"LARABEE'S LADY" – CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Title: "Larabee's Lady"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult language and situations

Summary: Mary's best friend causes Chris to re-think his future.

Date Written: September 18, 2010

Disclaimer: Chris Larabee, Vin Tanner, J.D. Dunne, Buck Wilmington, Josiah Sanchez, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Casey Wells, Mary Travis, Nettie Wells, Inez, 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, 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.

(Chris spends a couple of days at his cabin mulling over his future. He finally decides to head back to town taking the route closest to Catherine's ranch. The sky has been dark with storm clouds looming most all day, and, as night begins to fall, thunder rolls off to the west. Chris spies, Rebel, Catherine's horse, tethered to a bush but no Catherine. Angling closer, he picks up her footprints, dismounts, and follows her trail a few feet until he sees her sitting on a rock near a stream. Her head and arms are resting on the top of her drawn up knees and she looks lost and forlorn. His breath hitches when he sees her sadness. He dismounts and walks quietly closer. Nevertheless, Catherine senses his approach.)

Catherine: What are you doing out here? Don't you know it's about to storm?"

Chris: "Could ask you the same thing."

Catherine: "'I like storms."

Chris: "From the look of it, this is going to be a bad one."

(And to punctuate his words, thunder crashes loudly and the wind picks up considerably.)

Chris: "I'm thinkin' we need to head for shelter. (Fat drops of rain begin to fall and the wind kicks up even more.)

Catherine: "We'll never make it to the house."

Chris: "We can make it to my cabin. C'mon."

(They hurriedly mount their horses and race to Chris' cabin. They barely make it into the cabin before the rain begins to fall in icy sheets. Lightning flashes and thunder crashes loudly as the sky darkens considerably. They are both somewhat wet, and Chris notices that Catherine is shivering as he bolts the door against the fierce wind. Quickly he tosses her a towel and sets about starting a fire in the fireplace. When Chris turns from the fireplace, all the air in his lungs escapes him as if he'd been punched in the gut. Catherine's damp clothes are clinging to every curve of her body. Her damp hair is curling down her back, and her eyes are sparkling with exhilaration. He can't remember a time ever before in his life when he has seen anything quite so sensual. His body tightens painfully as he struggles to breathe. As her eyes meet his, the exhilaration changes to want and then to need. His gaze is drawn to her lush, full lips the color of summer berries as she slowly walks toward him. Catherine stops just short of touching him and he lifts his eyes to hers. The raw desire in her eyes stuns him. Reaching up, he gently cups her face with one hand while the other slides around her waist. The struggle within him rages momentarily ad Catherine senses it. She rests her palms against his muscular chest and tips her head back to gaze into his eyes.)

Catherine: "What were you doing out there tonight, Chris?"

Chris: "I was coming to see you." (And he realizes that his words are truer than any he's ever spoken.)

Catherine: "Why?"

Chris: "Because I want you . . I need you."

(And with that simple admission, Chris Larabee feels as if a tremendous weight has been lifted from him. Catherine knows the moment realization hits him and her heart swells with hope. Sliding her arms around his neck, Catherine lifts her fact to him as his mouth descends to take hers. The moment his tongue plunges into her willing mouth and begins the mating dance, her blood truly begins to sing in her veins. Meeting no resistance or hesitation whatsoever, he shifts his hand from her waist so that he is pressing her closer to his hard body. She can have no doubt as to the affect she has on him or how much he wants her. She revels in the heady sensation of knowing that she has so much power over this big, strong man. . . .

Having wanted Catherine for so long, Chris is desperately trying to go slowly so as not to frighten her; especially after her recent ordeal. She, however, is having none of it. When she feels him start to withdraw from her, she tears her mouth from his and looks him in the eye. Both of them are flushed and breathing heavily. Her mouth is softly swollen and red from his kiss and the want in her eyes is compelling. His entire body is on fire, yet still he holds back.)

Chris: "I don't want to hurt you, Catherine."

Catherine: "The only way you could possibly hurt me is to push me away. . .I want this, Chris, I want you. . . I need you."

