Annie Gets Her Gunmen Read online

  Dane covered her hand with one of his own and squeezed her fingers gently. “No. I think you’re very beautiful and all alone in a strange town. I can understand not wanting to be by yourself. Besides, I have a great desire to spend some more time in your delightful company. Wherever it leads us, I’m ready, and anytime you tire of me I’ll go, or we could just have a nice conversation.”

  “You want to converse?”

  He laughed. “Not really.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a loose embrace. She responded by circling her arms around his waist. Her head came barely to the top of his shoulder. Dane kissed her forehead and then trailed kisses down one side of her face with slow deliberation. The path he followed led to her lips, but he took his time getting there. Annabel’s head turned suddenly so that his mouth landed on hers with the next touch of his lips. So he kissed her.

  The moment his mouth covered hers, Dane knew they’d spend the night together. She relaxed in his arms, and a low moan escaped her throat. The soft, tentative shift of her lips as she parted for him zoomed his lust immediately. He gently thrust his tongue inside her warmth for a long, slow taste.

  Annabel reciprocated by brushing her tongue against his with insistent enthusiasm. Dane twisted his mouth across her lips to savor a deeper taste. His hunger so deeply urgent, he hoped he could temper his actions and not devour her whole. Unless that was what she wanted. He was ready to accommodate any desire she voiced.

  Her fingertips dug into his back, as the kiss became more aggressive. He crushed her body to his chest, lifting her higher until only the tips of her bare toes remained on the floor. He was unable to get close enough fast enough. He stood ready to satisfy any unvoiced desires as well.

  His cock dug into her belly and throbbed with every stroke of his tongue inside her mouth. Dane’s hand slipped along her back until he cupped her derrière one-handed. He pulled her hips into his rampant erection, looking for her signal as to whether to go further.

  The moan from her throat clinched it. Dane pulled her completely off her feet and carried her to the bed centered against the far wall. She’d already pulled the window curtains closed before his arrival. He pushed her down to the bed and followed, covering her completely without breaking the intoxicating kiss.

  Dane slid his hand down and searched for the hem of her nightgown. Once he found it, he lifted the fabric and slid it up to uncover her slim thighs as his cock pulsed wildly against her belly, wanting to get inside her sweet pussy.

  The moment her hips lifted into his pelvis with a sharp nudge, Dane knew he’d spend the rest of the night making love to her. If he had anything to say, they wouldn’t be sleeping much in this room. He broke the carnal kiss to leave the bed and get undressed. He couldn’t get his clothes off fast enough.

  Annabel’s lips shaped into a lovely grin as she watched him shuck his jacket, vest, and shirt off. He flung the garments around him like a tornado. She smiled even wider at his struggle to remove his boots and came off the bed to help him.

  Once his pants slipped off and he got down to his long underwear, he pushed himself against her. “Let me take your nightgown off,” he whispered.

  “All right.” She lifted her arms into the air and smiled at him. Dane didn’t hesitate. He bent over, grabbed the hem and lifted the gown over her head and reveled in the beauty of her naked body inch by glorious inch.

  The only light in the room was the kerosene lamp by the bed turned down very low and another one hanging on the wall by the door, but it was light enough to see that Annabel was a beauty. Her youth was more evident without her clothing to cover it up, and Dane wondered at her age and experience.

  “Not to be indelicate, but have you ever done this before?”

  Annabel blushed from head to toes. Even in the low lamplight, he could see her pale skin turn rosy. “That’s a fair question, I guess. I’m just not sure what answer you’re seeking. And at this important point in time, I don’t want to get it wrong.”

  He caressed her chin and jaw lightly with his fingertips. “My only concern is hurting you. If this is your first time, I need to slow things down and do things a little differently.”

  “My fiancé and I were intimate before he became ill, so no, this isn’t my first sexual experience. But it has been a very long time.” The sadness in her tone spoke to her loneliness more than anything she could have said.

  Dane kissed the corner of her mouth. “That’s the exact right answer.”

