Jodi Thomas - The Lone Texan

"I didn't need it." Drum shrugged. "And I saw the dream in his eyes”

Travis nodded as if Drum made sense and walked back toward camp. "See you back at the ranch," he said without turning around.

An hour later, the boys waved good-bye to Sage and Drum as they headed back to the ranch with Travis. They'd made friends in the camp. Will missed little. If trouble came, he knew he could get back to the ranch.

Drum had insisted he and Sage ride into town and spend a night or two at the hotel. He claimed he wasn't ready to face the entire McMurray clan just yet, and Sage needed to check on the clinic.

She had a feeling what he really wanted was a night with her in a real bed. In all the times she'd slept in his arms, they'd never once been in bed.

SAGE AND DRUMMOND CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL and ordered dinner and baths delivered to the room. The desk clerk thought it strange they didn't use the same tub. After all, a tub full of water should be good for half a dozen scrubbings, but for an extra two dollars, he sent two tubs up with hot water for both.

With the food and wine waiting on the table, Sage stripped down and stepped into the tub. Drum did the same, making no pretense to follow her order not to look. He turned, watching her.

"Stop staring at me.” she finally ordered.

"I can't. I spent years dreaming about what you'd look like without clothes and, I got to tell you, you look far better than I could imagine. I'm crazy about the way your-"

"Stop right there”

"Mind if I stare as long as I keep my mouth shut?"

She stepped out of the tub and reached for a towel. "I doubt if I can stop you”

He grinned, noticing she took her time drying off and letting him see slices of her body not completely covered by the towel. "You're so beautiful, Sage. I look forward to spending the rest of my life watching you.”

She stopped and faced him, the towel dangerously low over her breasts. "We're truly married, I guess. I'm even bathing in front of you. Something I thought I'd never do, but I guess married couples make a habit of it”

He grinned, not surprised the idea was just registering. "You've always been my woman, Sage. From the first time I met you. It doesn't matter to me how many times we marry or don't marry; nothing changes that.”

"But we've never talked of the things people plan, like children and where we'll live. There are so many things I don't know about you”

He stepped from the water and wrapped a towel around his waist. "You know I'd die to keep you safe.” He crossed to stand in front of her. "You know you matter to me more than anyone ever has or ever will." He gently wrapped her in his arms. "And no matter how many fights we have, I'll still be dying to do this at the end of the day.”

His mouth closed over hers before she could ask any more questions. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. He tugged his towel off before he joined her. "I'm dying to hear those little moans you make.” He shoved her towel down and gripped her breasts with the assurance of a man who knows his advance is welcomed.

When she moaned, he smiled down at her. "Like that” he whispered against her ear as his hand moved over her damp body. "How about we plan tonight and worry about the rest of our lives in the morning?"

She agreed as he moved over her. He kissed her long and deep as his body brushed hers. He smiled when she tried to pull him closer, her body begging for attention.

"All right, honey.” he whispered against her ear as he gripped her thigh and eased her legs open. "I agree, it's time.”

When he entered her, there was no resistance this time, and her body arched to meet his. He moved slowly at first, making sure she was climbing into passion with him. Her body was hot beneath him. When he felt her tighten and begin to shake, he pushed deep inside her and sent her over the edge of all control.

She clung to him, making little sounds of pleasure as he moved above her, then he tumbled out of control also, and they held each other, becoming one completely.

When he could form a thought, he rolled, pulling her against his side. He could feel her heart pounding against his. He pulled the covers over them both, but his hands still stroked her bare body. He'd discovered the round softness of her hips and decided that was now his favorite part of her to touch. His hand moved back to her breast, then her hip. He couldn't make up his mind. They were both wonderful. Maybe if he tasted them, it would help make up his mind.

"Drummond?" she whispered. "What are you thinking?" "Nothing.” He decided being brain dead was preferable to answering.

"Did you know it would be like that?"

"No, but I prayed it would."

She stretched, pushing her breasts against his side. He gripped her leg and pulled it over him, enjoying the feel of her inner thigh against his skin. God, he loved the feel of her, all soft and damp from their lovemaking. About the time he was considering kissing the inside of her thigh, she asked another question.

"Will it always be like that? Can we do it again?"

God bless her, he was crazy about every inch of this woman. "We can, and we will, but I'll need a little rest first." He had to think of something, or she'd be the death of him tonight. "How about we eat before we start again? We've got all night."

She stretched again. He'd never thought of himself being a man who'd die in bed, but the woman was definitely going to be the death of him. Drum smiled. He'd go without a single complaint.

Watching her stand, he almost forgot about the food. She slipped into his shirt. It hung almost to her knees, and she looked adorable. He stood and pulled on his trousers, already thinking about the next time between the sheets while she uncovered the dinner.

He moved behind her and lifted her hair so he could kiss her neck. She sighed and leaned against him.

He felt her shiver and knew this time it was from the cold.

"I'll light the fire” he said, thinking he'd much rather have a fire than have her put on any more clothes.

As he lit the logs, he watched her.

"I love you, Drummond," she said calmly with her back to him.

"Don't say that.” He fought to keep anger from his voice. What they'd just done was nothing like what his mother did for a living. "I don't want to hear it.^-

Sage faced him. She knew he'd never been loved. Maybe he couldn't accept it, but she would. She'd tell him until he understood that she meant the words. "I love you." she said again, direct, without emotion in her voice. More slowly, she repeated, "I love you”

He stormed, "I said I didn't want to hear you say that. Never you”

Sage calmed enough to consider he might be completely mad. "Why?" she asked simply.

