Against the Rules by Linda Howard

to his room. Even when he was tired she was no match for his strength, so she didn’t waste any energy in trying to jerk away. He opened the door and ushered her into his bedroom, which was in almost total darkness because the last of the feeble daylight had gone. Without turning on the light he closed the door and reached for her, folding her against him and kissing her with an angry hunger that belied his obvious weariness.
    Cathryn put her arms around his waist and kissed him in return, almost weeping with the knowledge that she didn’t dare stay with him. Her senses were swamped by him, by the taste of his mouth, the feel of his hard body against her, the damp smell of his skin and hair and clothing. He released her and snapped on the overhead light, moving away as he spoke.
    â€œI’m not taking you to Houston,” he said grimly.
    â€œOf course not. You’re too tired,” she said with outward calm. “But Lewis can—”
    â€œNo, Lewis can’t. No one will take you to Houston if they want to keep working on the Bar D,” he snapped. “I made that clear to all of them. Damn it, Cat, that very first day, when I picked you up, you told me you’d stay!” He began to unbutton his shirt, shrugging it away from his powerful shoulders and tossing it aside.
    Cathryn sat down on the bed and clasped her fingers tightly together as she fought for control. At last she said, “I only said maybe I’d stay. And don’t bother with threatening me or any of the hands, because you know I can leave tomorrow, if not tonight.”
    He nodded his head. “Maybe, if Monica comes back tonight. But she’s afraid to drive at night, and since she’s not here by now I don’t expect her back until tomorrow. Then you’ll have to get to the station wagon before I put it out of commission.”
    Control was forgotten and she leaped to her feet, her eyes narrowing with temper. “I won’t be kept here like a prisoner!” she shouted.
    â€œI don’t want it that way either!” he yelled back, rounding on her. “But I told you that I won’t let you run away from me again, and I meant it. Hell, woman, didn’t last night tell you anything?”
    â€œIt told me it’s been a while since you had a woman!” she flared.
    â€œDon’t kid yourself!”
    Silence fell and Cathryn admitted uneasily that he could have a woman whenever he wanted one—a particularly unpalatable thought. When she said nothing else he unfastened his belt and jeans and pushed them down, stripping off his socks in the same movement and stepping away from the pile of clothing, as unconcerned about his nudity as if she hadn’t been in the room. But then, weren’t they as familiar with each other as a man and woman could be? Cathryn eyed the tall, vital body with secret hunger, then turned her gaze away before he could read the expression in her eyes.
    He gathered up clean clothing and tossed it into her arms. She caught it automatically, holding his clothes to her. After a few moments he muttered, “Give it a chance, Cat. Stay here. Call your boss tomorrow and tell him that you quit.”
    â€œI can’t do that,” she said quietly.
    He erupted again. “Damn it, why not? What’s stopping you?”
    â€œYou are.”
    He closed his eyes and she could have sworn that he was snarling under his breath. An unwanted smile tried to break over her lips, but she subdued it. How had Wanda described him? Still dangerous but controlled? It was a safe bet that no one knew as well as she did just how volcanic Rule really was. Finally he opened his eyes and glared at her, the dark irises gleaming with angry frustration. “Ricky got to you. You believe her.”
    â€œNo!” she burst out, unable to control her reaction. He didn’t understand and she couldn’t tell him, couldn’t say that she was afraid to trust him on