She dropped the sheet and slipped quickly into her robe hanging from the bedpost at the foot of the bed, then sat at her vanity table.
“Robert’s parents never forgave them, or me, because their son could have married better. Did I love him?” She dropped her hands into her lap. “No. Never.”
“I’m glad.”
“Why? What does it matter? He’s dead now. Will you hand me my brush please.”
She shoved the long mass that was her hair, in front of her shoulder and brushed it. Blake had put her to bed, but hadn’t braided her hair and it was in tangles.
“It matters.” He came behind her and caressed her head with his fingers, “because I would have a much harder time replacing someone that you loved. You would now probably have him into sainthood. That’s very hard to overcome, from my point of view.”
“He definitely wasn’t a saint. Mmm, that feels so good.” Waves of relaxation and pleasure spread from her head to her toes. It was amazing how the touch by one person could be so pleasing.
“There are lots of ways to please each other while still not making love. Would you like to try some? I’d only do what you like. You are always in control. I’ll stop whenever you say.”
“You can stop whenever I say to?” His words cajoled and seduced her, making her pulse pound, even as the pain in her head subsided. “Robert told me that once he started he couldn’t stop” Flashes of embarrassment moved through her memory. “I tried to escape him one night, but that was impossible. The last night he was home, I must have conceived Violet. That was the nicest he’d ever been to me while making love. He didn’t choke me or anything.”
She couldn’t see Blake’s face but she would have bet that he was frowning. His hands, massaging her head, exerted great pressure on her head. So much so, she cried out.
“Blake, you’re hurting me.”
He stopped immediately.
“I’m sorry, Nellie. I’m just so angry at your husband. If I saw him right now, I’m afraid I’d kill the man.”
For some horrifying reason, she realized she was very pleased by his reaction to her abuse by Robert.
He took her hair and started pulling his fingers through it. “I wondered what it would feel like. It’s silk. Thick…and soft.” His voice was soft, almost hypnotic.
“I…um…thank you.” She was loathe to say anything to interfere with the moment. “Blake,” she whispered, her voice heavy, deep with an emotion she didn’t really understand. “We’ve got to dress. The children.”
Her words were as if she’d dumped icy water over him.
He dropped her hair. “Yes, of course. I’ll see you all at breakfast.” He left then.
With a sigh, she wondered what might have been.
*****
The night of the dinner party arrived. Cook, James, and the rest of the staff outdid themselves.
Nellie dressed with extra care in her new black evening gown. The design was the latest style, sleeveless and slightly off the shoulder. The bodice was the most daring she’d ever worn. She kept pulling it up, but her cleavage was still on display.
She checked herself in the full-length cheval mirror in her bedroom.
“Beautiful,” Blake’s deep baritone sounded behind her.
She jumped, her heart pounded. “Blake. You startled me.”
“I knocked but you were concentrating so hard on tugging up your neckline, you didn’t hear me.”
She nodded. “Don’t you think it’s a bit low?”
“Not compared to what I’m used to. It’s a very attractive dress, and you’ll be the envy of all the other wives. Here,” he handed her a long, skinny jewelry box. “I think they’ll look spectacular with that frock.”
She opened the case and saw one large emerald pendant, the size of a robin’s egg on a delicate gold chain and two matching ear bobs.
“Oh, Blake, they’re lovely, but I can’t accept such an extravagant gift.”
“Of course, you can. You’re my wife and if I want to buy you nice jewelry, I will. Besides you can pass them down to Violet when she’s old enough.”
She fingered the magnificent stone.
“Help me put it on, please.” She handed him the necklace, then turned her back. There was no need to lift her hair. She’d styled it in a chignon at the back of her head.
The stone hung about two inches above her décolletage. She fastened on the ear bobs then turned to Blake.
“What do you think?”
“You’re beautiful. Your eyes are the same deep shade as the emeralds.”
Blake put his hands on her upper arms, fire burned where he touched. Then he leaned down and kissed her. The kiss was gentle at first, then deeper and more carnal. By the time he ended the kiss and leaned back, his arms were around her waist and her arms were wrapped around his neck.
“Oh, my.” Heart pounding, she unwrapped her arms and touched her lips, no doubt swollen from such a spectacular mingling. “Oh, my.”
He laughed. “Indeed.” He held his arm out for her, and together, they went down stairs to greet their guests.
Cook had prepared a delightful menu for the evening consisting of turtle soup, salad of fresh greens from their garden, followed by roasted suckling pig and a chocolate torte for dessert. Conversation was lively, and consisted mostly of talk of the transcontinental railroad. Several of the men had invested in the Central Pacific Railroad and now speculated on its ability to beat the Union Pacific across the country. Still others were concerned with the shipping business and how the railroad would affect it.
After dinner, the gentlemen retired to the library for brandy and cigars. Nellie took the ladies to the parlor for tea. They were having a lively conversation about Nellie’s dress and Paris fashion in general. Nellie was about to ask the women to talk to their husbands about the family emporium Blake wanted to build, when James entered.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, madam, but Miss Singer has arrived and insists on seeing you.”
