Harlot at the Homestead (6 page)

“Hey!” He tipped up her chin with a fingertip. “What is it?”

She shook her head. “Nothing, just memories.”

“Good ones I hope.” He sighed as he bent his head to kiss her.

At first the kiss was soft and she relaxed into the warmth of his mouth, the sweetness of his breath. But as he pushed his hot tongue between her lips, she moaned and slid her hands through his hair. She filled her palms and her fingers with it then pulled his head toward her.

As they kissed, he loosened the waistband of her bloomers and she felt them slide down to the floor. The warm afternoon air caressed the naked skin of her legs and fluttered the edge of her chemise. Kenan held her body against the length of his and she felt his erection rock hard against her belly. She giggled.

“What is it?” he asked breathlessly.

“Perhaps we’d better cool off?”

He looked down at the large bulge at his groin. “Maybe.”

He shrugged out of his union suit sleeves then slid it down over his legs.

Catherine swallowed hard as she stared at his body. The hard cock stood to attention, pointing outwards from the dark curls of his pubic hair and pulling her eyes toward the balls beneath. He was a perfect male and she yearned to become one with him, to take him deep inside her and ride him until they both reached the point of no return.

“Now you!” His voice was husky but his tone was firm.

She undid the button at the front of her chemise then lifted it over her head. It was sheer as gossamer and featherlight. When she met his eyes again, the intensity of his gaze startled her. He looked so fierce, like he was about to explode with need and desire.

He took her hand and led her toward the water’s edge.

The cool river lapped at her toes and her nipples hardened, making her full breasts tingle. “It’s freezing!”

“You’ll get used to it!” He eyed her naked form.

He waded into the water until it reached his thighs then turned to face her. Catherine watched as goosebumps rose on his arms and the neat sack of skin that held the essence of his masculinity pulled itself up toward his body.

But his erection still stood firm and ready, the tip shimmering with a diamond like bead of moisture.

In a flurry of excitement, she pulled the pins from her hair and let its vermillion waves cascade down her back. The breeze lifted it and swirled it around her face, teasing her by limiting her view of Kenan. She flicked her head to push it aside and fixed her eyes upon the man she loved.

Unable to resist any longer, she ran to him, splashing the icy water over them both as she did so. The river’s chilly grip traveled quickly up her legs and the tiny hairs on her neck and her arms stood on end. Kenan grabbed her and pulled her with him into the flow and Catherine gasped as the cold water enveloped her, touching her inside and out. The sensation of the chilly water delving between the hot sensitive folds of her most private place was delicious and it heightened her desire to feel her lover’s cock there too.

“It’s freezing, Kenan!” She giggled.

He laughed then flicked water into her face. She shook her head, her thick hair heavy with the river. He reached out and tenderly spread her hair out so that it floated around her like a gathering of eels come to inspect her nudity.

“Come here!” Kenan embraced her. Their cold, wet skin and his solid length prodding into her stomach fired her yearning to have him. She wanted to possess this man once more, before he knew the full truth. The fear that he might abandon her when she confessed all darkened her mind for an instant, like a cloud passing over the sun. But she shrugged it away, refusing to allow it to spoil this precious moment.

Kenan pushed her toward the bank where he laid her on her back in the shallows. He eyed every inch of her body. The stones and sand were hard and cold beneath her skin but the fire in his gaze warmed her like the hot summer sun. He stroked his hands over her stomach, across the curves of her hips then back toward the apex of her thighs. She moaned as he parted her legs and ran the fingers of his right hand between her swollen lips then over her aching bud. He rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger with a touch so experienced and knowledgeable that Catherine felt all sense and reason slipping away. Lost in passion, she lifted her hips toward him, eager for him to fill her up as she knew only he could.

Whilst he massaged her, he used his free hand to drip chilly droplets of water over her burning cunny. She flung out her arms and grabbed his shoulders, digging her nails wantonly into his flesh and pulling him down onto her, unable to wait another second. His body molded to hers as if it were the other half of her and she flung her head back as he drove his erection into her soft flesh. As excitement consumed him, he rocked into her, harder and faster and she spread her legs farther to take him deeper. The water splashed around them as they moved in perfect union and the current flowed over them, caressing their skin and creeping into forbidden places as if to join in their lovemaking.

