Page 38 of The Copper Heir (The Gilded West #1)

When he dropped his head, she pressed her hand to his cheek, surprised when he kissed her palm before nodding.

“Isabelle Hartford Jameson stayed with her husband long enough to bear a son, me. Then she hightailed it back to her family in Boston, complaining about the harsh conditions in Helena and her husband’s cruelty.

She had no qualms about leaving me as well.

I believed her lies about my father’s cruelty, though I’d never seen it myself. ”

He took another deep breath and met her gaze, making her own breath stop.

“Until I spent some time with her family in Boston and realized the harsh conditions she complained about were the lack of people she considered her social equal. My father’s great cruelty had been to insist that she live with him at the ranch instead of in Helena.

She could never tolerate it here. Not the barbaric social structure.

Anyone could be considered high society with the right bank account. She hates that.

“I didn’t realize her hatred included me until I was older. Though I attended Yale, I’m not the son she wanted. Never have been. I prefer herding cattle, tracking elk and raising horses to the high life in Boston. She thinks I’m as barbaric as my father.”

Her heart clenched for him and any mother who couldn’t value his good heart. “I’m so sorry, Hunter.”

“Don’t be. She’s not a part of my life, because it’s her choice.”

He went quiet for a moment, just allowing her touch on his cheek.

Her sisters were still laughing in the background as they played.

She imagined what it might be like to spend many more days like this, just the four of them.

Emboldened by the way he had opened himself up to her, she asked, “Last night you said you would keep me if you could. But you’re an outlaw. ”

He nodded, his eyes sad. “I ride with a gang. You deserve more stability than that and I can’t offer it to you. My brother needs me and I can’t walk away from that.”

“Because he’s the only family you have?”

The corner of his mouth tipped up in a smile and he nodded once in acknowledgment.

“Aside from my father, yeah. Nothing matters more to Cas than his family. When his grandfather was murdered, it almost broke him. He’s vowed to have vengeance and I’ve vowed to support him.

If I leave them now, they’ll be vulnerable to all the enemies we’ve made.

I won’t walk away.” He was silent as he took a deep breath and looked off into the mountains in the distance.

“This whole place should be his. I’m the illegitimate one. ”

Pain tightened her throat as she realized that he held the burden of his father’s sins on his own very capable shoulders. “You don’t have to atone for all of the things your father has done.”

“No, I don’t. But someone should. Cas deserves it.” The fierce intensity in his eyes when he looked back at her went through her like a bolt of lightning.

She loved him in that moment. Every man she had ever known in her entire life had let her down one way or another. Hunter was different, or at least he was when it came to his brother. “What are we doing, Hunter?”

“Hell if I know,” he whispered, slowly shaking his head, his gaze tracing her face before lighting on her lips.

Before she could even think of the many reasons she shouldn’t, she leaned up just enough to press her lips to his.

When they parted, her tongue slipped inside to brush his and it felt so good she didn’t think at all anymore.

His hand moved to cup the back of her head, holding her close as he deepened the kiss, filling her with his heat and making her ache to be filled in other ways.

If she moved just a little, she knew that she’d find him aroused and the knowledge thrilled her.

Another squeal from the water made her jerk back, glancing over to make sure they hadn’t been caught.

He didn’t let her go though, his hand tightened in her hair and a thrill of pleasure shot through her.

She loved that he knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid of taking it.

Being near him, with him, had made her bolder, too.

Like maybe she could take what she wanted as well.

Before she could stop herself, she kissed him again, a quick peck on the mouth before she was sliding out from under him.

Too stunned to react, he let her go, eyes narrowing as she backed away.

Grinning, she turned and ran, giving him one last glance on her way to the river, but squealed and quickened her pace as he came to his feet to give chase.

Her sisters looked up and laughed before they, too, ran along the shallows at the edge of the river.

He closed the distance quickly and a muscled arm wrapped around her waist just as her bare feet touched the icy water, swinging her around. “You’re playing with fire,” he growled near her ear, and his other arm went around her hips, pulling her back against him so that she could feel his arousal.