  She smiled. “Is it brazen to invite a veritable stranger to my room for improper purposes?”

  “No. Not at all. Besides, I’m not really a stranger any more. I’ll be less of one when I leave this room, if I ever decide to go. But I promise you this, nothing we do together tonight will be improper.” He captured her lips in another soul searing kiss. She moaned again, and his cock reared, wanting the freedom to fuck blindly into her soft body.

  Her sudden, nervous giggle against his lips softened his urgency. Dane didn’t need to hurry this, not at all. They had all night long. Their kiss became languorous. He pulled away enough to stare into her eyes. Her green-eyed stare bore straight through to his lonely soul.

  Dane pulled her closer into his arms and resumed the kiss. Slowly he tasted her, wanting to arouse her and at the same time assure her that she wasn’t doing anything wrong.

  Women also had the capacity to get lonely and have desires as much as any man did. Annabel was certainly allowed to desire. Dane was grateful she’d chosen to trust him and planned to make tonight an experience worth remembering. Four years was a long time between men, but at least he didn’t truly have to break her in to the world of carnal pleasures.

  His cock pulsed against her body again, and Dane eased his hips between her legs. Her unbound breasts pressed into his naked chest. He swore he felt her nipples tighten with each stroke of his tongue in her mouth.

  In an effort to take his time, Dane trailed a path of soft kisses from her mouth, across her cheek and down to her breasts. The thought of tasting her nipples made his mouth water. Shifting his torso to accommodate his movements, he soon pressed his lips to the swell of one breast, then the other, before latching on to her pert, distended nipple.

  The moment he enclosed the tip in the warmth of his mouth, Annabel arched her back, pushing the lush bud further between his lips. He sucked harder, stroking his tongue across the hard tip. Her sweet groan of satisfaction sent a pulse of desire straight to his swollen cock.

  He released her nipple and trailed kisses to the other in order to taste that one, as well. Another moan came from her throat, and Dane decided to ensure her ultimate gratification before letting his cock enter her pussy. He pressed kisses between her breasts and then trailed lower. Across her flat belly he licked and kissed his way to the curls at the apex of her thighs.

  The scent of her desire grew stronger and stronger until he buried his face between her legs and licked her pussy lips and clit.

  Her hips shuddered, and another moan escaped her lips. She didn’t question his actions, so he proceeded to suck on her clit and lick her pussy to his heart’s content.

  Annabel’s breathing increased until she was panting. Her fingers pressed through the hair on his head, nails grazed his scalp, pulling him closer to her center. He buried his face between her legs and shot his tongue deeply into her pussy. Two fingers replaced his tongue inside her body, and he concentrated on licking her clitoris.

  The sultry sounds of her moans told him she was close to reaching her ultimate satisfaction. His tongue licked across her clit and then he sucked the bud between his lips. Fingers curling gently inside her pussy, he smiled internally when a sudden sharp intake of breath signaled a start of her release.

  The moment she screamed and her hips bucked wildly, he was assured she’d climaxed. The strong contractions of her pussy on his fingers signaled her satisfaction adeptly.

  His cock, about to explode with a need to fuck, propelled him to slide his body in
to position for the next round of pleasure. Dane shoved his long underwear down his thighs and positioned his legs between Annabel’s thighs.

  “I don’t think I can wait much longer, sugar. Are you ready for me?” he whispered urgently as his cock nudged her pussy lips, desperately wanting free reign to enter.

  Eyes closed, she nodded as a very satisfied smile shaped her lips.

  “Open your eyes, Annabel, I want to watch your face as I come inside you.”

  * * * *

  Annabel opened her eyes after the most amazing and unexpected feeling had shaken her to her very soul. She gazed into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, belonging to the most perfect man she’d ever met. A man who had just done something scandalously wonderful to the sensitive bud between her legs using his tongue.

  “Whatever you just did was absolutely amazing. I feel like I should thank you.”

