Wayward Lady

by Nan Ryan

  “For you I will.” Suzette started to repeat the newly learned call, but his mouth, curving into a grin, came down on hers while he hooked a thumb into the waistband of her trousers.

  “Thank you, my sweet. The day may come when you will need to summon me.” Before she could reply, his warm, sensual lips were settling on hers. Kaytano kissed her softly, persuasively, and Suzette’s arms slipped around his middle, her lips parted eagerly, her tongue mating with his. Too soon he raised his head and smiled. His hand went to her knee and he eased her back astride Darkness. Gently pushing her long hair to one side, he kissed her neck, letting his tongue tease at it for a second, before he released the shiny hair and said softly, “I must keep my mind on the trail and I cannot do it if you are in my arms.” He took the reins from the horn and spoke to Darkness. They started their ascent, the sure-footed animal carefully picking his way up the rocky incline.

  Suzette leaned back against Kaytano and recalled how frightened she’d been when they rode down into the canyon on that day so long ago. Afraid of him and the dangerous narrow trail, she’d closed her eyes and thought she would surely pass out from fear. Now she kept her eyes wide open, looking at the wondrous beauty of the canyon bathed in moonlight. She had to tip her head far, far back to see the top of the canyon’s rim high above them. It was treacherous in the daylight, disastrous at night, but Suzette was not at all frightened. How could she be frightened when she was held inside the powerful arms of her dark love, Kaytano? He’d ridden this trail and others just as perilous hundreds of times. He’d roamed from the Indian territory all across the plains of Texas, down to the Rio Grande and across the mighty river into Mexico on this stallion they now rode. Man and beast were as wild and beautiful as this rugged terrain. Suzette smiled; how hard it would be to tame either.

  “Are you afraid?” he asked from above her ear.

  “No, darling.”

  “You mean your eyes are open?”

  Suzette laughed. “Wide open! I don’t want to miss a single rock formation. I don’t want to miss anything. I want to become acquainted with this land you call home and…”

  “Suzette, this is not my home.”

  “I don’t understand. Where do…”

  “I will tell you later. First there is something I must do.”

  “What?”

  “Make love to you.”

  Suzette sighed, and Kaytano chuckled and kissed her hair. “Soon enough you will be in my arms.”

  They stood holding hands high on the flat south rim of Santa Elena Canyon. Kaytano and Suzette could barely pick out the lights of camp far below. They couldn’t hear the loud accordion or the drunken voices. They could hear nothing but the soft sigh of the mountain winds.

  Suzette looked at Kaytano and shivered. His hard, handsome face was held high, his dark eyes strange, his body poised, as though he were experiencing some communication with nature she couldn’t understand. He dropped her hand and walked nearer to the canyon’s rim. She gasped. He stood dangerously close to the edge. He closed his eyes and meditated while Suzette stared at him, awed by his behavior and his beauty.

  After what seemed an eternity, he took a step back and turned to look at her. Without speaking, he went to where they’d piled their gear and carefully rolled out the blanket, picking the softest spot he could find. Rising to his feet, he undressed while Suzette stood watching. In seconds, Kaytano stood naked in the moonlight, his tall, lithe body shimmering.

  Suzette’s gaze moved from the fine planes and angles of his face to his lean, satiny chest to the curve of his trim waist and to his powerful thighs and long legs. Never had she seen a man so beautiful, yet so totally masculine. She longed to have him stand statue-still while she circled him and let her hands slide down the shiny length of him. She wanted to memorize every hard curve, each muscle and sinew, to imprint on her hands the pleasing texture of his smooth warm skin. She trembled. Her brain was carefully recording his stance, his essence, his raw magnetism. Was it because she knew somehow that the day would come when he would be taken from her sight?

  “No,” she breathed aloud and started to him. “Kaytano, Kaytano,” she murmured and wrapped her arms around his naked waist.

  “Suzette,” he responded and put his hands into her hair. His dark eyes were fathomless, his voice deep and ragged. “I want to make love to you very, very slowly. I want to learn about you, how to please you, what you desire. I stood on the rim of this canyon and purged my heart and soul of all thought save you. I am yours, Suzette, and before the sun rises I will make you mine.” He kissed her and dropped his hands. Kneeling on the blanket, he reached for her hand. Trembling with passion, she slid to her knees in front of him.

