Course of Action: Out of Harm's WayAny Time, Any Place Read online

  Yeah, she liked this slow seduction because he wanted to taste every part of her, brand it into his body, his memory and his heart. This was a woman to be worshiped, not rushed into bed. They had all night and as he moved his tongue between her breasts, he heard her moan. She was so sensitive. So hot.

  Easing away, he helped her out of the dress, appreciating the black lace bra and very lacy, but skimpy, panties. She got rid of her heels. Her long, shapely legs sent him into a new hunger. He wanted to explore those legs of hers, feel them beneath his hands, feel her respond to his touch.

  Madison sighed as she took the dress and hung it over a small chair. Turning, she began to unbutton his shirt. “No fair that you’re still dressed,” she said, smiling up at him. His green eyes were intense, black pupils large, on her, as if he were eating her up. Her knees went weak beneath that smoldering look.

  Her fingers brushed his chest and every time, Travis tensed, the sensations like hot spikes of fire diving down between his legs. As she opened his shirt, she leaned forward, placing her lips on his chest. Gritting his teeth, he welcomed her participation but she was testing his control.

  “You are so beautiful,” Madison whispered, taking the shirt off and smiling as it dropped to the floor. His chest was dusted with soft black hair and she saw a dark line move downward, disappearing beneath the waistband of his pants. When she ran her fingers softly through the hair, he tensed.

  “No,” he growled, “you’re the beautiful one.” He took her lips and skimmed his mouth across hers. Travis was going to kiss her more deeply but her fingers went to his belt and he froze for a moment. Smiling against her lips, he rasped, “You’re one brave soul.”

  She grinned and opened the belt, finding the zipper, feeling his erection straining against the material. “I handle stallions, remember?”

  Travis laughed and murmured, “You’re a Texas woman through and through, Madison.” He groaned as she brushed her hand against his erection. She pulled his pants off his narrow hips.

  “We’re not wimpy,” she agreed, breathless as she watched him remove his trousers. “I’ve been dreaming of doing this for two months.”

  Travis saw the twinkle in her blue eyes, saw the heat in them. “I like a strong woman and you’re all of that, darlin’.” He shed his boxer shorts while she removed that sexy black bra. Her breasts were heavy, perfect, and as she dropped the bra to the floor beside his clothes, he slid his fingers down beneath the elastic of her lacy panties. He eased them downward, caressing her hips, watching her eyes shutter, her lips parting with pleasure. In moments, she’d left the panties with the rest of the clothes.

  Her breasts grew firm as she stood fearlessly naked before him. There was no question Travis wanted her. What she hadn’t expected was for him to scoop her easily into his arms and carry her to the bed. Pleasure radiated from her hardened nipples when they tangled in the soft hair of his chest. In moments Travis had deposited her on the king-size bed. The coolness of the silk coverlet juxtaposed with the feverish heat of her skin. He lay beside her, his length against hers.

  “I want the light left on,” he told her, holding her drowsy, lust-filled gaze. “I want to see you, see how you look when I love you....”

  “Mmm,” she managed as his fingers trailed slowly, achingly, from her neck to her shoulder, and then his hand cupped her breast. Madison didn’t care about the light. He made her feel beautiful, desired. She wanted Travis in her, wanted to feel him in every way, wanted to soar with him like two eagles mated for life.

  Sliding her hand to his jaw, feeling the sandpapery quality of it, she pulled him down, needing his mouth on hers. At the same moment, his thumb brushed against her nipple, sending jolts of electricity down to her clenched womb. A softened cry of delight drowned beneath his hungry, searching mouth. She sank into the power of him as a man, arching against his hips, feeling the hard press of his erection against her softer belly. A hundred wild, skittering flames erupted through her and she became lost in the magic of his hands and his mouth.

  Yes, this was what she’d dreamed of, what she wanted, and Madison surrendered to him in every way.

  Travis eased her onto her back, his fingers tunneling through her tangled hair, holding her down so he could stare into her drowsy eyes. He smiled at her, his gaze drinking her in, his eyes glittering with a hunger that spurred her to move strongly against his hips.