  His warm grin put to rest any remaining anxiety she felt over this clandestine experience. His cock pressed closer to the entrance of her still quaking body. “No need to thank me.” He surged forward until the head of his cock entered her. “Just let me inside.”

  She widened her legs and slipped her arms around his neck. “I’m yours.”

  Without any further hesitation, Dane thrust his cock all the way to the end of her slick pussy. His eyes closed before he got all the way inside. He groaned and stiffened before pulling out half way and pushing forward again. “You’re so unbelievably tight. Tell me I’m not hurting you.” His eyes opened and pierced her with a look as strong as his cock thrusting inside her body.

  “I promise. You aren’t hurting me,” she whispered and held his stare with one of her own. He kept his focus on her face as he continued thrusting his wide, hard cock inside her body. The sensation was incredibly seductive. Her body stretched to accommodate his wide girth. He sped his strokes until she thought she might burst from the pleasure of their mating. She wrapped her legs around his hips and tightened them to bring him closer.

  The friction of his movement across her clitoris soon brought her to the pinnacle of another climax. The power of his cock moving within her increased her pleasure tenfold. The moment his eyes drifted shut, a low groan came from his throat. He pierced her deeply, pushing his cock directly against her womb, and she fell off into a shuddering, wonderful oblivion with him.

  Shattering into a thousand slivers of pleasure, which then careened through her body, Annabel hoped she’d live through this amazing experience. Sensing that this encounter was coming to an end, she already wanted him again. How inappropriate would it be to ask for seconds? Or was it thirds?

  Dane flattened himself across her body, panting hard against her throat and pinning her to the bed. Annabel could barely catch her breath.

  After several moments listening to their loud breathing, Dane shifted to his elbows and shot another very passionately inquisitive look her way. “What are you thinking about, sugar?”

  The smile erupted before she could stop it. “Truthfully, I was wondering if we could do that again.”

  Chapter Two

  Early the next morning, Dane withdrew from Annabel’s room discreetly and exited through the back door of the hotel, ensuring no one saw him leave. He didn’t even attempt to wipe the smile from his lips. She still slept peacefully, but before retiring, and after they made love for the third time in the wee hours of the morning, he had convinced her to “accidentally” meet for breakfast in the hotel dining room before her stagecoach arrived to collect her.

  He wanted to see her one more time. Or perhaps he needed to see her. Either way, separating from her was more difficult than he ever imagined.

  Annabel was a siren in bed. He knew she wasn’t experienced, but her enthusiasm for making love all night made her hard to resist. Giving and sweet and clever during their time together, Dane knew he was already half in love with her.

  Last night, she’d been less than forthcoming about her destination on this trip north. Come to think of it, he didn’t know where she lived, either. Perhaps she didn’t want to see him again, but he sincerely hoped not. He told her the name of the town where he lived, although she smiled sweetly and reminded him she knew exactly where he lived. He also ensured she knew how to get to his ranch, so she could get a hold of him if she ever needed to do so. It wasn’t that she was coy but rather distracted and guarded over her upcoming plans. She told him she might write to him in a month or two.

  It would be a very long month or two in his mind.

  Dane headed for the stable and checked on his horse, even though he knew his stallion was perfectly fine. He simply killed time waiting for the dining room in the hotel to open. The only other place open in town was the saloon, and whisky before breakfast had never been something he craved. He wouldn’t mind getting an hour of shut eye, but feared over sleeping and missing the promised meal together. He could sleep later.

  Behind him, Dane heard several horses whinny, signaling the approach of someone. The sound of spurs jingling registered, but before he could turn around, something hit him on the head. He went to his knees trying to grab hold of his fading consciousness.

  The second blow put him face down on the ground and out cold.

  * * * *

  Annabel waited in the dining room as long as prudent for Dane to show up for breakfast before she had to eat or go hungry on the first leg of today’s stagecoach journey. His absence shouldn’t hurt so much, but a small part of her was very disappointed at his lack of attendance. While she had been the one to maintain they didn’t need to see each other again, he’d been rather insistent they meet today before she left.

