Page 18 of Undo Me

“I can’t.”

“This town is the only place I know where you wouldn’t be shot on sight for being together, unless of course your half-brother and her father decide to come after you. And you know they will. I suppose you could take her back to France and get that fancy school of yours to give you a job.”

“Leave the country?” Would Isabel leave her brother behind? How could he live with himself if he took away the only family she’d ever had?

Her sigh was weighted with years of bitter regret. “You are my joy, Marcel. My only blessing. The last thing I want in this world is for you to leave me, so we will force his hand. You need to go to your father and ask him for his help to wed this girl and to give you protection from your brother’s envy. Perhaps he can send him away instead.”

“Hell no.”

“He owes me this, Marcel. I let him out of our agreement so he could marry that heiress. When you were born, he promised me he would always take care of you. And we both know of other children born from consortswho’ve been acknowledged and brought into society without creating too many waves.”

“I could never be brought into society. You know that. Not with my reputation.”

“Reputations can be polished and men reformed by love are often admired more, not less. He won’t say no, because he knows what I can do. And I know the truth about that pale shadow, Antoine. Things I’ve never shared, but I would if he denies you. Your father wouldn’t take that chance, I can tell you.”

Marcel was sick of the inequity, of the lies. The French and Spanish men waved their money around, took whatever women pleased them, and changed the rules so they could have more. Women became octoroons, quadroons, anything but black so they could become mistresses. Set aside with unsettling ease and without care.

Men didn’t even have that option. Mixed blood or no, one drop meant you could be nothing but black. And a black man wasn’t allowed to follow his heart if it led him to someone like Isabel. He wasn’t sure his father could change that. Not with all the money and influence in the world.

But God help him, he was tempted, because he wasn’t sure if he would survive letting her go either.

She was waiting for his answer. And he knew he would risk anything to spend the rest of his life at her side. Even taking his mother’s advice. “Soon, Isabel. Soon, you and I will be able to walk through town proudly as man and wife, I promise. Soon I’ll be able to tell everyone you are mine.”

She lifted her eyes to his, some of the sparkle returning to the deep, damp blue. “And you are mine.”

He smiled, giving her a gentle push that sent her tumbling to the bed. “Show me.”

His heart raced when she reached down and grabbed the hem of her long, lacy blue day dress, pulling it slowly up to reveal her stockings and nothing else.

“You came all the way here alone, with nothing beneath your skirts?” He didn’t know whether to spank her or kiss her. But her mound was so prettily framed, making his mouth water for another taste, that he decided the spanking could wait.

He lowered himself between her legs, noticing her mischievous smile. Still so pure and young, despite their nights together. He hoped she never lost her innocent sensuality. “You are a naughty girl, Miss Isabel.”

She giggled when he leaned in to kiss her forehead, her nose, her lips, his body wound tight with desire, his heart full as he focused on making her forget the dingy room and the raucous noises outside his door.

“I know. But you love me anyway.”

“I do.”

Present Day

New Orleans

BD leaned his head back to gasp for air. Bethany was on his lap, her ass grinding against him through the cotton sheet, making him harder than he thought possible.

“What was that?” The images were fading like a strange dream. But they’d been so real he could still feel the shirt that had clung damply to his back.

“What was what?” she moaned against his mouth, and he lost his train of thought in an instant.

Bethany. He needed her. He never knew anyone could need someone so badly. That vision he’d seen combined with the reality of this woman’s soft flesh and tempting scent had pushed him beyond reason. He had to be inside her soon. To get her as naked as he was. As needy. “Blue Eyes, please. Take these off for me.”

He tugged sightlessly at her jeans, bereft of the skills he’d honed for lifetimes. She was the one setting the pace, and he was too desperate to care. “I need, Bethany. I ache.”

He almost whimpered when she rose up on her knees, taking away her heat to reach for her button and zipper. His hand followed, fingers spread as they caressed her stomach and slid into the opening she’d made.

Inside. Have to get inside.

“We thought when Bone Daddy woke up he might be—Oh shit.”

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