  “Tonight’s for you,” he said thickly. “A woman always comes first....” He brought her hand to his lips, kissing each finger, watching her eyes grow a deeper blue, those gold highlights appearing in their depths. Yeah, he wanted to please her, let her know just how much he cared for her and wanted to please her. Tonight, he wanted Madison so damned satiated that she wouldn’t recover for hours afterward. He had a plan, he’d had two months of thinking about her, about what he was going to share with her. “Okay?” he demanded, his voice dropping to a growl as he eased her wrist above her head, holding it there with his one hand.

  “Okay...” she said, her voice wispy, filled with desire. “But you can’t stop me from wanting you. I’m not going to just lie here, Travis.”

  He grinned. “Oh, darlin’, I want you to participate all you want, but just remember, you’re mine and I’m going to love you thoroughly first....”

  His roughened words of warning did nothing but make her feel the heat ramping swiftly through her lower body. Travis had barely touched her, and she felt the dampness already collected between her thighs. She nodded and he brought her other hand above her head. His hand was so large he could hold her captive with just one. And as his fingers traveled from her shoulder, tracing the curve of her breast, Madison uttered a sigh and closed her eyes, arching into him, wanting his hand on her taut, achy breast. The man knew how to tease her to distraction, and her breath grew uneven as she felt the moistness of her breath hover above her tightening nipple

  Madison moaned and twisted against his hard, unforgiving body. He held her firmly, capturing her nipple between his lips, suckling her, moving his fingers down across her rib cage as she cried out. Never had she wanted anyone to touch her like she wanted Travis to touch her. His teeth tugged gently upon her nipple at the same time he caressed her inner thigh, feeling how wet she was. A soft cry tore from her lips, her back arching demandingly against his exploring hand as he moved to her rim, testing her.

  “You are so wet,” he rasped, licking her between her breasts, feeling her chest heave, her breath coming in broken, soft gasps. And she was so wild, so wanting, unable to lie still beneath him, twisting, demanding. Releasing her wrists, he settled his knees between her thighs, kneeling, watching her erratic breath, her lips swollen from his kiss, her fingers seeking him. Travis smiled and moved his hands down along her firm, curved thighs.

  “Your legs are incredible,” he rasped, feeling her flesh tense, watching her lush hips move as he focused on them. “Riding does incredible things to your body, darlin’.” Travis met her half-closed, lust-filled eyes. Riding strengthened every pelvic muscle in a woman’s body, made her butt firm, her belly taut, her legs like soft, warm steel beneath his exploring fingers. He opened her wider, trailing his fingers from her rib cage, leaning over, licking her belly, feeling her tense and moan. The anticipation made him ache.

  Lying down between her legs, he began a slow series of kisses, licks, soft nips of her flesh as he lavished her right inner thigh. He heard Madison whimper, her fingers digging frantically into his thick shoulders. Yeah, she was liking it. He smiled and began to kiss the inside of her left thigh. Her fragrance filled his lungs, sending scorching fire down to his throbbing shaft.

  Madison’s breath jerked into her lungs as he kissed her intimately. A shudder of impatience worked through her as she felt him teasing her core. Moaning in frustration, she rubbed her hips against his exploring mouth, wanting more, much more. His roughened hands slid beneath her hips, drawing her upward, drawing her closer to his mouth. Please, just be inside me, just...

 
And his tongue explored her, seeking and finding that tight knot of nerves. A low, guttural sound jammed in her throat. She arched powerfully against Travis, felt him grip her hips, holding her captive while he moved deeper into her, eliciting white hot reactions from her trembling body. Her orgasm built in the heat of his mouth, his breath. As he moved a finger within her, she started to come apart, a soft cry tearing out of her. Her muscles contracted violently and she felt scorching heat surrounding his fingers. His lips gave her wave after wave of intense, mind-melting pleasure.

  Travis eased himself from her and placed slow, wet kisses up across her tight belly, following the damp heaving of her torso and chest. Finally, he captured one nipple with his mouth, suckling her strongly, feeling her starting to fly apart in his hands once more.

