by Sable Hunter
Clotille asked more questions which Revel ably answered and Harper was more impressed than ever. Before they left, she went to the kitchen to get some pralines for Patrick and his grandfather as a thank-you for their hospitality. Once they’d made their escape, she teased him. “You’re way more than a pretty face, aren’t you?”
He clasped her hand, loaded her into his truck and kissed her soundly. “I’ve got a pretty cock too.” He grinned at her and she laughed.
“You won’t get any argument from me.” They left Loreauville and headed east toward the small town of Wallace. “Patrick is expecting us. Have you been to Evermore before?”
Harper shook her head. “No, I haven’t been to many places.” She didn’t want to share the details of her tumultuous childhood. Better to keep the topic on safer ground. “Although I have heard a lot about it. Isn’t it supposed to be haunted?”
Chuckling, Revel turned on to the main road. “Don’t say that, I’m staying there this trip.” He intended on renting an apartment between tours to have when he came home for good, but right now it seemed like a waste of money. “Patrick and his grandfather have been good enough to put me up while I’m here. But to answer your question, I think every older home in Louisiana is haunted. They say the piano sometimes plays by itself, but I’ve never heard it.”
“I heard a baby cry at Wildwood a few times, but it could’ve been a dream, I guess,” Harper said off-handedly, almost too off-handedly.
“Really?” Revel asked, noticing she looked odd. “Did it scare you?”
“A little,” Harper admitted, running her hand over his jeans, over the hard muscle of his leg. Yesterday he’d been wearing fatigues, both looked perfect on him. “I asked my grandmother about it, but she just looked funny and told me it was my imagination.”
“Well, that’s good,” Revel said, covering her hand with his own.
“Not really.” Harper shook her head. “She was lying, I could tell by her face. She almost looked guilty.” Sitting up straighter, she pushed her hair back over one shoulder. There were so many ghosts in her life, she couldn’t be bothered with the paranormal kind.
“I wonder why?” he mused. When she didn’t answer, he glanced over at her. She was gazing out the window, obviously lost in thought. “When we get to Evermore I’m going to show you something that might change how you feel about me.”
Harper quickly turned her head to look at him. “What do you mean?”
“Wait and see.” Revel had determined to tell her, to show her—but he’d wanted to put it off as long as possible. Now it was time.
Harper wondered about what he was keeping from her. It made her uncomfortable. But then she thought of what all she was hiding from him and decided she had no room to talk. After a few moments of quiet, Harper brightened. “Tell me what you plan to do when you leave the Marines.” This was her way of leading up to the topic of her own future.
Revel looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m not sure. I’m taking some classes in civil engineering while I’m overseas, but who knows where that will lead.”
“I’m planning on starting LSU in the fall,” she offered casually.
“Really? Great!” He squeezed her knee. “What will you study?”
Harper didn’t have great ambitions, she just wanted a happy life. “I like to sketch, but making a living as an artist is hard. Elementary education probably, I think I’d make a good kindergarten teacher.”
“Do you like children?” Revel asked, studying her face closely.
Whoa! She suddenly had a feeling he was asking something more. “Yea, I’ve never been around too many, but I do like kids.”
Revel nodded. “Me too, I want a houseful.”
Harper’s stomach somersaulted. All of her old doubts came thundering back into her head. He was talking kids and he didn’t have a clue as to who she really was. Knowing she’d have to broach the subject somehow eventually, Harper decided to test the waters. “Can I tell you a fantasy of mine?”
Revel felt like she had nudged him with a Taser. “God, yes.” Just the idea of Harper fantasizing about him or sex was electrifying. “Tell me what you want and if it’s in my power, I’ll make it come true.”
Pulling her hands to her lap, she clenched them into fists, letting her nails score her palms. The slight discomfort gave her strength. “I’ve found something that I…like. Or I think I would like.”
“I’m all ears, baby.” Revel laughed. “And cock.” He couldn’t imagine what she was about to say. Was it some new position? A toy?
