PluckingthePearl (13 page)

It was going to be a very long night.

Inside the shelter, Pearl sat on the quilt, which she’d laid
on the sandy ground. The roof leaked in several places and the windows were
nothing but open holes so she was glad she’d found a dry spot.

She’d used the privacy while Caleb was outside to dress.
Thank goodness her clothes had been dry because she didn’t think she could bear
to be naked around him again. Now she concentrated on watching raindrops drip
from the leaves of a vine that fringed the nearest window frame.

How could he have been so cold to her when she’d opened her
heart to him? And did it really take that long to secure the boat or was he
just avoiding her? When she heard him approach the doorway, she quickly dried
her eyes.

Seeing his naked body, pale and wet, stole the breath from
her. It reminded her too clearly of their recent lovemaking.

She pointed to the corner. “Your clothes are over there.”

“Thank you.” He set down a wet sack. “This is the rest of
the food.”

“I’m not hungry,” she replied.

He pushed the flimsy door closed behind him. While he
dressed, she stared at the rain pouring down from one of the window holes.

“This storm is going to last a while,” he told her. “I’m
afraid we’re going to be stuck here all night.”

She clasped her hands in her lap and shook her head. “What
my family must think.”

Now that the passion in her body had dissipated, she
realized how selfish she’d been. They would all worry about her, especially
Leroy because he’d brought her to Caleb. And what would Jimmy think if he knew
his intended bride had spread her legs for their white boss?

Caleb faced her with his hands on his hips. Seeing his
suspenders in place reminded her of pulling them off on the boat. That memory
seemed so long ago now. She would tuck it away with all the others into a box
and throw it overboard.

“I should never have brought you here,” he said.

A tiny spark emerged from the dead feeling inside her. “Then
why did you go to all this trouble,
Mr. Rockfield
? Seems you could have
fucked me in the shucking room and been done with me already.”

His jaw twitched in the dimming light as he looked at the
floor. “You’re upset because I don’t love you.”

Hearing him state it so plainly hit her like a slap across
the face. Outside, she’d assumed he was too preoccupied with the boat to answer
her. Now she knew the truth. She toyed with the hemline of her yellow dress,
which was damp from all the moisture surrounding them and looked as dim as the
fading light. The very air she breathed felt too heavy, wet and cold for her
chest to bear.

The truth was she hadn’t even realized she’d loved him
herself until recently. When she was deciding whether or not to let him make
love to her, it hadn’t even occurred to her to ask. She’d
felt
his love,
known it was there from the way he touched her and looked at her.

Or at least she thought she had.

“You don’t love me either, Pearl.” He crossed his arms and
looked at her with those cold, pale eyes as he spoke. “What we had was a
powerful physical attraction, nothing more.”

Maybe he was right. After all, he was the first man who’d
kissed her and the only one who’d had intercourse with her. What did she know
about love?

“So now that you’ve had me, you want nothing more to do with
me.” Her voice sounded strange and dead to her. “Is that right?”

Caleb turned quickly and planted his hand on the wall. She
couldn’t see his face now but he inhaled sharply.

“When a man is after a piece of pussy, he’ll tell a woman
everything she wants to hear.” His voice sounded as dead as hers. “There never
could have been anything between us and you know it.”

“Of course I know that. I just thought you felt something
for me,” she insisted.

How could she have misjudged him so badly? Nothing in the
world made sense to her anymore.

“The only thing I felt for you was a hard cock.” He faced
her again. “You need to forget all this happened. Forget me. Marry Jimmy and
get your love from him.”

Dampness crept into her bones, making her feel old. “I wish
you’d made your feelings clearer before—”

He rubbed a hand across his face. “I admit I was selfish and
I am sorry I hurt you.”

She reached to the side of the quilt and picked up an old
oyster shell. Then she stood and waved it in his face.

“I’m real glad to hear that, Mr. High and Mighty, because
you made me feel like this. Your plant shucks all those oysters, taking the
meat and throwing away the shells like garbage.”

He ducked away from the jagged shell. “Pearl, calm
yourself.”

“I hate you, Caleb Rockfield! I wish I had never met you.”

She had half a mind to steal his boat or swim to Oyster
Island. Anything but spend the night with such a cold, ruthless man.

“Get some sleep,” he said. “You’ll need to think up a good
story to explain your absence when you go home in the morning.”

