Chapter Thirteen

The sound steadily running water reached Brody's ears about an hour before sunset and he took off running toward it, pulling Elizabeth, who was dead on her feet, along with him.

"A river!" she exclaimed happily when she saw it. It was a good twenty feet wide and further down it became quite rough and fast moving but right in front of them it looked placid and deep, the perfect place for a bath. There were small oaks, sycamores and pines around them and bright wildflowers stuck out of the long grasses.

"Looks like home for the night," Brody agreed.

Elizabeth nodded and without either needing to say a word they set about gathering wood for the fire and grass for the bed, neither pretended to think that they'd need two beds tonight.

"I'll go see if I can find us some food," Brody said once they had a small fire going.

"Okay," she replied letting her gaze go to the river. "I'm gonna get a bath while you're gone."

"No. Wait until I get back. I don't want you running around buck naked and have somebody come up on you alone."

Elizabeth felt her temper flare at his commanding tone. Would it hurt the man to say please every now and then? "You're not my boss, Brody." she snapped, squaring her shoulders and jutting out her chin.

Brody stuck his thumbs in his belt loops, "Fine then. I'm sure whatever trail weary, woman deprived, outlaw that rides through here will just keep on his merry way and not bother you a bit if he see's you in all your glory, naked down there in that water." The thought of her naked in that water stirred his own passion and he turned quickly, "Do whatever you want, Miss McCready. I reckon you're the boss," he said without looking back.

Elizabeth glared at his back until he disappeared over a small hill. That man was the single most bossy man she had ever met and, God help her, but she loved him anyway.

She walked over to the waters edge and pulled off her boots and socks. She curled her nose at the sight of her sweaty, stinky feet. She rolled her pants up to just below her knees and walked out into the water, enjoying the cool feel of it against her overheated skin.

Elizabeth walked back to the bank and sat down on the grass. She dangled her feet in the water, enjoying the shade the trees provided and listening to the birds singing their last songs before sunset. She thought of her father and wondered how he was faring with her disappearance. Did he know that she and Brody had been kidnapped? Was anyone looking for them? She prayed that his health would hold up long enough for her to get home, even though she was going to break his heart when she arrived and told him that she wasn't marrying Grant.

There was only one man in this world that she would ever marry and that was Brody Atkinson. Strong, stubborn, infuriating, but sometimes gentle and entertaining, Brody Atkinson.

***

Brody might have spent thirty minutes chasing the rabbits around the field like a fool but victory had been his in the end and he was heading back to camp with two of them and a handful of wild onions for dinner and breakfast in the morning.

He walked back to camp, not bothering to whistle a warning because he expected to find Elizabeth waiting on the bank for him and when he walked over the hill and saw her standing like some sort of goddess in the water, he froze. The sunset was behind her, illuminating her wet, naked body and making her seem to glow orange in its light as she stood hip deep in the water.

Her long blond hair was wet and hanging long down her slender back. When she threw her head back and arched her body, causing her small, high breasts to rise, he stared hard at them and watched droplets of water run down those mounds and over her rosy pink nipples.

All thoughts of self control and waiting until they were out of danger and in a proper bed disappeared from his mind as the rabbits and onions fell to the ground. Brody walked at a fast, steady pace to the waters edge. Elizabeth looked up and when her eyes fell on him she gasped and quickly crossed her arms over her chest, to hide her breasts from view. This simply pushed them up and he felt his mouth go dry at the sight of them swelling above her arms.

He moved his gaze down her tight stomach, tiny waist and the feminine swell of her hips. He cursed the water when it stopped his gaze from seeing the triangle of curls between her thighs and her long legs.

"Brody! Give me my clothes," Elizabeth squeaked.

Brody shook his head, "Nope."

"Brody...." she warned and then her eyes widened when he began to unbutton his dirty white shirt. "What are you doing?!"

He shrugged the shirt off his shoulders, "Taking a bath."

Elizabeth could hear the deep, raspy quality of his voice and she could see the darkness in his eyes. She felt a flush start in her cheeks and spread down her neck and chest. She knew what he wanted and despite her fear that it would be as painful and scary as the first time she'd been taken, she wanted Brody too.

