Chapter Twenty-Four

Audrey's body hummed with anxiety as she finished singing Penelope a gentle lullaby and the girl drifted off to sleep. Audrey knew what tonight would hold. She couldn't quite believe that Ance had changed his mind and agreed to her term of faithfulness. She hoped he wasn't only lying to have his way, but honestly, Audrey didn't believe he would do that. Ance was too honest a man and she believed he meant what he had said.

Which meant that tonight, Audrey would once again know the pleasure of being with a man.

Sparing a quick glance at Ance on the other side of the fire caused Audrey's heart to pound and her mouth to suddenly go dry. Ance was watching her with a hunger and lust that stole her breath. Audrey knew her eyes echoed that same want.

Penelope was sleeping soundly when Ance rose fluidly to his feet and motioned for Audrey to come to him. Audrey was certain that her stiff, jerking movements were the opposite of seductive as she walked around the fire to her waiting man.

Ance reached out his large, calloused hand and smoothed a lock of her blond hair behind her ear. "How about we take that swim now?"

Audrey could do little more than nod. Ance took her hand and led her through the moonlit shadows to the water's edge. The gentle roar of the waterfall filled Audrey's ears and drowned out the sound of her moan when Ance stooped low and tasted her lips.

Audrey let herself get lost in his kiss just as she had so many nights ago. A low growl rumbled from Ance's chest and vibrated against her mouth. When his teeth nipped at her bottom lip, Audrey realized what he wanted and she eagerly deepened the kiss, plundering Ance's mouth with her tongue and warring for dominance over the outlaw.

Ance's bearded face was rough against her tender skin but it only served to intensify the sensations coursing through her. Audrey's knees buckled and in response, Ance's hands circled her waist and hoisted her into the air so her legs here straddling his hips.

The proof of the arousal she was lighting in him pressed against Audrey's legs and caused her to tremble. Nothing in her life had ever made her feel so powerful as to know the want and need she was able to ignite inside such a tough and deadly outlaw.

Audrey was surprised by Ance's strength as he effortlessly carried her to an outcropping of rocks and sat down upon them, nestling her in his lap with her legs still straddling him. Audrey had always been a woman with a broad and strong build, equipped with more muscles than softness. She'd certainly never been the delicate type of woman that a man tended to carry...but with that one action, Ance made her feel small and purely feminine.

"You taste like whiskey," Ance growled as he moved his lips to her ear before nipping and licking his way down her neck.

"Whiskey?" Audrey breathlessly questioned.

Ance grunted and his blue eyes locked onto her brown ones as he nodded. "You burn me, lady."

Audrey tossed her head back and buried her hands in his thick brown hair as his hand brushed against her breast, teasing it to a hardened peak. Ance released his hold on her and swiftly undid the buttons of her blouse before tossing it aside. The cool night breeze chilled Audrey's skin and then she gasped when Ance tore her underclothes and shoved them aside, exposing her breasts to his hungry gaze.

"Ance!" Audrey scolded. "These are my only underclothes!"

Ance grumbled under his breath and stooped his face low, letting his breath blow against her sensitive nipples. "Less I have to take off next time," he growled.

With that, Ance had clearly had enough talking and he took her breast into his mouth and suckled it with a wild abandon. Audrey clung to him, digging her nails into his broad shoulders as she threw her head back and moaned his name.

Ance's hungry mouth worshiped every inch of her exposed flesh before he finally growled and stood, placing her on her feet so suddenly that Audrey nearly collapsed. "Why did you stop?" she demanded, while feebly attempting to stand straight on her trembling legs.

Ance let his gaze travel lazily down the length of Audrey's body, pausing on her breasts as a rumbling growl left his chest. "We're still a bit overdressed for that swim."

Ance reached for the buttons of his shirt and Audrey shook her head. Quickly she pushed his hands out of the way and managed a smile up at him. "Let me."

Ance's blue eyes darkened as he let his hands drop in submission. Audrey's fingers were shaking so drastically that she could barely take hold of the buttons to undo them. She could sense Ance's impatience as he shifted his feet and growled but he said nothing and did not try to stop her or undo the buttons himself.

