Nellie (The Brides of San Francisco Book 1) (10 page)

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.”

“Why do you open so early? Surely no one really wants to drink and well, you know, that early in the morning.”

Blake continued to drink his coffee and pick at his breakfast. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get to work and she liked being able to talk to him, without anyone else around. It was almost intimate.

Deciding she was hungry, she rose from the table and walked to the buffet, where all the delicious breakfast dishes were laid out.

“The miners work shifts twenty-four hours a day. Sailors will get off the ships and carouse for a straight twenty-four hours or more, when they’re given shore leave. We are open to cater to them. They want to be able to relax and have a drink and talk to a pretty girl at all hours of the day and night. We gratify those needs.”

“I suppose. It’s just hard for me to get used to. A business that stays open around the clock.” She glanced over her shoulder.

He drained his coffee and set the cup back in the saucer. “It’s the nature of the beast. We are providing a service, and we do it when our customers need us. It would be ridiculous to only operate banker’s hours.”

She returned to the table with a plate laden with fluffy scrambled eggs, avocado slices, fried potatoes and toast. “Pass the marmalade, please. Are there many places like yours? Will Maddie find a job right away if you fire her?”

“Why are you so worried about Maddie?” He frowned. “She’ll be fine. She always lands on her feet. Mine wasn’t the first place she’s worked, and it won’t be the last.”

“I just don’t want her becoming destitute and then blaming you. I’ve told you I think she could become dangerous.” She speared a piece of creamy avocado. It had become one of her favorite foods, so Cook saw that it was available at every meal. “She’s very bold, coming here like she did. Who’s to say she wouldn’t come again?”

“She was drunk, Nellie. That’s all. It won’t happen again.”

“I hope you’re right. I won’t let her hurt my family.”

He cocked his head and smiled. “Am I part of your family, Nellie?”

“Of course, you are.” She felt the heat rise up her neck and knew she blushed. “You’re my husband. I won’t let her hurt you either, Blake. Not if I can help it.”

He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers. “You make it very easy, Nellie, very easy indeed. Too bad I’m not that kind of man.”

“Very easy for what? You’re not what kind of man?”

“Very easy to fall in love with you, if I was that kind of man. But I’m not.” He withdrew his hand and forked a sausage. “You have as much of me as I’m capable of giving.”

“So you’ll never fall in love with me, is that what you’re saying? You’ll never have that kind of fulfillment that only love can bring?” Saddened that he felt that way, she also became determined to prove him wrong.

“I guess not. I’ve been in many relationships with women, but never loved them, at least not enough to give up my freedom. You’re the first one I’ve married.”

“That doesn’t count. You’d have married me, no matter who I was.”

“True, but no one else could have touched me like you do. You’re the closest I’ve come to loving a woman.”

How could he believe he wasn’t capable of love?
“What about the children? I know you love Violet and I think Henry is growing on you.”

“I do love them. It’s a different kind of love than I have for a woman. They are innocent, pure. No woman is that, can be that.” He waved a hand in her direction. “You are probably as close as I’ve ever come to finding that innocence.”

Anger rose inside her. He was so jaded he believed the drivel he was saying. “You want innocence? You don’t want a woman, you want a pet.” She got up from the table. “Come see me when you realize that only a woman, no, only
I
, can satisfy your real needs. Good day, sir.”

Blake sat there and smiled. She really was magnificent when she was angry. He couldn’t blame her. She thought after last night that he loved her, but she’d learn. She’d also learn that he wouldn’t stay away, not now that he’d gotten a taste of her sweet body. Oh no, she was his, his wife, and one taste was not enough. He wasn’t sure if he could ever get enough of his little wife, but he would try. He was going to make love to her as soon as she gave him permission. She was so passionate. If he didn’t have to go to work, he’d start right now. Oh well, tonight would be soon enough.

*****

An hour later, Blake was gone and the children and Bertha came down to eat.

Henry was very quiet at breakfast.

“Henry, are you feeling well?” asked Nellie.

“Yes, Mama. I’m fine.”

“You’re not your usual self this morning. You’re so quiet.”

“I’m just thinking.”

“What has you thinking so hard?”

“I was thinking about Daddy.”

Nellie stopped, the cup she’d been lifting clattered to the saucer. How long since she’d thought about Robert with something other than fear? Shouldn’t she feel something kind for him? After all he was the father of her two children. But she couldn’t. After learning what real lovemaking might be, all she felt for Robert was loathing, and relief that he was dead.

But Henry didn’t know that, would never know that his father was a monster. Robert had always doted on Henry, treated him like a friend rather than a son. Nellie wouldn’t take those memories away from her son. He needed them.

She took a deep breath. “And what were you thinking?” She almost dreaded the answer.

“That you don’t seem to miss him anymore. Not since you married Blake.” He pulled his brows together. “Shouldn’t you still miss Daddy, too?”

“Henry, I wish your father was here,” she said truthfully, “so I could tell him just what I feel, but he isn’t. The time has come for me to let him go. You still have your memories of your father and no one can take those away, but you should find room in your heart for Blake, too.” She reached over and took his hand in hers. “He’s a good man and saved us. You must always remember that. We would be destitute and probably separated, if not for Blake.”