“Yes.”
“What changed?” Veronica studied Millie’s serious expression.
“I did. You were brave enough to stand up to my mother. The least I can do is be brave enough to meet your family.
“You don’t feel forced into it, do you?” Veronica chewed her lip. “It’s okay if you want to wait. We have time.”
“I don’t feel forced. I’ll go with you. But you have to promise you’ll do something for me.” Millie stood and clasped both of Veronica’s hands in hers.
“What?”
“You have to come to another wedding with me.”
“Who else is getting married?”
“We are. If you’ll have me.”
Veronica threaded her fingers through Millie’s hair and tugged her head back. She traced her finger over her lips. “I think this is extortion.”
Millie grinned. “Just good old-fashioned Scottish negotiation. Besides, I want to see you in the suit I had made for you.”
“Were you planning on asking me when you commissioned the suit?”
“It might have crossed my mind.” Millie smirked. She stood and grabbed Veronica’s ass and lifted.
Veronica wrapped her legs around Millie’s waist, kissed her on the mouth, and then trailed her lips over her jaw. She made her way to her ear and whispered. “Yes. Yes to all of it.”
MARTHA SAT IN the chair behind the desk. Millie and Veronica were in the chairs across from the wide walnut desk.
“We know it’s a lot, but we both need to be off for this.” Millie sat back in her chair.
Martha fixed her gaze on Veronica. “I’m willing to let you both be off for the wedding, but Veronica, I will need you to work an extra two weeks beyond the end of your contract.”
Veronica reached out and clasped Millie’s hand. “I wanted to talk to you about that too.”
Martha raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“I want to extend my contract. Sign up now for next year.”
Martha smiled, and Veronica understood exactly how a rabbit must feel when chased by a wolf.
“Excellent. I’ll draw the paperwork up.”
“And…” Veronica kept her gaze fixed on Martha’s face. “We will need some time off next year in the fall as well.”
Lucia and Myfanwy rose from where they had been lounging on the fainting couch. They stood behind Martha, each with a hand on her shoulder.
“Whatever for?” The hint of a smile played around Lucia’s mouth, and Myfanwy covered her mouth with her hand.
“Wedding.” Veronica pressed on. “Our wedding.”
Lucia smiled as Martha dug into her jacket pocket and produced a roll of banknotes and passed it to Lucia.
Veronica frowned. “You bet on me?”
Martha raised an eyebrow. “I thought you would get married this year, Lucia said next year, and Myfanwy excused herself from betting.”
Lucia leaned forward and placed the bundle of bills on the desk. “An early wedding present from me. Consider it a donation to the festivities.”
“KNEEL, FACE TO the mattress.” The light from the bedside lamp lit Millie’s skin with a soft glow. Veronica smoothed her hands over her back. She worked swiftly, wrapping the coils of soft rope around her wrists and securing her to the bed rails. The graceful stretch of Millie’s arms and the tension in her body sent a current of desire whipping through Veronica.
Millie moved and complied with Veronica’s directions as Veronica looped the ropes she had prepared over Millie’s ankles and bound her to the sides of the bed. She double-checked the knots.
“I love the way you look spread wide for me.” She touched her fingers to the wet heat between Millie’s legs and then licked them. “Mmm. Already so wet for me.” She reached under her and flicked Millie’s nipple, eliciting a yip. She pinched and rolled her nipple harder, and Millie arched into her touch. “You like that?”
“Yes, Ceannard. So much. More, please.”
Veronica kneeled behind her on the bed, pressing her breasts against Millie’s firm ass. She draped her hands over her back and splayed her fingers out over Millie’s breasts. She cupped and squeezed the fullness in her hands. She licked her fingers, and squeezed and pulled Millie’s nipples into hard peaks as she rocked against her. She scattered sharp bites over Millie’s back, driven by her dirty groans and whimpers.
Veronica bit hard, rolling her taut muscles, relishing the feel of Millie’s skin between her teeth, stopping short of breaking her skin. She interspersed her bruising bites with soft sucking kisses, soothing her with her tongue and savoring Millie’s hisses and moans. Her face was turned to the side with her eyes closed.
