“But yet you have never hurt me.”
“You saw me with Breeze.”
“Yes,” I said, quietly.
“Is that how you want your first time to be?”
“No,” I admitted.
“I’ve done much worse, Trinity.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing,” he said.
“When you say you will hurt me you don't mean just physically, do you?”
“No,” Reid said. “There is physical harm, and there is hurting you in other ways, breaking your heart.”
“Reid, have you ever had someone touch you?”
“Sure.”
“I mean, have you ever experienced an intimate touch where they touched you, but you did not touch them?”
“No,” he admitted.
“So you always take control, and never allow anyone to touch you?”
“Yes.”
“And when you touch a woman it is always for sex?”
“Yes.”
“So you have never touched or kissed or made out without sex?”
“Never. But I have had sex without touching them.”
“I don’t understand?”
“I told them what to do. I watched while I jacked-off.”
I knew how he pleasured himself; it was rough, he was rough.
“Let me touch you, Reid,” I whispered in his ear. “Sit still, and feel what it is like for someone to touch you.”
Reid sat still. I placed my mouth to the hollow of his throat where I pressed a soft kiss, skimming my lips up his jaw line then stopped. I gazed up into his face. I witnessed the furrow on his brow. Maybe gradual exposure, soft caresses, unlingering touch would show him what it was like to receive, and then maybe he could give?
I traced my fingers over the furrow upon his brow then outlined his eyebrows. Reid closed his eyes. My lips caressed him. I had placed a kiss to the corner of his eye, to his cheekbone, his jaw, his chin, and finally his lips.
Beneath me, Reid’s cock hardened. It pressed against my buttocks firmly, with malice of forethought. I placed my arms around his shoulders, and curled up against him, listening to the rapid beat of his heart. It felt like a freight train was moving through him, rapidly. I wanted to calm him, show him tenderness. I kept still, not moving, holding him, then I started to hum.
“What is that?” Reid asked.
“A lullaby Alec taught me,” I said, then went back to humming.
“Trinity...”
“Shh…” I continued with the lullaby.
Once I felt Reid’s body relax, his respiration steady, his heartbeat calm, I let loose of Reid and stood up. He stared at me, confusion upon his face.
“We still have a jog to complete,” I said. “And I believe this girl is going to kick your ass.”
I turned on my heels and ran…
Reid caught me again. “You are going the wrong way.”
“I want to explore.”
We made it back to the chateau as the breeze became cooler and stronger. I tilted my head up toward the sky. The clouds rolled in. I wondered if it would storm.
“What are you thinking about, baby?”
“Baby?”
Reid shrugged and hit me with his lady killer smile.
“Um...” I mumbled, “I was just wondering if we are going to get another snowstorm. Look at the sky.”
Reid looked up quickly then turned his attentions back to me.
“Maybe?” he answered. “This was good today.”
“Yes,” I agreed, “it was good.”
“You aren’t going to the party on Friday, are you?”
I shook my head.
“Good.”
“And you? Are you coming to the party?”
“Will you be my date if I come?” Reid asked.
“What do you mean?”
“We can hang out. No risky business.”
“Sure, what do you want to do?”
“Cards,” Reid said. “The last time we played poker you kicked my ass so I kind of owe you.”
“Okay. Friday night, my room,” I said. “I’ll bring the snacks. You bring the cards.”
“It’s a date.”
“Do you want to come in, see if Alec will give you a ride home?”
“Naw, it’s only a couple of miles. I’ll be fine. In any case, I usually jog a lot farther than we did today.” I rolled my eyes. Reid let out a low chuckle. “I’ll see you on Friday.” Reid placed a soft kiss to my cheek. He didn’t linger. He turned and jogged back in the direction we had come.
