Free To Tame a Renegade by Connie Mason

dearly for your mistake.”
    Sarah blinked away her tears. Despite the small spark of compassion Chad displayed upon occasion, there was an aloofness about him, a dangerous, unreadable temperament that made him hard to understand. He confused her, and she found that unsettling. Then all thought vanished as Chad’s mouth claimed hers.
    Chad tasted the sweetness of Sarah’s mouth and groaned. Reason bid him stop. Inexplicable need urged him on. He wanted Sarah Temple. Not just sexually; he wanted to protect her and Abner from the people of this town. From her own parents. What had started as an unaccountable need to comfort Sarah had grown all out of proportion. He’d never felt this way before, never thought he was capable of giving solace. Not only that; he wanted to give her more pleasure man any man before him had.
    Sarah whimpered as he pressed her closer.
    “Don’t,” she said, dragging her mouth away from his.
    Painfully aroused, Chad was barely able to think beyond the pressing need between his legs. “I want you, Sarah,” he muttered against her throat as his lips teased the wildly beating pulse there. “Let me comfort you. I won’t get you pregnant, if that’s what you’re worried about. I know how to prevent it”
    His words were like a dash of cold water. “Let me go.” Her voice was deadly serious.
    Chad’s arms dropped away and he stared at her in consternation. There was nothing wrong with two lonely people wanting each other, was there? He searched her face. What he saw shocked him. There was a wounded look to her eyes and mouth. He had somehow hurt her and for the life of him he couldn’t think what he had done.
    “What’s wrong? What have I done?”
    Chad’s words shamed Sarah. She’d tried so hard to live a respectable life despite the town’s groundless condemnation. Then Chad Delaney had marched into her life and made her feel things that frightened her. She disliked men intensely. Yet something about Chad made her think sweet, romantic thoughts instead of dark sin and pain. His kisses evoked irresistible pleasure. Nothing had prepared her for the shattering effects of desire. It puzzled, humiliated, and terrified her. For a brief moment, though, she had reveled in the unique taste and scent of him.
    The pressure of his body against hers had felt good and right despite knowing it was wrong. But it was Chad’s careless words that had brought her to her senses. He considered her a whore, like everyone else in this town. Would Chad believe her if she told him she’d been raped? Would he pass judgment and call her a liar and a sinner?
    “I repeat, Mr. Delaney, I am not for sale. The One-Eyed Jack Saloon has a variety of women who I’m sure would suit your needs.”
    Chad’s eyes narrowed with contempt “Are you holding out for a better price? I should have known. Women are all alike. All they do is take. I finished giving a long time ago, Miss Temple.”
    “I never asked you for a thing, Mr. Delaney. Your opinion of women is appalling. Experience has taught me that men can’t be trusted. What soured you on women, Mr. Delaney?”
    “What soured you on men?” Chad shot back.
    Sarah gave a harsh laugh. “Need you ask? Look at me. Look at my circumstances. My own parents despise me, and do you know why?” Chad opened his mouth to speak but Sarah forestalled him. “I’ll tell you why. Because I believed a man’s sweet talk I was a trusting, naive child who fancied herself in love. And then…” Her words fell off and she looked away.
    “So you fell for some man and he got you pregnant. I’m surprised your parents didn’t make him marry you.”
    “That’s not exactly how it happened,” she said bitterly, “but close enough. My parents refused to believe the truth and disowned me when I told them I was pregnant”
    “What is the truth?”
    Sarah stared at him. “The truth, Mr. Delaney, is that you’re like every other man I’ve ever known.”
    They were still glaring at