Wanton Splendor

by Bobbi Smith

  "Ready?" he asked entering the stateroom.

  "I've been ready for a week now. Let's go."

  Slowly, with precise movements aimed at minimizing pain, Christopher stood up and left the cabin. The trip down the gangplank seemed the longest of his life and by the time they had crossed the uneven cobblestones of the levee to reach the carriage, his knees were weakening. Climbing in with an effort, he sat back heavily.

  Mark noticed that Christopher had paled with pain and he wished there was something he could do to help him.

  "Christopher?"

  "I'll be fine in a minute," he said, his voice strained. "Let's get to the hotel."

  Mark nodded. "The Planter's House, please. We'll register, so we can leave our luggage and you can rest for a while, too. I have no idea how long it will take us to find them, but we'll make our hotel room our base of operations."

  "All right," he agreed.

  The city was slowly coming to life as their carriage rumbled forth heading in the direction of the hotel. Pulling to a stop at the entrance, Mark and Christopher got out while the driver got their bags.

  The lobby was deserted as they crossed the highly polished floor and the sounds of their footsteps echoed loudly through the high-ceilinged room.

  "Good morning, gentlemen," the desk clerk greeted them. "Can I help you with anything?"

  "We'd like rooms, please. Preferably a suite if one is available."

  "Of course. If you'll just sign here." He pushed the registry to Mark.

  Mark signed and offered the pen to Christopher, but he waved it away. Shifting positions, he leaned against the counter, disguising his discomfort by his casual stance.

  As the clerk turned the book to check his signature, he frowned.

  "Kingsford? Are you any relation to George Kingsford?"

  "I am," Mark looked up attentively. "I'm his son."

  "Then you'll be delighted to know that he's here."

  "Here?"

  "Upstairs in the suite next to yours." The clerk handed them their key. "Suite 202."

  Christopher and Mark exchanged incredulous looks before heading for the main staircase. Christopher took the steps easily, his thoughts totally on finding Katie. There was no time for weakness of pain. She was close.. .he knew it.

  The second floor hall loomed before them-wide and dimly lighted.

  "202..." Mark repeated to himself in frustration as he checked room numbers up and down the hall. "Damn! Where is...Here it is!" He half-called and pounded loudly on the door.

  Christopher, who'd been checking the other side of the hall hurried to join him.

  George had spent a restless night worrying about Katie. He knew that she was upset and discouraged, but right now, there was very little that they could do-one way or the other.

  When the sun had first begun its ascent, bluing the purple and red stained sky, he had given up his useless attempt to sleep. Rising, George had pulled on his pants and had gone to sit by the window in his small parlor to watch the dawn.

  The pounding on his door startled him and his immediate thought was that it had to be bad news... He dreaded opening the door and he girded himself against the upcoming scene.

  "What is it?" he growled, throwing the door open wide, expecting the worst.

  "Father!" Mark was excited. "I am so glad that you are here!"

  "Mark?" George looked at him questioningly. "Mark!"

  When he realized that his son wasn't an apparition, he embraced him warmly. Then with a quick look at Christopher, he ushered them inside.

  "Come on in! We've been so worried! Come in!"

  As he started to close the door footsteps sounded in the hall and Katie called.

  "Father? Did you hear all that commotion? What was it all about?"

  Entering the room, she gasped, her eyes widening, at the sight of her husband standing before her, his arm in a sling.

  "Christopher!" She flew to him and was enveloped in his warm, one-armed embrace. "Oh, Christopher! Are you all right? What happened to you?" she asked tearfully.

  "Katie," he groaned her name, holding her as best he could and bending down to capture her lips in a sweet, long-awaited kiss of reunion.

  Katie melted against him, thrilling to his touch... his nearness. They broke off the kiss only as they became aware of the others' eyes upon them.

  "I take it you two know each other?" George spoke in gruff good humor.

  "Papa, this is Christopher," Katie told him proudly, holding his uninjured arm possessively.

