MJ Williamz - Forbidden Passions, page 15
“I just needed some time alone.”
“I’m not long for this world,” her mother said. “I didn’t want to pass on not knowing where my only child was.”
“She was with me.”
All heads turned as Corrine entered the room.
“What are you doing here?” her mother asked.
“I came to see you. I love you, Della and couldn’t stand the idea of not saying good-bye.”
“We’ve said our good-byes.”
“I also came because I love Katie and couldn’t bear the thought of her going through this alone.”
“Sarah, if you’ll excuse us, please,” her mother said.
With Sarah out of the room, she continued. “I won’t be around much longer now. Why must you show up and ruin what little time I have left?”
“Della, we’ve been friends for as long as either of us can remember. I can’t imagine not being here for you at the end, regardless of our differences.”
“Our differences? You seduced my daughter. That’s more than a mere difference.”
“And I’ve explained it’s more than a simple seduction. When Katie felt overwhelmed and out of control, to whom did she turn? Me. And who’s here by her side in bad times as well as the good? Me. I love your daughter. I’m good for her. I’ll take good care of her. You must believe that.”
Katie moved to where Corrine stood and wrapped her arms around her. “Mama, I need Cori in my life. It’s far too empty without her.”
Corrine wrapped an arm around Katie and held her close. “Look at us. Look how happy we make each other. See that we belong together. We love each other and need each other. I’m not some horrible monster toying with your daughter’s emotions. I love her. I want always to make her as happy as she possibly can be. Please. Life’s too short to let a chance at true love pass you by. You had that with Theodore. Please let Katie have that with me.”
“You really do love her, don’t you?”
“I do. More than anything.”
“And Katie?”
“I love her so very much, Mama. Please give us your blessing.”
Corrine held her breath as Della looked from her to Katie and back. She leaned her head back against her pillow with a heavy sigh.
“Very well then. If you promise always to take care of her, Cori.”
“Always. She’ll never want for anything if I can help it.”
“Then you have my blessing. And know I’ll be watching you from wherever I end up.”
“Thank you, Della.”
Katie bent to hug her mother.
Della closed her eyes and repeated quietly, “Promise me you’ll take care of her.”
“Until I take my last breath. You’ve always been my dearest friend, Della. I’ll always love you. And I’ll always love your daughter. Thank you for trusting her to me.”
Della smiled as she drifted off.
Corrine gathered Sarah, who examined Della. “She’s near the end now,” she said. “She could go any minute.”
Katie bit her lower lip and tried to fight the ever-present tears. Not trusting her voice, she simply nodded. She looked at Corrine. “Will you find Jacques? He should collect Father O’Malley.”
Corrine did as she was asked, and with Jacques dispatched to town yet again, she went back to Della’s room to sit vigil with Katie.
Katie took her hand as soon as she sat down and turned to face Corrine.
“You meant what you said, didn’t you? You’ll always take care of me?”
“I will. For as long as you’ll allow.”
“I’ll allow forever.” Katie squeezed her hand as she turned back to her mother.
Katie and Corrine sat quietly when the priest arrived. Jacques had collected Dr. Logan as well, and he hovered in the corner with Sarah while the priest performed his ritual and blessed her mother. They watched him anoint her with holy oil as he prayed quietly, delivering the extreme unction. He tried unsuccessfully to wake her to hear her confession and deliver the Eucharist. Instead, he absolved her of her sins and made a final sign of the cross over her. Katie thanked him for coming, and he let himself out, leaving them to simply wait.
There was no sound in the room save for the labored wheezing of her mother’s breath. It was rhythmic and peaceful. And then it stopped.
The room was silent as Dr. Logan checked her and pronounced her gone.
Katie’s wail pierced the silence. Corrine took her in her arms and tried to soothe her, but nothing would calm her. Both her parents had left her in a matter of years, and she felt like a small child, orphaned and lost.
Corrine took Katie to her room so the doctor could see to her mother’s body. She lay in bed with her, holding her and letting her cry.
Chapter Seventeen
Corrine saw to all the details concerning Della’s death. She stood by Katie as she accepted condolences and food from friends and neighbors who stopped by to pay their respects.
Three days after her death, Della’s body was taken to the church where a funeral Mass was held, followed by the procession to the cemetery. With Della interred, Corrine took Katie home and put her to bed, where she stayed for the next few weeks.
Emotionally drained and overly distraught, Katie couldn’t summon the energy to deal with everyday life. She completely withdrew from everyone save Corrine, who took food and drink to her and forced her to partake of it. Katie would comply and visit briefly with Corrine, thanking her for everything, then slide back under the covers.
