Call It Destiny

eyes.
    „I’ll get these cushions over there by the fire. We can use them for a bed,“ Jake said as he pulled the dusty sofa cushions free and tossed them down in front of the fire.
    „A rather narrow bed,“ Heather observed dubiously.
    He looked at her as the last cushion went down in front of the flames. „We’ll make do, won’t we?“
    She nodded wordlessly, unable to meet the searching challenge in his eyes.
    „Heather, honey,“ he muttered, catching her by the shoulders and pulling her close. „You’re not still frightened are you? Of me this time?“
    „No.“ But she couldn’t find the words to explain exactly what she was feeling, so she tried to make light of it all. „You saved my life. How could I be frightened of you? I told you, I’m shaking a little from the cold and the wet and the reaction.“
    He dropped to his knees on the sofa cushions and gently tugged her down beside him. When she was kneeling in front of him he tenderly stroked her back beneath the blanket.
    „Come and lie down with me,“ he commanded softly. „And I’ll keep you warm and safe tonight.“

9

    Heather didn’t hesitate any longer. Relaxing completely into his warmth, she let Jake push her down onto the cushions and fold the blankets over both of them. The heat of his body as he sprawled heavily along her slenderness was more satisfying than any fire, and the strength of his grasp as he cradled her chased away the last of the night’s terrors.
    „All afternoon and evening I’ve been torn between the temptation to beat you for getting yourself into such a stupid mess and the equally strong temptation to do this.“ Jake’s mouth found hers in a deep caress that brought a moan to the back of Heather’s throat.
    His hand moved along her side, down to her hip and back up to her breasts. The reviving touch was more sensual than therapeutic, although it certainly served to dispel the chills.
    „I’d much rather you gave in to this temptation than have you beat me,“ Heather murmured gently, spearing her fingers through his damp hair.
    „Since it was my fault you got into the mess with Monroe, I suppose it really wouldn’t be fair to take out my frustrations on your sweet backside.“
    „Your fault?“
    „Sure. I should have known better than to let you head for that cabin this morning. I told myself you needed a little time to adjust to matters after what happened yesterday, but by the time I got back to the Hacienda I realized I’d been a fool. Never let a headstrong female go chasing off on her own to think things over. That’s my new motto.“
    „Why did you change your mind and come after me?“
    „I figured that if you really needed to do any adjusting it might as well be where I could keep an eye on you.“
    „If you want to know the truth, I was rather expecting you to arrive. It didn’t surprise me at all when you drove up to the cabin. I was terrified about what Rick might do, but I wasn’t surprised to see you.“
    „Good. I do believe we’re making progress.“ Jake sounded complacent and satisfied. „Hold me, honey. Wrap yourself around me and let me know you’re here safe in my arms.“
    „I think I need the same reassurance. I was so afraid I would lose you in that water, Jake. So scared….“
    „It’s all right, honey,“ he soothed huskily as he crowded closer. He began to string tense, barely restrained kisses down her shoulder while slowly moving his thighs against hers.
    Heather’s love for him washed through her, leaving her swamped with breathless excitement. The feel of his rapidly hardening body made her senses sing. She clung to him as tightly as she had clung to him during the trek across the surging canyon waters, and Jake responded.
    „You’re not cold anymore,“ he grated as his teeth closed tantalizingly around one nipple. „I can feel you starting to melt, in fact.“
    „How could I ever be cold around you?“
    She felt so good lying beneath him, Jake thought with savage wonder. It was taking all his will to be tender and slow tonight. After the strain he had been through today his every instinct was to crush her to him and imprint his body on hers.
    What a fool he’d been to let her go off on her own. He’d realized his mistake relatively quickly, he supposed, but by then it was too late. She had already landed herself in enough trouble to last a lifetime. When he’d walked into that cabin and seen her with another man he’d nearly lost his