Read Online Shadow's Stand by Sarah McCarty - Free Book Online Page B

understand how this is between us.”
“Weren’t expecting to be attracted to an Indian?”
This time, when she stumbled, his hand wasn’t there to catch her.
She spun around so fast, the mare jerked back. She didn’t like his tone. “I did not expect to feel this for any man, Chinese, white or Indian. It is not part of my plan.”
“You never planned on feeling desire?”
She seemed to have shocked him. “I have been very careful about avoiding it.”
“Why?”
“My husband would not be of my choice. To allow such feelings would only lead to disappointment.”
“Son of a bitch.”
Beyond the curse, he didn’t seem to have anything else to say. They walked in silence for a couple of minutes. Finally, she had to ask, “Do you feel the passion, too?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“Do you dislike this because I am Chinese?”
“Not a damn bit. And you know it.”
She gave him his own words back. “Maybe I just like to hear it.”
The sharp sting on her rear sent her skipping over the next rough patch. She spun about. “You hit me.”
“I spanked that sassy butt of yours.”
She rubbed the spot. “You promised not to hurt me.”
The corners of his mouth twitched in a smile. “So I did. Are you going to tell me that hurt?”
She wanted to. The look he shot her was knowing.
“If it hurt at all, I’m betting it hurt good.”
She dropped her hand from the spot, unable to look away. He was right. The little sting was settling into a disconcerting heat.
“As a matter of fact, I’m willing to bet that, if I threatened to do it again, you’d back into my hand.”
She tossed her head. “You are crude.”
“Maybe.” He tipped his hat as he took the reins from her hand and resumed the climb. “That doesn’t mean I’m not right.”
She followed. “I would not like being spanked.” Even to her own ears the statement sounded weak.
“In general, maybe not, but under the right circumstances, I bet I could make you scream in delight.”
“You like to spank women?”
“The right woman.”
She had to know. “What would make a right woman?”
“You sure you want to hear this? It might be crude.”
With everything inside her she wanted to hear. “A woman should know the man she marries.”
“The right woman would be a woman who could trust herself to the pleasure I could give her.”
She was intrigued. She was horrified. And worst of all, she wanted to see if she was one of the women he could make burn. What was wrong with her?
“No woman likes to be beaten,” she muttered as he and the mare cleared the ridge.
Turning, he held out his hand. She took it, only realizing it was a mistake when his fingers closed around hers in a viselike grip. He pulled her up the last few feet. Here the ground was level. Leather creaked as his horse came over the edge with a lurch.
Shadow walked over to the mare. Without warning, he hefted Fei over his shoulder. Grabbing his gunbelt, she squealed. “What are you doing?”
He sat down on a fallen tree, lowering her across his lap. Her hair fell over her face, blocking out the sun, heightening the sense of intimacy. “Satisfying your curiosity.”
She kicked and squirmed. “I am not curious!”
He laughed and rested his forearm in the middle of her back. “Liar. Not only are you curious, I bet you’re still feeling the heat from that little slap.”
“I am not.”
His hands moved over the smooth silk of her pants, raising goose bumps along her thighs. She shivered and froze.
“Sure?”
She braced her hands against the ground and pushed back. “I am positive.”
That earned her a slap that stung just as sinfully as the first. Excitement skittered along her nerve endings. Her senses flared open. Dread. Anticipation. Pleasure.
“You’re already feeling it.”
“What?”
“The anticipation, mixed with excitement.”
“I’m not.” No amount of denial could contain her shiver as he trailed the backs of his fingers down her thigh.
“No?”
“No.”
His arm in the