Read Taming Talia Online

Authors: Marie-Nicole Ryan

Taming Talia (10 page)

BOOK: Taming Talia
4.2Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

He glanced down at the leather belt holding up his baggy trousers. “It does.”

She reached up to caress his dark, bristled cheek and smiled. “As you can see, Reginald was
very
fond of his food. He would’ve called you a poor specimen of a man.”

“No doubt.” He nodded his agreement. “Too much time on horseback and too little at fine dinner tables.”

She took his calloused hands in hers, still gazing into his steely eyes. “However, I do not.”

His arms went around her waist, pulling her close. Her lower body connected with his, making the hard jut of his cock impossible to miss. Molded so close to him, she could feel every beat of his heart. He dipped his head and slanted his mouth over hers. She parted her lips to the fevered assault of his tongue. Her knees began to feel as mushy as overcooked rice.

As she was about to rip open his shirt, he stopped kissing her and pulled away. “Later.”

“Later?” she asked, still dazed by the onslaught of desire ripping through her entire body.

“Firewood.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Food.” He kissed her neck and moved down to nuzzle her breasts through the thick flannel shirts. Meeting her gaze again, he added, “Then, dear Talia, fucking.”

His frank language made her inner muscles clench. Unable to hold back a nervous chuckle, she said, “At least
your
priorities are in order. It’s good to know where I stand.” She reached for his collar, pulling it tighter around his neck. “Be careful. I think the wind has picked up, so you shouldn’t stay outside any longer than necessary.” Shivering, she rubbed her upper arms.

He grinned down at her, slipping a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Careful, Talia. Your maternal side is showing.”

She smiled, loving the husky sound of her name on Jared’s lips. Old Reginald had insisted on calling her “Nata-
lee
” rather than by her true name and correct pronunciation. “I’m not sure my maternal instincts have ever been tested before. And I’m not sure they ever will.” No, she would never marry again. Never give up her land, her power or her heart.

“There’s definitely a maternal side to you. Of that I have no doubt.”

“Go.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “But don’t stay too long. I’m starving.” In more ways than one.

“Me too,” he said with a wink and a nod. Then, pulling his coat collar tighter, he turned and eased out the kitchen door into the night.

Still quivering, Natalia stood in the door, watching until he was lost in the dark and howling wind. She eased the door closed. Hopefully the snow hadn’t drifted so much that the trench they’d dug had filled in. Plus he had the rope to use as a guide back to the stables. He wouldn’t get lost in the blizzard. He wouldn’t.

No matter who or what Jared really was didn’t matter. What did matter was that she didn’t have to spend the rest of the winter snowed in…and alone.

For now, she would take advantage of all Jared’s skills…in and out of bed. And after he left, she’d be alone again. When Reginald was killed, she confessed she’d been more than relieved. She’d been grateful he no longer had control of her body and life, but now being alone didn’t have quite the same appeal. If she was honest with herself, she’d miss Jared’s strength and his company.

Chapter Nine

After caring for the two horses and the milk cow, Jared shut the stable door. There was plenty of feed, but water was in short supply, unless he could melt some of the damned snow. As he headed around the side of the stable to where Talia said the firewood was located, his footsteps crunched through the deep snow. The path he and Talia had dug was still passable, and the rope remained a secure guide for traveling to and from the house to the stable a hundred yards away. And for the moment, the wind had stopped blowing. Instead of blinding horizontal sweeps of the white stuff, snow now drifted down softly in fat flakes. There was no moon. The silence was eerie. As far as he could see, there was nothing but snow and the snow-covered humps of the other ranch outbuildings.

Using leather strips and a couple of wood planks he’d found in the stable, he fashioned a small travois-like contraption he could use to drag a supply of wood back to the ranch house. All he had to do now was clear another path to find the woodpile. Holding back a groan, he stopped long enough to stretch his neck and back muscles, already aching from the day’s digging…and maybe last night’s exertions in keeping Talia from freezing to death. The thought of her waiting for his return brought a smile to his face. What were a few more hours of backbreaking work? The sooner he started, the sooner he could pull her into his arms.

