Possession, Chapter 8, "Home at Last"

Sitting at her dressing table, Kitty Russell grimaced at her disheveled reflection in the mirror, attempting to drag a brush through her snarled hair.  She’d lain in bed for nearly three whole days, exhausted, aching, and lethargic from the potent concoction that Doc had insisted she drink daily, but at least it allowed her to rest while her body and mind healed.  She awoke only long enough to take a few bites of the food Matt considerately brought her on a tray several times a day, afterward blearily burrowing back into the pillows with a groan and drifting off to a dreamless sleep before he could even tiptoe back to the door. 

But last night she’d refused Doc’s medicine, claiming she was starting to feel much better…and wouldn’t feel normal again until she stopped taking the bitter stuff that made her feel so thoroughly woozy.  Mercifully, this morning she’d woken feeling fairly clear-headed while her nagging soreness had dissipated considerably. 

She’d taken a relaxing, lavender-scented bath, and thankfully this time she could actually remember climbing out of the tub when she was finished. It was strange really, but she couldn’t recall getting out of the tub and slipping into bed that first day after her attack.  Doc’s medicine obviously did funny things to her head, all the more reason to stop taking it now.

Kitty was struggling with a particularly bad tangle and muttering a few choice words about the situation when she heard Marshal Matt Dillon’s now familiar tap at her door. 

“Come in!” she called grumpily.

Matt was pleasantly surprised to find a fresh-faced but irritated Kitty in her pale pink dressing gown.  The garment fairly dripped with tiny feminine ruffles, and he always thought she looked like a delicious ice cream confection that would literally melt if he touched her.   Truth be told, he’d like to do considerably more than just touch her.  He’d fancy taking a mouth-watering bite…

Matt chuckled as she cursed under her breath the maddening knots in her hair.  “Here, give me that,” he demanded.  “Well, no wonder.  You’ve left half your pins in…”

He began to gently remove the offending hairpins from their hiding places among her uncooperative curls, combing the tousled tresses with soothing fingers as he worked.  Carefully attempting to avoid pulling her hair, he skillfully applied the brush to her thick mane of fiery red, untangling the ends first and gradually moving up.  Matt was pleased when he sensed Kitty’s body unwinding, her muscles relaxing as he appreciatively labored over the beautiful silken strands of copper.  Kitty closed her eyes gratefully and released a small sigh as Matt raised gooseflesh on Kitty’s shivering arms with every delicious stroke of the brush on her sensitized scalp. 

She couldn’t remember the last time someone had done this for her.  Kitty was wholly taken aback at Matt’s thoughtfulness and compassion.  It was so nice to be cared for and, to be honest, utterly foreign to her.  No man had ever treated her this way.  Thoughts of Carl Phillips, Horace Hamilton and other men of their ilk faded to nothingness as Matt patiently brushed until Kitty’s hair shone sleekly.

“Mmmm…” she unconsciously hummed deep in her throat.  Matt’s heartbeat quickened at the captivating sound.

Kitty felt so comforted, cherished even.  Suddenly emotional, her damp eyes gazed up into Matt’s appreciatively, and she gripped his big hand in hers.  Blue eyes crinkling charmingly at the corners, Matt leaned over her for a small, sweet peck on the lips as he laid the brush on the dressing table. 

But Kitty smiled enigmatically, and surprised him by reaching up to clasp each side of his collar in her hands, determinedly pulling his face nearer to hers.  Purring contentedly, she nipped at his bottom lip with her teeth, then kissed him deeply. 

He drew back, breathing unevenly, and questioned,   “Kitty, are you sure?  Do you think you’re really ready for…?” 

“Matt, why are you so good to me?”  Her eyes shone with unshed tears, and she quickly ceased his concerns by fiercely covering his lips with her own. 

Matt supposed Kitty knew what was best…

Their mouths slid hotly together, each hungrily tasting the other.  His lips traveled ravenously across her white skin, taking care not to hurt her still-healing bruises.  Kitty slipped up out of the chair and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pressing her lush body against his hard one as she fully offered her eager mouth for plunder.  His pants began to feel tighter with each needy moan that emanated from Kitty’s slim throat.

She pushed him hard against the door, removing his hat blindly even as she kissed him over and over, smiling as she located the peg to hang it up even with her eyes closed.  She ran her fingers through his irresistibly thick, wavy curls as she’d wanted to do for so very long. 

