She drew away and took his hand. “You’re tired. You need to sleep.”
His fatigue was forgotten as he followed her to the bed. He wanted to do a lot more than sleep, but didn’t know if it was something she wanted or if it was even safe for the baby. He didn’t know how to ask.
She stood at the edge of the bed and looked up at him, slowly beginning to unbutton his white shirt, caressing the skin beneath it, but she was soon stopped by his button-down undershirt.
He wasn’t sure if he was reading her right, but hoped he was. She was touching him like she never had before and it felt so good. He’d never had a woman do something like this. With the women he’d paid, he’d always undressed himself, but now the woman he loved was unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it out of his pants. He found it to be incredibly intimate and sighed softly as she started on the undershirt, her fingertips grazing his bare skin. His body was responding to her touch. He stopped her hands and gazed into her eyes. “Despite my race, I am still a man,” he whispered to her.
“I know you are,” she whispered back, kissing his chest where the shirt opened. “You’re a man before anything else. You’re the only one who is worried about your race.”
With that, he captured her lips and kissed her like he’d been wanting to for a long time. He rested his hands on her shoulders and swept her mouth with his tongue getting the same response from her. They did it over and over, plunging into each other’s souls as he slowly pushed the oversized nightgown off her shoulder then pressed his lips to the newly bared skin.
She sighed with ecstasy as she tangled her fingers in his long, black hair and let him do as he pleased. She’d never felt like this before as his mouth roamed her shoulder and neck, giving her pleasure like she’d never had before. Beau had never done this even when they’d had sex for the first time. She liked it a lot. She could feel his erection pressing against her belly and it didn’t scare her. It just made her want him more.
He captured her lips again and gently touched her breasts through the nightgown, finding them full and her nipples erect. He was uncomfortably hard as he strained against the buttons in his jeans, but he was careful not to rush her or scare her. He knew she’d been hurt in a bad way and figured this was probably part of it. But she was soft and pliant in his arms and seemed very brave as her fingers roamed his waist and his back under his shirts and just the mere touch of her sent his senses spiraling.
She drew away as he started to ease the nightgown off her shoulders, wondering how he was going to see her. Beau had always told her she was a pig, even though she hadn’t been overly heavy then like she was now. She was pregnant and there was no hiding it. She didn’t want to be humiliated ever again, so she covered her chest and lowered her head when the nightgown ended up in a pool around her feet.
He quickly peeled off his shirts and gazed into her eyes. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered to her, gazing into her eyes that were filled with uncertainty. He kissed her lips as he gently took her arms from her chest and moved them to his waist.
Her fingers splayed the expanse of his slim, muscular waist as she entwined her tongue with his, suddenly aware that she didn’t know what she was doing. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered to him fretfully.
He drew away and traced her bottom lip with his thumb. “You do what you want to do. I’m not going to hurt you,” he promised.
“I’m not good at this,” she whispered anxiously.
He shook his head and gazed into her eyes. “You’re going to do wonderfully,” he said with soft confidence and kissed her deeply again. “Is it okay to do this with the baby?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He eased her into the unmade bed, kissing her as he did then raised himself enough to tug the top button of his pants and the rest followed.
She watched him with curiosity and interest as he shrugged his pants off then his underwear. She thought he was the biggest man she’d ever seen, not that she’d seen a lot. She touched her lips nervously, wondering if it was going to hurt when he finally got inside her. But she was anxious. It had been so long since a man had touched her like this.
He slid into bed next to her and could see the trepidation in her face. “Are you changing your mind?” he whispered to her as he pushed her hair away from her face.
She shook her head. “Are you?”
“And deny myself the pleasure of being with the woman I love? Hell no,” he said with a smile.
She laughed lightly with him and pulled him back down to kiss him again.
It wasn’t long before they were exchanging heated kisses and touching each other where they’d never touched before, gasping softly with the pleasure as each touch became more intimate and each kiss became more demanding.
She caressed his back and ran her fingers through his hair as he kissed, nipped and sucked on her neck, chest and breasts while his long fingers touched her where only her husband had touched her before. She could feel his hot, hard maleness pressing against her leg and knew, even though he was bigger than Beau, he wasn’t going to hurt her.
She longed to bring him pleasure, too, and reached between them to boldly grasp him and move her fingers around his most sensitive area.
He stifled a moan as he closed his eyes. No woman had ever touched him there and it felt so good. She stroked, caressed, fondled and did it with zeal, but was gentle at the same time. “Oh, my God,” he whispered in ecstasy, but knew there was something better than her hand and wanted that more.
He moved onto his back, pulling her with him, kissing her hotly. “Ready?” he murmured against her lips.
It’s show time, she thought with mild apprehension. “Yes.”
He ran his hand over her breast and kissed her softly. “I don’t want to hurt the baby.”
“You won’t,” she whispered. “I’ll take the top.”
He wasn’t sure what that meant until she straddled his hips and leaned over and kissed him as she slowly lowered herself onto him, guiding their bodies together. He stifled his moan of pleasure as she adjusted herself on him and he moved under her to accommodate.
He watched her move on him slowly as she caressed his ribs and chest and kissed him. He soon found himself sitting up, burying his face between her ample breasts and kissing her lips and neck as he took over, moving under her.
They were breathing hard as they clung to each other, both of them desperately trying to stay quiet as the bed rocked with their movements.
“Cody!” she gasped as she felt herself building to a tremendous climax.
“I know,” he whispered to her raggedly, feeling the same thing in himself and gathered her close and drove into her fiercely, never before feeling this way. It was the best thing he’d ever experienced.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder as her body gave into his and she trembled with the release.
He was right behind her and pulled her head off his shoulder to bury his moan of rapture into her mouth, kissing her hard and passionately as his release rocked them both. He’d never climaxed so hard in his life and it was because of her. She’d actually wanted to be with him and she’d touched him like he’d never been touched before.
She had never felt like this, and knew it was because she really did love him. This had been far more than just a meeting of their bodies. It had been a melding of their hearts, souls, and spirits.
They were one.
In a quieter moment, he laid her back onto the bed and kissed her softly as he molded his body to hers. “I love you, Suzanne.”
She hugged him tightly and kissed his shoulder. “I love you, too, Cody.”
Chapter 34
Suzanne woke up the next morning when she felt Cody scramble out of bed. She sat up behind him, holding the blankets over herself. “Where are you going?” she whispered anxiously.
“Somebody is up and I need to get out of here before I get caught and Boris shoots me,” he whispered back as he quic
kly got dressed in silence. “I’ll be back as soon as I get Titan saddled then we can leave. Are you sure you’re up to the trip?”
She nodded. “Don’t leave me here. Okay?”
He sat down on the bed next to her and pulled his boots on. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he told her and leaned back and kissed her briefly. “I shouldn’t be long. Just act surprised when you see me.”
“I will.”
He stood up and pulled on his heavy coat and picked up his hat. “Go back to sleep. We have a long, hard trip ahead of us.”
“I don’t want to keep you waiting.”
“Get up at your normal time, honey. Don’t let them know that I’ve been here before I actually get here.”
She laughed softly at the way his sentence sounded.
He gave her a crooked grin. “Silly girl,” he murmured with affection and kissed her on the top of her head and went out the window.
She quickly closed it after him then snuggled back under the blankets to warm up again. She didn’t sleep, but thought about her night with Cody. He’d been so kind. He’d been caring, attentive and so in tune with her; it didn’t even seem possible that it had happened at all.
When she smelled food cooking, she got up, bathed as much as she could and went to help Marda with breakfast.
~~~
“How long has he been around?” Marda asked Suzanne casually as they cooked some ham and as Boris was outside gathering wood.
“Who?” she asked innocuously.
“Cody,” she said with no sort of inflection in her voice. “I know he’s been around here and I know you’re feeding him,” she said and laid a comforting hand on her forearm. “It’s okay. I’m not going to tell Boris. I was just wondering what took him so long to get back.”
“Um, he went to some town to find out if we are being trailed. I don’t know if we are or not, but we’re leaving today. He should be here soon with Titan,” she said honestly.
Marda nodded. “We’ll get you both fed and stocked up with some supplies.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you,” she said meekly. “I hate to ask, but do you suppose you could keep Boris occupied so there isn’t any trouble? I don’t want Cody to get hurt.”
“I’m sure I can dream up something.”
“Thank you. Thank you for everything, Marda. You’ve done more for me than anyone ever has and I’m grateful. I was really sick when I came here and you nursed me back to health. My arm is okay now and the baby seems to be okay, too. He’s been moving.”
She smiled. “That is good news. I was glad to help you out, Suzanne. I figure that’s why God put so many people on the earth. If one person gets into trouble, another one comes to help them out.”
“You are very kind,” she said sincerely. “I’ve never really had a friend before, but I think you’re one.”
She hugged her. “Oh, Suzy, my dear, you are so special and I am honored to be your friend. You’re mine, too. After you’re gone, I hope we see each other again.”
She knew that wasn’t possible, but hugged her in return. “Maybe someday. I’ll never forget you, Marda.”
“I’ll never forget you either, sweetheart. You’re the daughter I never had and I do wish both you and Cody only the best.”
She drew away with a smile as tears welled into her eyes. “I wish that for you and Boris, too, even though he really didn’t like me and couldn’t stand the sight of Cody.”
She smiled in return. “Do you want to know why he doesn’t like Cody?” she asked slyly.
“Why?”
“Because Cody is young, handsome, and virile and reminds him of how he used to be. That’s why. Boris was a fine looking man in his day.”
She nodded. “He’s not bad now for being an older man.”
“Yeah, but Cody has him beat,” Marda said with a short laugh of irony. “Just between you and me, I’ve always sort of had a liking for the Indian men. Not all of them are nearly as handsome as Cody--few of them are--but they have so much pride and spirit,” she said thoughtfully with a little shrug. “They’re more than just a body, if you know what I mean.”
She nodded. “I understand the mystique of them, but I saw the wicked side of them and don’t share your point of view. Cody is the exception rather than the rule,” she said apologetically.
“I know they can be mean, but I think everyone can.”
She nodded her acceptance of her friend’s statement, not wanting to start a conversation about the men in Cody’s village going beyond the realms of meanness. They had treated the white women worse than animals.
“Oh, my goodness, here he comes now,” she said with a smile when she saw Cody coming into the yard on the big, black stallion.
Suzanne watched him, thinking he was very special. She was so in love with him that the slightest thought of being separated from him made her heart ache. But she knew it couldn’t last. She had to go back to her world and, unless a miracle happened, he wasn’t going with her.
“Oh my God, there’s Boris,” she said gravely and ran for the door.
Suzanne followed her, swallowing her panic.
Boris was holding a gun on Cody again.
~~~
“I told you to get the hell outta here!” Boris yelled at Cody as he waved the rifle at him.
“I just came for Suzanne and we’ll leave in peace, Boris,” Cody said calmly. “There’s no need to get your feathers all ruffled.”
“You ain’t fit for no white woman,” he barked, cocking the gun threateningly. “All you wanna do is drink and bed the girls without a proper weddin’.”
“I don’t do those things,” he said, trying not to get defensive on him. “I really wish you would put the gun down so I can get Suzanne and we can leave.”
“You leave without her,” he spat.
He shook his head and looked at the two women who were standing on the porch. “I can’t do that.”
He fired a shot and Cody hit the ground before it hit him and tightened his hold on the reins as Titan whinnied and danced in fear.
Suzanne ran into the snow with her moccasins on and no coat, thinking Cody had been hit, but he was on his knees before she even got to him. He held his hand out to stop her. “I’m okay, honey. Just get your stuff together and we’ll go,” he said evenly as he watched Boris.
“Boris!” Marda boomed at her husband and marched into the snow and snatched the gun out of his hand. “Give me that damn thing.”
He took it back. “No. I don’t want that damn Injun lurkin’ ‘round here,” he said hotly.
She set her hands on her hips defiantly. “He came for Suzanne and she wants to go with him. Once they leave, you’ll never see either of them again. Now put the gun down so he can help her. After all, she is with child,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, and the child ain’t his,” he fumed and fired the gun again.
Cody hit the snow for the second time. The shot was way off into the trees and nothing was harmed. “Damn fool,” he muttered under his breath as he regained his feet. “I’m going to go saddle up a horse for Suzanne and then we’ll leave,” he told Boris irritably. “Now, don’t shoot me.”
“Take all them goddamn Injun ponies,” he bellowed and was about to fire another shot when Marda knocked the barrel of the gun toward the ground.
“Be reasonable, for heaven’s sake,” she pleaded. “Let them go in peace.”
“Peace, hell,” he scoffed. “They ain’t been nothin’ but trouble from the very beginnin’.”
“That is not true,” she retorted. “They’re both fine folks and I’m going to feed them breakfast before they go. And if you can’t behave, you can eat feed with the horses,” she said angrily and stomped back into the house. “ Damn fool. Can’t make up his mind. First, he wants her gone and now he won’t let her go. Lord have mercy.”
Suzanne stood in the snow with her hand over her mouth, eyes glued on Cody.
He met her gaze, seeing her fear and gave her a
slight smile. “It’s okay, honey. Go on and get ready now. I’m okay,” he said patiently.
She wanted to go to him and hug and kiss him, but reluctantly went back into the warm cabin where Marda was packing food into a burlap bag.
“You’re only a few days’ ride from warmer climate, sweetheart,” she told Suzanne. “But I’m packing enough food for a week in case you get laid up or something.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, as she choked back tears. She was glad Cody had come back and was glad to be going home, but she was going to miss Marda. She never would have made it without her and she was also sure that Cody would have been shot by now, if not for Marda’s intervention with Boris.
She looked at her with tears in her eyes. “Sure you can’t stay?”
Both women gave a short laugh, knowing it was impossible then hugged each other fiercely.
“Thank you for everything, Marda,” Suzanne wept into her friend’s shoulder. “You’ve been so kind. I wish there was some way I could repay you.”
She drew away and patted Suzanne’s round belly and gave her a tight smile. “You just have a healthy baby. That’s all I need,” she whispered. “You’ll be okay. I know you will.”
She nodded with tears of her own flowing freely down her cheeks. “I’d better get packed.”
“I’ll help you.”
“Thank you.”
All Suzanne had was the buckskin pants and white shirt of Cody’s that she’d been wearing when she got here, and they didn’t fit anymore. Marda insisted she keep the dress she was wearing and set her up with a coat and mittens and a scarf for her head. She was carrying the bag into the kitchen as Cody opened the door to come in, stomping the snow off his boots before he entered.
“Why won’t Boris do that?” Marda said wondrously. “He’d rather drag snow all over the house,” she muttered and left the room. “Go ahead and start eating,” she called to them from her bedroom.
They sat down next to each other at the table and began to eat the ham and pancakes that were still warm.
“Are you ready to go?” Cody asked Suzanne casually as he cut a pancake.
For the Love of Suzanne Page 19
