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James was still in shock. Trevor surprised him twice in less than an hour. His partner usually stood on the side and let James lead in their cases. More often than not, he’d add his two cents when a suggestion came to mind. But tonight, his friend was on a roll. His quick mind and genius ideas had James in awe.
“So you liked my plan, huh?” Trevor grinned smugly.
“Yes. At first I didn’t, but then I figured it out.” James chuckled.
“Do you think you’ll be able to break into her room without anyone seeing you?”
“I can’t believe my partner I’ve worked with for over five years would even ask me that.” James frowned.
Trevor lifted his hands. “Oh, I forgot. How stupid of me to ask.”
“Yes, it’ll be a snap.” His brow furrowed once more. “And while I’ll be hard at work investigating, you’ll be having the time of your life with beautiful Belle.”
Trevor’s brow rose in amusement. “Ah, partner, this is no time to be jealous. You know you’re the best at breaking in and snooping, and I’m good at covering for you when you do.”
James poked him in his chest as he replied, “Yes, but this time you’ll be with Belle, not trying to distract some Indians.”
Trevor smugly rubbed his nails on his cotton shirt to polish them and then gazed at them. “What can I say? My job can be hell at times.”
James punched him lightly in the arm. “Stop gloating, Trev, or I’ll go up to her and tell her that I actually really do need you at work.”
His rebuttal to Trevor got him wondering. They never found out what her room number was. It’d be awfully hard to break into her private quarters if he didn’t know where exactly she stayed James glanced at the counter. No one stood on duty, but there was a bell on the counter.
“That reminds me.”
He strode over to the front desk, placed his bag on the floor, and slammed his open palm down on the bell. It rang loudly, and within a minute, an elderly gentleman with a receding hairline and a beard came out from a closed door in the corner.
“Howdy, cowboys. Welcome to the Mayflower Inn. How can I help you all?”
James leaned on the counter. “Our boss reserved us a room here a few weeks back. Our names are James Sanford and Trevor Kent.”
While the man opened and flipped pages in his book, he stared at them as if he assessed them. Then he spoke in a curious voice. “Is this your first time in our humble town?”
“Yes, sir. Our employer got us jobs here and we just got in today,” Trevor responded.
Once the man got to the last filled page in the registry book, he let go of the paper and leaned his elbows on the countertop, grinning. “Well, you’ll love our fine town, gentlemen. Everyone who has stayed at my inn has said so in one way or another.” He put on his spectacles hanging from a cord around his neck and then pointed with his finger down the page. “Let’s see. Ah, here we are. You have room twenty on the second floor. The bathroom is just a door away.”
James looked at Trevor, then added, “Sounds mighty fine. Um, we were wondering if you’d be kind enough to tell us in what room Miss Belle Samson is staying in. You see, my friend here just met her tonight and got himself a date with the pretty lady tomorrow evening. He said he’d pick her up at her room but forgot to ask for her room number before she left.”
The man chuckled, glancing at Trevor. “Well, fella, aren’t you the lucky one. Miss Belle sure is a pretty lady. And it ain’t no surprise you’d forget somethin’ like that. She kinda has that effect on the fellas around here. She has a beautiful voice, too. You should catch her singin’ down at Eden’s Paradise when you get a chance.”
“Oh, we did. That’s where we first started talking with her.” Trevor placed his bag on the floor and leaned on the counter also.
“I see.” He closed his book after checking off their reservation. turned around, and got their keys. “Well, you boys certainly have luck on your side, ’cause it so happens her room number twenty-two is next to yours. You’re neighbors.”
Trevor glanced at James and gave him a sly smile. James looked away, fearing he’d break into a smirk, as well. He extended his hand. “Well, thanks so much for all your help, sir.”
Accepting James’s handshake, the old man replied, “The name’s Melvin Burr. If you folks need anythin’ else, just let me know. The missus serves up breakfast at seven sharp in the dinin’ room in the mornings if you’re interested. Her bacon and eggs are really good.”
“Well, Mr. Burr, that sounds quite tempting. I think we’ll do just that since we have a big day ahead of us and need all the energy we can get.” Picking up his bag, James marched to the stairs with Trevor on his tail.
“Just call me Melvin from now on. We look forward to seein’ you for breakfast then,” the old man shouted while they ascended the stairs.
