Free Yellowstone Heart Song (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 1) by Peggy L Henderson Page B

tone shimmered under the waves. Her lack of clothing suddenly jolted him like a lightning strike. His stomach tightened, and he ground his teeth. How much more could this woman torment him? Aimee swung her body around, and almost butted heads with him.  She relaxed for a split second, as recognition filled her eyes.
    “What are you doing? You scared me to death. Let go of me!” She squirmed in his arms, and tried to loosen his hold.
    Daniel stared, utterly bewildered. Why was she fighting him? He pulled her more firmly against his body to control her thrashing. Her stomach was pressed firmly against his side, their legs entwined under the water in an attempt by both of them to stay afloat. His loins tightened.
    “I heard you scream. I thought you were drowning,” he shouted over the roar of the water. Aimee continued to struggle. “Dammit, woman! Stop fighting me!”
    “I didn’t scream, and I’m definitely not drowning.  But you’re gonna be the death of me if you keep sneaking up and giving me a heart attack! I was taking a bath,” she yelled back. “Let go of me.  I can swim.”
    Dammit! She was going to drown both of them if she kept up with her wild struggles. He had no choice but to release her. She immediately swam upriver. He shook his head and followed. Relief washed over him that she was alive. The vision of her lifeless body floating in the current sent an icy chill down his spine. Her wild struggles had replaced his fear with anger. Recalling the feel of her unclothed body against his just moments ago sent renewed waves of desire through him. It took all of his restraint not to grab her again and pull her close to him once more.
    What the hell was this woman doing to him? When he wasn’t near her, all he did was think about her. The way she provoked him drove him nearly mad.
    *****
     
    Aimee reached the riverbank and scrambled up the embankment.  Her clothes and blanket lay in the grass where she left them. She could feel Daniel’s eyes staring into her backside. She hastily wrapped the blanket around herself and turned to face him. The murderous look in his eyes gave new meaning to the saying “if looks could kill.” His dark angry scowl was more un-nerving than any ER doctor she had ever encountered. She took a few steps back as Daniel hoisted himself up the riverbank, and mentally prepared for the inevitable confrontation.
    “What the hell were you doing in that river?” Daniel’s voiced boomed. “That current is treacherous in some areas, and you can get towed under before you know what’s happening.”
    She held her ground. Daniel stood mere feet from her, dripping wet and looking like an angry Greek god. He towered over her. Aimee swallowed hard at her awareness of his nude upper body. Her gaze roamed over the broad, well-muscled expanse of his shoulders and chorded arms, his lean torso, and his rock solid, well defined abs. Does he go out in the woods and bench press 300 pound logs every day?
    “Answer me,” he roared, taking hold of her arms in a strong grip, giving her a shake when she didn’t respond. She stood stiffly, unable to move. This wasn’t happening again, was it? The memory of Brad grabbing her in much the same way seeped into her mind. But instead of his fingers biting cruelly into her skin, Daniel’s grip, while firm, seemed almost gentle. In place of causing pain, the sensation of his warm hands sent surges of electricity through her veins.
    Aimee’s head cleared, and she matched his angry stare. Apparently, men were just as overbearing and controlling in this time as they were in hers.
    “Take your hands off me, you . . . you big clod! I already told you, I was taking a bath.” She glared up at him, and met his intense look with one of her own. “Now you listen here.” She raised a finger at him, even as he gripped her arms. “I don’t need any more arrogant men barking orders at me. I get enough of that back home. You can say what you need to say in a