  "I had hoped as much," he laughed, clapping him on the back. "I'm glad I finally got to meet you. I've certainly heard enough about you these past few days." George's eyes were twinkling.

  "It's good to meet you, too, sir."

  "George, please."

  "George." Christopher felt an immediate liking for this man who was his wife's father.

  "Sit down. We've much to talk about," George directed sizing up Katie's young man and deciding instantly that he liked him.

  Mark and George sat in wing chairs facing Katie and Christopher on the sofa.

  "Where were you? When you didn't follow us right away ...we were frantic!" Katie told him.

  "I was waylaid... so to speak," Christopher explained. "I had been on my way to Mark's when I was ambushed. I managed to get away, but if it hadn't been for your brother..."

  "The patrollers had come by the townhouse looking for him earlier," Mark went on. "They even did a room by room search. I knew he was coming back but I couldn't get a message to him without setting the patrollers on to him. Then when I heard the shot outside... Well, I went out and managed to find the carriage easily enough, but Christopher wasn't with it. It was covered with blood and he was missing."

  "Where were the patrollers?"

  "I didn't see them, I guess Christopher managed to decoy them away. Anyway, with the help of a servant, we scoured the whole neighborhood."

  "Where was he?"

  "We finally found him in an alley. I knew that it would be foolhardy to try to sneak him back into the townhouse so we took him to Cherie's."

  "And you've been there all this time?"

  "Yes, Cherie was wonderful," Christopher told her.

  "You should have seen Christopher, though, once we'd found out that Emil had followed you North. He wouldn't rest until finally Cherie figured out a way to smuggle him out of New Orleans."

  "Cherie did it all."

  "She smuggled you out?"

  "In a manner of speaking," he grinned now thinking of his very effective disguise. "She knew that I shouldn't get out of bed, so she made me up to look like an old man and then got this wheelchair..."

  "Katie, you would not have recognized your own husband! He had gray hair and wrinkles and he was all wrapped up in this big old shawl..."

  "It worked, though, right?"

  "It worked beautifully. They got me on board and into the cabin with no trouble at all."

  "Remind me to thank her," Katie said earnestly.

  "I will.. .but what about you? Mark and I were out of our minds worrying about you and Dee up here, unprotected..."

  "It would have been dangerous except for Papa."

  "What happened?" Mark asked George. "And what were you doing here in town?"

  "I had come into the office to arrange a leave of absence."

  "A leave? But why?"

  "I was going to come South for a visit."

  "Well, it was a very lucky thing he was here," Katie spoke up. "Because the same day that I ran into him accidentally in the railroad office, Emil showed up."

  "How did you find out that he was here?"

  "We didn't until it was almost too late. Papa and I were having dinner in the hotel dining room and Emil went up to my room and kidnapped Dee."

  "She's all right, isn't she?" Christopher worried.

  "She's fine, thanks to Papa. When we found out that Emil had left the hotel with her, we chased them down to the levee."

  "I'll bet that
was a scene," Mark smiled as he imagined his father and Emil Montard squaring off.

  "Actually," George said. "It wasn't too bad. A few well chosen threats..."

  "Thank God you got her away from him." Christopher was relieved to find out that Dee was safe. "She's suffered enough already." His tone was bitter as he thought of Joel.

  "But where's Emil now?" Mark asked. "How did you get rid of him?"

  "He's gone back to New Orleans. And supposedly, he's withdrawing his charges against Christopher."

  "He's what?" Christopher was astounded. "How did you manage that?"

  "That's something we still have to discuss. With Katie's tentative approval, I made a deal of sorts."

  "What kind of deal?"

  "We agreed to sell him Greenwood-minus the slaves-in return for his clearing your name and leaving Dee alone."

  "He wants Greenwood that badly?"

  "Definitely," George stated. "But our whole arrangement depended entirely on your being safely returned to us. And now that you are here..."

  "I've had a lot of time to think this past week and one thing I know for sure is that I don't want to go back," he admitted. "I don't want Katie put in any danger, ever again."

  He looked at her, his gaze tracing her features lovingly.

  "We'll sell."

  "Good. Mark can take care of all that when he goes back."

  "What should I do about Greenwood's slaves?"

  "I want them all freed," Christopher stated without hesitation. "Find out the easiest way to handle it, Mark, and then let me know."

  "I'll check as soon as I get back."

  "Thanks."

  "How about breakfast?" George suggested.

  "Sounds great," Mark was hungry.

  But Katie noticed that Christopher was looking tired and after meeting his gaze in understanding, she refused the invitation.

  "I think we'll wait..."

  "Christopher, why don't you and Katie take over our rooms? I can stay here with Father," Mark offered.

  "That sounds fine."

  "Dee will have her own room, too, then."

  "We'll meet you back here this afternoon," Christopher stood slowly, drawing Katie up with him.

  "And I'll make arrangements for a doctor to check your shoulder later today."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "George, please."

  Christopher nodded.

  Katie kissed her father and brother and then hugged Mark. "Thanks, little brother."

  "You're welcome," Mark smiled fondly at her as she left the suite with her husband.

  "Well, shall we go eat?"

  "Yes."

  "I want to hear all about New Orleans and what it is you're doing now. Katie tells me that you've taken over some of Isaac's business interests."

  "Yes, I..." their voices faded out as they headed down the hall toward the staircase to the lobby.

  Katie closed the door behind them.

  "Do you want to see Dee now?"

  "No. I'll speak with her later..." He knew his reunion with her would be painful for them both.

  Katie smiled at him and moved to kiss him softly.

  "What do you want to do?"

  "Right now, the only thing on my mind is you. I want you, Katie."

  His words sent a thrill of desire coursing through her.

  "Love you," she whispered as they walked slowly to the bedroom.

  Christopher sat on the bed as Katie undressed. His eyes followed her every move, admiring her trim figure as she shed the last of her petticoats and her shift and stood before him naked. Reaching up behind her, in a motion that thrust her breasts up and out invitingly, Katie pulled the ivory pins from her hair, releasing the silken mane and letting it fall caressingly about her. With cat-like grace, she approached the bed, burning with the need to be one with him.

  Christopher watched, mesmerized, as she moved to stand before him. The sight of her slender, bare limbs enthralling him, he reached out and pulled her between his thighs, making her his willing captive.

  "I'd like to keep you this way... always." His voice was hoarse with his need. "You are so beautiful."

  Leaning forward, Katie kissed him, full and flaming on the mouth. She had waited an eternity it seemed and, at last, he was here. With impatient fingers, she freed the buttons of his shirt and ran her hands gently over his partially bandaged chest.

  "Help me, darling," he asked as he broke off the kiss.

  Katie slipped the sling from his arm and then stripped his shirt from him. She gasped as she saw the size of the bandage.

  "Will I hurt you?" she asked, fearful of injuring him further.

  "I'll only suffer if I don't have you Katie," he grinned, bending to kiss her quickly.

  Then with Katie's help he finished undressing and lay back on the bed pulling her down with him.

  Curling up against his good side, she rose up on an elbow to stare at him.

  "I knew you'd come to me," she told him confidently.

  "Oh, you did, did you?" He smiled tenderly and smoothed a long, golden strand of hair away from her face. "What made you so certain?"

  "Didn't you remember our last ride, down by the pond?"

  "I remembered all right," he groaned. "That and every delectable inch of you, as a matter of fact."

  "Good," Katie purred, throwing her leg over his and running her hand across his flat stomach teasingly.

  His reaction to her was immediate as his body throbbed to life. And Katie, pleased with her power to excite him, trailed hot kisses down his neck and uninjured shoulder while her hands worked their magic on his lower body, coming near but never quite touching him.