 

 

By the light of a kerosene lamp, Talia paced. A myriad of worries flashed through her mind. Jared had been gone for what seemed like hours. Had he fallen? Been injured? Maybe the woodpile collapsed on top of him? Should she risk going out again to find him? That particular strategy hadn’t worked too well last time. She was the one who fell and nearly froze to death before he rescued her. Maybe this time, he was the one in need of rescue.

She turned to go to her bedroom for more clothes. The rattle of the door caught her attention; she spun to find Jared’s tall frame silhouetted in the doorway. A wave of relief rushed through her as she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re all right. I was so worried.”

He brushed the snow from his Stetson. “Cold. And hungry. But I’m all right.”

He pulled her closer and covered her mouth with his, kissing her like a man starved and thirsting for more of her love. She opened her mouth to his, and as she did, her stomach growled loudly. Laughing, they broke apart. “
Dios
,” she said, “how rude of me.”

“You’re hungry too.” He grinned and glanced toward the door. “There’s a good supply of wood. Couple of days’ worth.”

“Good.” She smiled at the thought of being warm again. “I’ll build the fire in the cookstove, if you’ll tend to the fireplaces.”

He nodded, leveling his steely gaze on her. “Best we conserve the wood and only use
one
of the fireplaces.”

She assumed her most wide-eyed expression of innocence. “Then I suggest we use the one in my bedchamber.”

“My thoughts exactly.” His voice was low and husky, sending a shiver of desire running through her body.

She smiled up at him. His eyes glittered with a sensual lust, but there were dark circles beneath which told her just how exhausted he was from the day’s exertions. As for her own flagging spirits, the sight of the firewood energized her.

He cleared his throat. “I’d—uh, better carry a couple of logs into your room, then.”

“Yes, do that.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. Soon they would have the remainder of the rich beef stew to eat and the Rioja to quench their thirsts.

And afterwards they would lie down skin to skin in the soft comfort of her featherbed and make love until the sun rose. Making love with Jared was a revelation. He gave her immeasurable pleasure without asking in return, but tonight she would pleasure him.

She hummed a little tune while she laid the fire in the cookstove. After the wood caught, she held her hands over the stove, relishing the warmth that had begun to emanate. Fortunately, Sarita had taught her everything she needed to know about managing a house and cooking. Everything she needed to know to be a good wife to her husband. Unfortunately, her father had married her off to a man who neither loved nor respected her. But now with Jared, maybe she had another chance at happiness.

No!
Thoughts like those were dangerous. Risking her heart, not to mention her newly inherited fortune, was reckless. Never again would she allow a man to control her life…or her money. And wasn’t that what men did? It was part and parcel of their gender to crave power and control. This time she would be the one with all the power over her holdings.

She looked down at her clenched fists. Forcing her fingers to relax, she took in a deep breath.

A hand landed on her shoulder. She jumped, so intent on her thoughts she hadn’t heard Jared’s approach. “
Madre de Dios
!”

“Pardon. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Jared said. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” She drew her slightly trembling hands back through her hair, smoothing it away from her forehead. “You
did
startle me. My fault, though. I fear my mind was elsewhere.”

“May I help?” His dark brows pulled together in a frown. One corner of his mustache twitched.

She held back a laugh. Her thoughts had surprised her and taken her into dark territory. Not Jared’s fault at all, but he certainly appeared guilty, as if he’d done something to displease her.

“If you’ll take the leftover stew from the icebox, I think the stove is hot enough. I’ll set the table.”

She watched as he crouched and removed the pot of stew. “I’m glad we didn’t eat it all last night. It was last night, wasn’t it? I’m afraid I’ve lost track of time. Honestly, it feels like it was a week ago.”
Dios
, why must she babble so?

“Yes. Early yesterday evening.” He set the pot on the stove plate. “We had rather a late evening.” This time, the corner of his mouth twisted upward in a wry smile.

Grinning up at him, Talia removed the lid and stirred the stew with a large wooden spoon. “And it appears as if we might be in for another one.”

