"LARABEE'S LADY: FOR BETTER OR WORSE" – CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Title: "Larabee's Lady: For Better or Worse"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult language and situations
Summary: Part III of "Larabee's Lady" focuses on Catherine and Chris settling into married life and a new romance developing between Mary and Vin. Oh, and hopefully, a surprise or two!
Date Written: October 11, 2010
Disclaimer: Chris Larabee, Vin Tanner, J.D. Dunne, Buck Wilmington, Josiah Sanchez, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Casey Wells, Mary Travis, Nettie Wells, Inez, Ella Gaines, Jack Averell, and The Magnificent Seven are the property of TM CBS, The Mirisch Group, MGM and Triology Entertainment. Other characters, i.e., Catherine Stewart, Jonathan Stewart, Eloise Stewart, Henrietta Wilkes, Miles Kettering, etc. are the sole property of the author. The author makes no profit from this work of fan fiction and no copyright infringement is intended.
(Finally, all of the wedding guests have left the ranch, Mrs. Tyson and the household staff have everything cleaned up and Catherine and Chris are finally able to go to their room. Catherine enters their bedroom first, and Chris' arm shoots out to grab her wrist as he kicks the door closed with his foot, and jerks his wife's slender body up hard against the rock-solidness of his. Before she can utter a sound, his mouth crashes down on hers in a possessive, demanding kiss, and his hands are at work on the tiny, seed pearl buttons at the back of her gown. Not to be outdone, she practically shoves his jacket off his shoulders forcing him to momentarily stop what he's doing to snatch it off his arms and fling it onto the floor. Catherine has already gotten the buttons of his shirt loose and is pushing it over his muscular shoulders, as well. By the time her husband is standing before her wearing only pants and boots, Catherine's emerald green eyes are sparkling with desire and her breath is coming in short gasps. Chris has managed to loosen enough of the buttons on her dress that it is a mere matter of tugging to make the bodice fall from her shoulders. The only thing separating his hands and mouth from her ample breasts with their tightly-puckered, pink-tipped nipples is a thin, white, lacy chemise, and the grin on his face tells her that she is going to have to replace yet another chemise. As he takes a step toward her, she holds up her hands as she starts to back away from him; her grin matching his.)
Catherine: "Oh, no, you don't, I've had to replace four chemises and two gowns in the short time we've been married, and I happen to have a particular fondness for this dress."
Chris: (his voice very, very calm) "Come here, Catherine."
Catherine: "As soon as I've finished unbuttoning this dress."
Chris: (still walking slowly toward her as she retreats) "Catherine."
Catherine: "Chris. . . It'll only take a couple of minutes."
Chris: "Let me do it. I'll be careful, I promise."
Catherine: (eyeing him warily) "That's what you said the last time."
Chris: "Catherine, this is the last time I'm going to ask nicely. If you don't come here and let me finish unbuttoning that dress, you're going have to replace it, too."
(Realizing that, one, he really will destroy the beautiful gown when he rips it from her body, and, two, that she has literally backed herself into a corner, Catherine lifts her chin and regally turns around so her husband has access to her back. She is very surprised when she feels his lips gently brush across the bare skin where her shoulder meets her neck as his even more gentle hands begin to work the remaining buttons free. Once he has finished his task, Chris pushes the dress over his wife's hips, picks her up in his strong arms, and carries her to their bed. Setting her down, he turns to rid himself of his boots and pants and turns back toward her. Catherine has slipped the pins from her hair and it is cascading down her back and around her shoulders as she sits up on her knees in the middle of the bed. Once she has his full attention, Catherine lifts the chemise up and over her head and runs her tongue sensuously over her lips as she tosses the garment to the floor. One look at her husband's tautly muscled body tells her that he wants her badly, and the glint in his eyes tells her that he is about to take her and take her fiercely. Within the space of a heartbeat, Chris has her in his arms and is kissing her senseless. His hands are all over her body caressing and kneading and heightening her arousal. Running her hands over his hard-muscled back and down to his buttocks, she presses almost desperately to let him know that she wants him NOW. He slips inside her with one, firm thrust and stops completely still as her body convulses around him. Gritting his teeth against the spasms racking her body and threatening to push him over the edge, Chris closes his eyes and tries to slow down his breathing. His wife's responsiveness to him is the most amazing thing he's ever known, and he is beyond grateful. Once Catherine has settled down somewhat, she opens her passion-glazed eyes and looks into the equally lust-filled ones of her husband. Grasping his head in both her hands, she pulls his mouth down to hers and plunges her tongue into his mouth to play with his. Chris matches the strokes of his body to those of her tongue, and they are soon both caught up in a dance as old as time. Arching her back to more fully meet his every thrust, Catherine rakes her nails down his back and feels the tightening in his hips which signal that he is oh so close to finding release. His rhythm increases until he is pounding into her with a speed and intensity that brings her blinding pleasure with every stroke. Just when she is sure she's going to die of ecstasy, he tears his mouth from hers and, hoarsely calling her name, empties himself into her moist heat. The guttural sound of her name sends her over the edge, as well, and they cling tightly to each other as they fall into an abyss of pure pleasure. Long minutes later, Chris eases himself off Catherine's boneless body and pulls her into the warmth of his strong embrace. Gently brushing her hair from her face, he places small, soft kisses on her forehead, nose, and mouth.)
Chris: "You are the most amazing woman I've every known, Catherine. I could die in your arms and do so happily."
Catherine: "What we have is so good, Chris, so damned good. Promise me it will always be like this."
Chris: "I promise, Sweetheart. I love you, Catherine."
Catherine: "Love you more."
(Firelight bathes the muscles of Vin's shoulders and back in a warm glow as Mary's hands slide over them in jerky movements. His mouth leaves hers and trail hot, wet kisses down her neck until he takes a hard nipple into his mouth and suckles gently. His hips thrust into her with ever increasing speed until her head is thrashing back and forth on the pillow and she is nearly breathless. Reaching down between them, he finds the small, sensitive nub at her entrance and rubs it with his thumb sending her over the edge as he finds his own release. Rolling his weight off her slender form, he pulls her body up against his and runs the fingers of his hand up and down her arm. Curling her body into his, Mary sighs contentedly as she gazes at the gold wedding band on her finger.)
Mary: "I love you so much, Vin. Why did it take us so long to figure this out?"
Vin: "Don't know, Mary. Does it matter?"
Mary: "No. All that matters now is that we are together."
Vin: "And we're gonna' stay together. Always. I love you more than my life, Mary. I swear to you that I will always take care of you and Billy."
Mary: "I know that. . . Vin?"
Vin: "Hmm?"
Mary: "Do you suppose you could show me how much you love me . .again?"
Vin: "Yes, Ma'am."