Unfettered Bliss Suzy B

Part of the Bliss series.

Buck/Miss Millie

Buck looked into the mirror and straightened his string tie. Walking over to the bed he picked up his hat and walked out of his room. As he reached the kitchen, Millie looked up at him and smiled.

"You be nice to him Buck." She walked to his side and leaned up and pressed her lips against his.

Buck leaned down and lifted Millie from her feet pulling her against him. Time had only intensified their relationship, not dampened it as it did so many others. "Woah there Miss Millie." He smiled as he pulled away from her, lowering her to stand on her own feet in front of him once more. "You trying to distract me?"

"Is it working?" She smiled, cheekily smoothing his moustache with soft fingers, before trailing through his hair. His hair was grayer now than it was when they met and he was a little broader around the waist but he could see in her eyes that made no difference to her.

"Nope." He leaned down to place a soft kiss on her neck, "We’ll finish this later missy." He stood to his full height and releasing her, wandered out of the house whistling a happy tune.

Stepping off the boardwalk, he was still whistling when he arrived at the saloon. Four Corners had certainly grown since he first arrived, it wasn’t a town any more it was almost a city in its own right. When Gloria Potter had moved to another town when her younguns wed, he and Millie had bought the Mercantile from her, and it had grown into a thriving little business. He had thought that when it got too crowded he’d feel hemmed in, that they’d sell the business and move on. He couldn’t explain why he didn’t feel crowded, maybe because this was home, his family lived and worked here, as did his friends. Kinfolk were buried in the cemetery. Nope this was home.

"Feeling a little melancholy Buck?" Ezra spoke as he walked past him into the building and moved towards their habitual table.

"A little." He shrugged clapping Ezra on the back. The saloon had been renovated to make it bigger and more hospitable to its increased clientele. There were eight saloons in town now but this one would always be ‘home’ to the seven of them and their families, especially since Ezra owned it.

A curvaceous young woman watched them from behind the bar and when they took their seats, she lifted a tray containing shot glasses and a bottle of whisky and carried it to their table.

Placing a glass in front of each of them, she filled it with whisky and placed the bottle in the middle of the table. Then leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Buck’s cheek.

"Be nice to him Daddy," she whispered against his cheek.

"Preshea Darlin," he spoke, as she stood "Aren’t I nice to everyone?"

"She does make an interesting point Buck." Ezra raised one eyebrow.

"I like him," Preshea stated "We all do. Don’t you go scaring him off."

"What’s the deal?" Buck feigned hurt. "It’s not like I’m gonna eat him alive, I just want to have a chat with my prospective son. Is that so bad?"

"That would entirely depend on the way you pursue the ‘chat’," Ezra stated.

"We’re all mature adults." Buck shrugged "We’re gonna have a drink and behave like it."

"I see." Ezra nodded sagely. "I’m sorry." He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts "When was the last time someone saw you in the act of being a mature adult?"

Buck glared at Ezra across the table, he opened his mouth to comment but was interrupted by the arrival of Chris, Vin and JD.

"Fellas," Vin greeted them as he pulled up a chair and sat down.

"You boys sure the kids want us at the bachelor party?" Chris asked as he sat beside Vin.

"I sure don’t want to be at home," Buck laughed "The house should be full of women organizing wedding frilly things by now."

"I seem to remember a time when you would have been in Buck heaven," Josiah’s deep voice rang out as he joined them.

"Not anymore." He shook his head. "Wedding bound women are just plain scary." He shuddered with mock chills.

"It would appear that the matter is out of our hands." Ezra gestured toward the doorway. "Our offspring have arrived to commence the festivities."

Framed in the saloon doors were the three male offspring that the seven had thus far produced. Beau Standish, Jeb Jackson and John Dunne Jr. had arrived with their friend Marshall Billy Travis. JD stood and waved a greeting across the rapidly filling saloon to his son and his friends.

