The Durango Affair Part 10

A few moments later Durango was standing beside Savannah as they faced the older man who was employed by the Cascade to perform wedding ceremonies. Durango had no problem saying I do I do to any of the things the man asked him since he planned to adhere to his marriage vows for the brief time the marriage lasted. to any of the things the man asked him since he planned to adhere to his marriage vows for the brief time the marriage lasted.

Although he had been fully aware of each and every question he'd been asked, he'd also been fully aware of the woman standing beside him. The subtle scent of her perfume was zapping his senses. She could arouse feelings in him that were better left alone. And today of all days, the flesh beneath his suit was burning with memories of the time they had spent in the hot tub together.

"I now p.r.o.nounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."

The man's words intruded on Durango's thoughts, giving him a mental start at the realization that the ceremony was over. He was now a married man and it was time to seal his vows with the traditional kiss. He turned to Savannah and saw her tense although she gave him a small smile.

At that moment he wanted to a.s.sure her that everything was going to be all right and they had done the right thing for their child. He reached out and touched her, gently ran the backs of his knuckles down her cheek while looking deeply into her eyes. And within seconds he felt her relax.

When a sigh of contentment eased from her lips he leaned forward. The kiss he'd intended was to be brief and light. But the moment his mouth touched hers, a strong sense of desire overtook him and he kissed her with a force that surprised even him.

His common sense told him that now was not the time for such a strong display of pa.s.sion, but slipping his tongue into her mouth, wrapping his arms around her small waist and hungrily mating his mouth with hers seemed as natural as breathing. And the feel of her palms gliding over his shoulders wasn't helping one iota.

It was only when McKinnon touched his shoulder and jokingly said aloud, "I see these two are off to a good start," that Durango pulled back.

"I'd rather the two of you not mention anything to the family about my marriage just yet," Durango said to Ian and Chase a few minutes after the ceremony had ended and he could speak with them privately. "I want to be the one to tell them."

Both men nodded. Then Ian said, "Mom isn't going to be happy about not being here at your wedding."

"Yes, but this is the way Savannah and I wanted to do things."

"When are you going to tell everyone?" Chase inquired. It wasn't easy keeping secrets in the Westmoreland family.

"I'm going to call the folks when we get back. Once I tell Mom, the news will spread like wildfire. But it will be another month before we'll be able to travel home. One of the rangers is out on medical leave and we're shorthanded."

"When you do come home expect Aunt Sarah to have one h.e.l.l of a wedding reception planned," Chase said, grinning. "She might be upset at first about your elopement, but she'll be ecstatic that another one of her sons has gotten married."

Durango nodded, knowing that was the truth. "I don't have a problem with her planning a reception," he said, thinking his mother was going to be surprised when she did see Savannah because she'd be showing a little by then. Then Sarah Westmoreland would be happy for two reasons. Another one of her sons would have married and she would have her first grandchild on the way.

"Your bride is on her way over here to claim you for more pictures," Ian said, grinning since he had been the one to hire a private photographer for the occasion. He wanted to have lots of pictures for his mother once she found out about the quickie wedding. Although Durango hadn't told him why he and Savannah had eloped, Ian thought he knew his brother well enough to know there was only one reason why a devout bachelor like Durango would have gotten married. Time would tell if his a.s.sumption was true.

"Savannah is a beautiful woman," Ian said, pretty sure his brother already knew it.

"She is, isn't she?" Durango agreed as he watched Savannah cross the room.

"You're a lucky man," Ian decided to add for good measure.

Durango continued to watch as Savannah came closer and at that moment he couldn't help but think the very same.

An hour or so later Savannah was stepping out of the shower. She glanced around the bathroom and noticed that the spa-style bathtub was large enough to accommodate at least four people.

She couldn't help wondering what Durango was doing. After sharing a wedding dinner with Ian, Chase and Jessica, they had returned to their suite, said goodnight and gone to separate bedrooms.

A part of her was disappointed that he hadn't kissed her goodnight. But she knew the reason why he hadn't. One kiss would lead to another, then another and eventually to something neither of them could handle. Durango was intent on keeping his word to keep his distance and she appreciated him for doing so.

