Warning: Woo hoo. A little tryst between friends. Once the apple has been tasted the need for more of the fruit will become an urgent drive for fulfillment. Just my own POV of course. Then again who wouldn't come back to the apple tree if Erik might fall from it at any second?
Chapter Eleven
Delicate Dance
Erik's POV
I cannot lie to myself about having no intension of taking whatever Hannah offered me. I wanted her and to that end I brought her out here away from everyone else. By my selfish actions I have placed her in a delicate position. Not only will everyone speculate what has gone on between us but I gave little or no thought about any consequences my actions may have. I don't know if being as I am my body is capable of giving a woman a child or not. Truthfully that issue never entered my mind not even when I fell in love with Christine. Nothing seemed to deter me from seeking my pleasure albeit a clumsy and inept attempt on my part.
Selfishly once again I put my needs and what I wanted above anyone else's. Not only am I an inconsiderate person but a careless one as well. I performed less than adequately the one time when it counted most. I suppose one could argue the second time we joined we both found our pleasure. If it wasn't so late I wouldn't mind exploring Hannah more. We wouldn't even have to join as lovers. I would be happy to merely look at her and admire God's work. When he made Hannah he had made the most of his canvas unlike when he placed me in my mother's womb. Would having Hannah as a mother negate having someone like me for a father? It is useless to speculate at this early date but I can't help wondering. Replacing my clothes is something I can do without taxing my mind too much. This small distraction gives me an excuse not to speak. What could I say anyway? Thank you for the most wonderful afternoon of my life and by the way if you should happen to find you are with child as the result of our encounter I will...will what? Marry her? Hand over to her enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life? I can be certain she would not wish to have me propose marriage to her.
Despite knowing this I can't help wondering just how it would be to wake each morning knowing Hannah would be lying there beside me. The nights wouldn't be long enough if she were to share my bed. Hannah is already dressed and has gathered the reins of her mount. Apparition is patiently waiting for me to stop woolgathering and climb onto his back. He has been idle long enough. He will want to run full out on the return trip. The mood I am in I could use a good run myself but that will have to wait. The plug that Hannah is riding could not keep up with Apparition even if he started five minutes ago.
Hannah is standing expectantly just to the side of her mount. Leisurely she takes the few steps needed to bring us within touching distance. I would have thought she had enough of my touch by now. Her hand comes to rest on my chest and she grabs a fistful of my shirt. I could break away but damned if she doesn't lure me in like a fish chasing the baited hook. Helplessly I heed the slight tug from her fingers on my shirt. I am confused when she says nothing but looks up at me with her lids lowered and a welcoming smile that must be intended for me as there is no one else around other than the horses. I have an almost irresistible urge to kiss her but don't know if that is what her actions are signaling to me. Another man would know just what to say and do in this situation.
"Erik, kiss me. It may be a long time before we get another chance to be together." Her words cause some misfiring in my brain. Surely I have misheard what she said. Not only has she asked for my kiss but she intimated she expected much more at a later date. I just barely manage to hold back the words demanding she confirm what she says by specifically naming a day, month, year and every other word that would pin down an exact moment when I can expect another few hours spent in similar circumstances as we had today.
Eagerly I press my lips onto hers. I know nothing about kissing other than it is the meeting of two sets of lips and very enjoyable if done correctly. At least I think I pleased her with my kisses or had I imagined the impassioned press of her mouth against mine? Doubts set in freezing me so that I can only stand with my lips pressed unmoving on hers. My mind is blank just when I need to be sharp and bring some sort of facsimile of a proper kiss. She nearly has me undone when her tongue darts out to run wetly along my tightly closed mouth. Remembering how sensuous it felt to slid my tongue along hers and taste the inner recesses of her mouth some inner instinct takes over. I become the aggressive one. She must approve as she winds her arms around my neck. I have witnessed many duels on stage between two combatants but none of them could compare to the exquisite dueling of our tongues in this dance of advance and retreat. I would not have thought the tongue could be an instrument of sexual pleasure.
