A Prescription for Love (21 page)

“Yes, Michael, yes. I want you, too.”

The whisper shot straight to his groin.
Yes
. A simple word that would change his world. He could never let this woman go once he made love to her. She fired his blood, her essence burned into his mind. Somehow reminding himself Heidi exemplified ‘forever’ didn’t help. All his defenses had disappeared. She’d worked her way into his heart, and he wouldn’t let her go. Ever.

“Sweetheart, you need to be sure. Once I take your innocence, it’s gone forever.”

“I don’t care. I want you to make love to me. Now. Tonight.”

Her face flushed, her eyes darkened with passion. If he’d thought her beautiful before, now she literally took his breath away. Her lips swollen from his kisses, her breasts gently moving as she took each shuddering breath. Red curls hugged her face, trailing down to rest on her slender shoulders. His soul was lost, and there would be no turning back.

His hand cupped her face. “Your mother won’t return for hours, but I won’t make love to you for the first time on a sofa.” Before she could answer, he jumped up, scooped her into his arms, and headed to the stairs, taking them two at a time.

He entered his bedroom and slid her down his body, her naked breasts rubbing against his shirt. His lips took hers in a crushing kiss, while his hands slipped the top of her dress and chemise off her shoulders. Then he knelt at her feet and tugged the dress the rest of the way down. She stepped out of it, clad only in her drawers, stockings, and shoes.

Michael removed her shoes and pulled her drawers down, revealing her most private place to his eyes.

With Michael at her feet, her naked body completely exposed to him, she should have been embarrassed. Instead, a feeling of rightness, of the inevitability of this moment coursed through her. In a few minutes Michael would be her lover. She clutched his head as he placed kisses on a spot she’d never imagined a man would put his mouth. Heat spread from there, up her belly, across her breasts, causing tingles on her nipples where his mouth had been before.

Michael got to his feet, taking her face in his strong hands. His thumbs moved over her cheeks as his lips came coaxingly down on hers. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.

She wanted to feel his skin, run her hands over his bare chest. Leaning back, she unbuttoned his shirt, moving the material aside. His muscular chest was feathered with brown curls, narrowing on his belly, and like an arrow, disappeared beneath his belt. Her hands looked so delicate as they roamed over his warm flesh. His muscles rippled under her hands, and he tipped his head back, his eyes closed.

Even more daring, she drew his shirt from his pants and pushed it off his shoulders. When she reached for his belt, his hand covered hers and he smiled. “Let me.”

Her eyes grew wide when his pants lay bunched on the floor and he presented the evidence of his desire. “Michael.” She shook her head, her mouth dry. “It’s too big.”

He pulled her against his chest and kissed her forehead. “Sweetheart, it’s not too big. I promise I won’t hurt you. There will be a little bit of pain since it’s your first time, but believe me, I will fit.”

His fingers tucked silky strands of hair behind her ear and he held out his hand. “Come.” He led her to the large bed in the middle of the room, its dark green cover with yellow dots resembling a field of flowers on a grassy knoll.

They lay down, and he took her mouth once again in a mind-drugging kiss. His hands ran over her curves, stroking her, sending shivers racing over her heated flesh. She began her own exploration, caressing his broad shoulders, his hard back, ending as she daringly cupped his buttocks, amazed at the difference between her soft body and his hard one.

She floated, entirely caught up in the sensations Michael created. An inner part of her clenched and unclenched and moisture gathered between her thighs. Michael’s hand cupped her there, humming approval at the dampness he’d found. She jumped when he parted her curls and his finger slid into her body.

“Don’t tense up, sweetheart, let me love you,” he whispered in her ear, and then sucked lightly on her earlobe.

His words sent a jolt of pleasure through her. She shifted her hand from where she grasped his back and, moving forward, touched the length of him pressing against her belly. When her fingers wrapped around the satin-covered steel, he groaned her name and added another finger to her opening, moving his fingers in and out, circling.

Sweat broke out on her body, mixed with his, so their flesh slid against each other. His thumb circled a part of her above his fingers, where he gently massaged. He kissed her, stroking her mouth with his tongue, sliding it in and out, imitating the movements of his hand. Heidi panted and stretched, reaching for something. She moved her head back and forth. Something deep inside was building, teasing her.

