The Payment (14 page)

After suckling at her breast, Dane knew he
couldn’t wait a moment longer. He gently nudged her thighs apart
and moved between them. For a moment, he gazed down into her
passion-glazed eyes, before taking her mouth in a hot ravenous
kiss; he arched his hips and drove himself deeply inside of
her.

Tearing her mouth free from Dane’s, India
let out an ecstatic sob. She lifted her legs and wrapped them
around his hips as she arched to meet each of his powerful thrusts.
She arched her head back as his mouth nibbled along her neck
sending waves of pleasure through her.

Dane lifted his mouth, gasped for air, and
powerfully thrust himself back inside his wife. He knew then he was
close to exploding. Leaning down, his mouth hovered just above
hers. “Darlin, oh God darlin I can’t hold back anymore.” He
whispered harshly just before his mouth covered hers in a wild hot
kiss.

India clasped herself tightly around her
husband. When he kissed her so intensely, she couldn’t hold back
the cascading waves of rapture that washed through her.

A growl rumbling in his chest, Dane felt his
wife’s climax. As her heat surrounded him, he thrust into her
again. When his seed shot out of him with such potent force, he
tore his mouth free from hers and collapsed gently on top of her.
He shuddered and buried his face in the crook of her neck and took
deep raspy breathes. Closing his eyes, he let the maelstrom of
ecstasy roll through him.

India moaned loudly into his mouth when she
felt the potency of his hot seed fill her. It started another wave
of rapture rushing through her and all she could do was hold on to
him tightly and let it carry her away.

Once he fully regained his senses, Dane
rolled off his wife. Lying on his back in the hay, he felt slightly
embarrassed over his uncontrolled lovemaking to his wife. Turning
his head he gazed at her from beneath heavy hooded lids, he
expected to see disgust on her face. Instead he saw wonder and joy,
he sighed in relief.

India could not help smiling over the wonder
she had just shared with her husband. Rolling over on her side, her
eyes shone brightly. “I think we’ll have to do this more
often.”

Dane chuckled and pulled his wife into his
embrace. “Now who would have thought that the snooty sophisticated
woman I met at a ball would turn into a wild wanton who would
brazenly seduce her husband and loves to romp in the hay.”

Delighted at her husband’s comment, India
laughed. She lifted slightly away and gave him a haughty look even
though her eyes still twinkled. “Oh I think there is a lot more to
the woman than you know about.”

“
Is that so? Well the next few years
should be interesting then. It seems I made a real good choice in
taking you as payment for the gambling debt rather than the money
or your brother’s ranch.” Dane lifted his hand and tenderly stroked
his wife’s cheek.

“
Humph, is that right? Well you know
you might regret it one day and wished you took the money or the
ranch.” Even though she kept smiling, India saw something flash in
Dane's eyes, but it swiftly disappeared before she could understand
what it was.

Dane doubted he would ever regret his
choice. “I don’t think so sweetheart. I’m right pleased I took you
as payment but then again only time will tell. Now come on we'd
better get dressed, you never know if one of the boys gets it in
his head to come looking for us.” Sitting up he gave his wife a
quick hug and a kiss on the brow before he let her go and stood
up.

For some reason, his answer hurt, India
turned away so he would not see the pain and disappointment in her
eyes. It hurt to know Dane only cared about her but did not love
her. Would he ever love her, she wondered sorrowfully. Would it be
enough for her if he didn’t? Heart sore, she forced herself to push
her thoughts and feelings aside, quickly rose to her feet and
dressed.

Jesse stepped out the house, frowning when
he didn’t see his brother or wife. He decided to go and look for
them. He wanted to make sure Dane could control his anger and would
not do anything foolish. Heading for the barn, about to step
through the doorway, he suddenly froze. He could not help overhear
the conversation between his brother and wife. It stunned and hurt
when he learned Dane lied to them and never told them the truth
about why he really married India.

