“Yes,” she answered in a low voice. Their gazes held for a long moment before he again looked away. Deep inside, she had a feeling that he had meant what he’d said on more than one level. Or maybe she just agreed with it on more than one level. Either way, she didn’t ask him to elaborate. Instead she rubbed his crotch and played with the fastenings of his pants.
The mood immediately changed and Joe changed with it, turning his full attention on her and their needs. “Let’s get you out of this dress.” With gentle care, he helped her sit up and divested her of all her clothing, except for her white stockings. “You are so beautiful. Lie back. There are so many things I want to do to you.”
Her heart skipped a beat then raced so fast she felt dizzy. “Tell me. I love the sound of your voice. Especially when we’re alone and talking intimately.”
“Do you?” He scooted down to her feet and rubbed them until she sighed. Slowly he rolled down one stocking and pulled it from her leg. Then the other one.
“What are you going to do to me?”
He looked up and his eyes locked with hers. “I’m going to tongue you.”
Her pulse jumped. “Tongue? My breasts again, you mean?”
A small smile tugged at his lips and he shook his head. He spread her legs and kneeled between them. “I’ll show you.” He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the inside of one of her thighs then turned his head and kissed the other one, letting his tongue tease her skin.
Emma moaned and reached out to touch his head. When she did, he moved up her body, kissing her thigh as he went. His tongue left little licks of fire all along her skin. Her fingers tangled in his hair. “Oh, yes. That’s so good.” Her body felt like a mound of soft, melting butter.
When he spread the lips of her pussy with his thumbs and she felt his warm breath against her flesh, she sucked in a sharp breath. Did he mean to—?
Oh! Oh! Yes!
His tongue stroked the hard bud of nerves there and she cried out, never having felt such a rush of physical sensations. Her fingers tightened in his hair.
Joe sucked the nub into his mouth and drew on it slowly, gently. She twisted beneath him, thinking she’d go mad. “What are you doing to me?” she barely managed to get out.
He began to suck harder, more insistently. He slid his palms beneath her butt and held her tightly.
The ecstasy built up inside her until finally it exploded in a wave of passion. “Joe!” She stiffened and felt as if she might die of pleasure.
Joe stayed with her, alternately sucking and licking until she stopped squirming beneath him. She felt tears spill from her eyes and roll down the sides of her face. She quickly swiped them away before he saw.
He lay next to her and cradled her in his arms. He didn’t say anything and neither did she. She didn’t want to break the intimate mood surrounding them. She simply clung to him, never wanting to let go.
* * * * *
Montana paced back and forth. Seeing movement just a few feet away, he stopped and peered outside the cave. “She’s back.”
Cora entered the cave, clad in a different dress and carrying a bag that looked stuffed full.
“Did you get it?” Slim asked.
“Yeah, I got us another horse. Some food too. And some clothes for me. I also found out a bit of information while I was in town. Some of the Sinclair men came into Elk Valley for lumber. Joe and Emma Bray are definitely out at the ranch but are planning to head back into town soon. We won’t be able to get to her out there as we’d planned, I don’t think.”
“Well, we can’t get to her on the way into town. Not if Joe’s with her,” Slim said. “He’s too fast with a gun and I’d rather none of us get killed over this. We can’t show up in town neither. Not after our failed bank heist.”
“So let’s just forget about it,” Montana replied.
“Shut up,” they both practically shouted at him.
“I’ve got another plan,” Cora said. “It’s a little risky but I think we can manage it.”
Montana groaned. This whore was going to be the death of them yet. He had no idea why Slim was even listening to her or why Cora was so insistent on doing this.
Well, actually, that wasn’t true. He did know. Slim and Cora were mad enough at Joe that they were willing to do about anything to get back at him. No matter who else got hurt along the way. At least Slim didn’t want anyone dead. He wasn’t so sure what Cora wanted.
“What’s your plan?” Slim asked.
She looked at Slim, then at him, then back again. “I’ll tell you in private. I don’t want to deal with Montana’s objections. He’s just going to argue.” She turned toward him. “After we get the details worked out, we’ll tell you what we want you to do. Now leave us alone.”
Bitch. If she didn’t have a cunt worth fucking and such a talented tongue, Slim would have tossed her aside long ago. One of these days, that woman was going to be in for a big surprise.
He looked over at Slim for a response. When his partner didn’t say anything to contradict her or defend his position in this little group of theirs, Montana turned and stalked out of the cave.
* * * * *
Emma caressed Joe’s bare chest. “We’re pretty good together.”
He pulled her closer. “Yes. We are.”
“And…more than just physically. Right?” She needed assurance that she was more than simply another warm body to him. More than just some woman here to slake his needs.
“Um, yeah. Of course.”
At his less-than-enthusiastic response, doubt niggled in the back of her mind. “You hesitated.”
“Yeah.” After another couple of heartbeats, he added, “I know.”
She sat up and looked down at him, her emotions churning inside her. A pensive look had crossed his face, which worried her. “Why?”
“I’m just wondering if it really matters. You’ll be going back to Boston soon.”
A sadness she hadn’t expected hit her hard. Not only about leaving but about his attitude. She dragged in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “It matters.”
