Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Phillip stood in the shadows and watched her get ready for bed. He didn’t give a damn that he was being a voyeur as this was the woman he planned on marrying, which would give him that right for the rest of their lives.

She rubbed some sort of cream on her neck, over the scars there, and the one on her chest. Then she worked it into her legs and the rest of her body. His cock was painfully hard as he watched her stand there, wearing nothing more than a shift, one leg braced on the stool as she smoothed the cream down the toned muscles. Then she switched and killed him all over again doing it to the other leg.

After she had finished that, she took a seat once more and brushed out her hair before braiding it and allowing the thick rope to hang over the side with the scarring on her neck.

“Are you expecting to meet someone later?” He stepped into view. “Is that what this entire sexy process is for?”

She didn’t jump, just met his gaze in the mirror. “This is my nightly routine, my lord. Perhaps I should be wondering why you are in my room yet again.”

He prowled over the floor to stand behind her. “You know why I am here, Fyre.” Bending at the waist, he sniffed her, and his body reacted. Somehow hardening even more.

How the hell does she smell so good? What was that she put on?

The only sign of her nervousness was the tremble of her fingers as she finished tying the ribbon at the end of her hair.

“I have had this dream since I met you, so I am not sure this is not just another of those.”

His heart thumped in his chest.

“How do I prove that I am not a dream, but flesh and blood?”

She spun around on the seat, facing him directly. “Touch me.”

“That is not going to be a problem. But surely there is something else, because I refuse to think my dreamself is stupid enough not to touch you every fucking chance I get.”

Her smile weakened his knees.

“Make me yours, Phillip.”

His control snapped and he hauled her up into his arms, slamming his mouth over hers like a possessed man. Which he was, in a sense. She had bewitched him from the word go.

Her moan poured into him and he slid his hands around to cup her ass, encouraging her to jump up, and she listened, wrapping her legs around his waist. His cock nestled perfectly against her core had them both humming in pleasure.

He carried her to the bed and sank to his knees as he laid her back on the narrow bed. Part of him wanted to take her through the hidden passageway to his bed, where there was far more room, but here they would be forced closer and he loved that idea.

“I want you naked.” Phillip had been dreaming about that since he’d met her, and the tease of seeing her in the bath hadn’t helped. Only made his craving worse for her.

Phillip removed her arms from around him and stared down at her. The trust in her gaze floored him.

“Yes,” she whispered. “You naked is a great idea.”

“You first.” He reached for the buttons on her shift but she shook her head.

“Same time.”

He stole another kiss before nodding and backing up enough to rip his shirt off over his head. Her gasp had him smirking. However, when she stood beside the bed and rolled her shoulders, allowing her shift to slide down her magnificent body to the floor, the smirk went with it.

“Christ,” he moaned. “You are fucking perfect.”

“I have scars.”

He admired her hourglass figure, toned legs and arms, high breasts with dark chocolate nipples that were already hard points, and the black hair between her legs that glistened with the proof of her desire.

“They do not take away from your beauty, Fyre.”

She lifted her chin and gestured at him. “You are wearing more clothing.”

He had his pajama bottoms on. “Baby, I need to keep these on so I do not lose control.”

Fyre shook her head. “You said clothes off.”

“I meant yours.”

Her lower lip poked out. “I want to see you.”

He picked up on her insecurity and prayed to any god who was listening that he wouldn’t embarrass himself. Hell, this woman had already made him come in his pants just from her moans alone. If she touched him now, it would be all over.

With a sigh, he pushed down his pajama pants and watched her expression. Her shyness vanished and the hunger that took over was ravenous. God, his cock hardened further.

“Bed.” His command came out all growly and demanding.

Damn it, he only had so much control, and the way she was looking at him seriously eroded it.

She listened, perching on the edge of the bed, her eyes never leaving his cock. Phillip wrapped a hand around his length and gave himself a few pumps.

Fyre moaned and swayed toward him, licking her lips, and damn if he didn’t nearly lose it again.

He had said something about going slow and taking his time with her, but right now, he wasn’t sure he could uphold that decision.

“Lie back.”

Again, no hesitation on her part.

“One leg, foot on the floor. Your other, flat on the bed.”

She hesitated and he stroked himself a few more times. “You want this, baby. I know it and you will get it. God, I promise, you’ll get it, but I need you to listen to me. I am barely holding on to my control and I have to make sure you are ready for me.”

“I am ready.” Even as her protest escaped, she did as he’d asked, and it was his turn to groan again.

