Desert Rain (5 page)

You recognize me, Holly said, suddenly nervous. Linc smiled. It would take more than a rap
on the head to make me forget you, Holly. But yesterday she began. All I remember about
last night, he interrupted, is that it was dark and a mountain fell on me.

Lincs tongue slid between Hollys lips and moved slowly. She made a small sound as she
touched the tip of her tongue against his, tasting him delicately, hungrily.

If you had kissed me before you dragged me into your bed, Linc said, Id have known you no
matter how dark it was.

Holly couldnt speak. His eyes were golden, passionate, tender . . . her dream made whole
and radiant again.

Linc, she whispered.

He kissed Holly again, thoroughly, drinking her response. When he finally lifted his head,
his pulse was beating visibly in his throat.

You taste the same as you did six years ago, Linc murmured, sweet as a desert spring.

His voice had changed with the long kiss. The tone was husky, intimate, as male as the
powerful arms wrapped around Holly.

She drew a shaky breath, remembering the stolen kiss last night and the kisses before
that, six long years before. She looked into Lincs eyes again, studying him in a silence
that shimmered with dreams and possibilities.

Nowhere did she see the harsh contempt that had been on his face yesterday.

A relief as intense as last nights storm swept through her, shaking her. She reached up
and kissed Linc again with lips that trembled.

You taste the same, too, Holly whispered against his mouth. He lifted his head and smiled
down at her. Like water? he asked whimsically. Half right, she teased.

Whats the other half?

Fire.

Lincs arms tightened until Holly couldnt breathe. She had forgotten how strong he was,
strength enough to make or break a world.

Her world. Firewater, huh? Linc teased. He laughed against Hollys neck, sending shivers of
delight over her skin. From an illegal still, no doubt? Linc asked.

Holly nodded her head solemnly, like a small child.

The still is hidden way, way up in the mountains, she whispered.

What goes into itcactus and pine cones?

Nope.

Holly smiled and tickled her lips against Lincs mustache.

Rocks and ice? he guessed again.

She laughed. Then she looked at the man she loved and laughter vanished, replaced by an
intense emotion that only Linc had ever been able to call from her.

Lightning and sage and desert rain, Holly whispered. Ive tasted you in my dreams, Linc.

His breath drew in sharply.

Holly, Linc said huskily. Are you sure youre not a dream?

Before she could answer, his tongue probed the hollow at the base of her throat, then
moved slowly up her neck until he found her ear. His teeth closed delicately on her
earlobe.

When the tip of Lincs tongue traced the curves of her ear, Holly began to tremble. With
eyes half-closed, she rubbed her palms over his back.

His skin stretched smoothly over muscles hardened by work. Silk and steel, the taste of
Linc on her lips, dream come true.

Which is betterthis or dreams? he asked.

This, Holly murmured. This is better than any dream.

As she spoke, she moved slowly against Linc, savoring his skin with her fingertips and
lips.

Holly felt a tremor go through him. Belatedly she remembered how chilled he had been last
night.

Are you cold? she asked quickly.

Hardly.

But

Linc nibbled on Hollys lips, distracting her from doubts about his health. When he spoke,
laughter curled in his voice.

If you dont believe that Im plenty warm, he said, run your hands down my front instead of
my back.

Abruptly Holly remembered that Linc was naked. She jerked her hands away from his skin.

I forgot Id undressed you, she said, embarrassed, but you were wet andIm sorry.

Im not, Linc murmured, rubbing his lips over Hollys mouth. In facthis hand slid up to her
jacket zipperIm going to return the favor.

But Im not wearing a blouse, she said frantically.

Lincs only answer was the ragged sound of his swift, indrawn breath when the zipper slid
down to her waist and the jacket fell open.

Holly was so shocked she couldnt say a word. Linc had kissed her before, even touched her
breasts lightly, but it had been nothing like this.

She had never been naked, skin against skin.

Slowly Lincs dark head vanished beneath the sleeping bag as his mouth slid down Hollys
neck. The tongue that had teased her lips stroked slowly over one of her breasts. As he
blew gently, her nipple hardened in a tingling rush.