Before Nellie could respond Maddie Singer sashayed past James and into the room.
“You don’t need to announce me, James.” She hiccupped and swayed on her feet. “The missus and I are old friends.”
“We are nothing of the kind. What do you want, Miss Singer?” Nellie stood, and held herself as straight as she could manage with anger and embarrassment warring inside. “What can I help you with this time?”
“Call me Maddie. Everybody does.”
“Very well, Maddie, what do you want?”
“I want you to leave Blake alone. He’s mine. You hear me? I changed my work schedule with Trixie. He doesn’t know yet, but I’m working with him on Monday.”
Maddie swayed again, but caught herself before she fell.
James reached toward her, but stood back the moment she straightened.
“James, get Mr. Malone, please,” said Nellie, approaching the inebriated woman with caution. “You’ve imbibed too much alcohol, Maddie. How did you get here?”
“I came in a cab. Why?” She glared at her and Nellie knew there was trouble brewing.
Nellie took her firmly by the elbow and steered her back out of the room into the hallway.
“Did the cab wait for you, Maddie?”
“Hell, no.” She struggled to her free arm. “I ain’t going back to The Nugget wifout Blake.”
“Nellie,” said Blake from behind her. “Let me deal with her.”
She looked up at her husband and saw his beautiful gray eyes, now storm-filled and angry.
“Be gentle with her, Blake. She’s drunk and doesn’t really know what she’s doing.”
He gave her a curt nod and then said to James, “Get Otis and have him bring the carriage around to the front. Quickly, man, before she causes any more damage.”
Nellie turned to the ladies who had followed her into the hallway and were now whispering behind their hands. She had to control the situation for Blake’s sake.
“Come, ladies, let’s return to the
salon. There’s nothing more to see out here.” She shooed the women back into the parlor like they were so many little chicks and she was putting them into the hen house.
“Dat’s right, ladies, nothin’ to see here,” shouted Maddie from the entry way.
Nellie shut the door behind her once all the women were back inside.
“I apologize for that disruptive episode. What were we discussing? Oh yes, Paris fashions.”
“Forget that,” said Mrs. Adams as she leaned forward. She was a blond woman who was as thin as her husband was fat. “Who was that woman?”
Nellie sighed. She wouldn’t get by without explaining. “She works for my husband at his establishment, The Nugget. I’m afraid she’s imbibed too much drink.”
“What does she want with your husband?” asked Mrs. Walpole, a buxom redhead, about ten years older than Nellie. Her husband was much older, but still spry as far as Nellie could tell.
“I haven’t any idea,” Nellie said the bald-faced lie without batting an eyelash.
Of course, she knew what Maddie wanted. She wanted Blake, and Nellie was afraid she might have him if Nellie didn’t decide to trust him, and soon. What man wants a cold fish for a wife?
Before very long, the men came in to collect their wives. The evening was over. Maddie Singer had seen to that. That was unfortunate, because until that point the dinner and resulting conversations had gone very well.
After the door closed for the final time, Nellie went upstairs and prepared for bed. She removed the beautiful pendant and ear bobs, returning them to the silk lined box they came in. She was sitting in her robe at her dressing table when Blake came through the door from the hall.
“I’m sorry Nellie,” he said as he ran a hand through his hair..
“For what? You can’t control what she does. She’s responsible for this debacle, not you.” She started to braid her waist length hair. “I understand that.”
“I should have fired her before. I’ll do it tomorrow.”
“She should be there for your shift. She told me in no uncertain terms that she had changed her work hours to coincide with yours.”
“What?” His eyes widened and he started pacing. “When did she do that? I work with Trixie. I promised you that, and I don’t break my promises. Not to you, Nellie. Never to you.”
Nellie shook her head. “She told me tonight, and said that you didn’t know. She’s very determined to have you for her own, Blake.” She finished her hair and now concentrated on the items on her vanity, moving the brush and comb into alignment. “Are you sure you don’t want to take her up on her offer?”
He stalked across the room and pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “I assure you, Nellie Malone, the only woman I want is you. I’ll wait as long as you want me to.” His lips crashed onto hers. He possessed her. His tongue found her willing mouth open for his taste.
She loved the way he tasted. A bit of brandy marked his tongue and it was lovely.
She returned his kiss and his ardor. Tired of waiting and of being the good wife to a dead man, Nellie wanted Blake as much as he wanted her.
“You told me there are things we can do, that will not be making love, but that I would enjoy. Is that true?” she whispered as his lips left fiery kisses up and down her neck. “Please, teach me.”
“Oh, Nellie, I’ve waited so long for you to say those words.”
He stepped back, untied her robe and pushed it off her shoulders, letting it fall unceremoniously to the floor.
She stood before him, naked, not just without clothes, but without protection of any kind. She was offering him not only her body, but more importantly, her trust. He’d managed to work his way in, with his kindness to her and the children, with his obvious love of Violet and growing fondness for Henry. He’d won her over with his honorable ways, putting her first over his business, over Maddie.