I would not have believed that after just having shared a very powerful union my body would be ready to perform so quickly. If I would not seem like a perverted lecher I would have her right here where we stand. That notion does stimulate me even more. Visions of me deeply buried inside of her nearly drive me over the edge. I want her again and would beg to have her but I know we must get back. It has already been too long since we left. The children may worry and the men will speculate about things I would prefer they not discuss around their campfires or during their nightly poker games.
Cowboys are a busy lot and to our good fortune mine are a conscientious bunch. Shorty has returned but is busy showing the children how to toss a rope over one of the posts of the temporary pen. If I was of a mind to win favor with Nicole and Nicholas I would show them just how accurate I am with a rope. For years a thinner version of the western rope had been my weapon of choice to kill with deadly silence. Questions I am sure would be asked about how I came by such knowledge, questions I don't care to answer.
For a moment I look at my hands recalling just how many lives came to an end because of me. When I first took a life it didn't seem wrong. I killed only to protect myself. Being a child I suppose some pardon would be granted for killing the man who had brutalized me for so long. Murders committed later I cannot justify so as to free me from my guilt. Arrogantly I had thought it within my rights to take what I wanted as the world gave me nothing but pain and rejection.
Wanting to enjoy Hannah again does not mean I have a right to do so or that I even should contemplate such a thing. Knowing how weak I am when it comes to things I want I know my resolve will falter. Hopefully I do not destroy the lovely woman Hannah is. I should fire her. Sending her away would take temptation out of my way. It would also be cruel to take away the only home the children have known since birth and Hannah for a good number of years also. For once I find myself wanting to put others wants and needs ahead of my own. Whether I can keep to that time will tell.
I cannot be in camp and not have my eyes drawn to Hannah with lustful intent. I have reawakened a beast that I thought I had beat down when I lost Christine. Even before her I had done all I could not to let my manly urges lead me astray and commit the heinous act of taking an unwilling woman. Joseph Buquet had gotten on my wrong side more than once by taking advantage of young girls. When his eyes turned to Christine I knew he must be dealt with. It had sealed his fate when he began stalking me. I could not allow him to accidentally come across one of my many hidden panels. A person with enough determination and dumb luck would eventually find a lever and open opened a doorway into my domain.
Riding out along one of my fence lines I spot a few posts that will need to be replaced. I don't know who is sabotaging my property but I damn well intend to find out. I am inclined to believe Roland isn't privy to the person committing these vicious acts but I am certain the person works for him, someone who feels the end justifies the means. There are several men I have had harsh words with when we come across one another either in town or when riding fences. Until just recently it had only been an exchange of words, a case of men posturing, trying to make others back down, a sort of a cock of the walk scenario. They thought because of my appearance I would be easy prey to their heckling. God help them if they give me cause to ever show them just what I am capable of doing in order to protect what is mine.
The sun is dipping down in the sky and still I cannot find ease enough to face Hannah again. If I ride herd tonight perhaps I can sneak into camp later and scavenge around for a bite to eat. My stomach is reminding me it is not used to missing meals like it did in the old days. It needs to be fed three meals a day with as many snacks in-between as I feel inclined to eat.
With the closest person being somewhere on the other side of the milling cattle I have an urge to sing. I haven't felt like expressing my music in this way for a long time. Hannah has reawakened that need in me. Rather than sing anything operatic which might startle the animals I sing something that I have heard the others sing. It is somewhat of a ribald tale but it does entertain me and seems to be agreeable to the animals nearest to me. We will be rounding them all up and putting as many as we can in the pens so they can be checked for illness and brands. Those past their prime will be sent to market. I try not to think about that end of ranching as if I did soon I would be overrun with cattle. I feel I treat them as well as I am able and assure they have a pleasant year or so before sending them on to be used for another purpose other than keeping the prairie from becoming overrun by tall grasses.