How would she even get home? Now that he was done with her,
he didn’t seem to care what happened to her. Maybe she’d have to swim back
after all. Caleb sat against a wall on the opposite side of the shelter and
closed his eyes.

She couldn’t resist watching him for a moment. Seeing the face
she’d caressed and the mouth she’d kissed made the backs of her eyes sting all
over again. She curled up on the quilt with her back to him and tried to sleep
but it was impossible.

The rain lessened but still fell steadily against the roof.
She should be sleeping in Caleb’s arms right now. This storm should be a
blessing, giving them more time alone together, not a curse.

She still had Jimmy. At least she hoped she did. She would
marry him and the pain from losing Caleb would ease with time just as losing
her mother had. Somehow, the thought wasn’t as comforting as she’d expected it
to be.

She may have squandered her body on a man who didn’t care
for her but that didn’t mean she could jump into another man’s bed. Caleb’s
lovemaking had been special regardless of what he thought of her.

How could she open her body and heart to another man now?
She couldn’t. It was as simple as that. Jimmy would soon be as lost to her as
Caleb. What did the future hold for her now? Would Caleb fire her? Would Aunt
Wilma kick her out? It was all gone now—her virginity, her financial security
and most of all her heart.

In one day, she’d lost everything.

Oh, Caleb. How could I have been so wrong about you?

Caleb shifted from his uncomfortable position against the
wall of the shelter. He wasn’t sure how long he’d slept but it couldn’t have
been more than an hour or two. The sky was completely dark now but the rain
still droned endlessly. His bones ached from the dampness.

This had to be the longest night of his life. To his
amazement, his cock was semi-hard despite everything. He must have dreamed
about Pearl. She had the sweetest, tightest pussy he’d ever felt and so much
love. By arranging the quilt with perfect neatness and folding his clothes,
she’d even made this shack feel like a home. The thought of never touching her
again made his heart sit like a rock in his chest.

His acting performance had impressed even him but seeing the
hurt in her down-turned lips had ripped something out of him that would never
return. He’d been trying to repair the damage he’d caused her. Now he wondered
if he’d done more harm than good.

The sooner he finally extricated himself from her life the
better.

He leaned his head against the wall, desperate for sleep to
numb the depressing thoughts churning in his mind. Instead, he heard sniffing.
Pearl was crying again.

Caleb stood up, unable to carry on this charade any longer.
Even though he loathed himself for being weak and selfish, she had to know how
he truly felt. He could barely see anything in the dim light from the lantern.
When he lay on the quilt behind her, her earthy scent made him feel weaker than
he already did.

He slid a hand around her waist and nestled his hips against
hers. That was a mistake because feeling the sweet curve of her ass hardened
his cock the rest of the way. Her soft sigh encouraged him but all too soon she
scrambled in his arms like a trapped animal and faced him.

“Caleb, what are you doing over here? Get away from me!”

When she slapped his face, he caught her wrist in her hand.
“I love you, Pearl.”

She scrambled again, kicking him in the shins. “Go to hell.
Is it your life’s mission to torment me?”

This time he sat up and held both of her wrists, forcing her
to sit up too and look into his eyes. “I mean it. I
do
love you, honey.”

Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. “I don’t believe a thing
you say anymore.”

“I was trying to protect you,” he insisted.

“Protect me?” She glared at him. “Protect me from what?”

“When you told me you weren’t going to marry Jimmy, I
realized my selfish passion had ruined your life,” he explained. “I pushed you
away so you’d change your mind.”

“Well, I didn’t so let go of me. Jimmy is a good man and he
deserves a lot better than a two-bit whore who doesn’t love him. I can’t live a
lie for the rest of my life.”

Caleb’s fingers sank deeper into the soft flesh of her
wrists. His plan to drive her back to Jimmy had failed after all. He’d hurt her
and put himself through agony for nothing. Why couldn’t he fix this?

He expelled a heavy breath. “Damn it. I
have
ruined
your life. Don’t throw away a good future because of me.”

“Do you truly love me, Caleb?” she whispered. “I need to
know the truth.”

Seeing her put Jimmy’s well-being ahead of her own instead
of using him made him love and admire her even more.

“Pearl, I’ve never loved this way and never will again.”

Still clutching her wrists, he leaned forward to kiss her
with all the raw tenderness he felt inside. Her mouth didn’t move at first but
she soon responded with the passion he was so used to now.

“Then you haven’t ruined my life.” Her lips trembled as she
spoke. “No matter how bleak my future might be now, I experienced love. That
will get me through anything.”

