Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1) Read online

  “Would you allow me the pleasure of discovering you all over again?”

  Celia glanced aside. She knew exactly what he meant. She too remembered what it was like in his arms. The years may have toughened the man. Time may have roughened the edges, but he was still Seth. “Yes.”

  Wrapping his arms around her before drawing her in with a low groan, he trailed tiny, tender kisses down the column of her neck.

  It sent shivers down her spine as his warmth enveloped her. Her heart leapt and Celia released a pent up breath. Here was the man that she’d dreamed of for so long telling her there was hope. Asking to know her as a man knows a woman.

  “I want you, Celia.” Seth’s eyes gleamed in the faint light.

  In the moonlight, Celia could see the strong angular, plains of his face. The light showcased the way his mouth, that wonderful mouth, curved. He hesitated. “I want to become quite involved with you, Celia.” He leaned in close brushing a stray strand of hair that had slipped from its binding with the strength of the kisses. His fingertip traced the angle of her chin before following the length of her neck sending delicious little tingles down her spin.

  He was being honest. Still, the voice inside her head said Beware! Desire was a two edged sword. She had no doubt that he was confident that she would come willingly to his bed as she had all those years ago. But the logical Celia, the woman who’d been forced from her home and traveled to an unknown place, who’d shared life with people who were so strange to her, had to guard her heart. She had to remember that she was different. Facts, knowledge and poise carried a lot of weight when it came to being respected by one’s peers, but it didn’t change the way people thought of you not when you were a half-breed. She had to be realistic. There would be no declaration of love or warm proposal of marriage in her future. A half-breed could never consider those things. He could never promise her tomorrow or offer her the title of Mrs. Seth Loflin. Shooter Creek ranch was his wife and the people living on that ranch depended on him. Would sharing his bed be enough for her – the knowledgeable, realistic Celia? Was it enough for a lifetime? She closed her eyes tight. One tiny tear trickled down as her body betrayed her with the answer, ‘yes’. Leaning in, Celia touched her lips to his with a whisper of feeling – a trembling need. “I’d like to know you better.” Simple though the words might be, Celia felt their weight heavy on her heart.

  Seth pressed her back to the wall of the alley they’d stumbled into. He stilled. “In dreams, I’ve had you. In dreams, I’ve known a need greater than I could handle darlin.’ Celia, lie with me, let me love you.”

  “Here?” She let her voice trail off as she found the idea shocking but not out of the question, because she couldn’t deny the need smoldering inside her at that moment.

  “It’s just you and I.” Seth’s words rushed out as if he feared a change of heart on her part. He leaned in tilting her head up with the tip of his finger. “I want you Celia. Love me, girl. I’ve never known anyone like you.” His eyes roamed her face.

  Suddenly skittish, Celia tried for flippant. Moving sideways, she escaped his roaming hands. Sucking in a deep breath, she whispered, “I suppose, I’ll have to take your word on that. After all, I have no idea how many young ladies you’ve known.” She flashed him a coy grin. Secretly, Celia hoped it curled his toes in his boots. She thought about a few words to put him in his place as her strength returned. “You know, you’ve changed some too, Seth.” She spoke lightheartedly as she stepped past him moving away from the heat. “I came home to find you a rancher with vast holdings and interests.” Her eyes grew devilish as she turned her head to watch him. “There are several words I would use to describe you.” Celia paused before pursing her lips. “Let’s see - there’s educated, responsible, overbearing, domineering, and bullheaded. Oh yes, don’t forget cocky. She marked them off on her fingers one by one.

  Seth raised one dark brow.

  Celia watched him struggle with the analysis. Briefly, she thought she may have gone too far before she saw his control win out and a grin split his ruggedly handsome face.

  “Granted, I have my faults, but cocky? I don’t see myself that way. You must be thinking of Ty.”

  Both of them broke out in laughter that felt good. Celia was reminded of how he’d always been able to make her laugh. “Seth, what do you remember about that summer?” Her bravado at the question surprised Celia. But she found she’d relaxed some. She decided now she wanted to know.

  He took her again loosely in the circle of his arms before giving her chin another tracing.