"Hi Pa," John called as they made their way into the room. All four paused briefly to press a chaste kiss of greeting against Shea’s cheek, then pulled up a chair at the table with their respective fathers and uncles.

"Nervous yet kid?" Vin asked John.

"Should I be?" he asked with a shrug and a smile as he thought about his nuptials the next day.

"I would be if I was willingly admitting Buck into my family," Chris laughed and slapped Buck on the back as he spoke.

They all laughed heartily at that. The friendly banter reminded the seven of their early days and they happily soaked it up. Several bottles and many toasts later, Buck, his eyes bleary with whisky, looked across the table into the eyes of his son-in-law.

"John," he spoke calmly, "Could I have a private word?"

"Sure Uncle Buck." John nodded, his own mind pleasantly muzzy with liquor.

Buck stood and moved toward the door, followed closely by his daughter’s beau.

"I hope you know that I already think of you as a son," Buck started.

‘Yessir," John answered.

"And you know that if you hurt my baby I’ll be forced to return the hurt don’t you?"

"Yessir," John nodded "But I want you to know that I love Angel with all my heart. I would sooner hurt myself than her."

"I believe that could just be true boy," Buck nodded watching him closely.

"It’s the truth sir," John nodded

"I asked you out here so I could show you my appreciation son...," Buck started awkwardly "I’m about to tell you a secret that not even my girls know."

"They won’t hear it from me," John stated quickly.

Buck pulled a small box from his pocket and fiddled with it as he spoke. "Many years ago, I met a young woman who meant the world to me, so much so that I followed her all the way to Kansas."

"Angel’s mama?" John asked.

Buck nodded "I was gone for almost four months. When Millie and I returned she was already expecting Preshea."

Buck swallowed. "Everybody just assumed we were wed in Kansas." He stopped waiting for John to understand.

"But you weren’t?" John Frowned.

"No," Buck breathed "We weren’t." He cleared his throat "I was afraid of marriage son, I don’t know why but at the time I wanted nothing to do with it. I didn’t want to spend my life with anyone but my Miss Millie, but it frightened the beejeezus out of me." He twisted the small box between his fingers "By the time Angel was born two years later I wanted nothing more than to marry Millie but by then it would only bring shame on all three of my girls and I just wouldn’t do that to them."

"Why are you telling me this sir?" John frowned

Buck shrugged "To tell the truth son I’m not entirely sure," he explained. "So you know the truth before you become a part of the family and because I want you to know how much I appreciate you doing the ‘right’ thing for my baby."

"Buck..." John flushed "We haven’t...," he stammered

"Well, shoot, I know that boy," Buck grinned. "You’re doing things right and I admire that."

"Thank you sir." John held out his hand to shake with the man who tomorrow would become his father-in-law.

"I want you to have these." Buck pressed the box into his fingers.

John took a quick moment to open the box and saw a pair of cufflinks, black as onyx with inlaid mother of pearl. "They’re…," he paused, "Too much."

"Not for my son they’re not," Buck stated proudly.

Buck shook his hand warmly, then pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Do me a favor kid?" Buck asked

"Anything sir," John answered.

"I feel the need to go home and tell my wife how much I love her." He smiled "Can you make my excuses inside?"

"Sure thing sir." He smiled.

"And tell Preshea not to stay out too late. I don’t care if Billy is the Marshall, he needs to bring her home at a respectable hour."

"Yes sir," John nodded "Can I ask a question before you go?"

"Sure kid." Buck leaned against the railing.

"Who was Shea named for?" John asked curiously.

Buck couldn’t help it, he tipped his head back and laughed heartily.

"What’s so funny?" John smiled at Buck’s response.

