Wanton Surrender (Wanton, Book Two)

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An Excerpt From: WANTON SURRENDER

Copyright ? RUTH D. KERCE, 2007

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing,
Inc.

Cal stepped out of the shadows. Dinner felt like a rock
in his stomach and his head hurt from the tension he?d been feeling all
day. ?Well, that was a disgusting display.?

Beth twirled toward him, her eyes wide. Her mouth
opened, closed, then opened again. ?How dare you
spy on us!?

?You wouldn?t even let him kiss you. That?s love, all
right.? His voice sounded hard, but the fact that she?d fended off
Carlyle?s attentions gave him hope. Especially because he remembered how
eager she used to be for his kisses.

The dog ambled over to him and sniffed his hand. He knew
she was a stray. Joe had mentioned the dog at dinner, before Nathan joined
them. Apparently she?d run off a couple of rustlers last week, which had
finally endeared her to most of the hands. He scratched her behind the
ears.

?I prefer to do my kissing in private.?

?You didn?t know anyone was here.? He?d barely been able
to hold himself back when Carlyle reached for her. He didn?t want any man?s
hands on her, especially not that man?s.

?Maybe I did know.?

Cal studied her face and couldn?t tell if she was bluffing
or not. Instead of pressing her about it, he decided to change the subject.
?So?you?re going to watch the horse breeding?? Somehow, Carlyle had seemed
too eager to get her there. The man was planning something. Cal was almost
sure of it.

?What if I am??

He shrugged. ?Your choice. It?s just not what I would
have expected from you. The men will be uncomfortable with you there.? An
understatement. He watched as the dog lay down in a corner and curled up.
Protective of Beth?he liked that. She was probably feeding the dog scraps
to have gained her loyalty. Madge definitely had some wolf in her
and seemed quite perceptive. She?d make a good addition to the ranch.

?Too bad. They?ll just have to get used to it. For your
information, I?m not the same person I used to be.?

?Yes, I?m learning that.? Cal slid his hands down into
the front pockets of his pants and strolled toward her. Time to get some
things into the open. ?I?m sorry, Beth.?

?You should be. This was supposed to be a private moment
between myself and Nate.?

?Not for that.?

A wary look crossed her face. ?For what then??

?For hurting you.? And he meant it. The last thing he
ever wanted to do was cause her harm, physically or emotionally.

Pain slashed across her face. ?Cal?? She shook her head.

?Really. I need to apologize.? Clear the air between
them. Finally.

?All right. I accept your apology. Can we leave it at
that? I really don?t want to talk about it anymore. I?m tired and it?s long
done. We need to move on with our lives. Separately. It?s time.?

Like hell. He moved closer. ?You don?t even want
to hear my side??

?Does it matter? I?m marrying another man and that?s
that.?

?You don?t love him, Beth.?

?I really wish people would stop telling me how I feel!?
She planted her fists on her hips. ?I?m marrying him and nothing will
change my mind.?

He removed his hands from his pockets and raised one
fist. A faded hair ribbon dangled from his fingers. ?Do you remember this??

A look of confusion crossed her face.

?That time in the barn??

Beth gasped and her eyes lit up. Just from those few
words, she remembered. It gave him hope.

?Our first kiss,? she whispered, lowering her hands from
her hips. ?My first kiss. My first truly real one. I was wearing the ribbon
and you pulled it out to free my hair.?

?That?s right.? The kiss had meant as much to her as it
had to him. He knew it.

?You kept the ribbon all these years?? Her eyes grew
moist and she reached for the piece of blue silk.

He pulled it back, out of reach. ?Yes. And you can?t
have it back. This ribbon is special to me. It?s mine. I intend to keep
it?always.? He stuffed it safely back into his pocket.

?I don?t know what to say.?

He moved closer again, drawn to her, as he?d been from
the very first moment he laid eyes on her. ?I was stupid to leave like I did.
I never intended to stay gone. I never intended??

?Cal.? She stopped him with a hand to his chest then
snatched it back as if touching him hurt too much. ?It doesn?t really
matter what you intended. You did it. I don?t want to argue about what
can?t be changed.?

?So that?s it??

?Yes, that?s it.?

He didn?t believe her. He knew how she handled things.
If she didn?t let him fully explain, then she could keep him at arms?
length. She was scared. He could see the truth in her eyes.

Leaning in close, he slipped his hand around the back of
her neck and massaged the tense muscles there. ?Don?t fight this, Beth.?

Beth pressed her hands against his chest and her eyes
closed briefly. ?Cal, please don?t.?

He sneaked a glimpse at the dog, afraid she might come
to Beth?s aid again, but the animal didn?t even twitch. Moving nearer, he
flicked his tongue against the corner of her mouth then swiped under her
bottom lip.

Her limbs trembled and a sound of pleasure and pure need
rumbled up from the back of her throat. She curled her fingers into his
shirt.

Cal kissed the soft skin at her temple, letting his lips
linger. ?You belong to me,? he whispered in her ear. ?We belong to each
other. Let me prove it to you. Tonight. Come with me to the pond?our pond.?
Their special place. The perfect place for a seduction.

?