Disappointment and anger warred inside of
him. Spinning around, he left the barn. How could his own brother
keep the truth from him and his brothers? Never before were there
lies between them until now. He needed to be alone before he could
face the others and decide whether they should know or not.

Once dressed, Dane saddled his horse. When
he was finished, he turned to his wife. He reached out and pulled
her into his embrace. “I’m sure you’re pleased to know that your
tactics have worked sweetheart, and happy to know I’m over the
worst of my anger.”

With a sigh of relief, India smiled warmly
up at her husband. “I’m glad to hear, so I won’t stop you
going.”

Chuckling, Dane shook his head. “I won’t be
long,” he gave her a cheeky wink. “I wouldn’t mind if you waited
here for me.”

With a shake of her head, India smiled.
“Just get going and hurry home.”

His head dropping, Dane gave his wife a
quick kiss before letting her go mounted his horse and rode out of
the barn. He wanted this business over and done with.

When Dane left, India sighed despondently.
At the moment, she didn’t feel like returning to the house and face
all those inquisitive eyes. Besides, her heart still felt bruised
over the knowledge that Dane did not love her. It upset her
terribly to know he only cared for her, and she wondered if he
would ever grow to love her.

The depressing thought hovering in her mind
and heart, she went over and sat down on one of the bales of hay.
Could she ever make Dane love her and what would happen in the
passing years if he never did? Suddenly, she jumped to her feet,
determined to put the horrible thoughts from her head. Dane would
love her, she told herself firmly as she hurried back to the
house.

TWENTY-SIX

Both Reese and Traye turned towards the
doorway when India stepped inside the room. They quickly became
embarrassed. There could be no mistaking what she and their brother
had been doing. The hay in her hair and on her rumpled clothing
gave her away. Also her flushed face and her swollen lips, her eyes
shone brightly with satisfaction.

As soon as she stepped into the parlor India
suddenly realized, from the way both Reese and Traye were looking
at her, they knew what she and Dane were doing in the barn. Instead
of being embarrassed or ashamed, she gave them both a saucy smile.
“Is there something wrong with you both? The two of you are looking
a little flushed. Are you feeling sick?”

Reese let a low growl out when he felt his
face grow warmer.

Traye chocked and glared at her. “No,
there’s damn well nothing wrong with us.” He jumped to his feet.
“Come on Reese.”

With a soft laugh, India stepped out of the
way and let them pass.

When hearing her laugh, Traye turned his
head and glared at her. “I suggest you take the hay out of your
hair and change your clothes before supper.”

“
Oh, now I understand what’s wrong
with you.” After the comment India couldn’t help laughing when she
saw Traye’s face turn bright red. She heard him cursing as he
rushed out of the room.

Reese waited for his brother out on the
veranda. “Was she trying to embarrass us?”

“
Damn right she was and the blasted
woman succeeded. After supper tonight, I’m heading to town and the
saloon. I don’t know about you, but I need some female company.”
Traye said disgruntled as he moved past his brother.

With a grunt in agreement, Reese caught up
with Traye. “She sure is something though, ain’t she?”

His fingers raking through his hair, Traye
sighed. “Yeah she is and I can understand why Dane married
her.”

“
Do you think Jesse would want to go
to town with us?” Reese asked as he spied Jesse across the
yard.

A casual shrug of his shoulders, Traye also
saw Jesse. “Let’s go ask him.”

Jesse saw his two younger brothers coming
towards him and sighed.

“
Hey Jesse, we’re going to town
tonight, do you want to come with us?” Reese asked when they
reached him.

“
No there is something I have to have
out with Dane.” Jesse turned away and leaned his forearms on the
corral fence.

Traye eyed his brother worriedly he sensed
something troubled him. “All right Jesse spit it out.”

His hand lifting, Jesse shifted his hat back
on his head; he decided earlier that they should know the truth.
“Dane lied to us. It seems that his wife is payment for a gambling
debt and nothing more.”

Traye let a long slow whistle and sadly
shook his head. “Are you really sure?”

