For the Love of Annie

by Sabrah Huff Agee

  Cooper studied his shoes. "I...it all seems a little foolish now, but at the time..."

  "Tell me, damn you!"

  Cooper drew in a deep breath. "I ran into Katybeth and her father when I left you this morning. They told me how you'd made them believe I was going to be an invalid the rest of my life. I finally understood why Katybeth hadn't come back to see me, hadn't answered any of my notes and I was furious with you for trying manipulate my life. Leaving you to dine alone was my way of retaliating."

  Mary Louise turned away from him. "What I did was wrong. But I was afraid that you were going to..."

  "What?" He spun her to face him. "What were you afraid of?"

  She shook her head. "Nothing, it doesn't matter any more."

  Cooper pulled her into his arms. "Mary Louise, I was a fool and I know I don't deserve it, but will you forgive me?"

  She raised her gaze to his. "I'd like to forget any of this happened. We both acted foolishly, and so— " Her words were cut of when Cooper kissed her in a way that could only be deemed as desperation. As he plied her lips with ardent kisses, he slipped one hand up to cup her breast. He kneaded the round softness and gently plucked at the ruched nipple through the soft cotton of her dress.

  Mary Louise could not resist him, could not deny what she'd been longing for since leaving him three days ago. So, mimicking Cooper's caresses, she slid her hands over his chest to stroke the taut muscles. She could feel his heart beating wildly beneath her fingers. Her own heart echoed the rhythm and she thought she might burst into flames at any moment. The tremor that ran through her body reminded her of the last time Cooper had held her like this, kissed her like this and she shuddered and moaned with pleasure.

  COOPER lifted his mouth from her swollen lips and looked anxiously down at her. "Did I hurt you?."

  "You didn't hurt me."

  "But you cried out."

  "It wasn't from pain, Cooper," she whispered, raising upon her toes to kiss his chin. "Please, don't stop."

  He rested his cheek atop her head. "God, I'm a fool. I'm sorry, Mary Louise. I didn't come here to do this. I only came because— " She placed her fingers over his mouth to silence him.

  "I don't care why you're here. I just want you to kiss me like that again."

  Cooper shook his head and backed away. "I've got to get out of here."

  "Why? Cooper please..." She reached for him.

  "Don't do that!" he snapped, feeling his control slip with each passing second. When he saw the hurt and confusion in her eyes he sighed raggedly. "Don't you understand? I want you so badly that if I don't stop now, I might not be able to stop later."

  Mary Louise stepped closer and gazed up at him. "What if I tell you that I don't want you to stop— now or later?"

  He stared at her. "You don't know what you're saying."

  "I know exactly what I'm saying."

  He turned his back to her and shook his head. "No, you don't, Mary Louise. You haven't considered the consequences. You'll be ruined."

  "Turn around, please." Knowing he was making a mistake, he slowly turned to face her. "Look at me, Cooper." She pirouetted and then laughed softly. "You're looking at a twenty— eight— year— old spinster who's never known what it's like to be loved by a man and, at this late date, will never know unless..." She laid her hand on his chest. "Unless you show me."

  Cooper felt his resolve slip a notch. "Mary Louise, you don't know what you're asking. I can't — "

  "I'm not asking for commitment, Cooper," she said quickly. "And, I'm not trying to trick you into marrying me. I swear to you, whatever happens in this room tonight will be our secret." She moved closer until her breasts brushed against him. "Please, make love to me."

  Cooper felt his resolve slip another notch. He closed his eyes and stood as still as a statue, trying to find the strength to walk away before something happened that they might live to regret.

  "Cooper?" Her voice was little more than a whisper. "Must I beg? If that's what you want then I will, I'll get on my knees— "

  "Don't, Weezie," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. When he took her mouth, the last of his resolve disintegrated in the heat of his overwhelming need to have her at least once. Almost shaking with desire, he asked, "Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?"

  "I've never been more certain of anything in my life."

  At her reply, Cooper's hard won control broke. He swept her into his arms and strode to the large four poster bed. Before setting her down, he looked at her intently. "And there'll be no recriminations afterward?"

  "None whatsoever." When he hesitated, Mary Louise kissed him softly. "I'm getting older by the minute, Cooper."