When they got to the second floor, they headed over to their room, passing hers. Opening their door, James stared into the darkness. He could only make out part of the front of the room. Using the limited illumination from the hallway wall lamps as his source of light, James walked over to the table next to the door and felt his way to a set of matches next to the oil lamp. He struck one, lighting it.
The light was enough for them to take in their surroundings in detail. James was pleasantly surprised. The room looked pretty clean and crisp. The beds had dark-brown blankets, and the table in the corner of the room had two chairs to sit on. A bureau in the other corner was big enough for them to store their clothes in.
Trevor tossed his luggage bag in the corner of the room and collapsed on the bed. The wooden foundation made a squeaking sound with his movements. “Ah. I’m glad this day is almost over. I’m exhausted.”
James didn’t crumple to the bed like Trevor. Instead, he sat on it slowly because of fatigue and his stiff back and leg muscles. It was sturdier than Trevor’s bed because the wooden support didn’t squeak when he put his full weight on it. It absorbed the shock in silence. He stretched his aching legs out before him and lay back, resting his head on the feather-stuffed pillow, which leaned on the wall.
The soft pillow and wool-stuffed mattress molded to his body comfortably. Being cramped on the train for so long had left his muscles tense, and, now, as his tendons in his calves relaxed, the tension rolled off of him with every deep inhale he took.
“I have to agree with you, Trev. This feels so good.”
They rested in silence for a few minutes. James kicked off his shoes and massaged his feet through his socks when voices caught his attention. They came from the other side of the wall. Her wall.
“Do you hear that, Trevor?” He sat up and put his ear to the wall.
Trevor stood up and did the same thing as James while he squinted in concentration. “It’s coming from Belle’s room.”
Although James couldn’t hear what was being said, he could tell Belle wasn’t alone in the room. At least two other men were in there with her.
“I think she has two guys with her.” Trevor obviously thought the same thing.
“Probably members of her gang.” James nodded. “Can you make out what they’re saying?”
“No, but they seem to be talking low, secretively.”
“Well, if they are part of her gang and they are conspiring on their next heist, they’d be talking softly like that.”
“Maybe, or maybe she is living up to her nickname, and they are keeping her company tonight, and she doesn’t want Melvin any wiser to her secret activities,” Trevor rebutted.
James’s mind wandered, imagining what exactly transpired in there. When she giggled, he thought maybe his friend’s hunch could be on the mark.
What he wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in Miss Belle Samson’s room tonight.
When she opened the door to her room, Belle intended to undress and just sink into her warm bed to sleep. But the moment she closed the door, a voice said, “You’re finally here.”
Practically jumping out of her skin, she spun around to see someone turn up the light in the oil lamp on her bureau. As the light spread to the perimeter, she was able to release the air that stuck in the knot in her throat.
Realizing John and Mat had paid her a visit, she slumped her shoulders in relief and sighed. “Ah, you gave me a scare.”
Mat sat on the chair next to the bed. “Sorry, but we had to keep it dark in here. The light can be seen from the space under your door. No one could know we’re here.”
“How did you get in?”
John glanced at the window. “Through that. Your room is on the other side of the inn, and no one could see us sneak in.”
She walked over to the window and stared out. “It’s pretty high. You could have gotten hurt.”
“No, we’ve climbed more dangerous things before. Come to think of it, you were with us most of the time when we did, remember?” Mat piped in.
She laughed at the ridiculous look he gave her. “Of course, how stupid of me to say that. Still, why did you risk getting in contact with me? Wasn’t I supposed to be on my own for this one, and when I got any leads, I’d get in contact with you?”
“Yes, that was the plan or, rather, your plan.” John nodded.
“So what’s so important you would risk my cover?”
“We found out some important news today and thought you’d want to know.” John picked up the oil lamp and started blowing on it lightly, observing the reflective, flickering light bounce from one side of the wall to the other.
“Well?” How she hated it when he started something and then stopped midway, leaving her hanging.
John laughed as the light almost went out when he blew a bit too hard.
Huffing, she walked up to him and took the lamp away. “Stop that.” Placing it on the other side of the bureau, she asked again. “Well, what’s the news?”
“We found out today they’ve hired new expressmen for the train.” Mat lifted his brow, looking at John.
Belle began to pace, her mind churned in many directions. “Oh, they did?”