Caleb lost his breath for a moment. How could she be so
brave despite everything that had happened? God, he’d taken everything from her
and she didn’t even care because he loved her in return.

“But damn you for hurting me.” She managed to wrench one
hand out of his grip. “You made me feel used.”

“I’m so sorry, honey.” He kissed the fingers of the hand he
still gripped. “I was only trying to do what was best for you.”

She pulled her other wrist from his grasp. “Well, stop it!
I’m a grown woman and I’m capable of making my own decisions.”

“But I seduced you,” he insisted.

“We seduced each other,” she corrected. “I gave myself
willingly and accept the consequences with no regrets.”

He nodded. “I suppose I feel responsible for you because I’m
older and I’m your boss.”

She raised a brow. “And a man? A white man?”

“I get the point. Forgive me?”

“On one condition,” she said.

“Anything,” he said quickly.

“Let me seduce
you
in the few hours we have left.
It’s my turn to control you.”

He smiled for the first time since the storm had arrived as
his balls fluttered with anticipation. “Yes, ma’am.”

The first thing she did was push his shoulders down to the
quilt so he lay on his back.

“I’m liking this so far,” he said.

Clothing rustled as she took off her dress and underwear.
She unbuttoned his shirt and spread her soft hands across his chest, making a
tight band of heat encircle his groin. Her beautiful breasts dangled over him
like ripe, golden fruit. When he touched one of her nipples, she slapped his
hand away. The wildness in her tempted him to toss her down on the quilt and
fuck her senseless but those weren’t the rules.

“I’m in charge now, remember?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am.” He put his hands under his head so he wouldn’t
touch her.

He groaned when she unbuttoned his pants and pulled out his
throbbing cock. Her hands felt even softer there. He would have to find another
job for her that didn’t involve shucking oysters so they always stayed this
soft.

If she didn’t marry Jimmy, their liaison didn’t have to end
after all, did it? Hope shone inside him like sunlight after a storm. If they
were very careful, it just might work.

Caleb’s thoughts short-circuited when Pearl straddled his
naked hips with her knees. They’d have to figure out the future later.
Everything changed from minute to minute with them anyway. Remembering to put
on another condom claimed all his attention.

Her hands encircled the base of his member, guiding it into
her wet center. His hips lunged upward, needing all of her right now but her
small frame slid out of reach.

“Who’s in charge?” she reminded him.

“You are,” he replied with a ragged voice.

Panting now, he waited while she lowered her pussy onto his
rigid cock so slowly it nearly killed him. When he was finally completely
inside her, beads of sweat broke out across his forehead. The heat from her
cunt not only chased away the rainy chill, it set him on fire.

“Ah, Pearl. You feel so damn good. Fuck me. Please fuck me.”
But she didn’t move. “You’re getting me back, aren’t you?”

She didn’t answer, just moved slower than a century as her
impossibly snug pussy squeezed his shaft all the way down to the base. His
balls tightened even more when she bent down and let her hair brush his chest.
If she ever decided to let him come, he swore it would blow the roof off this
shelter.

He’d always enjoyed being in control but he had to admit
liking this even better. Not knowing what she’d do next made his whole body
tingle with electricity. Maybe he had been struck by lightning after all…

While she moved up and down a little faster, he lifted his
head to suck her nipples, intrigued by the wet marks his saliva left on her
dark skin. Then he rubbed her hips, loving the sight of her pussy swallowing
his pale cock even more.

He would never get enough of this woman as long as he lived.

“Harder, Pearl,” he said. “I need to come.”

She lunged hard and eased up slowly. Before he could
recover, she did it again and again. Each lunge nearly made him fly apart. His
penis looked so wet and hard sliding out of the drenched folds of her swollen
cunt. Just watching it alone would make him come, he was sure.

A shiver went through him and he grabbed her hips harder. He
was in charge now and he was going to make them both come.

“Caleb!” Her scream echoed inside the shelter, ripping into
him and releasing the savage beast in him.

He yelled almost as loud as she did as the force of his
climax pulled him to a sitting position. His hips pounded upward against her
soft flesh as spasm after spasm squeezed him. When he released himself inside
her, it felt as if he’d given her everything including his entire life force. Grabbing
her torso, he fell with her to the quilt and they rolled, still moaning from
the aftershocks of their climaxes.

They rolled so far they ended up in the sand.

After he removed his condom, he kissed her forehead and
pulled her back to the quilt with him. “I like it when you’re in charge.”

