Chapter 12

The Necklace

Matt sat at the edge of the big cushion in the overstuffed chair. It truly was a comfortable seat but tonight his body was too tense to enjoy it. One socked foot tapped anxiously against the floor as he watched his wife get ready for bed.

He had gotten as far as unloading the gun belt, vest and boots but stopped at the heavy canvas pants. They carried the evidence of his crime buried deep in the pocket. He could feel the sharp corners of the diamond heart accusing him. Tonight; he had to tell her tonight.

Kitty had crossed in front of the brooding man several times. She stared down at the sullen face. Enough silence, it was time to face the problem head on. "Matt."

"Huh." The solemn face shot up to face his wife.

"Is all this moping around because I was in Brontë's hotel room?"

The necklace had so consumed his thoughts, he hadn't heard the question. "What?"

Kitty pushed his arm aside and slipped onto his lap. "You know I love you." She pulled him in for a kiss that validated her claim. "Why are you letting this bother you so much?"

She felt so good in his arms. Matt pulled her back down for another kiss. Maybe this wasn't the right time to bring up the necklace. While his hand cradled her head, long, powerful fingers gently weaved through the fiery locks. Another hand, softer, smaller than his, worked the buttons free on his shirt and slid inside.

"Come to bed, cowboy." Kitty slipped off his lap and gave his hand a gentle tug.

It didn't take much force to bring the big man to his feet and he offered no resistance as she continued to lead him to the bed. If seduction was an art than Kitty was creating a masterpiece.

She undid the buckle on his belt and let the canvas pants fall to the floor. It could have been a perfect night but it wasn't the tip of Cupid's arrow that pierced his foot as he stepped out of the brown puddle of canvas. It was the nagging reminder of the pointed side of the diamond heart

"No, wait!" Matt let go of Kitty's hand and snatched his pants up off the floor. He stared into a pair of stunned blue eyes that were unable to comprehend his actions. "I can't!"

Kitty drew back; her gaze instantly drawn to evidence that absolutely contradicted his claim. A wicked smile played at her lips. "Oh, I think you can." She said; as she reached down to prove her point.

The marshal of Dodge City let loose a most unbecoming high pitched squeal as he jerked back to escape those lovely caressing fingers. "I meant…I can…but I…I shouldn't."

"Shouldn't?" Confusion wasn't more than a fleeting emotion as anger crashed onto the scene. "Matt Dillon! What in the hell is wrong with you?! Is this some…some kind of…" Words evaded the enraged redhead. "Of unwarranted jealousy!"

"No…no… baby." Matt's hands went out palms up in an attempt to appease this wife. "It's not that. Honest. If you will just let me explain."

"Talk!"

Dear Lord, he knew that stance! Arms folded tight across her chest, jaws set firm and eyes blazing. Matt knew he had better talk fast but it was going to be hard to state his case while wearing nothing more than a pair of woolen socks and a flannel shirt. Not to mention the fact that his body refused to obey his silent command to behave.

"It's not about jealousy. It's about betrayal." Matt swallowed so loud Kitty could hear his throat constricting. He fumbled to retrieve his pants. "I did something shameful several years ago and…" Long shaking fingers reached into the deep pocket. "I was too afraid to set it right."

"Betrayal." Kitty paled and her hands dropped to her side. "Something…shameful?" A tremor of fear shot through her heart. "Are you…are you telling me… there was…someone else."

"Yes" Pain flashed in those trusting blue eyes and settled on her quivering lips. He quickly tried to rectify his answer. "I mean no." He winced and tossed his head as if to shake the words out. "Well, there's another person but not in the way you're thinking."

This was just going from bad to worse and he couldn't wrap his tongue around the right words to explain. Matt held out his hand opening the fist to reveal the diamond necklace nestled in the giant palm.

Kitty's confused gaze traveled slowly from the shiny object to the pathetic face towering above it. "That's the necklace Brontë gave me years ago." She made no attempt to take it from him. "Why are you giving it to me now?"

This was not the reaction he was expecting. Again, words failed him. "I…well…it's yours and…well…it's been-"

"Hiding in your desk drawer?" Kitty wanted to laugh but the expression on his face was priceless. "I was going to leave you a note one day and while I was looking for a pencil, I found it shoved in the back of the drawer."

"You knew?" The marshal's broad shoulders slumped as he rested the bulk of his weight on one foot. To complete the bewildered image, his mouth hung, slightly gaping and his hand dropped allowing the necklace to dangle from his fingers. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I know you are not a petty or jealous man but this bothered you." She leaned up, leaving a loving kiss on his cheek. "I thought – or hoped - it was because you wanted to buy me things like this but couldn't."

