Andrea sighed contentedly and raised her face to the patches of warm afternoon sun filtering through the wispy branches of the sycamore trees. A breeze rippled through the canopy of leaves and mingled with the soft clip-clop of the horses' hooves on the sandy path. Other than the occasional call of a bird, those were the only sounds that disturbed the hush of the canyon. Yet she knew the sensation of euphoria gripping her had very little to do with the breathtaking scenery, and everything to do with the man riding beside her.
Madison let his gaze sweep over her as he'd done a dozen times since they'd left the ranch a half hour earlier. When she turned her head and settled those magnificent eyes on him, a sweet ache filled his heart. The opportunity to be alone with her was an unexpected gift and he intended to make the most of it. He heard her sigh again.
"Are you getting tired?"
"Not a bit. I had a pony when I was a kid and rode every chance I got." She smiled. "Why? How much further is your favorite lookout point?"
"We cross the creek, and then it's another hour's climb to the top of that ridge."
She looked in the direction he indicated and flashed him another brilliant smile. "From the way you described it, I can hardly wait to get there."
He was overwhelmed with a heady mixture of tenderness and desire. The possibility that her feelings for him might be as strong as his for her sent a current of excitement through him.
As they approached the wooden bridge spanning the swift-running creek, he reined in his horse. The water level seemed much higher than usual.
She noticed his frown. "Is this safe?" she asked tentatively.
"I'm sure it's fine. We had a good snowpack this past winter. It's just normal runoff." He shook off the twinge of uneasiness as he crossed the bridge and glanced up at the cloudless sky. Marion had mentioned at lunch that a storm was forecast, but wasn't expected until tomorrow.
"Come on, Abigail," Andrea said, spurring her horse and keeping it close behind his as hooves splashed in the water flowing over the planks. She noticed that he repeatedly turned to watch her and was touched by his concern. He was like a parent watching over a child's first steps.
She masked her nervousness as the horses left the canyon floor and began the laborious ascent up the mountain. Noting it was steeper than she had expected, she gave one apprehensive glance behind her, then forced herself to look straight ahead. She was eager to see the calendar-picture view he had depicted. But it was the chance to be alone with him that made her stomach flutter with anticipation.
A sudden gust of cold wind startled Madison. It whistled eerily through the pines, causing his horse to stop on the rocky, cactus-strewn trail and let out a nervous whinny.
"What's wrong?" she asked in a tense voice.
He patted his animal's lathered neck. "I think the wind scared him."
He didn't like the mass of clouds that had suddenly appeared overhead, but threw Andrea an encouraging smile, while he fumed inwardly. He knew damned good and well how quickly the weather could change this time of year and he should have been paying closer attention. The swollen creek had provided the first clue that something wasn't right and he'd selfishly chosen to ignore it. If it was already raining in the mountains to the north they might be in trouble. He urged his horse upward. He'd have a clear view of the valley from the crest of the hill.
Andrea drew in an appreciative breath when they rode out above the tree line and reined in the horses at the summit that overlooked the stark beauty of the jagged red rocks rising from the ravine below. "This is absolutely magnificent! It's like standing on top of the world."
In one graceful movement he dismounted and moved to help her down, reaching up to encircle her waist as she swung her leg over. She placed her hands on his shoulders and a delicious shiver chased through her as she slid to the ground in front of him. His fingers lingered on her hips and suddenly all the reservations she'd felt toward him vanished. The passion blazing in his eyes ignited her senses.
"Thank you for bringing me to this magical place," she whispered.
"Magical is a good way to describe it now that you're here."
It was only a split-second hesitation before she went into his arms, willingly, his warm lips on hers sending chills zigzagging up and down her spine. She parted her lips, losing all sense of time and place as she allowed his tongue to roam and savor. Crushed against his lean body, she could feel the urgency of his passion growing.
She heard a faint rumble in the distance and he released her with a groan. The look of apprehension on his face sent a surge of confusion through her.
"We've got to go now. Quickly." The rough edge in his tone surprised her.
"Why?" she asked breathlessly, her head still reeling from the spell of their embrace.
"Because of that." He spun her around to confront the bank of clouds boiling on the horizon. Angry thunder-heads hung over the distant peaks. "Looks like we're in for more than a spring shower." He gave her a leg up into the saddle. "We'd better get back down to the bridge fast. That heavy rain in the mountains could soon make it impossible for us to cross." He swung onto his horse, spurring it down the hill.
