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deep, calming breath and forced his body to stop moving. She
    protested wordlessly, but he shook his head against her body.
    “Do you want me to take you?” he asked.
    “Yes,” she whispered. “I do.”
    “You’d let me fuck you without the benefit of marriage?” he asked, demanding
    absolute clarity. The crudity of his language stilled her, but she nodded her head
    resolutely.
    “Well, I’m not that kind of man,” he said, pulling away from her to sit back on the
    edge of the bed. She seemed stunned, utterly still in the darkness of the room.
    “What kind of game are you playing, Wade?” she asked finally, levering herself to
    sit up in bed. He leaned over and kissed her gently on the mouth before standing up.
    “I won’t sleep with a woman I’m not married to,” he said. She burst out laughing.
    “You’ve slept with half the county, Wade,” she said. “Ryan told me all about your
    adventures. I don’t believe you for one minute.”
    “I’ve had my share of lovers,” he admitted. “But now I’ve decided to marry you,
    and I won’t sleep with you until I get a ring on your finger. If you want me, you’ll have
    to marry me.”
    23

    Joanna Wylde
    She laughed again.
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Wade,” she said. “I’ll admit it, I want your body. Maybe that
    makes me a whore. But I’m not a stupid whore. I won’t let myself get trapped by a man
    again.”
    “I don’t want to trap you,” he said, his voice quiet and intense. “I want you to be
    my partner. And I think you want it too.”
    He reached across the bed, cupping her cheek and then running his hand down into
    the loose bodice of her flannel nightgown. She gasped, leaning closer to him. Her
    breasts hung loose, and he cupped one, fingering the nipple. She sighed, and he felt his
    resolve fade, his cock giving him clear orders to push her down and take her before she
    changed her mind.
    He ignored the orders, pulling away and standing up instead.
    “Nope, you don’t get me unless you marry me,” he said, forcing his voice to sound
    flippant. “Otherwise you’ll have to satisfy yourself. Although if you need someone to
    watch you or offer tips, I’m your man.”
    Her shocked gasp was the only answer, and he laughed as he left the room. That
    hadn’t gone as he expected. He’d planned to tempt her, not challenge her. And he
    couldn’t understand why he hadn’t given in and bedded her for the life of him. He’d
    never wanted a woman more in his life.
    But he’d been telling her the truth about one thing. He wasn’t willing to simply
    plow her and be done with it. He wanted more—marriage and a family. And until she
    gave it to him, she could damn well spend the night writhing in her own frustrated
    juices.
    He knew he would.

    24

    Catherine’s Awakening

    Chapter Three

    Catherine could hardly look at Wade the next morning as she tossed hot flapjacks
    onto his plate. The talk at the table was subdued, the ranch hands escaping as soon as
    they’d shoveled the bare minimum of food in their mouths. She wished she could go
    with them. Tension hung palpable in the air, although John seemed oblivious.
    “I’m going to town today,” Wade announced. “Catherine, why don’t you pack a
    picnic lunch for us and come with me? I’m sure you’d enjoy the chance to visit with
    someone besides sweaty cowboys.”
    Catherine sucked her breath in, glaring at him as she spun the offer over in her
    head. It would give her a chance to check on the teaching position, and to see some of
    her friends. On the other hand, it would mean several hours spent with Wade in the
    wagon. What was the blasted man up to?
    “I thought you didn’t want me pursuing that job,” she said finally. “Why would
    you make it easier for me?”
    He smiled at her benignly.
    “You aren’t a prisoner here, Catherine,” he said. “I don’t want you taking the job,
    but I can’t force you to do anything. And you mentioned you wanted to buy some
    material