It's Me, Luv

At first Meghan didn’t see the old lady half-reclining on a sofa piled with cushions. But then she moved, waving her hand for Meghan to come closer.

Not red hair but silver was piled in a becoming poof about her face, tied with a turquoise band of ribbon. Her caftan was of the same color but with stripes of gold woven into the fabric. The soft face was lined but beautiful, even serene, and pierced by vivid green eyes. A huge orange cat lay curled on the sofa back where her hand idly stroked the thick fur. Meghan loved her at first sight.  

Storm stooped to kiss the wrinkled cheeks. “JuJu, I want you to meet my wife, -.”

Before be could finish, the voice behind him interrupted sweetly, “Juliette, I am Juliette. And I am so pleased to meet you at last. I know we’re - .”

 There was a shriek and a plump that cut off her words. Meghan - Juliette - lay on her back upon a sea of cushions, her skirts above her knees, the large orange cat in her arms. Dead silence then she burst into peals of laughter, as did Storm. She tried to stop the cat’s antics but was laughing so hard she had little success.

“Suliman! Shame!” JuJu tried to rise from her sofa but didn’t quite manage. “He thinks you are myself, one of the family. It is the hair, Cherie. He loves redheads.”

Storm plucked the cat from Juliette’s bodice where he was kneading and purring. He was laughing so hard he couldn’t speak. His eyes dropped to the delicious sight of silk-clad legs, the rosettes of her garters knotted against white thighs. His expression changed, closed. His nostrils twitched as the cat squirmed. He met her eyes. The laughter died and he remembered to set the cat down before he was scratched.

“I hope you will call me JuJu also. It has always been Storm’s pet name for me. