Keeper of My Dreams (St. John Series Book 4) (13 page)

She should ask him to stop for this was not right, but the feelings surging through her body were unlike any other she had ever felt. She knew this was wrong but that excited her even more. She wanted to know more. She needed to know more. His fingers began moving in and out of her body, and she arched her back and cried out with pleasure as his mouth suckled her breast.

He could sense her reaching her climax and stopped. The disappointment he saw in her eyes let him know she was ready for him. In one swift move he entered her. Her cry of pain caused him to stop his movements. He placed his face in the bend of her neck and lightly kissed it. His kisses trailed upward until his mouth found her ear.

“The pain is over now,” he whispered as his body began to move. “Relax and allow your body to be pleasured. Feel me move inside of you.”

She closed her eyes and did as instructed. The pleasurable sensation returned and she soon found her body meeting each of his thrusts with her own. The pleasure increased to the point she thought she would go mad. And when she didn’t think she could experience any further pleasurable sensations, her body rippled in tiny explosive waves as she met her release.

Eli felt each shuddering spasm of her release. As he felt her body tighten around him, he could not control his body and exploded deep within her.

Eli gently kissed her. He rolled to his side, pulling her with him. He mindlessly began caressing her side as he listened to her breathing slow. His grip tightened around the beautiful woman in his arms. As the sun set, both drifted off to sleep, blissfully unaware that their lives were about to forever change.

Chapter Sixteen

The Demon
pulled into port at Governor’s Harbour. Angelica was nervous, but she hid her feelings well. She knew that if Max caught wind of her plans, he would kill her and her crew without a second thought. He had annihilated an entire crew for his wife before and would not hesitate to do so again. That combined with Mr. Nubian’s threat caused every nerve she possessed to stand on ends. Any notion of fleeing left her.

Once the ship was securely in the quay, Angelica made her way to Red’s Tavern. Red’s was a vile, disgusting place that reeked of cheap liquor and cheaper women. But it was a resourceful place to find out information. She knew if she wanted to find Max’s location, she would be able to acquire the needed information here.

As she rounded the corner, a small hand reached out and grabbed her arm. Angelica whipped out her cutlass and had it pointed at the perpetrator’s neck instantly. The person gasped and backed up, pressing against the wall of an adjacent building. A shocked expression crossed the buccaneer’s face as she viewed the well-dressed lady pressed to the wall. The woman was of high breeding. Her hair was arranged in the latest fashion and her clothing was of the highest quality. The corner of the woman’s mouth was bloodied.
Interesting.

“Please,” the distinguished lady begged. “Do not harm me.”

“What do you want?” Angelica hissed, her blade still to the woman’s throat.

“I heard you could help me.”

A suspicious expression crossed Angelica’s face. “I already have employment. So be gone with you.”

“I can pay. Money is not an issue. Just name your price.”

An arrogant expression then came to the pirate. “You must be desperate.”

“I am. Will you help me?”

Angelica lowered her sword and studied the woman. She could see the lady was nervous. Her breasts moved up and down rapidly and she swallowed nervously several times. Beads of moisture dotted the elegant lady’s forehead.

“Depends on what you want,” Angelica replied.

“You have a reputation, Miss Centers,” the brown-haired lady began. “It is well known that you do not care to . . . help dispose of pesky problems.”

“Who are you wanting ‘disposed of’?”

A smug expression crossed the woman’s face. “There is a lady residing with a certain gentleman on this island. I would like her to disappear.”

“Twenty pounds.”

“Twenty pounds?!” Marina croaked.

“Aye. And if you keep standing there gawking at me like a fish out of water the price goes to fifty.”

“Deal,” the lady answered before the price went up exponentially.

“I have another job to complete first. Once that is accomplished, I will assist you with yours.” Angelica turned to leave but was stopped by the woman’s hand on her arm. Angelica looked down at the hand, then back up to the woman.

“Please. If your job is here on the island, combine it with mine and I will pay you fifty pounds.”

If Angelica delivered two women to Mr. Nubian, then maybe he would not seek her for further assistance. “Very well. Where is she?”

“She is currently residing with Eli St. John.”

“St. John?” Angelica asked, trying to hide her worry.

