Lessons of Love Read online

  By the time they pulled up in front of the mansion, Jolie's lips were wet and swollen from Cole's kisses. Her hair was a mass of curls in wild disarray, and the bodice of her dress was pulled down low and partially unbuttoned down the back. It barely covered her breasts, her taunt nipples strained against the fabric right below the neckline, threatening to spill out at any moment. Jolie tried to rake her fingers through her hair and tug up her dress but Cole stopped her, stilling her hand with a steely grip.

  "I want you to meet my servants just as you are pet. It is important that you learn your place in my home." Jolie made a little cry of dismay. How could she face anyone like this? It was painfully obvious what Cole had been up to on the ride here and her body's traitorous response was also evident in the flush of her cheeks and the passion smoldering in her eyes. They walked into the mansion and went straight towards a line of servants stopping a few feet away.

  "Jolie, these are my men. They have their freedom, and are well paid by me to keep my business affairs a secret. You will find no help among them. They are very loyal and you are to obey them in my absence. They will also report any wrong doings to me immediately, so it will pay for you to be a good girl in their presence. Come along now."

  Jolie was mortified to feel Cole's hand resting in the small of her back, pushing her forward toward the waiting men. She stood firm and Cole squeezed her waist in an all too familiar warning. Biting her lip, fighting back her tears then tilting up her head in a show of defiance, Jolie went forward towards the leering group. The servants looked her over like she was a horse up for auction. One man reached out and stroked her cheek. Another combed his fingers through her hair and grazed the top of her breasts. Her eyes flashed with outrage, and she reached up to swat their hands away, but stopped herself at the last moment.

  "Very good, pet. You're learning. Resistance causes punishment.”

  Cole turned back to his men, a satisfied smirk on his face. “Isn't she exquisite? She's full of fire and she's pure. Pity she won't be up for sale, my little wife would bring an excellent price." The men before her looked shocked at Cole's words. "Yes men, it's true, I have taken this one as a wife. She will grace my home and bed on a permanent basis to give me an aura of respectability.

  “There has been too much snooping around in my affairs as of late, and I believe having a high bred wife will stop some of the suspicion. The matrons won't wag their tongues if my pretty bride is by my side at social gatherings. We will of course still continue to supply women for our esteemed customers, but the new Mademoiselle Jameson will grace my bed exclusively. She's passionate and beautiful, with the added bonus of helping us in our deception. What more could I ask for? She is the perfect way for us to cover our tracks."

  Jolie made a little sound of horror at Cole's words and he patted her hand nonchalantly in a false effort to appease her. "You would have found out eventually pet so I decided it would be best to tell you of my work up front. You should be honored my sweet, to be chosen for my wife instead of being put up for sale. I see beautiful woman every day, and could have my pick of any of them, but have chosen you instead. Your silence is of course insured by the knowledge that were you to tell of my business ventures, you would be taught a lesson you'd never forget, and immediately sold to someone who would gladly pay to spirit you far away from New Orleans. Besides that, you will never have a chance to tell anyone. You will always be legally bound to my side, not to mention watched at all times. Your fate is in my hands, and always will be. But enough of this unpleasantness now, it has been a long day. Time for bed, pigeon."

  Three

  Cole turned a trembling Jolie towards the grand staircase and she climbed the steps on quivering legs. Both fear and a newly wakened desire filled her at the thought of being alone with Cole. She should hate him and be disgusted by his horrid business, but her body still tingled when he brushed his knuckles against the side of her breast and the memory of his touch in the carriage, burned throughout her body. What did he have planned for her? Would he rub her between the legs again? Would he punish her? Jolie remembered that he said he would give her great pleasure or pain and she shivered at the thought.

  "Frightened, my sweet?"

  Jolie met his eyes and slowly shook her head. She was nervous, very nervous, and she had that odd feeling in the pit of her stomach again, but she would never admit that she was truly scared. If he sensed her fear, his dominance over her would be complete before it had even begun.

