MJ Williamz - Forbidden Passions Read online

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  About the Author

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

  Synopsis

  Mixing business with pleasure can be dangerous at best. In antebellum Louisiana, Baton Rouge businesswoman Corrine Staples returns to New Orleans to help her lifelong friend, Della Prentiss, with her plantation records. She's there to work but becomes increasingly intrigued by Della's delightfully alluring daughter, Katie, a fiery Southern belle who pushes the limits of propriety.

  Katie Prentiss is a headstrong temptress with an active libido. She is immediately attracted to Corrine and sets her sights on seducing her. Corrine tries to keep her feelings in check, but soon finds herself giving in to forbidden passions.

  Forbidden Passions

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

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  By the Author

  Forbidden Passions

  Shots Fired

  Forbidden Passions

  © 2011 By MJ Williamz. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-60282-642-7

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: September 2011

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, I’d like to thank my son for always believing in me. Next, my sincere gratitude to ABR for making the time to keep up with me to get this book written and beta’d in record time. For my friends on Facebook, thank you for reading the blurbs and encouraging me on my path. A special thanks to Nat for just being Nat and supporting me in all my endeavors.

  Last, but not least, huge thank-yous to Cindy Cresap for her patient editing and Rad for giving authors a home where we can be true to ourselves.

  Dedication

  To my Facebook friends who were with me

  every step of the way.

  Chapter One

  The sun was setting over Belle Vierge, the grand plantation that belonged to the widow Della Prentiss. Bright oranges and pinks filled the sky as the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the main house. Corrine Staples stepped out without waiting for the driver to open the door. She saw his look of disgust at her attire of trousers and jacket, but ignored it. She was used to it. As a woman working in a man’s field of accounting, she met with disparaging looks and comments from men all the time. Only those that truly knew her accepted her, and then just barely.

  She allowed him to get her trunk, however, as she hurried up the front steps and into the waiting arms of her childhood best friend, Della Prentiss. It had been five years since they’d seen each other. Five long years that had included a yellow fever outbreak that had cost Della her husband and left her to raise her spitfire daughter alone.

  “It’s so good to see you, Della,” Corrine whispered into Della’s red hair. She stepped back. “I’m just sorry for the circumstances that have brought me here. You’ve lost weight. Are you well?”

  “I’m fine,” Della said. “Thank you for coming. Who would have imagined the last time we saw each other what horrible things would happen before we got together again? And now there’s money missing from the plantation. I do hope you can get to the bottom of it.”

  “I will do my very best. I was so sorry to hear about Theodore. How long has it been now?”

  “Thank you, it’s been almost two years.”

  “Tell me, how’s little Katie?”

  “She’s not so little, and she’s more than a handful.” Della paused to stare at her. “And how are you, Cori? How’s business? I must say, you must hear so much working in a man’s world. I can’t imagine what that would be like. What are people saying about this Lincoln fellow being elected? Are you hearing talk of secession? I declare, where are my manners? Won’t you please come in?”

  Corrine held the door and followed Della into her front room. The black curtains were drawn, and the large mirror at the foot of the staircase was covered. Corrine felt a deep sympathy for Della to be widowed at the age of thirty-seven.

  Della motioned to a chair, and Corrine sat but declined the tea Della offered.

  “Do you have any brandy in the house?” she asked.

  Della looked shocked for a moment but quickly regained her composure. She rang a bell, and Theodore’s manservant appeared. “Pierre, will you please get some brandy for Miss Staples?”

  Pierre bowed and left the room. When he was out of earshot, Della said, “I haven’t had the heart to let him go yet.”

  “It does no harm to keep him on.”

  Pierre reappeared with a glass of brandy. He set it in front of Corrine then silently exited again.

  Della watched as Corrine took a sip of the warm amber liquid. “Don’t tell me you’ll be wanting a cigar as well.”

  “Never before dinner.” Corrine smiled. “Don’t be so shocked. It’s the life I lead. I’d have one after dinner with Theodore if he were here.”

  She realized the harm of her thoughtless words as she saw Della’s eyes glisten with tears.

  “I am so sorry, Della.” She was immediately across the room and holding her. “How insensitive of me to say such a thing.”

  “I just can’t believe he’s not coming home.”

  “I can’t believe it either.”

  They both jumped when a young woman with rich auburn hair burst into the room.

  “Why is Mama crying? What did you do to her?”

  “Now, now, Kathleen, where are your manners? You say hello to Miss Staples properly.”

  Kathleen stood still, emerald eyes hard as stone as she stared at Corrine.