Corrine’s heart ached for her, but she knew only time would heal the deep wound inside her. Her body also ached for Katie. She finally gave up sleeping with her, as her desires were overwhelming. She retreated to her own room at night and waited patiently for Katie to come back to life.
Corrine barely convinced Katie to receive the solicitor when he came to discuss Della’s will. Katie insisted he come to her room, as the effort to dress and go downstairs was too great. She cried softly as the attorney explained that Della had left everything to her with no contingencies.
Corrine stared wistfully at Katie, wondering if she’d ever have the strength to take over the plantation. In the meantime, Corrine tended to the running of the house, including acquiring a new woman to run the kitchen and promoting Jacques to running the stables.
*
One morning, Corrine was in the breakfast nook enjoying a cup of coffee in the warm sun when Katie walked in.
Corrine stood. “Katie! What are you doing up?”
“It’s time.”
“I’m happy to see you up and about. Please sit down. I’ll have Maddy get you something to eat.”
When she returned from the kitchen, she asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Like I miss my mama, but it won’t do to hide from the world forever. Thank you so much for caring for me. And for being patient with me.”
“I knew you’d come around eventually. Although I admit I expected it to happen sooner.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, no. Everyone deals with these things at her own pace. You’ve suffered some terrific losses of late.”
“I’m so thankful I didn’t lose you, as well.”
“I’d never allow that to happen. What made you decide this was the day to rejoin the land of the living?”
“I feel like I have some energy. I haven’t for a long while.”
“Well, don’t overdo it. You’ve been in bed for several weeks now.”
“I’ve been in bed alone for all that time,” she said.
“I’m aware.”
“Maybe some overdoing is just what I need.” She smiled mischievously.
Corrine smiled as her crotch twitched, but before she could reply, they heard the sound of horses and saw a cloud of dust. They walked to the front of the house to investigate and saw the constable climbing down from his police wagon. Two horses were tied to the back of the wagon.
“Spirit!” Katie exclaimed and hurried down the steps and threw her arms around her horse’s neck.
The constable laughed at Katie’s exuberance. “I’ve got three people in the back of the wagon here if you’d like to take a look and let me know if they’re your servants.”
Corrine was at Katie’s side, arm around her for support. The constable opened the back of the wagon, and there sat Paddy, Abigail, and Mollie. Katie nodded. “That’s them.”
“You’ll be wanting them all prosecuted?”
She glared at Mollie, who glared back, cold hatred in her gaze.
“I want him to rot in prison. The others should be sent back to Ireland. They don’t deserve to be in this country. While their debt to us will never be repaid, I’ll feel better knowing they’re back where they came from.”
“As you wish,” he said and closed the doors.
Corrine and Katie busied themselves untying the horses and thanked the constable before he drove off. They walked their horses back to the stables.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Katie said. “I’m so happy to have Spirit back.”
“He’s happy to be back, to be sure.”
Corrine put the roan in its stall and watched Katie fawning over Spirit. The familiar burning in her loins was back at the sight of Katie happy again. Or at least not overly depressed. She walked up behind her and moved her hair off her neck. Pressing into her from behind, she nibbled on her neck and exposed back.
“I’ve missed you, Katie Prentiss.”
Katie leaned back into Corrine. “I’ve missed you too.”
Corrine placed a hand on Katie’s breast. “I suspect I’ve missed you more.”
“Only because you were conscious.”
“That could be.”
Corrine stepped away from Katie when they heard footsteps. Jacques walked into the stables. “Hello, Miss Katie. It’s good to see you. I heard we got the horses back and had to come see.”
“We did.” Katie started brushing Spirit again. “And they don’t look any the worse for wear.”
“No, ma’am. They look pretty good.”
“If you two will excuse me,” Corrine said and left the two horse lovers to talk.
“I worried they may have starved, but they seem healthy, don’t you think?” Katie said.
“That they do. I’ll give them a thorough exam, though.”
“Thank you, Jacques. Will you do so quickly? I’d like to take Spirit for a ride.”
“I’ll do it right now.”
“And I’ll be back shortly.”
*
Corrine tried to focus on some ledgers that had been delivered to her from her office, but her mind kept drifting to the feel of Katie. It had been too long, and she craved the pleasures her body provided. They were lucky they hadn’t been more compromised when Jacques walked in.
She had finally settled in to work when Katie came in, dressed in her riding habit. The sight made Corrine’s head swim. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
“Am I?” Katie turned away and bent to touch her toes.
“Dear God, but I love your ass.”
“Do you want it?”
“I want every inch of you. I ache to have you.”
“Mmm. Well, put that work aside. I’ve had Maddy pack us a picnic. It’s far too beautiful a day to be trapped indoors. Let’s go for a ride.”
Corrine didn’t have to be asked twice. She followed Katie to the stables and was about to throw her on the hay pile when Jacques appeared.
