Somehow, Clay found the room. He pulled her inside and grabbed her into his arms while he slammed the door shut with his foot. He kissed her hungrily, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. He held her face in his hands and tilted it to slant across his.
She gave up to his control of her. Her mind was whirling with the nearness of him. She could feel his sun-warmed skin through his cotton shirt. His mouth was hard and soft at the same time, and his tongue was sweet. His thighs pressed against her, demanding yet asking.
“I’ve waited a long time for that,” he whispered as he pressed his lips to her earlobe. He pulled at it with his teeth.
Nicole pushed away from him. As he watched with a puzzled expression, she walked to the other side of the room, then lifted her arms and swiftly began to remove the pins from her hair. Clay stood still and watched her. He didn’t even move as she struggled with the buttons down the back of the dress. The sight of her, alone in a room with him, was what he’d dreamed of for a long time.
She moved her shoulders forward and slipped out of the dress. Under it she wore a thin cotton gauze chemise. The low neckline was embroidered with tiny pink hearts. It was tied under her breasts with a thin pink satin ribbon. Her breasts swelled above the delicate, nearly transparent cloth.
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Very, very slowly, she untied the bow of the ribbon and let the gauze slide to the floor.
Clayton’s eyes followed the fabric, going over every inch of her from her high, firm breasts to her little waist to her delicate feet. When he looked back at her face, she raised her arms to him. He took one long step across the room, lifted her in his arms and laid her gently on the bed. He stood over her, looking at her. The sunlight through the curtained window showed her skin to be flawless.
He sat down on the bed beside her and ran his hand over her skin. It felt as good as it looked, smooth and warm.
“Clay,” Nicole whispered, and he smiled at her.
He bent and kissed her neck, the pulse at the base of her throat, then moved slowly to her breasts, teasing them, savoring the rigid pink peaks.
She buried her fingers in his thick hair and arched her neck backward.
Clay stretched out on the bed beside her. He was fully clothed, and Nicole could feel the coolness of the brass buttons of his vest against her skin. The buckskin of his pants was warm and soft. The leather of his boots rubbed against her legs. The clothes against her bare skin, the leather and brass, were all male, all strong like Clay.
When he moved on top of her, she rubbed her leg against the side of his boot. The buckskin caressed her inner thigh. He moved to one side and began to unbutton his vest.
“No,” she whispered.
He looked at her for a moment and then kissed her again, deeply, passionately.
She laughed throatily when he lifted his leg and ran the smooth leather of his boot along the length of her leg. He unfastened the buttons at the sides of his trousers, and Nicole moaned at the first touch of his manhood.
He lay on top of her, holding her tightly as if he were afraid she’d try to leave him.
Slowly, very slowly, Nicole began to come alive again. She stretched and breathed deeply. “I feel like I’ve just gotten rid of a lot of tension.”
“Is that all?” Clay laughed, his face pressed into her neck. “I’m glad that I was able to be of some service. Perhaps I should wear my spurs next time.”
“Are you laughing at me?”
Clay rose on one arm. “Never! I think I’m laughing at myself. You have certainly taught me some things.”
“I have? Such as?” She ran her finger along the crescent scar by his eye.
He moved away from her and sat up. “Not now. Maybe I’ll tell you later. I’m hungry. You wouldn’t let me eat much an hour ago.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. She felt deliciously happy. Clay stood up and watched her. Her black hair fanned out beneath her, making a splendid contrast with the curves of her body. He could see that she was already half asleep. He bent and kissed the tip of her nose. “Sleep, my little love,” he whispered softly, then pulled the other half of the bedspread over her. He tiptoed from the room.
When Nicole awoke, she stretched lazily before she opened her eyes.
“Come on, get up,” said a husky voice from across the room.
Nicole smiled and opened her eyes. Clay looked at her in the mirror. His shirt was thrown across a chair, and he was shaving.
“You’ve slept most of the afternoon. Are you planning to miss the dancing?”
She smiled at him. “No.” She started to get out of bed, then realized she was nude. She looked around for something to cover herself. When she saw Clay watching her with interest, she tossed the bedspread aside and walked toward the wardrobe where Janie had hung her clothes. Clay chuckled and resumed shaving.