‘‘Say it, Allie.’’ His voice was low with need. ‘‘Say you want me.’’

Suddenly there was no air in her lungs, no air in the room. Allie wanted to fight and run. She wanted to get away from all the world, all the hurt and all the pain. But his body leaned warm and protectively against her side. His hand rested low, holding her in place, holding her to him.

His soft kisses rained against her cheek. ‘‘Say it, Allie. Look at me and say the words.’’

She looked at him then as her blood pumped through her veins in panic. Thoughts of fighting filled her senses. She’d fight. She’d kill if she had to. No one would hurt her again.

Only she saw no devil. She saw only Wes with his warm brown eyes filled with worry and doubt. His strong body held her still, but she knew he understood her pain. He was not the enemy but there beside her to help her fight the nightmares.

There was no overwhelming desire, no passion-driven look about him. There was only concern. And she knew he wasn’t doing this for himself, but for her.

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his hand over her. ‘‘I want you,’’ she forced the words. ‘‘I need you to make love to me.’’

Wes kissed her and whispered against her mouth, ‘‘Say it again, darling.’’

‘‘I want you,’’ she answered as she felt his hand began to explore. ‘‘I need you to love me.’’

When she stiffened suddenly, his voice filled her world.

‘‘Look at me, Allie,’’ he ordered gently. ‘‘Don’t close your eyes.’’ His hand grew bolder, but his stare never left her face.

She held her breath, expecting pain, but none came. His eyes told her all she needed to know. He’d never hurt her.

Suddenly, a fire exploded within her, and she began to move with his touch.

He slid a few inches away so that he could watch her. Only his hand rested on her now. She could have pulled from his hold easily if she’d wanted, but she didn’t want to leave the pleasure.

His fingers were bold as they moved, making her cry out for more. She’d expected him to kiss her, but his mouth closed over the tip of her breast and the pleasure she thought could grow no greater increased.

When his mouth returned to her lips, she pulled him close, needing his kiss as she had never needed anything in her life. She wanted to be kissed fully, and he gave her what she wanted. A kiss so full of desire it took her breath away.

When she relaxed back on the bed, he smiled down at her, his hand still touching her. ‘‘You’re ready now, Allie. There will be no pain.’’

She’d expected him to move above her, but he pulled her atop him. She went willingly, unafraid.

He kissed her tenderly as his hands slid along her hips and lowered her body over him. A warmth spread through her as he moved within, filling her completely with his passion.

Any noise she would have made was muffled in the depths of his kiss as the joining of their bodies became complete.

His hands on her hips, he taught her the dance of loving, one step at a time. Emotions overwhelmed her as his kisses continued. Her breasts molded against the wall of his chest, and a part of him touched deep inside her, stirring a fire… a fire that built until she moved without his encouragement.

As pleasure suddenly shot through her like a cannon, Allie felt him tighten every muscle. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him as his body shook from the passion.

For a long while, she lay atop him, listening to his breathing return to normal, enjoying the way his hands slowly stroked over her from shoulder to thigh.

Finally, he drew her face up gently with his hands and looked into her eyes. ‘‘Are you all right, darling?’’

She saw that the sudden flame of passion had reached him also, for his eyes still hinted of the wildness they’d just experienced. His hair was tossed, and his face slightly flushed. He’d never looked so handsome.

‘‘Again, please,’’ she whispered.

TWENTY-NINE

WES HIT THE ICY WATER LIKE A DEAD MAN TOSSEDin to float downstream. He hardly felt the cold surround him and remained underwater until his lungs demanded he surface to breathe.

He’d made love to Allie four times, and it wasn’t even dawn yet. In between, she touched him and he touched her. They kissed so often and so deeply, he was sure he scraped her face raw with his stubble.

And each time he finished, Wes felt like he drained his very soul into her, and she only begged for more.

At this rate, he’d be dead within a matter of days. Wes shook the water from his head and laughed. Maybe that was why Miss Victoria had had so many husbands, if Allie was anything like her grandmother. He’d fought all day in battle and not felt this tired, or this close to heaven.