He'd tried to keep his voice light, not wanting to panic her. Damn, he should have checked the weather forecast again before leaving. His stomach clenched as he turned and saw the clouds rolling towards them like black waves in the quickening wind. If they didn't get back across the bridge in a hurry, they might be stranded in the forest.
Alarmed at the force of the wind, Andrea tucked in her arms and grabbed the pommel hard. "It looks like a tornado! Are we going to make it back to the ranch before it hits?"
"We'll certainly give it a try."
She prayed the animals were sure-footed and leaned back against the downward rush, afraid she might tumble off. "I hope you know what you're doing, Abigail," she muttered under her breath, thankful that Christopher was safe with Marion.
She regretted that the glorious moment had been so abruptly shattered, their delicious togetherness transformed into a tumultous downhill charge. She followed his lead, her heartbeat matching the pounding of the horses' hooves.
She caught up with him as he reached the bridge, just as his horse reared and let out a startled whinny. He grabbed her reins to steady her mount as she pulled abreast of him. Her pulse speeding at the sight of the bridge buried under the churning water, she looked at Madison for assurance.
He shook his head in stunned disbelief as he watched the water roiling over the planks, inundating them. "We're too late," he shouted over the churning creek and the scream of the wind.
"Is there another way to cross?"
He heard the fright in her voice. "Yes, but it's five miles from here!"
He looked around searching for another solution, knowing full well there was none. The only thing he could think of was to seek help at the fire tower up the mountain, which meant they'd be riding into the teeth of the storm. The bright flash of lightning, followed by an ear splitting crack of thunder, made up his mind quickly.
"There's a forest service road over there. We'll head for the fire tower." He wheeled his horse around. "Can you make it?"
Realizing it was more a statement than a question, Andrea gave a wordless nod and put her trust in Madison, wishing she were with him on his horse, pressed close, drawing comfort from his strength.
She heard the rustle of rain rushing through the trees seconds before she felt it on her face. Her fingers stiffened as the temperature plunged and wind tore at her hair and clothing. She hung onto Abigail's neck with a fierceness she didn't know she possessed. A branch bent by Madison's horse ahead of her whipped back, stinging her cheek. She winced with pain, but consoled herself with the thought that soon they would be in a warm safe place.
Madison prodded his horse into a lope when they reached the dirt road. He kept glancing over his shoulder to see if Andrea was all right. Fury and guilt tortured him. The notion that he was responsible if anything happened to her, sickened him.
Several felled pines lay across the road, slowing their arduous journey and, after what seemed an interminable length of time, he squinted ahead and saw the black skeleton of the fire tower looming through the mist. Relief was replaced by uncertainty when he noticed no welcoming lights. His heart sank as they drew nearer. There was no forest service truck parked at the base, no sign of life, nothing. Madison cursed under his breath as he remembered the old tower was being abandoned for a new one erected two miles further east on a higher ridge. He hadn't realized that the move had been completed.
He jumped off his horse and ran to help Andrea. Her knees gave way and she almost tumbled to the ground, but he caught her and held her quaking body to him. If he had to break down the door to get in, he'd do it.
Madison gestured to the stairs spiraling up into the low-hanging clouds that swirled overhead. "Hope you're not afraid of heights."
Andrea shook her head. "I'll be fine."
Under ordinary circumstances the climb would have been exhilarating, but ascending into the belly of a violent storm made her heart stumble. She waited in silent misery while he tethered the horses before turning and grasping her hand in his. Together, they scaled the stairs, fighting for balance as the ferocious wind assaulted them.
Halfway up, they were pelted with hail that made a deafening clatter against the metal steps. Her teeth chattered so hard she was afraid they would crack. They reached the landing, gasping for breath.
Madison prepared to shoulder the door open and felt a jolt of surprise when the handle turned easily. Without bothering to analyze why it had been left unlocked, he flung the door aside, pulled Andrea in and slammed it shut behind them. After enduring so much time in the storm, it seemed eerily quiet in the blessedly-dry room. Outside, lightning flashed with fury, but the roar of rain and thunder was muted.
He felt along the wall for a light switch, hoping the power was still on. It wasn't. His spirits sank. He hadn't seen an emergency generator down below either. He squinted into the darkened space. Most everything was gone, including the telescope and radio.
He wished he could contact Marion. She'd be worried and had probably called the sheriff's department by now— for whatever good that would do, he thought, remembering all the debris that blocked the road.
