Gabriel saw that. Yes. Which makes him a moving target, along with anyone who gets close to him. He put his big hand over hers. Youve had enough tragedy and trauma in your life. I dont want you around him.
She gnawed her lower lip.
Sara, whatever you think you feel, he said, choosing his words, it wouldnt end well. He hasnt faced his past any more than youve faced yours. The two of you could damage each other, badly.
I see.
Hes not the man for you to cut your teeth on. I cant tell him what happened to you, and I know for a fact that you wont.
Hes aggressive with women he wants. You cant afford to let him want you. Do you understand?
She swallowed. Yes.
Im sorry.
She drew in a breath, forced a smile and changed the subject. How about a slice of cake? I made you a chocolate one.
He smiled back. That would be nice.
CHAPTER THREE
SARA FELT GRIEF like a living thing when she remembered what Gabriel had said about Wolf Patterson. Until then, she hadnt realized how her attitude toward him was changing. When hed knelt in front of her in the park, spoken to her in that gentle tone, her heart had started to melt. But she knew Gabriel was right. She couldnt afford to encourage a man like that.
Aggressive with women he wanted, Gabriel had said. So her brother knew things about him, knew that he had women.
It shouldnt have surprised her. Wolf was an attractive man. When he wasnt baiting her and being sarcastic, he was charming. Those blonde women shed seen him with were certainly charmed, she thought bitterly. Blonde. Always blonde. He hated brunettes. Sara was a brunette...
The more she thought about it, the more it hurt. Shed buried herself in her studies for years, learned languages, traveled, done anything she could to force the horrible memories out of her mind. She succeeded for whole days at a time, although the nightmares came frequently, and she woke up screaming.
In the daytime there was a remedy. She could ride. She loved horses, and she was an accomplished rider. The freedom of sailing across the pastures on the back of Black Silk, the fastest of Gabriels geldings, was a thrill beyond description. It blew away the pain. It gave her peace.
Black Silk had a wild, free spirit, much like Sara herself. She tossed the saddle onto his back, checked the bindings and swung gracefully up onto his back. She pushed him into a full gallop across the pasture. Laughing, with her lithe body clinging to the saddle, her long black hair flying behind her, she made a picture that an artist would have loved.
But the man driving along the road, watching her, was filled with horror. She could break her neck like that!
He drove hell for leather down the road to the end of the pasture, swung the Mercedes up to the fence and slammed out of it seconds after he cut off the engine.
Sara, shocked, saw him and pulled Black Silk up at the fence, patting him to ease his nervousness. She let him walk to the watering trough and sat still while he drank, and a furious Wolf Patterson came right over the fence toward her.
Get down, he said in a tone that could have curdled milk.
Speechless, she just sat and looked at him.
He reached up and pulled her off the horses back as if she weighed nothing. He stood there, holding her in his arms off the ground, and glared into her shocked black eyes.
You crazy little fool, you could have killed yourself! he ground out.
But...I always ride...like that, she began.
His hard face was pale. His eyes were flashing like fireworks. His eyes fell to her beautiful face, to her wide black eyes, to her soft bow of a mouth. He groaned, almost shivering with hunger, and suddenly brought his mouth right down over Saras soft lips without one single sign of hesitation.
He felt her body go stiff. His mouth insisted, but the harder he kissed her, the more she stiffened. After a few seconds, he realized that she was frightened of him.
He forced himself to slow down, although her mouth was the sweetest nectar hed tasted in years. He smoothed his lips tenderly over her top lip, teasing it, toying with it, in a silence broken only by the raspy sound of his own breathing and the quick rhythm of hers.
I wont hurt you, he whispered. Dont fight me. Open your mouth under mine. Let me taste you...
Shed never felt anything quite like it. Her hands had a death grip on his neck, cold and tremulous as she let him kiss her. It had been years since shed even tolerated a kiss. His mouth was sensuous, firm, very expert. She didnt know what to do, but she did relax just a little. It felt good. It felt...wonderful. Nothing like the man in her nightmares...
He lifted his head a few seconds later and looked into her wide, curious black eyes. You dont know how to do this, he said in a deep, almost shocked tone.
She swallowed. She could taste him on her mouth, tasted coffee and something like mint.
He was fascinated. He bent to her mouth again, drew his ever so softly over it, smiling faintly, because she wasnt resisting him.
Like this, he whispered, and taught her the brushing little caresses that were tender and slow and arousing.