With each of their matings, a wildness grew stronger within Allie. He’d heard that women were told to lie still and endure a husband’s needs. Allie had obviously missed such a lecture. She was an active participant, wanting to know and explore. With each loving, a part of her fear vaporized until the strong woman she’d been meant to be shone through.

Wes leaned back and let the cold water rush over him. He’d found in Allie something else besides war to make him feel totally alive. He found an equal inside the frightened creature he’d thought to save. He might have delivered her from terror, but she ransomed him from a life of never feeling anything too deeply. She brought him back to life after layers of war had numbed him.

Thinking about her made a longing grow within him. He climbed from the river and wrapped himself in a blanket, suddenly in a hurry to be back by her side.

Clouds promising rain blackened the night. On his way back to the cave, he checked the animals, making sure they were beneath the cover of trees in case a storm came.

When he reached the chamber deep within, Allie lay curled in a blanket, sound asleep. Wes warmed himself by the fire before lying beside her. It didn’t matter that this was probably one of the coldest, dampest, hardest beds he’d ever slept in. Allie made it perfect.

‘‘I love you,’’ he whispered into her hair. ‘‘I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything or anyone in my life.’’ He had to say the words aloud, even if only for his ears. His love for her was greater than he thought himself capable of feeling.

As Allie slept, Wes listened to the distant drum of the rain. Occasionally, a few drops would slip through the crack in the roof of the cave and sizzle into the fire. The wind moved through the cavern in a whisper, chilling whatever part of him didn’t face the flames. He pulled another blanket over them both, but sleep eluded him.

Sometime after a gray dawn, Wes came to a conclusion. He wanted Allie as his wife forever. Not until she was safe or until she found a home. He wanted her home to be with him. He wanted to live with her every day of the life he had left. Like Maxwell and Victoria, he wanted to be buried next to her in a family plot their grandchildren would visit.

But he had nothing to offer her other than a dugout on a ranch without cattle. She deserved more. Though the frame of a fine house had been started, the wood would be rotted before he had enough money to finish building. All he’d ever been a success at in life was being a soldier, and the war was over.

Wes thought of the map. The Goliad gold. He was within a day’s ride of it. He could leave Allie and be back before she had time to miss him.

If he told her of his plan, she would want to follow, and Wes had no idea what he might encounter. She would be safer here in her cave. He’d bring in enough firewood to last a week and leave her the supplies.

But he couldn’t leave Allie without her knowing he’d be back. She had to understand that last night was the beginning, not the end. A note might work, but he wasn’t sure she could read.

Wes reached for his trousers. As he dressed, he pulled the compass his father had given him from his pocket. Turning over the largest of her baskets, he placed the compass on top. She would have no trouble seeing it when she woke up. She’d know he’d be back. He’d told her he never left his compass. She would know, and she’d wait.

He buttoned his coat and slipped from the chamber, leaving everything he loved deep within the cavern walls.

The wind seemed stronger as he lifted his saddle and moved into the rain. ‘‘I’ll be back soon,’’ he mumbled, wishing he could have awakened her before he left. But he knew her. She had a way of talking him into seeing things her way, even when she didn’t speak at all.

Wes was just crossing the river when the wind whispered through the chamber once more, blowing the basket over and sending his compass rolling into the stack of pelts.

Allie awoke slowly, as if from a long dream. For a few minutes, she was more in her dream than in reality. The damp coldness of the cave made her shiver and reach for Wes… He was gone.

An hour later, she stood and dressed in the shadowy light of the fire. There was no need to check the cave entrance. She knew his saddle would not be there. He’d been a man of his word. He said he would take her to the cave if she asked. He never said he would stay.

Allie rolled up the buffalo hide and placed it atop the stack of pelts. Light from the tiny crack in the top of the cavern told her it was day, but clouds prevented any sunbeams. She’d learned years ago to judge the time by the thin sliver of light moving across her room while the day aged.

Walking to the cave opening, she looked out at the rain. Wes hadn’t even waited for the storm to clear.

She thought of all the things she’d been called in her life. Wild, savage, creature, a throwaway woman. All names that spoke of her lack of value. But, for a few days, he’d called her darling. He’d held her with cherishing arms. And now his night of lovemaking would have to last her a lifetime.