  They arrived at Cole's bedchamber and he gently pushed her forward into the lamp lit room. It was done in shades of maroon silks and had hunter green brocade furniture with mahogany wainscoting on the walls. The bed was a massive four poster which spires rose almost to the ceiling and dominated the chamber. On it was a mound of pillows made of satin and silks. A bed fit for a king.

  Cole locked the door behind them, then turned and smiled at Jolie. Once more she felt like a mouse about to be pounced upon by a cat. Cole came forward and raised her arms over her head. He then stroked her sides, running his hands down to her hips. His mouth found a nipple and he swirled his tongue around it wetting the satin that covered it. Jolie moaned and swayed on her feet, unable to stop her body’s reaction to his practiced touch.

  Cole pulled her hair over one shoulder and buried his face in the beautiful locks. He ran his fingers through the silky strands and kissed her neck, then moving down slowly, he stroked her breasts and belly. His hands were everywhere. Covering her, teasing her, igniting a fire in her loins. The heat building inside Jolie was intense and frightening. She felt herself getting damp between her legs and she shifted back and forth on her feet. Her silky undergarments rubbing against her sensitive nub as she moved.

  Cole turned her around and finished unfastening the long row of buttons down her back with practiced fingers, then whispered in her ear. "Take off your clothes, Jolie, I want to see all of my wife."

  Jolie stood before him trembling, unable to move or obey. Her arms were like slabs of marble, pinned to her sides. Her dress was her only shield, her only barrier between herself and the wicked man before her.

  "Defiance brings punishment." Cole brought his hand down, and tore her dress down the middle, shocking Jolie out of her stupor. She made a high pitched sound of fear and tried to push his hands away as self-preservation kicked in, but he batted them down effortlessly and pushed the remnants of her gown off her shoulders binding her hands behind her as he slowly and methodically removed the each piece of cloth between her body and his hot hands and lips.

  Once she was bare before him, Cole reached down and slid a finger between her netherlips. He smiled at how silky wet she was. Even in fear she was a passionate little thing full of desire. There was no denying the flush that tinged her skin, the tightness of her nipples, or the dew that flowed from her womb. Cole gathered the moisture there and slid his finger up and down her opening pausing to circle her sensitive nub. Jolie moaned in response, and Cole chuckled at her reaction. He knew just how to tame his wild little bride.

  "You are full of fire, my pet. I like that in my women. That's feels nice doesn't it?" Jolie nodded her eyes closed, lost in the feelings Cole was creating inside her. Suddenly he stopped, and she moaned at the loss of sensation. The blaze he had lit deep inside her needed to be quenched. Cole was well aware of that fact, but these things took time.

  Cole stepped back as his gaze traveled over her, the flame of desire burning bright in his eyes. "You're beautiful Jolie. It's such a pleasure to have you at last. I've wanted you since I first laid eyes on you." He smiled wickedly, delighted by the sight of her. Her glorious hair was unbound and it fell in a cascade of flaxen silk around her delicate face and down past her shoulders, her breasts were high with dusky little peaks that were rosy like little berries waiting to be eaten. Her waist was tiny and her hips flared out begging a man to grasp them and hold her tight as he took her hard and fast. Her milky white skin was now flushed with desire and her sweet little mouth was made for
kissing and giving pleasure. Yes, this girl was a beauty, and now she belonged to him. Bound by law to do his bidding, marriage definitely had its advantages.

  Cole ended his inspection of his new wife and strode over to the massive bed. He sat on the edge and beckoned her with his hands and eyes. It was time to take what was his, but first she had to be taught a lesson. There was no room for disobedience of any kind between a man and his wife. "I'm afraid you have to be punished love. You pushed my hands away and were defiant all day. You belong to me plain and simple, and you will do as I say the moment I tell you to. As your husband it is my job to make sure you are disciplined properly. A man can't allow his wife to be rude and insolent. You need to be taught to respect me."

  "Please... no. I will do as you ask. Please."

  "It must be done, Jolie. You must be taught total obedience. Now no more arguments; or I will become angry. Come and lay over my lap. It’s time for some correction, wife. You must be shown what will happen if you chose to misbehave."

