by Nan Ryan
“Anna,” Suzette tapped her friend’s white shoulder. “I’ve the most frightful headache.”
“Oh, Suz, I’m sorry. And just when you were getting lucky. Shall we go home, then?”
“No, no. Tell you what. You and Perry stay and enjoy yourselves. I’ll just stay here at the Mansion tonight. I’ll spend the night in our suite and come over to your house in the morning when I’m feeling better.”
“Are you sure, Suzette? I hate to think about you alone in a hotel room.”
“What’s the discussion, ladies?” Perry Woods leaned close to be heard above the crowd.
“Perry, Suzette has a headache and she wants to spend the night in town. I told her I don’t think she should.” She looked to her husband for a decision.
Perry looked at Suzette. To her surprise, he said, “Suzette will be safe here.”
“Thank you, Perry. I’ll see you two tomorrow. Good night.” Smiling nervously, she backed away, turned, and hurried toward the front door. In the wine-carpeted lobby, she at last raised the door key. And she smiled. The key was to suite 213 right here in the Mansion. The suite just next door to suite 211, the Brand suite, where she had told Anna and Perry she would spend the night.
Suzette lowered her hand and looked around. She went up the winding staircase on her right to the upper floor, her long skirts rustling. At the top of the stairs, Suzette took a deep breath. The wide hall was deserted. Kaytano’s room was at the far end of the hall. Feeling the urge to lift her skirts to her knees and run all the way down the long, dimly lit corridor, Suzette smiled happily and took the long walk into the arms of the man she loved.
Suzette stood outside suite 213. With a calm that surprised her, she raised the shiny key and slowly inserted it into the lock. It turned easily and the heavy wooden door swung open. She removed the key and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
He was silhouetted in the open window. A gaslight hissed above the bed, casting shadows over the big room. He stood completely still and looked at her. She leaned back against the door and studied him. Lord he was beautiful. Tall and trim, he wore a fine custom suit of black Chinese silk, a white starched shirt and white tie. He looked cool, sophisticated, and successful. He was all of those things and he was none of those things. First and foremost he was her Kaytano, her beautiful half-breed, who looked better out of clothes than in them. Kaytano of the dark, sultry eyes and long, lean limbs. Kaytano, the sleek satin-skinned savage who taught her about love. Kaytano, the lost little boy who resided inside the powerful, mahogany body of a man.
“Kaytano!” she cried and started to him. He met her halfway and she felt tears stinging her eyes when his warm, sensual lips closed over hers. Too long denied the pleasures of her body, Kaytano found it impossible to be tender. His kiss was at once deep and demanding, his embrace almost punishing as he crushed her to him. If he seemed callous and uncaring, Suzette never noticed. She, too, demanded immediate fulfillment from this man who knew her more intimately than any other.
When finally Kaytano lifted his mouth from hers, she sobbed his name and tore at the studs of his shirt, anxious to have him naked. Kaytano was just as determined to have her free of her gown. His hands, surer than hers, were under the fine white brocade dress, swiftly peeling down the satin underpants, pausing to caress her bare bottom. Holding the long worrisome skirt high in one brown hand, his other went to her back, trying in vain to unhook the dress. No match for the stubborn hooks, Kaytano wisely abandoned them and moved around in front to the top of her dress. He slid the shiny material down over her shoulder just as Suzette succeeded in pushing his white shirt apart, exposing his bare, smooth chest.
Her tiny hands went to the waistband of his trousers just as he managed to free a creamy breast from the bodice of her gown. “Oh, God, Suzette,” he moaned. Still struggling, they fell across the bed. Her dress was pushed up around her bare hips. His trousers were unbuttoned, his aroused body freed. “I can’t wait, darling,” he murmured apologetically as he moved into position.
“Nor I,” she responded and pulled him to her. They mated violently, both moaning and breathing hard. And it was wonderful, wildly erotic. They rocked the bed, half dressed, half undressed. His fine black jacket was touching her heaving breast. His stiff white shirt was rubbing her shoulders. His bare, hot chest was touching the brocade of her dress. Her silk-stockinged knees rubbed against his trouser-encased legs. His slick brown stomach was pressed against her gown where the rumpled satin bunched up around her waist.