She felt her pulse begin to race she took in the sight of his body. She had seen plenty of shirtless men working at the ranch but the sight of Brody was unlike anything she had ever seen. He was all hard lines and sharp angles. There was a wildness and a ruggedness about him that made him look untamed and untamable with his long, brown hair, his sharp green eyes, the clearly defined muscles of his broad chest and flat stomach. His waist was lean and narrow and a dusting of brown hair covered his chest and formed a thin trial down to the waistband of his pants. Elizabeth blushed and bit her lips when she imagined what was beneath those pants.

Elizabeth watched him pull off his boots and then she turned quickly when he began to undo his pants and Brody smiled at her innocence. He slid out of his pants, knowing that he was already hard for her. His blood was running so hot in his veins it felt like it was burning him alive. He stood on the bank for several more seconds, just watching her. The way she had turned had curved her graceful back and he could see the top of her tight, curved backside.

Elizabeth turned her head to look back at him and her jaw dropped. She had never seen a completely naked man but she knew there wasn't a single man alive that would paint the picture that was Brody. His thighs were thick with muscle, his hips lean and when her eyes fell on the spot between his legs she felt a twinge of fear. Surely something that big would hurt her!

Brody made his way into the water and dove beneath it. Elizabeth waited with baited breath for him to resurface and when he did she gasped with surprise. He rose up less than a foot away from her and he tossed his hair back, causing droplets of water to fly through the air, turning orange, pink and red with the sunset.

"Feel better?" she gasped, though her voice was barely more than a husky whisper as his heat and his power overwhelmed her.

There was suddenly not enough oxygen to breath around them as the air itself seemed to crackle and pop with heat and fire. She wondered if Brody was feeling the same things. Instead of answering her, he just shook his head and kept that predatory gaze on her face. Suddenly she didn't feel like a tough cowgirl, she felt like a tiny mouse caught in the sights of a powerful eagle and she was helpless to avoid capture.

"This is better," he growled and he pulled her into his arms, pressing her body flush against his so that his hardness was nestled in her stomach and their hearts were thundering against each other's chests.

"Brody, I...." She wanted to tell him she was afraid. She wanted to tell him that she couldn't do this but the words just wouldn't form on her tongue. She knew he must have seen the emotions in her eyes because his gaze suddenly softened and filled with a tenderness that she had never seen in them before. His rough and calloused hand became velvet as it brushed against her cheek and his lips were gentle when they came down against her own.

Elizabeth had kissed before but those had been innocent pecks that were hardly more then simply friendly gestures. This was different. This kiss, though gentle, was full of fire and passion. It was clear that Brody was using everything he had to hold himself back. He was practically shaking with his restraint.

Elizabeth threw her arms around his neck and locked her hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His teeth nipped at her lip and she wasn't sure what he wanted but she let him take the lead and he pushed her mouth open and tasted her with his tongue, igniting a flame deep in her abdomen that made her ache with wanting.... Her body wanted Brody, her heart wanted Brody, she wanted Brody.

She wanted Brody more than she wanted to please her father. She wanted him more than the ranch, more than the money, more than the legacy her father had built. Her father's rules be damned, Brody had her heart and now she was going to give him her body and soul. She just prayed he wouldn't break any of those three things.

"I want you, Elizabeth." Brody growled as he pulled away and stood stone still, his breathing harsh.

"You've got me, Brody. You've got all of me," she replied.

She heard him let out a sigh of relief and then he let go of the self control he'd been holding onto. His mouth became a fiery brand as it came back to hers and seared her with its mark. He moved away from her mouth, along her jaw and down her neck, feeling her tremble beneath him. His finger tips left fiery trails along her skin as they moved down her shoulder, along her waist, her hips and then back up to cup her small breasts.

"So perfect," he whispered and he moved his lips to one of her rosy nipples causing her to cry out and cling to him as her knees buckled. Never had she imagined that a mans mouth and hands could cause this sort of pleasure to course through her body. Then she realized that not any man could, just Brody. She was aching for more and Brody seemed to read her mind as he moved his mouth back to hers.

