Chapter Nineteen

“LET’S DO IT again.” Veronica clutched the sheet music in front of her chest and scrubbed a hand over her scalp. “I can’t screw this up.”

Millie strummed the guitar softly. “As many times as you want, mo ghràdh.”

“I can’t believe she picked this song. I love Skin Skinny and Skunk Anansie.” Veronica placed the sheet music aside. “Do you think you could drop it down a bit? I don’t feel solid on the high notes.”

Millie nodded. “It sounded like you were straining.” She moved her fingers over the strings of the guitar and picked out a few notes. “Like this?”

“Yeah, I think I can do that.” Millie played “You Saved Me” as Veronica sang. Millie’s eyes never left her face as she played while Veronica sang the words she knew by heart, and in a moment, she was singing them to Millie: every word, every sentiment, every note.

As much as they meshed making love, this, this was more intimate, creating something together. It was beautiful and ethereal. Veronica was breathless when she finished. Millie played the final notes and Veronica bit her lip. Ask her, ask again, keep asking until she says yes. Take nothing for granted.

“You did, you know.” Millie clutched the guitar to her chest. “You did save me.”

Veronica took the guitar from Millie’s hands and placed it on its stand. She stood between Millie’s knees and cupped Millie’s face in her hands. “No, love, you saved me. You trust me, right?”

“With my life.” Millie gripped Veronica’s hips with her broad hands and rubbed her thumbs over the crests of Veronica’s hipbones.

“I understand why you’re afraid to meet my folks. Even if you don’t go with me, I’ll come back. I love you and nothing will ever change that.” She pinned her in place with her gaze and rubbed her thumb over Millie’s lower lip. “Please come with me. Please. They’ll love you as much as I do.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I trust them. I trust them as much as I trust you.” She kissed her then, letting her body say what she couldn’t say with words, pouring every bit of her love into the kiss.

Millie groaned into her mouth and the sound set Veronica on fire. She broke their kiss a moment and pulled back to peer into Millie’s eyes. “Yes? Please say yes?”

“Yes.”

“What changed?” Veronica studied Millie’s serious expression.

“I did. You were brave enough to stand up to my mother. The least I can do is be brave enough to meet your family.

“You don’t feel forced into it, do you?” Veronica chewed her lip. “It’s okay if you want to wait. We have time.”

“I don’t feel forced. I’ll go with you. But you have to promise you’ll do something for me.” Millie stood and clasped both of Veronica’s hands in hers.

“What?”

“You have to come to another wedding with me.”

“Who else is getting married?”

“We are. If you’ll have me.”

Veronica threaded her fingers through Millie’s hair and tugged her head back. She traced her finger over her lips. “I think this is extortion.”

Millie grinned. “Just good old-fashioned Scottish negotiation. Besides, I want to see you in the suit I had made for you.”

“Were you planning on asking me when you commissioned the suit?”

“It might have crossed my mind.” Millie smirked. She stood and grabbed Veronica’s ass and lifted.

Veronica wrapped her legs around Millie’s waist, kissed her on the mouth, and then trailed her lips over her jaw. She made her way to her ear and whispered. “Yes. Yes to all of it.”

 

MARTHA SAT IN the chair behind the desk. Millie and Veronica were in the chairs across from the wide walnut desk.

“We know it’s a lot, but we both need to be off for this.” Millie sat back in her chair.

Martha fixed her gaze on Veronica. “I’m willing to let you both be off for the wedding, but Veronica, I will need you to work an extra two weeks beyond the end of your contract.”

Veronica reached out and clasped Millie’s hand. “I wanted to talk to you about that too.”

Martha raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

“I want to extend my contract. Sign up now for next year.”

Martha smiled, and Veronica understood exactly how a rabbit must feel when chased by a wolf.

“Excellent. I’ll draw the paperwork up.”

“And…” Veronica kept her gaze fixed on Martha’s face. “We will need some time off next year in the fall as well.”

Lucia and Myfanwy rose from where they had been lounging on the fainting couch. They stood behind Martha, each with a hand on her shoulder.

“Whatever for?” The hint of a smile played around Lucia’s mouth, and Myfanwy covered her mouth with her hand.

“Wedding.” Veronica pressed on. “Our wedding.”

Lucia smiled as Martha dug into her jacket pocket and produced a roll of banknotes and passed it to Lucia.

Veronica frowned. “You bet on me?”

Martha raised an eyebrow. “I thought you would get married this year, Lucia said next year, and Myfanwy excused herself from betting.”

Lucia leaned forward and placed the bundle of bills on the desk. “An early wedding present from me. Consider it a donation to the festivities.”

 

“KNEEL, FACE TO the mattress.” The light from the bedside lamp lit Millie’s skin with a soft glow. Veronica smoothed her hands over her back. She worked swiftly, wrapping the coils of soft rope around her wrists and securing her to the bed rails. The graceful stretch of Millie’s arms and the tension in her body sent a current of desire whipping through Veronica.

Millie moved and complied with Veronica’s directions as Veronica looped the ropes she had prepared over Millie’s ankles and bound her to the sides of the bed. She double-checked the knots.