Suzette’s hands frantically ran up and down Kaytano’s heaving chest. Kaytano’s hands were on the soft, bare bottom she lifted to him, as he took her with sure, fast thrusts that rapidly brought them both to a blinding climax.
“Kaytano!” She gripped his shoulders as the first explosions began.
“Baby,” he groaned and dipped his dark head to her breast. His tongue flicked at it briefly before he surrounded the jutting peak with his lips and drew her into his mouth.
“Kaytano,” she screamed and he raised his head. She bit into his shoulder, through his jacket, while her body writhed and bucked against him.
“Suzette,” he soothed and put a hand into her blond hair, pulling her face from his shoulder. He was holding her head against the pillow and she watched as his climax reached the apex and he exploded within her. While small, involuntary tremors buffeted him, his mouth came down on hers and he kissed her with lips so hot she felt her own would surely be seared by the heat.
Then he was still. His lips left hers and went to her neck. “I’m sorry,” he murmured and rolled off her.
Suzette began to laugh. “You’re sorry?” She turned to him. “What in heaven’s name for?”
“For being such an animal that I couldn’t wait until we were undressed.” He looked down at himself, then at her. And he laughed, too. “Come to think of it, you didn’t exactly discourage me.”
Suzette lowered her crumpled skirt. “I’d have killed you if you’d made me wait.” She laughed harder and put her hand on his stomach. “You were really comical, darling. Making love in a tuxedo. Really, Kaytano.”
“And what about you?” He lifted her hand to his lips. “That satin skirt was everywhere I looked or touched. Every time I tried to put my lips on something, all I got was a mouthful of rumpled brocade. Shall we, Suzette?”
“Let’s do.” She smiled and they both rose from the bed. Minutes later they crawled in between the sheets, their clothes discarded in a heap on the floor. Wonderfully naked and free, they lay facing each other, the lower part of their bodies touching, legs entwined.
Kaytano’s hand was at her waist, his dark eyes probing hers. Tears were shining in her eyes. “Kaytano, they told me you were dead. I didn’t know you…”
“Don’t, sweetheart. I’m very much alive. Don’t cry.”
“Kaytano, I lost our child. I’m sorry, darling.”
“I know, love,” Kaytano said softly.
“But how, Kaytano? I…”
“I had Pancho find out for me. While I was recovering, he came and told me.”
“I wanted him so much, Kaytano. I wanted your child. It broke my heart, especially since I thought you were…”
“Sweetheart,” he soothed and kissed her tenderly. “Don’t be sad. We’re here together, we’ll forget the past. There’s only now; there’s only the two of us.” He kissed her again, gently pulling her closer. “I love you, Suzette,” he whispered into her mouth. “I’ve lived to hold you like this again. I knew I would.”
“Kaytano, I didn’t know you were alive but still I prayed for you. I told myself you couldn’t be dead, you couldn’t…”
“Shhh! Sweet baby, that’s all behind us. I’m alive; I was determined to live to see you again.” His fingers lightly stroked her velvety cheek, then moved to her shoulder.
“Kaytano, are you safe here? Why did you come to Fort Worth? Why aren’t you at Cielo Vista?”
Kaytano smiled and his dark eyes flash
ed. His eyes moved down to the swell of her breast and tenderly caressed her. “I’m here to see you, love.”
“To see me? How did you know I’d be here? Kaytano, you knew I was visiting in Fort Worth and you thought there’d be a chance you’d run into me?”
He wore a satisfied grin. “I knew I’d see you, Suzette. You see, I’ve carefully kept up with your every move long before I met you. You have one weakness besides me. Gambling. I knew you’d be in the casino during your visit to Fort Worth.” His thumb began to brush over her nipple, teasing at it until it stood erect, a hard little berry, tempting him to taste.
Suzette wrapped a silky leg around his and smiled. “Guess you think you’re very clever? Think you know just about everything, don’t you, half-breed?” Her eyes were filling with desire once again.
