Desert Rain (10 page)

Holly trembled but made no protest. She wanted him with a force that was shaking her.

His hands roamed over her smooth skin, savoring her heat and the tremors of desire that
quivered through her. His right hand moved over her lacy briefs, then slid beneath the
elastic. Fingers rubbed lightly over her hidden softness.

When Linc found that Holly was moist with desire, he had to clench his teeth against
losing control.

He hadnt known he could want a woman so much and not take her.

Slowly, gently he stroked the soft folds he had discovered. His fingers slid easily over
her, for he was slick with her helpless response. With tender care he searched out the
hardening bud of her passion and caressed it.

Holly gasped and shuddered convulsively, gripped by intense, wild pleasure. Her fingers
dug heedlessly into Lincs naked back.

He smiled narrowly, fighting his own need.

What are you doing to me? she asked shakily.

Not a tenth what Id like to, he said, his voice thick. The passion in you makes my head
spin.

His palm cupped between her thighs, pressing against her, sharing her heat. With a groan
he knelt to kiss her shadowed softness.

Linc!

Shock and desire were mingled equally in Hollys voice.

With a shudder he turned his head away and rested his cheek on her stomach. For a time he
was rigid, fighting to control himself.

Then Linc stood up fast and hard. He pulled her jeans into place with swift motions.

Sorry, he said. I didnt realize that your virginity isnt just a technicality. No man has
ever really touched you.

Linc picked up her bra and blouse and handed them to her. Put these on, he said tersely. I
dont trust myself. I want you too much. Too damned much!

He turned away and began loading the Jeep with quick, fierce motions. Linc No more, Holly,
he interrupted in a raw voice. I cant take it right now. She hesitated, then looked down
at her own hands. They were shaking.

If its this bad for me, she realized,how much worse must it be for him? Silently she
turned away and began putting her clothes back on.

Holly dressed quickly. She was too shaken by her own headlong passion to argue with Linc
that they could end the ache of unfulfilled hunger by making love.

Yet as soon as her surprise at her own reaction to his touch passed, she wanted nothing
more than to feel like that again, weak and strong, burning and melting, aching and
ecstasy all wound together.

A glance at Lincs strained features kept her from saying anything about how she felt. He
looked like a man at the end of his rope.

Without a word Holly helped him finish loading the Jeep and tie the last tarp in place. By
the time the work was done, he was looking much less forbidding. He was even smiling when
he came around the Jeep to her side.

Record time, Linc said. We make quite a team.

Relieved that the fierce tension had left his face and body, Holly returned his smile.
Impulsively she ran her finger over the edges of his mustache.

Took you long enough to figure it out, she said softly.

Lincs eyes changed as he remembered just how well they did some things together. He
reached for her, then stopped himself with a muttered word.

Well never get home that way, he said. Depends on what you mean by home. A bed with you
in it, he said bluntly. We just packed it in the Jeep.

Damn straight. I made sure the bed went in first. Just thinking about this morning . . .

He shook his head, baffled by his urgent, nearly overwhelming need for Holly.

Linc? Whats wrong?

I dont have any self-control with you, he said after a moment. When the time comes, Ill do
my best not to go too fast. If I lose it, Ill make it up to you. Okay?

She wasnt quite sure what he was talking about, but she agreed anyway.

Okay, she said. Anytime you want to, er, lose it, just let me know.

Linc gave a bark of laughter and shook his head, bemused by Hollys acceptance of a
situation that he didnt understand himself.

And thinking about it just aroused him all over again. With a silent curse, he turned away
from her. He gave the sky a measuring look. Antelope Wash looks like a bad risk, he said
after a moment.

Holly looked up. There was a blue-black density to the margin between cloud and land that
told of mountain storms at the higher altitudes. He was right. Antelope Wash was out,
which meant she had to stay at Hidden Springs.

She groaned. Now Ill have to set up camp all over again, Holly said. No. Well both ride
Sand Dancer out. Ill send some men to pick up your stuff tomorrow. I can pick it up after
the shoot on Monday. The instant the words were out of her mouth she regretted reminding
Linc about her job as a model. Them! His voice was scornful. The tame Viking and his
black-haired whore. When Linc saw Hollys stricken expression, he controlled his tongue
with an effort. Sorry, he said. I forgot. Youre with them. Of all the mismatches Abruptly
he cut off his words. He simply shook his head and forced a smile. Tears and anger and
fear twisted Hollys throat, squeezing her voice until it was barely recognizable. Royce
models are just that, she said. Models. Im one of them. Linc heard her distress more than
her words. He hugged her gently.

Id make a terrible diplomat, he said against her black hair, breaking my own truces and
saying all the wrong things.