“I love the way you look spread wide for me.” She touched her fingers to the wet heat between Millie’s legs and then licked them. “Mmm. Already so wet for me.” She reached under her and flicked Millie’s nipple, eliciting a yip. She pinched and rolled her nipple harder, and Millie arched into her touch. “You like that?”

“Yes, Ceannard. So much. More, please.”

Veronica kneeled behind her on the bed, pressing her breasts against Millie’s firm ass. She draped her hands over her back and splayed her fingers out over Millie’s breasts. She cupped and squeezed the fullness in her hands. She licked her fingers, and squeezed and pulled Millie’s nipples into hard peaks as she rocked against her. She scattered sharp bites over Millie’s back, driven by her dirty groans and whimpers.

Veronica bit hard, rolling her taut muscles, relishing the feel of Millie’s skin between her teeth, stopping short of breaking her skin. She interspersed her bruising bites with soft sucking kisses, soothing her with her tongue and savoring Millie’s hisses and moans. Her face was turned to the side with her eyes closed.

Veronica picked up one of the nipple clips from the nightstand, reached under Millie, and applied it. She tightened the clamp slowly on her nipple as she watched her face. Millie grimaced and Veronica stilled. “Too much, babe?”

“Give me a minute.” Millie panted and her face relaxed. “I’m good.”

Veronica tapped her chin. “Look at me.”

Millie opened her eyes and met Veronica’s gaze.

“Remember your words. If you need me to stop say ‘red.’ If you need me to slow down or back off say ‘yellow,’ okay?”

“Aye. Yellow. Got it, Ceannard.”

Veronica picked up the second clamp and applied it to her other nipple. When the clamps were in place she scraped her fingernails over the tips of her swollen nipples. Millie arched back into her and bucked her hips. “So good. Please don’t stop, Ceannard. More.”

Veronica shifted on the bed and kneeled between Millie’s legs. She teased a finger over the dimple at the base of her spine and down the crease in her ass. Millie trembled under her. “In time, babe, patience.” She touched her fingers to the folds between Millie’s legs and gathered the wetness there. She lay against her, reached under her, and took a breast in each hand as she rubbed the slickness over Millie’s nipples and rubbed her thick clit against Millie’s ass. “I love how you feel under me.”

Her clit slid over the firm muscles of Millie’s ass as she wiggled under her. Millie’s sweet sounds pushed her over the edge, and she came against her ass, gasping her release in Millie’s ear.

Millie thrashed under her. “Now. Please, Ceannard. I need it. Now. Please.”

Veronica cupped her. She was hot and swollen and desire dripped down her thighs. Veronica brushed her fingers over her entrance and teased her lips apart. “Mmm, so wet. For me.”

“All for you.”

“What do you need, babe? Do you need me to fuck you?”

Millie’s blush spread from her collarbones, and she turned her face into the bed. Her voice was muffled. “Oh please. Yes please, Ceannard. Don’t make me wait. Please fuck me. I want you so much.”

Veronica kept up her teasing touches, slipping her middle finger in deep, knowing Millie needed more. “In time, babe.”

With a snarl Millie arched off the bed. “Fuck me. Now. I need it.”

“Feisty today, aren’t you?” Veronica stilled and drew her hand away. “Behave, babe. I’ll make it good for you.” She kissed her cheek and left the bed.

Millie strained against the ropes around her wrists and ankles. She turned her head, her eyes tracking Veronica’s movements. “No. Please. Don’t leave me like this, Ceannard. Please. I’ll be good. I’ll do whatever you want. Please.”

Veronica leaned down close to the bed. “You’ll do what I want anyway.” She looked into Millie’s eyes. “Won’t you?”

“Always, Ceannard. Please.”

Veronica cupped her cheek, and Millie turned her face to kiss her palm. “Anything, Ceannard, always,” she whispered.

Veronica opened the nightstand door. She pulled out a thick toy and harness. Millie’s hooded eyes were glazed. “You’d let me fuck you with this? Fuck you until you scream my name and beg me to let you come? Would you do that?”

Millie shuddered and gasped. “Yes. Please.”

“Ask properly.” Veronica pinched Millie’s ear.

“Please, Ceannard. Please fuck me. Now. Please. Until I scream. Please.”

The desperate expression on Millie’s face and tone of her voice made Veronica ache with her own need.

“Watch me.” Veronica buckled the toy in place. She palmed and slowly stroked its length, watching Millie’s face as she went slack jawed. “You want this?”

“Oh, yes. Please.” Millie licked her lips. “Please.”

“Show me. Move your ass. Show me how much you want me to fuck you.”

Veronica mounted the bed behind Millie. Millie gyrated and moved her hips, silently begging Veronica to fill her.

Veronica watched until she was desperate to possess her. “Stop.”

Millie stilled, panting, her body heaving.

Veronica pressed her fingers inside, opening her. The tip of the phallus at her entrance, she grabbed her hips and sank slowly into Millie. The pressure and vibration on her clit was delicious.

Millie groaned beneath her, a deep, guttural, animal sound.