  “Do you remember the Creek?” She cut her gaze back to his as she fingered the buttons of his shirt.

  “I remember. Those nights live in my mind still. You were the only thing that mattered to me. I can remember the first time I ever saw you on the creek bank.” He gave her one of his killer smiles.

  “Oh, Seth, you would have to bring up that.” Playfully chiding him, Celia remembered the night too when, as she bathed, Seth had rode up unannounced. “I thought you the most brash, vulgar, loathsome devil. You simply sat there staring at me with that brilliant smile on your arrogant face. A gentleman would have turned away.” Celia feigned a pout. The burning in her depths needed controlling.

  Seth let out a rush of a laugh. “Was that what you called me? Funny, but it sounded a lot different in Comanche.” He inclined his head. “Darlin’, you know I’m no gentleman. But I thought you the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes on. I have to confess, I enjoyed looking my fill at your loveliness.”

  His chuckle fanned the flame growing deep inside. Celia groped for control. He wasn’t a saint. He’d always been her sinner. Somehow, she mused, that was exactly what she wanted. In fact, he was what she’d always wanted. The devil take her, but tonight, she wanted Seth.

  “Instead, I found a little temptress hoping I’d look my fill.”

  Celia’s mouth fell open. “Ah! You are a cur!” Struggling as he laughed, Celia tried to escape simply for affect.

  He pulled her close. “You know damn well that you wanted me as much as I wanted you back then.” Dark smoldering eyes watched her. “If the truth be told, I think you still do.” With smooth agility, he pulled her up by her arms centering her spine against the wall once more.

  Deep in the shadows where nothing made a sound, he whispered low and feral, “Did it ever occur to you that I may have wanted you to stay? I asked you to stay, remember?”

  She couldn’t see his face. But she heard his words take on a hard edge with a trace of pain.

  “Yes, but…” Celia’s voice cracked over the simple reply. She struggled to find the words that would explain her flight all those years ago. She couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come. Her eyes traced the angles of his face that was so close to hers now. There was only one way to ease the tension between them. Celia’s breath left her throat as she leaned in. Seth met her advance with one of his own.

  They wrapped arms around each other melding into one. Time ceased as their mouths explored each other’s. Sensations, long buried rose and feasted. Those questions that haunted them both would have to wait.

  “Deny you want me. Go ahead!” His voice ragged with lust, edgy with hunger burned her skin as he streamed kisses across her mouth, her face, her throat.

  His hands gripped her in a vice. Somehow, she didn’t care. She wanted him despite tomorrow. She wanted his hands on her no matter what the daylight brought.

  Like the wolf after prey, Seth took her mouth again and again in a primal, almost savage assault. Lost in the need, Seth groaned when he found her breast.

  Celia escaped his mouth for one precious moment to pull air into her lungs. Then the world went spinning.

  His hands raced like hot brands over her flesh.

  She shifted, but he followed. Some small voice inside said she should be shocked at the assault on her person, but it wasn’t her head speaking to her at that moment. Her heart had a very different voice. Thrilled by his taste, Cel
ia shoved away everything else as she melted into him.

  Seth left a possessive trail of fingerprints down her backbone. His shaft pressed in hard pinning her to the wall. Reality skittered into the darkness.

  Warmed now by his hands, Celia gave in to the need. With her own fingers exploring old familiar territory as if it were the first time, she felt the passion take her. There was no tamping down the desire that only Seth could stir in her. To be with him now was all she needed. Soft gasps left her lips as he trailed hot, wet kisses down her throat, while tugging at the front of her dress. Driven by the hunger that was engulfing them both, Celia undid the buttons of his shirt. With wanton fingers, she touched the skin which had once been so familiar.

  “Christ, Celia. I want you. Let me…” Her lips eagerly seeking out his smothered his reply.

  “I…” Celia’s brain faltered before she gathered air in her lungs again. With oxygen came a strangled kind of clarity. “Don’t stop. Please…I want you. Oh, yes, I want you too.” Celia’s head fell back when Seth found her breast with his tongue.

  Circling her bud into a hard peak of need, Seth cupped the mound of her breast, nipped and then sucked greedily.

