She rose to her feet and began to pace the dusty platform, her blue gloves, tracing the brooch around her neck. He was over an hour late.
“Olive Catrall?”
She whirled at the sound of a deep, mellifluous voice. Her mouth would not form words as she regarded the handsome man towering down upon her. She was exactly as she had envisioned except his eyes were not brown but a dark, cobalt blue. She nodded, realizing he was waiting for a response.
“My carriage is waiting.” Julius turned on his heel and began to stroll away, leaving Olive to carry her own trunks.
Chapter Three
Julius waved Andrew aside and let himself into the cab of the carriage. The driver stood outside the door, waiting for Olive. Andrew had asked if he should accompany Julius to meet the young lady but Julius had declined. Perversely, he wished to see the expression on her face when he had her handle her own luggage. He was surprised to know he felt ashamed at her shocked face.
Julius stared stonily out the narrow pane at the station.
Hurry up, woman, he growled to himself but he realized he was not as irritated as he thought he would be. He had been stunned by the loveliness of Olive. He had not been expecting such a beauty.
So she is pleasing to the eye, he thought, seeing her approach with his peripheral vision. Many women are attractive. This changes nothing. This is still a marriage of blackmail and nothing more.
In fact, Julius had seen several alluring women the previous evening at Miss Eliza’s where he had spent the evening exercising his libido with various ladies until the break of dawn. From the bordello, he had ventured into the Ballroom Saloon on Bourbon Street where he engaged in a rambunctious poker game.
Reeking of gin and debauchery, and fifty dollars wealthier Julius had reluctantly returned home to bathe before Olive’s arrival. To his chagrin, the festivities had taken their toll and he had fallen asleep on the settee while lacing his boots. If Juana had not come in to clean the front salon, he would have slept the remainder of the day away.
Olive had joined him in the litter but he did not acknowledge her arrival. He noticed that she did not seem angry but slightly uncomfortable.
“Well I daresay that the air is quite a bit more humid in these parts than the east coast,” Olive offered brightly. Julius grunted and picked up the periodical from the seat at his side. He pulled the pages apart and began to read, determined to maintain silence.
I will not be won over by this woman, no matter how charming she may be. She is not my chosen. She is my forced. I had no choice but to agree to this farce.
“May I ask where I will be staying?”
Sighing, Julius lowered the newspaper and narrowed his dark blue eyes.
“You will be staying at the St. Charles Hotel until we are wed. At that point, you will have your own suite at my home in the French Quarter.”
He turned back to the print but not before he saw the glimmer of disappointment in her eyes.
Where did you think you would stay, you silly child? He wondered, shaking his head slightly at her innocence. This is not New York. We are God fearing people in the south. It would be frowned upon for you to stay in my home prior to our wedding.
Julius flipped the pages loudly for effect but Olive wore a defeated expression upon her face and for a moment, Julius felt a pang of guilt.
Don’t you start feeling compassion for this girl. She will find her way just fine in New Orleans. We can maintain our own lives with minimal interaction. She will make her own friends and find her own activities to pursue. Or else she will simply waste away in the mansion. Either way, it does not affect me in the slightest.
He forced himself to continue reading the articles, dismissing Olive from his mind.
The sound of the horses’ hooves slowed and Julius glanced outside. They had arrived at the hotel. Julius had purposely arranged for Olive to remain slightly outside the French Quarter so he could continue with his dalliances unseen. Once they were wed, he would simply need to be more cautious but he still had one month until that became a concern.
Begrudgingly, he stepped from the car after her, helping Andrew remove her trunks and place them on the cobblestone sidewalk.
“Come along,” he said gruffly, strolling toward the lobby. He did not turn to see if she had followed but Andrew assisted with her cases this time.
You really do not need to be so rude to her. She is innocent in this. She likely does not wish to be married to a stranger either.
Yet as Julius stole a glance at her, he knew that she had been eager to meet him. He had barely scanned her correspondences, replying only with appropriate letters of his own lest they were read by someone other than Olive. He had read enough, however, to know that she had already formulated a knight in shining armor vision of him.
She is young and foolish. She will learn soon enough about the harsh realities of the cruel world.
“Reservation for Miss Olive Catrall, care of Julius Perone,” he announced to the concierge. The thin man nodded almost imperceivably, saying nothing. He glanced at the reservation book and turned to the key rack at his back.
This is my kind of gentleman, Julius thought, accepting the key from his outstretched hand.
“Room three oh three,” the man announced in a clipped, nasal tone.
“Thank you,” Olive piped as Julius turned away. Neither men looked at her, Julius heading toward the winding staircase which graced the center of the lobby. He could hear Andrew breathing heavily behind him but Olive seemed to be springing along with her trunk. Again, Julius found himself casting her a look.
She is quite a bit stronger than she appears, he thought, mildly impressed. The trio paused in front of the intricate door of room three oh three.
“These accommodations are lovely,” Olive declared as Julius unlocked the door to her suite. “Did you choose this hotel yourself or was it recommended?”
“How can you say that?” he snapped. “You have yet to see the room.”
Olive did not answer but he could tell he had stung her with his words.