“Two men from Texas. They go by the names Trevor Kent and James Sanford.”
“What?” She widened her eyes.
“They go by the names Trevor Kent—”
Before he could continue, she lifted her hand to quiet him. “I don’t believe it.”
“Believe what?” John asked, looking perplexed.
Thinking out loud, she continued. “So they are the new expressmen. Now isn’t that interesting.”
Both John and Mat looked at each other, frowning, then returned their gazes back to her.
“What’s so interesting about it?” They spoke in unison.
She needed to think…alone. John and Mat were distracting her.
Getting up, she walked over to the window and, as slowly and silently as she could, slid it open. “You two have to leave now before someone walks by and hears I’m not alone in here. I don’t want to draw any more attention to myself than I already have.”
They looked at her with their mouths open in shock.
“Are you serious?” John asked.
“Yes, now scoot out of here.”
Mat pointed his finger at her as a smile widened his mouth. “I know that look. You’re on to something, aren’t you, Belle?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged.
“Then tell us,” John begged.
“Not just yet, I can’t. As soon as I know more, I’ll get in contact with you both. Okay?”
“Oh, all right. I guess we don’t have a choice.” Mat nodded, looking disappointed.
Pulling the curtain to the side, gesturing them to exit, she said simply, “No.”
“Fine,” John added and bent to get out the window.
Mat didn’t look at her, just urged her as he got out. “The minute you know, you’ll come tell us, right? And you’ll be careful, too?”
Not saying a word, fearing someone could hear them outside and come looking to see who was making noise, she nodded.
When they made it down to the ground a few minutes later, she closed the window and leaned on the wall. Gazing up to the ceiling, she bit her lip nervously. A metallic taste on her tongue told her she made a tiny gash in her lip, and she bled slightly.
Licking her lip to stop the flow, she walked over to her top bureau drawer to get her nightgown.
Her instincts had been right about the handsome, mysterious duo. A lot more was going on with them than they let on. Why would they come all the way from Texas to work on the train? And of all the jobs to get there, they got the expressmen’s jobs. How convenient they’d know the combination of the safe and have easy access to all the gold, money, and bonds stored on the train.
While beginning to undress, her hands did the movements, but her mind roamed a million miles away. “I was right about you boys. You’re up to something, and I need to find out what.”
Once she changed into her cotton nightdress, she slipped under the covers and snuggled to get warm.
“And the perfect time to do that will be tomorrow night. Whoever came up with the motto ‘divide and conquer’ was a genius. Together, boys, you’ve got each other’s back, but alone, your vulnerabilities will show.”
She rolled over to face the window and whispered as she closed her eyes, smirking, “Get ready for tomorrow night, Trevor, because I’ll certainly be. I’ve got a nice surprise in store for you. Maybe even two.”
Trevor knew where his mind headed and just let it lead him, enjoying the trip.
His eyes had gotten heavy after the voices in Belle’s room ceased and James turned out the oil lamp’s flame, going to bed. He did the same and surprisingly fell into sleep instantly.
As darkness enveloped his conscious, his subconscious awakened.
The knock was faint but distinguishable. James looked at him through sleepy eyes and mumbled, “Will you get it, Trev?”
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he got up slowly and stretched, yawning. He couldn’t have been asleep for more than five minutes when the sound awoke him. Walking over to the door, he opened it, not knowing whom to expect.
To his delight, the vision that waited behind the door took his breath away. She stood there dressed in a sheer nightgown with her housecoat open, teasing him with the curves of her breasts and hips. A look of terror shadowed her eyes.
She lifted her brow and whispered, “I’m sorry to wake you, Trevor, but I heard a noise outside my room, and when I went to look, I thought I saw someone running away. I got scared.”
At first, he couldn’t draw his attention from her body. She obviously didn’t realize how much of her curves showed through the sheer garment, and he wasn’t about to tell her, primarily because he didn’t want to embarrass her, but also because he couldn’t. Her dark areolas peeked at him every time she leaned to either side, fidgeting, mesmerizing him. Heaven have mercy!
Struggling with his stupor, he finally mustered enough strength to break his fixed stare. He pushed the door open to welcome her in and stuck his head out to look down the corridor. It was vacant.
“I don’t see anyone there.”
