Read Online Texas Proud (Vincente 2) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online Page A

know exactly what I'm doing."
    He was like a man possessed. He could no
longer control the rising tide of passion that ripped through his body it was too late to stop
now and he knew it. He wanted to drive into her,
deeper and deeper, losing himself in her sweetness. To find release within her for his tormented
soul. Like a man dying of thirst in the desert, his
mouth sought hers and her lips opened to him.

    Noble plunged his tongue deep, and Rachel
thought she would faint from longing. She stiffened in surprise, then surrendered against him
with a groan. She slid her hands around his shoulders and up his neck, before sliding them through
his wet, midnight hair, wanting him to go on kissing her and never stop.
    She was unaware that Noble had guided them
to the shallows. His feet were now planted on solid
limestone, but she was dangling in his embrace.
    Noble's voice was deep and husky with passion.
"I knew you were going to be trouble the minute
you came back into my life. I knew it, and I
wanted it."
    She threw back her head when he lifted her up,
his hand sliding sensuously across her breast. He
lifted her higher, and his mouth closed over a nipple, which hardened against his tongue.
    For the moment Rachel forgot she was in the
arms of her enemy. She felt no shame in being
held against his strong male body. Noble was passionate and he was tender and he stirred her blood
and brought new pleasure with each touch of his
hand.
    Noble lowered her to fit against him, kissing her brow, sweeping his mouth across her cheek to her
lips. "Damn you, Rachel, for making me want you
and for making me feel again."

    She clamped her hands behind his head, drawing his wonderful lips to hers once more. When
he gently nudged her legs apart and slid against
her, his intimate hardness swelled and throbbed,
firing her desire.
    Somewhere in the back of her mind a small
voice warned, Fool, fool, you are in his trap he'll
break your heart. She felt as though a large fist had
clamped inside her stomach and was squeezing
the life out of her. She gazed into dark, passionfilled eyes and trembled from a force that rocked
her body.
    No! she answered the voice inside her head.
He's fallen into my trap. I'll make him love me, and
then I'll break his heart.
    The water gently lapped against her skin and all
thought of resistance dissolved. With a soft groan
she surrendered herself to him completely. Noble
supported her weight with one hand while his
other hand moved across her flat stomach. Her
head fell forward to rest against his shoulder
when his hand moved downward to her thighs,
then glided between her legs.
    Unleashed desire sang through her, and she
knew that she'd sink to the bottom of the river if
he weren't holding her. His mouth covered hers,
stealing her breath as effectively as the river
would have if she had slipped beneath the surface. Neither of them heard the shot ring out, not
consciously, but the force of the bullet struck Rachel in the chest and ripped her from Noble's
grasp.

    She felt hot, searing pain; then a sudden weakness washed over her. She reached out for Noble
just before she slid downward, the water closing
over her head. Too weak to fight her way to the
surface, Rachel was sure she was drowning.
    Noble thought Rachel might be playing another
game, but when she didn't surface right away, he
dove under the water, grasping her shoulders and
propelling her upward. He still didn't know what
had happened, but when he saw blood oozing
from her chest enough blood to color the muddy
water red-he knew. He'd seen enough bullet
wounds during the war to know that she'd been
shot. But how-who?
    Rachel struggled against the darkness that
seemed to hover over her. She tried to focus her
gaze on Noble, but she was too weak. Her head
fell against his arm and she murmured, "Noble,
why? Why did you do it?"
    Then she lost consciousness.
    Noble lifted her in his arms and moved toward
the