CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOG

He was unbuttoning her dress. "You know what we should do tomorrow?"

"Probably lots of things, beautiful lady. Give me a hint."

"You said you wanted to spend a whole day in bed. The Long Branch is closed, you know," she smiled coyly.

He turned her toward him, let the dress slide down, and helped her step out of it. "I'd better hang this up, it's pretty special."

"Are you avoiding me?"

He hung the dress. "Nope. Just want to look at my gorgeous wife in her beautiful red corset while I decide." He couldn't hide his grin. She realized he'd started the teasing game. The one she was usually so good at.

"Take your damned gun belt off. I'm not gonna' hurt you."

He obeyed, hanging it on the bedpost. "We might get hungry, working and toiling up here all day and all."

"Not a chance, Cowboy. I have all sorts of tasty things in the kitchen. We could probably last a week. Let me see if I can help you decide." She carefully untied his tie, then unbuttoned his shirt. Without laying a finger on his chest, she reached up and circled his nipples with her tongue. He flinched, then groaned. "On second thought, maybe I'll just eat you for breakfast, lunch and supper!"

She pulled his belt off, then unbuttoned his pants and let them slide down to his ankles. Then she circled his belly button with her tongue. She capped it off with the gentlest of nips to the hardness that had grown inside his long drawers.

"Decision made! Take me all day! I'm yours!"

"A marathon?" She opened her mouth wide, only pretending to bite down on his bulge, teasing him deftly.

He slid her pantaloons off. "Sounds wonderful. Maybe we could go for a record."

"When you kissed me like that tonight in front of all those people, it was the most fun I've ever had," she said softly, leaving her hand to caress him between his legs.

"I waited twelve years to do that. Decided it was my perfect opportunity."

He pulled his boots and his pants off. She stopped him when he went for his long drawers.

"One thing, before you do that. Just one thing. The hottest I ever get is looking at you in those long drawers when you're all wadded up in there, just bulging to get out at me. Don't be so quick to want out of 'em. Just let me stare for a minute or two and get all worked up, okay?"

"It's an ache, Kitten," he whispered. "It's a throbbing ache. Only one way to relieve it. That's why I'm so fast with you sometimes."

He blew out the lantern, carried her to the bed, and laid her down. They'd gotten each other so aroused with their speeches. He pushed and ground on her, long drawers in place until she pleaded.

"Matt, I'm done lookin'. I want to feel you, please! Just let me . . ." She slid his drawers off and scooped up his sex in her hand, stroking the swollen shaft. She touched his tip and felt it already lubricated.

"I'm all ready for you, Mrs. Dillon, do you feel that?" he whispered.

The din down behind the Long Branch started out innocently enough. Just some noise in the distance, some chanting and pans clanging, neither of them paid attention. But it only took a minute for it to come closer and grow raucous. Kitty was rubbing Matt on her entrance so he could feel her readiness. When the serenade broke out, the song "You Are My Sunshine," accompanied by the guitar, the fiddle, the harmonica and some sort of homemade clanging devices, they knew.

"It's a shivaree, Kit!" He kissed her, as she guided him in. "They're giving us a shivaree!"

"Let's make love while they do," she whispered. "It's what they're celebrating, after all!"

END

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for your reviews and private messages as this series evolves! I'm delighted to add a little extra joy to your day! Please watch for "Belle," coming next.