Quicksilver Passion (171 page)

She slid off the chair, onto her knees, and bent her head to kiss his manhood. She kissed it gently, lovingly, and then she stood up, slipped out of her lace pantalets, and slowly straddled him. For a moment, she thought of heathen idols in temples, great stone male gods where women offered themselves up to sacrifice. She came down on him slowly, taking him within her so deep, it seemed he actually pushed against her womb. His head fell back and he reached out and caught her breasts in his two hands and began to move her up and down on him.

Never had she felt so aroused. His calloused palms brushed against her nipples as he held her breasts. She increased her own desire, rising up, then grinding down on his pulsating manhood. Stroking his nipples as she straddled him, she turned her face up to his. His mouth came down on hers, forcing her lips apart, sucking her tongue deep into his mouth.

They clung together as she rode him—harder, faster, deeper. She felt him strain inside her and came down one more time hard and grinding on his body so that he seemed to explode within her, filling her womb with his virile seed. She had never wanted anything as much as she wanted to erase the hurt he had suffered. Then her own body began its spasms of pleasure, and together they came hard and deep, making her weep in his arms.

He held her close, and kissed her face.
Why do you cry? Did I do something wrong?”

No, dearest, women cry when they make love and it’s good. And this was good, so good . . .”

I love you, sweet,” he whispered and picked her up as he stood, carrying her to the bed a few feet away.
You know what I’d like to see, Silver? You dancing naked just for me, clad only in your long blond hair and silver shoes.”

He would never again actually see her with his eyes, she thought. He would have to see her with his hands, his body, his lips. At that moment, she would have accepted twice as many scars if she could have worked out a deal with God to give Cherokee back his sight.

Cherokee held her close, wondering how much to tell her. He had almost told her of the doctor’s predictions that his sight might return. Then she had put her finger against his lips and he grew cautious. Suppose he raised her hopes that he might be able to see again someday and then it never happened? Suppose it never improved enough so that he could hunt, or chop wood, or do anything that a man needed to be able to do around a homestead? Better he should wait.

But there was one thing they must discuss.
Silver,” he whispered,
sweet darlin’, there’s something I want to ask about Jake Dallinger.”

He felt her stiffen in his arms.
What about him?”

Is he a partner in the Palace?”

Maybe. He had all that gold in the little beaded bags.” She sounded nervous.

By damn! That money came from old Willie and Bill. Someone killed them with a whip and took their stash.”

She made a choking noise in her throat.
Oh Cherokee, it’s in the safe at the Palace! I had no idea—”

I didn’t think you did,” he whispered and a tremendous relief swept over him.
That’s the final proof then that he killed them. First I owe them justice. And that gold is now rightfully mine. We’ll need it when we marry.”