She shivered with fright as she stood between his and James’s bed, waiting. “I know someone was there. I’m so scared.” She began to cry.
James threw the covers off himself and rushed to her side. He hugged her, rubbing her back. “Shh, Belle, no one is going to hurt you. Me and Trevor are here to protect you.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, and her tears subsided slightly. Trevor walked up behind her to caress her beautiful, silky, soft black hair. “That’s right, Belle, we’re here for you.”
She turned her head to him and, quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, she smiled. “Thank you both. I feel so safe here with you.” And to Trevor’s utter pleasure, she let go of James and twirled around to hug him. He hugged her back, his excitement rising higher and ever stronger with the mounting of his drumming heartbeat.
God, she felt amazing in his arms, so soft, so fragile and vulnerable, so feminine and alluring. He gazed deep into her blue eyes, wiping away the few tears that remained, and he imagined taking the embrace to the next level.
He envisioned bringing his lips softly down on hers—her warm, full lips that he longed to kiss, suckle—as well as her plump, luscious breasts. Heaven help him, being without female companionship for the past couple of months certainly weakened his willpower. And her vulnerability softened his heart. Her fervid body rubbing against his and her exquisite perfume tickling his nose acted as aphrodisiacs.
His cock became erect, and heat built within him. He yearned to take this further, to the next level, before his body exploded or he went mad with desire. But he mustn’t. He shouldn’t take advantage of her vulnerable state.
She clung so tightly to him that her heaving made her breasts rub against his chest. Her sheer garment hardly acted like a barrier. It felt like they were bare skin to bare skin. Thinking of anything other than making love to this beautiful woman became impossible. His skin turned sweaty, and his heart felt as if it would burst out of his chest with his body rising in frenzy and arousal.
When she brought her delicate hand to his chest, it scorched his skin. He needed to get his bearings before things went too far. He needed to bring her back to her room before ‘he took’ things too far.
Panting, he broke their embrace, asking, “Why don’t I go back to your room and check if the coast is clear?”
She moaned and shook her head as fear returned to her beautiful blue eyes. “No. I’m too scared to go back there. Can I stay here with you?”
Seeing the fear in her eyes, how could he deny her wish? Trying to tame his sexual urges, he replied, “Sure, Belle. You can sleep on my bed and I’ll sleep on James’s. And James can go sleep in your room.”
She glanced at James, stating, “It could be dangerous.”
“Whoever it was isn’t there anymore. Besides, James can take care of himself.” Trevor gazed at his friend.
His partner nodded. “Belle, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He walked over to the door and said “Goodnight” without looking back.
When he shut the door behind him, Trevor gazed at her. “I guess we should go to sleep now. You must be tired.” He headed toward James’s bed as he saw from his peripheral vision she began to take off her housecoat The wheels in his head spun crazily while he imagined himself turning and catching a glimpse of her perfect naked body through the sheer garment. But no matter how he yearned to look at her, he shouldn’t. He might not be able to control what would happen next.
Just when he got to the edge of James’s bed, she said, “Would you mind sleeping on this bed, with me, Trevor? I’m too scared to sleep alone.”
Good God, was this some sort of test? Did the good Lord send this beautiful damsel in distress to show him how weak He made him? To lie next to her and not make love to her would be impossible. But gazing into her face, he realized that she needed comfort and security, and if that meant he’d have to curb his sexual desires and lie down with her on the same bed, then so be it. He’d pat himself on the back in the morning for having so much self control.
“Sure, Belle.”
He walked over to her as she got into the bed. Her dark right nipple stood erect rubbing against the lucid garment and his eyes fixed on it as his cock hardened still. Diverting his gaze to the wall behind her and taking a deep breath, he slipped into the bed and turned his back to her intoxicating body.
She fidgeted and then whispered in a sweet voice, “Do you mind holding me?”
That was it. He had come to the end of his rope of abstinence. Did she realize what all of this was doing to him?
He nodded, not uttering another word because he feared his voice would crack from how much stress he experienced at this moment.
When he turned to her, he saw her big, beautiful eyes gazing at him, and he stared back transfixed.
“Trevor,” she whispered as she cuddled closer to him. Her taut, plump breast came to rest on his ribcage as her perfume intoxicated him. Lord, but she smelled delicious.
“Yes?” he asked with tension in his voice.