“God, Nellie, you’re beautiful. I can’t believe you belong to me. That you’re my wife and I get to make love to you as often as I want.”
With those words he kissed her deeply and pulled her close. She could feel his erection fairly bursting from his pants.
“Shouldn’t I lie on the bed?” Her words were breathy, torn from her lungs by the wonderful kisses he placed behind her ear, and up and down her neck. By the magic of his tongue, tracing where his lips had just been. By him. Just him.
“Yes, lie on the bed.”
He let go long enough for her to get to the bed and lay face up, stiff as a board, afraid of what was to come.
“Nellie, relax. I promise I will not hurt you.” Then he was there with her, beside her, touching her, teasing her. His fingers leaving incredible sensations wherever they touched.
Soon, she was squirming on the bed. His mouth suckled one of her nipples, his tongue circling and his teeth grazing the sensitive bud, forcing it to a point and sending shocks of pleasure through her. His hand worked the other, pinching, flicking, and then soothing with his palm.
She was writhing with need.
“Blake!”
“I know. I know what you need.”
He started kissing her, working his way over her stomach and down to her mons. She stiffened, “Blake?”
He kissed her mons again. “Shh, just enjoy. Nothing between us is forbidden or wrong as long as it feels good. Just feel.”
Every kiss he gave her left her blazing. Then suddenly he was there, at her core. His tongue worked her sensitive nub, like it had worked her nipple. He put two fingers inside her and began scissoring them back and forth, stretching her a little more each time.
She wanted…no, needed…so much more. The pressure building within her strained at her consciousness.
He sucked hard and rubbed her in a special spot only he knew. She came apart. She sailed to the stars and back before coming to rest back on the bed. He stayed with her, licking her, soothing her.
“Oh my, God.” Her words came out a breathy whisper. “I’ve never…I didn’t know…God!”
Blake chuckled.
Once she caught her breath she ran a finger over his firm jaw. “Blake, do you want children?”
“I already have two.” He hugged her tight.
Her heart melted a bit. She knew he meant it and every time he said it she became a little more enamored of him.
“But do you want more?”
“Don’t worry your little head about it.” He cupped a hand on her cheek. “I do want children. I didn’t know it until I met Violet and Henry, but I do now. I’d like to see more little ones running around, and we do have lots of bedrooms to fill.”
“You want to fill all the bedrooms?” She played with the hair on his chest, twirling it around her finger.
“Well, not all at once, but eventually, yes, I’d like to have six children. It’s a nice, round number.”
“Oh, God. You’ll have me with child all the time. I’ll look like a whale.”
“You could never look anything but beautiful to me, especially when you’re carrying my child.”
Again, everything seems so perfect. He was saying all the right things, but did he really believe them or was he saying them because he knew it’s what she wanted to hear?
CHAPTER 7
Nellie waited to talk about Maddie until breakfast. She didn’t want to spoil what had been an amazing experience, but she knew they needed to talk. Plus, she didn’t know why, but she felt sure that firing Maddie was not the right tack to take. The action would only make her more dangerous.
“Blake, may I talk to you about Maddie?”
He put down his paper and looked at her. “There’s not anything more to say. She’s being fired today. She’s ruined my life for the last time.”
“That’s just it. If you fire her, you’ll give her a reason to get worse. It worries me and she frightens me.” She twisted the napkin in her lap. “I think she could become dangerous.”
“Don’t be silly,” he said, waving off her concerns. “She’s disruptive, but
not dangerous.”
“Not yet.” She sipped on her coffee, not hungry for food.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it. Alright? Trust me?”
“Of course.” She paused, then cocked her head. “I find that I really do trust you. You’ve proven yourself worthy of that.”
“I’m glad.” He stared at her empty plate. “Now, are you eating something before those hooligans show up and you have to help Violet?”
“She’s perfectly capable of feeding herself and you know it.”
“Not without getting it everywhere.”
“Don’t let her hug you,” she said, barely keeping from laughing. “Especially after she’s begun eating and you won’t end up with jam on your suit.”
“But that’s when she wants to hug me, and I wouldn’t turn down a hug from either of those children, whenever they want to give it.” He shook his head. “Even though, Henry isn’t give much to hugs, is he? Or is it just me?”
“No, he’s at the age where he believes he’s too old for that behavior.”
“Are you sure it’s not because he’s jealous? In his eyes, I’m replacing his father and that makes him afraid, but that’s not what I mean to do. You on the other hand, I hope I can make you forget all about him and the pain he caused. I want you to only remember the pleasurable time we had last night and how much more pleasure there will be when we make love fully. I intend to have you every night, and maybe in the mornings, too.”
She frowned, though she was secretly excited. “You can’t seriously mean to do the deed that often, can you?”
He smiled and it was devilish. “You forget, there is going to be no pain. Just like last night, the rest of the act is pleasurable as well. If I can manage it, I fully intend to take advantage of every opportunity to make love to you. Now, I’m off to work early, so I can confront Maddie as soon as she comes in. Since she traded with Trixie, she should be there for the morning shift that starts at eight.”
Nellie (The Brides of San Francisco Book 1) Page 7
