Tales of the Forbidden (8 page)

* * * *

Trees were everywhere and gave the home a secluded feeling, but the lawn around the home was the most immaculate she had ever seen. Flowers of every kind filled circular tubs, landscaping the middle of the yard. Everything was in bloom. White marble stones with brown stepping stones went around a large built-in water fountain. Two large golden fish swam in the water, moving lily pads around. This was what Kera dreamed about as a little girl.

Devon led her up the steps, opened the front door, and Kera’s mouth opened as she stepped over the threshold into a grand front room. A large leather sectional sofa located in the middle of the room was the first thing she saw. The next, a white fur bearskin in the center of the floor. Two grand fireplaces made from white marble were to her left and right as she headed inside. Books in the finest leather graced the walls along with mounted animal heads of every kind. Her feet padded against real hardwood floors glowing with a shine only achieved by a 63

new coat of polish. Separating the room from the kitchen was a simple yet elegant dining room table with ten place settings. A long hallway lay to her right, between the kitchen and front room.

Along the hallway were two closed doors that led to a staircase and another large room at the end.

Devon led her down the hallway to a family room as lovely as the front room. Another white marble fireplace stood facing the entrance and instead of leather furniture this room contained furniture upholstered with a soft cream colored material. One sofa, a love seat, and two large lounge chairs faced a TV

mounted on the wall. Gray fur rugs lined the floor, and wooden end tables supported crystal lamps, giving off a homey feeling.

More books lined the walls, but in this room Kera noticed that some family photos were also displayed.

“My parents when they were young,” Devon said over her shoulder.

Kera looked at him before she headed up to one of the pictures. His mother seemed so happy being in the arms of the man she loved.

“The cabin has a total of five bedrooms. My cousin has taken over one of the downstairs bedrooms for his use, when he comes. My father built all of the beds himself,” Devon sounded proud of his father’s work as he took her hand and led her back down the hall to the stairs.

“What’s in the other room?” she asked, pointing to the other closed door.

“That would be my office.”

Devon held onto her hand as he led her up the stairs to a large loft. Low cushioned chairs, a gray fur rug, and a low coffee table were the only furnishings in the loft. Devon then proceeded toward the bedrooms.

“My father had the furniture handmade for each room,” he explained as he opened and closed doors, showing her the various bedrooms. “My mother had mentioned some things that she liked, and my father found them for her. And my grandmother,” he said, leading down the hallway toward the back of the cabin, “made all of the quilts you see covering the beds. But the one in our bedroom was her prized possession…”

Hearing him talk about how caring and loving his 64

grandparents were to his parents, and his parents to him, felt odd to Kera. In her world, fathers worked hard to get their daughters married and their sons established. She had never thought a father could be loving, and caring. From an early age she understood her worth, and it wasn’t to stand in a home like this.

“Kera?”

Kera snapped her head up, her eyes meeting Devon’s suddenly, and blushed when she noticed he had said something to her that she had not heard.

“Sorry,” she said.

“You were miles away.”

She shrugged. “Guess all of this is a little overwhelming.”

“Then be prepared for one more shock.” Devon opened the double doors to the last room in the hall. He stood back with an arm stretched toward the room and a smile on his face. “Here is the master bedroom.”

Kera felt like her eyes might pop out of her head. Unlike the other rooms, this one was carpeted in ivory. Another large white marble fireplace lined one wall, but it was the bed that drew her in.

Raised off the floor by two steps was a large king-size bed with wooden posts that reached the ceiling. A soft breeze lightly fluttered the curtains draping the open French-style doors.

“The stairs from the balcony lead down to the backyard. My parents used to sneak out in the middle of the night and swim in our heated pond. I’ll take you to it later.”

Hearing him talk about his family made Kera somewhat sad.

She had not really thought about what she had missed out on after her mother died, or how her father betrayed her after he became obsessed with his social standing. Kera stepped slowly toward the bed and touched one post gently as she examined some of the carvings.

“Embracing lovers,” Devon told her softly. “That’s what my father called them. He said that as long as they were on the bed, the two that lie in it would be at peace.”

A matching dresser, armoire, and chest of drawers decorated the room, along with a matching hope chest which sat at the end of the bed, perched up on the steps. Devon headed 65

over to a door and opened it. It was a bathroom with a shower large enough to fit five people, a double sink, and bathtub/hot tub, along with a toilet located in its own room. He also went over and opened up another door to show her a huge walk-in closet.