Ance hissed out a breath as Audrey slid his shirt from his shoulders and her fingers grazed across his bare skin. "Damn, lady, whiskey.... You are whiskey."

Audrey's heart hammered against her ribs as Ance removed his boots, gun belt and trousers. She kept her eyes on his chest, a blush covering her cheeks as she realized he now stood before her in all his naked glory.

Ance chuckled quietly. "You aren't gonna get shy on me now, are you?"

Audrey chewed her lip as she unconsciously crossed her arms over her chest. Ance shook his head, slid his fingers in the waistband of her split skirt and pulled her toward him. "Don't hide yourself from me."

Audrey let her hands fall and wished she knew what to say.... She could scarcely breath let alone speak with this giant of a man standing so close. Ance oozed masculinity and power and Audrey felt quite small powerless beside him this way...

Until she glanced down through her lashes and saw the evidence of his arousal. Dear Lord have mercy! Ance was a sight to behold... his body was littered with scars, visible in the moonlight, but every inch of him was thick and hard.

He was a man forged from years of hard living and fighting for survival. Audrey had no doubts about his deadliness. She knew that with very little effort he could reach out with one hand and very likely end her life. He was a force to be reckoned with...

And he was all hers. She was powerful in this moment. Ance had come to this riverbank with her because he wanted her, because she made him ache with need just as badly as he did her.

Feeling a bit more sure of herself, Audrey took a few steps back, despite Ance's grumbling protests. She turned her back on him, slid from her skirt and loosed her hair from the back of her head. As the blond locks cascaded down her back, Audrey glanced over her shoulder, flashed Ance a coy grin and headed straight for the water.

The river was surprisingly cool against her skin and Audrey gasped when it reached her waist. She bit her lip hard to keep from cursing and fleeing back up the bank, neither of which would do much to enhance the moment.

The cold was forgotten instantly when Ance's long body was suddenly pressed against her. Audrey leaned her head back against his chest and felt his arousal in her back as his long, strong arms circled her waist and his rough hands, gently caressed her aching breasts.

Audrey rocked against him as one of his hands slid down her stomach and brushed the curls between her thighs. Audrey tilted her head back and Ance swooped down and crushed his lips against hers. His tongue delved into her mouth as he drank her in. A cry of shock and pleasure was muffled by the kiss when Ance's finger slipped inside of her.

"You are mine, Audrey," Ance growled against her mouth. "So wet and hot for me."

Audrey could only whimper in agreement because it was true. She was a quivering, overheated mess and wanted nothing more than to let Ance have his way with her.

Audrey bucked against his hand as Ance hooked his finger and began to tease that magic spot within her. Audrey was nearly ashamed at just how wet she grew, at how wantonly she moaned against his mouth, at the way her body rode his hand eagerly..... She was nearly ashamed of these things but not quite. There was far too much pleasure clouding her mind for anything like shame to have a place there.

Audrey felt herself rising higher as Ance lowered his lips to her neck and then her shoulder. He suckled hard, nipping her for good measure, and Audrey knew he was marking her yet she couldn't find it within herself to care.

"I have to have you now, Audrey," Ance growled against her ear.

"Yes.. Please..." Audrey gasped.

Ance quickly pulled his finger from her and spun her around. Audrey watched in a hungry daze as Ance swiftly licked the finger he'd been driving her mad with before grabbing her hips, hoisting her into the air and pulling her body down on him.

With one fluid motion, Ance was buried deep within her. Audrey cried out at the sudden fullness she felt inside and was thankful that Ance had anticipated the noise and captured it in his mouth.

Never in her life had Audrey felt as stretched and full as she felt now. "So tight," Ance growled as he lowered his head and nipped at her shoulder.

"Ance, more.. Please.." Audrey's mind was swirling as her legs wrapped tight around his hips. "I need more."

Her encouragement was all Ance needed to hear it would seem because it caused something in his eyes to light up.. It was as if a careful control he'd been holding onto was suddenly gone and Audrey could do nothing but hold on for dear life as he began to move swiftly within her.

His mouth sought her breast and his tongue lapped lazily at her aching nipple as Audrey buried her hands in his thick brown hair and moaned out his name.

