A Promise of Thunder

Nat was even more surprised as he cursed beneath his breath. “Dammit, Stryker, you’re not wanted here. Neither Storm nor I appreciate your intrusion.” He swung her away, leaving Grady standing in the middle of the dance floor, looking foolish.
    Then suddenly the music stopped and the dance ended. Turner reluctantly moved away as Storm was besieged by men clamoring for a dance with her. When the music started up again, Storm was about to choose her next partner when Grady stepped out of nowhereand claimed her. One or two of the men started to protest, but Grady’s fierce expression soon changed their minds. When Grady swept her into his arms, Storm’s face showed her displeasure. But when she noted the curious way in which people were staring at them, she reluctantly followed his lead.
    “I didn’t know Indians could dance,” she hissed venomously.
    “And I didn’t know white women could be so damn stubborn,” he tossed back. “I warned you about attending the dance tonight with Turner.”
    “So you did,” she said sweetly. “But as I told you, I make my own decisions.”
    Suddenly the music grew lively and Grady swung her around and around, until she grew dizzy and her head spun. When she stumbled against him, he was quick to offer assistance.
    “Perhaps you need some air,” he suggested blandly. “The punch is spiked, you know.”
    With an efficiency of motion he maneuvered her toward the door, and they were outside before Storm knew what was happening. Truth to tell, she was too fuzzy-brained to think clearly. He took off his fringed buckskin jacket and placed it over her shoulders. “Feel better now?”
    “There’s nothing wrong with me,” Storm protested. “If you hadn’t whirled me around so fast I wouldn’t have gotten dizzy. I must get back inside. Nat will be looking for me.”
    “I think I should take you home now,” Grady said.
    Storm bristled indignantly. “I didn’t come with you, Mr. Stryker.”
    “No, but—dammit, Storm, you can’t trust Turner.”
    “Nat Turner has been a perfect gentleman in all our dealings, which is more than I can say for you.”
    “If you’re talking about that night we—”
    “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I must have been crazy to let you take advantage of me.” She turned to walk away, stumbled slightly, and found herself surrounded by the hard strength of Grady’s arms.
    “Oh.”
    “How many glasses of punch did you have? Are you tipsy, Mrs. Kennedy?”
    “Certainly not!” Her short sentence ended in a hiccup.
    “Did you know that you have the most kissable lips I’ve ever seen?” Grady surprised himself by saying. Now where in the hell did that come from? He surprised himself further when he brushed his mouth against hers in a most provocative way. When that didn’t seem to satisfy him his tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips with slow, tantalizing thoroughness.
    The touch of his lips on hers sent a shock wave spiraling through Storm’s entire body. She jerked violently, but before she could twist from his embrace, he boldly thrust his tongue into her mouth in a fiery display of possession. It was a challenging kiss, one that probed deeply into the secret chambers of her heart. Whenhis hands slid down to cup the firm roundness of her bottom and pull her closer still, she felt the hard strength of his desire branding her through the layers of her clothing. His kiss deepened, stunning her with its ferocity as his demanding tongue stroked and explored until she was helplessly ensnared.
    Then, abruptly, he released her, holding her at arm’s length and staring at her as if she had bitten him. “Damnation! What in the hell are you doing to me? When I’m with you I lose all restraint. All I can think about is making love to you. You’re a witch, created specifically to make me miserable.”
    Giddy from Grady’s tormenting kisses, Storm could only stare at him and stammer, “I—I—don’t—”
    “There you are, Storm. I’ve been everywhere looking for you. It’s nearly time to leave and you promised me the last dance.”
    Nat Turner stood a few feet away, having come from the barn in search of Storm. He had had an inkling that he would find her with the renegade, and when his suspicions proved correct he struggled to conceal his rage. It was to his advantage to control himself until he had what he wanted from Storm Kennedy. Afterward the half-breed was welcome to her.
    “Of course,” Storm said,