  "Please no, Cole. I can't. Please. I'm sorry." Tears shone in Jolie's eyes and her chest heaved as she took huge gulps of air, trying to calm herself, biting her lip and drawing her eyebrows together over eyes filled with fear. Cole thought she was a sight to behold, so erotic and yet so innocent.

  "Come to me now, Jolie." Cole growled and held out his hand, and Jolie went to him on trembling legs. He drew her down into his lap and slowly rubbed her back in soft circles. Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and bent her forward over his knee trapping her legs between his. Cole laid his hand on the soft smooth skin of her bottom and stroked it gently. He spread her thighs and slid his fingers between her netherlips, stroking her, building her passion even now when she was on the brink of punishment. He continued his assault of her sensitive nub, building her to the peak of pleasure until she was moaning with desire while his own body burned with longing at the sight and feel of her bent over his lap ready to be tamed to his will.

  Cole raised his hand and brought it down hard shattering the hot desire that was burning inside her. All her senses were immediately focused on the stinging pain of her bottom. Cole's palm smacked her bottom again and a crimson print appeared in its wake. Jolie cried out and rocked her hips but Cole kept a tight hold on her wiggling body.

  "Please Cole. Noooo!"

  Cole brought his hand down again and again, the cracking sounds his palm made on impact resounding through the bedchamber as Jolie's creamy white skin turned scarlet under the fierce blows. She gasped and a huge sob escaped her lips, then her whole body shook with warring feelings as his fingers took to stroking between her legs for a few brief moments again.

  "I am your husband, Jolie and you will do what I say. I control every inch of your body. Your pleasure and your pain lie in my hands alone. Do you understand me, wife?” Cole rubbed his palm over the burning flesh on her bottom as he waited for an answer. Stroking, dancing his fingertips over the scarlet skin, rubbing, and sending tingles through her body.

  "Yes. Please, Cole. I'm sorry. I'm just frightened. Please don’t hurt me. I don’t want you to hurt me." Jolie hated to beg, hated to appear weak, but she couldn’t stand the thought of being trapped for life in a marriage as unloving and brutal as her girlhood had been. Her stepfather had hated her, had beat and abused her, now this man could do the same. Beast or not, vile business or not, she was bound to him, and how he treated her was in part up to her. These thoughts went through her head even as the strange feelings coursed through her body, making yet another plea rise to her lips.

  “Please.” Her voice quivered as more sobs escaped her, and they went straight to Cole's cold hard heart. He wouldn't admit it to himself, but the woman who was lying over his lap had already managed to worm her way into his life with her innocence and beauty. He raised his hand for another stinging slap, intent on driving his point on obedience home, but paused for reasons he didn't completely understand. He should rain dozens on the little imp’s behind. He normally found pleasure in punishing the women he took to his bed. The act of dominating a woman as she twisted and cried beneath his hand or strap, filled him with satisfaction and desire, but he simply couldn't do it. Not to this little one who graced his bed tonight. What would it hurt if he was gentle with her just this once? There was really no need to punish her unduly. While it was true that women needed a firm hand, one could make an exception from time to time.

  He pulled her up into his lap and shushed her, brushing the tears on her cheek with his thumb as Jolie looked up at him with shattered eyes and knew he couldn’t he resist their silent pleading. Cole gathered her close, wrapping his arm around her waist and tilting her face up towards his with his hand, then kissed the tears from her face and looked down upon his wife as a strange feeling of tenderness filled him.

  Her eyes were luminous green pools that begged him to be gentle, her lips trembled with the last of her sobs. Cole brought his mouth down upon hers, and she opened to him without hesitation. He wrapped her tongue in his, taking her, mastering her, igniting a fire deep within her that only he could quench. Jolie trembled in his arms as his kiss went on and on. His lips were soft and sweet, no longer demanding and brutal, dancing, teasing, caressing. She sighed blissfully as his hands roamed over her naked body, leaving a trail of fire everywhere he touched her. She wiggled in his arms, the ache between her thighs mixing with the soreness of her bottom. The sensations pounding in her veins taking her breath away and making her body crave his touch.

