Author's Note: This chapter is rated M because of content. A less explicit version can be found at 'The Big Valley Writing Desk', in the section 'Behind Closed Doors'.
Chapter Sixteen
"It is so different here, then at home." Priscilla came out onto the balcony, dressed in a lacey soft pink tea gown. She carried a heavy cut crystal tumbler, which she had filled with a dark amber whiskey, and she presented to Nick. He turned to look at pleasure with her, setting his cigar down on the green onyx ashtray that sat on the railing.
"Our sunsets are nothing like this; so intense and dramatic." She gestured to the view from the balcony. The sky was dusky blue, with lingering pink and orange streaks from the setting sun. The mountains, off to the west, were almost black, highlighted against the fading light.
Nick didn't know if it was the altitude, but the sun beat down a brilliant gold, giving a crisp edge to everything, even as the sky seemed to go on forever. At home the sunset was gentle, burnishing the eastern hills with a soft pink glow, as it brought closure to the day. In Denver nothing was gentle or slow from what he'd seen so far.
They had returned from the doctor's office an hour earlier, surprised at how late in the day it was – almost six o'clock. The drive back to the hotel, in the hansom cab and been made in silence, as they tightly held hands. Once upstairs Priscilla had gone to change, while Nick had jerkily ripped off his tie and jacket, before lighting a cigar and heading out to the balcony, hoping the cool air would calm his swirling emotions.
"Home?" he queried, as he eagerly took the proffered glass, admiring how the tea gown clung to her bosom, which had started to blossom with her condition. The whiskey was smooth and warm, and he slowly took another sip, letting it roll around on his tongue before swallowing. Nick admitted that at least some things in his life were going well.
He looked at his wife, and noted that she'd loosened her hair, but not taken it all the way down. That was something he liked doing, slowly brushing out the thick tresses, admiring how soft Priscilla's hair was, and how the very tips of the longest strands were often caught beneath her round bottom when she sat.
"The Valley, our home." Priscilla replied, snuggling next to him and putting her arms around his waist. Nick set the glass down and put his arms around her, pulling her close to him; he buried his head in her neck, taking in the floral scent that wafted from her neck. He had always been aware of how wonderful she consistently smelled; no matter the scent Nick felt like he could never get enough of her.
"When did you know that the Valley was home?" Nick looked at her, noting how the deepening blue of the sky highlighted her summer blue eyes. Her cream and rose complexion and warm pink lips took on the glow of the setting sun. Suddenly he wanted to know just when she'd decided to throw her lot in with his.
"Christmas!" She answered, as if he should know; seeing his puzzled look she explained. "We had our talk at the Phipps' Christmas party, and then you took me to the station the next day. I was so excited at the thought of being back in Los Angeles, but once I was down there, I realized that God had other plans for me." Priscilla gave him an almost awe-struck gaze and Nick realized just how deep her commitment was to him.
"Well I am a damn lucky man is all that I have to say." Nick laid a soft kiss on her nose, and let his lips brush her soft skin. He felt her move against him, and he wished he could just sweep her up in his arms and take her inside; or even take her right here on the balcony. Unfortunately the current circumstances were stopping his inclinations.
"Right now though I would prefer to be home;. I wish we'd never come on this trip. Nothing good is coming from it." Nick sighed, thinking about the day's events, as they had unfolded. There was also his part in them, which he wanted to forget.
"Just what are you referring to? What happened to Heath? I don't see how you could have prevented that." Priscilla declared, having stepped back to let him reach for his glass. It was both comforting and slightly disconcerting on how well she could read his emotions. Nick knew that he could never lie to her, but also knew that he could tell her anything with no worry of censure of his actions. Now, she crossed her arms and looked at him intently.
"I said something to Sarah that I shouldn't have; she was very hurt." Nick took his eyes away from the horizon and turned to look at Priscilla, shame very apparent in his hazel eyes. He cringed as he replayed the scene in the doctor's office, When Sarah inquired about the funeral she had not been privy to – "Good God" he admitted "I have a big mouth."
"Nicholas, you didn't do anything wrong." Priscilla reassured him in a soft voice, squeezing his hands. "You had no way of knowing that Heath had not told Sarah about the funeral. He is at fault, not you; she is having every reason to be angry."
"Why would he not tell her?" Even as Priscilla's remarks made him feel slightly better Nick didn't like the implication of Heath's actions. Arranging a funeral was no small matter, and to do it in a strange location; Nick paused and an unwelcome thought came to him, that maybe his brother was not a stranger to Denver?
"We don't know why, and we might never know. What is sure is that Sarah is very upset, and with good reason." Priscilla reached up and kissed him on the cheek "You are not the cause of her being upset. Heath was the one that kept his plans for the funeral from her, not you." There was censure in her voice, making Nick want to defend Heath's actions.
