Free RenegadeHeart by Madeline Baker

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with anger and desire as he drew her close.
    She was frightened, more frightened than she had ever been
in her life. Of the Indians. Of Tyree. He was stroking her arms lightly,
kissing her eyes, her cheeks, the tip of her nose. Every instinct urged her to
fight him, to preserve her chastity, but her fear of the Indians was stronger
than her desire to remain chaste and she closed her eyes again, praying it would
soon be over.
    Tyree felt his desire rise swift and hot as he caressed
Rachel’s arms. She was sweet, so sweet, and he had wanted to make love to her
for so long. But not like this.
    He heard the Indians ride away as he kissed Rachel, felt the
tension drain from his body as his lips slid over Rachel’s closed eyelids. So,
Many Eagles had been bluffing after all. Reluctantly, he drew away from Rachel.
Letting her go was the hardest thing he had ever done, and he regretted it
immediately. But violating virgins was something he’d never done, and he didn’t
intend to start now.
    Rachel’s eyes flew open as Tyree took his mouth from hers.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
    “They’ve gone.”
    She glanced around, her eyes wide with fear, her body
shaking visibly. She was so scared, and so cold. She looked at Tyree. He was so
brave. And his arms looked so strong and warm. Without conscious thought, she
reached out for him, needing to be held. He had come to her rescue. He would
protect her, shelter her from harm. In the face of fear and danger, he was all
that was solid and familiar.
    Tyree let out a long sigh as Rachel’s arms slid around his
neck. She was shivering violently and he held her close, his arms wrapped
around her, his lips moving in her hair as he whispered words of comfort.
    In that moment, she forgot that she hated him, forgot
everything but the security of his arms and the consoling warmth of his body
pressed to her own. She lifted her head, her lips seeking his. He hesitated for
a moment, and then he was kissing her, his mouth moving over hers slowly,
languorously, his tongue darting out to savor her lower lip. It was a
wondrously heady sensation, and totally unexpected. She tried to remind herself
that he was an outlaw, but even that didn’t seem to matter, not now with his
mouth on hers and her blood turning to fire. Tyree caressed her and she
responded in kind, her hands slipping under his shirt to roam over his broad
back and shoulders, reveling in the feel of his scarred flesh beneath her
fingertips.
    All her fears fled as Tyree made love to her, answering a
need she had not known she possessed. She had been cold and afraid; now she was
warm and alive, every nerve end tingling, every inch of her skin attuned to his
touch.
    Tyree tried to hold back, tried to resist, but her lips were
so sweet, her arms so welcoming. He vowed each kiss would be the last. Just
this one, and he would let her go before it was too late, before he could never
let her go. Just one more…
    His tongue slid into her mouth, kindling new fires between
them. Rachel groaned with pleasure, her arms drawing Tyree closer, her body
pressing against his. Not realizing how she was affecting him, she knew only
that she wanted to be closer. Her tongue caressed his, then slid shyly into his
mouth, and it was too late to turn back.
    His yellow eyes were ablaze with desire when he thrust into
her. Rachel uttered a little cry of pleasure and pain as his body melded with
her own, making her forget everything but the wonder of his touch as wave after
wave of ecstasy flooded her being, filling her with delight, until she lay
sated and spent in his arms.
    Later, she lay silent and ashamed beside him, racked with
guilt. What had she done? Always, in the back of her mind, she had imagined it
would be Clint who would initiate her in the ways of love. They would be
married, of course, sheltered within the cozy darkness of their own little
house. She would be shy, hesitant, and yet eager to explore the intimate
secrets shared by a man