"Millie was fit to be tied," Buck started to explain. "I won’t lie to you kid. When the love of your life has a baby it’s a terrifying thing, especially when you see how much pain she’s in. I’m the first to admit I’m a coward, I went to hide in the saloon when I was banished from home." Buck smiled, his eyes misting with the memory, "By the time Inez came to tell me I was a daddy I was well past sensible thought," he chuckled "I went back and told Millie how proud I was of her and cuddled my little girl, then I went off to find the judge and let him know we had a baby. That was where I made my first mistake, I was so shickered that when the judge asked me her name, I’m not sure what I thought he said but I answered "'Preciate it." Buck shrugged his shoulders. "I only realized I’d named my little girl the next day when the judge sent a card and flowers for Millie."

"It’s a nice name though," John stated. "I thought it might have been from your family."

"Nah." Buck smiled "Don’t forget to cover for me?" He stood and moved to cross the street, as John nodded his confirmation Buck waved his good night.

Buck whistled as he walked down the street to his home, he paused briefly on his front porch, watching through the windows as his beloved, his youngest daughter and her bridesmaid’s fiddled with dresses in the parlor. Their party was obviously almost finished. Millie was collecting their glasses and tidying the room. Stepping inside Buck stopped at the parlor door and tipped his hat at the three young women seated around the room.

"Good evening ladies." He smiled. Angel sat in the middle of the room, flanked by her best friends Lola Standish and Annette Dunne.

"Hi Daddy" Angel smiled

"Hi Uncle Buck," the others chorused.

"If you fine ladies will excuse me I’m plum tuckered out. I might just hit the hay early." Tipping his hat to his daughter and her friends, he walked upstairs, already untying his tie.

He had taken off his suit and hung it in the wardrobe he and Millie shared, but instead of moving straight to bed, he turned down the lamp and took a seat in Millie’s rocker. His mind drifted back to the nights he had sat on the window seat and watched Millie nursing one or the other of their girls in this very chair.

His revelations this evening weighed heavily on his heart. He hadn’t realized just how heavily until he had actually spoken the words. He was still sitting there when Millie retired for the night. She walked into the room and seeing him sitting in the corner of the dimly lit room moved quickly to his side.

"What’s wrong my darling?" she asked kneeling at his feet.

"I’m sorry honey," Buck answered her.

"Whatever for?" She frowned, reaching up to caress the side of his face tenderly. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing." He frowned brushing away her concerns. "For cheating you out of a wedding."

"You didn’t cheat me out of anything," she murmured.

"You should have had a wedding like Angel’s. Every little girl wants a wedding." His eyes clouded.

"I’m not every girl Buck," she replied "I have everything I ever wanted right here in this house."

"I can see how much you missed it," he stated, watching her closely.

"Don’t you dare mistake my joy at our baby’s wedding for regret on my part Buck," she stated.

Millie stood and quickly slipped out of her dress and boots. Clad only in her pantalets and camisole she returned to his side. Lifting his hands from the arms of the rocker she climbed onto his lap. One hand caressed his face, the other toyed with the hair curling on his chest.

"I told you a long time ago Buck, that I live for the moment, you know that. I didn’t need a ring or a piece of paper to know that you love me. Life is too fleeting." She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. "Just because I’m enjoying my daughters wedding preparations does not mean that I regret anything we’ve ever done." She smiled at him, the fingers of one hand trailing down his belly to trace along the waistband of his long johns.

"I just want you to be as happy as she is, and give you everything you’ve ever wanted."

"All I ever wanted was you, you big galoot." She pressed her fingers against him, rubbing him through his long johns. "Don’t you think I knew how you felt about me when you came all the way to Kansas for me?" She paused. "I didn’t need a ceremony to know that. And I didn’t want to tie you down. I knew that I was in your heart and was happy with whatever time you gave me." Her fingers continued to caress him as her words were punctuated with kisses along his neck.

"How does forever sound, sugar?" he asked, lifting her into his arms and moving them to their large feather bed.

"Just fine." She burrowed her face into the mat of curling hair on his chest, her teeth finding one nipple and nipping it playfully as she pushed his long johns down.

Buck’s fingers trembled as he untied the ribbon that fastened her camisole.