  Celia’s vision blurred as she reached to unhook his gun belt. Driven to the brink, her hands trembled and fumbled to undo his pants. Finally freeing him, she raced over his heated flesh.

  He groaned with sexual tension simmering to a boil. “I need you so much.” Seth began to work the material of her skirt up and out of his way.

  “Tell me what you want.” Celia pleaded as she encircled his massive erection through the cotton of his drawers. The feel of him straining against the restraint of the material had her crazy with the desire erupting inside her. No more could she think, only feel. She thought she might go mad before she could feast on him.

  Seth’s fingers sought her out finding her wet and slick. Again, his low, throaty groan was pure passion.

  Panting out her directive, Celia begged Seth to take her, “Now, right now!”

  In that moment with the heat of need surging through them, their private world was shattered with one ear piercing scream.

  Chapter 8

  Family Secrets

  The scream destroyed the moment with the precision of a gunshot.

  Both Celia and Seth froze.

  Again, the sound of a woman in distress startled the night.

  Without fanfare, Seth dropped Celia to the ground. “Cover up,” he hissed. Buttoning his pants with one hand, he reached for his gun with the other.

  Clutching her arms to her exposed breasts, Celia looked to Seth for an unvoiced answer to the screams, while she tried desperately to get her fingers to work on the buttons of her dress. The alley had suddenly became a cold, unforgiving place where their little tryst had been discovered, or at least it felt like that. As she tugged at her clothes, Celia tried valiantly to gather her wits. Her mind, as yet, couldn’t comprehend why the woman was screaming, but she heard anger mingled with fear in her voice.

  “Stay here.” Seth growled. The order was curt and issued without consideration of an objection, as he finished yanking on his pants. Reaching for his gun belt in the dirt, he headed for the street.

  “But…”

  Seth silenced Celia’s protest with a warning glint from piercing blue eyes.

  His profile in the dim light was the cowboy gone on alert.

  Moving with the stealth of a cat, he made it to the corner of the building as he cocked his revolver with one hand and stuffed in his shirttail with the other.

  The dim glow coming from the nearby saloon offered only enough light to show two figures struggling in the midst of the dirt. Several patrons had followed the disturbance out into the street. Their jeers and calls of encouragement mingled with the cries and curses, which grew in intensity.

  As she drew near, Celia could see the two individuals tangled in the dirt.

  “Get her! The whore needs a good whuppin’. Don’t let her kick you like that! Go on – show that slut whose boss.”

  Slowly, the now growing crowd moved out to circle the two combatants, like rabid dogs worked up at the sight of blood.

  Celia could hear the woman continue to cry for help, but no one lifted a finger. Pain coated with anger rose up in Celia at the woman’s distress. Why didn’t someone help her? She looked for Seth, but he wasn’t around.

  The crack of a hand against skin sliced through the crowd. It enlivened the onlookers’ mood like pouring kerosene on a campfire.

  The ground shook as a thud and moaning emerged from the frenzied circle of onlookers. Unable to stop herself, Celia strode forward. She had to help the poor creature, whoever she was. With her clothing back in place, Celia moved cautiously out into the street. She still didn’t find Seth. Weaving her way around the hecklers until she could see clearly, she saw a man and a woman tangled in an awful physical encounter.

  The woman staggered back holding her side as she swayed. Her hair hung disheveled with long frizzed strands hanging haphazardly in her face. Blood bloomed red and fresh on her mouth. The saloon dress she wore proved worse for wear with a liberal coat of filth and tears marring it’s garish beauty. In Celia’s estimation, the woman couldn’t stand much more.

  The man didn’t look much better. He sported a swollen eye along with a dirt encrusted beard and coat. Most of the blood he wore was the woman’s though.