  Madison opened her eyes, her breathing ragged, watching the smile in his eyes, that hunterlike intensity.

  “That was wonderful.” She sighed.

  “We’re not done, darlin’,” Travis rasped, taking her mouth. He thrust slowly into her, felt her arch hard against him, a low, animal cry knotting in her throat. Yeah, he wanted to hear those sounds. It told him everything as he moved his tongue boldly against hers, opening her mouth, deepening the kiss, demanding her response.

  She gripped his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him more deeply within her. This woman was going to kill him with pleasure, but what a way to die.

  Travis tore his mouth from hers, feeling her drink him into her wet, tight body. He didn’t want to hurt her, didn’t want to come so damn quickly. Teeth clenched, he moved more slowly, hearing the frustrated mewls in her throat because he kept such a languid pace. The heat built and the scalding fire of her body surrounded him.

  He was tormented by her continued hip thrusts, forcing him to move, to reach so deep, to touch that magical spot that would automatically trigger her release. He felt his control shredding with her assertiveness, pushing him to his absolute limit. Thrusting, establishing a faster rhythm, he heard Madison give a cry of need, her fingers gripping the thick, hard muscles of his shoulders, silently asking. Her body demanding.

  Moisture and heat built around him as he thrust, hearing her sigh, feeling her body begin to contract, tightening around him. The sweat came down his temples, the heat and dampness building as they were locked together. He heard her cries, her pleas to take her, to give to her. Oh, hell, he was in so much trouble from her bucking hips, her strength as powerful as his.

  Travis took her hard, drove deep, feeling her hips meet, meld hotly with his own. And just as he felt her orgasm explode within her, his own release rolled torturously out of him. He clenched his teeth, his face pressed against her neck and shoulder, breathing raggedly, his hands gripping the covers on either side of her head. A shudder rolled through him as she cried out, frozen in the feverish deluge of the orgasm rupturing through her. The moment gripped him, her jasmine-scented hair tangled against his straining face, the sweat created by them as they moved against each other.

  Resting his damp brow against Madison’s, his tone was guttural. “Woman, you could make a grown man cry. You are amazing....” Travis caught her mouth, kissing her deeply. His whole body thrummed with fever and satiation. He eased his mouth from her wet, swollen lips, gazing into her barely opened eyes, soft with satisfaction. With happiness. He felt pride in being able to please her. Felt his heart open up, sending feelings through him he’d never felt before. When her mouth curved, he smiled with her. She was soft and lush beneath his hard body and he absorbed her like sunlight.

  Madison gave him a weak smile, barely able to lift her hand and touch his jaw. The burning light in his eyes made her feel good. She almost said, I love you, but knew it was far too soon. But she did love Travis. She had from the moment she’d seen him. Her heart was bursting with love for him and she hoped it had translated through her loving him with her body, her hands and mouth.

  “I’m amazing?” she murmured. “You’re amazing, Travis.” She held his warm gaze, seeing so many emotions in his face. “I’ve never felt like this. It’s... I don’t have words for it.”

  Travis lay on his side, drawing Madison into his arms, against his body. She snuggled into his embrace, her head against his jaw and shoulder. “We’re good together, no question,” he said, his voice roughened. He kissed her temple, her cheek and saw that flush across her naked body. It was a physical testament to him being able to please her and it made him feel damn good as man.

  “I’m so sleepy,” she whispered, sliding her arm across his torso.

  “Then sleep,” Travis murmured, relaxing. The last thought he had as he drifted off with Madison in his embrace was that he loved her. Would he ever be able to tell her? He had two months to find out. And he was going to show her in a hundred different ways just how much he did and how much he wanted her to be a permanent part of his life.

  Chapter 7

  “What are you thinking?” Travis asked Madison. They rocked gently on the porch swing as the morning sun rose over the hills. Madison had just finished putting Odin through his paces and led the frisky stallion to his paddock for the day. She wore a pink short-sleeved blouse that hid her beautiful breasts. Even now, he felt himself growing hard, wanting her. Their days were spent in hard work on the stud farm and their nights in each other’s arms. Travis had never felt happier. He leaned over, kissing her mussed hair. The long gold braid lay across her shoulder.