“You are going back to Boston, aren’t you?”
A look crossed his face that she didn’t recognize. One of hopefulness maybe? But, if so, for what? Was he hoping she’d stay or was he hoping her plans hadn’t changed because she was just one of many women in his life?
“Yes. I’m going back.” What else could she say? She had no place other than Boston to go. Not really. She had to complete her studies to make a living. Besides, he hadn’t asked her to stay in Elk Valley and she didn’t want to put him in an awkward position by questioning him about what he did or didn’t want her to do.
Not that she had hoped he would ask her to stay. Well, heck, maybe she had hoped. She didn’t know. A sigh escaped her before she could stop it. She really didn’t want to give up her dream of being a doctor. But then, deep down, she didn’t want to give up Joe either.
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, until he finally said, “Why don’t we continue to enjoy each other until you leave then. Hmm?” Without waiting for her response, he opened his pants then sat up and pulled them off.
The mood in the loft had definitely changed. But Emma was determined not to feel sadness for opportunities lost or over what might have been. She wanted to grab hold of life and go wherever it took her.
“I like that idea.” She looked down at Joe’s body and any melancholy she’d felt evaporated. Her hand drifted down to his cock. “You’re hard.”
“You do that to me. Every time I see you.”
“Every time?” She chuckled.
“Well, mostly.”
She pushed him down flat. “I think I should take care of that problem. You can’t walk around like that.” She leaned over and placed a light kiss on the tip of his cock. A wanton act. But not any more wanton than what he’d done to her.
“Ah, nice. Don’t stop at that.”
She glanced at him and he grinned, almost as if he was daring
her to be decadent. She grinned back before her attention returned to his cock. Dare or not, she’d been craving more decadence in her life for a while now and she wanted to please him. Maybe she could give him a great memory, something to keep her alive in his thoughts. And give herself a great memory at the same time.
Before she changed her mind, she leaned forward and dragged her tongue across the head of his cock, catching the clear drops of liquid now on the tip, which utterly fascinated her. The taste was…odd, but not unpleasant.
“Hellfire, Emma!” He reached out and tangled his fingers in her hair. His whole body shook.
She smiled slightly.
“Lick it again. Real slow.”
She rolled her tongue around the tip, marveling at how powerful she felt. The more she licked, the more he groaned.
“I’m going to come,” he ground out, tightening his grip on her.
Good. That’s exactly what she wanted. She wrapped her lips around the tip and sucked.
“Ah, fuck! That’s incredible. Yeah. Don’t stop. Almost there.”
She slid her mouth down, engulfing the entire head of his cock into her mouth. It was a little difficult but she managed. She wanted to taste his seed again. This time more than just a drop of it, as she’d done before, when she’d caught some on her finger.
He sat up and clutched her head, holding her to him. “Ah…ahh. Suck it. Harder. Yeah. Almost… Now!” He stiffened and then came hard, spewing down her throat. “Oh, hell, yes. Swallow it. All of it.”
She did the best she could, but there was too much and some trickled out of her mouth and down her chin. Oddly, it tasted a bit different than what she remembered from the last time. Slightly sweet almost.
When he finished, he released her and fell back flat. “Oh, that was so good.” He looked up at her and regret instantly crossed his face. “I’m sorry. Are you all right? I shouldn’t have held your head like that in case you didn’t want—”
“Stop it.” She wiped her chin and stretched out next to him. “It is what I wanted. I wasn’t protesting, was I? You taste good.”
“Damn, Emma.” Pulling her against his body, he laughed long and hard. “Like I said before, you are one incredible woman.”
“I’m not the same sheltered country girl that I was.”
“So I’m learning. All from living in the city?”
“I was exposed to a lot of things back East. Not all good.”
He stiffened. “Nobody hurt you, did they?”
Warmth enveloped her at his protective tone. “No. I meant mostly in my training. Girls who worked the saloons and whorehouses were always needing medical care. They didn’t much trust the male doctors from the other hospitals. The girls thought that they just wanted something, well, physical, for their payment. So our hospital, which is specifically for woman and children, stepped in to help. The women generally refused to come to us, so we would end up going to them. I volunteered to help treat who I could while in training.”
“Why would you volunteer for that?” Especially after all that had happened here before she’d left for school. He would have thought that she’d stay far away from any whorehouse.
“As a woman doctor, it’s hard enough to find patients and to gain respect, even in a large city with a dedicated women’s hospital. Hard for someone new in the field especially. It was an opportunity to learn and I took it. I just happened to see, hear and learn some things that I hadn’t expected to. Up close.”
“I imagine. It could be dangerous, going into those types of places.” And she’d be going back soon, exposing herself to more possible dangers. He’d be unable to help her if she got into trouble. He wouldn’t even know about it until it was too late. His stomach churned at the thought.
“I managed. I had a driver. He didn’t come up to the rooms with me but he kept me safe on the streets. That area of town isn’t the best. Overall, the girls were actually nicer than I’d expected them to be. Most of them seemed…lost, especially the younger ones.”