  He chuckled then and set her on her feet. He bracketed her face between his hands and kissed her. Then he began unbuttoning her dress and when it was loose enough, he pushed it off her shoulders, down and over her hips. Carefully, he helped her to step out of it and then he laid it over the chair. Then he kissed and fondled her as he removed the rest of her clothing.

  When she was completely nude, Cooper pulled the pins from her upswept hair until the silver— blonde mane fell over her breasts and hung nearly to her waist. Then he stepped back to look at her and he saw a hint of uncertainty in Mary Louise's eyes. "Have you changed your mind, Weezie?"

  She chewed her lip and looked away. "N— No one's ever seen me without my clothes," she whispered. "I— I guess I'm afraid that I won't measure up to your expectations."

  Cooper smiled. "You more than live up to my expectations, Weezie. Don't you know you're beautiful?"

  "Am I?" She blushed and avoided his gaze. Her hands twitched nervously at her sides, as if she were struggling against the urge to cover herself.

  He took her by the hand and led her to the tall wardrobe. He stood her before the wardrobe's mirrored doors and when she tried to turn way, he pulled her back snugly against him and gestured to the mirrors. "Look, Weezie, see how beautiful you are."

  "Cooper, I can't." She averted her eyes.

  "Yes, you can, Weezie." He grasped her chin and turned her face toward the mirror. "My God," he breathed softly. "you're like some beautiful, mythical goddess."

  Slowly, Mary Louise lifted her gaze to the mirror. "Oh," she said softly.

  Cooper had never been this apprehensive about making love to a woman in his life. But then, he thought ruefully, he'd never wanted to make love to anyone the way he wanted Mary Louise. He wanted to make her first time sheer ecstasy and he knew, under the circumstances, that would not be easily accomplished. The soiled doves who would talk about it said the first time was often painful. He couldn't bear the thought of hurting Mary Louise. He would have to go slowly and make sure she was ready. Moving slowly, he pulled back her long mane of silvery hair and kissed her ear. "Now it's my turn to undress."

  Though she tried to hide it, Cooper could see that she was afraid. So, while she watched his reflection, he continued talking to her even as he began to unbutton his shirt and pull it from the waistband of his trousers. "I've wanted you since the first time I laid eyes on you, Mary Louise Markham, and these past few weeks have been unholy hell for me." He tossed his shirt to the floor, kicked off his boots, and unfastened his trousers. "I nearly went crazy while you were taking care of me. I wanted you so much that sometimes I couldn't sleep. And when I did sleep, I dreamed about you." He paused as he bent over to step out of his trousers and drawers. When he stood up again, he was completely nude. He moved up behind her and pressed his erection against the soft swell of her buttocks while his hands moved around to gently cup her breasts. "And in my dreams we were just as we are now," he finished softly.

  MARY LOUISE couldn't drag her gaze from the tableau in mirror. It was as if she were watching someone else's body being caressed, someone else's breasts being fondled, someone else's shoulder being kissed. As she watched the dark, sunburned hands moving over the pale body in the mirror, her skin became ultra sensitive, and she was suddenly acutely aware o
f every whorl on Cooper's fingertips, every crease in the skin on his hands so that his caresses became almost painful. She shuddered at these new sensations while watching those two beautiful strangers in the mirror.

  "Talk to me," he whispered.

  Mary Louise wanted to do as he asked, but she had to struggle to form words. "T— Tell me more about your dreams."

  "In my dreams I touched you like this." He slid his hands over her body, following the contour of her hips, her waist, and then around to cup both her breasts. "I tasted you, like this." He moved to kneel before her and while she stood watching, mesmerized by the scene in the mirror, he took a taut nipple in his mouth, suckled it, and flicked it with his tongue. "And I did this to you," he murmured as he moved his lips down her body, kissing her stomach, her navel, her thighs.

  Mary Louise closed her eyes and sighed. "What a lovely dream," she murmured.

  COOPER saw a flash of apprehension in her eyes as he caressed her violet scented skin from shoulder to hip. "I won't hurt you, Weezie. All you have to do is tell me to stop, and I'll stop." If I can, he mentally added.