He had looked so darn good at the ceremony that for one tantalizing moment she had wished that their wedding was real. But she knew that wasn't possible. In about a year or so, he would be going his way and she would be going hers. After all, they were sharing an in-name-only marriage.

But still...

Would having Durango for a temporary lover be so bad? It was amazing how you could develop an all-consuming craving for something you were perfectly fine doing without only months before. Prior to her one night with Durango she'd dated, but had never been into casual s.e.x. She hadn't been involved with anyone since she'd broken up with Thomas Crawford and she hadn't felt as if she was missing out. But all of that changed the night she and Durango had conceived their baby. From that night on she had been acutely aware of her body and its needs.

And then there were the memories that wouldn't go away. Durango and their night together had definitely left her with some lasting, vivid ones and a particularly special little moment, she thought, affectionately rubbing her tummy.

She glanced over at the bed and looked at the gown she intended to sleep in tonight. Alone. If she decided to share an intimate relations.h.i.+p with Durango, she had to remember that it would be with no strings attached. He didn't love her and she didn't love him. Remembering that would definitely make things easier emotionally when the time came for them to part ways.

She crossed the room and picked up the low-cut, short, barely there, flesh-tone nightgown and thought about the kiss they had shared after the man had announced them man and wife. She could still feel the heat from his lips on hers and just thinking about that kiss and the one they had shared last night in the hot tub sent shudders racing through her body. There was something about Durango Westmoreland that just kept her blood heated. Jessica had been right. Westmorelands weren't ordinary men.

Durango had been right, as well. There was no way they could entertain the thought of being married-even on a short-term basis-without there ever being a chance of them sharing a bed. She could see that now. Some marriages could truly be in name name only, but she realized now that theirs would have to be in only, but she realized now that theirs would have to be in bed bed and and name name only. And she could handle that because once the marriage ended, she would begin living a solitary life. Her total concentration would be on raising her child. She wouldn't have time to become involved with a man. To be perfectly honest, it wouldn't matter to her if she never had another lover. Her affair with Durango would be enough to sustain her. only. And she could handle that because once the marriage ended, she would begin living a solitary life. Her total concentration would be on raising her child. She wouldn't have time to become involved with a man. To be perfectly honest, it wouldn't matter to her if she never had another lover. Her affair with Durango would be enough to sustain her.

She knew what he said about abiding by her decision until she indicated she wanted things to be different between them. Well, now she had decided. She wanted things to be different.

Savannah saw Durango the moment she stepped out of the bedroom. He was standing on the balcony, gazing out at the lake. His chest was bare and he was wearing a pair of black silk pajama bottoms. His broad muscled chest and shoulders seemed to catch the remnants of the fading sunlight and it gave his dark skin an even richer glow. She wished she had time to get her camera and capture him on film so she could always have the breathtaking image at her fingertips.

As she continued to watch him her heartbeat quickened and the heat he had deliberately turned up earlier with his kiss was inching its way into a flame as she felt her body respond to his mere existence. And then, as if he'd sensed her presence, he turned slowly, capturing her eyes with his.

They stood there for a moment, separated by a few feet while s.e.xual tension flowed between them the same way it had that night in Atlanta, and Savannah could feel herself slowly melting beneath the heat of Durango's intense stare.

And then he moved, slowly closing the distance separating them, soundless as his bare feet touched the carpeted floor. She wondered if he knew the effect he was having on her, or if he knew just how beautiful he was.

Usually one didn't think of a man as beautiful, but in this case she had to disagree. Durango Westmoreland was handsome, good-looking and devastating. But he was also beautiful in a manly sort of way. It was there in the shape of his face, the intensity of his dark eyes, the build of his high cheekbones and the fullness of his lips. The closer he got to her, the more her body responded and she braced herself for the full impact when he came to a stop in front of her. He glanced down at her outfit and then met her gaze. She saw the questions in his eyes and felt the heat in them, as well.

"I've changed my mind about a couple of things," she said softly, thinking how good he smelled.

"Have you?"

She met his gaze levelly. "Yes."

