“It’s all right.” Cassie cooed to him and held him tight. He was her baby no matter how old he was, he would always be her baby.
Sarah toddled out of the bedroom. Saw RJ in her mother’s arms and, not to be out done, ran to Sam launching herself at his chest. He caught her easily and hugged her close. She was his little girl and had him wrapped around her finger. He knew it and didn’t care in the least.
Bridget opened her door, looked out at all of them, nodded, then closed the door again. Cassie guessed she was satisfied everyone was safe and accounted for so she went back to bed.
That is what Cassie was going to do after she put her children safely back to bed. And she didn’t want to go alone, though she knew she would.
CHAPTER 9
Would he accept it? Could they just be lovers? Then she wouldn’t be hurt if…when…he left.
Cassie arranged for them to have their supper in the parlor. Just the two of them. The kids and Bridget ate early and she took them upstairs to bed. She wanted to have privacy for what she had to say and asked him to join her there.
“Good evening. You look lovely,” he said as he entered. He took her hands, turned them over palm side up and kissed the inside of her wrists sending shivers of need up her spine.
She’d dressed with care in her best sky blue blouse that matched her eyes and plain black skirt. She pulled her hair up on the sides and left the back falling in loose waves down her back. She’d bit her lips and pinched her cheeks to add some color to her face. She never used cosmetics.
Sam looked wonderful. He wore a black shirt and had left it open at the neck, the top two buttons undone. Skin, golden from years in the hot sun, peeked out at her. His dark denim pants fit well, emphasizing his long legs. His boots were polished and he had almost no limp now, his sprain nearly healed.
“Please sit down,” she said as she sat at the small table. She’d raised the sides on the table so that it was now round. She’d fold them down again once they were done. He held her chair out for her and then took his seat across from her. “I hope you don’t mind that I had supper served in here. I wanted to talk to you.”
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you too.”
“You have?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You know why. I want you Cassie. I’ve never made any secret of that fact. Spending the night with you in town night before last made me realize just how much I want you.”
“Oh Sam. It did me too.”
He got to his feet and pulled her up into his arms. His lips came down on hers with a force such as she’d never known before. The kiss was ferocious and…wonderful. But she wanted so much more. He broke the kiss. Left her only long enough to lock the parlor door and close the window curtains. Then he was back and she was in his arms again. He walked her backwards to the settee then followed her down, his lips never leaving hers.
“You are so beautiful. Let me see you.” He undid the buttons of her blouse, slowly one by one. Then he pulled it open revealing her lace edged chemise. He kissed her breast from the topmost curve to the beautiful pink tip. The linen abraded her nipples making them hugely sensitive. He took a nub in his mouth and suckled her leaving her chemise damp. He pulled up his head and blew lightly on the damp cloth making her nipple peak to a hard round pebble.
Unlacing her chemise, he opened it to the waist and took her in his mouth again. Nipping and tugging until she was breathless, yet she clasped his head tighter to her breast begging for more.
“Oh Sam. What are you doing to me?”
“I’m loving you Cassie. Just loving you.”
He sat her up and pushed at her blouse until she was bared to the waist. “Lovely. Absolutely perfect.”
Cassie went to cover herself. Shyness warring with need. “My breasts aren’t firm and perky anymore. I’ve had two children and it shows.”
“Don’t. Don’t ever hide yourself from me. You’re beautiful.” As if to prove his words were true, he trailed kisses from her lips to her breasts and back again.
He tasted of mint and coffee.
Cassie leaned her head back, exposing her neck to his questing lips. She stood and dropped her skirt to the floor. She still wore her open chemise and pantaloons. Her skin was afire as Sam slid the pantaloons slowly down her legs, caressing every inch of her skin as he went. Then he slid the chemise down her arms and had her lie down once more on the settee.
He latched on to one nipple with his mouth and rolled the other between his thumb and index finger. With his other hand he cupped her mons, found the outer lips to her center, rubbed up and down, pressing hard above her love knot. Then he delved deeper, thrusting first one finger then two into her hot, wet opening. He caressed her, stretched her.
Sam kissed and licked his way down her body to the blonde triangle that covered her mound. He replaced his fingers with his tongue. Thrusting in and out with his tongue as he would soon be doing with his cock. He moved to her pleasure bud and sucked, then soothed, then grazed it with his teeth and sucked hard. Her body responded to his questing fingers and magic tongue, leaving her wet and ready for him.
Cassie felt her world quake, tremors wracked her body and prepared her for her first climax in years. She pulled his head closer.
“More. Harder. Yes. Oh, God yes. Faster.” She instructed Sam, urging him on. She moaned unable to stop herself.
He circled her sensitive nub then thrust his tongue, each stabbing contact made her shiver and the pressure within her build. Then he sucked hard. She exploded, shattered. She bucked, her body in the throes of release. She fisted her hands in the cushions underneath her in an attempt to silence her scream of pleasure.
Sam didn’t leave her after she came but continued to lick and soothe her till she’d calmed.