(The last of his doubts fade away with her words. Sweeping her up into his arms, he carries her to the bed and gently lays her down. Fusing his mouth to hers, he begins to unbutton her shirt. Her hands are already at work on his clothes, and she is becoming even more aroused with each expanse of hard-muscled skin she exposes. His mouth leaves hers and leaves a wet trail down her throat until he captures first one erect nipple and then the other with his mouth and grazing them with his teeth. Small electric shocks course through Catherine as he peels her wet clothes from her body. Not to be outdone, she pushes his shirt over his muscled shoulders and arms forcing him to break away long enough to strip off the offending garment. As soon as he flings it away, he has her back in his arms and is kissing her like there's no tomorrow. The sensation of his hands and mouth on her bare skin is driving her crazy. She wants more and is determined to get it. She is desperately trying to grasp the elusive something she doesn't understand. But Chris knows exactly what it is Catherine is reaching for and he knows exactly how to give her what she wants. He drags her jeans from her body; and strokes and kisses each and every inch of her body. Catherine is nearly delirious from what Chris is doing to her, and she whimpers pleadingly with every touch. Suddenly, his hard, warm body is gone and she experiences a moment of panic, but opening her eyes, she realizes he has left her to rid himself of his pants. Her first look at Chris Larabee is all his natural glory takes her breath away. Desire snakes through her more strongly than ever and she holds her arms up to him in silent pleading. Fusing his mouth to hers, he slowly lowers his body to fit solidly against hers. It is only when he moves to part her thighs with his knee that Chris senses any hesitation in Catherine. It nearly kills him to do so, but he stops and lifts his head so that he can look down into her eyes. He sees apprehension and uncertainty there and knows it's because of what Poague did to her. Determined to put her fears to rest, he gently strokes her cheek with his thumb.)

Chris: "I won't hurt you, Catherine, I swear I won't."

Catherine: "I know that. It's just . . . "

Chris: "What, Baby?"

Catherine: "I don't know how to do this, Chris. At least not the way it's supposed to be done. I don't want to . . to disappoint you."

Chris: (touched by her desire to make this right for him) "Catherine . . . You're doing just fine."

Catherine: "Am I?"

Chris: "You are .. . Listen to me, Catherine. What Poague did was criminal; it was wrong. . . .We're going to make love, and it's going to be very, very right. But, . . I need to know that you trust me."

Catherine: (she sees the caring in his eyes and suddenly no longer afraid.) "With my life."

(Once again, he claims her mouth and resumes his assault on her senses. She does some exploring of her own and is amazed at what she finds. The power that floods through her at the knowledge of what she does to this man fills her with joy. So lost in sensation is she that she doesn't realize he has moved, shifted until he tears his mouth from hers and looks down into her eyes. Ever so slowly, he sinks his body into hers and watches as her eyes widen in awe. When he is fully inside her, he is amazed to feel her spasm around him as her first orgasm washes over her. Gritting his teeth, he holds himself rigidly still until her body settles. The sudden appearance of tears in her eyes gives him pause.)

Chris: "Oh my God, Catherine, did I hurt you?"

Catherine: "I didn't . . I didn't know it could be like this."

Chris: (smiling softly) "It only gets better from here, Sweetheart."

(And he proceeds to show her just how much better it can get. The storm raging outside the cabin cannot compare to the one raging within . . .Chris is astounded that they have made love twice in a relatively short time and he wants her yet again. Not even with Sarah was the act of lovemaking this intense. Suddenly, it's Chris who is uncertain and somewhat unsettled by what is happening between him and Catherine. As he watches her sleeping in his arms, he feels a fierce sense of protectiveness. She sighs in her slip and shifts even closer to him and he is stung by a myriad of emotions. On one hand, he feels a sense of betrayal to Sarah's memory. On the other, now that he's allowed himself to admit he cares for Catherine, he can't imagine not having her in his life. For hours, he lies awake struggling with the demons haunting him. Finally, he drifts off to sleep holding her close . . .