My thoughts keep my mind from wandering into places where it should not but it also keeps me from hearing an approaching rider. Singing out a very bawdy line with quiet fervor I stop mid sentence when a horse and rider suddenly appear before me.
"Well don't stop now Erik. Your voice is how I found you. I have to say none of the others can make a proposition to spread my legs and let you ride me like a wild bronco sound so sweet and tempting."
Hannah has pure temptress in her tone, the sort of tone a rather risqué woman of one of the cat houses might have. I should have my face slapped for what I am thinking and what my mouth wishes to ask. Hannah deserves better than to be treated like a common whore and she certainly deserves better than me. I won't do the gentlemanly thing and refuse anything she might offer even if it is to be only her company.
"Hannah I do believe your mother would wash your mouth with soap if she could hear you." I know this method is how she tries to keep Nicholas from repeating every curse he hears the men say during the day. A curse to them is almost the same as a how do you do spoken to another cowpoke. Cursing does not have to be used in anger which puzzles me greatly.
"Must I remind you I am only repeating the words you were singing so sweetly? I thought that was an honest invitation. Would you rather have one of the cows respond to your words?"
Anything I would have replied dried up as my mind processed what her words meant. Does she intend to intimate that she would…It sounds as if she is implying she hopes I am singing to her. How would I have known…I am being teased. She came out here looking for me and I just happened to be singing a song better left unheard by the tender ears of the innocent, although my dirty mind is shouting she is no longer innocent thanks to me and the beast within is rubbing his hands together grinning like a cat at the bowl of cream.
"Well I guess that silenced you. I came out to keep you company. Everyone is asleep except for those riding herd. I brought a blanket."
What does she expect me to say? Am I to infer we will be sharing that blanket? Why would she mention it otherwise? I can think of so many useful ways we might indulge ourselves on that blanket but I cannot take things for granted. When I sit staring at her as if I have become a mute she lifts her leg over the horse's back then jumps to the ground. I can see her pulling something from the back of the saddle. That must be the blanket she spoke of. Standing looking up at me in the dim glow of the moon I can see the reflection of light in her eyes. They look like luminescent pools.
"Well are you going to join me or not?" There is more than an offer to share her blanket contained in her words. My heart begins to pound and the beast between my legs swells until my trousers are tight. I need no second invitation. I am down on the ground a few short seconds after her last word left her luscious lips. I take the blanket she is holding out to me. Spreading it on the ground I offer her my hand so she may lower herself down to the blanket. Likely she does not need my help but I want to touch her and besides that is what a gentleman would do. Of course a true gentleman would not be thinking such wicked thoughts or have such wicked intentions as I do toward a lady.
Once she is safely down I then go down on my knees in front of her. Reaching out in the semi-darkness I run my fingers along her cheek and under her chin. Nothing has ever felt so sensuous as her skin under my fingers as her skin softly illuminated by the moon's light. A cloud is partially covering it so only some of it's light reaches us. When she begins to unbutton my shirt it is all I can do not to fall forward so I can lay claim to her swiftly and urgently. Sliding her hands under the material slowly my shirt falls from my shoulders then is placed somewhere to the side. Normally I am very particular about my clothing and its care but just now I wouldn't give a damn if the herd trampled over it and defecated upon the very expensive Egyptian cotton.
Hannah tugs at my belt buckle until the belt is able to be slid free of my trousers. This is unnecessary as she could have simply unbuckled it then undone my trousers. I get the feeling Hannah is toying with me, trying to work me up into a lust driven fiend. I am not far from her objective if that is her goal. My loins are afire with the need to possess and purge.
"Lie down Erik. I promise you won't regret obeying me. For now I am the master and you must do my bidding." The sultry voice reaching my ears sounds like a practiced courtesan. Her voice lures me to her like a helpless fly to the sugar bowl. I have already tasted her sweetness and willingly surrender to her call. I am helpless to anything other than follow her down as she begins to lean back. No sooner are we lying prone than she rises to hover over me. I watch in fascination as buttons seem to magically come undone. As each article of clothing is removed it is harder for me not to grab at her like a child eagerly grabbing at a treat.
