Colorblind (Moonlight)

by Dubrinsky, Violette

  “Not directly.” She released a deep breath. “He enjoyed hurting the slave girls especially, much like Pleasant does.”

  Leon understood. Like the generally unpleasant Pleasant, Adam Thorn had a thing for raping the slave girls. He liked the dead man less and less. “He tried a few times with me—”

  Penny broke off when Leon growled. She froze and watched him. Moments passed before Leon regained control, before he could stop thinking of Adam Thorn attempting to take advantage of Penny. Gradually, he began caressing her cheek again, and even managed to speak—growl, “Continue.”

  “I was always stronger than Adam,” Penny murmured, watching him carefully. Instinct told her Leon was angry, that an angry Leon was a very dangerous creature. But instinct also told her that she was safe. That even if enraged, he would not touch her in anger. “And I always escaped him, but never Pleasant.”

  His hand stilled on her face, but she continued, “Adam never beat me. Perhaps he feared doing so, or he didn’t know how to use the whip, but Pleasant always made up for it.”

  “He had Pleasant beat you?” he snarled. “For refusing to allow him to rape you?”

  She nodded. “My suffering was small compared to that of others, Leon.”

  “Jolie told me Thorn was going to sell you to Ryder?”

  Penny pulled away immediately, putting space between them.

  “Jolie?” she muttered in disgust. “I’m sure she would know.” She turned away from Leon, looking across the bayou to the plantation house in the distance, the one that belonged to Ryder.

  “What does that mean?” Even as he followed the conversation, Leon couldn’t help but appreciate how beautiful she was from behind. Her shoulders were narrow, tapering down delicately, her back long and smooth, flaring out to shapely hips and a lovely, round rear, before descending into extremely long legs.

  “She was always his favorite. Something of a pet in which he confided.”

  “Confided?”

  “She was a tattler, Leon,” Penny said clearly. “Whenever she came around the slave quarters, we knew one of us would be beaten. She was only looking to find a reason.”

  “And Ryder? Do you know why he wants to purchase you?”

  Penny shrugged and ran a hand over her drying curls. “Adam wanted me gone. I wasn’t…compliant. No doubt he offered Ryder a low price to take me off of his hands.”

  Stepping closer, Leon slipped a hand around her midriff and held her. His wolf demanded that he take her, but he ignored the animal. Another pressing question was on his mind, one that had plagued him from the moment he’d learned of Penny’s relationship with Penny. “How did Adam Thorn die?”

  Penny tensed in his arms. He leaned down and kissed her shoulder reassuringly.

  “He was riding at night. His horse threw him,” Penny answered slowly. “That’s what we were told.”

  “Why did his horse throw him?”

  She tried to pull away but Leon tightened his grip, securing her without causing discomfort.

  “Release me,” she hissed.

  “Penny, I would cut off my own arm and leg before I would see any harm come to you.” He breathed the words against her hair. “Do you believe me?” When she didn’t reply, he said, “My mind is always open to you. See for yourself.”

  She slipped in cautiously, relaxing when she realized he spoke the truth. Why?

  Because you are mine, Penny, as I am yours.

  Before she could follow with further questions, he repeated his own. Why did Thorn’s horse throw him?

  “Something spooked him.” She released a deep breath and spoke directly into his mind. It was a night much like this one—warm, humid, dark—and my wolf was restless. I only wanted a brief run, but he saw me leave the slave quarters, and chased me. He thought to run me down with his horse. Just before the horse drew near, I shifted to my wolf. Adam was thrown into a tree; his neck snapped. Once more, she inhaled deep. If the fall hadn’t killed him, I would have.

  Leon tightened his grip on her. In that moment, words, spoken or otherwise, were not necessary. He understood, and linked to him as she was, she knew.

  What did you mean, that you are mine and I am yours?

  You are my mate, Penny. His lips brushed her neck and she shivered, feeling her nipples grow taut even as her center tingled. And I am yours.

  What does that mean?