“
Hell yeah. I heard them talking and
laughing about it.” Jesse spat out as he turned to face his younger
brothers.

“
Damn it. How could Dane do it to us?
It’s her damn fault.” Reese growled out, hurt and disappointed in
his older brother for the first time in his life.

“
Well I intend to confront him
tonight. I want the God damn truth.” Jess growled out angrily, he
did not care if his brother and wife became upset. Damn women, you
couldn’t trust any of them. They already learned that lesson a long
time ago, and he didn’t intend to forget it again anytime
soon.

Dane tied his horse to the railing of the
porch. He moved up the steps and banged on the front door, he
shifted his hat back on his head just as Dianne opened the door. He
raised a brow and shot her a malice contemptible glare.

Dianne sat waiting for Dane to arrive and
after opening the door to the knock, she saw him standing on the
doorstep. She lifted her chin and gazed at him in anger, she still
grew livid over the fact that he married another woman. “Come in
Dane, father is waiting for you in the study.”

When she stepped aside, Dane entered the
house and followed her to the study. He did not miss seeing the
anger and the lust in her eyes and wanted to laugh in her face. As
he stepped inside the study, his angered renewed itself, and he
glared in rage at the older man sitting behind the desk.

“
I believe you paid my wife a visit
today. I also believe you threatened her with a buggy whip and
insulted her.” He growled out when he reached the front of the
desk. Before the older man could even utter a word, he leaned over,
grabbed a fist full of shirt, and lifted him out of his seat.
“Listen to me old man and listen well and that goes for your damn
daughter as well.”

A quick turn of his head, Dane threw the
woman a murderous glare before he turned back to her father. “If
either of you ever speak or come near my wife again I’ll be back
here before you can take a breath. The next time I won’t be so
polite.”

Dianne became frightened when Dane hauled
her father out of his seat, she gasped at his threat, and her hand
fluttered to her throat. She knew the next time he would do much
more than threaten them.

John filled full of impotent rage when
Mathews stepped in the study. When he found himself pulled roughly
out of his seat, he could only sputter in angry frustration. At the
threat, he became slightly alarmed. He sucked in a deep breath when
Dane let him go and he fell back into his chair. “How dare you come
into my home and make your threats. I have every right to my anger.
You made a promise to my daughter; you and your wife have shamed
her in front of the whole town.”

Feeling braver now, he continued. “You think
you can go to Dallas and marry that bitch and return to humiliate
my daughter and think I won’t react to the insult? Well you’re a
fool. You will damn well make amends and save my daughter from the
disgrace. Since you can no longer marry her, I insist one of your
brothers will marry her.”

Shocked, Dianne cried out in horror and
rushed to her father’s side. “No please Pa, I don’t want to marry
any of the others. I only want Dane.”

“
Shut up daughter, you will do as I
say.” John swung his gaze to his daughter and glared her into
silence. He turned back to Mathews. His eyes flashed with
determination.

Dane was about to reach out and strike the
old man for insulting his wife. However, the more he listened the
more amused he became. The old man suggesting that one of his
brothers marry this bitch he found hilarious.

He burst out laughing. “You have got to be
joking old man or you’re going senile. Let me explain to you, and I
suggest you listen real good. I never once asked your daughter to
marry me and I damn well never would. For some reason, and I can
easily guess why she made up the engagement when I was away. She
probably thought I wouldn’t deny it. Well, she is just as stupid as
you. And you really must have lost your mind if you think one of my
brothers would marry her. Good God everyone knows what a lying
conniving bitch she is.”

With a shake of his head, he turned away
from the two stunned faces. He could not stand the sight of either
one of them a moment longer. Before they could utter a word, he
took long angry strides and quickly found himself out of the room
and out of the house. After untying his horse, he swung up on the
saddle and headed home. My God the two them of must have lost their
sanity. Something in his gut though told him this would not be the
end of it. He had an uneasy feeling that there definitely would be
a lot more to come and if what he sensed it would most likely going
to be whole lot of trouble.