Quicksilver Passion (187 page)

At least let me love you one more time—something for both of us to remember all those lonely nights in the future.”

Drat it all! Who told you I would be lonely?” She looked up at him and laughed, the old hardness back in her pale eyes. But her soft mouth trembled, making a liar of her.
There’s another man, of course. You know me, Cherokee, I’m a saloon girl, a singing, dancing star. I could never get used to having only one man in my bed.”

He didn’t want to live if he lost her. No, he
couldn’t
live if he lost her.
Silver, what is it? What’s wrong? All those years in that Yankee prison, all that kept me alive and gave me the guts to go on was the knowledge that someday you would be in my arms again!”

He pulled her to him, kissed her while she struggled, but he didn’t let her go. Whatever it was, she wasn’t being truthful with him and he would do anything to keep her. If only she were carrying his child, she wouldn’t have the option of leaving him. She’d be his.
At least let me make love to you one more time before we part.”

No.” She tried to pull away but he was stronger than she was and he held her with one arm while he began to unbutton the front of her dress.
I told you no!”

Love me one more time,” he whispered,
and then I’ll let you go without a fuss and won’t ask anything else.”

He could feel her trembling in his arms. She shook her head in denial as he managed to get the front of her dress open and covered one of her breasts with his big hand. He felt her nipple respond to his touch and heard her sharp intake of breath.
Just once more,” he murmured,
and after that, if you still want to go back to this other man, I’ll let you leave.”

Please let me go.”

He felt the tears drip down on his hand, but he didn’t take it from her breast. He had not gone through so much to lose her now.

Cherokee kneaded her breast with his hand, feeling the warm satin of her skin, the nipple swelling with desire against his flesh even as his own maleness began to pulsate with need. If he made love to her every day for the rest of his life, he would never get enough of her.

She pushed at him.
Let me go, or I’ll—”