A Promise of Thunder (10 page)

Though Storm tried to keep her mind occupied with work, Grady’s face kept appearing out of nowhere to haunt her. She couldn’t deny that he was appealing. His features were handsomely sculpted. His skin was bronzed from the sun, and his black hair, though a bit too long for her liking, contrasted vividly with his striking blue eyes. And his mouth … boldly chiseled lips, wide but gracefully arched, generously curved, indolent … tempting. Goodness, just thinking about the man gave her goosebumps. But what really set her to trembling was his sultry gaze. She couldn’t ever recall Buddy looking at her in quite the same way.

That evening Storm prepared herself a lonely
meal, wondering if she should have invited Grady to share it with her. Or perhaps she should invite Nat Turner out one night to sup with her. Though she’d never admit it to Grady, the life she led was indeed a lonely one. The last time she was in town she’d heard there was to be a big dance next Saturday night; perhaps she should go. She quickly discarded that notion, aware that widows didn’t attend dances and such doings during their time of mourning.

The mourning period seemed interminable, she thought bleakly. She and Buddy had been so young, no thought was ever given to the possibility that one of them might die any time soon. She knew Buddy wouldn’t want her to grieve a long time, that he’d want her to be happy and enjoy life. Yet no matter how lonely Storm was, she knew that her land was her salvation, that come what may she’d hang on to it and survive. If only that damn Grady Stryker would stop badgering her.

Storm glanced out the window, surprised at how dark it had grown while she ate dinner and cleaned up. Not a star was visible in the inky sky, and the pale sliver of moon was obscured by thick clouds rolling in from the west. The low rumble of thunder echoed over the prairie and distant streaks of lightning lit the moonless sky. Storm hoped the approaching storm wasn’t a severe one, for storms had always made her nervous. Chiding herself for being a sissy, she prepared for bed.

The fine lawn nightdress had just fallen in place over her head when the sound of advancing horsemen echoed through the darkness. She flew to the window and threw aside the curtain. It was too dark out to see a thing, but the thunder of hooves grew louder with each passing minute. A shiver of apprehension passed over Storm’s body. Instinctively she knew that this was no friendly visit from neighbors. She had the light doused and the fully loaded shotgun in her hands when the shooting and yelling started.

Crouching beneath the window, Storm searched her mind for a valid reason behind this senseless attack. With bullets flying at the house at a furious speed, she tried to think of someone who would wish her ill and came up blank. She had no idea how many men were shooting at her, or why, but the rapid firing indicated that more than one man was in the raiding party. They were circling the cabin, shooting at random and shouting, when a bullet shattered the glass window pane Storm was so proud of. Cautiously raising her head, she balanced the shotgun on the window ledge and fired a few rounds at the dark shadows as they rode past. It was far better to retaliate than let the raiders think she was a helpless woman cowering in a corner, Storm thought as she squeezed off another round. She had plenty of ammunition and could protect her property as well as any man. She would feel much better though, if she knew what this was all about.

And what would happen to her if she failed to chase the men away?

Her answer came sooner than she had anticipated. A sudden quiet put a new fear into her as she raised her head to peer through the shattered window. She knew a moment of wild jubilation when she thought she had successfully chased the men off. But a moment later the locked door gave way beneath a pair of booted feet, crashing open with a loud bang. A scream left Storm’s throat as the two men who had barged through the door saw her crouching beneath the window and started in her direction. They were upon her before she had time to raise the gun and squeeze the trigger.

Grady paced the narrow confines of his cabin in long, restless strides. Something had disturbed him, and his instincts were, usually right on target. He had made the rounds of his yard twice but found nothing amiss. Glancing toward Storm’s homestead, he saw nothing threatening there. He shook his head, disgusted at himself for being so damn fanciful. But usually his senses were so keen, he did not dismiss his intuition without careful investigation. Tonight had been the exception. Though his intuition told him otherwise, he had found nothing to even remotely suggest danger.

