My Desperado Read Online Free PDF

it's worthy."
    She had no choice, Katherine thought dizzily. She'd have to go through with it.
    The distance between them seemed the longest she'd ever traveled. Her knees felt weak, her head light, and when she reached him, he seemed to tower above her like a mountain.
    She hesitated for a moment, and then, using every ounce of willpower she possessed, she rose to her toes, brushed her lips to his cheek, and jumped back.
    Travis Ryland remained perfectly still. Katherine waited, breath held.
    And then he laughed, the sound floating out in rich, deep timbre from the massive breadth of his chest.
    "What are you laughing at?" Katherine scowled, knowing he was making fun of her and worrying what the consequences of a bad kiss would be. "What's so funny?"
    "Nothing," he said, unable to control his chuckles.
    Her scowl deepened, and she placed her fists on her hips, thinking him quite rude, even for an outlaw. “Then is the bargain met?"
    "Lady..." He chuckled again, lifting a hand and seeming to wipe at his eyes. "If your worst crime was spreading gossip about the preacher's wife, I might consider that little chicken peck enough to buy my silence." He shook his head, finally attempting to still his laughter. "But the mayor was... Well he was loved to death, and I'm afraid you ain't got what it takes to keep me quiet about that."
    "Well!" Why she was so offended Katherine wasn't certain, but apparently this oversized lout was insulting her feminine appeal—something she'd spent very little time worrying about in the past. "So you think I can't kiss?"
    "No," he said quickly, lifting a hand as it to ward off any zealous advances. "It's just that I thought old George was overstimulated. But now I see he died of boredom."
    Katherine narrowed her eyes and ground her teeth. Died of boredom, indeed! How dare he! She'd give him a kiss that would fuse his boots to his feet.
    "Hang on to your hat," she growled, and stepped forward again.
    Lightning struck her lips as they touched his. A trail of flame sizzled down her neck, crackling along her arms to burn at her fingertips. His hands had somehow settled around her waist, heating her body with inexplicable fire as his lips moved across hers.
    He smelled of wide open places and leather. His tongue touched her lips, and suddenly her mouth was open, too, allowing her own tongue to taste him in heated, first-time exploration.
    Her head swam. The world shifted, and she lifted her hands, steadying herself against his chest.
    His beard tickled her chin, and his hands moved upward slightly, blazing a trail up her back as he pulled her closer.
    For the first time in her life Katherine was fully alive, each fiber of her body alert, every nerve vibrating with awareness. So this was a kiss! Her tongue touched his again, shocking her with a new jolt of sizzling excitement. So this was why George was smiling.
    George! The memory of him blasted through to Katherine's brain. The mayor! She drew away, pushing on Travis's chest with trembling hands and trying to remember her mission.
    "Well?" she asked foggily.
    He was absolutely quiet for a moment, then, "Any other sins you'd like me to keep quiet about?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
    "No." She shook her head slowly, her lips parted and burning. "This is my first."
    "Lucky George."
    "He's dead."
    "It might be worth it."
    She blinked at him, not comprehending his words.
    "See that grove of trees?" Travis asked, not raising his eyes from hers. "I want you to take Soldier in there with you. Wait ten minutes. If I don't come out, you get on Soldier and you ride back to wherever it is you came from."
    "But I can't go back to The Watering Hole."
    "Lady!" His fingers tightened against her back. "I ain't talking about the saloon. You ride east till you can't even remember Colorado in your dreams."
    "But what about—"
    He shook her slightly, stopping her words. "Promise me!"
    "But what about you? What are you doing to do?"
    "I swear to you, lady, if you don't