“Maybe we should.”
Her lips curved. They were still soft and full from kissing, and he very nearly bent his head to capture them again. But he could feel the wolf within and would not let it have its way. Dared not. If he kissed her again right now, he couldn’t stop himself a second time. A horse nickered nearby, penetrating James’s awareness, and James seized upon it like a life preserver. He tore his gaze away from those green eyes and looked out over the fields. If he didn’t look at her, didn’t fall into her eyes again, maybe he’d be okay. Still, he had to clear his throat twice to get his voice to work properly. “If you’d like to see some of the rest of the farm, we could go back and get the truck.” His hands were still on her shoulders but he held her away from him. Not much—maybe an inch or two—but it gave him a chance to breathe. “Or we could ride. It’s a good day for it. You like horses, right?”
“I love working with horses—but I don’t know how to ride.”
“What? You’re kidding, right?” Genuinely shocked, he forgot his intentions and looked down at her.
Jillian shrugged. “I grew up in the city, so I was never really exposed to them. And then when I went to veterinary college, believe me, I was too busy learning about their inner workings to learn how to ride them. I always wanted to learn, though.”
“No time like the present.” He was relieved to find he could let go of her now. His brain was even starting to work—probably getting some blood flow again. James took a couple steps away and whistled shrilly, a four-note sound guaranteed to carry.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Charlie.”
“One of the horses? But aren’t they in the corral?”
“Not for long.”
Jillian started to say something, but James had a finger to his lips. Moments passed. With his Changeling hearing, the sounds of hoofbeats were immediately audible. But it didn’t take long for Jillian to hear them, too. A pale horse with a riot of spots and speckles in his coat rounded the last shed and trotted toward them. An enormous gray draft horse and a trio of chubby ponies followed him. They milled around James like big dogs eager for play.
“Somebody knows how to open gates.” Jillian chuckled.
But James didn’t reply right away. He watched in fascination as she patted and stroked the glossy coats with both hands, grinning as velvet noses nuzzled her. The serious veterinarian was gone, and in her place was someone nearly bursting with childlike delight. She laughed out loud as the draft horse nudged her a little too hard with his massive nose and sent her skidding on her butt in the dirt.
James laughed then too and reached a hand for her. She expected him to pull her to her feet. Instead he picked her up and tossed her, wide-eyed, onto the back of the culprit.
“Omigod, he’s huge. I’m going to get a nosebleed up here.” But she didn’t ask to get down. Her hands were already running over the dappled gray neck, winding through the silky white mane. “What’s his name?”
“Toby. And he
is
huge. He’s over eighteen hands high. I think his head alone weighs as much as you do.” James eyed her speculatively. “Maybe a bit more.”
She sniffed at that and leaned further over Toby’s neck to pet him. “So does Charlie break out regularly?”
“Whenever we ask him to. Sometimes when we don’t. Charlie can open every gate and door in the place, lets his friends out too sometimes as you can see.”
“You must spend a lot of time rounding up animals.”
“Nope. Charlie does that. He’s an incredible cow-horse, best I’ve ever seen. More like a big sheep dog really.” James scratched the Appaloosa behind the ears. “He can’t carry much weight with those legs of his—see how the front ones bow out?—but he doesn’t need to be ridden. He brings the cows in when we tell him to, or singles out the ones we need to work on, all on his own.”
“But the other horses—”
“Will stay with him. He’s not the biggest, but he’s the herd leader and they don’t stray. We’re going to take our tour of the rest of the farm, and they’ll all just follow us.”
“They will?” That was as far as Jillian got before James suddenly vaulted up in one smooth cat-like motion and settled in close behind her, chuckling at her openmouthed surprise. “Practice,” he answered before she could ask. Although he knew there were few if any humans who could mount a horse of Toby’s size without stirrups and from a standing start, no matter how much they practiced. Being a Changeling had some pretty good perks.
He waited for the next question as he nudged Toby forward. She didn’t disappoint him. “Hold it, we don’t have a bridle or reins or—”
“Don’t need them, doc. Toby is used to being guided by legs alone.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Ask Connor. He rides just like this all the time. So does Kenzie when she comes out to visit.”
“Your sister does this?”
“Uh-huh. She’s pretty good at it, been teaching Zoey too. I can teach you if you like. So you don’t ride at all?” He was still surprised by that.
“Not a bit.” She was accustomed to treating horses, not riding them, with both of her feet firmly on the ground. “I’ve sat on a horse inside a corral once or twice, but that’s all.”
“Well, then there’ll be a whole bunch of things you won’t have to unlearn.”
Jillian surveyed her mount and ventured to lean over the side. “Toby is tall and broad and gray all over. Are you sure he isn’t an elephant? I think I should take lessons on something a lot closer to the ground.”
