Echoes of the Heart (42 page)

           
He
withdrew turning her to her back and lowered his mouth to her breasts, his
tongue sliding over the firm mounds flicking their peaks then lower hesitating
on her naval, searing her flesh.

Cash spread her
thighs easing her legs over his shoulders while he kissed the smooth sensitive
skin.
 
His tongue brushed over moist
curls exploring each fold, flicking across her swollen bud.
 
Her back arched into his administrations
while she moaned and once again slipped into the realm he could take her.
 
Oh, my
God.
 
Do
men really do this?
 
His
tongue drove deep into her slick heat while she wadded the covers into her
fists crying out his name.
 
She shuddered
uncontrollably as he continued his onslaught.

           
He
slid her legs from his shoulders, kissed his way back to her mouth.
 
She could taste them both—it excited
her.
 
She reached between his thighs,
grasped him gently stroking while he rolled to his back.
 
Her tongue paved its way down his body and
curiosity urged her mouth around him, eager to return the pleasure he had shown
her.
 
She ran her tongue over the smooth
surface.
 
He inhaled through his teeth
and she took delight in the control she possessed.
 
When she brought him into her mouth, a surge
of heat pulsed through her veins as he held her face and groaned.

           
Suddenly
lifting her from him, his voice deep and husky, “You need to stop, sweetheart.”

           
Laying
her face down, he lifted her hips entering her from behind.
 
His hands slid up the smooth damp skin of her
back then down to her waist, pulling her further onto his hard searing
shaft.
 
She moved with his rhythm and
pushed into his thrusts driving him deeper.
 
At the height of yet another breathtaking climax, he exploded inside
her, his pleasure sounding in her ears as he moaned.

           
Long
arms enveloped her possessively while she laid in the curve of his arm.
 
Both spent and sated, wet bodies entwined,
she fell asleep after he blew a soft whisper into her ear.
 
“I love you, Raeden.
 
Don’t leave me again.”

***

She woke wrapped
in his arms, content and rested.
 
When
she eased from his hold, he stirred then settled, remaining asleep.
 
He looked so peaceful.
 
The lines of tension had gone from his face
and long black curled lashes most women would envy fanned over the high
cheekbones of the most handsome man she had ever seen.

           
Raeden
shimmied into the dress crumpled on the floor and ran her long slender fingers
through tangled tresses on her way out the door, quietly pulling it shut,
leaving it unlocked.
 

           
Glad
the lobby showed no signs of guests, she approached the concierge desk and
requested use of the telephone, embarrassed by wearing a creased evening gown
in open daylight and the employee’s stare, looking at her critically while she
stood waiting.

           
“Cyn,
its Rae, I need your help.
 
I need you to
pack a suitcase for me and send it by cab to the Everett Hotel on Fourth Street
under the name of Mrs. Rydell.”

           
Cynthia
chuckled into the telephone.
 
“I guess
this means you two made up.
 
He is
strikingly handsome, this
husband
of
yours.
 
Why didn’t mention being
married?”
           
“Let’s just say at the time I
did not think it important.”

           
“And
it is important now?”

           
“It
simply can’t work, Cyn.
 
We’re too
different.
 
I won’t be what he wants and
we quarrel, except when we are in bed.”
 
Cynthia cleared her throat.
 
“Cyn,
will you just send it over?”

           
“I
wish you could work things out.
 
He seems
quite adept at taming you.”

           
“Maybe
it is the other way around.”
 
The
conversation ended with a promise from Cynthia to hurry.

           
She
opened the door and found Cash dressing, face contorted, the veins on his neck
bulging with rage.
 
His eyes opened wide
when he saw her, his tone harsh.
 
“Where
have you been?”

           
She
did not want to quarrel again, they only had a few days together.
 
“Cash, darling, please let’s not argue.
 
I just went to the lobby to telephone
Cyn.
 
I will need some clothes and a few
essentials.”

           
Cash’s
face softened and his eyes slanted while he teased her.
 
“I don’t see a need for clothing.
 
You look fine with nothing on.”
 
He clasped her waist and whirled her around,
her back to the bed and stripped off her clothes then shed his own.
 
“You drive me to distraction, and you know
it, don’t you?”

           
She
stood erect before him and welcomed his ardent stare, pleased she could arouse
him so easily.
 
They made love before
climbing together into the extravagantly immense porcelain tub.
 
Imported Italian tiles decorated the bathroom,
sporting several mirrors and gleaming brass fixtures.
 
Thick Turkish towels hung near the bathtub.

           
Tucked
between long legs and back to his chest, he lathered her body lingering on each
curve and valley then shampooed her hair.
 
She faced him, legs wrapped around his waist and washed him, her hands
gliding over his powerful frame glistening through a layer of moisture.
 
After she lathered his hair, she shoved his
head beneath the water.
 
He emerged
laughing and pushed her under in return.
 

           
She
rose from the water gasping then playfully struck his arm.
 
“You devil.”

           
“Of
course, I have heard it often enough.
 
It
must be true.”

           
Wrapped
in soft towels, he shaved while she dried her hair.
 