Chapter Sixteen
Friday afternoon I had to endure the fitting. Jacqueline sent for a seamstress in hope of making my dress for the Queen’s charity ball into a masterpiece. It was stunning, pristine snow white. The top of the dress was fitted like a corset or a bustier. The back bodice laced, very fitted. The top edge of the corset was encrusted with detailed bead-work that poured into the bodice. The bottom of the dress belled out like a flower with more bead-work around the flared edging. Beneath the dress, I wore several skirts, and a hoop, to make the flowered flare. On my arms I wore satin gloves. They flowed up my arms and over my elbows.
“It is a perfect fit,” Jacqueline said. “Lord Archer will be enchanted by your beauty.”
I blew a curl from my face. “I don’t think I will be able to sit down.”
“It’s a ball, no one sits,” Tempest interjected, adding what looked like an antique ruby necklace around my neck. “Hold still.” She placed the matching ruby earrings upon my ears. They dangled. “I think we need something around your wrist?” Tempest breezed out of the room then back in. “Here,” she said, “this will be perfect.” She pulled out my arm, attaching a ruby bracelet over the glove.
“Of course we should up-sweep her hair, but I think tight around the face,” Amelia said.
“Yes,” Jacqueline agreed.
“I doubt I will be able to do that.” I said.
Amelia and Jacqueline smiled as if I were silly.
“No need to worry. We will pass on the information. There will be a stylist and a seamstress to meet you, help you get ready for the ball,” Amelia informed.
“I’m going to have people help me get ready in England?”
“Of course,” Jacqueline replied. “You will be staying in the home of the Duke so you will want for nothing while you are there.” Jacqueline turned toward Amelia. “Have you purchased all of Trinity’s travel clothing?”
“Traveling clothing?” Trinity echoed parrot-like once again.
“Yes,” Amelia said. “Shall we go over everything now?”
“We have time,” Jacqueline said. She started in on the back laces of the dress I had on. “We will need to box this dress. Have it shipped.”
“You are shipping my dress?”
“My petit, everything has been arranged,” Jacqueline assured.
“I need to get ready for my date,” I interjected after seeing the time.
“Ah … Reid,” Jacqueline replied.
“I need to make snacks. We’re going to play cards.”
“Cards?” Amelia asked, suspicious.
“Yes, cards.”
“Alright, my petit,” Jacqueline acquiesced. “We will clean up this mess,” she said fluttering her hand over the abundance of clothing, shoes and accessories. “You go prepare your snacks, get ready for your date.”
I stepped out of the dress. Took a breath. Put on a robe, and kissed Jacqueline’s cheek. “Thanks,” I said, bounding for the door.
“My petit,” Jacqueline called.
I paused with my hand on the doorknob. “Yes?”
“On Sunday we will go over the proper etiquette for your entrance into the ball as well the greeting line.”
“Okay,” I said, bouncing out the door.
“My beauty, what are you doing?” Alec asked, coming to my side as I twirled around in the kitchen reminiscent of a ballerina on a sugar rush.
“Gathering snacks,”
I said. “I have a date with Reid.”
“I heard,” Alec replied. “Did you put the flowers from Lord Archer into water?”
“Yes, as soon as I got them.”
“So how many flowers has he sent to you since he has been in England?”
“Well … I received three dozen red roses, a dozen white roses, those fabulous orchids, two dozen pink roses, two dozen peach roses, and today the pink and yellow bouquet.” I dug through the cabinets then spun on my heel. “Do we have popcorn?”
Alec went over to a cabinet by the large freezer and pulled out some kernels of corn in a bag. “Here,” he said.
“What do I do with this?”
“Pop it.”
“But you can’t put this in a microwave.”
Alec laughed. “Put the kernels into a pan with hot butter and a lid. Shift the pan over the flame on the stove, and it will pop.”
“Okay,” I said, following Alec’s instructions.
I worked the pan over the flame, shaking the pan, shaking … until I heard a popping kernel hit the lid with a ping. I giggled. Alec smiled.
“See, you did not believe me,” he said.