James laughed and brushed a kiss on top of her head, dared to nuzzle her wayward blond hair and enjoyed the scent of it. “You can try riding one of the ponies later if you want. For now, just pretend Toby is a tour bus and enjoy the ride.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and nudged Toby into a brisk trot, chuckled as Jillian scrabbled to wind her hands into the horse’s mane. “I won’t let you fall, doc, I promise. Relax.”
She glared back at him. “I’m perched on top of a tour bus with no visible means of control. It’s a little tough to feel safe.”
“Trust me.”
“I’ll try.”
He smiled at the hesitation in her voice, then moved Toby into an easy gallop. “Wait, wait,
wait
,” she squealed.
“I told you to trust me,” he said with his lips near her ear.
“You didn’t tell me you were going to go fast.” She had a death grip on Toby’s mane.
“Believe me, this is easier on you than a trot. See how you’re not bouncing now?” He put his hands over hers. “Look, give me your hands. Let me hold them while you relax and feel how to move with the horse.”
“You mean let go? Are you nuts?”
“I’m not hanging on to anything and I’m okay,” he pointed out. “It’s balance, Jillian. You know all about balance from whatever martial art it is that you practice.”
“How did you know about that?”
“Your reflexes. And that power punch to the gut at the clinic. Not to mention that little battle in the loft we had—those little fists of yours really drill between the ribs. So what is it exactly that you practice?”
“Tae Kwon Do.”
“Belt?”
“Blue with a red stripe. It’s a little past intermediate. I’m hoping to test for red belt in the fall.”
He nodded appreciatively. “Okay then, you know plenty about balance. So you can do this. Trust me and let go. Trust yourself.” They were doing a large loping circle around the field now, with Charlie and the ponies following close behind. When Jillian still hesitated, James pressed his very best button. “You’re not afraid, are you?”
Her fingers released the mane at once, and he had to stifle a laugh. Instead he held her hands, marveling anew at how small they were, seemingly too small to have knocked the wind from him after that first kiss in the clinic. He brushed his thumbs over the palms, then held her hands out from her sides. “Close your eyes, doc. Pretend Toby’s a circus horse.”
“I thought he was a tour bus.”
“That’s just his day job. Now he’s a circus horse and we’re the performers.” James was surprised and pleased when she closed her eyes at once, when she lifted her hands free from his and held her arms straight out. He rested his hands lightly on her waist then and used his legs to direct Toby into intricate patterns and paces. Jillian never faltered. She had a natural grace, would make an excellent rider.
“It’s kind of like flying,” she said at last. “You were right about closing my eyes. It’s amazing how not being able to see where I’m going actually helps me find my balance. Must be a Zen thing.”
“Must be.” He knew it was Jillian and not Zen that was affecting his own inner stability, however. She both knocked him off-balance and grounded him, simply by being near him. It was a volatile mix, and if he wasn’t a lot more careful, he would fall.
Chapter Twenty
J
illian was catching on quickly. He could see her begin to anticipate the horse’s movements. She could sense when Toby was turning and the direction, even feel when the pace was about to change. But through it all James was very aware of
her
. Her hips were wedged firmly into the vee of his legs, his thighs dwarfing hers. There was little space between her shapely little bottom and his groin. His hands tightened on her waist in spite of himself, although whether it was to hold her away or pull her closer, he couldn’t say. The only thing he was certain of was that his jeans had become very uncomfortable.
“Why are you always so hot?” she asked suddenly.
“What?” He really should stop glancing down at her backside.
“Your body heat. You’re always so warm.”
“High metabolism.” His voice came out thick. He needed a distraction, but his brain wasn’t working again. “Family trait. Does it bother you?”
“No. No, it’s kind of nice, actually. I like it.”
She nestled back into him, making him fight to stifle a groan as his body reacted. God, she felt good. “You’re doing really well, doc. Ready to try it on your own?”
“What? Wait!” She grabbed at his hands.
“I’m not leaving. I’m just going to move back a little and let go of you, okay? I’ll still be right here. Put your hands up like before.”
“All right.” Jillian let her arms rise out from her body like wings. “I’m ready. I think.”
James let go of her waist and eased back from her body, putting some welcome inches between his throbbing groin and her enticing little butt. The relief was enormous, but it slowly dawned on him that the distance between them was an illusion. The sun was low in the sky and cast golden lights into Jillian’s hair. She was beautiful as she sat poised in front of him, moving as the horse moved. He could feel that she was in perfect synch with the horse now, beginning to instinctively shift her legs as well. And he could feel her enjoyment blossom into joy. For a few perfect moments she was in harmony with everything around her, and that harmony seemed to radiate from her and into him. He could hardly breathe, feeling her presence as if it was part of him. The curious connection seemed tangible—and transcendent.
