Guardian Bride (25 page)

hearts beating in unison. She parted her lips and kissed him

with the force of a freight train roaring down a mountain.

The beating, tasting, and soul merging continued until she

was dizzy and breathless. When Snake pulled his mouth from

hers, giving them both a chance to catch air, she flung her

head back and laughed. Merriment and delight rushed

through her like the summer wind, hot and welcomed.

Snake grasped her cheeks, bringing her face forward to

meet his. Softly, gently, he kissed her hairline before his gaze

met hers. His eyes smoldered, yet held a hint of question.

She kissed the tip of his nose, giggling. His gaze grew

serious, but it didn't daunt her joy. "What?" she asked,

placing a small peck on his warm lips.

"Well," he started as his hands moved around her neck

and his fingertips massaged the back of her head. "I was just

thinking that if we weren't already married, I'd ask you to

marry me right now."

The sincerity of which he spoke took her breath away. It

was a moment or two before she could speak, and then it was

somewhat of a squeak. "You would?"

"Yes, I would."

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If a person could die from love, she'd have keeled over

right then and there.

His fingertips, working their way through her hair to rub

her scalp, were the first things to penetrate the numbness

that had overtaken her. Softly spoken, his words were the

next. "What would you have said, if we weren't already

married, and I asked you?"

Her body was alive again. The blockage in her throat gone.

"I'd have said yes."

She hadn't realized he'd been tense, holding his breath,

until she felt him relaxing beneath the hold she had on his

shoulders. The happiness she felt was mirrored in his face.

"I not only love you, Summer Quinter, but I'm in love with

you. And I want to be in love with you for the rest of my life."

"I'm in love with you, too, Snake. And I want to be—

forever. Oh, how I want to be."

The kiss he bestowed upon her made the tears stinging the

backs of her eyes with pin prick sharpness slip forward. She'd

heard of tears of joy, but until this moment, had never

believed in them. The merger of their lips, their souls, was as

delicate as the petals of a flower, yet as strong and binding as

the railroad ties that bound the East and West. When he

pulled her closer, the last bits of hesitation lingering in her

mind fluttered away on the gusts of the summer breeze

whizzing past.

Their coupling grew more intense with each passing

moment. As if they were twins, thinking exactly alike, they

rose from their knees without parting. Water sloshed between

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them and dripped from their sopping clothes, but the

distraction wasn't enough to break the kiss.

A startled yip, when he caught the backs of her knees and

lifted her into his arms, escaped her lips, but he absorbed it,

and continued to taunt her lips and tongue with his as he

carried her out of the water tub.

They were halfway across the yard before his injuries came

to mind, and she tugged her mouth from his. "Your arm and

leg. You should put me down. I can walk."

"My arm and leg are just fine." He tried to recapture her

lips.

She couldn't resist completely, but after a brief merger,

added, "You might re-injure them."

"I could climb a mountain right now."

The energy surging through her system allowed her to

admit, "Me, too."

He kissed her again, but had to pull away when they

arrived at the tent to see how to pull aside the flap. "I think I

need to get you out of these wet clothes before you catch

cold."

"It's August. In Kansas," she reminded. "Night's don't get

any hotter than this."

"I know the feeling," he said as the flap fluttered behind

them.

While the sun set and the prairie grew calm and peaceful,

blanketed with a night sky and decorated with twinkling stars

that found a way to penetrate the heavy canvas and tease the

inside of the tent with a clandestine glow, Summer found

herself engulfed in a world so wondrous and precious, she

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completely forgot her worries and fears. With divine

tenderness, yet intense passion, Snake led her on a journey

that had her reeling and releasing the hidden hopes and

dreams she'd secretly cherished the past weeks.

Summer's heart burst with newfound joy. At this moment,

they were the only two people on earth and nothing mattered

except that they were together, uniting as one.

Hours later, something rousted her sleep. Drawing her

awareness from a deep, pleasurable dream world, Summer

stirred. The smooth warmth of skin beneath her cheek enticed

her to snuggle closer. Arms as strong as bands of steel pulled

her close.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Snake murmured above her

head.

Remembrances flowed into her mind and happiness

enticed a smile to crest her lips. "Morning," she offered,

kissing the hollow of his neck.

"Sounds like we have company." The jingle and jangle of

harnesses and clopping of hooves on dry ground accompanied

his words.

Too content to care, she ran her hand up and down his

side, caressing the warm skin as she had during the hours

they spent exploring one another. "Maybe they'll go away."

He chuckled. "You know my family better than that."

"I guess I do." She kissed the bottom of his chin and

rubbed her nose along the line of his jaw. "But a girl can

dream, can't she?"

He flipped her onto her back and hovered over her, staring

down. Happiness made his eyes bright green. "Dream?"

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She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, and

squirmed deeper into the feather tick below. Welcoming his

weight to settle upon her, she slid her hands beneath the

blanket to roam down his back. His flesh molded against hers,

and she pressed her palms against his hips, inviting the

union.

"Do your dreams include me?" he asked.

"You're all they include," she admitted.

"Then I hope you dream forever." He started at her

hairline and kissed the entire side of her face. When his

wandering mouth found her lips, he added, "You're all I'll

dream about for the rest of my life."

Her body, now fully awake began singing the dreamy and

exciting tune he'd taught it the night before. Heart drumming

and nerve endings strumming, Summer closed her eyes and

let the outside sounds fade as the internal music and his

kisses carried her away.

