Once a Maverick by Raine Cantrell

Author:Raine Cantrell
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781682309438
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2016-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Eyes closed, Dixie threw her head back as if she were seeking guidance. “Don’t do this to me,” she pleaded. “You frighten me with the need you make me feel for you.”

Stripped of all pretense, her voice cut into him. But then, he reminded himself, Dixie had never used any women’s wiles on him. Her honesty demanded the same from him. And Ty discovered that there was no shame in admitting his feelings to her.

“You think it doesn’t scare the hell out of me? I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. Don’t ask me for answers. Seven questions and six ways to Sunday I couldn’t give them to you.”

A distant peal of thunder drowned out her reply. Ty glanced at the mountaintops. “Storm’s coming. Just like I said it would. But there’s a bigger one brewing right down here where we’re standing, Angel. Your move.”

First he forced her to make a choice, now he flung a challenge at her.

“What do you want from me, Ty?”

The touch of his hand on her shoulder didn’t surprise her. She knew how soundlessly he could move. She felt the heat, and the strength of his long fingers shaping the curve of her shoulder. Like lightning, the touch became a lover’s caress.

“Tell me what it is you want me to say, Ty.”

And he leaned close to whisper, “That you’re not afraid of me. That you know I wouldn’t hurt you. Tell me you believe I don’t want to just take from you but share pleasure that two people who want each other can have.”

She lowered her head and leaned back against him. “Is that all?”

“It’ll do for a start.” He slipped both arms around her and held her close. “Dixie, I know you’ve had a rough time of it. I haven’t asked you to tell me everything that happened to you, and I won’t. You’ve a right to share what you will about your past and respect my right for the same.

“I want you. I want you to say the same and mean it. No recriminations later that I took advantage of—”

“There’s something you should know, Ty. I’ve never been with a man.” She couldn’t resist twisting around in his arms to see his expression. When her gaze locked with his, she saw the surprise he couldn’t hide fast enough. She didn’t like the way his nearness clouded her senses. He made her feel out of control again.

“Have I shocked you?” she asked, tilting her face up.

“No,” he answered with a quick, rough shake of his head.

The tension in his body became hers. “How’s a little honesty, Ty? You’re lying to me. I can feel it. You never expected that?” No matter how she had willed her voice to be steady, she heard for herself the betraying tremor that gave away how much it hurt. She knew how she had changed. She just never thought it mattered what he thought of her.

His hand tangled in her hair as if he sensed she would bolt and run from him.

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