Free To Love and Cherish by Diana Palmer

she finally mustered enough courage to lift her eyes up to his. She winced at the expression in those furious dark eyes.
    â€œYou might as well let it out before you explode, King,” she said softly.
    â€œDamn you, Shelby!” he growled, and his lean hands shot out to grasp her upper arms painfully as he shook her once, hard. “Do you know howbig this ranch is? Do you realize how long we could search until we found you if you got yourself lost for real? Where in hell were you?”
    â€œI…I fell asleep by the river,” she said unsteadily. “Oh, please, you’re hurting me!”
    His jaw clenched, but he loosened his tight hold and took a harsh breath. “You little fool, I could beat you!”
    â€œYes, I know. I’m sorry.”
    â€œSorry,” he scoffed. “I had half my men on the range hunting you, after they’d put in a twelve-hour day already, and you’re sorry!”
    Tears rolled down her cheeks as she lowered her eyes to his chest, the brown print shirt blurring in front of her.
    â€œDon’t do that!” he growled.
    But his harsh voice made the tears run all the harder. A sob broke from her lips.
    â€œShelby,” he bit off, “oh, God, honey, don’t cry!”
    He brought her up close to his arms and held her, rocked her against his hard body, soothing her with words she didn’t hear, his hand gentle in her hair. The action surprised her so much that suddenly all the frustrated longing poured out. With a sense of wonder she felt the crush of his arms and pressed even closer.
    â€œYou little fool,” he murmured at her ear. “We didn’t even know where to look, Shelby!”
    â€œI’m sorry, King,” she whispered like a disobedient child.
    He buried his face in her silky neck, his lips hard and warm against it. “It’s one hell of a big ranch, Shelby,” he said in a strange, deep voice. “We lost a hand once, during the floods. It was three days before we found his body.”
    Chills swept over her. “I didn’t realize…Oh, King, I didn’t mean to upset everybody. I was just so sleepy…”
    â€œDon’t you sleep at night, little girl?”
    â€œNo. Yes,” she corrected quickly. But not quickly enough.
    He drew back and looked searchingly into her eyes. His own were bloodshot, and there were weary, worn lines in his hard face, as if he hadn’t had much sleep himself.
    His gaze dropped to her mouth and his hands, where they rested on her back, became subtly caressing. “I didn’t sleep last night, either, Shelby,” he said quietly.
    She flushed at the memory and pressed her cold hands against him.
    â€œWhat is it?” he asked deeply.
    â€œDanny…”
    â€œLet Danny look out for himself,” he said gruffly. “He’s so damned wrapped up in Mary Kate, he can’tsee you for dust, and you know it. Why the hell don’t you give him back the ring, Shelby?”
    With a thrill of pleasure she felt his arms contract around her, and she lifted her head to look into his deep-set dark eyes.
    His glance flickered over her face and then down to her mouth again. “You burned for me,” he whispered sensuously. “Like a candle flame touched by wind.”
    Her face reddened, but she didn’t lower her face. “You…Danny said you were going to Austin.”
    â€œI turned around and came back,” he said. He glanced over her shoulder and back down at her again. “I couldn’t stay away from you.”
    Her eyes widened. “From…me?” she whispered.
    â€œFrom you,” he murmured. “You missed me, didn’t you, honey?”
    She met his level gaze shyly.“Yes,” she admitted breathlessly. “King…”
    He drew her body relentlessly against his. “Don’t tell me,” he said softly, “show me.”
    He teased her lips apart with slow mastery,