“I know everything about you, Suzette. I spent the happiest hours of my life learning your secrets.” He brushed his lips over her aching breast, lifted his head and smiled.
A soft white hand slid down over Kaytano’s chest to his flat abdomen. Muscles tightened under her gentle touch and she said teasingly, “If you know everything about me, Indian, then you must know that at this minute I think I shall scream if you don’t make love to me again.” She leaned to him and began to kiss his chest, opening her mouth to tickle him with her tongue.
A lean brown hand pulled her head away and hard, burning lips came down on hers, kissing her passionately.
Suzette’s lips were just as heated. Her mouth opened to his, eager to feel his plundering tongue deep inside. She didn’t have long to wait. He was kissing her with searing urgency and his hands were sweeping over her naked body, arousing, stroking, stimulating, as only he knew how. Animal sounds came from deep in Suzette’s throat as she abandoned herself to carnal pleasure, caring not at all if their loving was right or wrong.
As with the first time Kaytano had taken her on that warm night so long ago, Suzette wanted nothing more from life than to lie in Kaytano’s arms while he brought her exquisite joy. To be held and touched while his beautiful dark eyes watched her was ecstasy beyond compare.
Kaytano began to whisper words of love while he gently eased her onto her back and shifted his weight. His dark eyes were intense with passion and Suzette closed hers and felt his mouth come down on her breasts, his sharp teeth raking over the nipples before he began gently to suck, drawing tenderly on her while she clutched his dark head and pressed him to her.
He felt her wince as his hard, determined flesh entered her. His thrusts were insistent, but slow. Kaytano wanted to prolong her pleasure. Murmuring to each other, they moved together, and try as he might to keep the pace slow, his hunger for her was too great, her nearness too new, the sweetness of her soft, warm body too intoxicating. Soon he was thrusting fiercely into her, unable to stem the tide of raging passion sweeping over them both. Together they rushed headlong into a red-hot release that left them shaken and clinging to each other, terms of endearment spilling from their lips.
“Was that better?” He nuzzled her ear, his breathing still rapid.
Suzette, her blond hair fanned out on the pillow, lay on her back licking her dry lips. “It was wonderful, darling,” she whispered, her eyes closing.
He leaned up on an elbow to study her beautiful, flushed face. “Stay with me forever?”
She didn’t open her eyes. Nodding her head yes, she smiled lazily. They lay together then, quietly talking, saying little. The conversation was mostly the talk of two lovers. Finally, spent and happy, they fell asleep.
With the first loud rap at the door, Kaytano’s dark head raised from the pillow and instinctively his hand clamped firmly over Suzette’s trembling mouth just as she opened her eyes in shock and fear.
40
The Prairie Echo
January 17, 1881
Jacksboro, Texas
PRINCE OF DARKNESS SEIZED
The infamous Kaytano was arrested last night in his opulent hotel suite at the Mansion in Fort Worth, Texas. The half-breed was sought for a number of outstanding crimes.
Sources say a beautiful blond companion was with the outlaw when he was apprehended, but Kaytano gallantly kept her identity secret, saying she was innocent of any crime and unaware he was a bandit. He warned Tarrant County authorities that if they wanted him confined without trouble, the lady must be allowed to leave.
Under heavy guard the Prince of Darkness was taken to the Fort Worth city jail. U.S. marshals will soon relieve the local lawmen of their famed guest, for Kaytano will be incarcerated in a federal facility.
Austin lowered the newspaper to his lap, then sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he lifted the paper and again read the article. Rising, he walked to the fireplace and tossed the paper into the flames. He stood watching as the paper quickly ignited and within seconds was nothing more than gray ash. But Austin could still see every word clearly: “…sources say a beautiful blond companion was with the outlaw…”
Austin lifted his palms to his throbbing temples and pressed. It did little good; he couldn’t drive the torturous thoughts out of his mind. Perhaps whiskey could. The cut-crystal decanter was half full when Austin poured himself a drink and sat down in his easy chair by the fire. Suzette was to return tomorrow. Would she come? Did he want her to come? Had she been in the Mansion Hotel with Kaytano? Why in hell didn’t he make sure the half-breed was dead when he left him wounded at the Cathedral Peak cabin?