Catherine bit into Kenan’s shoulder when the tensing and twitching of her pussy signaled the onset of her climax and her sensitive bud throbbed then burst into countless little explosions like lightning bolts piercing the night sky. The aftershocks flooded throughout her entire body and her hot juices flowed from her loins. Her excitement spurred Kenan on and he thrust harder and faster before freezing as he reached his own shuddering release.

He rested his weight on his elbows and looked into her eyes.

“You are amazing,” he whispered as he gently pushed the wet hair from her forehead. “No one should ever hurt you. Ever.”

“Kenan?” Her eyes filled with tears as the realization that she still might make him hate her flooded back like the chill of the water that now seeped between their heated bodies, teasing his ejaculation away from her in the same way that she feared her confession would drive him away.

“Not yet.” He eased himself out of her then helped her to her feet. “Let’s dry off.”

When they were wrapped up in the blankets and she sat between his legs, leaning against him, she tried again.

“Shall I continue?”

“Okay.” His reply was barely audible and she sensed his reluctance. Now that they had rediscovered each other, neither wanted to feel any distance between them again, but they both knew that she had to speak and he had to listen. They had to have honesty even if they had nothing else.

“Where was I?” she questioned.

“Your uncle took you outside the saloon to explain what he needed from you.”

Her heart ached to hear the bitterness which had returned to his tone and she steeled herself as she prepared to break his heart all over again.

Chapter Six

Kenan pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders and buried his face in Catherine’s hair. It was damp and smelled of the river, earthy yet fresh, and it stirred something primitive within him. He wanted to protect this woman, to offer her everything that he had but he had to know what had happened to her so that he could help her to heal—help them both to heal.

Catherine shivered suddenly and Kenan pulled her closer. All that separated them was the blanket wrapped around her and though he knew that he had to focus on what she was about to tell him, his cock twitched with excitement at her proximity. He willed it to stay down, knowing that having his erection digging into her back would not help her to relate what she had been through over the past two years.

“So my uncle took me outside the saloon.” Her voice was soft, her tone cautious.

“And what did he say?” Kenan tried to sound neutral.

“He told me that the man in the saloon had offered him a deal.”

“For what?”

“My uncle had been gambling…for quite some time…and had gotten himself into a lot of debt.”

“What a wasteful scoundrel! How damned irresponsible can a man be when he’s got two women dependent on him for bed and board and—”

“Kenan!” Her voice cracked on his name. “It happened. We can’t change it no matter how angry we might feel.”

He hung his head, resting his chin in her hair. “I’m sorry. I know that.”

“The man in the saloon had lent him money and now he wanted it back. With interest.”

“He could have sold the farm.”

“It wasn’t enough,” she whispered.

“What?” Kenan pulled away from her and moved around so that he could look at her. The blanket slipped from his shoulders and dropped to his waist but his anger was making him hot and he was glad to be free of it. “How much did he owe?”

“He didn’t tell me exactly.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them. “But it was more than he could repay.”

His heart ached as he looked at her. With her face fresh and glowing from the river and their lovemaking and her hair wet and dark with water, she looked so young and innocent. Her eyelashes were still thick with moisture and they clung together, framing her emerald eyes. Surely any man who knew this woman would want to serve and protect her, not force her into the life of a whore. What in hell had her uncle been thinking? Damn it! Kenan knew that he’d have sold his homestead, his animals, even the hair on his head to keep that from happening. If only she’d come to him, let him know, asked for his help!

“God damn!” Kenan spat. “I tell you Catherine, I know you said that you don’t want me to speak to him but this is just unforgiveable. How the hell did he get himself into such a mess?”

She shrugged. “My aunt was a fine looking woman in her youth. I think he went all out to get her then to keep her and it just spiraled out of control. When he couldn’t give her the child she craved, he developed a taste for drink and for gambling and…he just lost control.”