“That was magnificent,” she breathed. “Now you. I still need you. Need to feel you inside me.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said. He sat on the settee took off his boots, then removed his shirt. When he removed his pants, his cock sprang free, jutting proudly from the dark brandy brown thatch at its base. There were none of the slow movements he’d taken when he stripped her of her clothes.
She laughed. “You’re pleased to see me.”
He stood over her his cock standing proud. She reached out and grasped him. Silk and steel. So soft and so hard at the same time.
Immediate arousal coursed through her veins. She got on her knees in front of him, kissed the head of his penis and rubbed the slick, dewy drop of clear liquid on the tip of his penis, around her lips before licking it off.
He thought he’d died and gone to heaven when she wrapped her hand around his length and began to move. Up and down, she pumped him and the feeling was exquisite.
He threw his head back and enjoyed it but only for a moment. He was too close.
“I need in you. Now.”
“Yes.” She got back up on the settee and spread herself for him, one leg on the back of the sofa and one leg on the floor.
He rose above her and spread her open. He was at the opening of her vagina and he paused.
“Are you sure, Cassie?”
“Oh, God, yes. Please Sam. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
Satisfied, he put the head of his cock in her and pushed a little, just enough to get inside. He pulled back then pushed in again, a little farther this time. She was so damn slick and ready for him, he wanted to thrust in to the hilt but he also didn’t want to hurt her. It had been a long time since Cassie had made love. He could tell it by the tightness of her passage around his shaft.
“Please,” she begged. “More.”
Sam pulled almost all the way out and with her juices coating him he thrust in hard and buried himself to the hilt.
“You feel so good. You’re so tight, so right for me,” he said on a moan.
“You fill me completely. It’s wonderful. Now stop talking and move.” She said it with a thrust of her hips and a sigh of pleasure.
He
rocked forward pressing against her and then rocked back. The feel of her sheath around him was so good. For having had two children she was incredibly tight.
She thrust up again and he stopped rocking and began thrusting, in and out meeting her, loving her. Faster and faster till he was about to go over the precipice. He slowed determined he would take her with him. He reached between them and found her clit. He rubbed the tight little nubbin and lightly flicked it with his fingernail.
Her muscles clamped hard around him. She shuddered and moaned as her tremors began. He kissed her taking the sound into his mouth.
Her body trembled, her muscles squeezed around him, milking him to release. He tensed, thrust once, twice, three times then groaned back into her mouth as his release over came him.
He collapsed on top of her. Rested. When he finally came to his senses, he realized he lay upon her with his full weight. He pushed up on to his arms, leaned down and kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Her tongue played with his, darting forward then pulling back.
He laid with her, their bodies still connected. Contentment, like he felt now, had always eluded him. He’d never felt this way with Jane or any other woman he’d had sex with. But with Cassie it wasn’t just sex. It was so much more. They were so much more if only she could see it.
Cassie was his salvation, his peace.
“When should we tell the kids?”
“Tell them what?”
He sat up next to her. “That we’re getting married.”
“Married?”
“Yes. Married. Did you think I’d make love to you without marrying you? What kind of man do you think I am?”
“You’re an honorable man, Sam. Do we really have to talk about his now.” She pulled on her pantaloons and began lacing up her chemise.
Sam pulled on his pants and was buttoning his shirt. “Yes. We do. What’s the matter, Cassie? Don’t you want to get married?”
“No, I don’t.”
“What?” Sam couldn’t believe his ears. All women wanted to get married.
“I don’t want to marry again. It’s not necessary for me to marry. It’s not you. I want you Sam, more than I’ve ever wanted anyone and that’s all the more reason not to marry.”
“You’re not making sense.”
“I know. I’m messing this up. I care deeply for you but I can’t go through that again.”
“Go through what. I don’t understand.” He grabbed his pants and tugged them on.
Cassie buttoned her blouse closed then pulled her skirt up. “I don’t want to love you like I did Michael. Don’t you see it would kill me. I couldn’t survive that kind of loss. Not again.” She turned away from him as the tears began to fall.
Sam gathered her into his arms. “That was Michael not me. I’m not going anywhere. You won’t lose me.”
She shoved out of his arms. “How can you say that? You already tried to kill yourself and the same way he did. I can’t take it. If we’re just lovers then I won’t get hurt again when you go.”
“Cassie. Michael died. I’m not going to die. I learned my lesson. And I’m not leaving no matter how much you try to push me away. You’ve got me. You love me. Even if you don’t admit it to yourself, I know it.”
“No, I don’t.” She swiped at her eyes with the fingers. “I’ll never love anyone again. Don’t fool yourself.”
Maybe Sam was fooling himself but he didn’t think so. He’d make her realize she loved him. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t have sex with any one she didn’t love. She was afraid. Not that he blamed her. He was pert near terrified himself.
“I’ll be up front with you.” Sam said to her while she buttoned her skirt and put her shoes on. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make you change your mind. I’m going to make love to you every night and court you every day. I’m going to prove to you that I’m worthy of your love.”
She shook her head. “It’s not that you’re not worthy. You are. Just not with me. I don’t have it in me. I can’t give you what I don’t have.” Her tears started again.