“I’m planning on taking you shopping for new things, once I’m ready to share you with the world, that is,” he winked flirtatiously. “Right now all of your things are packed downstairs, so you can unpack and put them anywhere you want.” She strolled into the closet and fingered a few of the nighties already hanging, waiting. He cleared his throat, sounding like he was embarrassed, “Guess there were a few things I couldn’t wait on.”

“This is really happening,” she mumbled.

Devon came up behind her and wrapped his arms tightly around her. “It’s real.”

Kera closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t belong here.”

Squeezing her tighter, Devon kissed her on top of her head.

“Why don’t we change our clothes? You can take a look around the cabin while I fix us something to eat for lunch.”

“You cook?” she asked him in wonder.

“When I need to,” he smiled back. “And believe me when I say ‘when I need to’. I don’t have a staff of cooks, only one cleaning lady who comes by during the day and leaves at night.”

Kera laughed. “Why does that surprise me?”

“Because you think I’m like the rest.” Devon released her and started for the door. “I’ll go get your stuff and give you some time alone.”

* * * *

Kera sat in Devon’s bedroom looking at some photos she had found stashed in an old box at the back of the closet. He’d brought her things up for her and she already unpacked, mostly because she didn’t know what else to do, and changed. A range of emotions ran through her as she took in images of Devon as he grew up. He was so happy and carefree. She could tell by his face that he had no worries. No wondering if there was going to be any food left for him at supper. No praying that the roof wouldn’t leak if it rained. No worrying if he was loved. Moreover, no fears that one day he was going to be sold off as property with no control of his own life.

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“Ah, so you did find them!”

Kera jumped when she heard Devon, who was standing at the doorway watching her.

“I’m sorry.” Quickly she closed the photo book, looking at him guiltily. “I didn’t mean to snoop.”

“You’re not snooping.” He smiled. Devon crossed the distance between them and sat down next to her on the bed.

Tensing, Kera had to bite the inside of her lip to stay put and not to move away from him. “I still make you uncomfortable?”

“You make me feel like a rat in a cage with the snake lying in wait,” she told him, looking him in the eyes and showing him some of the emotions going on inside her.

Kera stood and made a move to walk away but Devon grabbed her by the wrist, tugging her into his arms. She saw the hunger in his eyes and felt a sudden urge to wrap her arms around him.

“Let go,” she whispered instead half-heartedly.

Devon moved his hands down to her ass and around to her legs before he pulled at her, forcing her to straddle his lap. “I can’t seem to help myself when you’re around. I always have this need to touch you.” Concern filled his eyes as they roamed over her. “I get the urge to protect you.”

“I think you did enough touching last night.” Kera blushed and pushed lightly on his chest. “And the only protection I need is from you.”

Devon leaned close to her, his lips brushing hers. “That was just the tip of what my hunger for you is like.” He sucked her lower lip into his mouth. “And I think you need someone who cherishes you in your life.”

Tremors went through her as he held her close. Her body was responding to him just the way it did last night, even though she would do whatever she could to fight it. She didn’t want to be a possession and felt sure his gentle words were just that.

Words.

Devon kissed her quickly and stood up slowly, grazing her to make sure she felt his slight erection. “Come on.” He cleared his throat. “Lunch, or dinner, is ready.”

The dining table was set for the two of them, with glasses of wine and steamed lobster tails that just begged to be tasted. The 67

aroma of garlic butter sauce aroused the senses. The smell and colors of freshly heated bread, an appealing rice pilaf, and a tossed green salad set off the table nicely.

“You fixed all of this?” she asked as Devon pulled a chair out for her.

He blushed slightly. “Well, some of it.”

Kera gave him a funny look, which caused him to laugh.

“Okay, none of it. I just do steaks.”

“I thought as much.”

“But that still doesn’t mean I don’t want you to have the best dinner possible in your new home.” He poured wine into her glass and held up his hand to stop her from speaking. “Let’s have a truce tonight.”

Kera cocked her head to one side, looking at him to try to work out what his angle was. Unsure, she raised her glass hopefully. “So it is; a truce for tonight.”

