Chapter Four

As Doc left the Long Branch, he gave Matt's arm a squeeze. Galen Adams knew what he had known all along. Matt and Kitty had shared something very special. He wished quietly to himself that they would be happy together forever.

Kitty picked up two cold beers from Max while Matt followed her upstairs with the all day picnic basket.

"Let's eat, Cowboy!," she said. Now she was really hungry too, and couldn't imagine how hungry he could be with his enormous appetite and all the afternoon activities. She set the spread out on the table in her room, and they both dug in.

Chicken. Ma Smalley's potato salad. Her Waldorf salad. Invited finger licking. Kitty watched her man dive in. After a few bites she took his right hand and licked his fingers. He seemed surprised, then he softened and smiled broadly. But he went right back to eating. He ate like he made love. Voraciously!

They talked and laughed while they ate and drank their beers, re-living the buggy ride, the horses, the walk up the creek, and the fishing hole. There was no talk of the love making. It was not to talk about, it was to think about.

Matt thought it was the most wonderful meal he had ever had. Better than a steak at Delmonico's. He was here in her room with her. No one else around.

He cleaned off the makeshift table and carefully replaced everything into the picnic basket, while Kitty watched, more than impressed at his need to be neat.

"Will you put all this away tomorrow?" He asked." I have to be back at the jail by 7."

"Sure, that's easy. I'll take care of it all. I work 2 to 10 tomorrow."

"Nice schedule. I'll try not to wake you when I get up, he smirked."

"You will stay with me?"

"If you'll have me."

Their eyes were locked again. Kitty was the one to break the spell.

"Come to the other room, I want to show you something."

She led him into the bath, where a huge tub waited empty.

"The caldron is always full of hot water this time of night. Let's go down and get some!"

In any other situation, she would have asked one of the barkeeps to help her bring hot water up. Not tonight!

"We can do a quick bucket brigade up the back stairs, c'mon, I'm good at it," she laughed.

All too eagerly he followed her down the back stairs, and between the two of them it look less than five minutes to fill her tub with seriously hot water from the caldron.

He tested the contents with his hand, pulled back quickly and said, "Gotta cool just a bit, Miss Russell."

"If you would allow me to remove your clothes for a second time today . . . " she touched his shirt as her voice trailed off.

He didn't answer. Once again, the words were done. Slowly she unbuttoned his shirt, turned him around, and slid it off. Turning him around again, she went for the buckle on his gun belt. He stopped her immediately with both hands.

"Mine to remove, Kitty. Only me." He hung it on the bathroom door. She more than noticed how it was never out of his sight, or his reach.

Smiling down at her, his face softened again. "But I wish you'd help with my belt and my pants in case I have trouble unfastening those."

Keeping her eyes locked on his allowed her to comply, but only by groping for location, which was such a delightful plan! And she worked it for all it was worth, rubbing her hands all over the front of him, pretending to try to find the buckle and the buttons. The grin on his face reassured her that he was not only enjoying it, he understood the tactic clearly. He stepped out of his pants and stood naked in front of her. Then he took her with both hands and pulled her into him. He brushed her lips. She returned the brush. He deepened the kiss. She responded. He was stiff again with his passion. Both knew this was part of the coupling ritual, and both knew it would happen again because it had already started. And like a train coming down a steep hill, it really wasn't possible to stop.

"Miss Russell, are you planning to wash me? Because if you are, you should get out of those clothes so I don't splash you or any such."

And without waiting for a reply, he unfastened the now familiar sash and slid her dress to the ground. She was so beautiful in just the corset. So beautiful! But remembering what was yet underneath, he carefully unfastened it and took it away from her. One at a time, he cupped a breast gently in his massive hands and kissed it. She stood straight, offering herself. She pressed into him. He was straight up hard and ready, his breathing fast. And right there, right there next to the tub, with no plan whatsoever, he lifted her effortlessly up to his waist. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around him. And just as soon as she did that, he entered her. He took her immediately, forcefully. No tenderness, he just took her. She had offered herself. He couldn't last long standing. He looked at the surprise mixed with pleasure on her face. And she locked her eyes on him while he thrusted hard several times, then stiffened and strained in his climax.

Setting her down to the floor, he said "I think that bath is ready. And now I think we both need to get in."

He lowered himself into the warm water, amazed at how much luxury this young woman had, thus far all to herself. She bent over him with sponge and lavender soap. She dunked him and washed his thick, curly hair, making him close his eyes and laugh with the pleasure of it. He could not have imagined any woman doing this to him. She gently soaped his arms, his chest, and worked her way down to his thighs. He spread his legs willingly for her and she tenderly washed what had pleasured her so much.

And then he said, "This is so wonderful! I think you need to be in here with me. Come and sit on my lap please, beautiful lady."

She lowered herself onto him slowly, being careful to watch the water on the side that it didn't flow over onto the floor. She knew he had just taken her again so he would not try it in the tub. Or could he? And she was sure he couldn't enter her from the rear anyway. Or could he? This was all new today. Decidedly, she preferred when he took her from the top, so she could watch his face while she felt him push. And the feel of that massive body covering hers was indescribable.

He took the lavender soap in his hands and immediately found the inside of her thighs, washing the special place that was the source of all his pleasure. Then he carefully finished with legs, arms and breasts. It was delightful being held in his arms like this, and she sighed and leaned back against him.

"I'm going to want back in this tub with you when I get back from Hays City, you know."

"Well, I don't know, Cowboy. You'd better ride hard cause this joint closes at midnight."

"Bet I could wake you."

