he encountered his first responsibilities. It was his duty to see that Kit did not eat Rachel’s chickens or ducks, or venture near the cattle. He was to alert an adult if Kit got out of line. While Rachel accepted Kit’s presence graciously, she didn’t quite trust her to ignore her natural urge to hunt, realizing what a temptation the cattle and fowl offered. She made it quite clear to all that they were to keep an eye on the sleek cat, and that she wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet-crease across Kit’s tail if she decided to develop a taste for beef or feathers. It was only due to Adam’s rigid training and Kit’s willing obedience that trouble was avoided in that area. The minute Tanya or Adam issued a command, Kit complied readily. The cat seemed to sense that she was walking a fine line, and certain things would not be tolerated here that may have been permissible in the wilds. She contented herself with trailing after Tanya and Adam, or guarding the boys.

Watching her one day, Tanya commented, “I think she misses Kat.”

“Probably,” Adam agreed, “but with luck she’ll see him again in a few months.”

“Will we be going back soon after we’re married here?” Tanya wanted to know, a hopeful look on her face.

Adam watched her face carefully as he questioned, “Do you really want to go back? Will you be satisfied with that way of life now that you have been back to civilization and reunited with your family; now that you realize I have the option of staying here and running the ranch or picking up my Cheyenne identity?”

Tanya gazed up at him tenderly. “Adam, I love you. Whatever makes you happy also makes me happy. I know your heart lies with the Cheyenne, and I understand. Wherever you go, I will follow and be content. I was happy with the Cheyenne and I’ll gladly return with you. It is a hard life, yes, but an honest and good one, and every day I miss it more. I miss my friends. I miss having something productive to keep my hands mid mind occupied.” She snuggled closer to him. “No longer am I content with the sedentary, frivolous manner in which I was raised, where ladies spend most of their time shopping, tatting useless, pretty bits of lace, and attending teas. There are more important things to life than deciding which gown and slippers to wear, how to arrange one’s hair, and watching every word or action for fear of causing gossip. I feel stifled in Pueblo after the freedom of the plains, as if the very air is tainted! I feel restricted, like an eagle with a broken wing, who can only sit and dream of flying, and remember with a sad heart what it was like to soar.”

Adam shook his head in wonder. “You amaze me, little one. Black Kettle was right when he said you have the heart of a Cheyenne. Your thoughts and your words are more Cheyenne than white, even now. You make me yearn to forget all our plans, to disregard your family’s feelings, and carry you and my sons away with me this very minute. My heart sings with gladness that you feel as you do, that your wishes match mine so exactly. We are truly well-mated, Little Wildcat.”

“It was inevitable that I belong to you, Panther,” she replied softly, her golden eyes glowing with love. “It was written in the stars and blown on the winds that we would meet and fall in love. Now tell me when we can return to our people and live as we both desire.”

“As soon after we are married as we can possibly arrange to do so,” he promised. “I cannot imagine telling your family the truth, so we must make it look as if we wish to reside elsewhere for the time being. Perhaps they will not be too hurt if we promise to return for visits at decent intervals so they can see the children.”

Tanya nodded. “Yes, perhaps during Christmas holidays and the like.”

“They will be disappointed,” he warned.

“They’ll learn to live with it,” she assured him. “At least it won’t be the way it was before, when they worried so about me. They never knew if they would see me again. This time they’ll know I’ll be back.”

“That’s not altogether true, Tanya,” Adam disagreed. “The life we live is full of perils, and there are no guarantees from day to day. Danger could befall us at any time. You know this as well as I.”

“You are right, but our days on this earth are listed in the heavens and when our time is up we will be called away. That day could be tomorrow for any of us. It could happen anywhere; here, in Pueblo, or on the plains, and nothing could prevent it. I might step in front of a carriage on a busy street, or die peacefully in my sleep in my feathered bed. It matters not where we are when it happens. If we stayed here, tragedy could still befall us. We cannot hope to prevent the inevitable; to stem the tide of fate.”