The moonlit water lapped at her bottom as she bounced against the outlaw. Sweat slicked his skin and Audrey found herself pressing her lips to his shoulder, eager to taste him. Ance let out a growl that was more animal than man and his movements increased.

Higher and higher, Audrey climbed. She was certain that if she didn't find her release soon she would die from the sheer aching pleasure that Ance had roaring within her.

Audrey was at the edge and when Ance reached one hand down between them and ran his thumb over her throbbing womanhood, it was that final push Audrey needed to be sent tumbling off the peak.

White, hot light exploded behind her eyes. Ance's name left her lips on a loud cry as she became deaf and blind to all else but the erotic release Ance had given her. Faintly, Audrey was aware of Ance letting out a roar of his own before he suddenly pulled her off of him and the evidence of his release shot out across her stomach.

Audrey trembled as the aftershocks rocketed through her body. Ance pulled her close to him, her legs still wrapped around his hips. He buried his head in her shoulder and Audrey ran her hand through his thick air as his erratic breathing slowly returned to normal.

She was surprised by the tender kiss he pressed against her collarbone before he raised his head and met her gaze. "You are whiskey, lady. Not only do you burn but you leave a man with wobbly legs and a dizzy head."

Audrey blushed, suddenly very aware of her surroundings. They were out in the open, in this pool of water, with the waterfall behind them, the moonlight above them, and Penelope asleep only fifty yards away at camp. Ance seemed to come to his senses as well. He used the river water to clean her off before turning and heading for the bank, carrying Audrey up and out of the water.

Another tender kiss was pressed against her hair before Audrey found herself sat down upon her feet. She clung to his arms several long moments before she was certain her legs would hold her up.

"Are you okay?" Ance questioned with more tenderness in his voice than Audrey had ever heard there before.

She met his eyes but couldn't tell what he was thinking. "Of course," she whispered. "You're not the only one with wobbly legs."

A smile curved Ance's lips and Audrey could see his blue eyes sparkle in the moonlight. He truly was a handsome man. Audrey was unsure what to think as Ance helped her into her clothes, though she had nothing to wear beneath her shirt since Ance had seen fit to destroy her things.

"I shouldn't have done that..." Ance admitted and then he shrugged. "Apparently I can't think real clear when I've got you for the taking in front of me."

"Well..." Audrey wanted to think of a witty comeback but found herself simply stuttering several times before closing her mouth. She watched Ance as he dressed himself and tossed his gun belt over his shoulder.

Without a word, Audrey and Ance made their way back to camp. Audrey suddenly felt quite awkward. She didn't know what to say or how to act after what they had shared in that water.... Were they together? Or was it simply two lonely people finding comfort in the physical connection they shared? Was there more? Did she want there to be more? Did Ance?

Audrey's mind was whirring with doubts, fears and unanswered questions. She didn't voice any of this to Ance, however. He didn't seem the kind of man who would appreciate the chatter--as a matter of fact he himself had admitted he didn't have patience for feminine blah blah blah, as he had called it.

When Ance laid down and motioned for Audrey to lay with him, she shook her head. "I don't think I should..." she whispered.

Ance frowned and his eyes narrowed as he studied her. "Why?" he questioned, his voice so low it was barely audible above the crackling fire.

Audrey swallowed hard and nibbled at her lip as she pushed her hair behind her ear. "I wouldn't want Penelope to catch us cuddled up and begin to ask questions that neither of us are ready to answer."

Ance didn't say a word. He didn't nod in agreement, nor did he voice any disagreement, instead he rolled to the other side and gave her his back. Audrey sighed. "Are you angry?"

"Nope," Ance grumbled. "I'm going to sleep. Wouldn't want Penny waking up and asking what we're still doing awake."

Audrey glared at him before stomping over to her bedroll beside her daughter and curling up there. Why was he so damn moody and complicated?! Did he truly want to announce to Penelope that they were together? That would be setting Penelope up for disappointment when all of this was over and Ance was suddenly gone from their day to day lives.... Because he himself had admitted that he wouldn't stay for good.

With her core still aching from his lovemaking, and her mind a jumbled mess of confusing thoughts and emotions, Audrey closed her eyes and willed herself to get some sleep--she had a feeling she would need it to deal with Ance, and his grumpiness, come morning.