A part of her wished they could stay here
forever, comfortable in each other’s company and enjoying their passion in
bed.
 
A rap on the door made her jump.

           
With
a towel wrapped around his waist, Cash strode out closing the door behind
him.
 
She could hear muffled voices then
he came back, carrying her luggage.
 
“I’ll put this on the bed.
 
Shall
we get dressed?
 
I’m starving.”
           
First hanging her garments to
avoid wrinkles she chose a light chocolate colored day dress and pale yellow
silk undergarments.
 
Cash snapped the
lingerie from her hands, held it over her head out of reach.
 
“I sure like these little things you wear.”

           
She
jumped up and snatched them.
 
He watched
her get dressed then she turned so he could hook the back.
 
He pressed his hands around her waist his
fingers touching.
 
“I guess we should not
have skipped dinner last night.”

           
She
faced him, clasped her hands around his neck and lifted her chin.
 
“I’m glad I had you instead of dinner.”

           
“I’m
not going to argue with that.”

           
He
dressed in casual clothing and she could not help staring.
 
The fit accentuated his narrow waist and flat
stomach and the ripple of hard leg muscles flexing when he walked.
 
His contoured abdomen eased against a closely
tailored blue linen shirt.

           
Cash
draped her sable trimmed cape over her shoulders then pulled on a black
overcoat.
 
They hopped on a trolley to a
café known to serve a grand breakfast.

Hurricane candles
set atop blue-checkered table coverings.
 
He hung their coats on the rack near the door, pulled a gold package
from the pocket and led by the waiter, he escorted her to their table in an
intimate corner with a window overlooking the park.
 
Cash appeared oblivious to the women staring
in his direction but not Raeden.
 
She
didn’t feel jealous of his admirers but felt proud to be with a man so alluring
and have his attention directed solely on her.
  
He held her chair; bent to kiss her then placed the gift in her hand.

           
“Since
you distracted me yesterday, this is a day late.
 
Happy Birthday, Rae.”

She beamed with delight while she
tore the wrapper and opened the box.
 
Her
voice cracked when she spoke.

           
“Cash,
it’s beautiful, I have never seen anything like it.”
 
The green gems sparkled in the light shining
through the window when he clasped the pendant around her throat and the
bracelet on her wrist.
 
She clipped on
the earrings and searched his eyes.
 
“How
does it look?”

           
“It’s
not as stunning as you are.
 
I knew it
would match the color of your eyes.”

           
“Thank
you, Cash.
 
It’s the best gift I have
ever received.”
 
She ran her hand over
the bracelet, admiring how the facets reflected the light.
 

           
He
sat across from her at the table with one side of his mouth curved in a crooked
grin.
 
“You can thank me later.”
 
Raeden grinned and felt a flush rise to
cheeks.

           
“I’m
sorry I don’t have a Christmas gift for you.”
 
She smiled sincerely and the warm look clouding his eyes made her
tremble with desire.

           
“I
haven’t found you an appropriate gift for Christmas either.
 
This is for your birthday.”

           
Why
would he purchase such an extravagant gift?
 
Surely, he didn’t think he could buy her submission.
 
No,
that’s not it. He knows he can’t own me. He is just being generous.

***

Cash ordered six
eggs, bacon, flapjacks and coffee.
 
Raeden had eggs Benedict and tea.
 
While waiting for their meal, Cash began a serious conversation.
 

“I resigned as
marshal and started getting the ranch together again.”

           
She
bubbled inside to know he would no longer be risking his life in such a
profession, in that hellhole of a town.
 
“So, you will be a full time rancher?”

           
“Not
exactly.
 
I received a senatorial
appointment.
 
One of our senators is
resigning due to an illness.”
 
Her
interest peaked even more as she leaned forward in her chair.
 

“I plan to develop
legislation designed to assist the Indians.
 
What’s happening to them is a disgrace.”
 
His face tensed and lines creased his brow.
 
“The cavalry will be moving in next spring,
and I don’t want to see bloodshed.
 
They’re my friends.”
 
His mood
turned dark, almost inimical.
 
“I never
mentioned, I had married the chief’s daughter.
 
She died a few years back.”

           
Raeden
placed a hand on his forearm in a sympathetic gesture.
 
“Diane mentioned it.
 
I’m so sorry, Cash.”
 
He stared into space.
 
She removed her hand feeling he had
withdrawn.
 
He did not mention his son
but she guessed at his thoughts.

           
Changing
the subject to distract him, Raeden spoke of the appointment.
 
“You must be very proud, Senator.
 
This will be a big change.
 
Are you sure you will like Washington?”
 
She could hardly conceive the hard rugged
hero across the table sitting behind a desk in the Capitol buried in paper and
following strict civilized rules of engagement.

           
“I’ve
made the commitment, and I’ll stick by it.”
 
Of course he would, with his sense of honor and dedication to duty, she
knew all too well.

           
She
tried to lift his spirits and teased.
 
“So
will you turn out to be one of those corrupted officials in Washington?”
 
He chortled.
 
She had made him laugh—now to introduce him to her city.