“Is that a bad thing?”

He laughed softly and took in a deep breath, his nose buried in her hair. “It is if you don’t want to get burned.”

“Maybe I do.”

He went deathly still at her words as if he couldn’t believe they meant what he wanted them to mean.

She couldn’t blame him for his confusion.

She’d been the one putting distance between them, but she was tired of fighting, tired of listening to that rational voice that always made sense but never got her anywhere.

“Emmy...” His breath stroked her ear, making her shiver.

“I do, Hunter. Tonight. Tomorrow. Whatever time we have left, I want you.” She closed her eyes because she couldn’t say those words with them open.

His breath came out in a low curse and his arms tightened around her so that she savored his hard chest at her back.

She wanted this. Him. While she could have it.

He turned her in his arms before she could protest, but when he would have covered her mouth with his, she pressed her fingers to his lips.

“The children.”

He cursed again and she spared them a glance. They had stopped running and watched them curiously.

“Don’t children nap?” he whispered.

“They’re too old for naps.” She laughed and wiggled away.

“Tonight then.” He said it like a warning, making her laugh again. There was no way she could bring herself to stay away from him. No warning required.

After their picnic they had started back for home.

It took them over an hour, but despite the fact that he was a vastly better rider than all of them, he had never once seemed impatient.

He did fall back once or twice to give her a lingering glance that set her body on fire.

Once they reached the stables, a stable hand came out to help her sisters, leaving her to the mercy of her captor.

Hunter helped her down much as he had the first time, but boldly cupped her bottom with one hand and held her close as his mouth closed over hers quickly.

It wasn’t more than a moment, but it left her breathless as she watched him walk away.

They spent the rest of the afternoon touring the property.

They played in the loose hay of the barn and then fed corn to the chickens.

After dinner, they retired to the nursery to play board games and then Emmy read stories aloud, taking requests from each of them, even Hunter who had apparently memorized every title at their disposal.

When she kissed the girls good-night, he met her in the hallway, taking her hand and giving her a wicked smile as he led her to his bedroom.

“I should freshen up.” She pulled her hand away, suddenly nervous now that the time had come to be alone with him. She’d washed before dinner and changed back into the blue dress she had borrowed from Glory.

He only shook his head and put his arm around her, pulling her close when they reached his door. “You smell good,” he whispered into her hair. “I swear I can still smell you on my skin.” His hands settled on her hips and his lips brushed her temple.

“So do you.” She knew that she’d never get enough of his smell, that spice that was uniquely him beneath the leather and outdoors scent that clung to him.

If she leaned up on her toes, she could press her face into the hollow of his warm neck and breathe him in.

So she did, clinging to his shoulders so she wouldn’t wobble.

Then she pressed a kiss there, allowing the tip of her tongue to taste him before pulling back to meet his gaze.

“Is this what you want?”

She nodded and reached for his doorknob, surprised when his hand covered hers and stopped her.

“If you say yes, this won’t be just for a night.”

“What do you mean?” Her gaze met his.

“It means that I hope you’ll share my bed the entire time you’re here.”

“Can’t we just take one night and see what happens?”

Taking a deep breath, he studied her face for a moment before answering her with a question. “Why are you so afraid of me?”

“I should think it’s obvious.” Didn’t he realize how he could crush her without even meaning to do it?

Her words startled him and he set her back away from him. “Dammit, Emmy, you know that I wouldn’t force you. That’s not what this is to me. I’m not your captor anymore—”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Grabbing his hands, she put them back around her and stepped close in the loose circle of his arms. “You forget that I was given an armoire full of other women’s clothing.”

He let out a frustrated breath, but he tightened his arms so that she was against him once more. “That’s why you haven’t worn them? You’re jealous.”

“No.” She bristled immediately, but couldn’t think of a better term for her feelings. “I just don’t want that to be the way it is. I don’t want to be your mistress. I want things to be more...more equal than that.”

“I don’t have mistresses, Emmy. Even if I did, you wouldn’t be one of them.” He smiled.

“But the gowns? The bedroom?”