  “Kaytano”—it was almost a plea—“undress me?”

  “Yes, my love.” He smiled. His nimble fingers went to the buttons of her plaid shirt, then slowly pulled the blouse apart and down over her shoulders. Her arms were trapped inside. Kaytano looked at her bare, creamy breasts and sat back on his heels. As he studied her with the same intensity he did so many things, Suzette watched his eyes and held her breath. She was trembling by the time he slowly leaned to her and tenderly kissed each shimmering breast, barely brushing his warm lips to the jutting peaks.

  “You please me more than you know,” said Kaytano. “Stand up, Suzette.” He put his hands on her waist and raised her to her feet. Still kneeling in front of her, Kaytano pulled the blouse down her arms and to the ground. He unbuttoned her tight trousers and slowly peeled them down over her luscious hips and legs. She held to his bare back and stepped from the trousers, then lifted her feet for him to remove her moccasins.

  Naked, Suzette started to drop back to her knees, but he stopped her. “No, not yet. Please.” His hands were on her hips; his dark eyes caressed her stomach, thighs, and legs. She could feel the dry mountain wind stroking her bare, yearning body. She could feel those probing eyes burning into her flesh. She prayed he found her pretty, that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Kaytano leaned to her and laid his cheek against her quivering stomach. He hugged her tightly to him and murmured hoarsely, “Oh, God, I’ve wanted to press my face to your naked body, Suzette. I watched you that day you bathed in Terlingua Creek, the day the snake—”

  “Kaytano,” she interrupted, her hand moving to his head to grasp his thick hair, “you watched me bathe?”

  Kissing her lightly, he confessed, “Yes, my love. I stood atop the cliffs of Mesa de los Angeles and watched.”

  “My God! Who else watched?”

  Kaytano slowly pulled her down to him, then wrapped her in his arms and nuzzled her neck. “Only Darkness. Do you think I’d let another man see you naked?”

  “I should be angry, but I’m not.” She let him gently push her over onto her back. Kaytano followed, stretching out beside her, his weight supported on an elbow.

  “I’m glad. I felt bad about it, but I enjoyed it, too.” He smiled down at her and his hand gently cupped her breast. She shivered when his thumb went to her nipple. While he rubbed it slowly, he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her with controlled passion and warmth. They lay in the high desert moonlight under the stars, kissing, sighing, waiting, as Kaytano, true to his word, began a night of lovemaking Suzette would never forget.

  He rained soft, sweet kisses over her face while his knowing hand roamed over her eager body, fondling her with a touch so light Suzette strained to be nearer to the warm, moving fingertips. And throughout, Kaytano’s deep voice spoke of the wonderful things he would do to her, the new joys they would experience together, the strong bond that would join them before the sun came up.

  Suzette sighed softly when Kaytano eased onto his stomach beside her, his dark eyes on her face. His hand tangled in her long hair and he kissed her, chewing at her soft bottom lip before his mouth slid over her cheek to the side of her neck. His open lips covered the faint pulse and for a long, warm time remained there, while his hand began its slow descent over her body. His lean fingers su
rrounded a breast, moved up to the tip, gently plucking with all five fingers until Suzette groaned low in her throat and Kaytano lifted his head.

  His mouth moved down to take the place of his hand and he lovingly licked at the taut nipple. His hand continued moving down, and where his hand touched, his mouth followed. Her eyes opening and closing, Suzette felt the blood heating in her veins when Kaytano’s face paused at her navel, the tip of his tongue plunging into the small indentation. He was gently parting her silken thighs and her heartbeat raced when his fingers slipped between them. She clutched at the blanket when his hot, handsome face settled on the warm inside of her thigh and she felt his sharp teeth sink into her flesh.

  Volcanic passions rose within her and she writhed and began to call his name, her body demanding release. Kaytano continued with his tormenting kisses and caresses until she was squirming and almost sobbing his name. He lifted his head and moved back up beside her.

