Vista del Fuego was like any other rowdy border town in the 1880's. Chris Langley had left Whiskey Creek the day before and should've headed for home, but he'd heard the women in Vista del Fuego could be pretty lively. The lean, blond gun-for-hire with a reputation for speed had some time and a few dollars left, so he thought he'd give the place a chance.
After he'd settled in at the hotel, Chris Langley headed straight for the saloon. A slender young woman was on the tiny stage, singing in front of a roomful of drunken cowboys and freight handlers.
"Whaddya think?" asked the barkeep, nodding in the direction of the stage. The woman onstage was singing "Lorena," a love song from the Civil War days.
Chris smiled. "She's certainly pretty."
"'The Nebraska Nightingale', she calls herself." The barkeep shook his head ruefully.
Something familiar about the singer tugged at the corners of Chris's memory. He finished his drink as the Nebraska Nightingale finished her song. One of the cowboys grabbed her, pulling her off the stage and catching her in his arms as she struggled to escape. He set her on her feet and began to paw clumsily at her dress. She fought him as the others laughed and cheered him on.
Chris pushed aside the other patrons. "Let her go."
With an arm wrapped around her shoulders, the cowboy turned to face Chris. "Git yer own! I saw 'er first!"
Chris pulled aside the flap of his coat, his hand near his gun. He wasn't one to open fire indoors, but he hoped the threat would be enough to end this quickly.
The cowboy eyed Chris and the gun, and sobered up a bit. "Just funnin', Mister. Here." He shoved her at him. "She's all yers. Too bony fer me anyways."
The woman stared up at Chris with wide eyes.
Chris's eyes narrowed. "Rachel?"
"Chris?"
He caught her by the arm and led her out of the saloon. "C'mon," he said tersely. "I know a place where we can talk."
Chris led her to his room at the local hotel, ignoring the suspicious looks from the desk clerk, and sat her abruptly on the bed.
"What in God's name are you doin' here?" He demanded.
"Well, hello to you, too, after all this time. What does it look like?"
"Want me to tell you?"
She sighed. "I'm singing. I'm working my way to San Francisco. I do sing, remember?"
Chris nodded. "You sang in the church choir, not saloons. Why ain't you in Indiana?"
She looked at him, with a smile. "I'm surprised you even remembered. You always went for those fast, loose, skinny types like that Emma Grinstead. Men like you didn't bother with girls like me."
"A lot's changed. I've changed."
"Enough to want me now?" She moved closer. For the first time, he noticed that she'd lost a lot of weight since he'd seen her last. And she'd certainly grown up.
She was right, he thought. He remembered her as a shy, ample young woman. And prim. He used to say how she could give propriety lessons to nuns. And the Chris Langley of those days liked his women a lot "friendlier."
He smiled, embarrassed. "Rachel, you weren't the type of girl a man like me-"
"Not good enough for you?" She put her arms around his neck.
Chris shook his head, pulling her hands away. "Too good."
He could already feel a stirring deep within his body with this decidedly grown-up woman, and he didn't trust himself. He walked over to the dresser, leaving her sitting on the bed, and picked up a bottle.
"Drink?" He poured her a glass of whiskey and handed it to her.
Rachel held it up in a toast. "To renewing old acquaintances."
He held up the bottle in salute, then took a long pull from it. The amber liquid burned his throat but did nothing to dampen the fires he felt in his groin.
Several drinks later, he was feeling much more jovial, if a little sleepy. He stared at Rachel a moment and grinned.
She smiled back. "What are you staring at?"
He laughed. "Drunk as I am - and drunk as you are - I'll probably always think of you as that little nun."She made a face as he poured her another drink. They laughed and talked about old times late into the night, until the sedative effect of the liquor turned into sleep.
It was morning when Chris opened his eyes with a start. He was on his back on the bed. He lifted his head and saw he was completely nude. He tried to move but found himself unable to move his arms or legs. His wrists and ankles were tied firmly by silk scarves to the corners of the bed.
"Morning." Rachel stood naked at the end of the bed, staring at him. She bent close to him and brushed her hand against his cheek. "You need a shave," she purred.
She went to the dresser and brought back a bowl of water, his shaving soap, and a towel. Her movements were slow and fluid, like a cat, as she sat beside him again.
"Rachel-" He watched her work the soap into a lather. He watched her as she picked up his opened straight razor. Chris felt the cool steel press against the skin of his scrotum. "What are you doing!?"The blade slowly, gently scraped along his skin. He sucked in his breath and his whole body went rigid. His green eyes followed her every move.
"Shhh. I should think you wouldn't want to cause my hand to slip."
She gently grazed the razor over each of his balls, sponging him with the warm, wet cloth as she went. Chris didn't flinch as he helplessly waited for her to finish. She carefully but firmly wrapped the fingers of one hand around his shaft. His penis stiffened in her hand, as she scraped away the froth of curls surrounding the base. She smiled but said nothing.
"There." She wiped her hands on a towel with a satisfied smile. She put the bowl back on the dresser before resuming her place beside him. "You always made a lot of assumptions about me. Now I want you to really get to know me."
Chris didn't realize he'd been holding his breath. He let it out with a sigh, his eyes still on her.
Rachel smiled and bent over him. She raked her tongue over his now pink, smooth sac. Chris arched his back. He didn't think it was possible but he grew even harder when she touched the sensitive skin. She looked at him, her eyes bright. Gently she took one testicle in her mouth, slowly rolling her tongue around it.