  Cole broke the kiss and looked down at her with satisfaction. Jolie was bending to his will through simple arousal. Force and painful dominance weren't necessary tonight. Cole knew she must be taught to obey and to love her husband, but there would be plenty of time for those lessons later. He really saw no reason to use a heavy hand when she was trembling and moaning in his arms. Jolie wiggled on his lap yet again, and as she moved, she felt his hard shaft pressing against her bottom. Feeling the size of his manhood, she looked up at him with questioning eyes as some of the fear she had felt before returned..

  "Yes love, touching your delicious body is exciting to a man. It makes me ready to take you as a husband should. Having you wiggle around on my lap makes me feel the same way you do when I stroke you between your legs." Cole held her in one arm and moved the other between her legs, slipping his fingers up and down until she was moving against his hand and moaning with pleasure. He caught a nipple between his teeth and nipped it gently as his tongue flicked back and forth over the tender peak while rubbing her sensitive nub, filling her with pleasure, stroking her over and over until she tossed her head back and cried out with a longing she didn't understand. Cole was delighted by her unbound passion and increased his ministrations until she thought she might go mad.

  What on earth was he doing to her? Jolie knew she should hate him, knew she should despise his touch, but she couldn't. He had accosted her in the stream, touching her where he had no right to put his hands, he'd lied and tricked her stepfather into letting him marry her, and he dealt in the heinous trade of selling women for men's pleasure. She knew she should be fighting him tooth and nail but... she couldn’t. Her mind screamed at her traitorous body but she couldn't stop the rush of fire through her veins or the tingling between her legs that became more intense every time he stroked her there.

  Cole stood quickly and laid Jolie on her back, giving her no time to react. He bent her knees and pushed her thighs apart then knelt between them and slowly pushed one finger into her. She was small and tight and her body resisted his invasion even with the slickness of her woman’s dew. Jolie gasped, startled at the pain his finger caused. She didn't like this new activity at all. She tried to sit up and close her legs but Cole reached down and held them apart. "Be a good girl, Jolie or you will be punished."

  "Please don't hurt me, Cole."

  "Hush Jolie, let your body relax." Cole continued to press his finger inside her and Jolie moaned as her womanhood was violated for the first time. Cole pulled out a
nd crossed two of his fingers, reentering her with both of them, stretching her virginal opening, slowly pressing forward, making her body yield to his hand until his fingers met her barrier. Cole pulled out then eased back in, slowly, methodically, while his other hand rubbed her sensitive nub until Jolie thought she would go mad. He never broke through her virginal wall. That pleasure would be saved for later when he thrust himself between her thighs taking all of her for his own, but he filled her just the same with his hand, time after time building the heat inside her then backing off right before she found release.

  This went on and on until Jolie was trembling and completely lost, until she was craving his touch once again, then suddenly Cole stopped. Jolie gave a cry of dismay and opened her eyes. She'd been totally taken away in the sensations roaring through her, lost in a haze of please like she had never experienced before. She gazed up at him, eyes hooded and smoldering with passion, chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath.

  "Cole." His name was a mere whisper, but yet a soft plea for more.

  "It's time for you to give me pleasure, pet." Cole stood beside the bed and gazed at his enchanting wife, loving the fire burning in her eyes; then he proceeded to undress.

  Four

  Jolie lay on her back on the bed, her eyes tightly shut. Her body was raging inside. Cole's hands had brought her to the brink of rapture and then denied her release. Her body craved his touch, her sensitive nub pulsed with need, her chest heaved as she tried to calm the fire roaring through her body. Every nerve tingled with the delicious feeling that emanated from between her thighs.

  "Open your eyes Jolie, I want you to watch me as I undress. You need to see what will be taming you, to look at what you will be begging for by the morning. I plan on spending the night getting you used to the feel of my cock buried deep inside your body."