"Sissi, you have to admit that Sarah's behavior has been difficult." He stated, remembering the anger and hysterics that they had witnessed.
"Yes, I know she has been spun up for most of the trip, but I think you need to take into account what has happened. Nick, I know how close Heath is to you; he is your brother." Priscilla paused, and looked him directly in the eye. "However, his behavior with his old friend, and then the funeral? Sarah is no doubt starting to wonder what else Heath hasn't told her!" Her voice was firm, and as Nick thought about the questions he was privately having about Heath. Suddenly he had no problem seeing how Sarah could be concerned.
"Just so you know Sarah is not the only one Heath is keeping information from. Those detectives – the ones from the other day? They were at the burial and questioning Heath when he was shot at." Nick wanted to move off the subject of Sarah, so went on to explain that they thought it was just a poacher, and still suspected Heath of murdering Logan to keep their past relationship quiet.
"Has Heath said anything about the officers? Or Logan's death?" Priscilla's voice had taken on a cool tone, as she'd turned to look at the dramatic sunset. Nick noticed how stiff her shoulders were, before she took a last admiring look at the sky, the dark blue over taking the view from the balcony. The North Star was suddenly dazzling in the sky, and Nick noted how it almost seemed to rest above his wife's head. He thought it appropriate, because of course the star was the guide to truth and happiness, which his wife was.
"No Heath hasn't said anything other than to say he will take care of it." Nick replied, not liking how weak the answer sounded. It came to him that Heath had given him the bare minimum of information about Logan and everything else that had happened in Denver. He had given his brother leeway, because of the connection to Carterson, but now Nick wondered if he should have pushed harder for information.
"Since Heath is laid up with his injury, and we have the trip to Georgetown coming up, may I suggest some additional support?" Priscilla turned to look at him; Nick noted the worry lines in her forehead. He realized that she was being cautious in what she said.
"Sissi, what is troubling you?" Nick stepped forward and pulled her into his arms; he was pleased with how quickly she melted against him. In truth, he just wanted her to be calm and getting rest, not dealing with the all the problems they'd had since coming to Denver.
"I need to apologize to you – and Heath – for not taking the attempts on his life seriously. I have no doubt, after three times, that someone wants Heath dead." Priscilla removed herself from his arms, and walked to the far edge of the balcony. The sky was now a dark blue, the mountains looking black against the last rays of the setting sun.
Priscilla turned and walked back over to where Nick was standing, in arousing disarray. His white linen shirt was open at the collar, and since he'd taken off his suspenders the shirt was almost out of his black worsted wool trousers. Even as she as was tired she felt her femaleness stirring at how handsome and dashing he was.
"I need to state that after you presented your argument to me last time, I thought it very plausible. Frankly, until today I was starting to come around to your way of thinking." Nick offered, tilting his head and smiling, which caused his dimples to flash. It was only the importance of the conversation that kept Priscilla from wrapping herself around his lean, hard body.
"Really? You're just not saying that?" She was surprised at his statement, even as she was relieved that he had not become defensive when she criticized Heath. Priscilla knew how strong the bond was between the brothers, and she tried to respect it as much as possible. There were times though that the truth, no matter how hard or unpleasant, had to be spoken.
"Yes, because the circumstances have been so odd, and the 'so-called' attacks have really not made sense." He walked over and put his arms around her shoulders, and Priscilla moved close against him, nuzzling his neck. Nick's skin was smooth and warm, and she inhaled his scent, overlaid with the masculine whiffs of whiskey and tobacco. It made her feel safe and protected, and suddenly she too wished they were back at home.
"So what is your suggestion for additional support?" Priscilla felt his fingers brush the skin of her neck, as they trailed up to her chin. His touch had tingles running up and down her spine, and for a moment she had trouble focusing on what he was asking. Only when he lifted her head up, to look at him did she remember her earlier thought.
"I think you need to reach out to the Pinkerton's; don't they have a branch in Denver?" She replied, having remembered how Jarrod relied on them for matters in California. Priscilla knew that it was a nationwide agency, and hoped that Denver had a branch. The idea had actually come to her several days earlier, but she wasn't sure how Nick – and Heath – would receive the idea. The brothers' liked to solve their own problems, as she knew all too well.
"Yes, they do. I actually suggested the idea to Heath, but he said that he could gather more information on his own." Nick went on tell her about their suspicions at the lunch, and how nothing had come of it. "I know that Heath has done some other investigating, but I don't know what it entailed." The words trailed off, as if Nick was shying away from the matter. Priscilla wondered if he was more upset with Heath's lack of sharing than he wanted to let on; she pushed the thought aside, knowing that this wasn't the time for that inquiry.