Veronica picked up one of the nipple clips from the nightstand, reached under Millie, and applied it. She tightened the clamp slowly on her nipple as she watched her face. Millie grimaced and Veronica stilled. “Too much, babe?”
“Give me a minute.” Millie panted and her face relaxed. “I’m good.”
Veronica tapped her chin. “Look at me.”
Millie opened her eyes and met Veronica’s gaze.
“Remember your words. If you need me to stop say ‘red.’ If you need me to slow down or back off say ‘yellow,’ okay?”
“Aye. Yellow. Got it, Ceannard.”
Veronica picked up the second clamp and applied it to her other nipple. When the clamps were in place she scraped her fingernails over the tips of her swollen nipples. Millie arched back into her and bucked her hips. “So good. Please don’t stop, Ceannard. More.”
Veronica shifted on the bed and kneeled between Millie’s legs. She teased a finger over the dimple at the base of her spine and down the crease in her ass. Millie trembled under her. “In time, babe, patience.” She touched her fingers to the folds between Millie’s legs and gathered the wetness there. She lay against her, reached under her, and took a breast in each hand as she rubbed the slickness over Millie’s nipples and rubbed her thick clit against Millie’s ass. “I love how you feel under me.”
Her clit slid over the firm muscles of Millie’s ass as she wiggled under her. Millie’s sweet sounds pushed her over the edge, and she came against her ass, gasping her release in Millie’s ear.
Millie thrashed under her. “Now. Please, Ceannard. I need it. Now. Please.”
Veronica cupped her. She was hot and swollen and desire dripped down her thighs. Veronica brushed her fingers over her entrance and teased her lips apart. “Mmm, so wet. For me.”
“All for you.”
“What do you need, babe? Do you need me to fuck you?”
Millie’s blush spread from her collarbones, and she turned her face into the bed. Her voice was muffled. “Oh please. Yes please, Ceannard. Don’t make me wait. Please fuck me. I want you so much.”
Veronica kept up her teasing touches, slipping her middle finger in deep, knowing Millie needed more. “In time, babe.”
With a snarl Millie arched off the bed. “Fuck me. Now. I need it.”
“Feisty today, aren’t you?” Veronica stilled and drew her hand away. “Behave, babe. I’ll make it good for you.” She kissed her cheek and left the bed.
Millie strained against the ropes around her wrists and ankles. She turned her head, her eyes tracking Veronica’s movements. “No. Please. Don’t leave me like this, Ceannard. Please. I’ll be good. I’ll do whatever you want. Please.”
Veronica leaned down close to the bed. “You’ll do what I want anyway.” She looked into Millie’s eyes. “Won’t you?”
“Always, Ceannard. Please.”
Veronica cupped her cheek, and Millie turned her face to kiss her palm. “Anything, Ceannard, always,” she whispered.
Veronica opened the nightstand door. She pulled out a thick toy and harness. Millie’s hooded eyes were glazed. “You’d let me fuck you with this? Fuck you until you scream my name and beg me to let you come? Would you do that?”
Millie shuddered and gasped. “Yes. Please.”
“Ask properly.” Veronica pinched
Millie’s ear.
“Please, Ceannard. Please fuck me. Now. Please. Until I scream. Please.”
The desperate expression on Millie’s face and tone of her voice made Veronica ache with her own need.
“Watch me.” Veronica buckled the toy in place. She palmed and slowly stroked its length, watching Millie’s face as she went slack jawed. “You want this?”
“Oh, yes. Please.” Millie licked her lips. “Please.”
“Show me. Move your ass. Show me how much you want me to fuck you.”
Veronica mounted the bed behind Millie. Millie gyrated and moved her hips, silently begging Veronica to fill her.
Veronica watched until she was desperate to possess her. “Stop.”
Millie stilled, panting, her body heaving.
Veronica pressed her fingers inside, opening her. The tip of the phallus at her entrance, she grabbed her hips and sank slowly into Millie. The pressure and vibration on her clit was delicious.
Millie groaned beneath her, a deep, guttural, animal sound.
Veronica pulled out to the tip and sank in again. Millie whimpered. “For all that’s good in the world, please fuck me, Ceannard, please don’t make me wait. I want to scream for you.”