In a few minutes I had a heaping pile of hot buttered popcorn that I poured into a large yellow bowl.
“Alec, will you help me take this stuff up to my room?”
“Sure,” he said, gathering the bags of chips, the soda, and the plate of sandwiches.
“You have quite a bit of food for two people.”
We made our way up the stairs.
“Yeah, but Reid eats a lot.”
“Ah…” Alec murmured. “You know him well, don’t you?”
“In some ways, yes. In other ways I don’t know him at all.”
Maybe I never really knew Reid at all. I’d spent so much time watching him, wishing and dreaming of him, without seeing the reality of him. If I were honest, I’d invented an entire fantasy world around him.
Once in my room, I arranged the snacks onto the table, and gathered up some pillows for chairs. The room was full of Lord Archer’s flowers, and the smell of sweet roses wafted through the air.
“How do I look, Alec?” I asked, spinning around. “I know it’s nothing fancy, just jeans and a T-shirt, but what do you think? Be honest.”
“You are breathtaking,” he said.
“Come on, Alec.”
“I am serious. You are radiant. Any man who should be lucky enough to spend time with you should kiss the ground at your feet.”
My ears flushed hot. “Thanks, Alec.”
“You are true sweetness, my beauty.”
“What time is it?” I asked.
Alec looked at his watch. “Almost time for our guest to be arriving. I will send Reid up.”
“Thanks,” I said.
I fussed with my hair a moment then heard a knock at my door. It was too soon for it to be Reid, as Alec just left.
“Trinity,” Breeze called through the door, “you have a phone call from Lord Archer.”
I went to the door, and flung it open. Breeze looked like a million dollars, dressed in a fiery red dress that left nothing much to the imagination. She waved the cordless in her hand.
“You look beautiful, Breeze.” I took the handset to the cordless phone in hand.
“As do you, my sister,” Breeze returned then turned for the stairs.
I took in a deep breath. “Hello, my dear Lord Archer.”
I heard a sigh of what sounded like relief.
“My dove,” he said. “I have longed to hear your voice all day.”
I giggled.
“You have?” I asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “Is Jacqueline having one of her parties?”
“Yes.”
“Then will you promise me something, Trinity?”
“What?”
“Will you stay in your room tonight, not venture throughout the chateau?”
“Why?”
“I do not wish anyone to entertain ideas about you, my dove. You know why Jacqueline’s guests are there.”
“I’ll stay in my room. I have plans anyway.”
“Plans?”
“Oh, we haven’t talked since…”
“What is it, my dove?”
“Well, Reid found out I was here by accident. He wasn’t exactly happy, but there was nothing he could do about it.”
“Addison is your plans?”
“He’s coming over to play cards.”
“Cards?”
“Just cards, nothing else,” I assured. “We’re friends, and probably never going to be anything more. It’s a long story, and he keeps telling me to love someone else. He is quite assured he’s a monster, but it’s more like he’s broken inside.”
“He has told you to love someone else?” Ashton asked.
“Yes.”
“Hey!” Reid’s voice. “I knocked, but you didn’t answer so I just let myself in.”
“I am on the phone,” I said, glowering at Reid.
“Trinity, is that Addison?”
“Sorry, Ashton,” I said, “I did not mean to be so rude. Yes, it’s Reid.”
“Archer’s on the phone?” Reid blurted out.
“Ashton, can you give me one moment?”
“Of course,” he said.
I pulled the phone away from my face, holding it to my chest.
“Reid, I am on the phone with Lord Archer. Sit down and behave yourself.” Reid glowered at me. “Stop looking like that or you can go home,” I snapped.
But….”
“No,” I said, “I am not going to argue with you.” Reid glared at me. “And if you are going to be mean and pissy—”
“Okay,” he said, sitting down in a huff of legs and arms.
I brought the phone back to my ear. “I am sorry,” I said.
“My dove, you have nothing to be sorry for,” Ashton assured then gave a brief pause. “Tell me, how would you feel if I come a bit sooner, not wait until the end of next week?”