  He swept her into his arms and lay holding her, gentling her. “Not yet, Suzette. Lie quietly for a time.” He gave her wine to wet her dry throat and she nodded gratefully. They lay and drank wine while her pulses slowed, her urgency subsided. Warm from the wine, the summer night, the nearness of Kaytano, Suzette began to feel totally relaxed and in no hurry to consummate their loving.

  But then Kaytano lay on his back and removed his arms from around her. She looked quizzically at him and he smiled and took one of her small hands and spread it out on his smooth chest. Holding her wrist loosely, he gently moved her hand down over his chest to his stomach. His hand dropped away and he slowly raised his arms behind his head and the look in his dark eyes challenged her to explore his body, just as he’d done with her. Having wanted to do just that for weeks, she put both hands on him and sensuously, tenderly caressed the hard wall of his chest, the well-defined ribs, the trim waist. And she watched his handsome face while she touched him. His eyes held a dreamy, lost look and he nodded his head as though to say he liked what she was doing.

  With her hands at his waist, Suzette slowly lowered her face to his chest. Kaytano winced when she began to feather warm, sweet kisses over him, moving steadily down his body, from chest to abdomen. His eyes opening and closing with joy, he moaned with pleasure while he watched the beautiful golden hair spill over his body, its silken glory fanning out against the darkness of his skin, while her soft, sweet lips and tongue drove him mad with their teasing.

  His body was completely aroused. Suzette lifted her head and haltingly put a small hand on him. She gasped at the throbbing power there. She felt him jerk involuntarily from her light touch and her eyes went up to his face. He looked at her pleadingly, though he spoke not one word.

  “Kaytano,” she breathed and clasped him. He groaned his gratitude, and when her timidity vanished and she stroked him confidently, low sounds erupted from his throat and his eyes closed. When she’d pushed him dangerously close to satisfaction and he was calling her name in desperation, she released him and moved up beside him. His eyes flew open when her soft lips came down to his.

  She kissed him and said into his open mouth, “Not yet, Kaytano. Lie quietly for a time.” She poured him wine and lifted it to his lips. His heart hammering in his chest, the blood pounding in his temples, he gulped from the cup and fought for breath. She took the empty mug and lay down beside him, gently holding him to her until he was calmer.

  Again they lay and let the night wind stroke them with its cool fingers on their burning bodies. After a long, sweet time, Kaytano gently turned Suzette over onto her stomach and again he slowly caressed and kissed her soft body. Not one inch was left unkissed as he lovingly embraced even the soles of her feet and her toes. The backs of her knees got a lot of attention, his mouth warm and stimulating. Her soft, rounded bottom was a sweet delight for Kaytano and she purred like a contented cat while he lightly gripped her hips and trailed kisses over her. She sighed her approval when he slid astride her and leaned down to drop kisses on her back.

  She moaned when she felt him pressing his chest to her back and his hands came underneath her to cup her breasts. Then his mouth was at her neck, kissing, caressing, coaxing, while his hands gently manipulated her swelling, aching breasts. His lips on her ear, he murmured huskily, “Darling, I’m going to raise up a little. When I do, turn over.” She nodded and he kissed her ear.

  Certain he was finally going to take her, Suzette felt him ease up. She turned under him and smiled when he very slowly descended to her. He lay lightly touching her, and he began to kiss her tenderly while his aroused body pressed hers and she wrapped her arms around his back and gloried in the feel of his flesh on hers. Still he did not enter her, and when his kisses continued and grew hotter and more demanding, Suzette’s body molded itself to his and she shamelessly rubbed herself against him, the heat between her thighs dictating her every movement. She had to have him; nothing else could save her. Suzette pulled his face from hers, grasping fistfuls of hair. She was almost sobbing, and she looked at him with glazed, pleading eyes.

  “Kaytano,” she breathed, “I belong to you, to no one else. Please, my darling, take what is yours alone.”

  “My precious love,” he breathed and took her with a deep, hard thrust that made her cry out in ecstasy.

  The silvery moon had slipped below the horizon and disappeared. The sun had not yet risen in the east. The earth was submerged in total, absolute darkness, the thick, almost tangible blackness that occurs just before the dawn. The heavy cloak of ink wrapped Suzette and Kaytano in its stygian cover, but it failed to diminish the illumination of their lovemaking.

