Read Desert Rain for Free Online Page B

two people.
     Especially when one of them was the size of Lincoln McKenzie.
    Shaking with cold, she switched off the lamp and managed to zip up the sleeping bag once
     more. After a long time, their shared warmth heated the bag enough for both of them to
     sink into troubled sleep.
    Holly dreamed that she woke up in Lincs arms, his lips against her neck, her body pressed
     along his. The tip of his tongue teased her mouth until she sighed and smiled, giving
     herself to his kiss with the sensual abandon that only he had ever drawn out of her.
    She felt his breath against her ear and shivered with delight. His hand slid over her thin
     jacket, caressing her breasts. The touch was more vivid than any dream of him she had ever
     had before.
    Then Holly realized that she wasnt dreaming.
    Her eyes flew open. Daylight glowed in the tent, but not half so warmly as Lincs eyes.
    Holly, he murmured, tracing her lips with his tongue. My sweet Holly. I thought I had only
     dreamed you.

Desert Rain
    Five
    You recognize me, Holly said, suddenly nervous. Linc smiled. It would take more than a rap
     on the head to make me forget you, Holly. But yesterday she began. All I remember about
     last night, he interrupted, is that it was dark and a mountain fell on me.
    Lincs tongue slid between Hollys lips and moved slowly. She made a small sound as she
     touched the tip of her tongue against his, tasting him delicately, hungrily.
    If you had kissed me before you dragged me into your bed, Linc said, Id have known you no
     matter how dark it was.
    Holly couldnt speak. His eyes were golden, passionate, tender . . . her dream made whole
     and radiant again.
    Linc, she whispered.
    He kissed Holly again, thoroughly, drinking her response. When he finally lifted his head,
     his pulse was beating visibly in his throat.
    You taste the same as you did six years ago, Linc murmured, sweet as a desert spring.
    His voice had changed with the long kiss. The tone was husky, intimate, as male as the
     powerful arms wrapped around Holly.
    She drew a shaky breath, remembering the stolen kiss last night and the kisses before
     that, six long years before. She looked into Lincs eyes again, studying him in a silence
     that shimmered with dreams and possibilities.
    Nowhere did she see the harsh contempt that had been on his face yesterday.
    A relief as intense as last nights storm swept through her, shaking her. She reached up
     and kissed Linc again with lips that trembled.
    You taste the same, too, Holly whispered against his mouth. He lifted his head and smiled
     down at her. Like water? he asked whimsically. Half right, she teased.
    Whats the other half?
    Fire.
    Lincs arms tightened until Holly couldnt breathe. She had forgotten how strong he was,
     strength enough to make or break a world.
    Her world. Firewater, huh? Linc teased. He laughed against Hollys neck, sending shivers of
     delight over her skin. From an illegal still, no doubt? Linc asked.
    Holly nodded her head solemnly, like a small child.
    The still is hidden way, way up in the mountains, she whispered.
    What goes into itcactus and pine cones?
    Nope.
    Holly smiled and tickled her lips against Lincs mustache.
    Rocks and ice? he guessed again.
    She laughed. Then she looked at the man she loved and laughter vanished, replaced by an
     intense emotion that only Linc had ever been able to call from her.
    Lightning and sage and desert rain, Holly whispered. Ive tasted you in my dreams, Linc.
    His breath drew in sharply.
    Holly, Linc said huskily. Are you sure youre not a dream?
    Before she could answer, his tongue probed the hollow at the base of her throat, then
     moved slowly up her neck until he found her ear. His teeth closed delicately on her
     earlobe.
    When the tip of Lincs tongue traced the curves of her ear, Holly began to tremble. With
     eyes half-closed, she rubbed her palms over his back.
    His skin stretched smoothly over muscles hardened by work. Silk and steel, the taste