She felt herself grow brave and lowered a trembling hand to his hardness. She had never touched a man in this way before and she was shocked by how tight and hard it felt. No wonder the man looked as if he was in pain. She gripped it in her hand and he nodded as his jaw tensed and his eyes drifted closed. She didn't know what she was supposed to do now and his hand closed around hers and guided her up and down.

Elizabeth enjoyed hearing him moan and more than once her name passed through his lips. Once she had the rhythm down she felt him remove his hand from hers as he crushed his lips against hers once more. She kept pleasuring him with her hand and then nearly let out a scream when she felt his fingers on the soft triangle of wet curls between her legs.

Her first thought was 'will he hurt me?'. It had hurt so badly when that other man had taken her. But then she called herself a crazy fool and welcomed his touch. This was Brody. He might be arrogant, rude and bossy but he would never hurt her. She felt as if her body was going to burst into flames as his fingers teased and stroked her and then she forgot all about pleasuring him as she clung to his shoulders and threw her head back, angling her hips closer to him.

"I wanted to go slow, Elizabeth, but I need you now," Brody growled, his voice was tight and barely controlled.

Elizabeth looked in his eyes and nodded, "I need you too." Her body was screaming for more. More. More. More. He put his hands on her hips and lifted her into the air. She wrapped her legs around his waist and then cried his name when she felt the length of him slide into her, stretching and filling her to the max.

They were still for several long moments. Elizabeth clung to him with her face buried against his neck and Brody ran his hands up and down her back. He lowered his hands to her backside, gripping her tightly and then he began to move. He pulled nearly all the way out of her and she whimpered in protest just before he thrust back in, even deeper than before.

Elizabeth kissed him hungrily as the pace quickened. She felt the pleasure building and building as the cool water splashed against their bodies. Their moans mingled in the darkening night air and both were deaf and blind to anything but each other.

Brody had never made love like this before. Always before Elizabeth, it had been whores at the whorehouse that had satisfied his needs and he had thought that was good enough. But now..... Now he knew he'd never touch another woman again. This was his woman. Her body was made for his and they fit together perfectly. Elizabeth McCready was all he wanted forever.

He heard her moans become more urgent and he knew she was almost to her peak. He quickened the pace and just as she cried out and threw her head back, he felt his own release and he yelled her name as his body stiffened and wave after wave of pleasure coursed through him.

Her head fell on his shoulder and her warm breath teased his skin as they stayed wrapped together in the water.

"I had no idea....." she whispered and Brody smiled.

"Me either," he replied honestly as he kissed her wet hair.

He carried her up the bank and laid her on the grass bed before laying on his back beside her. She turned on her side and curled up against him, laying her head on his chest and listening to his heart beating steadily beneath his ribs.

"Brody, I..." she stopped, suddenly afraid to say the words that were in her heart.

He ran his fingers along her back and over the swell of her hip, "What is it?"

"I'm hungry," she said, feeling like a coward for not telling him that she loved him like she had wanted to. What if she told him and he didn't say it back? What if she was wrong about the look she saw in his eyes and this was just rutting to him? Her pride and her heart couldn't take his rejection.

"Worked up an appetite, huh?" he teased and she heard him smile. Elizabeth nodded weakly against his chest and he kissed her hair before moving away from her and standing up. She watched him walk over toward the bank and she enjoyed the view of his lean legs and tight backside as he picked up his dirty pants and pulled them on.

He walked barefoot a little ways up the small hill and her eyes widened when he picked up two rabbits by their ears and a handful of wild onions.

"Rabbits?" she asked as he walked closer.

He nodded, though thinking hard enough to reply was damn near impossible with her naked body curled up on the grass like it was.

"Yeah," he responded gruffly.

Elizabeth realized she was still naked and suddenly felt shy. She quickly stood and walked over to her clothes, pulling everything on but her socks and boots and walking barefoot back to the campfire where he was already skinning his catch.

"How did you manage to get rabbits? You don't even have a gun or traps."

"I got hands, don't I?" he replied and she was sure her jaw dropped.