  With his nonappearance this morning, Annabel decided he merely tried to be polite given the liberties she’d allowed him the night before. Offered the chance again, she’d certainly agree to spend the night with him regardless of today’s absence. Between exotic bouts between the sheets, they had discussed their lives. Among other things, they’d discussed a tentative future. Well, truthfully, she hadn’t even told him what town she lived in. However, he made sure she knew exactly where he could be found should she ever need him. And after this trip to fulfill her desire to shoot in a contest, she would need to find him. A repeat of that very satisfying experience would always be a welcome desire.

  Heat rose in her cheeks as sultry memories of the night before filtered across her conscience. She’d experienced quite a bit of need the night before. And Dane fulfilled every one of her desires.

  “Would you like more tea, Miss?” The serving girl startled her out of her reverie.

  “No, thank you.” She glanced at the clock, and added, “I must be on my way.” Annabel almost stopped the girl with the notion of leaving a message for Dane, but it wouldn’t do to ask about him or infer they had planned to meet. And besides, what would she say in a message. “Thank you for making all my wildest sexual desires come true last night. Sorry I missed you at breakfast?”

  No. That wouldn’t do at all. Annabel had been the one to insist that if they met at all, they must meet by happenstance so as to alleviate any impropriety. Last night had been nothing but improper behavior and lots of it. Annabel swallowed a smile in memory of the seductive night with Dane. Honestly, she was more surprised than anything else that he didn’t join her for the morning meal. Perhaps he’d overslept after their lack of sleeping the night before. Another smile threatened to erupt. She inhaled deeply and exited the hotel dining room with only a small hint of regret.

  Regardless of if they ever met again, she would carry a fond memory from this day forward.

  An hour later, the stagecoach rolled out of town, and Annabel focused her attention on the upcoming battle with the Wyoming Territory Shooter’s Club sponsors. She’d have to choose her words carefully in order to have a chance to compete. That was where her focus should be and not on Dane’s firm, muscular body or his beautiful blue eyes.

  She released a long sigh and settled back against the leather cushion in the swaying stagecoach. T
here were three more days until she arrived in Pine Haven and three more nights to reflect on how she’d be sleeping alone.

  * * * *

  Garrett saddled up his horse, packed his traveling essentials, and left Outpost, Colorado, five days before the preliminary qualifying round of competition in the Wyoming Territory. His travel choices were either three days riding hell bent for leather to his destination or four days of a more leisurely paced ride. He wanted at least a day to rest up before the first day of shooting, so he found a comfortable gambol and hoped to come somewhere in between three and four days for his arrival at Pine Haven. He was set up to stay at the hotel in town and looked forward to the vacation almost as much as he did the competition.

  Delbert and the former sheriff had matters well in hand for the coming two weeks, so Garrett looked forward to this respite. No breaking up saloon brawls, no chasing riff-raff out of town, and no dodging sultry, longing stares from the women at Madam Celia’s House of Ill Repute as he rode through town. It was actually just called Madam Celia’s, but everyone knew what went on behind the red, stained-glass doors leading to the garishly decorated front parlor.

  Involving himself with one of those women was something Garrett took great pains to avoid. It wasn’t so much that he had a problem sharing a woman with another man, even though he had never done it before, but the mayor had been very clear during the negotiation of employment about such licentious behavior and involvement with whores by the town’s sheriff as being a firing offense. If he wanted a woman in his life, apparently he needed to marry a proper, well-brought up female.

  No favoritism was allowed for the residents at the local whorehouse.

  Garrett had the choice of keeping his comfortable job or spending time with a fallen woman, but he couldn’t have both. So he opted to keep his career as sheriff alive and avoided Madam Celia’s at all costs. He’d never contemplated marriage, but perhaps he’d just never found a woman willing to put up with him on a daily basis. And he was also willing to admit that he was fairly picky about just any woman sharing his life permanently. He wasn’t much for simpering females without a backbone, leaching on to him for a comfortable life.