Pearl on Cherry (20 page)

“Something wrong?” she asked, shifting on his lap.

“Yes, everything’s wrong, because my plans have been misaligned. I must make an appearance at the bank.”

“Oh, I’ll . . . I’ll start out in the garden today while you are gone,” she replied.

He tensed from head to toe. “You most certainly will not.” He gripped her arm and turned her on his lap so she faced him. “You wear these beautiful clothes so I can bring you with me today.”

“To the bank? But the men there . . .” She gaped.

“They will do whatever I say, and if I choose to have you on my arm, they will have little to say about it.”

She gave him a disbelieving look. “If you are certain.”

“I am, Cherry. I am to go get my cravat affixed in place, my coat, hat, cane and then my shoes placed on my feet. You have shoes set in the room next to mine. I meant to tell you—if you will persist in saying you will not room with me, then you have the one next to mine. It is where I have placed all your clothing, your undergarments, shoes and various sundries you shall need.”

She lit up. “Truly?”

“Yes, truly. Now, go before I ravage you on my desk.” He smirked.

She made a squeal of delight and then jumped off his lap, running in a most unladylike manner down the hall.

He loved her uninhibitedness, and as he went back to his bedroom and was assisted by his footman, Worley, he prayed she would stay this unbridled and innocent.

He sighed—his chest feeling light, though this day would probably be less than pleasant.

With her at his side, maybe he could manage it a slight deal better.

When he got to her room, Pauline was in there, pinning up Cherry’s hair.

He grunted in annoyance, initially from the pinning until he caught the tail end of what Pauline was saying.

“. . . twice I had to fight him off. He’s a brute of the most ‘orrid fashion.”

William clapped his cane on the ground, and Pauline snapped her eyes to him and only smiled at him as she slid another pin in place for Clarissa.

“Oh, that’s dreadful. I am truly sorry,” Clarissa soothed her.

“Madam, we are called forth. Are you ready?” His tone was icy.

Pauline glared, then finished with Clarissa’s hair and stepped back. “You look every bit the high-priced lady.”

Clarissa cringed. Was Pauline giving these backhanded compliments on purpose? Did she know that Clarissa was already concerned about people thinking her some type of call girl?

He huffed, grabbed Clarissa at the back of the elbow and led her out of the room.

“Do not listen to her inane prattle,” he leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“I do not need lessons from you on who to trust,” she hissed back.

“Must I take you to visit Miller in the hospital? Hmm . . .”

She bristled silently at his side.

“Oh, I am saddled with the highest moral authority in the land. How fortunate for me,” she retorted as they stepped out to his favorite motorcar, already running.

Samuel helped her in, then swept aside so William could get inside next.

“We will not require your services today,” William dismissed him, then moved to the wheel.

“Yes, sir.”

William drove off, and he could feel her eyes boring into him.

“Problem? Why do you take offense at my driving?”

“You know why.” She turned away from him.

“No, Cherry, I do not. Enlighten me.”

She turned back to him with fire in her eyes. “He is like me. He wishes to make an honest day’s wage, and now what will he have to do of value to fill his day while you gadabout town without employing his uses?”

He blinked and shifted in his seat. “I had not thought on it. Perhaps he might enjoy a break?”

“Unlikely. I loathed the moments I was not kept busy. When he loafs around your house, what is there for him to do?” she asked.

“He may trouble the ladies if he likes. Maybe he will have a firm talking to with Pauline and explain to her she is not to come near you.”

“Too late for that. Have you ever spoken to Samuel—at any kind of length? He is very much like me. We have heaps in common. He came from Cherry Street just like I did. Years ago, he and his sister left it and they parted ways. He was trying to help her survive, sending her money to keep her off the street, but she passed away recently. Killed. He’s hurting without any family at all. He only has this—his employment, and you take it away from him at a whim with no thought to his state of mind over it. ‘Tis insufferable to think of him languishing away in your house with nothing to give him back his self-worth. Do you ever speak to him?” she repeated at the end. “Do you even know this man?”

He sighed and shook his head like she was an annoyance. “Yes—I speak to him frequently, and I know all my staff.”

“Really? I never see you speak with any of them outside of ordering them around.” She sniffed. “As I have said—you are too late. I have already spoke to Pauline, and her situation is worse than what mine had been. She is in dire need of a roommate, so I am to move in with her tonight.”

“What?” His hands accidentally jerked the wheel to the left, and Clarissa slid into his side.

She pushed off him right away.

“Yes, I am sure we will be suited as friends and roommates.”

“Good Lord, woman, how you try me,” he growled.

“Well, that is partly your doing. I did not ask for you to thrust me into your life.”

He wanted to make a crude remark about how he would thrust inside
her
until she accepted
him
in her life, but his blood was already near boiling.

“Clarissa, do not take on so. You are being too rash,” he said, gentling his tone.

She only smirked back.

“What do you think will happen to me when you do this most dastardly of deeds?” His tone edged on needy.

She chuckled. “Oh, I do not think it worth trifling over. It is none of my affair. I am certain you will find someone else to dress up with your fine lingerie.”

He sniffed. “That is it!” He pulled the car over, and regardless of the way she cried out and said she was aghast at his rudeness, he slid over to the center of the seat, took her over his lap, and lifted her skirts. “Punishment is in order.”

Slaaaap. Slaaaap. Slaaaap
.