“I’d like for you to spank me.” She said the words so low, she wasn’t sure he could hear.
“Spank you?” Revel was more than a little surprised. “You want me to hit you?” This he hadn’t been expecting—at all.
They had turned off the highway and were heading down the smaller farm-to-market road leading to Evermore. She’d just seen the sign. It wasn’t much farther, so she didn’t want to start a big discussion. “Never mind, it’s just something I was thinking about.”
“No, I want to know more,” he assured her he needed to know more. Seeing where they were, he added. “Let’s talk about it later.”
When they drove up to the plantation and turned into the driveway, Harper felt like they had stepped back in time. “Oh, my goodness. This is beautiful!” She was familiar with Louisiana’s history. Wildwood was a showplace itself, but nothing like this majestic antebellum home with two grand staircases that curved up from the ground to the second floor. A white awe-inspiring Greek Revival structure, Harper could feel the winds of the past blowing. She wouldn’t have been surprised to see elegant women stepping from the doors wearing hoop skirts and carrying colorful shade umbrellas. “You’re staying here?”
“Yea, I wish you could stay here with me too.” Revel hinted broadly as he parked under a shade tree. “There’s a lot I want to share with you and I’m sure Paddy and Patrick wouldn’t mind.”
“I know someone who might,” she muttered with a low laugh. “Let me think about it.”
That she would even consider it heartened Revel. “I can’t ask for more than that.” Opening her door, he helped Harper out. “Before we go in, let me show you something.” He guided her to the long alley of oaks leading toward the outbuildings. “I’ve been dreading this and I think I’ll just get it out of the way.”
Harper couldn’t imagine what he was about to say. “Tell me.” There wasn’t anything in the world he could say that would put her off. Was there?
They walked down between the spreading oaks until they came to some small cabins, shacks really. Some were occupied with people and children milling about and some looked abandoned. “These are where slaves used to live. Today, sugar cane workers stay here. Most are no more than tenement workers.” He pointed at the tiny ramshackle dwellings, so opposite of the plantation they’d just walked away from. “This is where I lived up until a few months ago. This was my life.”
He spread his hands, as if pulling back the curtains on something he was ashamed of. Harper knew the feeling. “Revel.” She said his name with censure in the tone. “Do you think where you came from, how you grew up would make a difference in how I feel about you?”
Revel shrugged his massive shoulders and for a moment Harper saw a lost little boy instead of a strong brave soldier. “Your family has always had money. Your grandmother is a…”
She figured he was going to say a ‘society matron’, even though if she were going to define Clotille, she would say the woman was more eccentric than elegant. “My grandmother is a hoot. She thinks you’re wonderful.”
Relief colored his face. “I’m glad, but your opinion of me is what counts.”
Harper was about to answer when someone calling Revel’s name made them turn around.
“Patrick!” Revel put his arm around Harper. “We were just taking a walk. Harper, this is my friend Patrick O’Rourke. Patrick, this is my girlfriend, Harper Summers.”
The designation a
s his ‘girlfriend’ made Harper blush. “Hello, I’m glad to meet you.”
“Me too.” Patrick put an arm around Harper and hugged her lightly. “I’ve been waiting to meet you for years.”
This confused Harper and Revel looked decidedly uncomfortable. Patrick laughed. “He didn’t tell you? He’s been planning on asking you out since we were thirteen.”
Harper turned to Revel, who looked sheepish but nodded. “It’s true. I’ve had a crush on you for years.”
A thrill swept through Harper. “I didn’t know.”
“Come on to the house, Paddy is ready to eat.”
When they all stepped in line to walk back together, Harper felt small between the two large men.
“How is Paddy?” Revel asked, slipping his arm around Harper’s waist.
Patrick kicked a stone. “He’s happy, but I’m losing him more every day. I’m so afraid the next time I come home he won’t even know who I am.”
Harper understood. Paddy had Alzheimer’s. How sad. “I can’t wait to meet him,” she replied, wanting to make Patrick feel better.
