Chapter Ten

Rebecca swallowed hard before her tongue darted across her lip. There was something carnal in Brantley's gaze. Something that made her want to forget everything else and simply throw herself wantonly into his arms.

But she was a married woman. She had made vows to her husband... the same husband who had entertained several mistresses during their eight years of marriage and expected her to simply 'be okay' with it.

Never in her life had she felt a want like she felt with Brantley's hungry eyes on her. Surely if she gave in, just this once, it would be no worse than Martin's own indiscretions. What was good for the goose was good for the gander—isn't that what people said?

Rebecca took a step forward before hesitating. She should do this....

Brantley shoved himself to his feet in one fluid, graceful motion. He had shed his sling and he rolled his broad shoulders. Once more that finger hooked, beckoning her closer. "Come here, Rebecca."

In that moment, Rebecca lost herself and forgot every reason why she should resist her lust. Her feet carried her forward, much on their own accord. The heat radiating from Brantley's lean body engulfed her as she came to a stop mere with mere inches separating them.

Rough calloused fingers gently brushed along her cheek. Fire nearly swallowed her whole. "I want to have you, but, I won't take you if you're unsure. I'm not that kind of man."

Rebecca swallowed hard. Brantley was giving her a way out. She should take it. She should flee back into the cabin, lock herself away and not give in to the desire raging within her.

Rebecca met his green eyes and felt the tremble in her lips. "I'm not unsure. I want to have you too."

***

(A/N) Hey y'all. For some unknown, annoying reason this sex scene was giving me the WORST case of writers block i've ever had! I would sit down to write and just couldn't... so I'm going to stop it here and continue on with the story below. Hopefully, one day, i'll be able to add it in. But, for those who need to know. What happens is some earth-shaking, thigh-quaking, toe-curling, out-of-body then back-into-body, angels singing hallelujah sex.... Then they fall asleep in each other arms.

***

Hoff was equal parts annoyed, angry and intrigued. Once again, Martin Smallwood had sent Samson back to Hoff with another offer of less money than Hoff had requested.

What could that tiny waif of a woman possibly done to her husband to make the man have so little concern for her safety?

"What are we gonna do, boss?" Samson asked from the open flap of Hoff's tent. "Do you want me to take him another message?"

Hoff stared into the flickering light of the kerosene lamp on the ground in front of him. He rubbed at his jaw a moment before smiling. "No. I am going to be taking Mr. Smallwood his next message. And it's going to be a demand he won't have the nerve to counter."

Samson left the tent and Hoff let out a sigh and sat back. He hadn't planned on hurting Martin's little wife, but, it would seem that he had no choice. Martin Smallwood was going to learn the hard way that you didn't negotiate with the men who held your wife's life in their hands.

Even, after Hoff's persuasion, Martin handed over the money to have his wife returned, he'd be getting back less wife than he'd lost. It was time to pay a visit to Brantley and Mrs. Smallwood and fetch himself a souvenir that was bound to have Martin loosening the strings on his money pouch.

A/N: i know.. i know.. it's short! But that's because writers block refused to let me write half the chapter! The next chapter will be longer! And the writers block is no longer an issue so you'll have it within the next day or so!! Love y'all!

~Nicole