I must control my tongue. If she complains to her father that I am mistreating her, he will no doubt retaliate.
“You see!” she declared as she entered the room. “It is divine!”
Even Julius had to admit that the ornate quarters were stunningly decorated. The room did exhibit a large canopy bed and a view of the courtyard below.
“I trust this is satisfactory then?” Julius asked, his foot already back in the corridor.
“It will do very well,” Olive replied. “Are you off then?”
He detected a wistfulness in her voice but he did not look at her. He was concerned that if he looked into her robin’s egg colored eyes, he would be tempted to stay.
“Yes,” he answered, already halfway toward the staircase.
“When will I see you again?” she called.
“I will have Tally Bellamy come here to get your approval on wedding plans. We are to meet with the minister this week to assure him we are committed to God. Perhaps we can do that on Tuesday afternoon. I will be in touch.”
“And what am I to do in between?” Olive cried in frustration. Julius smiled to himself.
I imagine she will eventually waste away at the mansion as I thought. She is needy and dependant. What a pity.
“New Orleans is your new home. I suggest you get acquainted with it.”
He scurried down the steps before she could fire off another question. Andrew opened the carriage for him to enter but before he closed the portal he peered curiously at Julius.
“Where to, sir?” he asked. Julius sighed heavily and leaned back against the cushions of the car.
“Miss Eliza’s,” he muttered. There was a young blonde girl there who could look like Olive if he squinted his eyes.
Chapter Four
Olive felt as if she had floated from her own body to the ceiling of the glass roof of the ballroom. There were two hundred people in the room, all drinkin
g and laughing but she felt detached from the festivities.
This is your wedding day, she told herself. You should be feeling as much joy as these people appear to be experiencing.
Yet it seemed to Olive that the party attendees had forgotten her existence. It wouldn’t be hard for that to occur for she only knew two people in the room; her father and her husband. After their speeches and supper, they had both joined a group of men near the bar. From Olive’s vantage point, they looked secretive, huddled together in a circle, their heads close. When she tried to approach, reaching out for companionship, the group went quickly silent, causing Olive to excuse herself. She had spent the reception in a corner of the room, sipping a glass of champagne and wondering if she had married a man who despised her.
The past month had been distressing lonely for Olive. She had spent countless hours walking alone in the French Quarter and Marigny. Julius had sent Andrew to drive her but Olive had preferred to stroll through the city, learning the eccentric culture of new Paris. Olive confessed to herself that New Orleans was much more magical than New York. It seemed that everywhere she turned, she was in the midst of music or art. The scenery and smells were intoxicating and Olive truly enjoyed her long walks through the city.
True to his word, Julius had enlisted Miss Bellamy to finalize the wedding preparations, decisions she had made exclusively without the approval of anyone previously.
It is as though he has no desire to be married, Olive thought mournfully. Why did he ask for my hand if he obviously has no interest in being wed?
Olive had only one logical explanation; Julius had been ready to marry until he had seen her face-to-face. She had only seen him two times while she stayed at the St. Charles Hotel. The first time was when he collected her from the train station and the second was at the church with the minister. She had not seen him again until she met him at the altar three hours prior.
Olive sighed deeply, blinking tears of frustration from her eyes. She finished the last of her champagne and looked about for another glass.
I don’t see the harm in one more glass -
“You look beautiful, my dove.”
Eugene arrived at her side stealthily and Olive started. She forced a smile upon her face.
“Thank you, father,” she replied, kissing him dutifully on the cheek. “And thank you for bringing my belongings on your trip.”
He nodded acceptingly and clasped her hand tightly.
“It is almost time for you and Eugene to leave for your honeymoon,” he told her.
“We are going to postpone the honeymoon,” Olive told him quickly. Instantly, Eugene’s icy eyes turned hard.
“Why is that?” he demanded, glancing at his new son-in-law from across the room. Julius appeared to see his steely gaze and immediately shifted his focus toward the bar.
“Julius is simply much too busy at work,” Olive told him quickly. The truth was, she did not know why. He had bluntly informed her of such after their meeting with the minister two weeks earlier. She had nodded complacently. Olive was already getting a taste of how dismally destitute was to be her marriage to Julius.
“Is that a fact?” Eugene growled. “Well, we shall see about that.”
“No, father, it is perfectly fine,” Olive replied. She inherently desired to protect her husband, no matter how much of a brute he was shaping up to be. It was her duty as a wife to support her husband whether or not he deserved it.
“You do not long for a honeymoon?” he challenged. Olive nodded conceding.
“Yes, of course I do but I have much to do as the new lady of his house,” she reminded him. Eugene regarded his only child, gaging her expression. Finally, he seemed content with her response.
“Well do not allow too much time to pass or else you will never take that journey.”
Olive nodded agreeably. Julius had started toward them and Olive noticed he was swaggering slightly.
Oh heavens, he is drunk, she thought horrified. She glanced furtively at her father. He had not yet noticed and Olive seized the opportunity to meet her husband before he ventured too close. Eugene was observant and would be angered to discover Julius inebriated.
