Still, I suppose, there is wisdom in Aiden’s decree that we take things slow with her, if for no other reason than her inexperience. But there’s also part of me that rebels against the idea of another moment more of lost time. Of holding back. Of denying her anything…Godforbid.
Feeling her move through layers of fabric last night had been a torment, imagining how it would feel instead to have my hands on her bare. To feel her tremble. Feel her skin grow dampwith perspiration as I build her up, feel her get slick with need between her thighs. Feel her arch and hear her moan as I take her. As I watch Aiden step in while she is still falling to drive her back to that high so fast that—
“Cypress…” Aiden’s voice is a warning at my side, and while I reluctantly leave my escalating thoughts to give my attention back to the present, my expression must still give me away. His eyes narrow. “Behave.”
“Wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise.”
He’s about to issue another retort when a gunshot echoes across the landscape, loud even with the distance and the overabundance of trees and rocks to deafen it. Before the sound fully dies, Aiden is already riding away, galloping toward camp at a breakneck pace with Cerberus and I right behind.
I eye my bedroll as I stand by the remnants of the fire used to cook breakfast, thinking the three sleeping mats laid out together look unbelievably tempting, but if Cypress and Aiden can stay awake after last night then surely I can, too. Instead of crawling back into bed, I sigh and stretch, rising up on my tiptoes and extending my arms far above my head in hopes that it will remind my blood to keep flowing.
Admittedly, it’s an awkward position to freeze in, but I do nonetheless when I hear a distinctly male presence clear his throat behind me.Cypress or Aiden. Please be Cypress or Aiden.
I already know it’s not.
I turn slowly, calculating how many steps it will take to reach my gun where I’d placed it on the wagon bench, not thinking I would need it before we were on the move, until I see my visitor. Tall, light gray hair, a bandana around his neck, and his hat replaced with what appears to be a fresh bandage around hishead.
“Hello, darlin’,” David greets me, standing at the edge of camp. “Remember me?”
“Yes,” I say slowly, trying to stay calm. “From the saloon. In Last Chance.”
“That’s right.” He seems genuinely pleased to have made an impression, as if we didn’t leave him unconscious in an alley. “You know, I’ve always wondered at the name of that town.”
I take a step toward the wagon. “I think they’re trying to set expectations.”
“Perhaps they are.” He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Fortunately, it didn’t apply to us, though. Even if you are an awfully hard woman to track down.”
“Am I?” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady, almost bored-like in the way I’ve seen Cypress do. “You shouldn’t have gone to the trouble then.” I take another step toward the wagon, raising my hand as if I’m shielding my eyes from the sun instead of furtively checking to make sure he’s alone.
“Was there something you wanted?” I ask, continuing to edge my way to my weapon as I scan the horizon for Aiden and Cypress. How long will it take them to come back? “I must confess, I thought our business over.”
“‘Fraid not,” he says, taking a step closer while I take a step away. “No, after what I saw in that alley…” He grins. “I’ll be getting my money back and then some. Now, you come over here nice and quiet-like. No reason for this to turn ugly.”
“But it will if you don’t leave…” I don’t like the way he’s looking at me, the way he’s clearly sizing up how easy I’ll be to grab. “My husband will be back any moment.”
I risk a glance at the bench, and I can see the shining metal of the gun, but David is already moving closer, pausing over the exact spot where all three of our bedrolls are still positioned right next to each other, as near as Aiden could get them whenjust his and Cypress’s hadn’t been enough.
“Your husband?” David asks as he looks at them, too. “He the one who gave you that mark on your neck? Or was it the one that’s so quick with his gun?” My stomach sinks as his mouth curves into a smile. “Maybe you let them take turns.”
Only a few more feet. A few more feet and I’ll be able to reach it.
“Guess it doesn’t matter,” he says, before he makes his move. “We’ll be long gone either way.”
He hadn’t thought I’d actually do it. Same as Jake and those men back at the stable, he hadn’t even reached for his gun, because he really hadn’t thought I’d do it.
Wonder what he thinks now.
I hear the hoofbeats, the shouts, then Aiden’s voice, soothing as he comes to my side. “Cora, you can lower the gun. We’ve got him.”
“I’vegot him,” I say back through gritted teeth.
Cypress chuckles not far from my other side. Stepping forward into my line of vision, he has the long rifle from his saddle already drawn and pointed at the figure on the ground. “I do not recall inviting visitors.”
David curses while holding his leg tight, trying in vain to stop the blood from flowing out of his upper thigh and into the soil. There’s so much. So much that it feels like it will mark the earth forever.
“Cora,” Aiden murmurs, and when he touches my shoulder, Istartle even though I know it’s him. “It’s all right, sweetheart. You did good. We’ll take it from here.”
I force my eyes to find his face. His expression is confident, but I can see the worry in his eyes.