She wasn’t going to sit there and take that nonsense. “But he wasn’t so afraid that he’d take a team with him? You should have been worried about him. Someone should have been watching his back.”
Rashid frowned. “He wouldn’t thank me for tagging after him. Besides, he’s an expert sharpshooter. He almost always works alone.”
“Bullshit.” But she wanted this over. “Don’t lecture me, Rashid. Dominic and I might be able to work something out once we get a chance to talk. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“Since when?” Rashid asked sarcastically. “You haven’t objected to trouble on the horizon since I first met you.” Hiseyes narrowed on her face. “But maybe you actually mean it this time.” He got to his feet. “We’ll see. May I walk you to your tent?”
“No, I think I’ve caused enough bother for one day. I’ll go by myself.” She stood up. “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it? And the waterfall looks fantastic in the moonlight.”
He nodded. “That it does. And now Dominic won’t have to worry about trouble with any of Caldwell’s sharpshooters hanging out down there. He said he took care of the problem.”
How had he done that? Celine wondered. Then she dismissed the question—at the moment, she couldn’t have cared less. She knew by now Dominic would be waiting for her, and that was all that was important “Yes, we wouldn’t want poor Dominic to have to worry.” Then she walked swiftly away toward the spot Rashid had set up her tent in the trees overlooking the waterfall.
Her heart was starting to pound as she ran toward the tent.
Dominic was there waiting in the darkness of the tent as he’d been waiting for her in the shadows of the cave earlier today. But it wasn’t the same. Because she knew exactly what was coming. No more waiting. Her body was readying, preparing to receive him. And she could feel him, hear the sound of his breathing.
Then he was pulling her into the tent.
“You took forever,” he said roughly. “I was about to come after you.”
“Rashid…”
But he wasn’t listening. Then she was in his arms and he was dragging her down to the bedroll on the floor as his hands moved over her, taking off her shirt and then swiftly, almostfrantically, getting rid of the rest of her clothes. She could feel his skin, the bristle of his cheek rubbing against her bare breasts that was a provocation in itself. Then she could hear the pounding of his heart as he plunged deep inside her.
“I want you too much,” he muttered. “Don’t let me hurt you.”
She was full of him and trying to keep from screaming for more. “You won’t… hurt me. I need…” Then she lunged upward and took what she needed. Deeper. Faster. Harder. Deeper again. She couldn’t take it… But she did, and it was hot and insane and sometimes she felt as if she couldn’t breathe but she still couldn’t let him stop.
Again.
Again.
Again!
Don’t stop.
Not now.
Not ever…
“I think I should be angry with you.” Celine yawned and moved closer to Dominic’s naked body. “But at the moment, I can’t remember why. It was something about the way you were so arrogant about leaving me waiting and making me track you to that cave. All I know was that it was important…”
“If you can’t remember why, maybe it wasn’t that important.” He moved her arm so that he could rub his lips over her nipple. “These are absolutely exquisite… You said I didn’t hurt you, that was all that was important at the time. It got a bit wild there for a minute.”
“For an hour,” she corrected. “Or three… I lost track of time. You were quite… adequate.”
“Ouch. You really know how to hurt a guy.”
She giggled. “As if you’d believe me? You’re much too confident to let a passing insult bother you. Besides, you must have noticed I’m a rank amateur compared with you. I’ve been too busy just surviving to get much experience.”
“Then you’re an incredible amateur. But if you want to work on anything particular for an advanced degree, I stand ready to oblige.” He reached over and kissed her. Long, hard, yet somehow wonderfully sweet. “You’re a masterpiece. Everything about you. And don’t think I’m giving you bull because of that very lovely face and body. It’s so dark in this tent I can’t even see anything but a shadow. I repeat, a masterpiece. Every move you make, whatever you’re willing to give… and take, your sense of humor, the way you perform a headlock. How could anyone resist you?”
She chuckled. “Particularly the headlock. You’re right, I’m a masterpiece.” She raised herself on one elbow. “And I’ve decided that practice makes perfect and I want to practice some more, if you don’t mind. I should take advantage of you before I remember why I’m angry.”
“By all means.” He lifted her on top of him, and she gasped as he came into her. “Let’s try a brisk little warm-up and then go for the wild frontier…”
CHAPTER