Veronica inhaled sharply and fucked her, sinking deep on the in stroke, pulling out almost to the tip each time, pounding into Millie, pouring out everything she had into her. The pressure on her clit drove her to seek her own completion, and she came over the base of the toy.
“Please. Oh Please. Now. Ceannard. Please!” Millie’s voice was loud. “Harder, please. Let me. Let me come for you.”
Sweat stung Veronica’s eyes. She let go of Millie’s hips, draped herself over Millie’s back, and clasped a nipple clip in each hand. “Now, babe, now, scream for me.” She tugged the clamps loose and hammered into Millie.
Millie screamed as she came, soaking Veronica’s thighs, and slumped on the bed. Veronica collapsed on her back, pumped her hips twice, and came again. Veronica rocked gently against Millie, fucking her with slow shallow thrusts. “Again, babe, again, for me.” She bit the back of Millie’s neck and held on as a ripple of pleasure shook Millie’s frame.
She eased the toy from her body, unbuckled the harness, and placed it aside. She got up and untied Millie, moving swiftly. Millie rolled to her back as soon as she was free. Her eyes were closed, her face a mask of relaxed pleasure.
Veronica kissed her, and Millie wrapped her arms around Veronica to pull her down on top of her. She shivered, and Veronica reached down and pulled the patchwork quilt over them. She snuggled into Millie’s neck. “You are the most magnificent woman. I didn’t hurt you, did I? I got lost in you. I lost control.”
Millie kissed her forehead. “It was perfect. I love how you know what I need. You get me.”
Veronica raised herself up on her elbow to cupped Millie’s face. “I want to do everything with you.” She sat up and leaned against the headboard as she opened the bedside table and drew out a plain wooden box. She passed it to Millie and slid down next to her to watch her face as she opened it.
Millie opened the lid. A wide pair of hand-tooled dark-brown leather cuffs rested on the deep-blue velvet lining the inside of the box. She glanced up at Veronica, passed the box back to her, pushed herself to sitting and held out her arms, palm up. “Put them on me, please. I want to wear your cuffs.”
Veronica placed the first cuff on, buckled it into place, and placed a kiss on Millie’s palm before she repeated the procedure with the other side. She unclipped the straps holding one of the stainless-steel rings close to the leather. “These are made to hold the rings close so you can wear them without the rings getting caught on things.” She settled her hands on Millie’s shoulders. “It’s okay if you want to take them off when you’re working.”
“I’ll want to wear them all the time.” Millie cupped the back of Veronica’s neck and kissed her hard. “They are perfect, mo ghràdh.”
Veronica tweaked Millie’s nipple, and she gasped and let go of Veronica’s neck. Veronica rubbed the pad of her thumb over the tip of Millie’s nipple. “How sore are your nipples?” The shudder running through Millie’s body told her everything she needed to know.
“Not too, Ceannard.”
“Lay back. Palms on your stomach.”
Millie lay back, resting her hands on her stomach. The gleaming leather of the cuffs against her freckled skin made Veronica hard. “I like the way they look against your skin. The way you look waiting for me. But I think”—she drew a thin chain from the bedside drawer—“this will make it even better.” She clipped the chain to one cuff. Millie’s skin pebbled where the chain lay. “And these will make it perfect.” She held up the set of clamps she had used earlier. With practiced movements she pulled Millie’s nipples into hard points and applied the clips. She ran the chain through the loops and then clipped it to the other cuff. She sat on her heels and assessed her work. Millie lay panting, her hands bound by the cuffs and the chains connecting the nipple clamps to her hands. She tested the tension and slack in the chain and made an adjustment, tightening the chain so if Millie moved her hands down the clips would pull free.
Veronica raked her nails over Millie’s stomach. “Spread your legs for me.”
Millie opened her legs. Veronica lay between them and inhaled the sharp sweet smell of Millie. She licked softly over her clit, grazing it with her tongue. Millie gasped. Veronica mouthed her core, toying with her, sucking her labia before she thrust her tongue deep. Millie’s hips twitched and Veronica used her thumbs to hold her open, taking what she wanted. “This is mine.” She licked a long line from her center to her clit. “You are mine.” She sucked her clit, laving it with her tongue, pulling it between her lips, and slowly letting it out. The chains rattled as Millie’s breathing increased. Veronica lifted her gaze.