Is this how our marriage is going to be? Me being forced to explain and cover for Julius at every turn?
“I do believe it is time for us to leave,” she announced with feigned cheer.
“Yes,” Julius slurred. “Time to go home!”
She grasped his arm and waved at the now applauding crowd who followed them to the exit. She turned to the guests, realizing that Julius was far too intoxicated to address them.
“Thank you all for attending,” she called cordially. “We bid you a good night!”
A roar of approval erupted through the crowd and Olive pushed her husband into the warm night air.
Andrew helped her pile Julius into the back of the cab and Olive could tell that the elderly driver had experience in these matters.
“Home, Andrew,” she told the driver. As she turned back to Julius, she saw that he was staring at her and her heart leapt into her throat. It was the first time she had ever seen him look directly into her face. She had constantly felt as if he purposely avoided looking into her eyes. Yet at that moment, he was looking, truly reading her face. She returned his gaze, her mouth parting slightly as her irises studied the strong structure of his face. Suddenly, he reached forward and grabbed her, pulling her open mouth to his. Shocked but excited, Olive did not fight back. She allowed him to pull her atop of him, one hand firmly on the base of her skull, the other seeking the hem of her wedding dress. Nervousness fluttered in her stomach as his strong hand made its way up her calf, the other lowering from her neck toward the tiny buttons at the top of her spine. With skillful hands, he began to undo the pearl fastens quickly, exposing her creamy skin, covered only by her corset.
His breathing escalated, his lips traveling from her eager mouth down the contours of her throat, gently sucking at the tender area. Olive sighed, resisting the urge to push him aside, her concern for being caught by Andrew overcome by the passion rising in her. His palms kneaded at her soft bosom, freeing the taut, rigid flesh fraught with gooseflesh. Julius’ hot mouth embraced the area and Olive felt an explosion within her. Her dress was on the floor of the carriage, his palms working the tight corset off to expose her flat stomach and throbbing center.
“Julius,” she murmured in a weak plea to stop but he did not seem to hear her as he pried the garment off her curvy rump. Olive did not want him to cease but she could not help but be aware of how closely Andrew sat in proximity to their bare flesh. She felt vulnerable in her nakedness but she desired him so deeply, she did not protest. He set her back slightly to allow for the removal of his trousers, liberating his large, thick member. Her voice caught as she shifted her eyes to his manhood, uncertainty and arousal threatening to suffocate her simultaneously. Pushing her back against the soft cushioning of the cab, he spread her smooth thighs and situated himself between, the head of his thickness teasing her moist opening. His moody, mysterious eyes probed into hers and she could see his wanting matched hers. Again, his mouth met hers and he slipped into her, prodding her wet depth. A mismatch of pleasure and pain shot through her body. Impulsively, she grasped his rear, encouraging him deeper into her core. The rhythm of the horses against the cobblestone streets guided his pace. Olive found herself arching her back so tersely, she was worried she might snap in half. She needed to meet his thrusts, to feel him completely inside her as his probing intensified.
Crying out, her toes curled as her calved tensed tightly. Her body began to tremble violently and a gush of warmth flowed through her body, washing her with a euphoric feeling which she had never before experienced. As she climaxed, she was filled with hot fluid spurting from Julius who continued to stare into her dilated pupils. She sensed that he was reading into her soul. There was a solid tremble from Julius and he collapsed atop her in a pile of exhaustion, unspeaking but breathing laboriously. Olive wille
d herself to be still, lest she ruin the moments of intimacy they shared but she could not supress the overwhelming sense of contentment she was feeling.
He loves me. He truly loves me.
Chapter Five
“Give me another, Sam,” Julius ordered the bartender. The man nodded curtly and poured another whiskey into the filthy, fingerprinted glass. Julius had been at the Ballroom Saloon for the better part of the night. He desperately wanted to return home but he could not bring himself to do so.
She is so much more incredible than I imagined, he told himself with some bitterness. She is making it very difficult for me to ignore her.
He and Olive had been married for six weeks and in that time, Julius had gone out of his way to avoid being alone with his wife. He feared that he would be unable to control himself in her presence. Whenever he caught a glimpse of her golden halo or her swelling bosom, he stuffed down the almost uncontrollable desire to seize her and make love to her with wild abandon. He had been stunned at their connection during the consummation of the marriage on their wedding night. He felt as if their souls had entwined on the seat of the carriage, their bodies becoming one. Never before had he experienced such an affinity in the throes of passion.
Instead of taking his wife on the salon floor, he would abruptly leave the house, muttering some trite excuse. He could read the plaintive pain in her face as she would wistfully stare after him, always seeming as if she was going to call out to him but not trusting herself to speak. In the beginning, he had visited Miss Eliza’s, often going to see the young blonde girl but quickly she lost her appeal.
She is nothing like Olive, he thought one night, rolling off the harlot. He had been barely able to climax that night.
She is not soft and innocent. She does not smile and light up the entire house.
After that, Julius had resorted to spending his nights playing poker and drinking himself into oblivion in the Ballroom Saloon.
Bad, Very Bad Shifters- The Complete Mega Bundle Page 69