“Really?”
Ashton gave a low laugh. “Yes, really.”
“That would be great.”
“Would it make you happy, my dove?”
“Oh, yes,” I confirmed.
“Then it is settled. I shall see you on Sunday.”
“Sunday? Really?”
“Yes, my sweet Trinity.”
“I’ll let Jacqueline know to expect you then.”
Ashton chuckled. “You do that, my dove, and I shall see you soon.”
“Okay. I will see you soon.” My heart raced with the thought of seeing him.
“And, my dove?”
“Yes?”
“Please be careful tonight.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good night, my dove, I shall think of nothing but you.”
“Good night, Ashton.” I bit my lip. “Me too.”
“So, I take it Archer is coming back on Sunday,” Reid said in a not too polite tone. The way he said Archer sounded like he choked out the word.
“Yes.” I placed the phone on the foot of my bed before walking over to Reid.
“Nice flowers. These are from Archer too, right?”
“Yes,” I replied then quickly added, “Are you ready to get your ass kicked again?” Reid’s silver gaze flickered from the flowers to me. “Maybe we should play another game since poker seems to be too tough for you.”
Reid smiled, but not his best smile. “I’m ready,” he said. He took off his coat and removed the deck of cards from his pocket. “One eyed jacks wild?”
“Sure.”
One plate of sandwiches along with two bags of chips later, Reid was down three hands to one. We talked, joked, and ate all the while listening to music, blaring some old school Ozzy.
“Maybe we should up the ante,” he suggested.
I was suspicious. “Up the ante how?”
“Strip poker.”
I laughed.
“What about no risky business? Besides, you would
be the one left cold and shivering in your birthday suit,” I quipped.
“Well, maybe if I thought of you naked I would play better. Come on, chicken?”
“I’m not chicken,” I snapped with the lift of my chin.
Reid started making chicken wings, flapping his bent elbows in a taunt.
“Okay,” I said, “but before we start maybe I should go get us some more soda. I’m thirsty.” I swiped my forehead in a mock gesture of wiping sweat from my brow. “Kicking your ass has given me quite the workout.”
“Oh, very funny,” Reid said, reaching over to flick my nose. I ducked, he laughed but within a moment I was tangled into his arms with his mouth pressed to mine.
I was going to be the stronger person so I pulled back. I couldn’t keep doing this with him, blurring the lines of a friendship, and for what? Reid kept telling me I needed to find someone else. Besides, Ashton wouldn’t leave my thoughts. I wanted to help Reid, but if I kissed him it would lead to other things, and those others things would end badly.
“We really do need more soda,” I said, getting up.
“I’m going with you. There are too many men around here tonight,” he commented.
“They are probably more than preoccupied by now.”
“Even so, I don’t want anyone getting any ideas about you.”
“Ideas?”
“Trinity, knock it off,” Reid huffed, “you know exactly what they would want to do if they saw you and—”
“And you are going to protect my virginity from rogue scoundrels?” I laughed.
Reid took my hand. “Exactly,” he said with a smirk of victory.
“And who’s going to protect me from you?”
“I don’t know,” Reid replied.
I knew he meant that comment.
When I rounded the bottom of the stairs I heard… “My lady?” I turned. “My lady, is that you?”
“Lord Ironington,” I said, shocked to see him.
Lord Ironington’s milky white face turned from surprise to a strange expression as he spoke. “If I had known you were on the menu here I would have waited to place my order.” His dark glare roamed over my body, resting upon my breasts.
Reid stepped up, physically moving me into his side. “She’s not on the menu here, and never will be.”
“Lord Ironington, I do not work here,” I said.
“Than what are you doing here?” he asked.
“Jacqueline is a friend of mine.”
Lord Ironington eyed Reid then returned his attention to me. “And Archer? Does he know of this friendship?”
The Good Sister: Part One Page 25