“How much longer do you need to study before you’re officially a doctor?” Maybe then she wouldn’t make those types of visits anymore. Another trainee could take her place.
“Another year. Then it’s recommended that I partner with an established doctor for a time, until I’m comfortable working on my own.”
He caressed her back, wishing they could stay here talking and making love all day. He enjoyed having her close and didn’t want to even imagine how he was going to feel once she left. Again. And this time probably for good. Unless he stopped her. “The men will be back soon. We need to get out of here.”
“I know. We should be able to sneak up the backstairs to our rooms and get cleaned up. Myrah will probably be busy in the kitchen this time of day.”
“Um, about Myrah. When she makes your bed and sees the sheets—”
“I’ll take care of it.”
He nodded and left it at that. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he said, “I’ll get your buggy and my horse after I clean up, then I’ll come for you. We can head into town together.”
She shifted in his arms and kissed his shoulder. “Sounds good. Help me get dressed?” She sat up and reached for a stocking.
“My pleasure.” He smiled and sat up too. He reached for her other stocking, trying his best not to get hard again as he helped her don her clothing.
Chapter Nine
Emma moved around the clinic, showing Willie where everything was kept. The girl had decided to return to town with Joe and her. She hadn’t wanted to work or stay at the ranch.
Since the clinic was in such bad shape, Emma had offered her a room in exchange for helping to get the place clean. Surprisingly, and much to Joe’s relief, she was certain, Willie had readily agreed.
Emma had insisted on one rule though for the girl—no drinking. Willie had frowned at that but nodded in agreement and Emma knew that she would do her best to keep the promise.
On their way into town, Emma had also told Joe that she’d be moving back into the clinic with Willie instead of staying at the ranch, now that the flooding was over. He hadn’t been happy about that, but her mind was made up. It was the proper thing to do. Besides, they could still see each other and probably more often even, given the amount of time he had to spend in town.
In town, privacy would definitely be an issue for them though. Nosy neighbors were in abundance. But this was for the best. The more times she and Joe were intimate, the harder it was becoming, knowing she had to leave him. Maybe a little distance would clear her thinking and quell her desires.
“Why don’t you just stay in Elk Valley and do your doctoring here?” Willie asked. “The town certainly needs someone. Everyone who gets sick has to go to Fox Valley or farther if they really need some good tending.”
Emma smiled slightly at the girl’s words. Out of all the people in Elk Valley, she hadn’t expected Willie to be the one to ask her to stay. “Well, I’m not quite a doctor. Not yet.”
“But you will come back after you are one, won’t you?”
She shrugged. “Hard to know what I’ll be doing in a year or so. Besides, I’m sure by then the town will have found another doctor.” Somehow the thought saddened her. She’d always believed that she would return and practice here, working side by side with her father, then eventually taking over after he retired. Now, she didn’t really think she could survive on the few patients Elk Valley would provide, even if she did return. Not as a single woman. She’d need other income or some savings, at least for a while until she established herself.
“I suppose you’re right about the town finding another doctor,” Willie responded as she wiped off a dusty shelf. “A year is a long time.” She lined up several bottles in the back and then placed some tins along the front. “But whoever the town council finds, they won’t be as good as you, I’d wager. Folks already know and trust you. And that means a lot when it comes to letting someone doctor you.”
Willie had such a ki
nd heart. Emma felt very protective of the young woman and couldn’t help but wonder about her past. She had never really talked about what she’d been through before coming to Elk Valley. And Joe had been evasive, either because he didn’t know or because he didn’t want to betray Willie’s trust by passing along whatever she might have told him in confidence.
Emma didn’t want to pry so she hadn’t pushed either of them for details. But she was concerned about Willie and how her life had brought her to virtual homelessness. If the girl ever did want to open up to her, she would certainly listen and provide whatever support she could.
As they wiped down more shelves and bottles of medicine, silence fell around them, until Emma asked, “How come you didn’t want to stay at the ranch? It’s a beautiful estate.”
“I know,” Willie responded without hesitation. “I just like to be where more folks are moving around. I feel too isolated there, even with all the hands they have. Besides, I haven’t actually been that welcomed out there.”
“Skylar and Wade haven’t been hospitable?” She found that hard to believe. Skylar and Wade were the most generous people she knew.
“Oh, they’ve been nice. But Beth and I don’t really get along much. And with her place needing repairs after the storm, she’ll be staying there once they get back. Myrah said she’s your best friend and all but…” Willie shrugged. “Out of all of them, I really love Colton. He’s the best little boy. And Beth’s little Josie is such a cutie. Cal’s been all right too. Not overly friendly, like Wade, but polite and in a genuine way, not just because he thinks he has to be.”
“So why don’t you and Beth get along?” Beth could be stubborn and willful at times, but she had a good heart. They’d been best friends for more years than she could remember.
“She thinks I’m going to cause trouble for Joe. She told me that plain out. I can’t really blame her too much. I mean, I just kinda showed up. But I don’t want nothin’ from him. Just—”
“To be around family.”
“Yeah.”
Emma understood that feeling all too well. “Is that why you won’t accept anything from him? Because you don’t want Beth, or anyone else, to think that you’re only here for what you can get?”
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