THE SHOOTING: FLAME SERIES #19

CHAPTER 1

Traveling

He looked at her the way all women wanted to be looked at by a man.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Matt had managed to not only slip out of her arms, but out of bed without waking her. He pulled on his socks and pants, as his gaze wandered about the room in search of his boots. How could anything that big always be so elusive in the mornings! Just as he reached for the massive leather footgear, he drew his hand back. A quick look toward the sleeping woman warned him that clomping around the room in those noisy boots would surely wake her. "Better save those for last," he muttered softly.

He eased open the drawer of the maple highboy and quickly touched upon the neatly folded shirts. Even in the semi-darkness he knew instantly which color he had chosen. Kitty always stacked the blue ones on the left side of the drawer and the red ones on the right. Pride etched itself on his face in the shape of a smile. This woman could anticipate his every need.

"What are you doing up so early? It's not even morning yet." The darkness enhanced her heavy, sultry voice.

Matt walked over to the bed. "I was trying not to wake you." He leaned down, finding her lips eager to be kissed. "Go back to sleep."

Before he could turn away, she had grabbed his hand. "Do you have to go so early?"

"Hays is a two day ride, I just want to get there and get back."

Kitty rose to her knees on the firm mattress and put her foolproof plan into action. The moon was her ally, as it offered just enough soft light to illuminate her face. She pulled out all the stops: First, the seductive pout, accented by the innocent, yet wanton blue eyes. Next, fingers that slowly released the buttons on the front of her gown to reveal nothing more than supple white flesh. Finally she leaned in, her lips slowly tracing the muscular definition of his strong, bare chest. "Surely you can wait a few minutes more?"

Matt's lids grew heavy as his body was surrendering to her seductive wiles. He struggled to speak, but it took several attempts to regain his voice. It took all of his strength-not to mention willpower-to gently hold her away from him. "Kitty, you know I have to go. It's a two day ride to Hays...and… oh…" He sucked in a sudden breath. "Baby...I…Ohhhh..."

He didn't realize until it was too late that he should have restrained her hands instead of bracing her shoulders. Nimble fingers followed hungry lips to a vulnerable part of his body. Matt didn't wonder how she got the canvas pants undone. He had stopped wondering or thinking at all. Now he could only feel the wondrous sensations this beautiful woman was arousing in his body.

Matt could feel his knees buckle but he was too far gone to care. With her guiding him back down on the bed, he lay helpless while she rid him of those constricting pants. "Kitty…I-"

"Shhhhh." Those same skilled fingers touched his lips to silence him. "Just relax, marshal. You're my prisoner now." She laughed a wicked and provocative laugh that was the final blow to any resistance he might have had. Kitty wasted no time in positioning herself above her fearless lawman. His breath caught in a raw groan as she took him into her body. He wanted to say her name, as he stared into those mesmerizing blue eyes, but he had lost the power of speech.

"I love you too," she managed in a breathless sigh. The spoken word was no longer necessary as their bodies shared a language all its own.

0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0

Matt braced himself on his elbow as he stared down at the beautiful woman resting on his arm. The faint pink flush of passion lingered on her face, making the perfect background for those sapphire eyes. With the pad of his thumb, he traced those supple lips that brought him so much pleasure. He failed to notice the playful twinkle in her eyes when those lips parted and small, white teeth nipped at his thumb.

"Ouch! Here I am, thinking about how sweet my precious Kitten is and-"

"Kittens scratch." She laughed, as she leaned up, nipping him again. "That's what you get for trying to sneak out on me."

Matt again wrestled her down, keeping those teeth a safe distance away. "I was trying to be considerate and let you sleep. You keep forgetting, I do have a job to do."

"I'm sorry, marshal." Kitty offered a provocative smirk. "Next time, I'll just bother someone else with my needs."

Her words cut the breath out of his lungs in an audible gasp. "You'll what!" His stunned expression was overtaken by a ruthless smile. "Someone else!" Those same fingers that brought her pleasure minutes ago, now incited a burst of laughter as they tickled down her side. "If I EVER…"

Kitty managed to break free enough to pull him down for a kiss. Her lips possessed enough power to calm him down. "If ever... what?" She asked in a coy tone. "What would you do?"

Matt stared at the beauty that was his one true love. "First, I would have to congratulate him on his excellent taste."

Her mouth dropped open in amazement. "Congratulate him!"

Giant hands moved her body in closer. "Then of course I would have to shoot him." Matt leaned in for a quick kiss. "Do I need to worry about you when I'm away?"

All the emotions Kitty had played through that morning finally settled into one-of absolute love and devotion. "Never." She answered simply. "Should I worry about you?"

"You have owned my heart since that first rainy morning. It will be yours as long as you want it." His lips, once again, tenderly claimed hers. "But I still have to go to work."

"I know. Even after all these years I still hate it when you go away. I accept it, but I still hate it."

"Since you're awake why don't you drag that luscious little butt out of bed and make me some coffee." He started to stand, then turned back suddenly "That is, if I'm done servicing you."

Pillows don't hurt when they slam against the human body, but they do make their point of ending a conversation. Having done this, Kitty slipped on her robe and headed downstairs.

===()()()===

Kitty leaned back against the sink as she watched him drink his morning brew. "Coffee okay?"

Matt took a healthy drink before setting his cup on the counter. He stepped in front of her, trapping her between his arms and the hard, wooden cabinet at her back. "The coffee is great." He leaned in to oblige her pouting lips with a kiss. "Stop looking at me with those eyes."

"They're the only eyes I have," she replied innocently.

"You know what I mean. First, you molest me and now you flash those big blue eyes at me like I'm abandoning you. I will ride like the wind so that I can hurry back to you."

She pulled away from the counter and with his arm still encircling her waist, walked toward the back door. "Be careful. I want you back in one piece. Did you remember to pack everything?"

"Why are you asking me? I saw you double-checking my bedroll." He stopped and kissed her forehead. "Did you put something in there?"

Kitty forced a smile as she readied herself to say goodbye. "Just some of that candied fruit you like so much."

Matt stopped at the door, turning to pull her fully into his embrace. "It's not the fruit that I like, as much as the sweet fingers feeding it to me." His kiss began innocently enough, but quickly ignited into passion. "Oh, Kitten. Don't do that to me when I have to leave." Matt took a step back and with one last look, walked out the back door.

TBC