“But to sell his own flesh and blood.”

“He didn’t sell me!” Her voice trembled and his heart ached to see her try to hold on to some pride with the tilt of her chin. “I offered.”

“You offered?” He frowned, the churning beginning afresh in his gut. “You…offered to leave me…to give yourself to…” He spat on the ground. “You went with that man voluntarily?”

She raised tear-filled eyes to meet his. “I knew that it was what my uncle wanted…needed! They were going to lose everything. He wasn’t well and they weren’t getting any younger. They took me in…”

Kenan reached out and took her hand. “We could have found another way to help them. You didn’t have to do that.”

“You don’t understand. He…the man…he told my uncle that I had to decide then and there. He said that if I chose not to go with him that he would take all that he was owed immediately. I was put on the spot. I had no choice. What if you’d been too furious to help them out…what if…?”

“Did you not know me at all?” He jumped to his feet, the blanket falling to the ground. “I loved you so much I’d have done anything for you, Catherine! Anything! It breaks my heart that you…that you doubted me.”

She shook her head. “I didn’t doubt you. I just faltered, just for a moment was all. And all I had was a moment to decide, Kenan. Please understand me.”

He stood in front of her, the breeze caressing his skin where just moments ago she had been pressed against him. His nipples tightened and goosebumps rose on his naked flesh. His balls pulled toward his body and he became suddenly aware that his cock was swinging free, still moist with their combined fluids, as exposed to the elements as his heart now was. He crouched down and pulled the blanket around his waist.

“I’m trying to understand, Catherine, I promise.” He took her hand again. “Please, continue.”

“So I offered and he burst into tears, said I’d saved his skin and he’d always be grateful. Then he said we’d have to go back into the saloon and let the man know.”

Kenan ground his teeth together. William Montgomery had clearly been a chicken shit son of a bitch who’d exploited his beautiful niece to save his own skin. Kenan had no intention of letting the old man get away with his crimes.

“When we returned to the saloon, we were directed to a room out the back. I was so afraid that I could barely put one foot in front of the other. My uncle had to guide me through the bar to the room at the back, drunk as he was.”

“I swear, Catherine, I’ll…” Kenan choked down his angry words. What good would it do to let it all out? He needed to listen, then he’d decide what action to take.

“He knocked on the heavy door then pushed me forwards and I swear I nearly swooned when we walked in. The man sat on a red mahogany couch, puffing on a fat cigar. When we entered he grinned like a hungry mountain lion that’s just seen a fattened calf. I would’ve turned and run if I’d not had my uncle’s hand in the small of my back.”

Kenan squeezed her hand and felt the small bones shift beneath his fingers. “I wish I’d been there to protect you, Catherine. I should have been there.”

“You couldn’t have been with me all the time, Kenan. What happened…it was wrong and it wasn’t fair and sometimes I’m so darned mad about it myself that I could scream for hours but it wouldn’t help anything. It wouldn’t change anything.”

He swallowed hard to try to dislodge the lump in his throat. She had been through so much and yet she was still so brave, so stalwart. No wonder he loved her so much. She’d make any man proud to call her wife.

“The man introduced himself.”

“What was his name?” Kenan growled.

“If I tell you, Kenan, you must promise me not to go after him.”

He shook his head. “I just…I can’t…”

“Then I can’t tell you.”

“No…tell me, please. I just need to hear his name.”

“Thomas Henderson.”

“Of the shipping family?”

“Yes.”

So the filthy rich son of a New York shipping merchant had waltzed into town and taken away his fiancée—probably just for the fun of it. Men like that toyed with young women like a cat would play with a mouse, then cast them aside when they were too broken and jaded to be fun anymore.

“He told my uncle to take a seat opposite then he motioned for me to sit at his side. My legs were trembling so darned much I near fell onto the sofa. He asked me if I knew what he wanted, so I replied that I knew that my uncle was in debt and that apparently I could pay off that debt.”