The Afterparty

During the drive home from the party, Ben cast continuous glances at Liana. Once, she looked over at him at the same time.

"Ben-" she started to say, then stopped. She wasn't sure exactly what she wanted to say to him. Wasn't sure what was going on here. She was as nervous as she'd been on their wedding night, but this was a different sort of nervous. It had an air of anticipation about it. Liana didn't know what it meant.

At home, they went up the stairs to the bedroom together. As they entered the door, Ben laid his hands gently on her shoulders. Brushed aside her hair, so that he could touch her neck with his lips. Then he traced his lips and his soft beard lightly over her shoulders, left bare by the strapless dress she'd worn to the party.

As much as he'd enjoyed her in bed since their marriage, tonight he was even more hungry for her than usual. That look he'd seen in her eyes when she'd spoken to that female deputy. It had been a challenge. Anger the likes of which he hadn't seen in Liana before.

Oh, she had strength. He'd never doubted that. But to see that angry, passionate look in her eyes and on her face, when she'd felt that the life they were building here at the Glen was being threatened--when she'd felt he was being threatened-- That look had reminded him of himself.

As his lips touched her neck, he eased down the zip at the back of her dress, pushed it down over her hips and let it fall to the floor. Sliding his hands around the smooth skin of her waist and up over her belly to cup her full, warm breasts in his palms.

Liana covered his hands with her own, drawing in a breath as Ben's fingers touched her nipples. Moisture flooded her between her legs when he spoke for the first time.

"You'd really fight for me, darlin'?" His warm breath on her neck and that low, caressing voice right in her ear sent desire spilling through her in waves.

"Yes." The one word caught slightly in her throat and she knew she spoke the truth.

When the deputy had spoken to Ben in that mocking way--taunting him about getting twenty-to-life--Liana had first felt fear flow through her. Cold fear that left every part of her momentarily frozen at the thought of losing him. Close on the heels of that fear had come anger. More anger than she could ever remember feeling in her life. She wouldn't let anyone take Ben away.

As some of that anger came back now, it strengthened the fierce hunger she felt for him. Turning in his arms, Liana pushed the black coat from his shoulders. Unbuttoning the black shirt he wore beneath it, she traced first her fingers and then her lips from the column of his throat down to the waistband of his black pants.

Ben Wade's own breath caught as he watched her unbuckle his belt, then deal with the fastenings of his pants before pushing them down over his hips. She was concentrating completely on what she was doing.

He tilted her face up to meet his, searching her eyes deeply. He saw the same fierce, hungry look he'd seen in her eyes when she'd kissed him at the party. When her warm, slender fingers touched the hard length of him, he drew in another sharp breath, kissing her hungrily. And when those same fingers wrapped around his shaft, squeezing slightly, he took her bottom lip between his teeth, biting gently as he groaned his pleasure into her mouth.

His wife was acting differently tonight and he was enjoying every moment of it. Pulling her over to the bed, he lay down beside her. Her fingers still clutched him, occasionally stroking him gently. Sliding his own fingers between her legs, he cupped that warm wetness. Heard her moan as he found a particularly sensitive spot.

Concentrating hard on her pleasure now, he stroked that same spot again and again. Then he traced his lips down over the warm softness of her belly, going lower until he had replaced his fingers with his mouth. Her moans became louder and her hips rose to meet him. Smiling to himself, he stroked her with his tongue, sliding one large hand sensuously up the outer curve of her thigh to her hip. Holding her in place.

Ben felt her hands in his hair, tangling and pulling slightly as she responded to his mouth. Felt the passionate quivering of her body as it built rapidly to its climax. And then, suddenly, she had reached it. Her muscles went taut and she cried out. "Ben-" Oh God, Ben-"

He tightened his hands around her hips to keep her body from twisting away from his mouth. Continued to stroke her gently with his tongue as her muscles slowly relaxed. Then he moved his hands slowly and languidly back up the smooth length of her body, until he was lying beside her again.

Liana's eyes were closed, her expression relaxed and blissful.

"I'm takin' it that felt good, honey?" he questioned in a teasing voice, as he stroked her cheek lightly with his fingers.

"Wonderful," she sighed, smiling at him.

Ben grinned as he moved over her. "Glad to hear it. Let's see if we can do it again."

To his surprise, Liana pushed against him. "No. Wait-"

Ben was caught off-guard but pleased as she pushed him onto his back and swung one leg over to sit astride him. The look on her face was nervous, but passionate and excited as well. "It's my turn to please you now, Ben," she said softly.

As Ben looked up into her face, Liana felt momentary fear. What on earth had gotten into her tonight, she wondered. What was making her feel so bold? She didn't really know but, whatever it was, she liked it. She felt more- more- Free. That was the word for which she was searching. Felt more able to do what she wanted than she had ever felt in her life.

Liana bent her head to kiss Ben's throat, his neck, his lips, her hands running over his chest as she did so. When she saw him grinning up at her, she couldn't help but grin back.

"Well, well, Mrs. Wade," he drawled softly, insolently. "What is it you're wantin' tonight? Another ridin' lesson maybe?" He lay back with both hands behind his head.

"And if I do?" she asked, still feeling that wonderful feeling of freedom that had started at the party.

Unclasping his hands, Ben reached up to wind them in her long hair, pulling her down for a hard, passionate kiss. Still holding her face close to his, he whispered, "Just don't go forgettin' one of the most important things I told you about ridin'."

"Which one's that?" Liana asked him breathlessly, her physical need for him growing by the moment.

"Your mount always knows more than you do," Ben breathed into her ear.

Unable to wait any longer, Liana guided him into her as she pushed down slowly. Gasped as she felt him enter her.

"Christ, darlin'!" Ben groaned, feeling the heat and wetness of her body enveloping him.

As she moved on him, his hands stole upward to cup her breasts, then down to her hips. He steadied her, helping her find her rhythm, watching her face all the while. Damn, but he was enjoyin' this!

They kept up that rhythm for he didn't know how long. Ben was too busy watching and listening to her enjoyment, letting it fuel his own. All he knew was that it was over far too soon to suit him. Her body reached its peak again, taking his along, draining him not only of his seed, but of his strength and, for once, his inhibitions.

As they lay together, breathing ragged and their hands still moving over one another Ben would, for the first time, talk to his wife openly about his past.