Kitty deeply inhaled his musky, masculine scent as he fumbled to open her dressing gown and ardently stroke her voluptuous breasts.  Whimpering quietly with his thorough ministrations, she impatiently pulled herself up and wrapped her long legs around his narrow waist, pressing her center appreciatively against his obvious arousal. 

When she reached down with one hand to hastily unbutton his pants, Matt cautioned breathlessly, “Wait a minute, Kitty, let’s slow down a little.”  He withdrew her hand from his waistband to press his lips to it sweetly, and explained, “I don’t want to hurt you, honey…let’s take it slower, all right?”

He wrapped his hands around her small waist and carried her to the bed, laying her gently on the tousled sheets.  Stripping off his vest, he tossed it carelessly to the floor and unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his broad, muscled chest. 

He eagerly drew her gown open to gain access to her creamy, naked body.  After he’d abruptly left her alone in bed the other night, Matt had been tormented by dreams of Kitty’s beautiful bare breasts, round little bottom, and velvety thighs ever since.  He wasn’t going to make that mistake twice…

Matt’s impassioned gaze swept across her exquisite form, and Kitty shivered deliciously in anticipation.  He cupped her foot in his hand and kissed her slim inner ankle.  Her eyes widened as his searing kisses traveled ever so slowly up her inner calves and thighs.  Matt’s lips left a damp trail of desire on her skin until Kitty’s breathing became ragged with yearning. 

Then Matt found her most secret of spots and fervently worshipped her with his full wet lips, teeth and tongue.  No one had ever loved Kitty like this before, and briefly she wondered where a nice boy like Matt had ever learned to…  Ohh… 

Matt wrapped his strong arms around her quivering thighs to help support her and allow himself better access.  Helplessly, she writhed and whimpered as he lovingly pleasured her, while her trembling fingers threaded desperately through his dark hair.  He couldn’t get enough of her sweetness, and continued to nip and stroke her with his talented mouth until she thought she might shatter. 

At long last Kitty was flooded with overwhelming sensation as the intimate muscles of her body contracted again and again and an impassioned sob of ecstasy escaped from her throat.  A cool sheen of sweat bathed her porcelain skin, and she lay bonelessly, pleading to her lover, “Please, Matt, stop…”

He reluctantly ceased, but his attention was soon drawn elsewhere.  She gasped when his slick tongue slipped into her bellybutton.  He growled low in his throat, his eyes sparkling mischievously up at her.  Matt’s mouth burned a determined path up her body, scorching her belly and last of all her aching, heaving breasts until they became so tender she cried out in abandon. 

She was jolted with sensation as his long fingers suddenly slipped down and parted her swollen folds.  Finding Kitty glistening, deliciously slick and hot, Matt knew she was at last ready for him.  Matt wasn’t a braggart, but he was a realist when it came to his size.  And if there was one thing he did not want to do, it was hurt his sweet Kitty. 

She sat up and helped him pull his shirt over his wide shoulders and down his well-muscled arms.  While she busied herself unbuttoning his pants, Matt stopped her long enough to cup her chin in his large hand and give her a slow, passionate kiss.  She was titillated to taste herself on his lips, and she melted into his embrace, deliciously pressing her bare breasts against his naked chest for the first time. 

Her senses were nearly painfully heightened; it made her feel light-headed and she clung to him, stroking the warm skin of his back.  Kitty’s heart fluttered as her fingertips skimmed over scars and old injuries that had been left from Matt’s fights and gun battles.  Her chest tightened as she encountered each one, reliving the pain and fear that she would lose her closest companion each and every time.  But then Matt playfully distracted her by nipping at her ear with his teeth, his heated breath wantonly scorching her neck, and at last she could wait no more. 

“I want you inside me, Matt,” she whispered, and he groaned hungrily at her words.

She helped him shed the remainder of his clothing and blissfully took in the impressive sight of his glorious nakedness.  Yes, she was taken aback by his size, but she knew Matt would be gentle with her. 

He stripped the robe from her shoulders and tenderly lay her back against the downy pillows.  Matt took his time, infinitesimally slowly, unwilling to hurt her in the least.  She gasped with the feeling of fullness as he entered her body, and for a moment she thought she would burst.  But gradually her inner muscles relaxed, and Matt slowly began to move inside of Kitty.

Tears slipped from the corners of Kitty’s sapphire eyes, overwhelmed with emotion as Matt gently made love to her for the first time.  His heart swelled in his chest at the sight, and between leisurely strokes, he kissed away her salty tears, savoring the taste on his tongue.   When she wrapped her arms around him, he thrust into her again and again, harder and faster, feeling like he was home at last.  Kitty arched her back to meet him, lips parted in ecstasy, and finally he cried out, spilling his warm seed inside of her. 