“Yes. She should be easy to take. She will be visiting with his sister later this week. They are planning an outing to the beach that afternoon.”

“What does she look like?”

“She has brown hair and is tall, but not quite as tall as you. The other women with her look nothing like her. One will have red hair and the other black.”

“Very well. I will send one of my men to collect payment.”

“I have not given you my name.”

“I know exactly who you are, Baroness. I have had business transactions with your late husband in the past. My man will be at your home this evening. Have my money ready.”

Marina studied Angelica. “How do I know the second I pay you that you will not take the money and run?”

“You don’t.”

Angelica turned and left the Baroness. She proceeded to her destination. As she entered the establishment, the stench caused her eyes to water and her stomach to churn. How Red’s managed to stay open was a mystery to her. The only reason she could come up with was the fact that his whores did things most women would not ever dream of doing—even other whores. Their twisted sexual talents turned her stomach.

Angelica made her way to a table close to the bar and took a seat. She was quickly approached by a short, thin barmaid. The petite blonde placed a bottle of ale on the table and ran her hand across Angelica’s shoulder. Angelica caught the other woman’s hand and twisted it, causing the wench to cry out.

“If you want to keep your filthy hands attached to your body, do not touch me again. I am not interested in women.”

The woman jerked her hand back and rubbed her wrists. She gave Angelica a heated glare. “Ya just had ta say so and not try ta break me hand.”

“I just did. But since you are here, I am in need of information.”

The woman gave an evil sneer. “Information costs ya.”

“How much?”

The doxy looked around the room nervously. “Folla me and act like ya want to. There’s too many ears down here.”

Angelica stood and followed the prostitute up the stairs to her room. The woman closed the door and walked over to her bed. As she sat down, the bed creaked and sagged in the middle, almost reaching the floor. The room reeked of sex and sweat. As Angelica studied the room she grew curious. Whips and feathers lay upon the floor. Velvet ties were around the headboard of the bed. There were numerous black candles lying on the dresser, obviously used but not for light—the milky residue on the outside indicating as much.
Interesting
. The prostitute turned her head to the left and then looked back to Angelica.

“Wot information are ya needin’?”

“I need to know where I can locate Maxwell Hart.”

The blond wench grinned like she had just been given the crown jewels. “That one will cost ya.”

Angelica stormed over to the woman and jerked her to her feet. “Don’t toy with me, whore. Tell me what I want to know and I will let you live.”

“If’n ya kill me, then ya won’t find out nothin’. Five gold pieces.”

Angelica pulled the woman closer, then shoved her back down to the bed.

“Six gold pieces.”

Angelica pulled her cutlass out and placed it to the wench’s throat. “How about I just slit your throat and ask another.”

The whore swallowed nervously. “Go ahead. But won’t nobody tell ya wot yer needin’ ta know. Hart has a reputation an nobody wants ta deal with his wrath. ‘Sides, if I don’t come back downstairs, Hank will shoot ya in the back before ya make it out the door.”

Angelica glared at the doxy. She shoved the woman away.

“Ya know, seein’ how important this information is ta ya, it’s now seven.”

“Fine,” Angelica seethed as she pulled out seven gold coins and tossed them at the woman. They landed on the floor at the woman’s feet. “There’s your bloody fee, now give me the information I desire.”

The wench leaned over and picked up the coins. As she sat upright, she took one of the coins and bit down to check the authenticity of the gold. Satisfied that the gold was real, she began, “I’m not sure if seven’ll be enough, considerin’ who yer wantin’ ta know about.” Before the words left the woman’s mouth, Angelica struck the prostitute with the back of her hand.

“You will tell me or I will make you suffer far worse than the man I am wanting information about would inflict upon you.”

The prostitute placed her hand to her now stinging cheek. She looked up at Angelica and could see that what the woman said was not a threat, but a promise. “He don’t live around here no more. But he does visit regular like.”

“Where does he live?”

“In Nassau, I think. He owns a big ole home there.”

“Is he there now?”

“Naw. He’s here. His ship docked a while back.”

“Where does he stay while here?”

The woman looked with apprehension at Angelica. Angelica stepped towards her at the hesitation. The doxy quickly blurted out, “With Mr. Sinclair.”

“The Governor?”

