AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Damn it. Growling, I stand in a rush, taking her hand. For her, I’ll dance to the end of the earth if she wants me to. I’ll do a thousand things I hate just to make her happy. She grins, clutching onto my arm, pressing her body closer so I can feel her breasts brush against me. They move unrestrictedly and are so soft against the thin dress fabric, it’s akin to her nakedness.
My cock and balls are so tight, I question my decision to wear buckskin breeches. They might not be as skin tight and revealing as inexpressibles, but they also don’t do much to cover up an erection. I walk with my legs apart for a bit, trying to think about something unarousing and hoping for the best as we make our way toward the ballroom.
“Welcome, lovebirds!” Lucian widens his arms, and I have the instinctive urge to take off my boot and throw it at him. He’s playing a blasted harp, and a few of the other servants are on the cello and violin.
“When did you learn to play the damn harp?” I gasp.
He beams. “I’ve always known. Growing up around the lesser parts, we try to learn all kinds of tricks and trades to earn some money. Repairing a broken instrument and teaching ourselves to play by ear is just one of our many skills, ain’t that right, lads and ladies?” He looks over at his fellow musicians.
“Aye.” They smile and nod.
“That’s right,” Olivia echoes.
“Bear in mind we charge by the hour,” Lucian adds. Gloria grins from the corner, and so does Olivia on my arm.
“Oh, are you?” I ask him, glaring at him. But, at the sound of Olivia’s infectious laughter, I’m unable to do anything but smile.
“Very well. Then we mustn’t waste time.” She steps out and offers her hand.
“I suppose not,” I say, placing my giant hand on her delicate waist and enclosing her hand in mine.
Our bodies are swept away by the music, and it’s as if we’re floating on air. She stops grinning, and her eyes widen along with her pinkening cheeks. “Wow, you’re an incredible dancer,” she gasps.
The queasiness of earlier has fallen away. Our bodies and the music have become one. As we spin around together, even more laughter bubbles over from us. As the hour-long symphony ends, we find our heads spinning from a dance that only lasted a few minutes.
“You know what, Olivia Primrose? I’ll let you in on a secret.” I grin. “But you have to promise you won’t share it with anyone else.” I lower my voice to a whisper while leaning in closer to her.
She squints. “What is it?”
“I don’t think I loathe dancing after all.” I chuckle.
Olivia gasps, and my words are cut short by her soft hands cupping my cheeks and pulling me forward, laying the pillow of her lips against mine. Groaning, I pull her body onto me, revelling in the way her hands run through my hair. My fingers tease the back of her dress, but the decision isn’t mine. My cock might be on the edge, near to explosion, but I’m surrendering to her control tonight. Even as the need to claim her tears at me. I’ll let her decide what she does with her body. In addition to all the other things I’ve learned today, I think I might be excited by the uncertainty.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Townes
“Oh,thankyousomuch, Lulinda!” I hug the slightly plump, older woman. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t found me. May your blessings be plentiful.”
She hardly speaks any English, so she smiles and nods as I wave her goodbye. She had understood the word Colderidge and after many elaborate gesticulations, carried me to the nearest point, through the woods, in her rickety carriage.
Knowing too well the location of the house I used to live in, I head in that direction, hoping the new occupants won’t shoot me for trespassing on my walk through the garden. My feet are forced to a pause when a thud of hooves advances toward me. I tremble. I haven’t yet stepped onto their property, so technically, I haven’t trespassed. They can’t punish me for wandering through the woods unless they now own that too. In which case, I hold my breath.
My wrists are covered in scabs and filled with pus. My black cloak hides the blood running from my head, which is now wrapped in cloth to allow the wound to heal. I cannot handle any more bruising. I just need to get to town. Left in the woods to die and living another day has made me realize that I’ve been spared for a reason. And that reason is Olivia. I need to save her. So, I’m done with hiding. I don’t care what the town attempts. Surely, after they’ve heard what Heath has done and seen the proof with their eyes, they’ll believe me.
Tree branches part, rustling their leaves, and out comes a wonderful surprise.
“Chance!” I gasp. He pulls to a halt before headbutting me and nickering. “All right, hold on there. Your head weighs as much as half my body, I think. You might be knocking me out.” I stumble, brushing his muzzle. Those words mean nothing to him, and he continues to brush his head against me. “All right. I missed you too, mate. Although, it would’ve been nice if you’d shown up earlier. Could’ve helped me get to Olivia,” I say, patting his side. “What do you say, mate, mind giving me a ride into town?” I ask.
He doesn’t have a saddle on or reins, so I decide to make a grave decision. Tiptoeing through the garden, I don’t stop to peek into the house to see whether it’s occupied or still vacant. Instead, I hurry toward the stables, with hopes that there are no stable hands or worse, the new tenant in there. Peeking through the gaps in wood, I sigh when there’s no one and round the width of it, toward the entrance. Ducking in, I note that it’s exactly how I left it, which is great news as I manage to locate an extra saddle, stirrup, and reins.
Luck is on my side, and it encourages me as Chance and I ride into town. People gasp and point as I gallop past them. I don’t slow down until reaching the town square. There, I project my scratchy voice as far as I can. Children dash off, whispering. Before long, their adults run along with the news. The town gathers, and two gentlemen step out from among them. They’re accompanied by soldiers.
“Sir, I’m Dr. Radcliff, and this is Dr. Wynn. Now, I don’t want you to be startled, but would you mind dismounting that horse?” the older gentleman asks.
Doctors. Great. Well, they move fast. Were they just hanging out in crevices, waiting for my arrival?
“Not until you hear me out,” I shout. The soldiers train their rifles on me.
