The Outlaws: Sam (6 page)

"The war was over a long time ago."

"The war between you and me never ended.
Expect me to move in and share your bed very soon."

His wolfish grin offered Lacey scant comfort.
Having Sam show up at the ranch after all these years had been a
stunning blow. Having him live in the same house with her and Andy
could only lead to disaster. Sam had broken her heart once, she
couldn't survive having it broken a second time.

"Sam, think about this before you do anything
rash. What about Andy? What's he to think?"

"Andy likes me. I don't suppose he'll think
anything about it."

"He's bound to learn that we're married
and...well, he'll assume you're his father. Are you prepared to
explain to him why you've been absent all these years?"

"I'll think of something," Sam replied, not
at all sure he was ready or willing to claim a child not of his own
blood.

"Hurt him and I swear I'll kill you," Lacey
grit out.

The threat didn't bother Sam at all. Lacey
couldn't hurt a flea, even if she wanted to. But nevertheless, he
heeded the warning and filed it away.

During the following days Sam was so busy
that he found no time to move into the ranch house. As for sharing
Lacey's bed, he'd said it to taunt her, and her vigorous protest
didn't surprise him. Especially if Cramer was her lover. That
thought made him want to spew out his guts.

Sam was walking to the bunkhouse after an
exhausting day in the saddle when he spied Lacey walking across the
yard. It was washday, and she was headed toward a clothesline
stretched between two trees, where dry clothes were blowing in the
breeze.

Sam watched her long, graceful strides,
admiring the way her skirts outlined her shapely legs and clung to
her hips and thighs. He knew from experience that there was a lot
of passion packed into her neat little form. From the first, Lacey
had been hot and eager for him. His heated gaze settled on her
breasts. They no longer resembled the small, unripe mounds he
remembered. They were full and temptingly round, exactly how he
liked them. Her waist was slim, her hips gently curved, and her
face had grown even more beautiful, if that was possible.

His steps carried took him in her direction
without conscious thought. In fact, he was surprised when he found
himself standing beside her. She gave him a cursory glance and
promptly ignored him as she continued plucking clothespins and
clothes from the line.

"I haven't seen your lover around lately,"
Sam said. "Let's hope he took my warning to heart and gave up on
you."

Lacey merely glared at him.

"Where's Andy? I haven't seen him around. He
isn't ill, is he?"

"A cold and fever, nothing serious. I've had
a devil of a time keeping him in bed."

"Tell him I'll look in on him after I clean
up."

"That's not necessary."

Sam's jaw firmed. "Just tell him."

"Why? Why do you care? Andy is...nothing...to
you."

Lacey nearly choked on her words. Lies didn't
came easily to her. But Sam didn't deserve a son like Andy. The
only reason he'd stuck around this long was to punish her for
something that happened long ago, something of which she was
blameless.

"Andy is innocent of any wrongdoing," Sam
replied. "I like the tyke. It's his mother I hold responsible
for...what happened in the past."

"Why are you still holding this grudge
against me? You never went to prison. You escaped and went through
the war without a scratch."

"Just because I lived doesn't right a wrong.
Love isn't supposed to hurt. Your betrayal hurt me beyond repair.
Now it's your turn to hurt."

His words served only to enrage her. "You
think I didn't hurt when I was told you were dead?"

"That's exactly what I think. Andy is living
proof that you didn't mourn very long. Don't tell me you were
vulnerable and Wiltshire took advantage of you for that's a bunch
of bull."

Lacey gave him a defiant glare. "I won't tell
you anything of the sort because it wouldn't be true."

"I suspected as much," Sam bit out.

Why were men so dense? Lacey wondered. Sam
hadn't an inkling what her answer meant. Captain Wiltshire hadn't
taken advantage of her. She'd only seen him a time or two after Sam
was taken away and then only on a professional level. Had he been
even remotely interested in her nothing would have come of it, for
she wasn't interested in him. She'd been too distraught over Sam's
alleged death to look at another man with romantic intent. And in
six years she still hadn't found a man she could love like she'd
loved Sam.