Unexpectedly, Snake rolled off and something else began

to lather her face. Summer pulled her eyes open, and half

batting away the unknown, she reached for Snake to return.

His deep chuckle entered her ears at the same time a little

voice said, "He likes you, Summer. I knew he would."

She grabbed for the cover, and finding it snug beneath her

chin, her fingers then wrapped around the golden-yellow ball

of fluff romping on her chest. A tiny, pink tongue kept trying

to lick her face. She lifted the puppy. Its little legs squiggled

as she touched her nose to the dog's.

"Well, hello."

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The pup let out a tiny ruff, and then its tongue went wild

again.

"Yup, I'd say he likes her all right," Snake said, propping

himself on his elbow. He rubbed the dog's fuzzy head.

August, standing beside the bed, leaned over Snake. "Kid

said I could keep him, if'n you say I can. Can I keep him, can

I?"

Summer set the dog down, and it instantly snuggled in

below her chin. Burying her fingers in the soft fur, she

glanced to her brother. His little face glowed with love as he

gently patted the puppy.

"A dog's a lot of work," she warned.

"I know. I promise to do everything myself."

She glanced to Snake. He winked at her. The gaze in his

eyes was as deep and loving as August's. A wave of

happiness flooded her system. She turned her eyes back to

her brother.

"You can't be letting him get underfoot."

August shook his head. "I won't." A tiny frown formed.

"Can I keep him?"

"Yes, you can keep him," she answered. Denying him such

pleasure had never entered her mind.

With a whoop and holler, August snatched up the pup.

"Thanks, Summer!" he managed to exclaimed as the puppy's

tongue lathered his face. "I'm gonna name him Jerome."

Snake rolled onto his back. His one arm slid back beneath

her neck and held her close. "Jerome? Why Jerome?"

August shrugged. "It's a nice name. Don't you think it's a

nice name, Summer?"

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The interruption of the puppy surprise had stifled their love

making, but it hadn't drowned the feelings floating in her

veins, and snuggled, flesh to flesh beneath the covers, had

her mind roaming in several directions—the last of which was

focused on the new pup's name.

"Don't you like Jerome, Summer?" August asked again.

"Yes," she said quickly. "Jerome is a fine name."

August gave Jerome a bear hug, and then, growing

serious, turned to frown at her and Snake. "Why are you two

still in bed?"

Heat rushed into her cheeks, but Snake, calm and gentle,

said, "Because we were tired. You and Jerome go on, now.

We'll be out in a few minutes."

"All right," August readily agreed, but halfway across the

tent, he slowed, glancing at the pile of clothes on the floor.

"How'd your clothes get all wet?"

Summer swallowed a groan.

"Never mind, August," Snake said.

"Even your boots are wet," August declared.

"There you are!" Ma stuck her head in through the flap.

"Come on, you get out of here." She caught the back of

August's shirt collar and tugged him outside without a glance

toward the bed.

August's voice, asking questions, faded as Ma undoubtedly

hauled him across the yard. Summer kept her eyes on the

doorway, an inkling of embarrassment at the way she'd

stripped off her wet clothes the evening before kept her from

glancing to Snake, who was gently rubbing her arm from

elbow to shoulder. The caress had the ability to turn her blood

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into warm honey. She let out a sigh that was half full of

pleasure, half full of regret, and glanced up.

"Jerome?" Snake said, grinning from ear to ear.

His twinkling eyes made her giggle. "Yes, Jerome."

"He's quite the kid."

There was reverence in his whisper, but more than that,

his eyes spoke to hers, sharing his love and respect of her

younger brother. She'd never have imagined how much that

meant to her if she hadn't experienced it at this moment in

time. The fact she'd not only found someone she loved, but

someone who loved her siblings threatened tears to trickle

from her eyes. She held them in, and tilted her face upwards

to brush a soft kiss over his lips.

"Thank you."

Summer felt the smile that curled his lips beneath hers.

After a deeper, more passionate kiss than she'd intended,

Snake held her tight in his arms.

"You're welcome, even though I don't really know what

you're thanking me for."

Head once again tucked beneath his chin and savoring the

scent and feel of him, she admitted, "Just for being you.

Thank you."

He was silent for a few cherished moments, before saying,

"As much as I wish we could lie here all day, I think we better

get up. It sounds like everyone has arrived."

As if she'd been deaf and just regained her hearing, the

sounds of activity filtered into her senses. People laughing,

talking, and the steady, repetitive pounding of hammers

jolted her.

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"Oh!" She wiggled to push away from his hold.

"Just one more kiss." He grasped her face before she had a

chance to protest, and by the time he lifted his face, she'd

once again forgot a world happened outside the tent.

Snake eased his way off the mattress, wishing he didn't

have to, but knowing he did. The sooner the house was

complete, the sooner the day would come when he and

Summer could dally in their bed on quiet, simple mornings.

He flipped open the lid of the trunk that held his clothes and

quickly tugged out fresh garments. Once his britches were on,

he turned to the bed.

She sat on the edge, wrapped in the blanket and gazing at

the wet dress in her hands. They were in his tent, and her

clothes were still in the girl's tent. Snapping his suspenders

over his shoulders, he tossed his shirt on the bed and took

the dress from her hands. "Wait here. I'll go get your trunk."