  The hand at her midriff drew up slightly, until it was barely a few inches away from her breast, before lowering once more.

  “Every werewolf has a mate, another who is their other half in all things. Some spend entire lifetimes without finding them, and end up mating for other reasons.”

  What kinds of reasons?

  Politics, power, wealth, prestige….

  So a mate is like a husband?

  He laughed softly. No, a mate is much more. Unlike humans, we mate for life. Unless your mate dies, you are forever joined to one were, Males are the protectors. Females the nurturers.

  And I’m your mate?

  He pulled her closer and she bit back a moan as his hardness press into her back. Her insides tingled with the memory of it moving into her body.

  Yes. You are mine.

  Penny turned in his arms and looked into his chiseled face. Leon Arnaud was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, and every day he seemed to grow even more so to her.

  Is there a ceremony? Like with a wedding?

  Sometimes, but it’s not necessary. She shook her head in confusion and he continued. It requires a joining of bodies, minds, and souls.

  Penny looked away briefly. Bodies, minds and souls? Tonight, when we almost…would that have been it? The mating?

  Leon’s gaze held her transfixed for the span of many heartbeats before he nodded once. I cannot take you, Penny, without mating you.

  Warmth seeped through her body and she looked to his lips. Before she could think on it, she pushed onto her toes and kissed him. She heard a growl, and was unsure which of them had released it—she didn’t care. All she cared about was his strong arms wrapped around her as he kissed her back.

  Sharp teeth grazed her lips as his canines descended. Penny kissed him harder, rubbing her aching body against his. She tugged her lips away in frustration and began to pull his shirt up, running her fingers against his warm, hard flesh.

  Leon groaned, as if in pain, moments before his hand caught hers and he drew away. He suddenly stepped away, looking everywhere but at her. Confused, her breathing harsh, her skin tingling, Penny watched him. Moving forward, she began, “I don’t understand—”

  Leon took another couple of steps away and Penny froze, her lustful haze dissolving. She crossed her arms over her breasts, feeling very naked suddenly, and waited.

  I told you if I take you, I would mate you. His eyes finally lifted to hers. If I mate you while on this plantation, it could jeopardize…everything.

  Her brows furrowed. “How?”

  You don’t understand yet because you weren’t raised among our kind. He gave her his back and ran a hand through his hair. Return to the slave quarters, Penny.

  “Leon—”

  He spun quickly, pinning her with an almost feral glare. “Go!”

  She froze, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had just been doused over her head.

  Mouth hardening in anger, she shifted to her wolf. A parting snarl later and she was running in the opposite direction.

  ***

  The next days were hardly better. When Penny showed up to do her office tasks, Leon was either gone, or about to leave for some other task. He was coolly civil with her, even though on some occasions she’d caught him staring at her with unbridled lust. Usually, when she caught him, he’d left soon after.

  This day, however, was different. When she’d entered his office, he was seated behind his desk, his eyes trained on the door as if he’d been waiting for her. She nodded briskly to him and took a seat before the account ledgers and other documents laid out for her. When minut
es passed and he made no move to leave, Penny lifted her eyes and looked at him. He was staring at her again, this time in a thoughtful way.

  He picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to her. Narrowing her eyes, Penny read it. The document contained ten names, all slaves, and the price of each of them. Her name was at the bottom of the list. Confused, she looked up to him before reading the header. It was a Letter of Sale, drafted by M. Leon Arnaud agreeing to the sale of ten slaves to Mr. Victor Julius. He was selling them? Selling her?

  “What is this?” she demanded, slapping the paper down on the desk even as she rose to her feet and glared down at him.

  “A Letter of Sale,” he replied calmly, his gaze never leaving her. “I need you to tell me if there is any person on the list who is pregnant, sickly, or addled in any way?”

  Penny blinked rapidly before scoffing. “Do you really expect me to help you sell slaves? To sell myself?”

  “Yes.”

  She drew up to her full height so quickly she heard her back crack. “It seems, Massa, that the only addled one here is you.”