She lay beside him and rested her head on his chest. “We’re
so right together, Caleb. Why do things have to be the way they are? I wish we
could…never mind. I can’t even say it.”

He squeezed her arm. “You wish we could marry? You know
that’s impossible.”

“Then I wish we could live on this island. It’s so nice to
be away from all the rules and criticism.”

A lump formed in his throat. “I couldn’t help thinking the
same thing. The place is a little drafty and leaky though.”

“It doesn’t matter with you here,” she said.

He shook her gently. “Pearl, honey, be serious. I have a
business to run. There’s no sense in talking about what can’t be.”

Caleb breathed in the scent of her and the salty, damp wood
around them, wondering if this was the last time he’d get to hold her close. If
they continued their liaison on Oyster Island, they’d risk getting caught with
each day that went by.

Sleeping with her wouldn’t be as bad as marrying her in
other white men’s eyes but he didn’t dare risk even that. Her family already
suspected what they did in the shucking room. The mayor certainly wouldn’t see
him in the same light if he knew.

His daddy had built Rockfield’s with the sweat of his back.
Caleb couldn’t risk losing it all, even for love.

“How will it be between us when we get back?” she asked as
if reading his mind.

He squeezed his eyes shut, hating himself all over again for
hurting her.

“I think it might be best if we still went our separate
ways.” Her only answer was a sharp inhale of breath. “Please don’t cry again.
I’ll always love you.”

She sat up. “You’re right. We can’t keep doing this. Even
though I know you love me, I can’t stand the thought of acting like a whore.”

“Then let’s hold each other until sunrise.”

He took her in his arms and held on tight, hoping dawn never
came.

* * * * *

Pearl watched the island grow smaller and smaller behind the
wake of Caleb’s boat. Morning had come too soon. She stood next to him at the
wheel with her hand on his arm, savoring their last minutes alone together. The
pleasant soreness between her legs reminded her of their lovemaking.

She was a woman now.

“I might as well take you straight to your house,” Caleb
said.

“Church will be in session so you can drop me off there.
It’s perfect.”

He grinned. “That is perfect.”

She looked down at the wrinkles in her dress and the sand on
her shoes she couldn’t seem to completely remove. “Of course, I’m not fit for
church after what I’ve done.”

Caleb grabbed her chin. “What we did was beautiful, Pearl.
You can tell your family you got caught in the storm and I rescued you.”

“And maybe I walked out on some rocks to get some pretty
shells and fell in the water.”

Would everyone believe such an outlandish story? The boat
skimmed over the water, which was calmer than yesterday. She wished it wouldn’t
go so fast toward Oyster Island.

“Caleb, since I’m not marrying Jimmy I’ll need to support
myself. Will I still have my shucking job?”

He frowned as if she’d insulted him. “Of course. I do think
it best that you don’t
clean
for me anymore, though. Having you there
after hours would be too tempting.”

She pressed her lips together to hold back the emotions
churning in her chest. They’d already agreed it would be best for them to go
their separate ways but how would she ever live without this man?

“I’ll still pay you extra,” he added.

Warmth filled her chest. Even when they were parting he
still tried to do what was best for her. No one had cared about her this much
since Mama was alive.

Pearl lifted her chin. “I don’t want your charity. Pay me
for the shucking only.”

His blue eyes glittered with admiration. “As you wish.”

Oyster Island became larger the closer they got. Their
private island was now out of sight as if it had never existed. Maybe it
hadn’t.

Caleb turned to her with a serious expression on his face.
“We should say goodbye now while we still have privacy. Then it would look best
if you sit at the stern like a…passenger.”

She flung her arms around him and squeezed tight. Despite
her efforts to control her emotions, tears flowed from her eyes and left wet
spots on his soft, cotton shirt. Inhaling his scent only made them flow faster.

“Oh, Caleb. I’m sorry.” She pulled back and looked at his
face. “I guess I’m not very good at goodbyes.”

His blue eyes grew luminous with unshed tears. “Neither am
I. Never forget how special you are, Pearl. Never forget me.”

She clutched the sides of his face and kissed him, savoring
his moustache and the taste of his strong lips for the last time.

“I won’t,” she said. “But how will we handle seeing each
other publicly, especially at work?”

“We’ll manage somehow,” he replied as he rained a dozen
kisses across her face. “I wish you were marrying Jimmy so you’d be safe. At
least you’ll be nearby so I can watch over you.”