Ruby Read Online Free PDF Page B

was staring at her in the strangest way. As though he couldn’t decide whether to be angry or amused.
    “You are—” she stared pointedly at the big hands crushing the delicate fabric of her sleeves “—wrinkling my gown, Marshal.”
    “Yes, ma’am, I am.” There was that brief dangerous smile again, causing the strangest flutter around her heart.
    Instead of releasing her, he ran his hands along her satin-clad arms. Heat pulsed through her veins, then spread all the way to her fingers and toes.
    Mama had never explained to her how to react to a situation such as this. In fact, all Mama’s lessons had been on the art of flirting. Ruby had never gone beyond that. Had never needed to. Now, with Quent Regan’s bold reaction, she felt completely out of her element. He was supposed to get all red in the face and flustered. He was supposed to back off. Instead, she was the one taking a step backward.
    She didn’t understand this heat. Where had it come from? How had it happened? Her breathing was quite erratic. And her heart was beating so wildly, she was certain the marshal could hear it.
    The marshal was too busy with problems of his own. He wasn’t certain just what had come over him. Maybe it was the fact that he’d gone too long without food or rest. Or the charms of a female. Whatever the reason, he was feeling downright frisky and lightheaded.
    “I must say, it’s mighty fine fabric.” He drew her close and ran one hand down her back, then up again. “We don’t see too many soft, pretty things here in Hanging Tree. I don’t believe I’ve felt anything this soft in a very long time. In fact, ma’am, if you don’t mind, I’d like to feel more.”
    Tiny fires ignited all along her spine, heating her blood, heating even the air that backed up in her lungs. There was a strange tingling deep inside, leaving her weak and trembling. Dieu, was it possible to faint from a single touch?
    “Um-hmm,” he muttered against her temple. “I was right. Softer than a newborn foal.”
    “Marshal Regan.” She pushed ineffectively against his chest, but he only tightened his grasp, pinning her hands between his body and hers, so that she was helpless to resist.
    She started to wriggle and squirm. But as she turned her face, his mouth covered hers in a hard, punishing kiss. A kiss made more heated by anger, by frustration. A kiss so startling, so demanding, she couldn’t move. All she could do was stand very still and absorb the shock.
    His lips moved over hers with a thoroughness that left her drained. And still he continued moving his mouth on hers, drawing out every sweet, exotic flavor.
    He hadn’t meant to kiss her. In fact, even now, he didn’t know how it had happened. He’d merely meant to intimidate her. But the minute his mouth was on hers, he realized his mistake. He’d been wanting to kiss her since the first time he’d seen her in Hanging Tree, all bold and sassy and done up in red satin. But one kiss and he was hurtling toward disaster, feeling things he hadn’t expected, wanting things he had no right to.
    Almost at once he lifted his head and stared down at her. God in heaven, he was reeling as if he’d just taken a blow to the midsection. His heart was racing as though he’d chased a gang of outlaws up one side of Widow’s Peak and down the other.
    What the hell was wrong with him? He’d kissed women before. Plenty of them. But he couldn’t ever recall feeling like this. The taste of her was as smooth as Buck’s best whiskey. And the sweet, earthy scent of her, like crushed roses, filled his lungs and clouded his mind.
     
    What was worse, if he didn’t know better, he’d think she’d never been kissed before. But that was impossible. It wasn’t possible for a woman to look like that and still be innocent.
    Damned if he wasn’t going to have one more taste, just to make sure.
    For a moment Ruby was certain he was as astonished as she. But then she caught sight of the slight curve of