He gave her a hug and left the house.
Now to see about getting Hunter out of jail.
“Mrs. Smith, might I ask you something?” Maria had just finished preparing Emily for bed. The maid stood near the door, her hands fiddling with the dress she had planned to work a stain out of.
“Yes, Maria. What is it?”
“Now that Mr. Smith is—gone, a few of the staff are wondering about our future.”
“I see.” Emily rose from the chair in front of her mirror and pulled on her dressing gown. “I really wish I could assure you all that your jobs are not in jeopardy, but . . .”
“What is it?”
Emily sighed. “Mr. Smith’s attorney, Mr. DeMarco, sent word shortly after dinner that he will be here Friday after the funeral for the reading of the will. He indicated no one need be present except me and Mr. Smith’s partner, Mr. Sanders. Until I hear from Mr. DeMarco what the situation is, I can’t promise anything to anyone. I have no idea what my husband’s wishes were, or what the financial situation is.”
She tried a reassuring smile for the maid. “I will call everyone together tomorrow to let you know what I have decided.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Smith.” Maria opened the door, then turned back. “I just want you to know that Mr. Smith—God rest his soul—was a difficult employer.” She seemed to give herself time to gather her thoughts. “I know you were aware that I reported your activities to him. For that I am very sorry, but I need this job, and he said if I didn’t obey, he would dismiss me with no references.”
Another woman he’d abused. Maybe not with his fists, but certainly with a means that could destroy her if he so desired.
After Maria took her leave, Emily moved to the window and gazed down at the grounds. Truth be known, she was quite nervous about the will being read. When she and Louis had married, he assumed control of her entire inheritance, including what he’d received from the sale of her childhood home. He never discussed money with her, so she had no idea how much was left for her to live on.
Whatever future she might have or not have with Hunter, she still wanted her own funds. Never again would she be trapped.
But, oh, how she missed Hunter and worried constantly about the murder charges. There had never been a question in her mind that Hunter might have killed Louis. When she had paid a visit to Millie to have a black dress quickly made for the funeral, the dressmaker told her that Hunter had been planning for them to escape the morning she’d discovered Louis’s body.
She sighed and once more sat before her mirror. What would Friday bring? The funeral would be bad enough, with so many people staring at her, waiting for tears and wailing when she wanted to dance on the man’s grave.
But her main concern was the will. Would she find she was penniless once again? And then as horrible as that situation would be, a worse thought had occurred to her only recently. Since Hunter hadn’t killed Louis, who had? While the police had the wrong person whiling away his time in jail, the real killer remained free.
Glancing out the window of her bedroom, she realized a murderer, who had been in this very house, was out there somewhere. Chilled, she ran her palms up and down her arms.
Shortly after midnight, Hunter once more climbed the tree behind the Smith mansion until he was even with the window leading to the storage room he’d used before to enter the house. Hopefully no one thought it necessary to lock it since his last visit.
Jesse had gotten him out of jail only hours before. He’d been released into his uncle’s custody since the Judge hadn’t wanted to bond him out. Thank God Jesse had sufficient contacts in the legal field to lean on the Judge. They still had to post bail, and he was warned not to cause any trouble while out, or he would find himself behind bars again.
He hated taking advantage of his uncle once he’d fallen asleep by slipping out of the hotel like some troublesome adolescent, but he had to see Emily. Hold her. Make sure she was all right. She still had the funeral to face. Hopefully, after that things would begin to calm down for her. According to his uncle she had been quite upset when he’d visited.
His feet landed softly on the floor of the storeroom, and he waited a minute to make sure he hadn’t been heard. Even though he no longer had to worry about Louis finding him, any of the staff he might stumble upon would immediately report it to the police, which would drive another nail in his coffin.
The murder suspect knew how to get into the Smith mansion through a window.
He shuddered, just thinking about how Jesse would react to that little detail.
Emily lay on her side again, facing the window, a slight bump in the shadows. With practiced stealth learned in the Rangers, he moved across the floor and stood over her bed. She looked so young and delicate. Everything possessive in him rose to the surface, and all he wanted to do was snatch her from the bed and run. Except they tried that once before. He’d promised himself when he and Emily left Galveston it would be for good and with dignity.
He placed his hand on her shoulder and her eyes flew open. “Hunter!” A smile broke out on her face, and she grabbed his hand, pulling him down alongside her.
“You’re out of jail? Is it all right?”
“Yes, sweetheart, I didn’t make a break. Jesse bonded me out.” He pulled her to his chest and nuzzled her neck. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight.
He tilted her chin to see her reflection in the moonlight. “I don’t like the dark circles under your eyes.”
Emily scooted over, making room on the bed for Hunter to join her. He toed off his boots and climbed in next to her, both of them leaning against the headboard. He grasped her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “How I wish we could spend our nights together.”
“And I wish we could spend all our time together.”