Suzette hugged Anna good-bye. In Anna’s eyes was a look Suzette could not deny. Her best friend did not approve of her. Suzette had told Anna and Perry the truth about her relationship with Kaytano. She’d told them she loved the half-breed, had spent the night with him at the Mansion, was there when the authorities came for him, and that she was going home to tell Austin she could no longer live with him.
Anna had said she understood, but Suzette knew that she didn’t. Anna and Perry had always been fond of Austin, and the couple found it impossible to understand how Suzette could betray a man so kind and good. There was no way she could explain.
She waved good-bye and boarded the Butterfield stage. As it pulled away, she saw that Anna, her husband’s arm around her, was crying. Suzette wasn’t sure if Anna cried for Austin or for her, or for them both, but Suzette had a feeling that she’d not be seeing Anna and Perry and their two children again.
Suzette swallowed and leaned her head back against the hard leather seat. She was tired from the sleepless night she’d spent and she was very sad. She’d found her love only to lose him again. Even now while she began the journey to Jacksboro, Kaytano was locked up, never to be released, and it was all because of her. He had come to Fort Worth to see her. She was responsible for his capture.
Suzette sighed. If she never saw Kaytano again, she could no longer live with Austin. She loved Kaytano and would until her life ended. It was not fair to stay with Austin, to live a lie. She’d tell him as soon as she got back. She’d confess everything and then she’d pack a few things and leave. She’d give Austin a divorce. He was rich and handsome, and many women would love to be his wife; he was still young enough to find happiness. She wanted him to be happy; she hoped he would be someday. And she hoped that someday he would forgive her.
After a long afternoon of drinking alone, Austin looked up and smiled when Tom Capps came up to the house at dusk. Austin told Tom he wanted to go into Jacksboro and have a drink at the Longhorn Saloon. Tom quickly agreed, though he thought Austin was in no condition to leave the ranch. Tom knew Austin was drunk and would be drunker before the evening was over, but if Austin was determined to go to town, Tom wanted to be there to look after him.
It was nearing midnight as Austin and Tom sat at a corner table in the Longhorn. Both were drunk. Austin talked, Tom listened.
Lifting a shot glass of whiskey to his lips, Austin said thoughtfully, “You know, Tom, I should never have brought her back. I should have left her with Kaytano.”
“Austin, what the hell do you mean
? The bastard captured her, held her against her will. Have you lost your mind?”
Austin smiled sadly. “Yes, I believe I have. And I’ll tell you why. Suzette loves Kaytano.” He took a drink and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.
Tom leaned across the table. “Listen to me, Austin. I’m sure there was some attraction between the two. He had her quite a while and he’s notorious with the ladies. But she’s back now and she’ll forget all about him. Remember this, old friend, it took you a long time to get her to marry you, but finally she fell into your arms and you two were happy till that outlaw grabbed her.”
“Yes, I guess we were,” Austin said tonelessly.
“And you’ll be happy again, mark my words. Give her some time, she’s young, she’ll…”
“No, Tom,” Austin said sadly. “It’s different now.” He poured another drink. “When I married Suzette, she didn’t love me, but she had never loved any other man. Now that she’s lived with Kaytano, loved Kaytano, she’ll never again be happy with me.”
“Now, Austin, I’m not sure…”
“I am. I should know. I was happy enough living with Beth, but I could never be happy with someone like her now, not after Suzette. Once you’ve lived with someone you’re in love with…well…and, too, Kaytano is alive. They took him from a hotel room…”
“I saw the paper. Austin, I wish to hell there was something I could do.” Tom frowned.
Austin said, “You are doing something. You’re sitting here listening to the pathetic babbling of a rejected old man.”
A loud voice cut across the room, followed by a man’s derisive laugh. Austin rose from his chair. His gun cleared his holster and the man who’d said Suzette Brand was a whore who slept with Indians lay dead on the barroom floor. Red Wilson, intending to bait the drunken Austin, had gotten more than he expected. Austin’s gray eyes swept the room, his gun still raised.