"I never intended to hide it." Never had she heard his voice so full of remorse. "I was going to have the clasp repaired but…well time passed and…" He uttered a sorrowful sigh with his final confession. "Yes I was jealous that I couldn't buy you the beautiful things you deserved."

"Are you forgetting the gifts that you gave me?"

A sarcastic grunt matched the rolling blue eyes. "Not that I haven't tried to forget. That locket looked so cheap compared to this." He glared at the sparkling piece. "You must have been ashamed when he saw what kind of gifts you were used to getting."

Kitty crossed the room without giving the necklace a second look. She opened the cherry wood jewelry box that Festus had made for her several Christmases ago. Now it was her turn to reveal a secret. "That is a beautiful piece but this is the one that I hold dear." Long slender fingers opened up to reveal a sadly mangled gold plated locket.

Once again, Matt was completely dumbstruck. "Honey, why on earth did you keep this damaged piece of junk?"

"It's not junk!" Kitty shot back as she took Brontë's gift and laid it onto the dresser. "Why did you buy it for me?"

"What?"

"Why-did-you-buy-it-for-me?" She purposely paused after each word.

"Because I missed you and when I saw it in the window, it looked like something you would like and because…" Blue eyes met with sudden understanding. "And because I love you."

"And I love you." Kitty had a few more words for the worried man. "We're going to clear the air once and for all and then I don't ever want to hear another word about my romance with Brontë Chandler. He was a very nice man and we spent two pleasant weeks together. We went to plays, we listened to a concert, went on picnics where he read beautiful poetry to me, took carriage rides around town and went to expensive restaurants for dinner." Matt was unable to hide the grudging resentment that hung like a shadow over his face.

"He wanted to marry you."

"He did." She acknowledged with a slight nod.

"Doc was afraid we were going to lose you to him."

"Oh, he did, did he?" Kitty cocked her head to one side, courting a mischievous smirk.

"Well?"

"Well what?" Kitty bright blue eyes and angelic smile personified innocence.

Frustration enveloped him in both features and tone. "Did you actually consider marrying him?"

Kitty felt it served him right to suffer through a few moments of silence but the pathetic look on his face took the enjoyment out of it. "As kind as he was, I never for a moment considered his proposal. Now, I told you all of the things we did." She continued "But…what we didn't do was kiss…or make love."

A combination of relief and shame colored both cheeks and settled behind a set of heavy lids. "I never thought you-"

"But all these years it's obviously been a sore spot." With the smile of a Cheshire cat she reached down, playfully taking him in hand. "We don't want to waste this – do we?"

A smile split his face from ear to ear. She was his and only his. Like a kid claiming his prize Matt pulled the beautiful redhead into his arms, eager to taste the lips that were so inviting. He wanted to cover her body in kisses, to taste all of her. Without breaking the connection, the true winner of her heart swept her up into his arms and quickly found a home in the middle of their bed.

His lips followed the sweet path that led down between her breasts. Her lover paid homage to each before leaving a trail of butterfly kisses to the soft swell of her belly. Long strong fingers slid down through the curls and into the warm moist center.

"Matt" She uttered breathlessly. "Oh Cowboy…yes." His fingers worked feverishly until hungry lips found their place. Gasps and utterances of pure pleasure accompanied the twisting gyrations of her body as Matt pleasured her and greedily devoured the rewards.

It was time. His body demanded to claim every little part of her. Kitty held her breath for a moment as he buried himself as deep as he could go. Her smile was hidden in the dark as she released a contented sigh. This was the man she loved. The only man.

For a moment, he didn't move. His body shuddered at the intense sensation of her muscles, still pulsating from the climax he had given her. Then he began to rock slowly, savoring every moment. There was possessiveness to his lovemaking tonight. Not of jealousy but of thankfulness. Nature soon took the lead forcing their bodies to come together faster, each stroke more powerful than the last until the world exploded in a sea of colors.

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

Happy fingers trailed leisurely up and down her back. Kitty nestled in closer, her body completely sated. "Kitten?"

"Hmmm."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Are you going to wear the necklace?"

"I don't know, I hadn't thought about it" Despite his soft tone, his question was pulling her out of that drowsy state. "We'll talk about it later. You have a big day tomorrow, now go to sleep."

"Okay." His silence lasted only a few seconds. "What kind of poems did he read to you?"

"Mmmm you know just poems." Kitty snuggled in, running her hand across his chest. "Why?"

"Just curious I guess."

"Curious? Or jealous?"

Even though he couldn't see her smile, he knew she was enjoying this foreign emotion he was experiencing. A kiss to her temple preceded his response. "Night baby. Like you said, I have a big day tomorrow."