“No. His son. He lives jest north of here. ‘Bout a mile out. It’s a big white house. The drive is lined with red flowers. It’s da only one like it that way.”

“How long does he plan on staying there?”

“I don’t rightly know.”

Angelica just stared at the woman.

The doxy’s eyes grew wide as she beseeched, “That’s all I know. I swear ta ya.”

“Are you positive? Think hard, for I do not take kindly to liars.”

The wench looked at Angelica and swallowed nervously. “I heard a rumor that da Earl has claimed ‘em as his son.”

“What Earl?”

“The one that owns Emerald Shippin’. The Earl’s been visitin’ him at Mr. Sinclair’s. Guess makin’ up fer lost time.”

“St. John?” Angelica asked, hiding the excitement in her voice.

“Yeah.”

“Thank you for your information. Say nothing. If I should hear that you have mentioned our conversation to anyone I will take great delight in carving out your tongue and then using you for fish bait . . . while you’re still alive.”

Angelica turned and left. Excitement coursed through her veins. She had the location of both women! Now she had to come up with a way to kidnap that Spaniard and the brunette. Once she had the women, she could get rid of Max’s wife once and for all. She would have William snoop about to see what he could find out. No one would think twice about a boy wandering about. She had to be certain that Max was going to be gone when the women went on their outing. She would have William learn Max’s routine and then have Tim and Billy kidnap Kristina. When Kristina was delivered to Mr. Nubian, Angelica would return to offer a comforting shoulder for Max and he would be hers forever.

Chapter Seventeen

Eli gave a slow stretch and his arm tightened around the body snuggled up to him. As he took a deep breath, the scent of lilac invaded his senses. The woman moved slightly. The contented feeling Eli was experiencing at that time was abruptly broken by someone clearing their throat.

“I hope yuh plannin’ on makin’ rite by har,” the voice angrily whispered.

Taking a deep, sleepy breath, Eli grumbled, “What are you doing in my room, Natasha?”

“Dis ain’t yuh room, Masta Eli,” Natasha replied, the disappointment apparent in her tone.

Eli’s eyes flew open and he looked down at the sleeping beauty in his arms. His gaze then turned back to Natasha and his eyes gave away his frustration.

London gave a slight moan and stretched. The coolness on her arms and the heat of Eli’s body to her back caused the images of last night to flood her mind. She turned towards Eli and smiled timidly. A movement at the foot of her bed caught her attention.

“Natasha?!” London screeched as she quickly sat upright causing the sheet to fall to her waist, exposing her breasts. She quickly grabbed the sheet and covered her naked form.

The disappointment spread across Natasha’s face in the form of a scowl. She picked up the chicken foot around her neck and began mumbling. Turning, the outspoken housekeeper left.

“I think she has just put a curse on me,” Eli said as he sat up.

London turned to him. “Oh, she doesn’t know the first thing about curses and such.”

“Yes, she does.”

London lay back down. “No, she told me she only used that to keep your mother from trying to dictate how Meredith ran her household.”

“She did what?!”

London cringed as she realized that she just babbled the secret she had promised to keep.

“London?”

London grabbed the quilt and covered her head with it. “I can’t keep secrets. Why do people insist on telling them to me?”

“London,” Eli said again with notable frustration.

London uncovered the top of her head, peering out with only her eyes. “Natasha said that your mother kept trying to run the household for your wife and that upset her. So Natasha came up with the ruse of being a demented voodoo woman in order to scare your mother away . . . so Meredith could run the household as she saw fit.”

London studied Eli as the information she told him sank in. Knots formed in her stomach as she waited for his outburst. She could see his shoulders shake and cringed waiting for his explosion.

“She did, did she?” Eli asked in a strained voice.

“Yes,” London squeaked.

Eli’s deep laugh echoed throughout the room. He turned towards London and she could see the humor and happiness in his eyes. “She’s a cheeky one, isn’t she? I’ll have to remember to thank her for her intervention.”

Cautiously she uncovered the rest of her head. “You’re not upset?”

“How could I be upset with Natasha? She was doing what she thought best for Meredith.” As he mentioned his wife’s name, the happiness left his eyes.

“Eli . . . I . . . I’m sorry about your wife. I would have loved to have met her.”