Lacey watched Sam walk away with tangled
emotions. Suddenly her whole life was crumbling around her. She
still had a ranch to run and little hard cash to see her through
until the cattle were driven to the railhead. She was so desperate
for money she considered taking them to market before winter. She'd
thought marrying Taylor would solve her problems, but then Sam
showed up and ruined everything.

An hour after he left Lacey by the
clothesline, Sam returned to the house to visit Andy. He hadn't
lied about his feelings for the lad. He
did
like Andy, even
though he'd tried not to. A long time ago he recalled wishing for a
son just like Andy. But he and Lacey hadn't been intimate enough
times to produce a child. He could count on the fingers of one hand
the times they had made love. Three, four times at the most. Hardly
enough time to plant his seed in her.

Sam entered through the back door. This time
Rita merely smiled at him and motioned him inside.

"Senora Lacey is in the parlor."

"I've come to see Andy. How is he?"

"Much better. I do not think we will be able
to keep him in bed much longer."

"Point me to his room," Sam said.

"Up the stairs, Senor Sam. First door on the
right. His door is open, you will be able to see him."

"Much obliged, Rita."

Sam hurried off, hoping to avoid Lacey. He
didn't know if he could survive another confrontation with her.
Every time their paths crossed he remembered...and wanted. He was
finally willing to admit that he wanted her in his bed. He wanted
her under him, over him, wanted to toss up her skirts and thrust
himself inside her. He wanted to hear her scream his name as she
climaxed.

Sam paused on the upstairs landing in an
effort to control his body's response to his erotic fantasies about
Lacey. It wouldn't do for Andy to see him with the front of his
trousers stretched out. He adjusted his tight denims, took several
deep breaths, and continued down the hall. The door to Andy's room
stood open and he walked inside. Andy was staring out the window,
his expression wistful. He saw Sam and gave a whoop of joy.

"Sam! Sam! I was hoping you'd come."

Sam settled on the edge of the bed. "I didn't
know you were sick, Andy. I've been a mite busy lately."

"I know. Everyone has been busy lately. How
did you know I was sick?"

"I spoke with your mother earlier. She said
you've been under the weather."

"I can get out of bed tomorrow. Mama said I
can."

"Your mama said you can get out of bed if
your fever is gone tomorrow," Lacey said from the doorway.

"Mama! Sam came to visit me. He didn't know I
was sick."

"So I see," Lacey said coolly.

"Tell you what," Sam said, surprising
himself. "If you're well enough tomorrow to get out of bed, I'll
take you for a ride on Galahad. It's Sunday. All the hands except
those guarding the herd are going into town tonight, and Sundays
are pretty dead around here."

Andy's eyes glowed with excitement. "Is
Galahad your horse? I'd like that. It's all right, isn't it,
Mama?"

"We'll see," Lacey hedged. She turned her
attention to Sam. "Aren't you going into town to carouse with the
others?"

"Nope. There's nothing much in town that
interests me."

"I find that hard to believe," she said with
a hint of sarcasm.

Sam's eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to get
rid of me?"

Sam could tell Lacey wanted to spit out a
harsh reply and held her tongue because of Andy. He rose and smiled
down at Andy. "If we're going riding tomorrow, I suggest you get
all the rest you can today. I'll come for you around ten tomorrow
morning. Does that sound about right to you?"

"That sounds just fine to me, Sam. I'll be
ready."

Lacey sent Sam a potent glare. "I'd like a
word with you before you leave."

"Whatever you say," Sam answered.

He followed her out the door, admiring the
sway of her hips beneath her split leather skirt. Unfortunately his
arousal reasserted itself just as she turned around to face him.
Her gaze slithered downward. He heard her gasp before her gaze flew
upward, settling disconcertingly on his face.

Sam chuckled. "You're not surprised, are you?
You're a beautiful woman, Lacey. You've improved in many ways
during the six years we've been apart. I won't deny that you tempt
and arouse me, for it's obvious. I'm a man who enjoys women and
you're all woman." He closed the gap between them. "More
importantly, you're my wife."