  Penny stepped around the chair quickly, intent on heading for the door. He beat her to it, placing his body against her only place of exit. She growled a warning.

  “Have you seen a Letter of Sale before, Penny?”

  She nodded once, her lips curling in contempt.

  “And you’re convinced this is one?”

  “That is what it says, Massa.”

  A little smile curved his lips and her brows furrowed. Was he truly losing his mind? She tried to access his mind, and found his shields up.

  “Good. I need it to look as realistic as possible.”

  With that, Leon moved away from the door, knowing her curiosity would make her stay.

  “As realistic as possible?” she queried, moving deeper into the office. “So you’re not selling us?”

  “No.,” He fixed her with a long look that clearly said she should have known better. “I’m sending you north under the pretense of selling you.”

  Leon picked up the document and handed it back to her. “The journey won’t be easy, especially once you’re in the Northern states and will need to travel by foot. It’s why I need to know if any are sickly, obviously pregnant, or anything that would hinder your abilities to make this trek.”

  She stared at him for long moments, relief and something else in her gaze. Eventually, she nodded and sat down.

  Ten minutes later, they’d replaced two names. One of the females was heavily pregnant, although she concealed it well, and one of the males would not leave without his “wife” so she was added in place of the pregnant female. The other name replaced was Penny’s. During the seven minutes in which she advocated for her name to be removed, Leon found out just how stubborn his mate was. She listed almost ten points, all to be considered, as to why she should leave last, or close to it. The one that resonated with him most was that she was one of their own, and they would trust her over him, if she told them they were going to a better place. It would lower the possibility of them running away and potentially dying for their efforts.

  Leon had his own reasons for wanting her gone. Most had to do with being assured of her safety, but in the last few days, he’d come to recognize it would be impossible to distance himself from her much longer. If she stayed, it would only be a matter of hours, days, perhaps a week, before he made her his. His gaze locked on her full lips, following their movement even as sound eluded him.

  “Did you hear me?”

  Blinking, he stood and moved over to the decanter at the side of the office. He poured a glass of whiskey and tossed it back before answering, “No, I didn’t. What did you say?”

  “You need me,” she repeated, and his brow lifted at the truth of that statement. Penny probably had no idea exactly how much he needed her. “No slave wants to be sold. Despite our circumstances, we are still a family. We may not be bound by blood, but one slave is as much my brother as another. I can calm them, reassure them.” She paused. “That’s why you need me.”

  “Do you drink, Penny?” Leon asked after a long while. He was on his second glass, and anticipated having a good deal more before the day was out.

  “I’ve never been offered a drink before,” Penny replied slowly. Of course. That, too, would have to be remedied. He poured a glass of amber liquid and brought it over to her.

  She eyed the brown liquid warily before taking it. “What is it?”

  “Bourbon,” he replied, watching her. “Taste it.”

  Penny brought the glass to her lips and sipped, wincing at the burn before grimacing at the taste. Leon chuckled and took the glass from her, his fingers brushing hers in the process. She watched him toss back the contents of her glass.

  “Alcohol does not affect us as it does humans, although many of us wish it so.” He moved back to his decanter and poured another liquid before returning to her. This one was red.

  Penny eyed the glass for long moments, until he said, “This is sherry. It’s not as strong, and much sweeter. Many women like it.”

  Against better judgment, she took the glass and sipped, surprised that while the burn was still there, the drink itself was not bad. It tasted like fruits—grapes, but instead of being fresh and sweet, it was almost sour and dry.

  “It pleases me that you like it.”

  Leon returned to his seat and she placed the glass onto the table before her.

  “So am I to remove my name from the list?” she asked.

  A half smile curved his lips up, and he nodded once. “Replace your name with another female, Penny.”

  She smiled.

  Leon stood suddenly and moved to the door. “I have a few matters to oversee in the fields. If you need me, that’s where I’ll be.”