Holly made a low sound, gripped by feelings she had neither the experience nor the words
to describe.

By the time Lincs mouth melted over her other breast, she was no longer shocked. Pleasure
shivered through her repeatedly. Her fingers kneaded his back with sensuous, hungry
motions that encouraged his caresses.

Holly had no realization of what she was doing, no thoughts that werent as wild and hot as
Lincs mouth. Her body didnt feel like it was her own. Sensations lanced through her, fine
wires tightening her with each caress, each hot movement of his tongue, her whole body
tightening until she felt like twisting and moaning beneath his knowing mouth.

Ive got to see you, Linc said huskily.

He reached across Holly, unzipped the sleeping bag halfway down, and pushed it away from
her body.

No bathing suit lines marred the smooth flow of her golden skin. Her breasts were swollen
with desire and her taut nipples were the same dark rose as her lips.

A slow flush bloomed beneath Hollys skin as she realized that she was lying half-naked
while Linc looked at her, his hazel eyes smoky with desire. She pulled her hands away from
his back and tried to zip up her jacket.

He laced his fingers through hers, holding her hands in a gentle vise.

If I had undressed you six years ago, he whispered, I never would have let Sandra take you
away.

Lincs head lowered again, and again Holly felt his tongue set fire to her skin.
Instinctively she arched against him, all thought of shyness or embarrassment consumed by
his caresses.

All she wanted was to be closer to him. She needed to feel more of his body covering her,
to bury her fingers in his hair and hold his mouth against her forever.

As though Linc knew what Holly wanted, he released her hands. Her fingers raked up his
back, then burrowed into his hair. In the instant before he flinched, she remembered his
injury.

Im sorry, Holly said breathlessly. Does it hurt?

Only when you stop touching me.

She looked at Lincs eyes. Her breath filled her throat. Even in her dreams he had not
wanted her so much.

Very gently Holly turned Lincs head so that she could see the swelling just beneath his
ear. Her own breath hissed out.

The bruise was darker than it had been last night. Its center was a crust of blood. You
must have a terrible headache, she said. Linc smiled crookedly. Isnt that the womans line?
he asked dryly.

Holly laughed despite her concern.

Ive got some aspirin in my kit that will help the ache, she said.

His hands closed over her arms, gently holding her when she would have left the sleeping
bag.

There are other kinds of aches, he said in a low voice. Aspirin wont do a damn thing about
them.

Take two aspirin Holly began.

and call you in the morning, Linc finished, covering his face with a groan. Thats nearly
as old as the line about headaches.

Serves you right, she said impishly.

With that Holly slipped out of the bag.

Linc could have stopped her, but decided to watch her instead. Wearing only an open jacket
and old jeans, she was worth looking at.

When Holly tried to close her jacket, the zipper jammed at the bottom. She fussed with it
for a moment, then gave up. She overlapped the front and stuffed the jacket into her pants
like a blouse.

Ill get the aspirin, she said.

Linc simply smiled. The gap in the jacket offered intriguing glimpses of the breasts
beneath.

Holly sat down, dragged her large seamans duffel onto her lap, and jammed her arm into the
open end. Frowning, she fished blindly through the deep bag, trying to find her first-aid
kit by a combination of

memory and touch.

As Holly worked, her jacket slowly pulled open, revealing and then concealing her breasts
in a display that was as unintentional as it was arousing.

Linc watched with half-closed eyes. If Hollys reaction to him hadnt been so plainly a
combination of embarrassment and passion, he would have reached out and dragged her back
into the sleeping bag. But she lookedand actedas innocent as she had six years ago.

The thought was both staggering and violently arousing to him. Holly made an exasperated
sound and shook the bag. Her breasts swayed in echo of her movements. With a stifled
groan, Linc looked away. Her head snapped up. A worried expression pinched her face. Lie
down, Linc. Please. Without a word, he put his arm over his eyes and laid back on the
rumpled bag.