“Sounds as if the lady has something in mind—something besides digging another trench in the snow.” He eased behind her, spanning her waist with his large hands while he placed soft kisses up and down the side of her neck. “I will be happy to oblige but won’t presume to know the intricacies of female desires.”

She smiled to herself and kept stirring the stew. “And here I have the singular notion that you’re very aware of a woman’s desires—especially those of this particular woman.” With that, she turned to face him, snaking her arms around his waist, their bodies now so close she could feel his cock harden against her belly. “It seems a man’s desires are much more evident and more difficult to hide.”

“So it would seem.” She felt him shudder. Was he rocked by lust as she was? Was the weakness in her legs the result of longing or the fact she hadn’t eaten in over twenty-four hours? She sagged against him, her head beginning to spin. Black splotches marred her vision.

 

“Talia!” Alarmed by her sudden pale face and collapse, Jared caught her before she fell. “Talia…” He scooped her up, carried her across the kitchen and settled her gently onto one of the rugged wood chairs.

Her lids fluttered, then opened wide as she gazed around the kitchen. “What happened?”

“You swooned.”

“Don’t be absurd.” She raised her chin like a haughty society
grande dame
. “I’m not some silly girl from the East. I
never
swoon.”

His mouth twitched with a smile. “Maybe not, but you did all the same.” He crossed the kitchen to the cookstove. “You have to eat. Now.”

She tried to rise, but faltered and sat back with a sigh.

Damned stubborn woman. “Just sit. I can dish up a bowl of stew.” He grabbed two bowls from the table, then took them back to the stove where the thick, meaty stew was beginning to bubble. His mouth watered. Ignoring his hunger, he removed the pot from the fire and set it aside.

She nodded, then pointed. “There’s a loaf of bread in the keeper. It only needs to be sliced.”

“One thing at a time.” He held up both hands. “I only have two of these.”

Talia laughed. “Men.”

He scrambled to the bread-keeper and pulled out a fragrant loaf. “Knife? Butter?”

She nodded toward a table along the side of the kitchen. “Blue round crock…the one with a lid. Knives are kept in a wooden block,” she said, waving with an elegant gesture, “in that drawer.”

He snatched the butter-keeper with one hand and opened the knife drawer with the other. He set the crock on the table in front of Talia, then cut her a thick slice of bread. “Eat that while I dish up your stew.” Damn. His stomach felt so empty it had to be collapsed on itself.

Mouth watering, he watched while she slathered butter on the bread. She stuffed a portion in her mouth, making a mewing noise of satisfaction.

“You—eat,” she said, pointing at him. Though her words were muffled due to her mouthful of bread, her intention was clear.

“Right.” He turned and quickly ladled stew into the two bowls, then pulled out a chair and sat. He took a quick bite and burned his tongue. No matter. Hunger definitely enhanced the flavor. “Delicious,” he muttered, trying to keep from wolfing down the spicy stew. The bread was fresh, its texture thick, and the taste of yeast overwhelmed him. God. Almost starved and didn’t know it. He could’ve eaten the entire loaf himself, not to mention the entire pot of stew.

While he was stuffing his face, he watched Talia eat. Once she’d consumed half a slice of bread, she recovered her ladylike manners, and while it was obvious she was enjoying her first meal in twenty-four hours, she hadn’t descended to eating like a pig at the trough as he had.

Once he’d finished his second bowl of stew, he groaned and pushed back from the table. “Sorry. Once I started, I couldn’t stop.”

Dark eyes glowing, she smiled, showing a deep dimple on one side of her beautiful face. How had he not noticed that sweet dip before?

BOOK: Taming Talia
4.2Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Trouble in the Making by Matthews, Lissa
The Tavernier Stones by Stephen Parrish
Spark Rising by Kate Corcino
The Ultimate Werewolf by Byron Preiss (ed)
Falconfar 03-Falconfar by Ed Greenwood
The Twins by Gary Alan Wassner
Serendipity Market by Penny Blubaugh
Disposition of Remains by Laura T. Emery
Until Forever by E. L. Todd