Only 06 - Winter Fire

her.
    â€œI didn’t come ‘crawling into your bed,’” she said angrily. “You were having a nightmare.”
    â€œI don’t remember any dreams.”
    â€œYou were twitching and jerking and thrashing like a wolf in a trap.”
    â€œDoesn’t sound real inviting to me,” he drawled.
    â€œUte didn’t think so, either.”
    â€œBut you crawled right in.”
    â€œNo,” Sarah said, yanking the last lace tight. “You dragged me in.”
    â€œI suppose Ute saw that, too.”
    She started pulling her underwear and pants up. At first she thought the slick heat between her legs meant that hermonthly had come early. But there was no dark stain of blood. Simply a steamy, scented moisture.
    â€œWhat did you do to me?” she asked, startled.
    Case looked over his shoulder. There was a vision of dense auburn curls and pearly skin vanishing rapidly into worn doeskin pants.
    Hunger hit him like a fist, making it hard to breathe.
    â€œYou were married,” he said roughly. “What do you think I did to you?”
    â€œIf I knew, I wouldn’t be asking, would I?” she snapped.
    For a moment he thought she was joking.
    Then he saw the wariness in her eyes. She was fastening her pants as though her body belonged to a stranger.
    Case didn’t know what to say.
    â€œOh, never mind,” she muttered. “I shouldn’t have let you tuck me in next to you like a child. Then I went and fell asleep. I suppose I had it coming, whatever you did to me.”
    He opened his mouth. Nothing came out but silence.
    She jumped to her feet, grabbed her jacket, and pulled it on. As she did, she flinched slightly. Her nipples were still hard, still very sensitive.
    She looked puzzled by that, too.
    So did Case.
    Absently he brushed the stinging skin near his eye. The drops of blood that came away on his fingertip testified to Sarah’s speed and aim with her nails.
    The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly.
    â€œYou’re a hellcat with those fingernails.” he said.
    â€œPractice makes perfect,” she said, her voice icy.
    His eyes narrowed.
    â€œThe next time you have nightmares about your niece,” she said in a clipped voice, “you can damned well have them by yourself.”
    â€œMy niece?” Case asked, startled. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œIt will be tough telling you,” she drawled sarcastically, “seeing as how you told me never to say her name again.”
    â€œEmily?”
    â€œThat’s the one.”
    She started for the privy.
    â€œHow do you know I was dreaming about her?” he asked.
    Pausing, Sarah looked over her shoulder.
    â€œDo I take that as permission to say the sacred name?” she asked sweetly.
    â€œHell, say whatever you want.”
    â€œMy, you do know how to tempt a woman.”
    â€œJust spit it out.”
    She almost gave in to temptation. The icy clarity of his eyes stopped her.
    â€œYou were thrashing—” she began.
    â€œâ€”around and muttering,” he interrupted curtly. “I know that part.”
    â€œWho’s telling the story, you or me?”
    â€œNeither one, near as I can tell.”
    She bit back a searing word.
    Normally it wasn’t difficult to keep her temper. But this one man got under her skin worse than nettles.
    â€œI talked to you for a time,” she said tightly. “Soothing you.”
    â€œWith that honey and sunshine voice,” he suggested, his face expressionless.
    She shrugged.
    â€œWhen you settled down some,” she said, “I got close enough to touch you. I wanted to wake you up gently.”
    â€œYou sure you weren’t dreaming? I don’t remember any of this.”
    â€œYou were asleep,” she shot back.
    â€œUh huh.”
    â€œWhen I touched you, you didn’t wake up, not all the way,” she said, biting off each word. “You just mumbledEmily’s name, and then something about how you thought she had gone.”
    Case didn’t move, yet he closed up completely.
    â€œKeep talking,” he said.
    â€œYou put your arm around me, pulled me under the covers, and told me not to worry, Uncle Case would chase the ghosts away.”
    His eyelids flinched. It was the only sign that he heard Sarah’s words.
    â€œThen you tucked me along your side,” she said, “cradled my face with your hand, and went back to sleep. It was a good