He simply nodded at her expression of sympathy. “That was many years ago. Now,” he spoke as he changed the subject, “there is a family dinner tonight at my parent’s home. I need to prepare for it. I take it you have the ledgers all in order?”

“Yes. I have completed your duty,” she replied coyly, an impish smile on her face.

Leaning over he placed a kiss on her full lips. Turning his back to her, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his trousers on. She watched as the muscles rippled across his back. She couldn’t help herself. She reached out and allowed her hand to feel the muscles along his torso. He looked over his shoulder at her and gave her a crooked smile, causing her pulse to quicken.

“Good.” He turned to her and placed his hands on the bed. Leaning over, he kissed her again. “I will make amends with Natasha, then have her find a suitable gown for you.”

“Why?”

“Because you are coming with me.”

“Really?” she questioned as her heart tightened.

“Yes. I will have a bath drawn for you. We will leave around four.” He pulled on his shirt as he headed towards the door.

“But the only dresses I have are the ones Madison gave me and none of those would be suitable for a formal dinner.”

Eli stopped at the door, his hand on the knob. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He did not turn to face her as he spoke. “I will have Natasha bring down some of Meredith’s old gowns from the attic.” He left before London could reply.

* * * *

London viewed her reflection in the floor-length mirror and a delighted smile came to her face. The gown was beautiful and of the finest material London had ever seen or felt. She was surprised that Meredith’s gown had held up so well after all these years. Her smile melted off her face. What would be Eli’s reaction seeing her in this gown? Would his nightmares return? She chewed her lower lip as she contemplated whether or not she should go to this dinner after all. Before she could talk herself into not going, there was a knock on the door and Eli entered.

He stopped in his tracks as he took in London. Never had he seen a more stunning sight. The navy ball gown fit her perfectly. Meredith had never had an opportunity to wear the gown for she found out she was expecting right after she had it commissioned. As he viewed London, he doubted that Meredith would have ever worn it. The style would have been all wrong for his conservative wife. The gown sat off the shoulders. The bodice sat low and had a slight dip in the front forming a heart shape. It clung tightly to the waist and did not flare outwards until it reached the hips. He noticed a slight blush on London as she turned slightly giving him a view of the low back of the gown.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered from the doorway.

“Thank you,” she softly replied. “I take it that it’s time to leave?”

“Yes,” he said, his eyes never leaving her.

London turned and grabbed the ivory cape that Natasha had found and draped it over her arm. Eli extended his arm to London. She timidly placed her hand on his arm and allowed him to escort her to the carriage.

Albert was at the carriage and let out a low whistle. “Better keep an eye on her, Master Eli. Dem brothers of yers will try ta steal her away from us.”

“They know better,” Eli replied as he assisted London into the carriage.

They rode for several minutes before arriving at Robert and Elizabeth’s home. The carriage stopped in front of St. John Manor. A young dark-skinned boy rushed forward and opened the carriage door. Eli stepped out and held his hand out to London. As London exited the carriage, her eyes grew wide as she viewed the size of the home. It was a huge three-story brick home. It was spectacular but not nearly as elaborate as Eli’s home.

“You grew up here?” she asked, the wonder and awe apparent in her tone.

Eli chuckled. “Yes. Remember I have seven brothers and a sister. Our home had to be large.”

“But still it would have taken years to build this home. Your parents could not have possibly known that they would have nine children.”

“I think they knew they would have several,” Eli answered with a twinkle in his eyes. His parents did not hide their affection or devotion from each other. Eli was actually surprised that he did not have more siblings.

As they entered the foyer, her astonishment continued. Several sets of long velvet emerald curtains were pulled back from the large windows, allowing the sunlight to filter in and its rays reflected off the large crystal chandelier, causing the light to dance like diamonds on the pristine white marble floor. In the center of the foyer, a mosaic of the St. John coat of arms was proudly displayed. Her eyes turned to the grand staircase. Unlike most homes where the stair railing was wooden, this home had a dark iron stair railing that matched the décor surprisingly well. The railing flared outward at the bottom so the ladies’ dresses would not be pressed inward upon their descent.

Laughter from a room to the left of the staircase captured her attention. Eli motioned towards the room and she nervously entered. The laughter continued as they entered the room. The number of people in the room surprised London. She knew Eli had a large family, but seeing them together brought the reality to her.