Stripping to his breechclout, Grady prepared to curl up in the bedroll that served as his bed. The air was cold and crisp; outside a storm was brewing. He’d worn much less in colder weather
than this and thought nothing of walking around the cabin barefoot and nearly naked. Dismissing his fears, he stretched out on the bedroll, his mind suddenly filled with arousing visions of Storm, her honey brown eyes flashing with defiance and her body soft and warm in his arms. He closed his eyes and imagined her spread beneath him, her body moist and welcoming as he slid full and deep inside her. He could feel her tighten around him and …

Suddenly he bolted upright. All his erotic thoughts skidded to a halt as the explosive sound of gunfire drifted across the prairie. Who could be firing guns at this time of night? he wondered as his mind worked furiously to sort out the ominous night sounds. His body tensed with painful awareness as his acute hearing told him the shots were coming from the direction of Storm’s homestead. His body reacted before his mind gave the order.

Disdaining his clothing, lying neatly folded beside the bed, Grady grabbed his rifle and knife and flew out the door. A blood-curdling war cry left his throat as he leaped atop Lightning’s bare back and kneed him viciously in the ribs. He had ridden without a saddle so often in the past, it seemed second nature to him. Neither icy wind nor sharp needles of sleet driving into his bare flesh slowed him as he raced across the prairie toward Storm’s cabin. His thick black brows were drawn together in a fierce scowl, his mouth clamped tight, his eyes glazed as he imagined all the potentially life-threatening
situations threatening Storm in the middle of the night.

A tremendous clap of thunder unleashed the full fury of the impending storm, and Lightning reared in fright. But Grady’s strong hands soon brought him under control. The blackness of the night was relieved only by the brilliant display of lightning as the dim outline of Storm’s darkened cabin came into view. The shooting had ceased, but Grady knew a new fear when a piercing scream rose above the rumble of thunder.

Reining Lightning to a skidding halt before the cabin, Grady jumped to the ground, noting with growing alarm that the door was open and hanging askew from one hinge. He burst through the portal just as Storm let loose another scream.

“Hold still, ya little wildcat. Ya won’t get hurt if ya relax and loosen up a little. All me and my buddy want is to have us a little fun with ya. You’re a ripe little piece.” He reached out to squeeze Storm’s breast. “I ain’t felt titties like that in a month of Sundays.”

His voice was muffled, and Storm realized that the lower half of his face was covered with a bandana to avoid recognition.

“Hurry up, man, I’m so hard I’m about to bust my britches.”

“What’s the hurry? We got all night. I aim to do this up right.”

“Bastard!” Storm bit out from between clenched teeth. Her nightdress was yanked
up to her waist and she screamed again as rough fingers prodded ruthlessly between her legs. Though she knew it would do her no good, she opened her mouth and screamed again.

Then, suddenly, all hell broke loose. A huge body came hurtling through the partially open door, and both Storm’s tormentors went flying across the room. Squinting into the darkness, Storm tried to discover the identity of her rescuer, but it wasn’t until a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the cabin that she recognized Grady. He was crouched on the balls of his bare feet, his lips drawn back in a vicious snarl, his bronzed skin slick with rain. The bulging muscles of his thighs and biceps flexed as he leaped forward, knife poised tightly in hand.

“Sonuvabitch! Let’s get the hell outta here before the renegade kills us!”

Taking advantage of the darkness, both men streaked past Grady and out the door. Acting reflexively, Grady sent his knife flying through the air. An agonized shriek told him that his aim had been true. But unfortunately the man had only been wounded, and he and his partner were soon riding hell for leather across the prairie. Grady started to follow, but Storm’s soft plea stopped him in his tracks.

“Don’t leave me, Grady. Please don’t leave me.”

A flash of lightning sent jagged fingers of light arcing into the room, sculpting Grady’s coppery skin in bold angles and hollows. It transformed him from mortal man to pagan deity, remote, savage, splendid in his nakedness. Storm couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her arrested expression must have conveyed a message to him for he reached her in a bounding stride and picked her up. Cradling her securely in his arms, he sat down on the bed, placing her on his lap.

“It’s all right, Storm, the bastards are gone. They can no longer hurt you.”