Disappointment left him hollow as he continued looking around. All that remained was the bare kitchen counter, a built-in table and bed. A flannel shirt hung in an otherwise empty closet. He was thankful for the pile of logs and newspapers in the corner. At least the old wood stove offered some measure of hope.
He turned to Andrea, who stood shivering in the middle of the room, water dripping from her hair and clothing forming a puddle on the floor. "There's no light or radio, but at least we can start a fire. I've got matches in my saddlebag, so I'll . . . " He paused, hearing her sneeze. "Those wet clothes have to come off." He suppressed his amusement at the look of horror on her face. "Take this." He grabbed the shirt from the closet and pressed it into her icy hands before opening the door to the driving rain.
Andrea decided it must be her light-headedness that made her think the pounding water sounded like applause at a Broadway show. She'd witnessed many a storm, but had never in her life experienced anything quite like this one.
She wanted to change quickly before he returned, but her stiff fingers made the removal of her clothes a monumental task. She shuddered with relief when she wrapped the dry flannel around her naked body and made her way to the edge of the bed, her rubbery legs barely able to support her. She sat hugging her knees to her chest, her feet tucked underneath the huge shirt, and cocooned herself into a tight ball until her shivering subsided.
She heard his footsteps and braced herself against the cold wind that rushed in with him. He kicked the door shut and dropped the saddle bags at his feet. "Damn, it's cold!"
Her eyes now accustomed to the gloom, Andrea watched as he crumpled newspaper, then jumbled wood into the stove. With the scrape of the match, welcome golden light filled the room along with the sharp odor of sulphur. She felt herself go limp with relief at the glorious sight of the crackling blaze. With one strong tug, Madison unsnapped and stripped off his wet shirt, laying it flat beside the stove.
He rubbed his hands vigorously and blew into them. "This place will warm up soon." He knelt to add another log, using the poker to coax the orange tongues of flame to life.
Mesmerized by the sight of his taut muscles highlighted by the fire, moving like steel underneath the glowing skin, she forgot her own discomfort. She studied the outline of his narrow hips, powerful thighs, and she was gripped by a raw primal urge deep within her, compelling her to throw aside all logic, all inhibitions, all reason. She rose and gravitated toward him with only one thought driving her— to touch him. She wanted this man, needed him, craved him.
Madison laid the poker down, slid the fire screen in place and stood studying the flames, aware that Andrea had come up beside him. "That should do it." His heart quickened when he turned and feasted his eyes on the enchanting vision. There she stood, looking so fragile wrapped in the huge shirt, her blue eyes wide, damp tendrils of golden hair spiraling down her pale cheeks.
His eyes dropped instinctively to her bare thighs and he turned away, disconcerted by the hardness manifesting itself in his groin. How could he entertain such thoughts when his misguided judgment had gotten her within an inch of her life? He should have taken better care of her. But the thought that she was naked underneath the shirt sent his pulse soaring so high that he struggled to control his labored breathing.
He self-consciously cleared his throat and held his hands out to the fire. "I'm sorry as hell I got you into this mess."
"I'm not." Her voice was low and husky.
Startled, he swung around and saw the simmering invitation in her eyes.
She slowly opened the shirt and spread it wide. "There's enough room in here for both of us."
The buttery glow of the flames played over her body as his hungry gaze took in her full round breasts, traveled over her flat belly to the gentle curve of her hips, and settled on the downy vee between her legs.
He couldn't believe it. Was this the unapproachable woman he'd been afraid to offend, suppressing his ardor, weighing his words, being careful with every move? She had seemed unattainable only hours earlier. He would have thought that this was the wrong time, the wrong place, and yet . . . everything felt superbly right. Hypnotized by the passion in her eyes, he closed the distance between them.
Tenderly, he cradled her face in his palms and looked deep into her eyes. "Are you sure?"
She reached up and took his hands, sliding them around her waist. Her velvety skin sent an electrifying shudder through him. "I've never been so sure of anything in my whole life."
She stood still, seeming not to breathe at all as he touched his lips to her forehead, moved down to the tip of her nose and then with a groan, his mouth captured hers. His hands were on their own delightful journey, sliding down her back, coming to rest on her firm shapely bottom.
Andrea wrapped the shirt around him and pressed him to her, her mouth hungrily savoring his, now more urgent, more demanding, as unrestrained as the driving rain outside. She brushed her breasts against him, her nipples tense, luxuriating in the crisp hair on his powerful chest.