He stared out the window, knowing he had to be honest. No matter how ugly, there could be no secrets between them. "When I was little, I'd hide under my mother's bed at night. I heard her say those words to every man who came in. She didn't say them to me, only to them. Most of the time she'd be too drunk to remember their names so she'd just say, 'Course, I love you, mister. Leave the money on the table before we start, would you.' " He turned to her. "I don't want to ever hear you say those words. What we have… what we feel… what we do is nothing like her"

"I agree” Sage answered, looking down at the food. "But that doesn't stop me from loving you. No matter what you think, it's not a dirty word."

"Just don't-"

"Did she drink all the time?" Sage asked before he could finish the order.

He didn't look at her. "Yeah. From the time she got up." Sage picked up the bottle of wine and hurled it at him. Drum ducked a second before it hit his head.

"Then I shouldn't drink, because I'm nothing like her" Drum raised an eyebrow. The woman who'd melted in his arms minutes ago was now fighting mad because he didn't see things her way. He smiled. That was his wife.

"Did she eat beef?" Sage asked as she picked up the plate of steak.

"Of course," he answered as the plate flew toward him. He ducked, but the corner caught him just above the eye.

"Did she eat vegetables?"

"Stop it, Sage!" Drum yelled as peas and corn slammed against the wall behind him.

"No." Sage stormed toward him. "I don't want to be anything like her. That's what you want, right? So I can't even tell you I love you."

"Stop." He shoved blood out of his eye, knowing the cut was more bothersome than bad.

"Love is just a word to you. A dirty word. Well, it's far more than that to me. It's not just a feeling, it's a commitment. I'm saying I want to spend the rest of my life with you, you idiot. I want to wake up every morning with you, fight over everything and nothing with you, and make mad love to you every night." She picked up the apple pie. "And I want to tell you every day that I love you without you comparing me to your mother."

He took the pie from her hand and set it back on the table before he grinned at her. "Every day, Sage?"

“And night." She dabbed at his tiny cut with the napkin.

"So you want to be my woman. Only mine until we die. Is that what 'I love you' means to you when you say it?"

She understood what he'd been asking. "Yes." In his mind, that was how he asked her to marry him. It was his way of saying he loved her, and he'd been saying those words since he was a kid.

He pulled her roughly to him. "I am your man, Sage. I always have been."

She squealed and pulled away. "Not until we agree. I'll not have a marriage where you always get your way. If I can admit I'm your woman, you can sure as hell say you love me."

"I doubt we're in danger of you ever not getting your way.”

He knocked the chair over to reach her. "You're a spoiled brat."

She squealed again and darted away.

"Come here, wife!" he yelled. "When I catch you. I’ll make you pay." He took one more step, slipped on peas, and hit the floor hard.

Sage crumpled, holding her sides, trying not to laugh.

The door to their room crashed to the floor. Teagen stormed in with his gun drawn. He took in the scene. The room was a mess. His sister was curled on the floor in a ball. Drum was flat on his back. "I told you if you ever hurt my sister, I'd kill you."

Drum had had it. Sage's big brother had threatened for the last time. "Well, just shoot me, Teagen. I'm tired of waiting for the bullet” He stood, wiping peas off his chest. "Don't waste time, considering that I'm the one bleeding here. You've got it in your head to kill me, so go ahead. Make another pile of dirt for Sage to cry over."

Sage tried to pull the shirt she wore down at least to her knees as she stood. "We were playing, not fighting. I got mad and tossed our dinner at him, not that it's any of your business, Teagen. What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I came to talk to Drummond alone about something important, and I thought I heard him beating you near to death”

She smiled. "I'm all right." She patted her big brother's cheek.

Drum felt sorry for Teagen. He'd been her protector all her life, and now he'd lost his job. She didn't need him anymore. "I would never hurt your sister," Drum said. "I love her." "What?" Sage stared at Drum as if she didn't believe what she'd heard.

He grinned. "I love you."

Sage turned her back to him. "Teagen, put that door back on its hinges and go home to your family. I'm fine. I'm with my man”

Teagen holstered his gun and backed out of the room, still glaring at Drum. "I'll tell the clerk that you need another meal delivered, just in case you need something to throw at him.^” He picked up the door and set it in place. "What I came to say to you, Roak, can wait till morning. I'll meet you for coffee at dawn."

They heard Teagen storming down the stairs, probably waking anyone who might have slept through the fight.

"We've got to get us a place shouting distance away from my family.” she mumbled to herself as she faced Drum. "Sit down so I can have a look at that cut”

"It's nothing," he said, but he turned the chair over and sat. While she examined his cut, he slipped his hand beneath the shirt and brushed his fingers over her bottom.

She kissed the spot where the plate had hit him and whispered, "We're going to make love again tonight, aren't we?" He breathed her in, loving the way she responded to his touch. "After we eat and the door gets locked solid. Not before.

I don't want to be interrupted when I'm satisfying my wife." He kept his promise. Once they'd had dinner, he made slow, passionate love to her. When she cuddled next to him and slipped into sleep, he whispered, "I love you, honey." "I love you too?" she answered.