“Relax, honey, let it come.”

Let what come? What could he mean? It must be something wonderful. As her muscles tightened, what she reached for got closer and closer. Michael leaned up on one elbow and continued his ministrations as he gazed at her. He scattered light kisses on her forehead, her eyes, her nose, her mouth. “Let go,” he breathed.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Heidi’s body exploded. Waves of pleasure washed over her and a voice she didn’t recognize called his name. Once, twice, three times. As her muscles relaxed, her hands dropped from his arms where she’d gripped him. He kissed her once more, then moved over her body, nudging her legs apart with his knee.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to hurt you, but only for a moment.” He slowly entered, her flesh still tingling from pleasure, until he met resistance. He touched her cheek with two fingers and forced her to look him in the eyes.

“So sorry, honey.” His mouth covered hers as he thrust forward and a sharp pain shot through her. Heidi whimpered as tears rushed to her eyes and rolled from the corner of her eyes to her temples.

Michael held still and after barely a minute the pain ended. The fullness felt unfamiliar, but quite nice. He began to slide in and out, slowly, gently, all the while whispering encouragement in her ear. His teeth nibbled at her earlobe, then he blew on the sensitive flesh, the sensation of his warm breath creating shivers.

As Michael settled into a steady rhythm, Heidi moved her hips, and met him thrust for thrust. His right hand found her left and clasped it.

“I apologize. I’ve wanted you for so long, I won’t last,” he muttered as he buried his head in her shoulder. A few more thrusts, then he tugged her close as spurts of warm liquid poured into her.

He spread kisses over her sweat-dampened forehead, her eyelids, her tears. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, I must be heavy.” He shifted, cuddling her to his body. The pounding of his heart throbbed against her ear, echoing her own beat. She took in large gulps of air and repositioned herself to look at him. Michael met her gaze, eyes shining, his lips curved in a soft smile. Did she look the same way back at him?

Chapter 19

Michael’s gaze roamed Heidi, lying there, flushed and sated. Love shone from her eyes as he assumed his did, too. There didn’t seem to be any point in fighting the inevitable anymore. He loved her, wanted her forever, body and soul. The vow he’d made to himself was finished. Heidi belonged to him, would always be his.

“I want you to stay here forever, but your mother will return sometime soon. I prefer she not find you in my bed.” His finger drew lazy circles around her nipple.

Heidi sighed. “I don’t think I can walk.”

“Are you sore?” He frowned as he ran his hand up her arm.

She shook her head. “No. Well, maybe a little, but my legs feel like rubber.” She giggled and raised one leg, then dropped it down. “See?”

Michael wrapped his arms around her and flipped her body fully on top of him. The waves of her hair fell over them, a curtain of wavy silk.

“I’d much rather undress you, but I’ll be a gentleman and help you dress.” He kissed the tip of her turned-up nose. “Wait here for a minute.”

He rose and padded across the room, where he dipped a cloth into the bowl of water sitting on his dresser and brought it to her. Gently, he washed the blood and semen from her legs, then laid the cloth against her body to ease the soreness.

“I wish we had hours to spend.” He removed the cloth and kissed her tenderly. Reluctantly, they left the warmth and comfort of his bed and dressed. Hand-in-hand, they descended the stairs, two lovers savoring the intimacy and closeness of their lovemaking.

Bundled up from the cold now that the sun had set, Michael led Heidi to his buggy and helped her in, tucking the wool blanket around her. He leapt onto his seat, and they set out for Heidi’s home.

She rested against his shoulder, and he leaned his cheek on the top of her head. After stopping in front of Mrs. Wilson’s well-lit house, he walked her to the door and placed his hands on her shoulders. Leaning down, he kissed her gently on her lips. “Goodnight, my love.”

“‘Night.” She laid her palm on his cheek, then turned and entered the house, closing the door softly.

Michael whistled as he snapped the reins and headed for home. His life had taken a significant turn. Instead of the fear he’d expected, he felt lighthearted, free. No more bitterness shackled him. He loved Heidi. He would speak with her father, and then propose to her. They would have a very short engagement, since he knew he couldn’t keep his hands off her, and the chance of a baby left something to consider.