She was astonished at how readily she cast aside the years of inhibition, of reserve. She felt like a creature of nature, shedding its protective skin to welcome the advent of spring, to welcome life. The intensity of emotions building inside her bewildered her, as the mingling sensations of love and passion sent her mind spinning out of control, catapulting her into uncharted territory.
The spell was interrupted by the earthly impact of his cold wet blue jeans. Reluctantly she drew back and looked up at him. "These will have to come off," she purred, her fingers tugging at his belt buckle. Oh, my God! Is this really me? she thought, shocked by her boldness.
Madison reveled in the full permission that glowed in her eyes. "So does this," he whispered as he peeled away her shirt. He hesitated for a moment, awed by her sleek sensuous curves, then effortlessly swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. His breath caught in his throat. He'd never been so ready to take a woman before. He pulled off his boots and stripped, all the while his eyes fixed on her face, yearning, expectant.
"My darling, darling, Andrea, you are without question the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
The wild beating of her heart as she drank in his splendid nakedness pounded in her ears. The flickering shadows cast by the fire accentuated the taut muscles of his body and the rigid evidence of his desire. He stretched out beside her, and she let out a gasp of pleasure as his fingers gently circled one nipple, then moved to caress the other. A cold shiver along with a flash of heat prickled her skin as he traced a slow tantalizing path to her navel and down to her inner thighs, where he stroked, barely touching, teasing, sharpening her nerve endings, until she moaned aloud.
Lightning illuminated the room, allowing her to read the passion reflected in his dark eyes. She reached up and curled her fingers in his hair, pulling his face down to hers, opening her mouth to eagerly receive his kiss, urgent, hot, exploring. She answered his questing tongue with hungry probing of her own.
She arched toward him, aching for him to touch her where the core of her need throbbed. Disappointed for a moment when his fingers abandoned her thighs, her delight returned full force as he now fondled her breasts, cupping, stroking, his open palms coaxing her nipples to taut peaks, sharpening her excitement with each caress, driving her mad. He caught her lower lip in his teeth and gently nibbled, then once more fastened his lips firmly over hers.
She felt herself slipping away, yielding to sensations that were totally new to her, feelings that had simmered for so many years beneath the surface, emotions she had no yearning to understand or justify. With a sigh, she succumbed to the quickening inside her, blazing through every inch of her body.
Madison planted a final searing kiss to her lips, then sought her breasts, sucking first one straining nipple and then the other, syphoning her desire into a fever pitch. Andrea tingled as his warm mouth moved slowly down, lingered on her stomach, tasted her navel, then moved lower, lower, leaving her skin burning in the wake of his ardent kisses. She drew in a sharp breath when his lips touched the tender skin in the crease of her thighs, her innermost core pulsating, expectant, as she shifted her body, allowing him full access.
Madison felt a sweet ache as he savored the satin-smoothness of her inner thighs, breathed in the scent of her skin, heady as incense. Her supple body undulated under him, gathering him closer, inciting his arousal, filling him with an unbearably delicious agony. He felt her tense, heard her surprised gasp at the first deliberate touch of his tongue as he tasted her. She moaned softly as his tongue slipped into her sweet, wet depths, as he drank in her nectar. He struggled to maintain control of his own growing passion as she repeatedly uttered his name, the pleading in her voice inflaming his senses, taking him to the edge.
He raised his body over her. "Oh, Andrea, Andrea," he groaned, seeking her ultimate consent. She parted her legs and he lowered himself into her.
All the ties that had held her in emotional bondage fell away as he embedded himself deep inside her, taking her with him with every fiber of her being. She clung to him, drawing him in deeper, knowing that she would never be the same again, that this culmination of their love made her feel complete, whole. No longer were there any fears keeping them apart or secrets separating them. She was moving with him now in a magnificent ancient ritual, taking him where there was no getting closer.
His breathing was erratic, hoarse. She clung to him in a wild frenzy, the roar of her own pounding heart effacing nature's tantrum outside, wiping away everything except the sweet aching sensation of their bodies flowing into one another. She squeezed her eyes shut as the tension inside her rose and a ragged cry tore from her throat as he brought her to the pinnacle of pleasure, every cell in her body vibrating as she reached the shattering crescendo.