“No, not now! We are in public!” She tried to wriggle off his lap, but he had a firm grip around her waist.

“You are due—with this obstinate behavior. I love you, I shower you with affection and you take no thought for me, your master.”

“You do not own me,” she argued.

“This is true, because you refuse to submit.”
Slaaaap, slaaaap, slaaaap, slaaaap
. “What must I do for you to accept me as I am?” He was barely contacting her flesh as he spanked her, and he was in complete control of his faculties. He had to do this because she simply wouldn’t listen. The only time she ever seemed to listen to him was when he spanked her bottom.

“Stop brandishing your hand over my backside, first off.” Her hand gripped his ankle.

He released her, but instead of being humbled, she was more defiant than ever.

“Clarissa, you are acting the spoiled brat. Why? Tell me what I have done to deserve this censure?”

Her eyes finally clouded with tears, hovering about her lashes. “Not every little thing is about you. Pauline needs help, and I want to give it to her. It will be temporary. I need time to adjust. I cannot be shoved into your home without any thought. You must integrate me slowly. Going from Cherry to Pearl Street is disorienting—and frankly, my head hurts over it.” She patted her hair, checking to make sure her pins stayed in place.

They had.

“You do me great harm by leaving or even desiring it. I need you.” He took her hands and put them on his chest like he had once before. “Look deeply in my eyes and see if I need you more than she does. I will find her a suitable companion to live in her place if that is what is required for you to stay.” He exhaled, his body tired from this argument. “Against my better judgment and against my own ego, I have already agreed to allow you to work for me, no matter how absurd it is.”

“What is absurd? I want to be needed.” She pursed her lips.

“I
need
you. I need you—I need you! This is what I repeat ad nauseum, madam. Are you in need of having your hearing checked?”

Her hands dug into his chest as her eyes decreased to slits.

“I mean in a profitable way. Yes, I am there to love and adore and lavish you with affection, but just as Samuel will suffer from lack of work, so would I. Would my losing self-value be good for you? If you care about me, Will, then you will want me to feel productive.”

“Then I shall fill your womb with babies. No more pulling out. I shall spread my seed all across your womb so you are thickening about the middle and busy gestating. Then you will stay in my home and be mine.” He said the final sentence like a question. His fingers shook as he placed them over her hands. “Please—this cannot be the way. I will surely expire if you leave again. It killed me the last time you let me in and then snuck out in the middle of the night while I slept.”

“It means this much to you?”

He blew out, his cheeks puffing, then deflating. “Yes. I promise you with all that’s in me—it is of dire importance.”

“And it is important to me to work. I will work, and I will stay in your home, but we need to find some way to help Pauline.”

“I’ll move her into my damned home if it means you will stay,” he replied.

“You will?” She brightened.

“Kiss me, and only then will you get a response.”

She leaned in and cupped his jaw, then feathered her lips across his, brushing them back and forth lightly. “Oh, how I love this couillon.”

He barked out an obscenely loud laugh, then gripped her with an ironclad grasp and held her to him as he plunged his tongue inside her warm, inviting mouth.

“No more fighting. And I am sorry I spanked you,” he said.

She snorted. “I deserved it, and I could have stopped you if I’d wished.” She nodded. “Yes—I agree. No more fighting. You are forgiven, and I love you.”

“I love you, too. Beyond all hope of reason.” When he let her go, he had to admit he was a little lightheaded.

That had never happened to him before, but she was agreeing for once to do as he asked. She would stay with him.

Something shifted inside his chest. Was it his soul?

Had he found a woman feisty as hell and willing to submit if he offered her the freedom to care for others?

Truly this idea to procreate and make a baby with her might be the answer to both of their issues.

She needed to nurture, and he needed to have her available to him at all times and in his home.

He slipped back over to the wheel and drove away, straight to the bank.

She sat quietly at his side. He had no idea what she was thinking. He reached for her hand, and she freely gave it.

His heart soared from this simple gesture.

He took her hand to his lips and kissed each delicate knuckle. “Never wear gloves. I forbid it.”

“No need to worry there, my lord. I do not own any, so unless you purchase them, they will not be found in my belongings.”

“My
lord
?” She called him
lord
. Dear God, his cock hardened to an unbearable degree, and his grip clamped down on her hand.

“Oh, you . . . You like that, Ferrismore. I may have a weapon against you.” She was breathless.

And he was breathing too heavy.

He stifled a chuckle. “Woman, you are an arsenal constantly combating against me, when all I want is access to your chambers.”

She laughed, scooted closer and with her other dainty hand, she stroked his cock.

“Easy, my lady. We arrive at the bank soon. And no one wants to see a man with his armor shoved down his trousers.”

“I do. It’s by far when you’re most agreeable.” She chuckled, then took her hand back.

“Clearly, you need to be around me more often. Yet, another reason you must abide with me in my big, lonely house.” He pretended to pout.

“Tsk, tsk, Lord Ferrismore, you are far from wounded.”

“Stop now, before I take you on this seat. No more of this
lord
business, until later tonight—then I shall demand it.”

She smiled, and her shoulders arched up around her ears. Truly this exotic creature was enjoying his torture.

He parked, took a deep breath and warned her, “Do not speak to anyone in there unless I give you express permission. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.” She smirked.

“Minx.”

“Shall I share with you another French curse word that pairs well with your surly demeanor?”

He laughed and slapped the wheel. “Good Lord, no. I need to make it inside in one piece.”