Unexpected (23 page)

“
Cogan?”

“I’m going back for the horse.  I won’t be long.  My duster is over by the saddle, it’
s mostly dry now. Get out of those clothes and put it on before you get sick.”  With that he left through the blanket of rain that poured over the outcropping disappearing into the darkness.

Josie was shivering
, and even though she didn’t want to get out of her clothes, she knew he was right. Where would her family be with her being an invalid?  She was already trembling from exhaustion, and shivering from her soaked clothing. Pneumonia was a risk. 

It took her some time peel them all off her and lay them on the rocks around the fire.  She noticed that his stallion had turned around and was now watching the opening of the cave awaiting the return of his master.

She quickly pulled his large coat around her wet underclothes not willing to modestly part with them.  She felt too naked.  The coat at least was warm already and took some of the chill away.  She could have wrapped it round her body twice though. It was that big.

What she saw next would remain in her mind forever.  Cogan was a big man, and she saw the strength he had pulling that horse half submerged out of t
he river, but this was astonishing—impossible! He appeared through the curtain of running water dragging Ryker’s bay his right arm around the withers while clasping the girth of the saddle with his left.  He then lay the horse next to his own who lowered his head and sniffed the shocked creature while Cogan unbuckled the cinch on the saddle and pulled it off him. He then clucked to his stallion who pawed the ground a few times before it maneuvered itself next to the bay and lay down next to him, back to back.

Cogan stood back and waited until his horse got comfortable.
The poor creature was too exhausted to stand, and the morning would see if he would live through this. “Stay put boy, he needs your heat,”  Cogan said softly to his own horse. 

All the time Josie stood there with her mouth open. 
She’d witnessed him with the animals before, and they always seemed to obey him without hesitation, but this was different. 

He walked by her
without sparing her a glance and pulled a blanket from his roll.  He then went back to the horse and covered him with it before crouching down next to its head, murmuring something she couldn’t hear, and stroking it’s long neck with a large gentle hand.  He lifted his head and stared directly at Cogan. It was as if he actually understood him.

The horse’s breathing began to
ease and she swore that creature actually nickered at him, then released a snort and relaxed, laying his head back down.

“W—what did you say?
And—and—how—I mean—You carried him!”  She stuttered not because she was cold, but because of the sight she just witnessed.  It was the chill she felt that kept her from knowing this was a dream. 

Cogan stood and looked at her.  He was
cross with her.  How many times did he have to tell her to stay home, that he could look after himself? She was protected more there with Ryker than with him in this wild weather.  Then there was the fact that he revealed more of himself.  Yes, he had the strength of ten men, but it wasn’t something he wanted anyone to know.  He didn’t want to be treated any differently.

“You’re
angry.”  It wasn’t a question.  She could see his expression darken.

He clenched his jaw and walked by her to pull another blanket out of his roll.

“Cogan I was worried.” She felt the need to explain, because right now, she was feeling more and more guilty, and stupid.

He had his back to her while creating a makeshift bed
near the warmth of the small fire.  He spoke without turning around.  He didn’t want to frighten her and he had to deal with his own frantic emotions.  She could have died. “Horses are loyal to us and would do anything you ask, but there needs to be some responsibility to us—humanity, when it comes to them. So, you risked your brother’s horse and your own life because you were worried?” His voice was soft, but there was a hardness in it.

“I was a fool.  I—” she stopped talking and lowered her head in shame.  She snuck out after everyone had gone to bed because she was worried about him. 
She was concerned that Butch would send someone after him to get back at her.  By now, Butch knew that she had a lot of affection for him, and it was the only way he could really hurt her and get back at Cogan for the men he’d killed. She didn’t want that on her conscience. Yet, how could she possibly stop a gang? She acted without thinking. She realized now she made a mistake.

He sighed heavily knowing she was feeling bad enough.
“I do admire your stubbornness Josie, but you need to have a reasonable amount of common sense when it comes to another life besides your own.”  He finally stood and faced her.

She nodded meeting his eyes.  Water dripped down his hair and
onto his face.   His shirt was soaked through and clung to his form outlining every perfectly formed muscle. She turned her head away.  “It won’t happen again.”

“
That’s right it won’t.”

She brought her eyes back to his in defiance and ready to argue, when she saw the consequences of her rash actions in his expression.  He was
hurting over the condition of Ryker’s horse, and concern for her.  She immediately felt his pain. Cogan had a connection with animals that went deeper than anything she knew.  It was like the suffering of an animal actually affected him. “I’m so sorry.”

Of course she was.  Now that she had time to think about it, and the shame was clearly registering in her expression.
“He’ll live. I’m sure of it. He’s got a strong heart Josie.  He’s in shock too.  Sometimes that will kill them faster than anything else, but after I spoke to him, he’s settled.”

She nodded. 
“What did you tell him?”

“That he’s got a warm bed of straw and a bucket of oats waiting for him at home.  I also told him you owe him a good brushing.”

She smiled.

“
That was brave of you holding on to him like you did.”

“I just about let go Cogan. You wouldn’t have
though, would you?”

“That’s an unfair question.
I have the strength to hold on,” he reminded her.  “I’m only half human and a hell of a lot bigger than you are.” He smiled slightly.

She felt great relief hearing that Ryker’s bay will be okay, but even more that he wasn’t angry with her anymore.

He looked down at her feet. “You need to get those boots off, and—”  he paused tilting his head realizing something else, and walked up to her pulling open his duster before she could stop him. “Josephine, you need to get the rest of those off too.”