“Glad you are here, old man,” a red-haired man yelled across the room. His green eyes sparkled with mischief. He reminded London of a leprechaun—an extremely handsome leprechaun.

“Owen,” Eli acknowledged as he followed London.

“Damn,” a red-haired man beside Owen said. “Where did you find the mermaid, Eli?”

“Watch your language, Oliver,” Elizabeth scolded as she entered followed by Robert.

London blushed as the memories of her prior meeting the Countess flooded her mind. Elizabeth smiled at London. She walked over and gave London a welcoming embrace. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“I received an invitation I could not resist,” London admitted as color flooded her face again.

The brow over Elizabeth’s right eye shot upward. She titled her head sideways as she stared at her son. “Is that so?”

Before Eli could respond, a commotion coming from behind him made him turn. A dark scowl came over him as he observed who had entered. Nicholas and Madison had arrived. Madison was dragging Max in with her. The goliath of a man stopped in the doorframe and refused to move. He stumbled forward as Kristina shoved him the rest of the way in followed by Alexandra and Sophia. The two rambunctious girls darted under Max’s legs and raced straight to Robert.

“Papaw!” the girls squealed as one wrapped around each of his legs.

“There are my girls,” Robert beamed as he rubbed both girls’ hair.

London could sense the tension building in Eli. She placed a hand on his arm. “Would you be so kind as to introduce me to your family?”

Eli looked down at London. The anger in his black eyes was noticeable. She felt her hand tremble from his look.

“Who are the leprechauns?”

A snort escaped Eli. “Troublemakers would be a better term. Those are my youngest brothers, Oliver and Owen.”

“How do you tell them apart?”

“That’s easy,” Madison interrupted as she came up behind her brother and new friend. “Oliver has black eyes and Owen has green eyes. The brothers’ names are listed in alphabetical order. Eli, Jacob, Matthew, Michael, Nathan, Noah, Oliver and Owen.” As the names left her, Madison’s eyes grew wide in an ‘ah ha’ realization. “Max broke the order!”

“Ah, hell,” Nicholas mumbled as he walked to his wife. “Leave it to you to add fuel to Eli’s fire.”

“Oh pigge pogge, he’s always a Grumpy Gus,” Madison replied in her usual made up terms as she sassily tossed her head. She then turned to London. “Please follow me and I will introduce you to my brothers. I will leave Nicholas to attend to Eli’s normal sour disposition.” Madison took London by the arm and dragged her to meet the rest of the St. John brothers.

London had never seen such a gathering of handsome men in her life! All were tall and broad-chested. They all resembled each other. Each man resembled their father in height and looks. Even the auburn-haired twins resembled their father. Their jaws were firm and square. When she was introduced to each one, she noticed they all had the same dimple in their left cheek. She had no doubt that each one of these men had women swooning with just a smile.

“You have a very handsome brood of brothers, Madison.”

Madison beamed with pride. “I am the envy of every eligible woman in the Caribbean because I get to boss each one around and they obey me without hesitation. Pity that four are missing. Then you would have seen a true show.”

“There are four missing?” London questioned. Madison had introduced her to so many people that she hadn’t realized this was not the entire St. John family.

Madison sat down on the sofa. “Oh, yes. Jacob traveled to Kingstown to retrieve a damaged vessel. Noah is making deliveries to England so Matthew traveled back to the London office with him. And Michael is in South Carolina attempting to broker a deal to ship cotton.”

“Speaking of the silver-tongued devil,” Nathan said as he took a seat beside Madison, “wonder how he’s faring getting the contracts.”

“If I know Michael, the contracts have already been signed along with several others,” Owen said.

“I agree with Owen,” Eli said as he joined the conversation. “I would say that a letter has already been sent to Phillip letting him know to expect to become a very wealthy man.”

“Who’s Phillip?” London asked.

“Phillip Hollingsworth,” Robert answered. “He owns a textile mill in England. We work very closely with him.”

London’s eyes grew wide as her jaw dropped. Memories flooded her mind. That was her father. Her brother was Zachary. London wobbled and her color paled substantially.

“She doesn’t look good,” Max replied, still in the doorway as he observed the now pale London. “I think she’s going to faint.”