Her tremulous voice conveyed her confusion. “What did they want with me?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. They didn’t harm you, did they?”

She shook her head in vigorous denial. “You arrived in time. How—how did you know?”

“I heard gunfire. I sensed danger long before that but could find no reason for it. I wish you had let me go after the bastards.”

Her arms tightened around his neck. “I couldn’t bear to be alone after—after those men tried to—tried to …”

“Don’t think about it, sweetheart. I promise it won’t happen again. Next time I’ll listen to my instincts. I wouldn’t be surprised if Turner was behind the attack.”

Stunned, Storm insisted, “No, Nat wouldn’t become involved in such nasty business.”

She was still trembling, and Grady began stroking her back in slow, lazy circles, soothing her as he would a child who needed comforting. Grady didn’t press the issue, but deep in his heart he knew Nat Turner was capable of much more than Storm gave him credit for.

Another streak of lightning blazed a path across the inky sky and a roar of thunder rattled the windows, bringing a new fear to Storm. She clutched at him frantically and buried her head against the solid warmth of his chest.

“What is it? Are you afraid the men will return?”

Once again her head moved back and forth in a negative motion as she offered a muffled explanation. “I never did like storms. When I was a small child one of my playmates was struck down by lightning. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t get up. Through the years, my
fear of storms has never abated.”

Grady tried to concentrate on her words, but by now the raw pleasure of having Storm warm and willing in his arms eclipsed all else. The single garment she wore offered little hindrance as his stroking hands tested the suppleness of her flesh beneath the linen nightdress. He felt the softness of her breasts against his chest and knew instinctively that he could never leave the cabin without attaining a glimpse of Paradise. And if he was any judge of emotions, it was what Storm wanted too.

“Perhaps I should leave,” Grady suggested. “I’m only human, Storm. I can take only so much. Are you willing to test my endurance?”

Grady’s stroking hands were so soothing, it took considerable effort for Storm to sort through his words. And when she did, she didn’t care that he was asking her to send him away before it was too late. Under no circumstances did she want to be alone. The comfort she found in Grady’s arms was far too pleasurable to abandon. She looked up at him with an astonishingly level gaze, and Grady had to look away, knowing that he intended to make love to her this night yet unable to stop the tide of passion that surged through his loins.

He wanted Storm Kennedy. Wanted her with an urgency that transcended all reason and thought.

“I don’t know what you want from me, Grady.” Her voice was shaky and unsure. “Can’t you accept the fact that I don’t want
to be alone and let it go at that?”

“You’re amazingly innocent for all your bravado, love,” Grady said softly. “I understand your fear perfectly. You’re the one who doesn’t understand what
I
want from
you
. Look at me, Storm.”

Reluctantly, she raised her head, staring into the incredible blue depths of his eyes.

“I want to make love to you, Storm Kennedy.” There, he’d said it. She could order him out now before it was too late or …

Grady’s words were like a caress against her skin. They seeped inside her, bringing a languor that prevented coherent speech. His breath was warm against her cheek, his naked chest and legs hard and unyielding. She felt the ponderous weight and substance of his hunger, so alive and palpable she could almost taste it, and something new and profound opened up inside her. It was almost as if a mystery was about to be revealed to her.

“Don’t leave me, Grady.” The words tumbled from her lips before her mind released them.

“Oh, lady.”

His arms closed around her like steel bands; his hands grew boldly insistent as they made short work of the buttons at her throat. Then she felt his warm lips nuzzling her neck as he pushed her nightdress down her arms to her waist. She gasped as the cool night air puckered the crushed rose velvet tips of her breasts. Another flash of lightning turned darkness into daylight, and Grady raised his head
to stare at her bared flesh, his blue eyes startlingly intense. He let his eyes feast on the firm, lush breasts with their impudent nipples until his heart was beating so fast he could scarcely breathe.

“Oh, lady,” Grady repeated in a strangled voice. “Sweet, so sweet. I knew you’d look like this.”

He tugged at the hem of her nightdress, eager to rid her of the last remaining obstacle between him and all that he desired, but Storm resisted.