Crimson Palace (15 page)

In one hand he held his rifle and in the other dangled a freshly killed rabbit.

"At least we won’t starve for awhile. I don’t suppose you can cook."

"I’ve probably cooked more rabbits than you’ve won card games." She reached out and took the rabbit from him. "Snow or no snow, I don’t intend to clean this creature here in the cabin," she said as she headed toward the door.

"Here, I’ll skin him for you. Just let me sharpen my knife first."

"Forget it," she responded as she reached into the watch pocket in her pants. "I always keep my jack-knife sharp enough to shave with."

"Is that how you keep your beard trimmed?" he asked, one corner of his mouth lifting in a sardonic smile.

"Maybe," she grinned at him as she gently but firmly closed the door behind her.

She was glad to have the task of preparing the rabbit for dinner. Being alone with Lincoln filled her with a nervous energy that only physical activity could contain. But cooking and eating one small rabbit took only so long, and before she knew it, the two of them were sitting in the faint light of the dying fire.

"I don’t know about you, but all of our ‘adventures’ have just about done me in." Lincoln stood and stretched his arms high over his head. "If you want to stay up for awhile, I’ll put a couple more logs on the fire, but I’m ready to turn in for the night."

Shinonn glanced toward the bed, wondering, not for the first time, if she was expected to share it with him.

"You can use the bed if you want. Not that I’m doing you any favors, mind you. That’s just about the most uncomfortable contraption I’ve run across yet." He spread a blanket for himself before the hearth.

He appeared to pay no attention to her as he lay down, turned his back and pulled the blanket over himself. She stood uncertainly for a few moments, not knowing what she should do. Finally, with a small shrug of the shoulders, she lay down on the bed.

He was right. The lumpy mattress was better suited for torture than sleep. She lay perfectly still, watching the flickering shadows of the dying fire. Lincoln’s steady, rhythmic breathing told her he had fallen asleep nearly as soon as he lay down.

As tired as she was, she found herself unable to drift off. Try as she might, she could not quiet her restless mind. Yet she found comfort in the tiny cabin, in listening to the sound of Lincoln’s deep-sleep breaths.

The very sight of him, curled up under the blanket, gave her a warm, secure feeling.

As the fire slowly died on the grate, the cabin grew steadily colder. She pulled her think blanket closer.

Curling into a ball, she tried to hold onto what little body heat she still had. The room grew colder yet.

Finally, she realized that if she didn’t find some way to warm herself she would be miserable the whole night.

Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, she crept to the hearth and placed another log on the dying embers. It took a few minutes to catch fire, and then a few more for the heat to begin to radiate out toward her.

"Too cold for you?" Lincoln asked.

"No, no, I’ll be fine as soon as this log gets going."

"You don’t sound fine with your teeth chattering like that."

"Th, th, they’re not chattering."

"You planning on staying up all night feeding the fire? Cause if you don’t, that fire’ll go out and you’ll be freezing all over again."

"Don’t worry, I’ll be all right," she answered through her chattering teeth.

"The smart thing to do would be to lay down next to me and share the warmth of the fire. We’d keep each other warm when the fire dies down."

"That doesn’t seem a very proper way to spend the night." She felt a flush of embarrassment rush to her cheeks.

"Well, suit yourself. Be proper and freeze or lay down here and get some sleep."

"I’m warmed up now. I’ll be okay. You just go on back to sleep. I’m sorry I bothered you."

He didn’t answer as he rolled over on his side and closed his eyes. In mere moments his steady, deep breathing told her that once again he was sound asleep.

I’ll never get to sleep on that lumpy bed, she thought. Lincoln’s got the right idea, sleeping on the floor closer to the fire.

She glanced around the tiny cabin, trying to figure out the best place to spread her blanket. She wanted it close enough to the fire to make use of its warmth, and yet not too close to her host. It was really a bit of a dilemma, as his body blocked most of the access to the heat. Sighing in resignation, she finally decided that the bed would just have to do.

In little more than an hour the fire had again died down and the temperature in the cabin was unbearable.