"And what have you changed your mind about?" he asked in a voice that Savannah thought sounded way too s.e.xy.

"About my wedding night."

His eyebrows lifted. "Your wedding night?" wedding night?"

"Yes, I've decided that I want one."

He studied her. His gaze dark and heated. "Do you?"

"Yes." She was fully aware that he knew what she meant, but because he hadn't wanted to risk a misunderstanding, he had to be absolutely sure.

"Okay, I can handle that. Is there anything else that you want?"

She bit her lip a few times before saying, "I want for us to share a bed during the time we're married. I think we're mature enough to handle it, don't you?"

For a minute he seemed to absorb her words in silence before allowing a smile to touch his lips. "Sure, I don't see any problem in that. Do you mind telling me what made you change your mind?"

"I think it would be hard for us to share a house without sharing a bed. We're too attracted to each other and..."

He arched an eyebrow when she didn't finish. "And what?"

A smile touched the corners of her lips. "And I don't handle temptation very well, especially the Durango Westmoreland kind."

He reached out and placed his hand on her waist and leaned forward slightly. "Can I let you in on a little secret?" he whispered against her lips.

"Sure."

"I don't handle temptation well, either. Especially the Savannah Claiborne kind, so I guess on some things we see eye to eye. That's a good sign."

"Is it?" She couldn't help but look at his mouth since it was so close to hers.

"Mmm, let me show you just how good it is."

And then he captured her lips and the moment he did so a wave of desire swept across her to settle in the pit of her stomach. He wrapped her tight into his arms and the intensity of the kiss made her bones melt. Moments later he reluctantly released her mouth.

"There is something I want to do, Savannah, and it's something I had intended to do at Chase and Jessica's wedding reception but never got around to doing," he said as his lips gently kissed the corners of her mouth and slowly moved to the side of her ear.

"What?" she asked softly, barely able to get the question out.

"Dance with you," he murmured in a low, s.e.xy voice. He took a step back and held his hand out to her.

It was then that she heard the music, a melodic, soulful ballad by Anita Baker. The slow-tempo, easygoing jazzy sound of a saxophone in the background began flowing through her, touching all her senses, revving every nerve in her body and turning the heat up a notch more. Antic.i.p.ation surged through her veins when she placed her hand in his.

Her pulse quickened when he pulled her closer into his arms, and she came into contact with his bare chest.

"Enjoy the dance," he said, his voice a sensuous whisper against her ear. He pulled her even closer and she knew the exact moment he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. Their bodies meshed together perfectly as they moved to the slow beat, making them fully conscious of the scanty clothing they were wearing. She could feel the heat deepening between them, and the way her flimsy negligee was clinging to her, s.h.i.+fting, parting with every movement of her body against his, she was certain he was aware of it, which only made her more aware of him. Especially the thick hardness of him that was pressed against her stomach.

Sighing deeply, she buried her face into his bare shoulder, absorbing his strength, his scent, the hard masculine feel of him. And as if on instinct, she gently licked his skin with her tongue. She knew he felt it when his arms tightened around her waist.

"If you lick me I get to lick you back," he murmured gently. "And in a place of my own choosing," he said in a low, s.e.xy voice.

Savannah lifted her head and their eyes met, held. Deep down she antic.i.p.ated and hungered for his next move, knowing it would be another kiss. And when he stopped moving and slowly lowered his head to hers, an urgent need took hold of her senses once again.

A mixture of need, greed and unadulterated longing flowed through her veins the moment their lips touched. His mouth fastened tight on hers and she instinctively absorbed everything there was about him. His tongue was unbelievably skillful when it came to giving her pleasure. It was like a magnet, clinging to whatever was in its path, attracting her own tongue, taking hold of it, dominating it, eliciting pressure, giving energy.

She heard herself whimper, while s.h.i.+ver after sensuous s.h.i.+ver coursed through her body. She was helpless to do anything but return the kiss with equal intensity while his body strained against hers.

And then she felt herself being lifted effortlessly into his arms and at that moment she knew that this was just the beginning.