Holly made a muffled sound.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Linc said, kissing her forehead. Truce? Again?

Youre wrong about Rogers models, she insisted.

Im wrong about Rogers models, Linc repeated dutifully. Truce?

She knew that he hadnt changed his mind. Words alone werent enough to take away the cruel
lessons of his childhood.

Truce, she agreed. But someday Im really going to have to rearrange your prejudices. Linc
smiled thinly. It took a lifetime to arrange them. And all I have is two days. You have a
lifetime,nin‡, if you want it.

Do I?

He sensed her despair, although he didnt understand its cause. He held her in a fierce
grip, trying to banish the fear he saw in her golden eyes.

She leaned against him, glorying in the rasp of beard stubble against her cheek. First,
her hands slid around his back, then her arms. She held him with a womans surprising
strength.

Holly and Linc stood pressed tightly together, each storing up the others presence like
land drinking water after a long drought. There was nothing sexual in their embrace,
simply an elemental need to comfort one another.

The long ride to his ranch in Garner Valley was the same for Linc and Holly, a time of
simple closeness, of comfort given in silence and accepted the same way. She rested her
cheek against the warmth of his naked back and gave herself to the remembered rhythms of
being on horseback.

Feeling at peace despite the uncertainty of her future with Linc, Holly let the familiar
landscape of desert slide by around them.

All too soon Sand Dancer climbed over the ridge that separated the lush Garner Valley from
the desert. The valley lay between two ridges of the San Jacinto Mountains. The contrast
between the sand and rock of the high desert and the pine and grass of the valley was
startling.

It hasnt changed, Holly said dreamily. What hasnt? The Mountains of Sunrise. The ranch is
even more beautiful than I remembered.

Linc smiled, pleased that she still liked his home. Part of him had feared that the ranch
would look less appealing after six years in Manhattans sophisticated concrete and neon
wilderness.

The ranch takes a lot of time and money to keep up, Linc said.

Its worth every minute, every penny.

The white fences around the house, show rings, and paddocks were as clean as the clouds
gathering against the mountains. The irrigated pastures were green. The grazing Arabians
were sleek, elegant, lively, obviously bursting with health.

On either side of the Mountains of Sunrise were other horse ranchesGarner Valley was
famous for its carefully bred, expensive horses.

A big yellow dog came trotting out from the barn and stood near Sand Dancer. The dog
looked up, waving a thick tail in greeting. Linc lifted his right leg over the horses
neck, slid down to the ground, and scratched the dogs ears affectionately.

Hello, Freedom, he said, looking around. Did you lose Beth?

Holly landed lightly beside Linc. She got a big lick from Freedom as soon as her feet hit
the ground.

Linc was still looking around for his younger sister.

Beth will be glad to see you, he said. She missed you almost as much as I did.

I missed her too. Of all the kids I baby-sat for, she was the only one I wanted to keep.

Linc smiled rather grimly.

Good thing you didnt let on, he said. Dad and my dear stepmother always made Beth feel
like they would give her away to the first adult who came in the door.

You wouldnt have let her go.

I still wont, even though shes driving me nuts.

Beth? Holly asked, surprised.

Beth, Linc said.

He sighed heavily, gave the dog a final pat, and turned to face her.

Beth is at the age when all her friends stay in town, he explained. Shed rather be at our
Palm Springs house than at the ranch.

It must be lonely for her here. Dont you start in on me, he said in curt tones. Warily
Holly looked at Linc. He grimaced.

Sorry, he muttered. Beth and Mrs. Malley keep harping on how much nicer it is in Palm
Springs. Um, Holly said. If you say so. I dont. They do. So send them off for a few weeks.

Mrs. Malley cant keep Beth on a short enough leash, Linc said bluntly, and I cant afford
to be away from the ranch for weeks on end.

Beth used to love the ranch.

That was before she discovered boys. Now all she can think about is painting her face and
buying flashy clothes.

Holly touched Lincs arm.

Hey, she said, smiling gently. Its normal at fifteen.

You werent like that.

She shrugged and made a dismissing gesture with her hand.

I was an awful tomboy, she said.

Smiling, he didnt disagree.

Is Beth doing well at school? Holly asked.

Shes a straight-A student.

Are her friends wild?

Her girlfriends wear too much paint, he said, but theyre nice kids underneath all the crud.

Then youre worrying over nothing.

I sure as hell hope so.

Linc rubbed his hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration that was becoming
familiar to Holly. Then his mouth flattened into an unyielding line.

Some days Beth reminds me so much of her mother it scares the hell out of me, he admitted.
But Beth wont end up like that if I have to lock her in her room and eat the key.