Veronica pulled out to the tip and sank in again. Millie whimpered. “For all that’s good in the world, please fuck me, Ceannard, please don’t make me wait. I want to scream for you.”

Veronica inhaled sharply and fucked her, sinking deep on the in stroke, pulling out almost to the tip each time, pounding into Millie, pouring out everything she had into her. The pressure on her clit drove her to seek her own completion, and she came over the base of the toy.

“Please. Oh Please. Now. Ceannard. Please!” Millie’s voice was loud. “Harder, please. Let me. Let me come for you.”

Sweat stung Veronica’s eyes. She let go of Millie’s hips, draped herself over Millie’s back, and clasped a nipple clip in each hand. “Now, babe, now, scream for me.” She tugged the clamps loose and hammered into Millie.

Millie screamed as she came, soaking Veronica’s thighs, and slumped on the bed. Veronica collapsed on her back, pumped her hips twice, and came again. Veronica rocked gently against Millie, fucking her with slow shallow thrusts. “Again, babe, again, for me.” She bit the back of Millie’s neck and held on as a ripple of pleasure shook Millie’s frame.

She eased the toy from her body, unbuckled the harness, and placed it aside. She got up and untied Millie, moving swiftly. Millie rolled to her back as soon as she was free. Her eyes were closed, her face a mask of relaxed pleasure.

Veronica kissed her, and Millie wrapped her arms around Veronica to pull her down on top of her. She shivered, and Veronica reached down and pulled the patchwork quilt over them. She snuggled into Millie’s neck. “You are the most magnificent woman. I didn’t hurt you, did I? I got lost in you. I lost control.”

Millie kissed her forehead. “It was perfect. I love how you know what I need. You get me.”

Veronica raised herself up on her elbow to cupped Millie’s face. “I want to do everything with you.” She sat up and leaned against the headboard as she opened the bedside table and drew out a plain wooden box. She passed it to Millie and slid down next to her to watch her face as she opened it.

Millie opened the lid. A wide pair of hand-tooled dark-brown leather cuffs rested on the deep-blue velvet lining the inside of the box. She glanced up at Veronica, passed the box back to her, pushed herself to sitting and held out her arms, palm up. “Put them on me, please. I want to wear your cuffs.”

Veronica placed the first cuff on, buckled it into place, and placed a kiss on Millie’s palm before she repeated the procedure with the other side. She unclipped the straps holding one of the stainless-steel rings close to the leather. “These are made to hold the rings close so you can wear them without the rings getting caught on things.” She settled her hands on Millie’s shoulders. “It’s okay if you want to take them off when you’re working.”

“I’ll want to wear them all the time.” Millie cupped the back of Veronica’s neck and kissed her hard. “They are perfect, mo ghràdh.”

Veronica tweaked Millie’s nipple, and she gasped and let go of Veronica’s neck. Veronica rubbed the pad of her thumb over the tip of Millie’s nipple. “How sore are your nipples?” The shudder running through Millie’s body told her everything she needed to know.

“Not too, Ceannard.”

“Lay back. Palms on your stomach.”

Millie lay back, resting her hands on her stomach. The gleaming leather of the cuffs against her freckled skin made Veronica hard. “I like the way they look against your skin. The way you look waiting for me. But I think”—she drew a thin chain from the bedside drawer—“this will make it even better.” She clipped the chain to one cuff. Millie’s skin pebbled where the chain lay. “And these will make it perfect.” She held up the set of clamps she had used earlier. With practiced movements she pulled Millie’s nipples into hard points and applied the clips. She ran the chain through the loops and then clipped it to the other cuff. She sat on her heels and assessed her work. Millie lay panting, her hands bound by the cuffs and the chains connecting the nipple clamps to her hands. She tested the tension and slack in the chain and made an adjustment, tightening the chain so if Millie moved her hands down the clips would pull free.

Veronica raked her nails over Millie’s stomach. “Spread your legs for me.”

Millie opened her legs. Veronica lay between them and inhaled the sharp sweet smell of Millie. She licked softly over her clit, grazing it with her tongue. Millie gasped. Veronica mouthed her core, toying with her, sucking her labia before she thrust her tongue deep. Millie’s hips twitched and Veronica used her thumbs to hold her open, taking what she wanted. “This is mine.” She licked a long line from her center to her clit. “You are mine.” She sucked her clit, laving it with her tongue, pulling it between her lips, and slowly letting it out. The chains rattled as Millie’s breathing increased. Veronica lifted her gaze.

Millie was clenching and unclenching her hands. “So good. More, Ceannard, please. Let me come in your mouth. Let me come for you.” Millie’s voice was soft.

Veronica teased her tongue over her clit, making her jump. “You may come as you wish.” She bent to her task. She took Millie’s clit in her mouth, circling it with her tongue, sucking and teasing the hard pearl between her lips.

Millie rocked into her, the chains ringing, and then she went rigid and jerked her hands down to grab Veronica’s head and hold her in place.

“Yours.” Millie shouted as she came with a gush that filled Veronica’s mouth and ran down her chin.