Durango broke off the kiss the moment he placed Savannah on the huge bed in the bedroom she had chosen. Then he stood back and gazed down at her. Her negligee was feminine and enticing. Seeing her in it nearly sucked the very breath from his lungs.

Coming back to the bed he placed a knee on the pillow-top mattress and reached out and touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s through the flimsy material. She made a low, sensuous sound the moment his hand came in contact with her and his fingers moved slowly, tracing a path around her nipples, feeling them harden beneath his fingertips.

His hand then slid down to her stomach. The flesh was exposed from the design of her lingerie, and he touched her bare skin, made circles around her navel, ma.s.saging it, caressing it, feeling the way her muscles tightened beneath his hand. Knowing his self-control was slipping, in one smooth sweep he removed the negligee completely, leaving her totally naked.

For the second time that night he actually felt the air he was breathing being sucked from his lungs. No woman, he quickly decided, should have a body this beautiful, this tempting, this seductive.

A slow, throbbing ache began inching its way through every part of him and as he stared at Savannah he felt an intense desire to possess her. Wanting to be sure she was ready for him, he reached out and touched the area between her legs, dipped his finger inside of her, stroked her, and saw she was indeed ready for him. She made a low moaning sound and he ceased what he was doing just long enough to remove his pajama bottoms.

"Durango."

His name was a whispered purr from her lips and he knew he was going to make love to her and not just have s.e.x with her. The impact of that almost sent his mind spinning, but he refused to dwell on it now. He was too engrossed in how Savannah was making him feel and how his body was responding to the very essence of her. He was experiencing emotions he had not felt since the last time he had been with her. Nothing and he meant nothing would stop him from sharing this night with the woman who was now his wife.

Easing back on the bed with her, he kissed her, discovering again the sweetness that always awaited him in her mouth. And then he covered her body with his, lifted her hips and broke off the kiss to look deep into her eyes. He slowly entered her. The impact of their joining was so profound his body momentarily went still as their gazes locked.

"I know this might sound arrogant," he said in a low, husky tone. "But I think this," he said, pus.h.i.+ng deeper into her body, "was made just for me."

Savannah smiled, adjusting her body to the intimate fit of his. "If you really believe that then who am I to argue? You definitely won't hear a peep out of me."

A s.e.xy, amused chuckle rumpled from his lips. "Let's just see about that because I like the noises you make," he said, remembering the sounds she had made the last time they had come together.

He began moving, a slow pace, needing to feel himself thrusting deep inside her, needing to arouse even further that feminine hunger within her that he longed to release. He wanted to stir it up, whisk it to a level it had never been before and then give her what they both needed. He wanted her hungry for him, starving for him, desperate for him.

Durango refused to let her hold back on anything with him, especially his need to become one with her. His desire became even more feverish from the rhythmic movements of Savannah's hips.

He wanted it all and more than anything he needed to hear her express her satisfaction. And with that goal in mind, he continued to move against her, sliding back and forth, stroking in and out between her legs, letting her feel the workings of his solid shaft within her as his hand lifted her hips for better contact, more intense pleasure. Several times his body nearly shuddered with the force of his own release but he found the strength to hold back, keep himself in check.

But the moment Savannah cried out in ecstasy, and he felt her body tighten around his, using every feminine muscle she possessed to aggressively claim what she wanted, he gave in and succ.u.mbed to his powerful release that pushed him over the edge.

And when he leaned down and captured her mouth, clung to it, devoured it like a starving man, he tightened his arms and legs around her, tilted her body at an angle that would increase their pleasure. Durango knew at that moment if he lived to be a hundred years old, he would only find this degree of pleasure here, in Savannah's arms.

He was forced to admit that only with this woman could he claim complete s.e.xual fulfillment. Only with her.

Ten.

D urango shook his head as he raised his eyes to the ceiling. He and Savannah had returned to his ranch that morning and he had decided to wait until late afternoon to make the call to his family. urango shook his head as he raised his eyes to the ceiling. He and Savannah had returned to his ranch that morning and he had decided to wait until late afternoon to make the call to his family.

"Yes, Mom, I'm telling you the truth. I got married on Friday, and yes, I married Jessica's sister, Savannah."