He ran his knuckles down her soft cheek. “We will. As horrible as a murder is, you’re free now. I can’t say I’m sorry Louis was killed, because I was hoping to get him hanged for my father’s murder, anyway. But since he’s dead, as soon as this is all cleared up, we can leave. Together.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, tracing circles on his chest with her finger, driving him crazy with her light, delicate touch. “Where will we go?”
“Guthrie. But that doesn’t have to be our final stop. The whole world is open to us.”
Studying his face, she asked, “What do you mean?”
“I can’t ask you right now, honey, because of barriers in our way—such as me being charged with murder. Once that is resolved, I have an important question for you to answer.”
She blushed. “Which is?”
“Not yet, my little nosy Rosie.” Hunter reached out and brought her mouth to his. The nectar of Emily’s lips, the sweet taste of her as he swept into the warm dark space, skimming her teeth and sucking her tongue, filled him with longing, a craving so strong to possess her it became a physical ache. He had to claim her, make her his.
Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he slid them both down until they were lying together, face to face. He cupped her cheeks and scattered kisses over her eyelids, nose, mouth, chin, anywhere his lips could touch.
While she fumbled to open the buttons on his shirt, his hand was busy gliding up her ribs to cover her breast. He squeezed the softness, smiling at the slight moan that escaped her lips as his thumb skimmed her nipple.
“I want to make love to you.” He whispered into her ear, licking the outside, blowing softly onto her tender skin. “I want to feel your soft skin against my hands, watch your face as passion claims you. I’ve wanted to hold you naked in my arms for a long time, since before you left Guthrie.”
She shuddered. “I can’t. I enjoy kissing you, I really do. But the other? It’s just t
oo painful.”
He frowned. “Painful?”
Tears rimmed her beautiful eyes as she nodded. “Yes. There was always so much pain. Louis said it was because I was frigid, that there was something wrong with me.” She started to draw away from him.
Blood pounded in his ears. Of course. Why hadn’t he realized? The monster Louis had been would have enjoyed causing his wife pain instead of pleasure in the bedroom. Emily was a warm, loving woman. As far as he was concerned, there were no frigid women, just clumsy, selfish men.
How he wanted to show her what intimacy was like between two people who cared for each other, who wanted to please each other. Would he ever stop wishing Louis were still alive so he could beat him to death?
Hunter smoothed her curls back from her forehead and pulled her close again. “Honey, I promise you will feel no pain. None. I swear.”
When she continued to cast wary glances at him, he asked, “Will you allow me to prove to you a man can make sex extremely pleasurable for a woman?”
Her answer was quick and firm. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Trust me that I will never hurt you. Nor will I ever allow anyone else to hurt you.” His lips moved against her forehead as he spoke. “Relax. Let me show you what true lovemaking is. If I do anything that causes you the least little bit of discomfort, tell me and I’ll stop. I promise.”
Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I do want to. Very much. But I’m afraid you will have quite a job. I have horrid memories to erase.”
He was forced to tamp down the anger that threatened to rise again. He needed to be loving and gentle. Making love to Emily would be harder than a first time virgin. Not that he’d had any familiarity with virgins. Always in the back of his mind he’d known when the time came to make love for the first time to the woman he loved, he would take into consideration her inexperience. Never had he expected to have to overcome genuine fear left behind by another man.
He started slowly, kissing her moist lips, easing his hand beneath her nightgown to give her time to get used to his touch on her bare skin. Her initial reluctance faded as her body relaxed under his hand. As he felt her trust increase he kneaded her breasts, plucking the nipples, bringing a sigh from her lips.
“Let’s get this off.” He used both hands to whip the nightgown up and over her head before she could protest. He ran his palm down her body, marveling at the silky skin, slight curves, and milky thighs with a nest of blond curls at their center. “You are so beautiful.” He whispered the words as if paying homage.
A slight flush to her cheeks and her reticence told him she was not comfortable with his eager scrutiny of her body. Wrapping his arm around her waist he brought her tight against him and distracted her with a deep kiss. His hand wandered down her back, massaging her bottom, stroking its plumpness. He thrilled at her response as she kissed him back, the innocence of her building desire causing his member to stiffen and grow.
So many things he wanted to do to her, to show her how exciting and enjoyable lovemaking could be. For now, just getting her to trust him enough to complete the act would be a step forward.
“I don’t like being the only one dressed. Don’t go anywhere, sweetheart.” He rolled over and stood, making quick removal of his clothing, dropping the garments onto the floor. She smiled shyly at him as he climbed back onto the bed, his body obviously ready to join hers.
“Now where were we?”
As his mouth hungrily covered hers, her small hands moved up his chest, tugging at the hairs, smiling against his lips as he groaned. It had been a long time since he’d had sex, and with this woman in his arms, he wasn’t going to last. He’d better give her the pleasure he promised before he lost complete control and slammed into her body like a randy youth with his first whore. Wouldn’t that go a long way to soothe her fears?
