Chapter 3

With a well-shaped, slender leg cocked at the knee, propped sideways and quivering, Eliza stared up at Caleb from a narrow bed. The matching limb was stretched across the crumpled sheets, and a sheen of sweat glinted on reddened skin. A shaky hand lowered a wrinkled, thin cotton chemise to drape her pelvis. Just inside the door, the shiny blue skirt lay in a heap. With practiced ease, she’d shoved it downward while leading him into the cramped space.

After another gulp of water from a stained glass, he smacked his lips. Sweat trickled down heaving ribs and stung his eyes. An open window brought the high prairie’s cooler night air, and the dim starlight offered the only illumination.

With hands shoving and bodies whirling, they’d not paused to light the sole lantern.

When he turned to scan the saloon girl once more, her other hand froze in mid-roam over the alluring chest still hidden under white translucence. While his fingers had certainly enjoyed exploring the delightful shapes, he’d yet to get a good look at them. Then again, it hadn’t been his money paying for the ride.

“Jaysus Above,” the whore muttered.

Her eyes widened when his focus shifted to a face glowing with a much deeper shade of crimson than the smeared rouge. The hand trembled while rising from her breasts to push matted hair behind a small ear.

“You alright?” he asked.

“Alright? Jaysus, I ain’t never ... Not like that—”

His laughter silenced her.

Large brown eyes came as close to narrowing as possible. “What?” she spat. “You don’t believe—”

“Nope.”

“Well, it’s true, Caleb.”

When her face contorted, becoming that of a petulant girl half her age and with a whole lot less life experience, he couldn’t help it. A louder laugh escaped. After a slow shake of his head, he reached for his britches.

The dove bolted upright. “Wait! You can’t...”

At last, he got that peek: a pair of rounded swells jiggled into view. Darker coral stems adorned the centers of circles blessed with a lighter pink.

“I mean, the colonel paid for the whole night,” she added.

After finding her face once more, he smiled while shoving a foot into the rough gray wool. “Got a hotel room.”

“Please, Caleb.” Her eyes widened while scanning lower on his body. “Jaysus, um, looks like you might kinda again could use—”

Yep, whore or not, such a fine-looking young woman was having an effect.

Eyebrows arching, she made no move to cover the juddering globes.

The strangest tickling nagged at him. The small chest brought warm memories. Not of other sexual encounters, far from it. His sister, Hannah. Smaller breasts, or had been when a curious pubescent boy had risked a peek a thousand years ago. Also, darker tips, more of a reddish hue.

A giggle drew his focus back to the room reeking of sweat, sex, and a not-so-awful perfume.

Grin on her face, Eliza was patting the mattress. The trousers slid from his hands, and two steps later, the bed creaked as he settled onto his spine. She yipped when his hand gripped softness, then whimpered as he tugged her over him.

Sure, might’ve been an act, but she had a point. Nobody awaited him at Delly’s. As slender, warm thighs straddled and dainty fingers slipped around rising flesh, he grinned up at her.

“Why you smiling so wide?” she asked.

“Gonna make you do the work this time.”

“Hmm” The tip of his penis was dragged through supple heat. Tingles sped along every nerve in his body. “Ain’t gonna believe me, but ‘round about ten minutes ago, this stopped being work.”

“Yep, you’re right. Don’t believe you.”

“Caleb Warner!”

Another petulant glare made him chuckle. The expression did not match the whore gliding his manhood through delicate nether parts. When she sank, taking him into her, his laugh morphed into a groan. A loud slurp from beneath the swirling cotton serenaded her insides, clenching something fierce.

“Hah. Gotcha.” She squirmed, pulling a deeper sound from his shaking lips. “From way up here, I can do a few more tricks.”