  "Oh, Katie," he spoke huskily as her lips followed the path her hands had taken.

  "I want to please you, Christopher," she told him.

  Rising up, she kissed him and then moved lower, surrendering herself to his pleasure.

  Christopher's breath caught in his throat as she explored him with her lips and tongue, bringing him to the edge of ecstasy. As his climax neared, his body tautened and in one agile move, Katie mounted him, taking his pulsing manhood deep within her.

  Balancing herself with her arms to keep her weight off his torso, she offered him her breasts. He nuzzled hungrily at her nipples, sucking one then the other as her hips ground steadily against his.

  The ever-tightening coil of her excitement built to a frenzied peak. Calling his name, she strained closer to the hardness of his loins as the throbbing splendor of her desire took her to completion and beyond.

  Christopher felt her climax and gave in to the power of her love, emptying himself within her sweet depths.

  "I love you, Katie," he murmured as she rolled to lie at his side. "I love you so much." Levering himself up on his strong arm, he leaned over and kissed her.

  Then, with her nestling at his side, they slept.

  Mark looked at his father across the table. "Isaac trained me in several aspects of his business before we went out to Last Island."

  "And you like that type of work?"

  "Yes. I find it very challenging."

  Mark was aware of what his father wanted to know, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words. For years, Mark had known that George wanted him to join him working on the railroads... and he realized, now, that his decision to remain in Louisiana was going to destroy those dreams.

  "So," George said with evident finality. "You have decided to stay down South."

  "Yes, sir."

  "If it's what you really want and if it will make you happy, then I'm all for it."

  Mark was surprised. "I was worried about telling you...I knew how you felt about my working with you..."

  "That was my dream, Mark. Not yours."

  They stared at each other for a long moment, Mark recognizing that his father had accepted him as an adult and George realizing that his son had become his own man.

  "Thank you for making it easy for me."

  George smiled, "Life is difficult en
ough without those we love adding to the problems." Then, changing the subject, he asked, "When's the wedding? Katie's told me about Jacqui."

  "We haven't set a date yet."

  "Well, just make sure I get plenty of notice. I may have missed Katie's, but I have no intention of missing yours."

  "Yes, sir."

  Christopher stirred and came awake as his shoulder began to throb. Glancing down, he studied Katie's gentle beauty and for a moment, completely forgot his pain.

  She had been so giving... so tender... so open in her desire to please him. Her every touch had been designed to arouse his passion with little thought given to her own.

  Christopher marvelled at her selflessness and wanted to love her as she had loved him. Shifting himself to a more comfortable position, he stroked the velvet flesh of her breasts.

  "Christopher?" Katie's voice was soft and slurred as she looked up at him with sleep-drugged eyes. "Hello."

  "Hush, now," he told her quietly. "Let me love you this time."

  Katie sighed with delight and stretched sinuously, arching her back.

  Christopher was in no hurry and continued his exploring caresses from breast to thigh, pausing only briefly with each stroke to brush over her sensitive aching peaks.

  "Please, Christopher," she whispered as the fire he was building within her burned ever hotter.

  "No, love. Not yet."

  He lowered his head to suckle her breast as his hand slipped between her legs seeking the moist secrets of her womanhood.

  Katie moaned her passion as her hands slid down his chest to his erection, but Christopher shifted his hips away, not yet ready to complete their union.

  "Easy darling."

  "I want you."

  "And I want you. But we're going slow, this time."

  Pressing a hot, wet kiss to each breast he slid lower over her body, his mouth tracing patterns of fire over her silken stomach.

  Katie knew what Christopher wanted from her this time and she lifted her hips for him, offering him all of herself. The joy of his most intimate caress left her shaking, as he delved warmly into her love nest. Abandoning herself to his skillful lovemaking, she moved against his mouth. And, as he reached up to pinch gently at her nipples, her orgasm rocked explosively through her. Holding his head tightly to her pulsing body, she arched convulsively in ecstasy and then lay spent.