Texas Proud (Vincente 2) by Constance O'Banyon Page B

"Wouldn't I?"
    Rachel was momentarily mesmerized by the
water that streaked down his shoulders to his waist. She noticed that the dark hair on his chest
narrowed to a line that ran down his taut stomach
in a vee. Although she was trembling inside, she
refused to turn away. This time she would be in
control she had to be.

    "Come out if you dare," she said with much
more bravado than she felt.
    Noble paused with his hands on the bank. "I
have a better idea. Why don't you come in?"
    The word never was forming on her lips, but she
quickly reconsidered. If she was going to defeat
Noble, she must control her emotions, at least
make him think she was in control. "Why not?"
She wanted to run away, but she planted her
booted foot against the ground. With shaking
hands, she pulled her shirt free of her trousers and
lifted it over her head, hoping that she would find
the courage to meet his challenge.
    Noble eased himself back into the water. "Rachel, don't do this. The game is over. Go home."
    Rachel stood before him, naked to the waist, her
gaze fixed just above his head, not quite meeting
his eyes.
    Noble seemed to have no control over himself.
His gaze left her face and fell to her creamy
breasts. He sucked in his breath at the rosy circles
surrounding her nipples. His hand fisted, and he
could almost feel her creamy skin beneath his exploring fingers. He wanted to touch her so badly,
and he hated himself for wanting her. A part of
him didn't want to admit that she was grown up, while another part of him delighted in her womanhood. He wanted to scold her, to order her to
put her shirt back on he wanted her to leave so
he could catch his breath.

    But most of all, he wanted to clasp her in his
arms and press her against him until his body
stopped trembling.

     

Heat spiraled through Rachel's body as Noble
stared at her with a pained expression. Then his
expression changed, and his dark eyes burned into
hers. She watched him turn away and she could
almost read his mind. He was troubled because
she was a woman and not the young girl he'd once
known. She heard him exhale abruptly.
    "The game's over, Rachel." His voice was gruff,
with an edge to it. "You've won today."
    As Noble turned away, she gazed at his profile,
which appeared to be carved of stone. The muscles in his neck were taut because of the tight control he kept over his emotions. She smiled,
enjoying his discomfort. It gave her the courage
to continue with the charade. "But you invited me to swim with you," she persisted, amazed by her
own boldness. "Have you changed your mind, Noble?"

    He still wouldn't look at her. "Let's just say this
river isn't big enough for the two of us. Go home."
    She merely tossed her head, acting on a daringness she was far from feeling. She summoned all
her courage as she unbuttoned her trousers and
pushed them over her shapely hips. "It's a hot day.
I'd enjoy a swim."
    Noble's reluctant, hot gaze fastened on her
breasts, moving to her narrow waist to the redgold hair nestled between her long, shapely legs.
She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever
seen. But one thought kept pounding in his headthis wasn't right! She was his Green Eyes.
    Rachel felt his gaze on her, and had the sensation that he'd actually touched her. She went as
far as to reach for her shirt to cover her nakedness,
paused, and then forced a smile to her lips.
    "Make room. I'm coming in."
    Noble wanted to look away, but he couldn't. He
tried to separate the child she'd once been from
the daring beauty who stood before him now. Seeing the blush on her cheeks, he knew she was an
innocent, and pure, and completely unnerved by
her own nudity. His lashes swept over his eyes but
he could see her in his mind, beautiful and naked.
    "You don't have to do this, Rachel. It won't
prove a thing, and it might complicate matters between us even more."

    He opened his eyes and watched as she poised
her body in a graceful arch and