“You’re going to make him smile,” Patrick assured her as he led the way to the back door. “Go on in.” Harper stepped into the kitchen. It wasn’t as big as she’d expected it to be. Patrick saw her glancing around and answered her question. “The house is a bit misleading. Kitchens in newer houses are show places. In older homes like this, they were functional but not something built for entertaining. They were the domain of servants.”
They moved on to the dining area which was showier and full of period antiques including a shoo-fly fan over the table. Harper had seen one at Oak Alley. “I love these. The correct name is a punkah, isn’t it?”
An older version of Patrick came in to join them. “You’re right, pretty lady. In the old times, the windows were left open to capture any breeze and a servant would sit in the corner of the room and pull the rope to the shoo-fly fan to discourage insects. There would be a bowl of ice in the middle of the table, if there was any to be had, and that would help keep things cool.”
Harper smiled, grateful to see that at the moment, Paddy looked right as rain. “Hello, how wonderful to meet you.” Patrick introduced her and they were about to sit down when Harper remembered she’d left her little confectionary gift for them in the truck. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
“Do you want me to go?” Revel asked, realizing what she was about to do.
“No, you visit, I won’t be but a minute.” She held out her hand for the key. He gave it to her and she took off, a smile on her face. Being with Revel, meeting his friends was exciting. It made her feel like she belonged somewhere besides a stately old house in a murky swamp. Hurrying across the grassy lawn to the gravel lot, she was focused on Revel’s truck, an older model silver Ford F150. When she was close enough, she hit the unlock button, then opened the door to retrieve the container that held the candy. As she was stepping back, something blocked her way. “What?” She glanced back with a smile, expecting to see Revel—but it wasn’t. A tall, thinner man stood behind her. He was older, maybe in his late forties or early fifties with dark hair and mean eyes. He looked…familiar. “Hello.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“I know who you are, you’re the spitting image of your crazy-ass mother.”
Shock blasted through Harper in waves. This man looked like her daddy. He looked enough like her daddy to make her skin feel like she had bugs crawling all over her body. A feeling of dread built up in her chest and throat till she felt like she couldn’t breathe. “Who are you?”
“I’m Harlow, your daddy’s brother,” he sneered at her, his hand snaking out to grab her hair at the back of her head. “You and your vile accusations are what killed my brother. Your lunatic mother shot him in cold blood—because of you! What kind of daughter are you?”
She froze, looking in vain over his shoulder. There was no one in sight. The rooms that Revel and Patrick sat in were at the back of the house. Evermore’s property was huge, she was a good distance from anything. Would anyone hear her scream? “What do you want?”
Harlow Duhon leaned forward and whispered in slow, cold words. “I want you to suffer like he did. What do you think your punishment should be?”
Panicking, Harper twisted out of his hold. “Let me go!”
“I saw who you were with. Do these friends of yours know you’re a little slut who framed her own flesh and blood?”
“No, I’m not.” Harper pushed away, terror overtaking her. For a moment, she was dragged back in time. She was helpless, alone and very confused. “Get away from me!” Clutching the plastic container to her chest, she started running. Tears were rushing down her cheeks. Harper looked over her shoulder, if the man was chasing her she didn’t know what she’d do. “Revel!” she called loudly, but she was still too far away to be heard.
She almost tripped, looking back, but to her relief he was still standing there motionless. Staring at her, hatred on his face. Her heart was pounding like a freight train barreling down a track. When she neared the back steps, she paused, wiped her face and tried to get her breathing under control.
“There you are.” Revel held the door for her. She put a smile on her face. “Is something wrong?” he asked, more aware than she thought he’d be.
“No, I’m fine,” she assured him. Now wasn’t the time. Besides, she needed to figure out exactly what she was going to tell him. If she decided to say anything at all. “I tripped back there, I’m a klutz sometimes.” Which certainly wasn’t a lie.
As if he had some sense that everything wasn’t as it should be, Revel pulled her close. Being cradled in his arms felt wonderful. “I’m glad you’re back, I was getting worried.”