"You caught those rabbits with your bare hands?" she demanded and he shook his head.

"No, you crazy woman, that's impossible. First I stunned 'em with a rock and then I caught them."

"You are something else." she replied and he smiled.

"Coming from you, Elizabeth, I'll take that as one heck of a compliment."

Their eyes met and there was a warmth and softness in his eyes that took her breath away. Where did mean Brody go? This Brody was tender and gentle and without the single sign of a bristle.

"I do wanna know something though," he said, turning his attention back to the rabbits.

"What?"

"Why in the hell did you get naked and get in that water while I was gone when I specifically told you to wait until I got back?"

There was bristly, bossy, arrogant Brody, back in full force. But this time instead of getting angry it made her smile. Her body was still humming from his love making, making anger impossible.

"Because I got tired of waiting on you to get back. I figured I'd have enough time to get a bath and be dressed before you got back. Thank goodness I was wrong," she added with a wink.

Brody shook his head as he set up some sticks to cook the meat on, "You'll be the death of me, you stubborn woman," he said with exasperation. "Will there ever come a day when you just do as I say?"

"No," she replied honestly. "I ain't the kind of woman that can be controlled by a man, no matter how tough and commanding he might be. You're free to find you a more agreeable woman if that would suit you better."

Brody shook his head and grabbed her by her chin to her pull her face close to his, "I like the know it all, pain in the ass, little woman I got right now just fine." He kissed her nose and then let her go and she felt herself glowing with happiness. "Now let me get this food ready so we can take care of that stomach of yours."

"Brody, how is your arm?" Elizabeth asked after he had the meat cooking over the fire. He looked down at the bandana tied around him and shrugged.

"Fine."

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

He raised a brow, "I got shot, cowgirl. It hurts."

Elizabeth reached for the bandana, "Let me look at it."

He shook his head and pulled his arm away, "It's fine, woman. It's barely more than a flesh wound and it smells fine. It ain't infected or nothing."

"I just want to take care of you," Elizabeth urged, trying to reach for his arm again.

"Dammit, Elizabeth, I've been taking care of myself for nine years! I sure as hell don't need you to do it for me now," he replied stubbornly. Elizabeth sat back and folded her arms in her lap, "Fine, stubborn ass, but when you get gangrene and your arm rots off, don't be asking me to help you button your pants because you can take care of yourself."

"Finally, she listens to something I say," he mumbled with a heaven bound gaze.

Elizabeth glared at him and picked up one of the rabbit bones, tossing it at him and hitting him in the chest, "Shut-up," she grumbled and his deep, rich laughter filled the night.

***

Brody waited until Elizabeth was sound asleep against him before slipping silently from the bed and walking to the other side of the fire. He untied the bandana from his arm and looked down at the bright red, swollen skin. He had lied to her about not being infected. But what good would it have done to let her look at the wound and see that it was nasty? All that would have done was make her worry about him and he didn't want her worrying over him.

He knew what had to be done and as much he wished he had some whiskey to numb his brain with before he did it they were fresh out. Brody grabbed his bandana and carried it down to the water, getting it thoroughly wet before carrying it back to the fire.

He pulled his knife from his boot and stuck it in the flames to sterilize it before holding it in his left hand and sinking it into his wound. Sweat popped out on his forehead and his veins and muscles bulged as he fought the urge to yell out in pain. He methodically cut away every bit of infected flesh from the inside of the wound. He then reheated his knife, until the metal was glowing red and orange and he took a deep breath before pressing the flat side of the knife tight against his wound.

He did this to both sides of his arm and then sat there breathing harshly as he looked at his now closed up wound. The threat of infection was gone and he could handle pain. It would leave one hell of a scar but at least it wasn't going to continue to rot and cause him to lose his arm, or his life. He tied the wet bandana back around his arm and then went back to Elizabeth.

She was lying on her side and he curled up to her back, wrapping her tight against him. The pain seemed to fade when she was against him like this and he kissed her soft hair and smiled.

"I need you more than you know, Miss McCready." Brody heard her sigh with contentment as she snuggled closer against him and continued sleeping.