He’s right, I’ll spend the whole night getting up and feeding the fire if I don’t get sensible and lie down beside him, she thought. As quietly as she could, she stepped out of the bed, her feet making no noise on the earthen floor. She pulled the blanket around her and again approached the fire. Ever so carefully, she placed another log on the embers, using every precaution she could to avoid making any noise and waking Lincoln.

He slept peacefully on.

Carefully, carefully, she lowered herself down to the floor and stretched out before the warmth of the now blazing log. Although she lay within inches of Lincoln’s outstretched body, she cautiously avoided making any contact with him.

Gradually the heat of the fire seeped through the blanket, wrapping her in its comfort. The peace of the remote mountain cabin soothed her. The gentle breathing of the man who lay so near calmed her even further. At last her mind found peace and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

***

The air she breathed was frigid, yet she was surrounded with warmth. She felt as if she were wrapped within a delightfully comforting cocoon. Although she lay within the folds of her blanket, she realized it could not possibly supply the radiating warmth that enveloped her.

As she slowly came out of a deep sleep, she gradually became aware of the steady warmth of Lincoln’s breath on her hair. She wanted to turn toward him, to gaze at his sleeping face, but at the same time was reluctant to spoil the moment by waking him. For several minutes she lay perfectly still, curled up in his protective arms, being warmed by his body and his breath.

Finally she gave in to her first impulse and turned to face him, being careful not to waken him. Her face rested on his outstretched arm, only inches from his face. She lay perfectly still, gazing with tenderness and wonder at the face of the man she had been dreaming of for six long years.

She longed to run her fingers along the outline of his thick, drooping mustache,but she knew if she took such a liberty her fingers would, of their own accord, reach out to his tempting lips.

Although she knew he must be at least thirty years old, in his slumber he appeared much younger. The strain of his livelihood was gone from his face, replaced by a vulnerability she would never have suspected possible.

A contented sigh escaped her smiling lips. The intensity of her stare woke him.

As he opened his eyes Lincoln found himself staring directly into Shinonn’s sapphire blue gaze. Her guileless eyes sparkled with an emotion he found impossible to deny.

Without realizing what he was about to do, he pulled her close, molding his body to hers. They lay there, bodies nestled tight to each other, neither wanting to draw away. She reveled in the warmth of him, the tender yet exciting feeling of her breasts pushed hard against his chest.

His hands began a slow examination of her body, caressing her ever so gently as they continued their lazy search. Frustrated by the barrier of her flannel shirt, he reached under the offending cloth until he was rewarded with the feel of the silky skin he craved.

Nothing existed at that moment for her but the feel of his body next to hers, and the touch of his hands as they stroked her flesh. Delicious heat followed each magical touch of his fingers as they trailed seductively over her body.

A low moan escaped her lips as he kissed the hollow of her throat. A strange, yet delightful fever suddenly enveloped her. She yearned to have him kiss her where she had never been kissed before. Her body ached with the desire to feel him touch her most secret places.

Unable to restrain herself, she reached up and kissed his mouth with a passion she had never dreamed herself capable of. Parting her lips, she invited his tongue to enter. Twining her tongue around his, she tasted his passion as he continued to stroke her body with his knowing hands.

Frantic to feel the touch of his bare flesh on her own, she pulled his shirt from his pants. Fumbling clumsily with the buttons, she somehow managed to open it, bearing his flesh to her touch. Her fingers relished the touch of him as she ran them through the tangle of curly hair on his chest.

Suddenly the desire to be free of the contraints of her own clothes was overwhelming. The desire to lay her naked breasts against his powerful chest consumed her. Without thinking what she was doing, she quickly stripped off the offending garment and cast it aside. Encircling his neck with her arms, she pressed against him, kissing him with ever more passion.

Somehow they managed to disrobe completely without ever quite leaving the touch of each other, their desire to become one overshadowing any inconvenience. Thrilling sensations spread through her body with his every touch. She moaned in pure delight when he lowered his head and gently sucked at her exposed breasts, licking and teasing them until they pulsed with desire.