He couldn’t have said anything more perfect. As he led her back to where the others were, she presented Paddy with the candy and he immediately dove in and had a piece with Patrick teasing him about ruining his lunch. The meal was simple, grilled steaks and baked potatoes. A perfectly prepared filet mignon was placed on Harper’s plate and she couldn’t help but inhale. “It smells wonderful, Patrick.” The men dug in and she enjoyed the meat, but the salad was more down her alley.
Harper had so wanted to have a good time visiting at Evermore, and the O’Rourkes were more than kind. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get Harlow Duhon off her mind. She felt antsy and uneasy, the only relief she could give herself was digging her nails into her palm. There was no way she would do anything to embarrass Revel, not in front of Patrick and Paddy. Her dread had drifted from being afraid her uncle would hurt her, to wary that he would be waiting for them outside when it was time to leave. What if he stopped Revel and told him about her ordeal, her secret?
She was fairly quiet while the men talked about the military and about Evermore. They even rehashed the season New Orleans was having on the football field. Paddy was a big Drew Brees fan. Harper didn’t mind, she smiled at the appropriate times and even commented on several things. None of it took her mind away from the other things on her mind—namely, the threat from her uncle and how she’d opened up to Revel about her needs on the way to Evermore.
“What’s on your mind, beautiful?” Revel whispered out of nowhere.
Her head jerked up. How long had she been staring at her plate? “Not much, I’m just tired.”
Revel folded his napkin. “Patrick, we appreciate the good food and the good company. My girl is tired and she needs to rest up.” He winked at her right in front of them. “I have plans for her later on tonight.” When she blushed, he clarified. “I’m taking her up to Natchitoches to see the lights.”
Harper’s mouth flew open. “Really? I’ve never been!” She was thrilled. The lights along the Cane River were known far and wide. Thanksgiving was over a week away and she hadn’t considered the lights would even be lit, much less that she would be able to attend. “Thank you!”
Paddy beamed at Harper’s joy. “You’re a good man for taking her. We need to do things to m
ake our ladies happy.”
Patrick agreed. “If I had a girl as beautiful as you, I’d sure enjoy escorting her around.”
“I’m fortunate that way.” Revel teased, hugging her.
They said their goodbyes. She and Revel were almost to the truck before she remembered Harlow Duhon and what he’d done and said. Looking furtively around, she was relieved he was nowhere in sight.
Once they were on the road, Revel hunted a filling station to fill the truck up with gas for their trip north. He also bought each of them a soft drink. A few miles later he let his mind wander back to what Harper had said earlier. “So, tell me more about your fantasy of being spanked?” He kept his voice modulated so she wouldn’t be able to tell how much the idea perplexed him.
His unexpected question made a sip of Diet Dr. Pepper go down the wrong way in Harper’s throat. Breaking out in a fit of coughing, he patted her on the back until she could catch her breath. “Well,” she started off, searching for the right words, “I think it would feel good.” She nervously licked her lips.
Revel paused, considering how to answer. He never wanted to disappoint her if he could help it. “Well, let’s try it tonight. You’ll have to tell me what to do. I’ve reserved us a room at a Bed and Breakfast, so we’ll be making a night of it.” Even as he agreed, Revel couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. The very idea of hitting Harper, even in play, hurt his heart.
“Okay,” she agreed quickly. Just the chance he might do this for her made Harper tremble. “I think you’ll like it.” From everything she’d read, men got off on spanking a woman. She hoped so. Right now, she needed to feel a bite of pain. Her uncle’s threats were hard to process. “There’s a lot of fun things we can do together,” she spoke, trying to better her case. Just the thought of it all made her shiver. What she’d done for herself with the nipple clamps had been amazing. The delicious pinch had served two purposes—it had taken her mind off her worries and made her want sex even more. In fact… “Do you think we could stop by the house and let me pack a few things?” Like the nipple clamps, she added silently.