"Did Heath really think he could do better on his own, or did he not want the Pinkerton's digging into Logan's and his past?" Priscilla had heard the almost apologetic note in her husband's voice, and she discerned that Nick was starting to regret letting Heath take the lead.
"Honestly Sissi, I really don't know. Clearly Heath has not told me everything." She heard sorrow in Nick's voice as he made his admission, which led credence to her earlier suspicion. Priscilla saw that Nick was struggling with his brother's behavior, and decided to follow her instinct and leave the subject for now.
"Heath being laid up is the perfect excuse to call in the Pinkerton's. It is not like Heath can go playing detective, with his wound." She announced in an upbeat voice, kissing him on the cheek. "Plus, getting the Pinkerton's involved might get those police officers to back off some. The Pinkerton's will have access to the locals that you and Heath don't have." Priscilla wanted to reassure Nick that calling in outside help was not a betrayal of Heath. Certainly, the man had to realize that he was in no shape to object.
"Ok Honey, I'll reach out to the agency tomorrow, and brief them about the case." The relief in Nick's voice was apparent, and Priscilla inwardly smiled. She had been more scared than she'd let on this morning, about the shooting at the cemetery. Bullets were unpredictable, and if someone was taking potshots at the Barkley's it could have ended much worse than what it had.
"I think we have spent enough time on the subject." Nick had been very aware of Priscilla snuggling against him, her body moving against his. The pleasure of having his beautiful loving wife in his arms, and her clear delight in being with him was relaxing and exciting him at the same time. Her idea of the Pinkerton's, along with her reasoning, was a salve to his thoughts. Heath could get on his high horse, but in the end getting the agency involved was the right idea. They could get to the bottom of the mayhem, which is how Nick privately referred to Heath's situation right now.
"And what subject would you like to spend time on?" Priscilla giggled softly, moving her lips to his jawline, where she laid a series of kisses, her tongue lightly flicking against his skin. He felt what she was doing and almost groaned, as she moved to his neck. Her lips were soft, but on made his skin feel like flames were dancing down his body.
"I think you know exactly what I have in mind." Nick growled in response, releasing her from his arms. He walked over to the edge of the balcony and finished his last sip of his whiskey, before coming back towards her. The tea gown clung tight to her bosom, before it fell loosely around her body, and he felt the edges of the lace, as his hands went to encircle her waist.
His hands moved up the sides of her body, to the edges of her breasts, which were full and pressing against the bodice. Nick let his fingers brush inward, with each stroke moving slightly closer to the hardening peak that he could see forming. Her quivering made him aware that she was more than ready for anything he had in mind. His hands moved down to her hips, and then pulled her hard against his burgeoning manhood.
"Dinner, right?" Priscilla had felt her husband's rising passion, and knew he wanted her badly. However, she decided it was going to be on her terms. "I have ordered room service, to include a thick steak for you, and potatoes." She went on to describe the meal, and she felt Nick almost sag as she talked about food.
"Sissi, food is not what I need now." Nick stamped his foot, his desire hitting his body hard. As if he wanted to eat when he could have his way with his wife! However, what she said next made him realize that she had played him perfectly.
"I think you should have dessert first Nicholas." Her tone was smooth and warm, and he noted her hands moved down to his pants. Priscilla's fingers brushed against his waistband, before moving to his crotch, where his shaft was pressing against his pants. She made quick work of undoing his pants, and freeing his phallus from his drawers.
"My how large and hard you are!" There was a saucy note in her voice, and Nick noted the admiration in her blue eyes, as she regarded his manhood. Her fingers moved to stroke him, lightly at first, and then with more pressure. Her actions had him emitting a loud groan, and Nick felt his groin tightening even more than it already was.
"I am large because of you." Nick managed to utter, as her hand continued to torment him in the most delightful way. Her next action though caused him to gasp with surprise and anticipation. She lowered herself to her knees, so her face was level with his crotch. He could only hope what she was going to do next, and wasn't disappointed.
Priscilla had felt the throbbing of his shaft, and knew what he would enjoy; the special act. Nick had taught her a lot during their honeymoon, having been helped by the fact that she was fearless, curious, and madly in love with her husband. Her hands had already been busy with his manhood, admiring the steel hardness encased in the velvet-like skin.
Now she let her lips move to the bulbous tip, which was already slight damp with his building excitement. Priscilla barely touched the tip, before she let her tongue lick the tender opening, causing him to gasp and then growl loudly. Liking the reaction she was getting, Priscilla moved her lips to cover the edge, sucking slightly as she pulled against the ridge.
Nick felt what she was doing, and after emitting the animal like growl reached out to grasp the railing of the balcony, for support. Her tongue was like flames as it stroked his shaft, while her lips encircled him completely. He pushed forward, and felt the intensity of her actions increase; just as his mind went blank he noted a shooting star in the now black sky. Its silvery light mimicked what was coursing through his body.