  She swallowed heavily but nodded that she understood. Smiling, Cooper kissed and fondled her breasts, playfully nipping the taut nipples. When her breathing quickened, he let his fingers glide over her stomach to circle her navel. He heard her gasp slightly when his fingers traversed to the silvery curls between her legs. "Shall I stop, Weezie?" he whispered.

  "N— No," she replied in a breathless voice.

  Cooper watched her face as he gently probed the folds of her femininity and saw her eyes glaze with pleasure when he sought and found her clitoris, the core of her desire. She grew slick with passion's nectar as he rhythmically fondled the distended nubbin, and she moaned with pleasure as her knees buckled.

  Smiling inwardly, Cooper caught her in his arms and laid her on the thick carpet that covered the floor. Kneeling at her feet, he lifted Mary Louise's legs and settled them over his shoulders. At this, Mary Louise raised her head and looked at him with passion filled eyes. "Cooper, wha— "

  "Shhhh," he murmured, "Don't ask any questions, just lie back and enjoy the experience."

  "B— But..."

  "I won't hurt you, Weezie. Trust me."

  That seemed to satisfy her, for she laid back and closed her eyes. Cooper nipped at the inside of her knees and she laughed softly. Smiling, he moved his lips to the sensitive flesh on the inside of her thighs and he heard her sigh. Then, when he kissed her on her soft, moist, nether lips, he heard her gasp his name. Knowing what was coming, he reached up beside her, found her hands and gripped them, entwining his fingers through hers as his tongue searched for and found the sensitive bud nestled within. At the first flick of his tongue, she began to writhe. He held her hands tightly as he pleasured her with his mouth. Then, when he was certain that she was only seconds away from completion, he moved over her and settled between her thighs.

  "Weezie?" he whispered, "Weezie I'll try not to hurt you."

  She didn't seem to hear him at first. Then she opened her eyes and he saw they were dark with desire. "Please," she begged, "Please don't stop yet."

  "Don't worry, Sweetheart," he said with a groan, "I couldn't if I tried." He positioned himself over her and grasped her hips in preparation for entry. Then taking her mouth in a possessive kiss, he thrust hard and deep, pushing past the fragile barrier of her maidenhead until he was all the way inside. He lay still, afraid to move lest he hurt her. He cradled her face in his palms and looked down at her.

  "Weezie? Sweetheart? Are you all right?"

  She smiled slowly. "Yes. I'm all right."

  "How do you feel?"

  "Full."

  He laughed and began to pull out. "Does that hurt?"

  "No. It feels...nice."

  He thrust home. "And that?"

  "Even better. Will you do it again?"

  He chuckled with relief. "It'll be my greatest pleasure," he replied and began to slide in and out of her tight sheath in earnest. She caught his rhythm and wrapped her legs around his hips. Soon, her breathing quickened and she was gasping for breath. Cooper felt the rippling of her internal muscles as she convulsed around him. He ground his teeth, struggling hold back until she reached fulfillment. Then, when she shuddered violently, he wrapped his arms around her and let go, exploding in an earth shattering climax. He'd never felt anything like it and long afterward he wondered at his extraordinary and completely unexpected feeling of happiness.

  When he could move again, Cooper rolled to his side and drew Mary Louise with him. He kissed the tip of her nose. "You still all right?"

  "I feel wonderful," she murmured sleepily.

  He propped his head on his arm and gazed down at her. "Me, too."

  She smiled. "May I beg a favor?"

  "Anything."

  "Would you mind if we got in bed, this floor is hard and the rug is scratchy."

  Cooper chuckled as he sat up and pulled her into his arms. He carried her across the room and laid her on the cool, crisp sheets. It was then that he noticed the smear of blood on the inside of her thighs. He stood up and crossed to the wash stand, poured some water into the bowl and brought it to the table beside the bed.

  She looked at him then and he saw the question in her eyes. "Just lie still, Sweetheart," he said, "while I bathe you."

  She started to protest, but he stopped it with a kiss. Then, he gently washed away the evidence of their lovemaking, taking care not to hurt the swollen lips of her femininity. Then he cleaned himself and poured the water into the chamber pot under the bed. He reached for his clothes, when Mary Louise's voice stopped him.

  "I know you have to leave soon," she said. "But would you mind staying with me just until I fall asleep?"