She flushed bright crimson.

“Look, if it helps, my coat will cover you completely.  I’ll go stand by the entrance so you can strip.  I can’t have you getting pneumonia.”

She took a deep breath in nervousness and nodded.

Cogan turned and walked back toward the opening, placed his hands on his hips and faced the rain.  If that woman could possibly look more sensual, she just did.  Her long wet hair hung around her face and shoulders.  Her face was flushed and damp.  Then when he opened his duster and saw her thin undergarments. The cloth clung to her like a second skin and he could see—everything. He was wrong about her. Her body was more beautiful than he originally thought.  It would be a long hard night.

Josephine
stared at him for a moment, unable to think of much else.  His stature alone radiated strength and confidence.  She gave her had a slight shake and did as he asked, stripping off the rest of her clothes.  Her boots were pretty much stuck on her feet, and with her stockings took some time to peel off.  When she was done, she quickly wrapped herself back up in his duster.  “I’m finished.”  The material was rough on her skin, but it was better than the alternative.

He turned back
and walked toward her closing the distance.  Then to her surprise he pulled his wet shirt off tossing it next her clothing in front of the fire. She actually backed up a step, but then he sat down on his bedroll with his back against a rock. “Come here Josie.” He held his hand up.

She clutched the cloth of his duster
holding the edges together.

“Look. You’re not going to warm up with jus
t that.  I’ll leave my pants on, but you need to get next to me.”

“Aren’t you
cold?”

“No, not really.
  I just don’t want you to get more chilled.  I’m a good warm body, now come here.”

She reluctantly took his hand and he guided her
down next to him.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest.

What happened next seemed like a dream, but Josephine found herself moving her hand over the taught contours of his flat muscled stomach and hard thick chest.

Cogan looked down at the top of her head.  He didn’t know what possessed her to touch him, but his body reacted instantly.  He reached up and cupped her hand in his.
“Josie, you need to think about this carefully.”

She lifted her head to look at him.
  Her emotions were raw and visible in her sapphire eyes.

He could have groaned out loud at the desire registering there.
His hand came up and cupped her jaw tilting her head so he could study her face.  Her hair was soaked and plastered around her face making her eyes vibrant in the firelight. “If this happens there’s no turning back. You may think I have a set of morals but I will not turn you away if you offer yourself to me. Are you sure?”

She started to nod but his mouth came down on hers with such swiftness that she released a gasp instead.  It was warm, hard, and perfect.

He gently pushed her onto her back and brought his body over hers.  His mouth coaxed her lips apart claiming it fully.  There was no hesitation in her at all.  He thought there might be due to her chastity, but nothing.  She was matching his passion inch for inch.  He didn’t expect it and it fired his blood more than any other woman had in his lifetime.  He should have known, because Josephine Hamilton was a strong-willed compassionate woman capable of intense desire. 

He opened the duster and paused to look down her perfect naked body.  She st
ared up at him allowing him the privilege that no other man had.  His chest heated up with desire over that precious gift.

He met her eyes and still, there were no reservations.  Part of him wanted to ask again, but his primal instincts won that battle
and he stayed silent. He wanted her.  He wanted her with a burning need that no one could fathom.  Slowly he lowered his weight on her, flesh meeting flesh and she opened her mouth releasing a small gasp of pleasure.

“You’re so warm,” she whispered against his mouth.
  His skin was hot in contrast to her cold fingers.  She ran her hands over his muscular shoulders and down the slope of his back.

“I’m on fire,” he
murmured huskily.  His hands caressed her, memorizing every flawless curve of her feminine body. She moved under him responding to every delicate touch. 

She just couldn’t seem to get close enou
gh to him.  Her hands found the waist of his rain drenched pants. “Please remove these.”

“A
s you wish, my love.” His hunger for her flared hearing her beg.  He slowly backed off her and sat up on his heels.  She lay before him naked with the light of the fire making her flesh flicker orange.  “Jesus, I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful.”

She blushed but didn’t move to cover herself.  She wanted him to see her.  He made her feel so desirable, that she could have wept.

He slowly undid his pants with her watching, eyes deep with curiosity.  Then he stood and slid them down his legs, stepping out of them.

Her eyes widened but she didn’t look away.
There was no sign of modesty from him, but he didn’t need it.  He was magnificent.  It gave her some courage of her own, especially after seeing his physical desire for her.  It frightened her, but she knew without hearing it from him, that he wouldn’t hurt her.

He knelt back down and slid his large hands up her bared legs as he slowly moved back up over her.  Her hands clutched at
him, but he resisted the urge to take her quickly.  He had eons of experience and like hell he would rush through this and ruin it for her no matter how desperate he was to possess her.  Josephine had a fiery passion in her, and he knew exactly how to get her to release it.

His mouth captured hers again, hot and teasing.  She felt a blossoming heat start deep in her pelvis that spread up into her chest.  Now she knew desire.

His body was moving over hers now, slowly—rhythmically, tantalizing her with his own warm hard flesh. Immediately she was responding to him, opening her mouth to receive more.  He teased her with his tongue—his mouth, until she whimpered and clutched at him.  She was blind with want now, as was he.  He shifted his body, and as smooth as satin, entered her. 

Josie felt it immediately, but it wasn’t a
s she thought it would be.  There was no pain, just a wave of pure hot pleasure that surged into her, burning her like a flame.  Her mouth broke free of his and she released a feminine sound of pure rapture.