Millie was clenching and unclenching her hands. “So good. More, Ceannard, please. Let me come in your mouth. Let me come for you.” Millie’s voice was soft.
Veronica teased her tongue over her clit, making her jump. “You may come as you wish.” She bent to her task. She took Millie’s clit in her mouth, circling it with her tongue, sucking and teasing the hard pearl between her lips.
Millie rocked into her, the chains ringing, and then she went rigid and jerked her hands down to grab Veronica’s head and hold her in place.
“Yours.” Millie shouted as she came with a gush that filled Veronica’s mouth and ran down her chin.
Chapter Twenty
VERONICA GAZED AT the steel and glass arches of the roof of the Glasgow airport. Six short months ago she had found her way out of customs and into the waiting black car that had carried her to the ferry to Skye and then to Rowan House. She shivered. Dread bubbled up, knotting her gut. Veronica thought about all the subtle and not so subtle racism she’d experienced over her life. It was a low frequency hum, affecting everything and every moment. Veronica slumped in her seat as she thought of all the ways she moderated the way she spoke, and looked, and acted growing up; how she had doubled down on it after her release.
She hadn’t had to do any of that since she had arrived at Rowan House. And now they were headed back to a place where a wrong look or tone could have her face down on the sidewalk with cuffs on her wrists and a knee in her back. Sadness and anger battled for first place in her thoughts. Will she understand? Will she get it? She’s faced some shit over her butch appearance and being queer, but does she have any idea how much worse it can be? How assholes will react when we go out as a couple? She’s not ignorant. She’ll be okay. She wouldn’t have said yes if she didn’t mean it.
She glanced over at Millie. Her face pulled into a grimace as she checked her phone messages. “Problem?” Veronica’s voice squeaked. She swallowed around her apprehension.
“No. Another ridiculous email from that woman who shall remain nameless’s solicitors.” Millie turned her phone off and stuffed it into her pocket.
Veronica rubbed her hand
over Millie’s back in small circles. “I’m sorry, babe.”
“Not your fault. And if she had any sense at all, she’d let this go. Before I call in some favors.” The low tone of menace in Millie’s voice shocked Veronica.
“What kind of favors?” Veronica’s failed attempt to hide her fear was evident from the exasperated expression on Millie’s face.
“Nothing violent. You’ve watched too many movies.” Millie lowered her voice. “I’ve driven many people to Rowan House over the years. Powerful people who like me and trust me to keep their private trysts private. People who have the ability to make my mother’s life a living hell if she doesn’t stop trying to get her claws on my gran’s money. Money for the scholarship Gran wanted to create in her name at Cardiff. I’m not going to let her take that from Gran.” The set of Millie’s chin and the resolve in her voice reminded Veronica of why this woman and no other would do for her.
THE FIRST-CLASS seats were roomy enough for Veronica to stretch out and sleep, but her thoughts circled around to what lay ahead. Her family had been great on the phone about Millie’s past, but she had neglected to mention Millie was white. She sorted over her family’s history and came up short with anyone ever even dating a white person, let alone being engaged to one. No need to tell them we’re engaged. Not right away. Let them get used to the idea of Millie first.
She glanced over at Millie, her face peaceful as she slept. She had a fresh haircut, the edges of her fade sharp, and Veronica longed to reach out and touch the pink skin above her ear. Not wanting to wake her, she satisfied herself with simply enjoying the view. The deep laugh lines around Millie’s eyes and the corners of her mouth and the strong angle of her jaw were visible in the low light of the cabin. Her long legs were stretched out and she had her arms clasped over her chest, holding on to the blanket. The subtle curve and dip of the muscles in her forearms had Veronica shifting in her seat as a low heat simmered in her belly. With no chance to do anything about it, she sighed in frustration and looked out of the window into the midnight blue surrounding the plane. Damn it. They’ll be okay. They’d never make me choose.
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