She cried out when he moved inside her, wrapping an arm under her left knee and bending her leg up so he could push even deeper.
“Let’s make another baby,” he told her, kissing her behind the ear, over her eyes, ravishing her mouth with his own.
For several minutes there was only the pure joy of mating, rhythmic thrusts matching rhythmic groans and gasps until finally his life spilled into her.
“Stay right here,” he told her. “I’m going to stay inside you and do this again.”
His hair fell around her face as he tasted her neck, moved to her breasts again, back to her neck while he kept a powerful arm under her leg and began the mating all over again. He loved the way she had of pulling him inside, and he deliberately held back a need to come until he felt her climax again.
“God, Katie, it feels so good.” His life surged into her again, and in the next moment, he relaxed on top of her, kissing her behind the ear. “Yes, you are my captive, and I’ve just claimed my woman.”
“Lloyd, the way you talk.” Katie smiled, reaching up and pushing some of his hair back behind his ears. “I swear you have a wicked side to you.”
“Of course I do. I’m a Harkner, aren’t I?”
Katie sobered. “Yes, and that’s what scares me. That terrible man who got out of jail wants to kill you, Lloyd.”
He kissed her again. “Don’t you be worrying about that. You know I can take care of myself.”
“Lloyd—”
“We aren’t going to talk about it.” He got to his knees, then picked her up and rose, carrying her to the pond. Katie’s screams of protest did no good. He dropped her into the water and dove in with her. “I’ll race you to the other side.”
“Lloyd Harkner, your arms are longer than mine!”
He took off swimming, and Katie followed. It wasn’t a big pond, and it took only a couple of minutes to reach the other side. They splashed at each other, and Katie studied her husband’s magnificent build as he came out of the pond naked. She joined him as he lay down in soft grass to rest. They both stared up at puffy white clouds.
“I wish it could always be like this, Lloyd. Quiet and peaceful with no danger lurking behind the trees.”
“There’s no danger lurking anywhere.” Lloyd traced a finger down between her breasts. “Compared to the dangers Pa and I faced every day when we were lawmen back in Oklahoma, this life is great.”
Katie leaned over and kissed him. “But with that man on the loose, it’s like your lawman days are coming back to visit. I hate it.”
Lloyd touched the side of her face. “Katie, I said we wouldn’t talk about that; but if you need reassuring, just remember that he doesn’t want to go back to prison or hang, which is what would happen if he tries anything. And don’t forget that I’m used to watching my back. I want you to stop thinking about it. It’s not likely anything will happen, but if it does, I’ll be ready for it. I just want you to be happy and to concentrate on having another baby.” He grinned, leaning over to taste her breasts again, lightly sucking at them. “We have to catch up with Brian and Evie,” he told her as he nuzzled her cleavage.
“Don’t you dare say that in front of them.”
“I wouldn’t do that to my sister.” Lloyd sobered. “You talk to her a lot, Katie. Is she really all right? How upset is she over this Mike Holt thing?”
Katie sighed, running a hand over his arm. “She’s okay most of the time. I think she’d fall apart without Brian, though. He’s her rock. So is your father. She so adores him, Lloyd, and she’s scared to death what he might do if he sees Mike Holt. She’s scared for you, too.”
“I’ll talk to her. I don’t want her worrying about it. Pa and I were the law for a while, so we know the ins and outs of it.” He kissed her again. “And you, little lady, should concern yourself only with me and little Tricia and Stephen.” He caressed her hair. “Other than this mess with Mike Holt, you’re happy now, aren’t you?”
She smiled again. “I’m very happy.”
“I know things didn’t start out so good for us, but I fall more in love with you every day, Katie. I’m so sorry about what happened in Guthrie. That was a hell of a way to start a marriage.”
“It’s over now, and everybody is safe. Evie is healing, and you and I have discovered we’re more than just the good friends we started out to be. For a while I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to love me like you loved…her. But I feel it now, Lloyd. I feel your love.”