Free Ride The Wind (Vincente 3) by Constance O'Banyon Page B

squatter built on your brother's land."
    "I'd like to think he'd be more understanding."
    "No, he wouldn't. A man's land is his life out
here. No squatter, homesteader, or whatever
they want to call themselves has a right to take
it over."
    "I suppose, if you put it that way." She yawned
and laid her head on his shoulder.
    "Here," he said, spreading his coat on the hard
ground and laying her down close to the fire.
Then he warmed the blanket again and placed
it over her.
    She was still shaking so badly that he lay down beside her, drawing her into his arms. She snuggled against him, sliding one arm around his
waist. He began rubbing his hand firmly up and
down her back, trying to warm her. After a while
he heard her sigh, and she fell asleep.

    Reese watched the snow sifting through the
cracks, glad that the roof nearest the fireplace
had been strong enough to withstand the fire.
Saber snuggled her head against his neck, and
he caught his breath, willing himself to think of
her only as a warm body and not as a desirable
woman.
    He carefully removed his gun from the holster
and laid it within easy reach. His horse stomped
and whinnied; then, after a while, all was quiet
except for the crackling of the fire.
    It was a long time before Reese fell asleep.
    He jerked awake, his senses alert. Something
had brushed against his face. He automatically
reached for his gun, then realized it was only
Saber's hair. He stiffened when he realized that
she had crawled on top of him and was snuggled
there.
    He groaned as she cuddled closer to his
warmth, grinding her breasts against his chest.
He swallowed deeply when she shifted again
and his painfully swollen erection fit snugly between her legs. He dared not move, and he
hoped she didn't either, because every move ment only heated his blood more and made him
want to slide inside her to find relief. He tried to
think of anyone but the woman who was driving
him slowly out of his mind.

    He reached up to brush her hair out of his
face, but instead, when he touched the silky texture, his fingers moved through it. Her mouth
was so near his that if he turned the slightest bit,
his lips would touch hers. And he wanted tohe ached and throbbed to kiss her until her lips
parted for him. He wanted to unfasten his trousers, rip hers off and-
    Oh, hell, he thought when she moved again,
this time sighing against his ear.
    He remembered Matthew, his friend, and attempted to beat down the desire that threatened
to dishonor him and the woman he had sworn
to protect.
    He eased her off him, wrapped the blanket
about her, and stacked more wood on the fire.
While she slept, he watched the flames play
across her face, and he felt a deep, burning need
start in his loins and move to his heart. She had
awakened something in him that went beyond
desire.
    Saber Vincente had touched his heart.
    No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't suppress the desire that coiled inside him, and he tightened the corded muscles that made his
trousers damned tight and uncomfortable.

    Saber slept blissfully, not knowing that she was
affecting Reese in any way. It was hours later
when she heard the horse stomping and opened
her eyes. Reese had already saddled the animal
and was loading their meager supplies.
    She stretched her arms over her head and
yawned. "I slept the whole night through. I
wasn't a bit uncomfortable, were you?"
    He glanced at her and turned away. "Put my
coat on and wrap the blanket around your
shoulders."
    "But you'll be cold. You keep your own coat.
I'll be just fine with the blanket."
    "Miss Vincente, do as I said."
    She angrily shoved her hands into the sleeves
and held out her arms so he could see that the
sleeves were far too long. "Are you satisfied?"
    "I have never been less satisfied in my life," he
mumbled under his breath. "It's easy to see that
you are accustomed to getting your own way,"
he said so she could hear.
    "Really." Her hands went on