"You know you sure don’t play fair Miss Millie," he breathed against her neck

"Well you know..." she smiled her hand closing over him and stroking gently, "I did have an excellent teacher."

"Well I can see that," he gasped as her fingers tightened their grasp and stroked faster, her thumb glancing across his tip. His quivering hands pushed at the waistband of her pantalets, his hand dipping inside as he struggled to remove them.

Millie’s feet kicked at her undergarments trying to get them off her legs, as desperate for Buck’s touch as he was to give it. One leg free of the cotton restriction she opened herself to Buck and wrapped her legs around his hips.

Buck rested his weight on his elbows, his lips teasing the tips of her nipples. Suckling gentling, his moustache tickling her skin as his tongue swirled around the turgid peaks. His hips grinding against hers his arousal seeking entrance.

Pulling his attention away from her breasts Millie held his face looking deeply into his eyes. "You..." she panted, "are such a tease." She kissed his neck and slid her tongue the length of his face catching his lip in her teeth and worrying it gently before kissing him deeply "Do it," she urged. "Please?" she begged.

"Never could…" He smiled, his voice ending on a sigh as her guided his arousal into her tight welcoming body. "...refuse and offer like that."

"Wasn’t an offer," she moaned as she began to move against him, her hips rising up to meet his deep thrusts.

Buck smiled cheekily and withdrew. "Then I should stop?"

Millie smacked him on the shoulder pulling him closer "Not a chance," she whimpered. "Please Buck?"

"Well shucks, I never could refuse a lady in distress," he chuckled as he slid back into her tight embrace.

Languid undulations escalated into deep soul searing thrusting, sweat slick bodies slipping against each other, hands roving. Sweat dripping from his body Buck framed Millies face in his hands, his thumbs tracing her features as he watched her writhing beneath him.

Her hands clasped his buttocks, fingernails breaking his skin in her desperation to pull him closer, deeper. Her tiny feet drumming against his thighs as she begged for release.

"Please Buck," dhe begged him. "Please."

His lips twisted into a grin as he realised he knew exactly how to relieve her suffering. One hand left her face to slide between them, teasing the delicate flesh at their joining. He knew the moment his fingers had found their destination. As his thumb caressed her, her body went taut beneath him, and she threw her head back. Buck leaned down and captured her squeal of pleasure with his own lips, muffling his own cry of completion against her lips.

Collapsing against her, he rolled onto his back taking her with him, his fingers running through her damp tousled curls as they both caught their breath.

"You don’t understand, do you?" she murmured against his chest.

"I guess not," he answered "'Cause I have no clue what you’re talking about." He cupped her chin and turned her face up to his for a slow tender kiss.

"Stop trying to distract me." She slapped him playfully.

"Is it working?" he grinned.

"No," she replied sassily.

"Then what don’t I understand?" He rolled onto his side and watched his fingers as they trailed along the naked skin of her hip.

"Stop it, Buck," she sighed, exasperated, catching his hand in hers and kissing his fingers.

"I don’t need a certificate or a ceremony or any of that clap trap." She pressed kisses against his palm as she spoke. "I have you and I have our love." She looked into his blue eyes. "I know our love has only grown stronger and deeper." She paused to suckle the tip of one finger. "We’ve both grown older, but our love has stayed young." Her mouth continued to suckle at his fingers, her other hand brushing the sweat soaked hair from his forehead. "I don’t need a ring Buck, I don’t need the town’s affirmation. My heart is all I need to believe and you…" she leaned forward to kiss him slowly "are the husband of my heart."

Buck pulled away from Millie’s kiss slowly and cupped her face in his hands.

"Are you sure sugar?" he watched her eyes closely. At her nod he continued "Then..." he grinned cheekily rolling onto his back, he leaned over and turned down the wick in the lamp before pulling her with him so she was straddling him. "Come over here, Mrs. Wilmington, your husband wants to fool around."

"I thought you’d never ask." She laughed and fell into his embrace kissing him passionately.

FINI

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