“Make love to me.”
He hadn’t expected her to ask him that, but damn was he ecstatic when she did. Every inch of his excited body and naughty mind had him fantasizing about making love to her. He yearned to touch her luscious breasts that beaconed for his caresses and sink his cock into her hot, wet pussy. He wanted this more than he wanted anything in life.
“All right,” he said without hesitation.
She hadn’t broken eye contact. But when he came in closer, she did, staring at his lips. Then she bit her lower one. Heaven help him, but her every act increased his sexual appetite, and he brought his lips down hard on hers.
A sigh of desire escaped her slightly parted, warm lips, and she leaned in closer to him. He brought his hand up, cupping her plump breast through the garment. Her taut nipple slid closer to his palm as she thrust her body forward, and she trembled when he squeezed it. He pinched and rubbed the nipple until she moaned in pleasure.
His body heat augmented with every breath he took, and soon the covers became encumbering and suffocating. He kicked the blanket off of them. Cool air tickled his damp skin. Now finally free to move, he slid on top of her while his tongue twirled with hers in a dance of mating.
She rubbed his back, widening her legs. Her breathing became heavy, and he swore he could hear her heart beat faster with every second, almost as fast as his raced. She delicately sank her nails into his back and inched her way lower.
Shivers of ecstasy traveled through his body with the friction, making the hairs on his neck and his limbs stand on end and his cock stiffen. It hardened and extended, demanding encroachment into her sweet, delectable passage.
When her hands reached his underpants and she began to pull them downward, he lifted his lower body to aid her in her endeavor while he did the same to her sheer gown. He gazed down at her pelvis, licking his lips when the transparent garment rose inch by agonizing inch up to her waist.
Once she liberated his cock, it sprang out and the cool air made it harden even more. Her eyes opened in obvious appreciation. He couldn’t help but smile at having met her approval. She dipped lower to touch it in curiosity when he grasped her hand to stop her movement.
It wasn’t time for distractions. And her hand on his manhood would be the greatest distraction of all. No, right now, he needed to concentrate on her.
Without speaking, he dipped down and began to lick her abdomen, heading downward. Her salty skin made him hunger for her even more. Goose pimples formed on her skin from his licks, and she shivered, moaning. He crawled backward to the foot of the bed and pushed her legs wider. Goose flesh of excitement formed on her legs now, too, as he rubbed them up and down.
Bringing his attention back to her face, he noticed her eyebrows lifted in curiosity. Did she know what he planned to do to her now? She must have a general idea, but he was sure she wouldn’t expect it to be so satisfying. His years of experience with the ladies had made him an expert at pleasure. She’d soon whimper with ecstasy.
A gaze at her moist pussy and he moaned at the delicious sight. He touched her gently there, and she spread her legs wider while she bit her lip and teased her erect nipples with her hands. Seeing her pleasure herself in that way made pre-cum seep out of his cock as it stood high, waiting to enter her tight, hot passage when the time was right. When he had made her climax by his oral ministrations.
Bending to bring his mouth to her clit, he was about to touch her swollen, excited, and wet nub when a male voice said, “Trevor.”
Suddenly, Belle and her delectable pussy disappeared and Trevor jumped at the voice. He turned his head to see James had come back in and stood right behind him.
Damn!
James placed his hands on his shoulders and shook him
“Trevor, it’s late. Get up.”
His arousal instantly dwindled to a mere spark that completely extinguished as sleep drifted off and consciousness took its place. Opening his eyes, trying to push the fogginess away, he focused on his partner’s face. Complete disappointment.
Rubbing his eyes to erase the up-close image of his friend’s unshaven face, he sat up. “What time is it?”
James straightened, walked over to his bed, picked up a clean pair of socks and underwear he had lying there, and then strode to the door. “Three to seven. I’m going to get ready and then head down for breakfast. I suggest you get started, too, or you’ll miss it.”
Stretching, Trevor nodded. “I heard you. I’m getting up.”
Once James exited, closing the door behind him, Trevor stood and placed his ear to the wall separating their room from Belle’s. The dream had been so erotic. Dreaming of her in that wanton state had him still aroused. Tonight, while James would be busy searching her room for any leads and then heading back to the train station to test out the safe, he planned on seeing just how hot the real Belle could get when fully excited.