Wearily, Matt moaned and lay atop her heavily, breathing in the sweet scent of her skin.  Through the sated, lethargic fog of his brain, he could smell lavender soap, distinctly feminine sweat and Kitty’s own exotic musk.  Suddenly realizing he was crushing her, he made as if to move away, but she held him close. 

“Stay inside me, Matt.  Don’t move yet.  You’re not hurting me.” 

He kissed her nose, then placed his fingers where they two were still joined as one.  He gently massaged and stroked her sensitized skin over and over again until her breathing quickened and she cried out helplessly once more. 

“You’re my sweet girl,” Matt whispered. 

In absolute wonder, she breathed tentatively, “No one has ever taken such good care of me, Matt.”

He shifted his weight, gathering her in his strong embrace, pressing his lips to hers.

Matt nuzzled her ear and murmured, “I’ve got to go to Hays City tomorrow morning.  Leaving early.  Got a trial…”

Kitty groaned. 

“Don’t worry, I should be back in just a week.  When are you going to talk to Bill about purchasing half-interest in the Long Branch?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Good.”

Completely spent and utterly satisfied, Matt and Kitty fell asleep in each other’s arms.   

The End 

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Author’s Notes:

The action in this fic leads directly to the second season episode of Gunsmoke entitled Daddy-O (1957), in which Matt learns that Kitty has purchased a half-interest in the Long Branch Saloon from owner Bill Pence.  Doc explains that Kitty has “been saving her money.”  My version of events leading up to this episode fits in reasonably well, if you consider that Doc and Matt, in my story, “keep it on the down low” that they loaned a small portion of the money to Kitty, and are feigning surprise at her purchase for the benefit of Chester, sweet clueless wonder that he is. 

The notion that Kitty sold something other than whiskey and beer to her customers is not mine.
The following quotes from Amanda Blake I’ve taken from “Perfectly” Amanda: Gunsmoke’s Miss Kitty To Dodge and Beyond  (Five Star Publications, 2010) by Becky Burgoyne:

“because Kitty, actually, for all intents and purposes, was a hooker.  On radio they played it that way.  Georgia Ellis was Kitty on radio and did it very well vocally.  They could do a lot of things on radio that we couldn’t do on television…I had to find a very fine line between being a hooker and being a schoolmarm for visual purposes.  We didn’t want any letters coming in saying, ‘How dare you show that terrible woman on the screen.’…We had to make her just pure enough and just bad enough to be believable.  It was very difficult to find the character, and I scratched around longer that anyone (on the show) looking for her.” (NPR Radio interview, Amanda Blake and Ken Mothoson, Nov. 6, 1975.)

Amanda’s first interview in regards to her becoming “Miss Kitty” was nearly her last as she recalled in an interview for TV Guide.  “When I first started…a reporter asked me what Kitty was…I said, ‘Why she’s a tramp.’  I thought it was common knowledge.  But CBS screamed.  I almost lost my job.” (Burgoyne, p. 50.)

I’d like to thank everyone for reading this, my first and perhaps only Gunsmoke fanfic, which has been knocking around in my head since the late, great James Arness passed away in June.  I‘ve been a fan since I was a little girl in the 1970’s, sitting in my mama’s lap in our brown naugahyde recliner, breathlessly watching our favorite show and ultimately being enormously frustrated week after week when Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty failed to kiss.  Even at that tender age, I was acutely aware of how desperately they loved each other, but didn’t yet comprehend that just because the writers didn’t show “kissin’” on TV, didn’t mean it weren’t goin’ on “behind the scenes.” 

This legacy happily lives on as I attempt to discreetly explain this concept to my two beautiful foster-adopt girls who have recently been introduced to Gunsmoke this past summer and since become hopelessly addicted alongside me, with the help of Netflix, DVD’s and Youtube.  My eleven-year-old struts around the house in her red cowboy hat, suede boots, brown vest handmade by her Mamaw, and toy gun belt with her own personal addition of a string securing the holster to her leg just like her hero Matt Dillon wears. 

Now that I’m all grown up and have obviously never gotten over one of history’s greatest fictional romances, it has been so rewarding and cathartic to finally get this little story out of my system.  I hope you enjoyed reading it half as much as I enjoyed writing it.