“Perfect timing,” he said. “I just finished looking over Spirit. He’s fine.”
“I’m so relieved.”
“Shall I saddle him for you?”
“Please. And the roan for Miss Corrine.”
While Jacques busied himself with the horses, Corrine whispered in Katie’s ear. “This is torture. My hands itch to run all over your body.”
“Patience, sweetheart.” Katie sucked on Corrine’s earlobe.
“That doesn’t help.”
“The horses are ready. Enjoy your ride.”
Corrine tried to speed up their ride, but Katie was determined to move at a leisurely pace. Corrine’s clit was hard from looking at Katie and not touching. She was tempted to pull up the horses and take Katie in the middle of the fields. Instead, she exercised patience and felt her body would surely explode when they finally reached the stand of oak trees where they last had picnicked.
As soon as the horses were tied to the trees, Corrine had Katie in her arms. She bruised her lips with her kiss as her tongue moved about her mouth the way she wanted to move it inside Katie. She hastily pushed up Katie’s skirt and slid her hand inside. Her rubbing was demanding, and soon Katie collapsed against her as she quickly came.
Corrine put her fingers in Katie’s mouth, and every nerve ending was afire as Katie sucked her fingers clean.
Katie quickly stripped and lay on the blanket. She teased between her legs as Corrine stood over her. Corrine dropped to her knees.
“Not so fast,” Katie said. “I want to watch you undress for me.”
Barely able to breathe, Corrine took her shirt off quickly, so she could keep her focus on Katie’s fingers and the shiny pearl that kept disappearing and reappearing under them. She stepped out of her trousers and lay atop Katie, their hardened clits pressing against each other.
She ground into Katie as she kissed her again. Katie moved her hand between them and rubbed both clits at once.
“Oh, no.” Corrine groaned. “Too soon.”
“Never.” Katie continued to rub her fingers over herself while she pressed the back of her hand into Corrine. She rubbed frantically, and in no time, they cried out in ecstasy.
Corrine rolled off Katie and sucked a nipple while her fingers moved easily inside her. She twisted them, then separated them before pulling them out.
“You certainly enjoy teasing me, don’t you?”
“I do. I love the feel of you, the sound of you. I like to experience as much of you as possible.” She slid her fingers back inside and thrust them in and out while she continued to suckle Katie.
Katie tangled her fingers in Corrine’s hair and watched her mouth move on her tit. White heat passed between her nipple and cunt where Corrine continued to hammer away. She moved her hips, forcing Corrine deeper.
Corrine released Katie’s nipple and kissed down her belly to her upper thighs. She sucked one inner thigh and then the other, leaving love bites as she did. She finally closed her mouth on Katie’s clit.
Katie threw her head back and screamed as the orgasms rolled over her. She had barely caught her breath when she felt Corrine’s mouth on her again. Katie climbed on Corrine’s face and put her own face between Corrine’s legs. Their mouths worked in tandem on each other until neither could control herself. Together they came, nearly drowning each other in their juices.
Katie slid off Corrine’s mouth and dragged her wet folds the length of her torso. She knelt between her legs and drove her fingers deep while she bent to suck her clit anew. Corrine felt the tips of Katie’s fingers bumping her insides and moved her hips in rhythm with the fucking. She loved a hard fuck and wanted to prolong the feeling, but Katie had her too aroused, and she came forcefully, her twat closing tightly around Katie’s fingers.
She felt Katie’s hand moving inside her again, and she stopped her, pulling her up to lie in her arms. “That’s enough for right now, my dear.”
Katie rested her head on Corrine’s chest and absently fingered a nipple.
“Look around you, Katie. All this is yours.”
“Don’t you mean ours? What happens next, Cori?”
“I’d like to think of it as ours.”
“Will you move here and live with me? Or will you be going back to Baton Rouge?”
“That all depends on you. I’ve been wanting to talk with you about this, but you were never awake long enough.”
“I’m awake now, and while I still want to devour your body, you have my complete attention.”
“What would you like me to do?”
“I want you here with me, of course.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I’ve made some inquiries into selling my house and part of my business. I can still work with some clients living here.”
“Cori! That’s fantastic news. We shall be together forever then.”
“And forever starts right now,” Corrine murmured, moving between Katie’s legs once more.
About the Author
MJ Williamz was raised on California’s Central Coast, which she still loves, but left at the age of seventeen in an attempt to further her education. She graduated from Chico State with a degree in Business Management. It was in Chico that MJ began to pursue her love of writing.
Now living in Portland, Oregon, MJ has made writing an integral part of her life. Since 2002, she’s had over two dozen short stories accepted for publication, mostly erotica with a few romances thrown in for good measure. Forbidden Passions is MJ’s second published novel.
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