Finally Hollys fingers felt a smooth plastic bottle. She yanked it out, shook two aspirin
into one hand, hesitated, then added two more. She grabbed the canteen from under a pile
of Lincs soggy clothing and went back to him.

Here, Holly said. Take these.

Cautiously he opened his eyes. She was kneeling in front of him, holding out aspirin in
one hand and a canteen in the other.

Hollys breasts were mostly covered. Linc told himself that was an improvement. He didnt
believe it. Four? Linc asked. I usually take two and youre twice as big as I am.

Lincs glance moved from Hollys unique slanted eyes to the well-shaped nails on her bare
feet. His hand curled around her foot and his thumb caressed her arch.

How about if I take you twice and to hell with calling the doctor? Linc suggested huskily.

A tremor of desire moved over Holly. Mutely, she held out the aspirin and water.

He leaned forward, but not to take the aspirin. He eased the jacket off her shoulders
until it settled around her elbows, softly binding her arms to her sides. Slowly,
deliberately, he caressed her with tongue and teeth until she forgot to breathe.

Hollys eyes glowed nearly gold as she looked down at the dark head bent over her breasts.
She saw Lincs tongue touch her, saw herself respond, saw him look up at her.

She knew her feelings must be as naked as his tongue and she didnt care. Since she was
eighteen, men had been telling her how gorgeous she was.

This was the first time she believed it, and Linc hadnt said a word.

You make me feel so beautiful, Holly whispered.

Linc made a sound that could have been her name. Then he kissed her with a fierce
possession that she met and matched. He rolled onto his back, pulling her with him until
she lay half across him.

His hands kneaded down her back to her hips, silently demanding another kind of caress.
She molded to him, stretching against his hard body, feeling weak and strong at the same
time. The blunt length of his arousal startled her. Then it made her even more hungry to
blend her body with his.

The repeated neighing of Lincs horse finally penetrated Hollys sensual daze, and his. The
unhappy sounds told both of them that the horse was working itself into a frenzy.

Reluctantly Holly shifted her weight and began a slow slide off Lincs body.

Hold still, he said urgently.

He pressed her face between his hands and fought to control his breathing. After a few
moments, he succeeded.

Holly North, he said through his teeth, you are the only thing on Gods earth that could
make me forget to take care of my horse. Youre dangerous, woman.

Me?

She sat up slowly. She tried to laugh, but her breath kept catching in her throat.

If Im dangerous, she said, youre outright lethal.

Linc admired the flush spreading up from Hollys breasts and her eyes brilliant with
desire. He leaned toward her.

Lets argue about it, he suggested, teasing her with his tongue. Two falls out of three?
The horse neighed again. It was a shrill, frightened sound. Damn! groaned Linc. Ill check
him while you take your aspirin.

What aspirin? Linc asked innocently. A startled look came over Hollys face. She held her
hands open in front of her, palms up. No aspirin.

She looked at the rumpled sleeping bag that covered Linc like an oversized pair of pants.
She quickly spotted one aspirin, caught in the same fold of cloth as the canteen. The
second and third werent hard to find, but the fourth eluded her.

Linc washed down the three powdery pills with water from the canteen.

Maybe the last aspirin is inside the sleeping bag, he suggested with a slow smile.

You look for it, then, she retorted.

It would be more fun if you did. Who knows what youd find?

Holly felt the heat of a blush and something more spread over her skin, yet she couldnt
help laughing at Lincs outrageous teasing.

I found the other pills at the top of the bag, not the bottom, she pointed out.

I was hoping you hadnt noticed. He laughed suddenly. Bet I can find the fourth aspirin
before you do.

Holly turned to look behind her, assuming that he had spotted the pill on the tent floor.
Then she felt his fingertips brush beneath her breast. Startled, she looked back.

In Lincs hand was a white pill that looked a bit wilted around the edges.

Holly realized that the aspirin must have been caught beneath her breast, held to her body
by the fine mist of desire that suffused her.

An aspirin after my own heart, Linc said, his voice rich with laughter and sensuality. She
shook her head in helpless embarrassment. Ill get you another one, she muttered. His hand
closed gently on her thigh, holding her in place.