Sam held her and let her cry. He understood even if she didn’t. Her tears were another sign of just how much she loved him but didn’t want to. Scared, she trembled in his arms. Scared of being hurt. she was doing her best not to let it happen.
He’d never hurt her but admitted getting thrown from the horse wasn’t the best way to show it. Had he known he’d get thrown he wouldn’t have done it. Had he known how it would affect her he wouldn’t have done it.
Looking back he saw it for what it was, a male ego trip. An attempt to prove to the other men he could do anything they could. It was stupid and he knew it now. He was thirty-seven years old and should be over that kind of bullshit.
*****
Cassie loved the pearl hair comb. She’d found it on her dresser that morning. It was a beautiful gift from Sam. She didn’t know when he’d put it there, sometime in the night because she was sure it wasn’t there the night before.
She was working with Goliath today so she couldn’t wear it but tonight at supper, she’d wear it and after supper she’d show Sam how much she liked it.
All day while mucking the stalls, grooming, training and racing Goliath she thought about the comb. It was so beautiful with two rows of pearls separated by gold beads. It must have cost Sam a fortune.
That night she dressed with care, wearing her best dress, the pink gingham she usually saved for church. After bathing she brushed her hair till it shown. Leaving it down, it waved and curled down her back. She pulled one side up above her ear and secured it with the comb. She checked her reflection in the cheval mirror, brought by her mother from St. Louis and was pleased with what she saw.
She hoped Sam would be too.
Cassie, RJ and Sarah were already at the table when Sam came in. For the first time in years she was using the dining room and having a private family meal rather than one with all the ranch hands and Bridget.
Sam had washed up, his hair still damp when he joined them. “Sorry I’m late. I had more grime on me than a kid after losing a game of tug-o-war over a mud pit.” He smiled at each of the kids and tweaked Sarah’s cheek. They had a special bond, he and Sarah, ever since she’d been sick, they’d been inseparable.
He looked up at Cassie and his smile faded. She watched the color drain from his face. Something was very wrong.
“Cassie can I talk to you for a moment?” He looked at the kids and as he rose from the table he said, “We’ll be right back.”
Once they were out of earshot, he grabbed her by the shoulders. “Where did you get it? Where did you get that comb?”
“Sam you’re hurting me.”
He immediately released her and put his arms down stiff at his sides. “I’m sorry but where…?”
“It was on my dresser this morning. I…I thought it was from you.”
He shook his head. “I gave it to Jane. I thought it was lost in the fire with her.”
Cassie shook her head. “No. That’s not possible.”
“You think I don’t know that.” He shoved his hand through his hair. “What really worries me is knowing someone came into the house, while we were sleeping and didn’t wake either of us.”
“Sam what does this mean?”
“Harry Borden killed Jane and the girls and he’s here. In Creede. He wants me to know I’m not safe. None of us are.”
“What are we going to do? We can’t just let this man scare us like this.”
Sam pulled her close. “I’m sorry about this. If I’d known….”
“Don’t. That’s past and I wouldn’t change it but what are we going to do now?”
“We’re going to have to take turns at watch. Stay vigilant until we can catch him.”
“Mama.” RJ called from the dining room. “Foods getting cold and me and Sarah are hungry.”
“We’ll talk more later, after the kids are in bed. Right now we
need to keep things as normal as possible for them.” She reached up and snatched the come from her hair.
“No. Don’t. Keep it. Please. It looks beautiful in your hair.”
“I don’t know that I can wear it knowing he had it. Knowing he invaded our home.”
“Keep it. Some day after he’s caught and punished, you may want to wear it. It just took me by surprise tonight. If I’d still had it in my possession I’d have given it to you anyway.”
“Thank you. It’s quite beautiful and the nicest one I’ve ever seen.” She put it in the pocket of her skirt. “Maybe, in the future, I’ll be able to wear it. But not now.”
Sam leaned down and touched his lips to hers. “You’re the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen, with or without the comb.”
Later than evening they were in Cassie’s office. She poured them both three fingers of brandy.
“So do you want first watch or second?” Sam asked.
“I’ll take first. That’s when Sarah usually get up and wants water anyway.”
“Okay, I’ll take second watch. Wake me if you see or hear anything unusual.”
“I will. I’m going to sit at the end of the hall by my bedroom. I can see the hall and the stairs and be there when Sarah gets up.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Cassie and Sam took turns for two weeks and nothing happened. Sam saw the toll it was taking on Cassie. She needed rest. Hell, it wasn’t doing him any good either. Both of them were cranky as hell, snapping at the kids and the ranch hands for no good reason.
“Enough,” said Sam to Cassie after dinner. “We’ve been watching and nothing has happened. We’re losing our tempers with everyone and playing right into Borden’s hands. Soon we’ll be turning on each other if we don’t get some sleep.”
“I’m too tired to disagree,” said Cassie on a yawn. “We’ve put new locks on all the doors and windows. If he can get in now he’s some kind of magician.”
Sam nodded in agreement. He and Cassie lingered in the kitchen over a last cup of coffee before bed, he at the end of the table and she next to him. It had become their habit after the children and Bridget were in bed to sit and talk about their day.
Tame a Wild Wind Page 10