She exhaled a long, shuddery breath as the sensation slowly ebbed, leaving her with the disquieting thought that the old Andrea Dusseaux no longer existed. The last vestiges of the fortress she'd built around her emotions had crumbled away, leaving her unshackled, superbly free.
When she opened her eyes and met his, another thrill raced through her. The gleam in his gaze expressed triumph and elation in the knowledge that he had successfully brought her to the peak of ecstasy. Then his lips crushed hers again as he abandoned all pretense of holding back.
Exquisitely satiated, she indulged herself in his accelerated thrusts, greedily relishing them as he climbed higher and higher. He shifted his weight suddenly, moving his hands underneath to cup her buttocks. His cry mingled with a crash of thunder and she felt a rash of goosebumps erupt on his skin as the explosion shuddered through him, signaling his release.
She held him tightly as he lay still, his ragged breathing gradually returning to normal. Her desire quenched, she floated in a gauzy cloud of contentment and dreamily watched the shadows from the flames dance on the ceiling. A ripple of amazement ran through her as she thought about what had just happened between them.
The room was lighter now as the storm abated. Rain still pattered on the windows, but the lightning was sporadic, the thunder a muted rumble in the distance. The possibility of spending the entire night here with Madison filled her with sublime warmth.
Madison reluctantly returned to earth when a log gave a loud pop and the fire flared, hissing and crackling. He planted a series of kisses on Andrea's neck, cheeks and lips before sliding his weight off her.
The sudden loss of his warm skin, coupled with the sheen of perspiration that had glued their bodies together, made Andrea shiver.
"You're cold," he said, pulling her firmly against him and massaging her skin.
"I love you, Andrea," he whispered. The words could not adequately describe the wealth of emotions that engulfed him. Surprised by the depth of his feelings for her, he swallowed hard, barely trusting himself to speak. "You may find this difficult to believe," he said, smoothing the tangle of curls from her face, "but I feel as if this is the first time I ever really made love."
Andrea's throat tightened in response as she saw his eyes brim with tenderness. He'd voiced the very words that she'd thought to herself, that she longed to say back to him. But could she? Did she dare trust her love to this man?
Madison caught the haunted expression that darkened her eyes before she turned her head away. It was the same unfathomable look she'd given him that first day. He slid a finger under her chin and drew her face back to him. "Why did you look at me like that?" When he saw her lips tremble he tightened his grip on her shoulder. "Who could have hurt you so much?"
She said nothing, simply looked at him with eyes huge with tears.
"Please tell me. I need you to tell me," he said in a low gutteral tone, "because I want to kiss away the hurt and love away all your pain."
Rapunsel rescued by the fair prince Andrea thought as her tears overflowed. "Oh, Madison, I wish I could, but I haven't talked about this with anyone. It's too painful."
He gently brushed away her tears and took her face in both hands, showering it with soft kisses. "Tell me."
She combed her fingers through her hair. "Oh, God, it's such a long story." She gave an involuntary shudder.
"I've got all night, but let me do one thing first."
She watched him quickly move to the stove, throw in another log, then gather up the flannel shirt and return to lay beside her, draping the shirt over them both. He propped himself up on one elbow and pressed her to him. His face glowed with a sweet boyish smile. "I'm all ears."
Andrea smiled back and, lifting her face, gave him a gende kiss. She took a big breath and bared her soul to him, beginning with the loss of her mother to suicide when she was eight, her grandmother's death a year later, and her father's during her senior year in college. And finally the desolation in her marriage to Bernard, the irony of him depriving her of the child she longed for while leaving her for another woman who was having his baby. In spite of the pain of reliving it all, she felt a heady relief as though an onerous weight had been lifted from her, liberating her.
Madison tenderly traced her face with his fingertips when she'd finished. "Well, I'm certain of one thing," he said, stroking her hair.
"What?"
"Bernard must be the biggest idiot to ever walk the face of the earth."
She smiled ruefully. "No, I am. For transferring all my fears unfairly onto you."
"That's all behind us now."
"Can you now understand why it's so hard for me . . . "
"To trust any man?" Madison interjected.
She nodded silently.
His gaze bored into hers. "I'm not Bernard. You'll have to trust me, Andrea Dusseaux, because like it or not, I'm here to stay, to love you. What do you think of that?"
Andrea's heart was so full she could hardly speak. She swallowed a lump in her throat. "I think," she said, wrapping her arms around him, "that I love you very much, Madison McKee."