Her center was slick and warm against his fingers, increasing his desire to join them together. She gasped as he circled her pearl with his thumb, his finger sliding in and out of her tight entrance. Her breathing picked up and she began to move her hips, her eyes closed, a slight smile revealing her pleasure. The sight almost had him climaxing right then.
“I feel so funny. So . . . I don’t know.” She whispered the words as she pressed against his hand, seeking her fulfillment.
“Let go, honey. Don’t tense, just relax and it will come.” He took her breast into his mouth and sucked hard. She moved her legs restlessly, pushing her center against his hand. Her soft whimpers as she took her pleasure from his touch filled him with satisfaction.
She held his head close to her breast, running her fingers through his hair. “That feels good. I like that,” she whispered. He used his tongue to lick at the tip, circling the pouting nipple, teasing it. Her breathing sped up and she continued to thrash. Within seconds her body stiffened and she cried out his name, pulling his head toward her mouth. He covered her lips with his and continued his attentions to her pleasure, pressing hard on her bud to keep the contractions going. Slowly her body relaxed and her thighs slackened.
Her eyes opened, dewy and half lidded. He groaned her name as he spread her legs wide and moved between them. Braced on his elbows, he cupped her face as he entered her, slowly, inch by inch. “Is this all right, honey? Am I hurting you?”
She shook her head. “No. It feels different, full. But no, it doesn’t hurt.”
Allowing her moisture to ease the way, he slid in to the hilt until their bodies touched.
He’d come home. No other woman had ever possessed his very soul like this. As he moved in and out, clutching her shoulders, whispering words in her ear, he knew this was forever. He needed her like air and food.
And he loved her.
He grinned at her yelp when he flipped their positions. With his hands on her ribcage, he urged her to sit up. “That’s it, baby. Ride me.”
It didn’t take long for her to pick up his rhythm. She looked like a goddess with her pale skin, firm rounded breasts swaying with her movements, and her hair falling over her shoulders. Her hands anchored on his chest, she leaned over to kiss him, her silky locks falling about them like a curtain. He tangled his fingers into the mass of curls just as he shoved upward one final time and climaxed.
Emily collapsed onto his chest, both of them fighting for air as if they’d run a race. After giving them time to calm down, he wrapped his arms around her, and with a quick roll, they both lay facing each other. He traced her lips with his finger. “That was wonderful.”
“Yes,” she gasped. “Wonderful.”
“Mrs. Smith! Is everything all right in there? I thought I heard voices and noises.”
Emily sat up and frantically looked around. “Oh goodness, that’s my maid Maria.”
Hunter put his finger to his lips as a signal for her not to speak. He eased away from her and quickly dressed. Grabbing her nightgown, he tossed it to her.
“Mrs. Smith! Are you all right?”
“Yes, Maria. I’m fine. You can return to bed now.”
“Are you sure? I’d like to come in and check.”
Hunter vigorously shook his head. He glanced around the room to see if there was any place he could hide. The only spot was under the bed, which he would do, even if it made a dent in his dignity. They could not be caught together. It would be a disaster.
“No, Maria. I think what you heard was me having a nightmare. But I’m fine now.”
“I’ll go fix you some warm milk. That will help you to sleep.” She mumbled to herself as her footsteps receded from the door.
“I have to get out of here before she returns.” Hunter bent and kissed her. “I hate to go.” He sat on the bed and pulled her to him. The feel of her soft, warm body teased him, making him long to stay right where he was. “I want to be able to spend all night, every night w
ith you.”
She burrowed into his chest. “Me, too.”
While they’d been together the fear he’d buried about the trial stayed hidden. Now it resurfaced with a vengeance. As much as he attempted to deny it, his life was on the line. If found guilty, he would hang.
He studied her face, not knowing when they would next be together. He gave her a slight squeeze and rose to go.
She grabbed his arm. “When will I see you again?”
“Ah, sweetheart, I wish I knew. I will try to get in touch with you. But in any event, Jesse will be able to see you. He tells me he intends to call you as a witness, so he will have a reason that can’t be disputed.”
He cupped her cheek, rubbed his thumb over her soft lips and left with a heavy heart.
Chapter 19
Jesse pounded on Jeremy’s door. He’d been knocking for more than five minutes. The desk clerk assured him Jeremy hadn’t left for the day. The door two rooms down opened, and a man stuck his head out. “Stop that racket. How the hell is a man supposed to get some sleep around here?”
“Sorry,” Jesse said just as Jeremy’s door opened.
“What the fuck?” The Ranger stood there swaying on his feet. “Who the hell are you and why are you pounding on my door?”
“Are you Jeremy Steele?”
“Who the hell wants to know?”
“I do. I’m Jesse Cochran, attorney for Hunter Henderson, who I understand hired you to do a job for him.”
“Aw, shit. Yeah.” He ran his hand down his face and opened the door wider. “Sorry. Come on in.”
Anyplace But Here (Oklahoma Lovers Series Book 5) Page 18