James let the moment draw out as long as he dared, then reluctantly slowed Toby to a walk. Jillian opened her eyes and looked back at him, but he managed to dodge her gaze. He knew he couldn’t muster a defense against those green eyes, not at the moment. Maybe not at all.
“Is he tired? Do we need to stop?” She lowered her hands, and James noted she now rested them on her legs instead of seeking Toby’s mane again.
“It’s a bit more exercise than he’s used to, and he’s carrying two of us. We’re going to head down the coulee to the river. The horses can drink and the grass is good there.”
“What the hell’s a coulee?” She sounded if he had made up the word.
“City girl,” he teased. “The coulees are the steep sandstone ravines that drop down to the river. They’re eroded by rain and melt water, full of caves and fossils. Bears and cougars too.”
“Really? Do you think we’ll see any wildlife?”
“Well, it’ll be twilight by the time we’re done.” And just what was he doing, he wondered, heading further away from the farm? The horses could be watered in their corrals just as easily, yet he couldn’t bring himself to head back there yet. “Animals tend to move around more then, at dusk and at dawn. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see some.”
I hope so.
What?
He lifted his head and regarded her. For a split second he was certain she hadn’t spoken aloud. Then he shrugged it off. Imagination. Had to be. He couldn’t even hear his own brothers’ thoughts unless he was in wolf form.
Twilight had already come to the deep valley at the bottom of the coulees. The sky far above was gold fading to mauve, and the evening star was bright in the south. A faint breeze stirred the leaves of enormous trees, grown tall with ample water and rich soil. The river itself was smooth and glassy, reflecting the golden sky.
Jillian inhaled deeply, taking in the cool air, rich with scents. Water, earth, green and growing things. Abundant life. Forest primeval. She watched as ripples appeared here and there on the river, fish seeking insects. Swallows darted low along the water and ducks could be heard somewhere nearby. There was a timelessness here, she realized. It could be 2011 or 1811 or 1411, and look just the same.
“I guess that’s why they call it the Peace River,” she said aloud. “Despite being so big, it hardly looks like it’s moving.”
“Looks are deceiving. The locals call the river the
Mighty
Peace. It’s calm on the surface but the water beneath is deep and moving very fast. A lot of swimmers misjudge it and end up caught in the powerful current. Some of them don’t escape.”
She was quiet for a long time after that. James was very much like the river. Calm and steady on the surface, but somehow she’d been drawn in and captured by the deep current beneath. Would she escape? And did she really want to?
All she’d known when she arrived at the farm was that she was tremendously attracted to this man. But when she’d decided to act on it, the results had been shocking. How could she have known a kiss could have such power? How could something as simple as the joining of lips flare all at once into a fusion of souls? And God, that sounded so corny. But it wasn’t just any kiss. If James hadn’t stepped back when he did . . . well, she wasn’t sure she would have stopped him, and that was a little scary. He was still a stranger, wasn’t he?
No.
He might be a little strange at times maybe, but he was definitely not a stranger. She couldn’t explain how she knew that, but she knew. That kiss had been less like the ‘gee-I’m-physically-attracted-to-you’ sort and more like the ‘there-you-are-at-last’ kind. Recognition, she decided. Almost reunion. The physical desire was strong, but she realized that wasn’t the only force driving them. At least, it hadn’t been the only force driving
her
.
If James wasn’t a stranger, then what was he, exactly? She knew that she felt good around him, solid and grounded. Not less herself but somehow more. No one had ever made her feel quite like that.
“A dollar twenty-seven for your thoughts.”
“What?” She blinked up at James.
“Your thoughts are worth a lot more than a penny, doc, but a dollar twenty-seven is all I have on me.”
She stood perfectly still then, just looking at him. He could so easily pass for a Viking from another age. The pale blond hair, the close blond beard that accentuated the angles of his face rather than obscured them. The broad shoulders and tall, powerful build. The piercing blue eyes. The longer she looked at him, the more she realized that it was what was in the eyes that called out to her, pulled at her. His brow was often fierce and forbidding, and his eyes could be too. But in their bottomless blue depths there was more. Much more. Knowledge, pain, passion. And tenderness. This was a man who felt intensely, who would love deeply. She still didn’t know everything about James Macleod, but Jillian knew she wanted to learn.
She simply stepped into him then, slid her arms up and around his neck, and tipped her face up to be kissed. She wasn’t disappointed. His lips were hungry and so were hers. He demanded and she yielded. She demanded and he gave. Heat flared, raced over both of them like a brushfire over dry prairie grass, until skin and blood were alight.