  Eyes wide open, each saw the other with vivid clarity. Transported from the shadowy confines of earth, they were ushered into a dazzling bright nirvana, invited to bask in the warmth until the honeyed heat caused them to burn themselves in love’s torrid galaxy, to collide with a million giant suns and shatter, shooting brilliant sparks out into the universe.

  When at last the fiery release came, Suzette shouted Kaytano’s name in wild abandon and it echoed from the giant canyon below. It carried on the winds to float through all eternity in the rugged, desolate countryside surrounding them.

  “KAYTANO !!!!!”

  31

  For the next few glorious days, Kaytano and Suzette were Adam and Eve in their own Garden of Eden. They watched the breathtaking sunrises wrapped in each other’s arms, admiring God’s handiwork as if for the very first time. When finally the soft pinks had given way to bright oranges and at last to glaring white brilliance, Kaytano rose and helped Suzette to her feet.

  They partially dressed. Kaytano stepped into his tight trousers and moccasins. Suzette slipped into his long-tailed shirt. They rode Darkness along the canyon rim to the west. Four miles down, they entered a giant fissure in the earth and started a slow descent. Suzette yawned and relaxed in Kaytano’s arms.

  Grinning boyishly, he kissed her temple and whispered, “I know you’re exhausted, Suzette. I’m taking you to a remote place that will be the perfect spot for us to sleep.”

  She nodded, not answering. She knew Kaytano would take care of her. She didn’t care where she slept, as long as it was in his arms. Darkness carefully picked his way over terrain so rugged and wild it appeared no man had ever been there. They reached the base of the canyon and the trail widened and turned into a network of hundreds of narrow crevices. Suzette was beginning to nod, her long hair falling into her face. She must have dozed, because the next thing she knew, Kaytano was lifting her from the horse’s back. They were on the river and Suzette fleetingly thought about a bath. Before she could decide, Kaytano had unsaddled Darkness.

  Lifting her in his arms, he said, “Suzette, let’s bathe when we awaken. You need rest.”

  Her arms around his neck, she laid her head on his shoulder. “I can hardly keep my eyes open.”

  “Don’t try,” he whispered, and with sure strides carried her far back into a narrow canyon. She awoke when Kaytano laid her down in a river cave. It was no mo
re than six feet high, and Kaytano had to duck to step inside. Its width was a narrow eight to ten feet. It was cool and quiet inside: the perfect place to sleep.

  Suzette stretched and smiled when Kaytano, naked once again, lay down on the rich blanket and pulled her to him. Against her tangled hair he said, “Sleep, my love. When you awaken, we’ll eat and then I’ll take you to the most beautiful spot of all. We’ll bathe and wash your golden hair.”

  Her face was pressed to the warmth of his throat. She opened her lips and kissed him. “Promise me that for the rest of my life I’ll always sleep in your arms.”

  Kaytano’s eyes clouded and his arms tightened around her. His warm lips sought out hers and he kissed her with exquisite tenderness and love. Against her lips he murmured, “The only thing I will promise is that I will love you for as long as I’m on this earth.”

  Suzette never heard the promise. She was already asleep.

  Suzette’s eyes opened slowly. She looked about, trying to orient herself. Beside her, Kaytano lay sleeping peacefully. She smiled, remembering the unforgettable night they had shared. She hated to wake him, but she longed to eat and clean up. Perhaps she should let him rest while she went down to the river for a cleansing dip. Or, first she could poke through the saddlebags for something to eat.

  In a voice heavy with sleep, Kaytano said, “Were you considering leaving me?”

  Suzette whirled to look down at him. His thick hair was unruly and falling over his forehead. His sultry dark eyes were half closed, his strong lean face covered with a stubble of beard. His lips were parted in an appealing grin. The trim, beautiful body was stretched out, feet apart, arms under his head.

  “Never.” She laughed and dropped to him. He nuzzled her neck and pulled her onto his warm body, holding her in place with his arms around her back. Her toes were on his ankles, her smooth naked legs pressing the hard limbs beneath her. Her hands were on his face and she was kissing his mouth, his chin, his forehead, while he closed his eyes and pretended dismay.