  “I said something that made your mother cry.” Corrine stood and took in the beautiful young woman her little Katie had grown into. “I have apologized to her, and now I apologize to you.”

  Kathleen crossed the room, sat next to her mother, and hugged her. “Mama, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Now stop being so rude to our guest.”

  Kathleen remained seated and looked back at Corrine. Her eyes had softened somewhat, and Corrine was surprised at the fluttering in her crotch. This was little Katie Prentiss she was looking at.

  “I must say, Katie, you’ve certainly grown into quite the young woman.”

  Katie stood and curtsied. “Thank you, Miss Sta
ples. It’s so very nice to see you again.”

  She stood tall again and eyed Corrine with an air of mischief. Corrine was grateful Katie couldn’t know what she was thinking as she took in her décolletage. The swell of her young breasts did little to quell the burning that had begun in Corrine’s loins.

  “I’m trying to remember,” she said. “How old were you when I last saw you? Do you recall my last visit? We went for a long horseback ride all over the plantation.”

  “I remember that.” Katie favored Corrine with a radiant smile of perfect white teeth. “I believe I was fourteen at the time.”

  Which would make her of legal age, Corrine thought.

  “It’s time to get ready for dinner. Why don’t we all change and meet back down here in half an hour?”

  Della’s voice startled Corrine back to reality. She had honestly forgotten Della was there.

  “Katie, will you please show Miss Staples to her room?”

  Corrine followed the swishing skirts of Katie up the sweeping staircase and down the expansive hallway until they reached her door.

  “Thank you, Katie. I appreciate your hospitality.”

  “My pleasure, Miss Staples. I’ll see you downstairs.”

  *

  Exactly thirty minutes later, Della and Corrine were sitting at the dining room table.

  “I do apologize for Kathleen’s behavior. I can’t believe she’s late. I declare I raised her with better manners.”

  “Not to worry, Della. She’s still young. I think we were all a bit irresponsible at her age.”

  “Not me. I had a year-old baby when I was her age.”

  Corrine laughed. “So you did. And what a lovely woman your baby has grown into.” She stood as Katie entered the dining room.

  “Nice of you to join us,” Della said as Katie took her seat across from Corrine.

  “I’m sorry I’m late. I lost track of time.”

  Corrine studied Katie’s face and appreciatively noted her lips were painted, and there was color added to her cheeks.

  Her mother noticed as well. “Kathleen Prentiss! What are you wearing?”

  “I just wanted to feel dressed up.”

  “This is my dining room, not a brothel. I’ll thank you not to wear so much paint in the future.”

  Corrine studied the napkin in her lap until she was certain she could keep the smile from her face.

  “What’s it like working with men, Miss Staples? Do they take you seriously?” Katie asked

  Something in Katie’s tone made Corrine take note. The question was innocent enough, but the way it was asked suggested more of a challenge.

  “Why, yes, they do. I’ve been keeping books on the docks for ten years now. I took over the business when my father passed. I’ve earned the respect of the men.”

  “Do you really feel you have to dress like a man to get their respect?”

  Corrine was amused. “I gain their respect by being smart and honest. I’ve also found that dressing as I do helps keep them focused on the work at hand. I can’t imagine trying to focus on work with you if you were dressed as you are now. I’d find that rather distracting.”

  She saw more color rise to Katie’s cheeks, but the conversation stopped as Maddy served them the main course.

  “This is delicious, Della. The chicken is so tender.” Corrine hoped to keep the subject from ending up back in Katie’s control. She felt as though Katie was trying to get a rise out of her.

  “Where do you even find trousers that fit you?” Katie asked.

  “I go to a tailor.”

  “A tailor? But when he measures you, doesn’t he have to touch your—”

  “Kathleen!” Della said. “That is quite enough. Honestly. Miss Staples is our guest. Please try to remember that.”

  Corrine fought the urge to come to Katie’s defense. She had found Katie’s attempts at irreverence rather amusing, but didn’t want to undermine Della’s authority, tenuous as it was.

  The rest of the meal passed without incident, and after dessert, Corrine stood and excused herself.

  “I am tired from my journey and have some work to review, so I would like to retire now. Thank you again for a delicious dinner and”—she turned to Katie—“the spirited conversation.”

  *

  Alone in her room, Corrine removed her waistcoat and shirt and hung them before sitting to go over the books she had brought with her. She was lost in the calculations when she heard a knock on the door.

  Assuming it was one of the staff, she absently called, “Come in.”

  “Miss Staples?”

