Read Online The Convict and the Cattleman by Allison Merritt - Free Book Online
Authors: Allison Merritt
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The door opened and Mr. Andrus entered, his shirt darkened by splatters of rain.
“What are you doing? Martha said she called for you before she left, but you didn’t answer.”
Feeling foolish, she sat up. Clasping her hands, she wished for something more solid to hold on to. Before she could answer, lightning lit the night and she flinched. He didn’t seem aware of the danger around them.
“Going to be a long night,” Mr. Andrus stated. “Alright here?”
He shifted awkwardly, but her gaze flew to the window. If the squall bothered him, he didn’t let her know. She heard him come closer, his footsteps light against the rug. His weight caused the ropes holding the mattress to groan. His side pressed against hers.
“You’re frightened of storms?” His voice was quiet, free of mockery.
When he touched her, the fear faded. They hadn’t been so close since he’d checked her ankle.
The frequent brilliant flashes of lightning made his features clear. Thunder rumbled overhead. A ragged sob escaped her. She jumped to her feet. His hand shot out and grabbed hers. He pulled her down onto the quilt. His fingers entwined with hers.
“Are you afraid of the storms?” he asked again.
“We’ll be blown away.” Her voice came out a harsh whisper. She struggled to free her hand, but his grip was unmovable iron.
“No, we won’t.”
He turned toward her. Bridgit bit her bottom lip, not at all reassured. The clatter of debris hitting the house belied his words.
“This is just a small storm. Trust me.” He used his free hand to smooth stray hair from her face. “There isn’t anywhere else to go. If this worries you, you won’t make it through the spring, love.”
He squeezed her hand and let go. He’d called her love once before, when he was protecting her from a stranger. What did it mean? She was baffled by his actions. Before she could ask what he was doing, he reached out and took her by the shoulders, pulling her against his chest.
She placed her hands against his chest, tried to push away. He didn’t have the right to be so close. They were nose to nose. The next flash of light revealed his smile, combined with a wicked glint in his eyes. All the strength left her body. Her will vanished as though tossed away on the violent wind. When he pressed his lips over hers, the power to make rational decisions was rendered useless.
His mouth bruised her lips in a hungry kiss she returned. She’d never kissed a man before and her attempts were clumsy.
He caressed her breasts through the material separating their flesh. As his hands inched down her side, she moaned with pleasure, wishing he touched her bare skin. He planted soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck. The top two buttons of her dress opened with the flick of his fingers. With her collarbone laid bare, he kissed it too.
“I’ve itched to taste you since yesterday evening,” he murmured.
A heat as foreign as the landscape rushed through Bridgit. The thunder seemed distant. Somehow he made the worry fade with hot kisses and searching hands. Beneath the rough material of her dress, her nipples hardened into tight peaks. Thumbs taunted them until they ached. For what, she couldn’t say. Surely it was inappropriate to want his mouth there.
Mr. Andrus leaned her back against the bed and stretched out beside her. Evidence of his desire pressed against her leg, but she wasn’t afraid. He grabbed a handful of skirt, pulling it up, baring her thighs. Gentle fingers traced an invisible line over her knee to the top of her stocking-clad thigh. Liquid fire coursed through her limbs. If his fingers moved up a few inches more, he might soothe the ache growing between her legs.
Mr. Andrus stroked the side of her face. “I want you, Bridgit.”
She melted against him. His sensuous mouth hovered above hers. Parting her lips, she moaned when his tongue slid along hers, hot and seeking.
With a sudden jerk, his head snapped up and he stared at her as if
“What are you doing? Martha said she called for you before she left, but you didn’t answer.”
Feeling foolish, she sat up. Clasping her hands, she wished for something more solid to hold on to. Before she could answer, lightning lit the night and she flinched. He didn’t seem aware of the danger around them.
“Going to be a long night,” Mr. Andrus stated. “Alright here?”
He shifted awkwardly, but her gaze flew to the window. If the squall bothered him, he didn’t let her know. She heard him come closer, his footsteps light against the rug. His weight caused the ropes holding the mattress to groan. His side pressed against hers.
“You’re frightened of storms?” His voice was quiet, free of mockery.
When he touched her, the fear faded. They hadn’t been so close since he’d checked her ankle.
The frequent brilliant flashes of lightning made his features clear. Thunder rumbled overhead. A ragged sob escaped her. She jumped to her feet. His hand shot out and grabbed hers. He pulled her down onto the quilt. His fingers entwined with hers.
“Are you afraid of the storms?” he asked again.
“We’ll be blown away.” Her voice came out a harsh whisper. She struggled to free her hand, but his grip was unmovable iron.
“No, we won’t.”
He turned toward her. Bridgit bit her bottom lip, not at all reassured. The clatter of debris hitting the house belied his words.
“This is just a small storm. Trust me.” He used his free hand to smooth stray hair from her face. “There isn’t anywhere else to go. If this worries you, you won’t make it through the spring, love.”
He squeezed her hand and let go. He’d called her love once before, when he was protecting her from a stranger. What did it mean? She was baffled by his actions. Before she could ask what he was doing, he reached out and took her by the shoulders, pulling her against his chest.
She placed her hands against his chest, tried to push away. He didn’t have the right to be so close. They were nose to nose. The next flash of light revealed his smile, combined with a wicked glint in his eyes. All the strength left her body. Her will vanished as though tossed away on the violent wind. When he pressed his lips over hers, the power to make rational decisions was rendered useless.
His mouth bruised her lips in a hungry kiss she returned. She’d never kissed a man before and her attempts were clumsy.
He caressed her breasts through the material separating their flesh. As his hands inched down her side, she moaned with pleasure, wishing he touched her bare skin. He planted soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck. The top two buttons of her dress opened with the flick of his fingers. With her collarbone laid bare, he kissed it too.
“I’ve itched to taste you since yesterday evening,” he murmured.
A heat as foreign as the landscape rushed through Bridgit. The thunder seemed distant. Somehow he made the worry fade with hot kisses and searching hands. Beneath the rough material of her dress, her nipples hardened into tight peaks. Thumbs taunted them until they ached. For what, she couldn’t say. Surely it was inappropriate to want his mouth there.
Mr. Andrus leaned her back against the bed and stretched out beside her. Evidence of his desire pressed against her leg, but she wasn’t afraid. He grabbed a handful of skirt, pulling it up, baring her thighs. Gentle fingers traced an invisible line over her knee to the top of her stocking-clad thigh. Liquid fire coursed through her limbs. If his fingers moved up a few inches more, he might soothe the ache growing between her legs.
Mr. Andrus stroked the side of her face. “I want you, Bridgit.”
She melted against him. His sensuous mouth hovered above hers. Parting her lips, she moaned when his tongue slid along hers, hot and seeking.
With a sudden jerk, his head snapped up and he stared at her as if
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