  The sight brought out Celia’s defenses. Never was it right to hit a woman, Celia mused, no matter what the circumstances. “Stop! Stop this right now.” Celia’s voice was lost in the yells and noise of the onlookers. She moved forward, bodily pushing and shoving her way past the frenzied onlookers. Just as she cleared the circle, the woman sprawled, face first, in the dust at Celia’s feet. Immediately dropping to help, Celia paid little attention to her own welfare as she rolled the woman over. It made her stomach want to heave. Bending down, she turned the woman over and gasped. Blood ran from several cuts and abrasions on the injured woman’s face. Bruising had already started along her jaw and cheek. If she wasn’t mistaken, the poor creature’s eye would soon swell shut.

  “You gonna take her place, My dear?”

  Instinctively, Celia’s muscles tightened. The stench of liquor assailed her nostrils. She cut her gaze up, cautiously, to see the dirt incrusted creature weaving on his feet right above them.

  Without so much as a hesitant glance, the dirty fellow let a stream of tobacco juice spew forth hitting the dirt at the women’s’ feet with a vulgar splat.

  Coolly, Celia ignored the vile insult. “I don’t intend to let you abuse her anymore, if that’s what you mean.” The man reeked. Celia’s eyes went to slits as she glared defiantly at the antagonist. “It’s a sorry excuse for a man that hits a woman.”

  “Oh, yeah? Well, maybe the uppity Indian whore needs a reminder of what we do to them that sticks their nose in where it don’t belong. I ‘otta show you right now.” He weaved a little as he glared at her through bloodshot eyes. Shaking his filthy finger in her face, the man cursed low and in Comanche.

  Marginally surprised, Celia watched him cautiously.

  “She stole from me! Besides, this ain’t no concern of yours. Get out of the way, bitch.”

  His directive came with encouragement from the crowd who’d come to see a fight. Like rabid dogs, they licked their chops in anticipation.

  Reaching out, the filthy fellow tugged hard on Celia’s upper arm. “I aim to get back what’s mine. She’s gonna tell me where she hid it or I’m gonna beat it out of her. Now, get out of my way.”

  Celia felt the pain of his meaty hand dig into her upper arm. His dirty fingernails cut into her flesh. Wincing, she instinctively pulled back Celia used her weight to lever a position over the injured woman. Her struggle was short lived before he suddenly let go, and she too, fell backward into the dirt.

  “That’s about enough of that.” With one smooth move, Seth had his hand on the man’s collar, hauling him up by the back of his tatt
ered coat. “The lady’s right. You don’t have a right to hit a woman.”

  Arms flailing and legs a couple of inches off the ground, the filth incrusted abuser objected vehemently, “Get your hands off me. Put me down! I got a right to what’s mine. She stole from me. I’m gonna take it out of the whore’s hide. She’s gonna tell me where my gold is!”

  With pure contempt in his face, Seth dropped the drunk back into the dirt several feet away, before returning and reaching for Celia. Taking things by the reins, Seth shot back over his shoulder at the man. “Well, now. Gold is it.” He waited a beat as the onlookers gathered closer. Never looking down at the two women, he positioned himself between the drunk and them. “How is it, she stole your gold? Do you know for a fact she’s guilty?”

  The man’s eyes darted from left to right. He opened his mouth to speak before shutting it on a belch. A perplexed expression wreathed his face.

  “Do you have witnesses?”

  The man waved his arms aimlessly at the crowd of onlookers. “Of course, I do. Ask anybody. They all saw her.” He waved his arm about at the crowd. The whore pawed around trying to smooth talk me into comin’ upstairs with her.”

  The injured woman groaned aloud. “I never…,” her voice trailing off when pain registered on her face.

  “She’s a crafty one, that slut.” He shoved his index finger directly at the injured woman. “When I told her to leave me the hell alone, she slipped it out of my pocket without so much as a graze.”

  The crowd which only minutes before had been ready to take bets on the outcome began to grow bored and started to disperse. Several more slipped into the shadows as another figure approached out of the shadows.

  In frustration, the abuser whirled in a drunken circle. “I know what she did! I’ll kill her!” he shouted.

  “Break it up, now. Break it up, I said.” Cole glared hard at the onlookers. “Go on home. Get out of the street, all of you.” The sheriff shoved by those who were too intoxicated, or too enthralled, to realize anyone else had spoken. With a withering stare, for those who still hadn’t moved, the Sheriff made quick work of the holdouts.