  Corrine turned at Katie’s rich voice. She stood when she saw the vision of Katie in a white cotton nightgown that clung to her full breasts, the outlines of which were visible under the thin fabric.

  She forced her gaze up to Katie’s eyes and realized then how exposed she was in her undershirt and trousers. She felt her nipples harden as Katie finally drew her focus away from Corrine’s small breasts.

  Corrine slid her hands in her pockets in an attempt to look less uncomfortable.

  “Katie. What brings you here?”

  “I wanted to apologize for my behavior at dinner.”

  “Oh, really, that’s not necessary.” Corrine smiled. “I appreciate it, and I’m sure your mother put you up to this, but really, I was not offended.”

  Katie flushed and continued indignantly. “Mother had nothing to do with this. I felt as if we’d gotten off on the wrong foot, and I came to say I’m sorry of my own accord.”

  “Well then, thank you. I appreciate that.” Corrine tried not to sound condescending. “I do hope our time together will be more pleasant from here on out.”

  Katie curtsied slightly, causing her breasts to jiggle, and then said good night.

  When the door was closed, Corrine sank in her chair, her whole body on fire. She hadn’t planned on needing a trip into town this soon, but she decided she’d better go the next day or risk doing something foolish.

  *

  Katie lay on her bed, trying to stop the visions of Miss Staples from running through her head. It was no use. She pictured her mother wrapped in Miss Staples’s arms when she first came home that evening. She envisioned her looking so dapper in the men’s clothes she brazenly wore. Katie had never seen such a thing and found herself titillated at the sight. She saw Miss Staples’s long, strong fingers as she ate her dinner. She saw the twinkle in her eye and half smile as she answered Katie’s questions. And finally, she saw her as she was in her room just then, her muscular arms bare and her firm breasts barely concealed by her undershirt.

  Miss Corrine Staples was a very handsome woman. And something told Katie she was no stranger to giving pleasure to another woman. She got out of bed and locked her bedroom door, then slid her sleeves down her arms and stepped out of her nightgown.

  She stood in front of the full-length mirror and tried to see herself as Miss Staples might. She held her heavy breasts up for inspection and noted her erect nipples were dusky pink and in sharp contrast to her pale skin. She ran her hands down her flat belly to where her legs met, imagining briefly Miss Staples’s fingers on her slick clit.

  Giving in to her newest guilty pleasure, Katie pulled a chair in front of the mirror and sat. She watched herself as she fondled her breasts, pressing them together and kneading them as her pulse began to quicken. She felt the wetness between her legs as she watched herself tug and twist her nipples, sending waves of pleasure throughout her body.

  She played with her breasts until she could no longer stand it. She sank low in the chair and spread her legs, treating herself to a perfect view of her swollen lips and throbbing clit. She watched as her cunt swallowed three of her fingers, then she closed her eyes and envisioned Miss Staples’s thin lips on her as she rubbed her needy clit.

  The need to see was not as great as the need to fantasize, and she gave herself over to thoughts of Miss Staples having her way with her. She imagined her biting her nipples while h
er hand fucked her. She spread her legs wider to take her deeper. Suddenly, Miss Staples was everywhere—on her and in her.

  She imagined it was Miss Staples’s tongue hard at work on her clit, and she rubbed it fast and furiously until the orgasm finally shot through her body. She bit her lip to keep from crying out Miss Staples’s name.

  Not satisfied, she repeated the fantasies and the actions again and again until finally she was exhausted and thoroughly spent. She put her nightgown back on and climbed into bed where she fell into a fitful sleep.

  Chapter Two

  Corrine and Della were having coffee the next morning when Katie came downstairs in her pale green wrapper. Corrine smiled and said good morning and swore she saw Katie blush.

  “How are you this morning?” Corrine asked.

  “I’m fine.” She took in the silk trousers and jacket Corrine wore. “Why are you dressed so early?”

  “I have to go into town today to tend to some business.”

  “I can’t believe your business won’t keep,” Della said, coughing into her handkerchief. “Your visit’s only just begun.”

  “I am sorry about that, Della, but I discovered something while looking over the books last night. I’m afraid it can’t wait.” She added, “Are you sure you’re healthy?”

  “I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me.”

  “I want to go to town.” Katie radiated excitement. “May I please go along? Please?”

  Corrine’s stomach clenched. The idea of spending a day with Katie appealed to her in ways that made it most unappealing.

  “I would love to take you, Katie, but it’s business, and I’m afraid you’d be bored to tears.”

  “But what if I enjoy business?” Katie said.