Holly winced. Before she could say anything, the back door of the house slammed and a girl
nearly as tall as Holly came running toward them. She recognized Beth by the long,
honey-colored braids that bounced behind her.

Holly! Is it really you? Beth asked.

It really is.

Beth threw herself into Hollys arms and held on almost as fiercely as Linc had.

I always told my brother youd come back, Beth said. Where did you come from? How did Linc
find you? Why were you riding double? Are you back to stay? Did

Laughing, Linc put his hand over Beths mouth.

Slow down, Button, he said.

Button!Beth muttered hotly beneath her brothers palm. Im nearlysixteen!

Holly looked at Beths clean, shining face and felt like an ancient lump of mud.

Ill flip you for the bathtub, she said to Linc.

We could share, he said, only half-joking.

Holly threw a startled glance at Beth.

The younger girl looked surprised, then smug.

You can use my bubble bath, Beth offered.

Smiling, Holly shook her head.

Spoilsport, Linc said.

Me? Holly asked, despite the red staining her cheeks. I seem to remember a certain male of
my acquaintance who couldnt stop saying no when I

Use the master bath, Linc interrupted quickly. Beth and I will take care of Sand Dancer.

Huh? Beth said. But I want to talk to Holly.

Later, he said. Right now you can tell me all about the latest dress you want to buy for
the Arabian Nights party.

Which one? The one thats years too old for you to wear. How did you Beth began. Psychic,
Linc interrupted dryly. Without looking over his shoulder, he began leading Sand Dancer
toward the barn. Go get him, tiger, Holly muttered to Beth. I know where the bathtub is.

Beths eyes gleamed. She started after her brother with a determined stride. As soon as she
caught up with him, her clear voice floated back to Holly.

Dresses werent the topic.

Okay, big brother, Beth said. Yesterday you rode out of here alone with a shirt and a
saddle. Today you show up shirtless and bareback with Holly. Give.

Smiling to herself, Holly headed for the house.

Lincs home was just as she had remembered. The rooms were spacious, clean, cool, and
decorated in the same earth tones of the old Navaho rugs that Lincs father had collected.

Holly had never been in the wing of the house that held the master bedroom, but she knew
where it was. The size of the bathroom that adjoined the bedroom startled her.

My God, she said aloud. This is as big as my whole apartment in Manhattan.

The sunken bathtubwith Jacuzziwas nearly big enough to do laps in. And like a swimming
pool, the tub was kept full of hot water beneath a transparent plastic lid.

Holly looked at the tub longingly, but could not bring herself to waste all that water
just to clean one body.

A quick search of the bathroom turned up soap and shampoo. She took off her clothes and
stepped into the oversized shower. With a sigh of sheer pleasure, she let hot water pour
over her, washing away the dust of the long ride up and over the ridge to the ranch.

Finally she got out, pulled a towel off a nearby hook, and was nearly buried in an
avalanche of soft cloth. Obviously the towel had been made for Linc. It was longer than
she was and twice as wide.

Smiling, she rubbed herself dry, then took the unused half of the towel and went to work
on her hair.

When she was finished, she deftly French-braided the sides and crown, blending the shorter
hair around her face into a sleek cap and leaving the longer hair to dry in gentle waves
down her back.

A quick look in the mirror made her frown, goaded by the memory of Cyns lush, soft beauty.
Holly coaxed a few tendrils of hair loose around her face, hoping to soften the slanting
lines of her eyes and cheekbones.

A few little curls werent enough to change the result. She still looked too young and too
plain to attract a man like Linc.

Muttering unhappy words, Holly wrapped the big towel several times around herself and
gathered up her clothes. Dirty laundry in hand, she headed out of the bathroom to look for
a washing machine.

The master bedroom door opened and Linc walked in. Just in time, she said.

Looks more like too late to me.

His hazel eyes took in the towel that covered Holly from collarbones to feet.

I was going to offer to scrub your back, among other things, he said.

She hesitated. As much as she wanted to lose herself to Lincs passionate lovemaking, they
werent alone anymore.

Not the way they had been at Hidden Springs, alone but for Sand Dancer and the desert
storm.

What about Beth? Holly asked.

I dont think she wants to scrub you nearly as badly as I do, he said, deliberately
misunderstanding.

Linc

Dont worry about Beth, he interrupted softly. Shed move heaven and earth to get you in my
bed.

Holly couldnt hide her shock.

The smile that he gave her was real, if a bit thin.

You can hardly be surprised that Beth knows about men, women, and beds, he said. She grew
up fast. With a mother like hers, she had to.

Its not that, Holly said evenly. Im shocked that you would bring your . . . playmates . .
. to your home.