* * * *

Devon watched Kera eat, smiling when she closed her eyes and savored the food. When she dipped the lobster meat into the sauce, he had to suppress a groan. The butter ran down her fingers to her wrist, and a few times he had to look away when she slipped her fingers into her mouth to lick the juice from them. Anyone observing her could tell that she had never had this kind of food before. To Devon, watching her try everything for the first time was a treat in itself.

More sauce dribbled down one of her fingers, reminding him of how light hit the dew in the morning, all fresh and delightful.

Eyes fixed on her taking her fingers in her mouth again to suck the butter off of them, his thoughts went straight to his erection and its demand to be set free.

Watching her dip a piece of lobster into the sauce and then lick the meat as she slowly sucked it into her mouth kept him in a state of constant arousal. It was driving him crazy to watch her.

All he could think about was that tongue swirling around the head of his cock, those lips sucking his length deep into the hot depths of her mouth. It was a painful, but enjoyable thought.

Then it dawned on him, she was doing it intentionally.

Devon filled his glass and just before he took a drink, he said, “Kera, you are playing a very dangerous game.”

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Kera looked up from her meal and licked one finger, then another before she responded to him innocently. “What do you mean?”

He set his glass on the table and took hold of her hand.

Keeping eye contact with her, he brought a finger to his lips and slowly sucked it into his mouth.

Kera swallowed hard as he sucked the garlic butter from her fingers. When he released them from his mouth, he stood but didn’t let go of her hand. Then he leaned over her and kissed her deeply.

“If you keep this up, we won’t make it to the cheesecake dessert,” he said against her lips. “Instead, you will become
my
dessert.”

Kera snatched her hand back quickly, trembling. “I think I like it better when you’re not so nice.”

Devon sat back down in his chair and grinned at her. “Why is that?”

“I don’t understand you when you’re like this.” She frowned, carefully wiping her hands on the napkin then wiping her lips.

Still smiling at her, he leaned back in his chair. “Maybe I don’t know myself either when I’m around you.” He saw her swallow hard and took a drink from his wine. “So, I found out that you were trying to finish your schooling.”

“Before my father sold me,” she snorted. Her tongue came out, made a quick swipe across her lips. And damn if he didn’t want to feel that tongue on his body.

“What were you studying?”

She shrugged, reached for a magazine on the table, and started to flip through the pages, “Not sure. I didn’t exactly have the chance to really figure it all out.”

“Well, you know, once you get settled here you could go back.” That had her stopping in mid flip and looking up at him. “If you want to, that is.”

“And what would that cost me?”

“Kera you don’t have to pay me back for things I do for you.

We’re married, and if you want to go to school I don’t see a problem with it.” Devon chuckled, finished his drink, and stood up. Taking her plate and his, he walked into the kitchen. He put the dishes in the sink, picked up a knife, and cut them both a 69

piece of the cheesecake. Balancing the plates and another bottle of champagne, he went back to the table and sat down.

“Even if I try to run?” she asked the question so sweetly he couldn’t help but smile at it.

He poured them both some champagne into the second glasses on the table and put one of the plates in front of her. “If you run, then I have an excuse to chase after you.” Strawberry swirl cheesecake sat in front of her, yet Kera didn’t touch it.

Devon wondered why until he remembered the strawberries from last night. “Not drugged, promise you that.”

“And how can I trust you?”

It was his turn to shrug, “Guess you just have to learn.” He cut off a piece and put it in his mouth. “Try it.”

Kera slowly cut the end off and brought it up to her lips. As she chewed, Devon picked up his glass of champagne and drank. She finished off her dessert in silence. Once they finished the meal, Devon suggested she go up and soak in the bath while he cleaned up. She didn’t hesitate at all.

Doing the dishes gave him the alone time he needed to get his emotions under control. He wanted her so badly he physically ached with it. But he held himself back. She needed some time to get used to her new home and being around him. If he bombarded her with all of his wants and desires at once he could push her away. That was the last thing he wanted. Devon wanted her to like him, maybe even come to care for him one day. He didn’t want her running away all the time.

Once everything was cleaned up, he decided to go out back and work off some of the sexual frustration he was feeling. A couple of days, he kept telling himself while he undressed to work out. A couple of days was all he was going to give her to get adjusted; it was all he could handle before he blew his top.

Damn! I’ve never had to have this kind of control in my life and it
sucks big time!