"Bet you could, too."

"Don't wait up."

"Bet I do!"

"Let's have a glass of brandy."

"Mmmm Hmmm. That sounds good!"

"Do you want to make love with me again in bed?"

"Bet I do!"

And it went on like that for a few private minutes while they luxuriated in each other's arms. Young and strong. Two young people finding each other, discovering each other. Wanting each other. She moved to step out of the bath and he pulled her back to him. She immediately realized that she could never, but never get out of that grip unless he permitted it.

"Did I say you could leave, Miss Russell?"

"No, Marshal. But you said brandy sounded good."

"The back of your neck sounds even better."

And with that he began nuzzling and nibbling her neck while he gently rubbed her breasts with his massive hands. Much too big for the job, but just the right amount of tenderness for the job. He rubbed until her nipples hardened. Then he moved his hands down and rubbed her belly softly.

"Can you feel me in this far when I make love to you?"

"No, but almost."

He moved his touch down. "How about here?"

"You're very close!"

"Why don't I start from the beginning and work my way up?" He put his fingertips between her legs and pressed ever so gently. "How about I start here?" He was surprised when she drew a sharp breath and squealed with pleasure at his touch. He moved his fingertips slowly but deliberately, finding her soft and open to him in the warm water. He explored the folds at her entrance. This time she moaned.

"Please don't stop!"

He massaged her gently. No more squealing. She moaned now. Her hips were rotating.

Something about this was reaching her. He continued but moved his fingertips a bit faster, in a circular motion. The response was immediate. He felt her softness harden instantly, and her body go rigid against him.

"Matt I'm . . . ." He moved his fingers on her with more pressure and urgency. She sucked in her breath and clawed at his legs with both hands. "Matt, I'm, . . . Ohhhhhh!" and she exploded into his hand, throbbing and thrusting her hips up into his hand. When the explosion subsided, he cupped his hand between her legs and held her quietly. After she stopped trembling, he spoke.

"I didn't know I could do that to you, Kitty. I watched it happen this afternoon at Spring Creek, but I didn't know I could do it to you like this . . ." It makes me crazy when you do that!"

"There are SO many things we have yet to learn about each other, Marshal!"

The bed they shared felt so good. Quiet again now, they were warm, they were clean, they were with each other. Kitty snuggled against him and stroked his chest. Couldn't get enough. How did she ever get here with this man? She saw him at Delmonico's that day. She fell for him at the Ford County Sociable. She was hoping for a second kiss today. And here they were. She full of him, over and over again, laying against him and wanting him again.

For Matt's part it was surreal. He had never imagined a woman like Kitty. She was smart and she was witty. She was young and beautiful, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She looked at no other man but him. When she stood naked with him she stirred him beyond anything he had ever felt. And she allowed it. She allowed him to look at her, to touch, to explore every part of her body, to be her lover. She encouraged it. She wanted him as he wanted her.

Matt pulled Kitty into him, made sure they were both covered, and just held her. They were quiet. But sleep was not on their minds.

Finally Kitty spoke softly into his neck.

"You scared me tonight. I want to tell you."

He immediately pushed her back just far enough to look into her eyes, searching with real concern.

"Tell me, tell me now. I never want to scare you."

"I couldn't get away from your hold in the bathtub. I couldn't get free when you took me standing. Do you know that?"

"You didn't try."

"Didn't want to. Just took mind of it."

"You saw me standing there. I was naked. You saw that I was ready. You pushed up into me. What did you expect me to do? I had to take you right there. And I kept you in the bathtub to pleasure you. I'm a lot stronger than you. Did you ever notice that?"

"Yeah. First time you used it though. I've been rolling you around all day. Made me stop and think."

He kissed her softly, then looked back into her eyes.

"Kitty, if you ever say stop, I'll stop. You have my promise. Never, ever want to make you scared or trapped. I want to hold you, I want to wrestle with you, I want to push you and pull you. I'm a man. I want you to tease me. But never do I want to scare you. You got that?"

"I know. I just had a flashback."

"Those will go away. I'll make sure they do."

She nuzzled back into his neck, and he sensed that tenderness was in order. He stroked her butt and the backs of her thighs over and over again, under the covers. She moved into his cheek, then sucked on his lip ever so gently. He moved her away just far enough to glide his hands over her breasts, then started stroking her nipples with his finger. Stroking, circling. Pulling the covers up even more, he slid his hand down and stroked her belly.

"Could you feel me up here when I took you standing?"

He felt himself stirring.

"Yes. It was so deep."

"Can I say things like this to you?"

"You just did. I'm still here."

She took his hand in hers, put it to her mouth, and began gently sucking the tips of his fingers. His breathing was faster. He felt himself stirring more.

"I want to talk to you about how it feels. I want to talk to you so privately."

"I'm scared I'll get pregnant, Matt. I'm so scared you already got me pregnant today."

"Is that what you want?"

"It's not what my mind wants. But my body says different."

"Do you want me to stop now?"

"No. I want you to make love to me again."

He pulled her on top of him. They laid flat out, legs spread apart on top of each other. He caressed her back, her thighs, her hips. He touched between her legs. She kissed his neck and chest over and over again. Tenderness beyond tenderness. Her words flooded through his mind. He didn't want to get her pregnant now. They were too young. He knew she would lose her job. But then he could take care of her. And he wanted so much to take care of her forever. He pictured himself laying next to her night after night, just like this. And then he thought about what would happen to her if he got shot in the back. The badge. The Marshal. A moving target.

And as he became full hard to love her again, he realized his body was saying different, too.