Her pussy was open to him and he could see the pink past the darker lips. She glistened and her clit teased him as it peeked out from its hood. He walked closer and sank to his knees, her heady scent flooding his nose.

“You smell fucking perfect and I cannot wait to taste you.” He kissed the inside of her thigh, loving her tremble.

“Phillip.”

He wasn’t going to tease much—he couldn’t hold off that long.

Bending closer, he ran a finger over the slit and flicked her nub, making her hips bounce up. He released his aching cock and placed a hand along her belly, anchoring her down.

Then he settled his mouth on her.

Seconds later, her fingers speared his hair and she pulled even as she ground against him, legs clamping around his head, hard. Her essence spilled into him as he thrust his tongue deep inside her, craving it all. When he pulled her clit into his mouth, he pushed in two fingers and scissored them, needing her prepared to take his shaft.

She came again, coating his fingers. He eagerly licked her cream off and rose over her as his fingers sank back between her legs.

“I could eat you all damn day, baby.” He took possession of her mouth and shared her taste with her. “I love how you taste.”

Sweat covered her and she breathed hard. “Please,” she begged. “I want you inside me.”

He removed his fingers and smeared her cream on his cock before fisting it and lining the head up to her opening. Nudging forward, he put the head in, eyes locked on her face for any sign of discomfort.

She shifted restlessly beneath him, legs around his waist, trying unsuccessfully to pull him in.

“I am.” He pushed a bit deeper and she sucked in a sharp breath, causing him to pause.

“I will not break, Phillip. Take me.”

She dug her fingers into his forearms as she lifted her hips again in invitation. He couldn’t hold off any longer and thrust forward with one surge, sinking fully inside her tight pussy.

“So fucking tight.” He opened his eyes, sweat gathering on his forehead. “Are you okay?”

Her eyes were unfocused and it took a moment for her to be there with him. She skimmed her short nails along the back of his neck and nodded.

“Never better. Move.”

* * * *

Fyre smiled as she watched everyone around her. Despite her misgivings of coming to this week-long event at the plantation, she was having a good time. Though she knew that Elonne was doing his best to see if something was going on with her and Phillip.

There was, but he never saw.

Phillip was never anything but proper toward her in the groups. Even if she was in one of the meetings he had with the business owners, his professionalism showed through.

He was a different man in the wee hours of the morning, when he snuck into her room and either made love to her there or took her back to his bed where, as he claimed, there was more room for him to play with her.

And play he did.

Sore in ways she hadn’t understood a person could be, sometimes it was hard to keep the wince from her face as she moved. And she was in good shape, just, the man was insatiable. And she’d discovered she suffered from the same affliction of being insatiable. There was no way for her to get enough of him and what he did to her.

“I see you are having a good time.”

Lifting her head to the speaker, she gave a slight nod to Miss Asherford. “I am, thank you for noticing. Are you?”

The woman lowered herself gracefully to Fyre’s side and spent some time artfully arranging her skirts. The venom in her gaze was unmistakable when she looked back at Fyre.

“The earl will be mine, darkie. You would do well to remember your place.”

“I did not realize I was a threat to you securing the earl. I work for the man and he has always struck me as more than capable of making his own decisions.”

Many people thought because she was of darker skin and a female that she didn’t listen and wouldn’t stick up for herself. Those people would be wrong. While it may have taken a bit longer when it came to defending herself against her brother, she still was no pushover.

“When I land him, you will be let go, unless I keep you as a slave.” Her sneer grew icy, sending a chill through Fyre despite the heat of the day. “You remember how it was when we could have slaves and the man here did, right? There is a movement for that to come back. The earl will get on board, and he will see his idea of paying those less than us is foolish when we can force the labor.”

Compelling her fingers not to clench, Fyre turned her gaze to the impressive house and dread curdled in her stomach as she thought of all the pleasure she had found inside those walls, completely ignoring the pain of those before her who had been held there against their will and gone through hell.

“You say ‘we’ like you have actually worked a day in your life, Miss Asherford. We both know you have not. You rely on your father to care for you and keep you dressed in such a manner. A true daughter would help their father, not be a burden.”

Fyre got to her feet, unable to stay. “And do not think your movement would succeed without a fight. People on this island, my people, will not sit back and allow others to own us like cattle once more.” A slight curtsey. “Enjoy your day.”

Fyre headed back to the house, emotions a twisted mess.

