Hostage Heart Read Online Free Page B

guilt, Matt lunged out from behind the beam. He threw one arm around her slender waist and grabbed the rifle with the other.
    Lark gasped as an arm like steel jerked her backward off her feet. The rifle was torn out of her grasp and sailed harmlessly away from her. A scream clawed up her throat, her hair flying wildly as she struggled to free herself. A rough, callused hand clamped hard against her mouth, crushing her lips against her teeth. Her nostrils flared, and she drank in the sweet stench of blood and the smell of a white man. Fear ate away her previous anger. It wasn’t Ga’n! Lark twisted, biting his fingers. He groaned and jerked away his hand.
    She made a half turn, twisting to catch a glimpse of her captor. He towered over her. Though tall, she felt like a mere child against his powerful chest and broad shoulders. The harsh planes of his face were frozen with—what? A small cry escaped her and Lark tried to push away from him. They both tilted off balance. She saw the man tense and he gave a cry, his left leg suddenly collapsing out from beneath him. They toppled to the straw.
    The air was knocked out of Lark as the man landed heavily on top of her. She lay for several seconds, stunned and gasping for breath, unable to move. The sensation of a man’s body touching hers was shocking. No Apache man ever touched an Apache maiden. It was forbidden before marriage. His hips ground into hers and another electric sensation uncurled through her. Panicked by the sudden turn of events, Lark, began to struggle, trying to pull her hands free.
    Matt cursed, clamping one hand across her mouth and capturing her wrists above her head. He lay on top of her, both of them breathing heavily. Despite his fever and weakness, he was wildly aware of her firm, young breasts pressing into his chest. The soft yielding of her hips beneath his sparked a primal animal urge in him. He looked down, able to study her closely for the first time. His voice came harsh and rasping.
    “Quit struggling, I won’t hurt you. I need your help.” Her huge blue-violet eyes widened. Slowly he removed his hand. That mouth He stared down at it: a full, expressive mouth with corners that turned softly upward; lips that were wildly sensual and begged to be tamed.
    Lark ceased struggling. Terror mixed with confusion as she heard the pain lacing his words. “What?”
    He liked her slightly breathless voice, which reminded him of mellow whiskey. “I need help. My name is Matt Kincaid. I’ve been shot and I need a doctor.” He saw the fear dissolve in her luminous eyes; eyes in which a man could lose his soul forever. She must be someone’s wife. The lucky bastard. Matt slowly loosened his hold on her slender wrists. “If I let you go, will you stay? I’ve got to have help.”
    Gulping unsteadily, Lark nodded once. Fire licked through her straining body as she felt each point of contact with him. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant, and she was shamefully aware that her nipples were hardening beneath his chest. “Y-yes. I won’t leave,” she managed to say.
    Matt rolled off her, releasing her completely. Too weak to move, he gave in momentarily to the pain and fever, rolling over on his back. Another wave of light-headedness assaulted him. He didn’t fight it this time. Through half-closed eyes he watched the woman get slowly to her knees. He knew she would help him. Maybe it was her heart-shaped face, those eyes now fraught with concern and kindness, that told him so. Or was it the soothing touch of her cool hand upon his sweaty brow after she gently removed his hat? Matt didn’t know. Closing his eyes, he gave in to his weakness.
    “Wake up!” Lark begged, shaking his broad, powerful shoulders. In the dim light, she could see blood covering his left leg. The putrid smell of torn flesh stung her sensitive nostrils. The stench of blood and sweat mingled with the sour odor of his unwashed body and almost made her retch. Lark gripped his dirty cotton