James hiked her up until her legs circled his waist, supported her with a powerful arm while one hand slid under her shirt and palmed a breast, kneaded it as he traced her lips with his tongue. Jillian captured his tongue for a moment, drew it into her mouth with exquisite slowness, released it as he groaned deep in his throat. His hand on her breast became more demanding, his fingers teasing the nipple unbearably. His other hand cupped her bottom and squeezed it again and again until she began to move against him. Even through her clothes, it was electrifying to rub herself against his hard abdomen. A throbbing tension was growing low in her belly, a pleasurable restlessness building. She wanted more. She wanted the flame, the heat, she wanted to burn down in James’s embrace. A hum vibrated in the back of her throat as she arched against his powerful body, as he shoved her shirt, her bra, up and out of the way. A moan broke free as he left her lips and bent his head to Jillian’s naked breast.
He lapped and teased at it with his tongue, breathed hot on the nipple until she shivered with pleasure. Then without warning James set her feet on the ground, sank down himself until he was kneeling before her. He undid her jeans and kissed her belly, undid the bottom button of her shirt and lapped at her navel. He worked his way up until no buttons were left—and Jillian couldn’t stand it anymore. She pulled off the shirt, then unhooked her bra. Tossed it. Wriggled off her jeans and kicked them away. Saw the punch of surprise and the flash of arousal in James’s eyes. And reveled in the sensation of this man’s strong hands on her bare skin. His mouth sealed again over a breast, hot and moist, drawing in the nipple, tugging at it. Began to suckle hard and strong.
Yes, oh yes.
Jillian held his head to her, fingers locked in his hair, her whole body shaking with waves of sensation.
God, yes.
James’s calloused palm circled her belly where strange pulls and tugs deep within her core echoed the insistent tugging at her breast.
All that was left of the sun was a fading glimmer of color on the far horizon. The first stars were already making their appearance and the moon was on the rise. Here, among the trees, the shadows were blue and purple. Her skin was snow in the strange half light. But within, she was pure flame.
James pulled back a moment, shrugged out of his shirt. Stood and skimmed off his jeans. Jillian nearly moaned at the sight of his naked body. He was even more gorgeous than she had dreamed. Every muscle was powerful, defined. He was broad in the chest, in the shoulders, but there was an animal grace to his movements. Her gaze traveled appreciatively over his body and came to rest on his long, hard erection. Tentatively, she reached out a hand and ran her fingers over it. Her mouth curved as he hissed in his breath between his teeth, as she saw those powerful muscles quiver.
Smooth, so smooth. Kid leather over polished stone. She slid her hand over the rigid length of him and closed her fingers tightly, savoring the strength and hardness of it. And
hot
. James’s body radiated heat but this was fire itself. Jillian’s body clenched at the thought of just how that fiery shaft might feel deep inside her . . . and for a moment she had to fight to breathe.
She didn’t see James move. She blinked and she was surrounded with his strength, with his heat, wrapped in those muscled arms and held close. Skin to skin, head to toe, as his shaft pressed and pulsed against her belly, as his big hands roved over her backside. Then just as suddenly he scooped her up and walked away with her through the trees and into a small clearing.
“It’s a little softer here,” he murmured and kissed her brow, her cheek, before easing her down. Jillian had expected grass but found herself lying on something surprisingly soft and spongy. She felt around her in surprise.
“It’s just moss.” James answered her unspoken question, then rested on his elbow beside her. He leaned over and took her lips before she could think of any more questions, ran a hand over the contours of her body, followed it with kisses over her breasts and belly, then palmed the moist curls between her legs.
She was restless and edgy now, needing,
needing
. And he knew. He ran his hand between her legs, long lazy strokes that reached all the way to her tailbone and back. He gradually kissed his way down until he was nestled between her legs, then lifted her hips in his large hands until he could rest her knees over his broad shoulders. He bent his head and ran his tongue along the delicate crease of her thigh, slowly, much too slowly. Jillian shuddered hard with the anticipation, every nerve shouting for James to hurry, please hurry, gasping for air as her heart pounded in her ears. She could just make out his face in the shadows, see him smile as he bent his mouth to her, sampled her, savored her, then drank her greedily.
A guttural cry burst from Jillian’s throat. The sudden storm of pleasure had her gasping, made her body pitch and buck like a small boat caught in a rough sea. Sensation flooded her, swamped her with monstrous waves so racking and intense that she shook with the power of them. She exploded into the sky, into the sun, pulsing with a wave of heat that rippled outward until the very clouds were set afire.
When awareness returned, Jillian found herself lying beside James, looking into his Viking blue eyes. She blinked a few times to focus, feeling stunned but managing a shaky smile. He kissed her soundly, wrapping her up in his strong arms, anchoring her, keeping her from floating away. Safe.
“Wow.” She didn’t know what else to say, didn’t trust her voice anyway. She wasn’t too sure about the rest of her body either.
Languor.
That was the only word that seemed to fit the state her body was in, a deep luxuriant
languor
. Jillian was certain she was no longer lying on the bed of moss, but rather, was draped over it like an empty coat. Perhaps she had burned up after all, from the inside out. No bones left, just the hide.