  Cooper smiled and dropped the clothing. Then he crawled in the bed beside her, kissed her softly and he pulled her into his arms. "I'll stay with you, Mary Louise, as long as you want me."

  COOPER was still smiling as he made his way home. He'd stayed much longer than he'd intended, and he knew Lizzie was going to be fit to be tied that he was so late, but he didn't care. Whatever he had to face had been worth it. Making love to Mary Louise had been worth facing a firing squad. He was still wrapped in the soft afterglow of the extraordinary experience and he almost didn't hear when Eli Davis called to him.

  Cooper looked up to see his attorney waving to him from his front porch. He drew the buggy to a stop and waited for his friend. As Eli approached, Cooper noticed the grave expression on his attorney's face. "What are you doing outside at this time of night, Eli?"

  "I was having a smoke before going to bed. Darcy won't allow me to smoke my cigars in the house. But I'm glad you came by when you did, because I have something to tell you." He flicked an ash off his cigar. " I'm afraid I have bad news."

  Cooper wrapped the reins around the brake and climbed down from the buggy. Then he and Eli strolled across the lawn. "You said bad news, Eli?"

  "It's about your marriage to Marietta. I'm afraid it wasn't valid."

  Cooper stopped walking and stared at his attorney. "How can that be? I swear to you, Marietta and I got married right and proper— I even got her Pa to sign the papers consenting to it."

  "I believe you. The problem is there's no proof. It looks like Judge Jeeter never filed the papers— or if he did, there's no sign of them now." Eli shook his head sadly. "Toward the end of his life, Kyle Jeeter had a drinking problem, Cooper. I expect he got soused the day he married you and just never bothered to record your marriage. There is one hope, though. Do you still have your marriage certificate?"

  Cooper sighed and shook his head. "Several years ago Lizzie and I cleaned out my desk drawers. I remember coming across the certificate and tossing it in the trash with the other junk."

  "Oh Lord, you didn't!"

  Cooper rubbed his neck. "How was I to know I'd need it one day? Marietta had been gone for two or three years and I knew she wasn't coming back, so I didn't see any need to keep the
thing."

  "I understand, Cooper. I probably would have done the same thing. However, without it you have no proof that you and Marietta were ever legally married."

  Suddenly, Cooper realized why Eli was so upset. "Oh, my God! Annie. Does this mean— "

  Eli nodded. "It means that you don't have any legal hold on Annie. As of right now it appears that Miss Markham has the legal right of custody to her brother's child."

  "But what proof is there that she's Annie's aunt? She could be making it all up for all we know."

  "That's true. But, Cooper, everyone knows you hadn't seen Marietta in years. All Miss Markham would have to do would be to get someone to swear that her brother and Marietta had been living together at the time Annie was conceived— I doubt it would be all that difficult prove."

  Cooper's mouth went dry. Losing Annie would be worse than death for him. "Jesus, Eli! What am I going to do?"

  Eli shook his head. "You'd better hope that Miss Markham doesn't get wind of this. Do you have any idea who her father is?"

  "Her father? I think his name is Angus, or something like that. Why?"

  "Her father is William Angus Markham— probably the best legal mind in this part of the country. Believe me, Cooper, if Angus Markham finds out about this mess regarding the validity of your marriage— well, I can assure you he'll waste no time in using the information to get custody of his granddaughter. If you want to keep Annie, my advice is to marry the Markham woman as soon as possible. It's the only way I know that you can guarantee she won't be taken away."

  Chapter 15

  COOPER hurriedly unhitched his horse from the buggy and rubbed it down for the night. Then, as he mounted steps to his living quarters he sighed and began to prepare for a firm dressing down he was sure to receive from Lizzie.

  And he was right to prepare for it.

  Lizzie was waiting for him the moment he opened the door and stepped inside. Arms crossed over her skinny chest while her foot tapped an angry message on the polished floor, Lizzie began her tirade. "It's about time you got yourself home, Cooper Matthews." She turned to lead the way down the hall, all the while berating Cooper as if he were a misbehaving child. "I declare, I ain't never seen the like. Stayin' out all hours o' the night with that silly woman. You ain't got a lick o'sense, not a lick, you hear me?"