Part 22 (1/2)

She removed her jacket and gently tousled his hair as she walked around him to release him from the cuffs. Rachael crouched next to him and put her arms around his sweat-sheened body, raining soft, light kisses on his shoulder, his neck and his hair. As he slowly recovered, he hugged her to him. The emotional release cause by such a euphoric climax and the declaration of love from the woman in his arms had him desperately blinking back the tears threatening to engulf him. Never, ever had he felt this way. When he was sure that he had a handle on himself, he pulled back and looked at his woman.

”You'll have to marry me now, Rachael.”

”Are you proposing to me? You could just be a little affected by recent events.” She gently grinned, tenderly stroking his face.

”I'm definitely affected by recent events, and, yes, I am proposing.”

”No, you can't. Do it later. Otherwise, what will we tell our kids when they ask about how Dad asked Mom to marry him?”

”Okay, I'll pick a suitable setting.” He grinned like the Ches.h.i.+re cat because she'd really just said yes.

They went back to the house and spent the rest of the night wrapped in each other's arms. In the dark late hours, she had stroked his body and whispered, ”I've waited my whole life for you.”

”I'm older, so I've waited longer,” he'd whispered sleepily in reply.

”You know, Josh, I've an awful lot of fantasies concerning you and me.”

”I've got more.”

”That's certainly one of the many reasons why I love you.”

It was nine thirty in the morning when James strolled into the kitchen and found Rachael and Joshua finis.h.i.+ng breakfast. He knew it 167.

was childish, but he just couldn't stop the huge smirk that was developing on his face.

”Good morning, all. I've just been seeing to the horses. You really should be more careful what you leave lying around, Josh.” He placed the cuffs on the table. ”Very careless of you, brother, tut-tut.” He turned to Rachael. ”I'm scolding Joshua because it appears that you were a little tied up last night.”

He couldn't wait to see her reaction. Such moments made life more enjoyable. Odd though, it was Joshua who was blus.h.i.+ng, staring at the cuffs looking lost in thought. Rachael looked him directly in the eye.

”Oh, dear, but I can't let Josh take the blame. You see, I wasn't the one tied up.” She smiled sweetly at him as she leaned over to retrieve the evidence.

What? His amused smugness took a nose dive as shock at the implication of Rachael's words sank in. He stared at them both with his mouth open. Joshua raised his eyes to meet his, and in an unspoken communication, James knew that his brother was in deep.

Rachael got up from the table.

”I'll just put these away, shall I?”

”You lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” he muttered to Joshua.

She trailed her hand over Joshua's shoulders as she walked pa.s.sed him toward his rooms. Josh smiled and said only a characteristically short ”Yep,” then pushed his chair back and followed her.

”Rachael,” James called, ”you don't have any single friends, do you?”

Later that day, Joshua took Rachael riding to a beautiful spot near the river. When they dismounted, he looked like he was about to give a speech.

168.

”Wait.” She backed away from him slowly, feeling mischievous.

”I'll only listen to you if you can catch me and make me listen.”

Not giving him a second longer to react, she spun around and ran, dodging through the trees. He'd have to work for it because she was fit and fast. After two minutes of hard sprinting, she slowed a little and looked over her shoulder. Where was he? She was sure that the chase would be a favorite fantasy of his, but he'd disappeared. She scanned the area and tried to bring her breathing under control so that she could listen better. Suddenly, she heard a twig snap and saw a blur of movement up ahead. How the h.e.l.l had he managed to get around and ahead of her? She reacted quickly, dodging around a fallen tree.

He easily vaulted over it. She adopted a zigzag pattern to avoid capture as she heard his heavy breathing and the thud of his feet on the ground. The gap between them was closing.

Strong fingers gripped her shoulder and yanked her back. For a brief moment, she was airborne as he pulled her roughly to him with an arm locked firmly around her waist and her feet off the ground.

Rachael struggled in earnest, twisting her body and flailing her arms and legs. Joshua dropped them both to the ground, sat on her, yanked her arms above her head, and held them in a viselike grip to avoid her punches and slaps. She bucked and squirmed. He covered her body with his. She was pinned.

”You're f.u.c.ked now, Rachael,” he snarled.

She was panting and her face was flushed, but it wasn't the physical exertions that had her nipples pebbling and her c.u.n.t creaming. It was the embodiment of her s.e.xual fantasies lying over her.

”You will submit.”

She still struggled as he crushed her lips with his mouth and forced his tongue inside. He clasped one hand around both wrists and used the free one to hold her jaw while he took her mouth with a brutal kiss. The wildness inside of her clawed to get out. A switch tripped, and she found herself meeting his tongue with her own, 169.

pus.h.i.+ng back; grinding her hips against his groin. He lifted his weight a little, and she wrapped her legs around him.

”No, Rachael, that's not submitting. If I was prepared, I'd have you staked by now,” he growled.

Staked? Oh, my G.o.d. Rachael moaned at the erotic image and Joshua smiled wickedly when he heard her response.

”Another time, darlin'. I promise. Now, do you give in?”

He looked down at his adorable, beautiful woman. All that struggling, grunting and cursing had left her flushed and looking aroused. By G.o.d, he loved her and her little games. He especially appreciated the chase. It fed his base desires.

She nodded.

”Don't move.”

He pulled her jeans down and opened his own, then flipped her over. She couldn't help wiggling her a.s.s and grinding up against him.

Slap. ”Ow!”

”I said, don't move. Don't speak, either. Only yes or no.”

Her white b.u.t.t blossomed red where he had smacked her. Her succulent folds glistened, and he didn't need to check her readiness.