  “That tomorrow you’re going to have to leave,” Madison admitted miserably and looked up into his eyes. She couldn’t keep the sadness out of her tone. She’d been dreading this day.

  Travis moved his fingers over her shoulder as if to calm her. Every day she wanted to tell him she loved him. Every time he loved her, she wanted the words to tear out of her mouth. Yet, he’d never whispered them to her. The way he made love to her, she couldn’t believe he didn’t feel something deep, something profound with her. Did he want to simply walk away? Her heart ached and she pressed her face into his shoulder, eyes shut, feeling the sting of tears behind her lids.

  His other arm went around her, holding her gently, rocking them in the swing. Madison knew it could happen. That Travis would leave and never come back. He could be killed. He could have used her and walked away. Her heart sensed differently. She’d seen the struggle in his face sometimes, at odd moments when she happened to look up and catch those fleeting expressions. What was Travis thinking? It was so hard to pry feelings out of him. Why should she expect he was any different than any other man? She inhaled his scent deep into her lungs, nuzzling against the fabric across his chest, never wanting to let this moment go. Never wanting to let Travis go.

  Travis caressed her hair. The sunlight was catching strands of it, making it look like melting gold. Her arm went around his torso and she held him tightly, as if she were losing him.

  “We need to talk,” he whispered against her hair, resting his chin on her head. “Do you want to do it here? Or over at the diner?”

  Madison squeezed him a little closer. “No,” she said, her muffled voice strained. “I’d rather talk here, Travis.” She tried to prepare herself. Tried to behave like a grown-up and not a scared teenage girl losing her puppy love. It was so hard not to cry, not to break down in front of Travis. And, God knew, she’d cried often enough when he wasn’t around. Tears of goodbye.

  His heart clenched with pain when he heard the tremble in Madison’s voice. Damn. Travis frowned and gave her a little squeeze. “I want to ask you one question,” he rasped against her hair. “Just one...” His heart picked up in a fearful beat. What would Madison say?

  Forcing herself to look up, Madison drew in a breath, her heart wide open “What?” she whispered.

  Travis smoothed several tendrils from her brow, saw the pain in her blue eyes, the soft tremble of her lower lip. He was sure she thought he was going to walk out of her life. “I love you, Madison. And I want to keep you in my life. I’m not sure you love me. I think you do, but
I’ve got to hear it from you.” He gave her an anxious look, nervous and tense. “Tell me.” His hand stilled on her shoulders, watching her.

  “You...love me? Really?” She anxiously searched his face, the well-shaped mouth that had loved her so thoroughly. “Travis?”

  “I do, darlin’. Ever since I laid eyes on you after I pulled that hood off your head. I fell for you lock, stock and barrel right there in Afghanistan.”

  It felt as if someone had stolen the breath from her body. Madison’s eyes rounded with surprise. The first tendrils of joy thrummed through her. “Oh, Travis...”

  “So, it’s mutual, then?” he teased her gently, smoothing strands away from her temple.

  “Mutual? Yes, it is.” Madison just stared at him, tears flooding into her eyes.

  “And you’d wait for me even though you know I’ll be gone a lot of the time?”

  She nodded. Tears drifted down her cheeks. “Y-yes, I’d do it, Travis.” She wiped them away with trembling fingers. “Something is better than nothing. And in the last two months, I’ve never been happier.” She stared hard at him. “What about you?”

  “Never happier,” he admitted, hating to see her tears. He’d heard the words he needed to hear more than anything else.

  Travis had gotten to know Madison on so many levels. They worked well together. It was a joy watching her train and ride those beautiful warm-blooded horses. They laughed often and rarely had arguments, although when a situation came up, they sat down like adults and hashed it out. The days and weeks had flowed like sweet, warm honey into a quiet, productive teamwork.

  Her parents accepted him without judgment, were grateful for his background in horses and seemed happy that Madison was happy to have him in her life. So was he.

  “Listen, I need to fess up on some things,” Travis admitted, removing the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “I couldn’t say anything until now, Madison. Until I knew you loved me as much as I love you.”