As always, Keating was right there when she stepped through the large doors to the home. This time she didn’t see the beauty, but the ugliness that had come from the plantation being here.

“Miss Gwen,” he said with a nod.

“Not today, Keating. I cannot pretend with you right now.” Her chest burned and she rubbed it as the room shifted to the right. “Please just leave me alone.”

He didn’t. The tall man supported her until everything stopped spinning.

“Miss Gwen? Are you all right?”

“Yes, of course. I just need to get home.” Darkness swarmed and that was all she remembered.

* * * *

She wasn’t sure what had happened but she woke a bit later in her room with Abbie there, sitting on the bed with her, a damp cloth to her head.

“What is going on, Miss Abbie?”

The girl gave her a smile, one that overflowed with concern. “You fainted in the entryway. Mr. Keating had some of the footmen bring you here. He told Lord Edais and Lord Edais sent for a doctor.” She dipped the rag, wrung it out once more and settled it back upon Fyre’s forehead. “The doctor said you were just exhausted and needed some rest. So, I am keeping an eye on you while you do that.”

Abbie smiled as she poured some water into a glass and helped Fyre take a few sips, then she laid her back and adjusted the rag.

“Thank you.”

The rag vanished once more. “For what?”

“Staying with me.”

The young woman squeezed her hand before she got back to the task of keeping her head cool. Fyre dropped off to sleep once more and when she woke, it was to find the earl in there whispering with Abbie.

She closed her eyes when he looked in her direction. She didn’t want him to know she was awake. Not much later, the door closed and she snuck a peek. Abbie was the only one there.

“I have to head home.”

Abbie spun toward her. “You are awake. The earl will be so pleased. He has been worried.”

She couldn’t think about that right now. Sitting, she rubbed the nape of her neck. “Will you help me?”

“You wish to leave now? It is night!”

“I think it best. I cannot participate in anything, and I am just a burden on the staff here.”

“Lord Edais will not be happy if you leave without telling him.”

She smiled. “I work for him too, Abbie. He is not really ever happy.”

The woman giggled, and Fyre hoped that meant Abbie would be assisting her. She lacked the energy to walk home.

“I cannot get the earl’s carriage, but I will ask Davie if he will take you home in the wagon.”

“Thank you.”

Her return smile was full of worry but she slipped from the room. Fyre got up and dressed. Her chest still ached, but nothing like before. Perhaps she had done too much. With the addition of the sex at night, it was likely she had just pushed too hard. She had given in to the children and played croquet a few times but, as she’d admitted before, she was dangerous on the field and had soon conceded.

It didn’t take her long to pack her bags and she was waiting on the bed when Abbie returned. Disappointment swept her features as she took in the scene before her.

“Can he help me?”

Abbie nodded. Lips flattening, she took a breath and stepped forward to take the bags. “Follow me. He will meet us outside.”

Fyre rose. “Us? Abbie, you should stay here.” They left the room and she did as Abbie said—followed.

“I am going with. If we are found out, we were simply out trying to find some time alone.”

“I am putting you in danger.”

“You want to go home, we will get you home.” Abbie looked around before sneaking off to the left.

Fyre followed.

True to Abbie’s word, Davie was there with an older pony attached to a wagon. He took the bags and tossed them in the back, then helped Abbie climb up there before assisting Fyre to sit in the seat beside him.

“Thank you, Davie.”

“You wanted to get home.”

He snapped the reins and, with the creak of the wagon, they got moving. He didn’t light the lantern until they’d left the plantation.

She rode in silence as Davie and Abbie bantered back and forth. It was fun listening to them. When he rolled up before her place, he was ready to assist her down before she could move.

They helped her in and Abbie lit a few candles as Davie set her bags down before her room.

“Thank you both,” she said.

Abbie squeezed her hand. “Feel better.” Then she slipped outside, leaving her alone with Davie.

“He will not be happy about this, Miss Gwen.”

She didn’t even pretend to not know who he spoke about. Fyre shrugged. “He has a house full of guests. I doubt he will even notice.”

“We both know, Miss Gwen, that Lord Edais notices everything when it comes to you.” He shook his head. “I will not lie for you. When he asks me what happened I will tell him, but I will not seek him out to tell.”

“I would never expect you to risk your own position more than you have. Thank you, Davie.”

He flushed and tugged on his hat. “I should go. Good night, Miss Gwen.”

The click of the door reminded her she was now just how she pretended to be. Alone.

Yet this time alone meant no Phillip as well. And she didn’t like that.