Lacey retreated, until her back was pressed
against the wall. "Do you enjoy taunting me?"

"Actually, no." His words surprised the hell
out of him, and scared him even more. Hadn't that been his purpose
in staying on at the B&G? "Actually, what I would really enjoy
is making love to you. Surely you haven't forgotten how good it was
between us."

"I've forgotten everything about you."

"Like hell," he growled. "It's long past the
time for everyone to know about our relationship. I'll move my
things from the bunkhouse tomorrow, after Andy and I return from
our ride."

Lacey's panic was palpable. "No! You can't do
that."

Sam's answer was to snag her around the waist
and pull her close. Her soft breasts flattened against him, making
him aware of every luscious curve. His arms tightened, bringing her
even closer. Her eyes widened and he smiled, for he knew she could
feel his erection prodding between her legs.

"I want you, Lacey," he whispered against her
lips. "That has never changed despite our years apart and your
betrayal. I didn't realize how much I still wanted you until I saw
you again."

"It's too late," Lacey hissed. "You let me
believe you were dead. I can't forgive you for that. We can never
have a meaningful relationship. Let me go, Sam. It was over for us
years ago."

Sam was quick to respond. "Who said anything
about a meaningful relationship? You misunderstand. I'm not going
to divorce you so we may as well make the best of the situation. I
can tell you want me. Your lips and body tell me all I need to
know. You're a passionate woman, Lacey," Sam continued. "I haven't
forgotten that about you. Since Cramer is out of the picture, why
not share your passion with me?"

"That does it, Sam Gentry!" Lacey charged.
She raised her arm to strike him but this time Sam was too fast for
her. He caught her wrist. Then he scooped her into his arms and
carried her down the hallway until he found another door.

Sam shoved the door open with his foot and
pushed into the room. He smiled when he saw how well he'd chosen.
The bedroom definitely belonged to a female, probably Lacey. He
slammed the door shut with his foot and carried Lacey to the bed.
He dropped her, watched her bounce a time or two, then flung
himself on top of her.

Lacey's words were tinged with fear. "What
are you going to do?"

"Prove something to both of us," Sam bit
out.

"Get off of me!"

"I will, in time. Tell me you don't want
me."

Her chin lifted pugnaciously. "I don't want
you."

"Tell me after I kiss you."

His mouth came down hard on hers. His kiss
was not gentle, nor was it particularly brutal. It was very
persuasive, utterly demanding. Lacey thought she had survived the
worst of it quite nicely until he prodded her lips apart and thrust
his tongue past her teeth. He kissed her so thoroughly she felt the
compelling need to kiss him back. She fought it as long as she
could, then her mouth softened beneath his.

Sam lifted his head and smiled down at her.
"Tell me."

Gathering her scattered wits about her, Lacey
cried, "I don't want you!"

Lacey was forced to endure another assault
upon her senses as his mouth returned to feast on hers. Then his
hands covered her breasts and she lost the ability to think. Lacey
had no idea Sam had worked her buttons free until she felt his
fingers tweak a bare nipple.

"Remember how it was between us, Lacey? We
couldn't keep our hands off of one another. The few times we were
together weren't nearly enough. I hadn't satisfied my lust for you
before I was taken away. We have all the time in the world now to
explore our unsated passion."

"You can't mean that," Lacey whispered. "You
can't mean for us to stay together."

Sam appeared too interested in her breasts
and puckered nipples to answer. She watched in trepidation as he
licked and nipped at them. She bit out a gasp when he took one
aroused tip into his mouth and suckled her.

"You always did like it when I sucked your
nipples," he said, raising his head and grinning down at her. "You
liked it when I did this, too."

Lacey tried to stop his hand from crawling
beneath her skirts but she wasn't fast enough. She felt the
pressure of his fingers between her thighs, inching upward, close,
so close. No one had touched her intimately since Sam. Holding her
breath, she anticipated his fingers there, where she was slick and
needy. She nearly screamed when the delicious pressure ceased.

"Shall I stop, Lacey?"

"Yes! No! Oh, please!"