  Penny heard the click of the door as he opened it and closed it again. Leon Arnaud confused her more than any other person. He called her his mate, yet avoided her like she’d offended him in some way. Every time she saw him, she wanted to touch him. She wanted to go back to that night, with his body dwarfing hers and his hardness pushing into her….

  With a frustrated sigh, Penny looked back to the list, blotting out her name and adding another.

  Chapter Five

  Anyone who knew the usually calm Leon Arnaud would be able to tell that he was restless. He’d undone the top buttons of his shirt, rolled his sleeves to his elbows, and run his hand through his hair so many times it would be a miracle if it still looked decent. He’d hardly achieved a few hours of sleep the past nights.

  Penny plagued him. She plagued his nights, his days. Every conscious and unconscious thought was about her: her eyes, her lips, her tall, graceful body…naked.

  In his office, he paced back and forth, from the library stacks to the console filled with spirits, his hands clenching and unclenching as he was pulled between instinct and common sense. Instinct told him to claim her, to make her his immediately. Common sense warned that it was stupid, that he could very well jeopardize everything if he began acting like a crazed lover around his slave.

  Nearly five days had passed since he’d almost taken her. During that time, he’d seen her twice, and only when she came to the office. He’d purposefully avoided her, knowing if he was with her for more than a few minutes, the inevitable would happen. And now, he was waiting for her. He could dress it up any way he pleased but ultimately, that was what he was doing. Today was Wednesday, her last day in his office for the remainder of the week.

  He froze when the door opened. The scent of honeysuckle rushed over him, seeping into his nostrils, affecting his mind.

  Leon closed his eyes. This was it. The decision he had to make. Instinct. Common sense.

  The door had barely closed before he rushed her. Penny instantly pressed back against the door, her gaze frantically searching his. It happened so fast that she could barely get out a word before his lips were on hers, demanding that they open and give him entry.

  Penny could not have refu
sed if she tried. As soon as she saw his face, felt his need, her body responded. Her breath hitched. Her breasts grew sensitive; her center wept. He pressed her against the door as he had those weeks ago, his lower body so snug against hers she could feel his hard length.

  As her fingers slid into his hair and caressed his scalp, his were undoing the bindings of her gown. Once finished, he pulled away briefly to push her gown to her middle.

  Penny tried, and failed, to control her breathing. As her breasts heaved, Leon’s attention turned to them. In that moment, she thanked God for the door. It held her up as he suckled her, his tongue working against her nipples, his canines lightly grazing her. She moaned at the contact. He was suddenly on his knees, yellow eyes holding hers as he pushed the gown to her feet and pulled down the trousers she wore underneath. She whimpered softly when he cupped her sex, his middle finger stroking feather-soft across her slit.

  Leon growled.

  Seconds later, he pushed her thighs farther apart, lifted one to his shoulder, and buried his face between them. They both moaned as his tongue slid over her. She felt his fingers separate her before his lips settled over her button, sucking and licking as she clutched his hair and stared unseeingly at the ceiling.

  Look at me.

  She did as told, locking her eyes on his glowing ones, before she focused on the skillful, pink tongue that flicked rapidly against her.

  Leon…I’m…I’m…

  Her breaths grew more frantic and he secured her hip with his free hand. His tongue continued its rapid flicking, but ever so often he would suck and caress. She watched him pleasure her, moving her hips frantically against his face as a shattering orgasm washed over her. Her legs gave out but he held her steady, lightly licking at her as she rode out the aftershocks of her orgasm.

  Leon stood suddenly and lifted her. He moved forward until they stood before his desk. As one hand held her, the other swiped out and knocked the papers and other items from the surface. He set her on the edge.

  She watched him undo the laces of her old boots, and kicked them off, barely aware of the thud they made when he began removing his clothing as well. She squeezed her thighs together as the shirt fell to the ground, revealing an upper body devoid of fat. He was all broad shoulders and solid muscle, as she knew from when he’d been pressed intimately against her almost a week earlier. His arms were thick and corded, and his abdomen consisted of cuts and grooves that made her blink. Her mouth grew dry as he shed his trousers, and kicked off his boots.