A baby. He’d hadn’t thought about the possibility in years. A wife, a family. A little girl with huge blue eyes and golden red curls. He smiled. Yes, life would be different from now on.

Clarence paced the length of Gloria’s rented room. “If I don’t do something soon, I’ll lose her.”

“Darling, come to bed, I’ll make you feel much better,” Gloria purred from the bed where she lay in a transparent negligee.

He pivoted and pounded a fist into his open palm. “You don’t understand. Lester wants the man who marries his daughter to assume control of his businesses. If Henderson moves in, everything will be gone. My job, my ambitions, the wealth that I’m entitled to.” He leaned over her, anger surging through him. “And you, my lovely one, will lose as well. No expensive jewelry or silk dressing gowns or expensive home.”

Gloria backed away from his rage.

“Why isn’t Henderson falling at your feet? You’re a trained whore. Did you forget how to ply your trade?”

Gloria shook her head, clearly puzzled. “He’s not interested. I tried seducing him at lunch the other day. He had more excuses than my maiden aunt.” She swung two shapely legs over the side of the bed and rose, stretching so her tempting gown plastered against her body.

Clarence grabbed her upper arms and threw her back on the bed. He towered over her as he released his belt, then shoved his trousers down. In one swift movement, he moved her legs apart, fell on top of her, and thrust into her. Brutally, savagely. Gloria’s eyes glowed and a smile graced her lips.

After he plunged into her a few times, she screamed her release. He was never sure with Gloria how much of her actions were pleasure and how much part of her training. She’d been a high-priced whore in St. Louis when he’d found her. Tired of the constant string of men night after night, she agreed to travel with him to Oklahoma City with promises of wealth and pampering.

He rolled off her and fumbled alongside the bed for a cheroot. Touching a lit match to its end, he inhaled and blew out a stream of smoke, extinguishing the flame. “Goddamn that Henderson. Heidi is a stupid enough bitch to think he’s some kind of hero. Her ticket to independence.” He lay back on the pillow and blew circles of smoke above his head.

Gloria shifted, propping her chin on her clasped hands. “When I dragged him off to lunch, his conversation centered completely on his stupid family. How wonderful they all were. And he blabbed forever about his
great
Uncle Jesse. The big shot Senator. As if I haven’t spent enough years hearing about the wonderful Jesse Cochran.” She snorted.

Clarence gazed at the ceiling, fuming over the little twit he still intended to marry. And when he had her under his thumb, she’d pay. He’d promised her parents they wouldn’t have sex, but he’d make sure she spent enough time on her knees pleasuring him with her mouth. Kneeling at his feet—exactly where she belonged.

Let her take that to Mother and Papa. He grinned at the thought of the little mouse trying to complain to her parents about his requests.

“What?” His head whipped around. Gloria’s last words finally penetrated his brain.

Her eyebrows rose. “What, what?”

“What did you say about Senator Cochran?”

“Nothing. Just that Michael spent all his time gabbing about him.”

Clarence propped himself up and regarded her. “No. You said something else. Something about spending enough years talking about him.”

“Oh, that.” She waved a dismissal. “I worked alongside his mother for a couple of years when I first got the job at the brothel in St. Louis. Then she died.”

“Wait a minute. Go back.” He sat up, then tapped the end of the cheroot on the ashtray until the end no longer glowed. “What was his mother doing in the brothel?”

“She worked there.”

“As what?”

Gloria huffed in impatience. “What else? A whore. Had been there for years.”

Clarence jumped up and placed his hands on his hips. “Are you telling me the great Senator Jesse Cochran of Oklahoma Territory, upholder of family values, is the son of a whore?”

She sat up and crossed her legs. “Yes. Rosie—his mother—came to the brothel as a girl of fifteen. A year or so later—before she wised up—she gave birth to Jesse. I wasn’t there at the time, naturally, but when I was hired, she still worked there. His mother was old and diseased, but the owner let her stay and service whatever customers would pay for her. She didn’t earn much.”

“And Cochran lived at the brothel?” Clarence’s heart began to pound.

“Not then. He had gone off to college or law school or something, the other whores told me. Just about every other day Rosie would drink from her brandy bottle and cry about her son.” She considered him with narrowed eyes. “Why are you so interested?”