Now that she is naked her hands come to my trousers. This time she is not as clumsy with my buttons. Lifting my hips she pulls them down to my ankles where my boots hinder her progress. With each foray into the realm of lovemaking we will learn what works best. It pleases me that she doesn't know any more about this than I do. Some day I shall have to ask her why she remained innocent even after marriage. I can't imagine anyone having the right to take her refusing to do so. I am not an expert but I believe I am the one to have broken through her maidenhead.
When at last we are both unclothed I am lying still waiting for her to demonstrate what it is that I shall find to my liking. Her leg comes over my middle and her knee grazes over my manhood. It springs back to full attention which I am glad to say she cannot see as now she is atop of me. I am not at all comfortable with her seeing so much of me but I know logically it is better to be able to experience the touch of your lover in every way possible. I am fairly sure other men are just as easily aroused as I am but I would hate for Hannah to think I am perverted. In a manner of speaking all males are perverted, most of us just know how to contain and keep that part of us in check. How I managed to do so with the ease which everyone in the opera house gave sexual favors without thought is probably due to my lack of experience than any gentlemanly manners.
I would not have taken Hannah for the sort of woman who would take command of any sexual encounter let alone sit astride her lover so boldly as she is at this moment. I am thankful it is I who will benefit from such actions on her part. As she slowly sinks down on me I have to say this is more graceful than before. I do not even have to prompt her to move as she begins to move in a way sure to drive me mad. The coil within me winds tighter with every slide of her warm moist inner wall over my very engorged flesh. I am pulsating in time with my thrusts upward.
Having her above me in this way does not diminish me as a man as I had thought it would, on the contrary, it makes me feel even more manly to have her panting and sweating with her head thrown back as moans work their way up to her throat and fill the night. I must quiet her or we'll be stampeded by startled animals. I do not wish to die without my clothes or with Hannah astride me. If I was in my own bed I wouldn't mind dying as Hannah brings me to my ultimate climax.
Cupping her breasts within my hands is not something I have yet become accustomed too or feel I am likely to tire of any time in the near future. I am rather taken off guard when Hannah reaches down to grab at my hair to pull me to her breasts. Since this is something I longed to do I will not complain that she may have pulled a few of my precious remaining strands of hair from my head.
It is becoming harder for me to control my own outcries as my threshold of release is within a few short strokes. I may have said something or in some unknown way conveyed how close I am to my final release as she takes my mouth in a kiss guaranteed to send shockwaves straight to my pulsating flesh. I can feel her tightening around me. This I remember is what happened just before her own climax gripped her earlier today.
We come to our journey's end almost simultaneously. Our groans are stifled by our mouths feeding on our passion. When we are spent neither of us can say a word. Hell I can hardly sustain my body by breathing in and exhaling out. After she has rested I will send her on her way. I will not let her compromise herself by having someone see her leaving me with only one conclusion to be drawn from such a visit. Hannah is becoming far more important than I am willing to accept just yet. There isn't much I can do to stop what has already happened but I must find a way to cool things off until I can come to grips with what having her permanently in my life would mean, assuming she would have me. I may be assuming more is between us than is there. I don't believe Hannah would come to me unless her heart were involved which adds to my burden as she knows nothing about me. My life is suddenly more complicated than when I pursued Christine, at least then I only had a rival to battle. Now I will have employees who think highly of Hannah, her children who adore her, Roland who would marry her given half a chance by Hannah and who would gladly kill me should I give him cause to suspect I have been less than honorable in my dealings with her, and last but not least is Hannah herself. She has given me something so precious words are not enough to express what it all means to me. I have much to consider in the next few days. Now if I can stay away from the tempting siren and shut out her call I can keep my mind clear so I might think and plan.