Instinctively, she arched her body toward him, craving the fulfillment of their lovemaking, and at the same moment wishing it would never end. The loss of her virginity caused a brief yet sharp stab of pain. But it was quickly forgotten in her fevered pleasure. Was it pain or pleasure that caused her to cry aloud at that very moment?

The intensity of the passion they shared surpassed anything she had ever believed possible. Never in her life had she imagined such feelings existed. Each time she was sure she had reached the pinnacle of pleasure, she was astonished to discover there was still more for her to experience. Higher and higher the pleasure climbed, as Lincoln led her to reach even further into her inner depths.

Suddenly sensations swept over her that were beyond all that had gone before. Beyond her wildest imaginings, it was as if a huge storm of passion raged throughout her body, gripping her fiercely. Filled to overflowing with this unbelievable pleasure, she called out his name in shock and reverence.

He held her closely as their breathing slowly returned to normal, his long, subtle fingers gently stroking her hair. The glow of spent passion filled her eyes as she looked at him, her lips curling in a contented smile.

"I had no idea," she said with wonder in her voice.

"I had no intention of this happening, sweetheart. I never intended to seduce you when I brought you here."

"Was it so terrible for you? Was I so inexperienced that I spoiled it?"

"Don’t be a fool. You were wonderful. It’s just that I brought you here to protect you, not to take advantage of you. And now I’ve taken something that is so precious, so special."

"You’ve taken nothing. You gave me more pleasure than I knew existed. You did nothing more than what I wanted you to do. In fact, I may want you to ‘take advantage’ of me again!" she said with an impish grin.

"Don’t tempt me," he said as he gathered her closely to him. "You seem to have bewitched me, you Irish witch."

"Have I?" she asked wistfully. "I thought I was the one who was living in a dream. Is it like that for you too?"

"Maybe this is all just a dream. Being here with you - holding you, loving you," his voice faded away as he burrowed his face in her hair.

Had he really said the word "loving?" Was there a chance he might have such feelings for her?

Chapter 11

Shinonn stood on the rough boards of the porch, surrounded by the sparkling brilliance of newly fallen snow. Even the tiniest branches of the manzanita bushes were thickly coated with ice crystals. The silence was broken only by the occasional plopping of snow falling to the ground from over-laden branches. She felt as if she were in the midst of an enchanted forest, sure that nowhere else on earth could be quite so beautiful.

Just inside the tiny cabin was something even more beautiful than the panorama that spread before her, on the other side of the door was love. She had never dreamed she could feel as much love as she had for Lincoln. How could she have hoped for such emotions when she had never known of their existence until this very morning?

With a radiant smile on her lovely face, she returned to the warmth of the cozy room. She looked at it with new eyes. The fire that Lincoln had kept blazing brightly greeted her cheerfully. What had appeared just last night as a dreary hut, now glowed with a welcoming warmth. She glanced at the miserable bed, grateful now that she had found it too uncomfortable to sleep in. The blankets, still casually crumpled on the floor, brought a secret smile to her lips.

As she looked into Lincoln’s eyes she saw the most beautiful sight of all - in his eyes she saw the same glow she felt in her own heart. He opened his arms to her, inviting her to share his happiness. He nuzzled his face into her tumbled hair, rocking her gently in his arms.

"I do believe I’m falling in love with you, Shinonn Flannery. I never thought I’d say those words to any woman, but, by God, they are true."

She lifted her face to his, gazing happily into his intense gaze.

"I think I am too," she whispered.

He sighed with contentment as he gathered her closer, holding her tightly for a few moments longer.

"This is all well and good, but what we both need is a bite to eat. I don’t plan to starve to death, woman." He released her with a playful slap to her rump.

"How about building us a pot of coffee while I dig around and find something for breakfast. It’s a good thing I’ve kept this place stocked with a few staples. I’d sure as heck hate to starve to death after I’ve finally found the love of my life!"

***

Shinonn put her fork down, having finished a hearty breakfast of bacon, biscuits and gravy. Pouring more coffee for herself and Lincoln, she looked around the room before commenting, "I can’t imagine why you have this place. You don’t seem the prospecting kind."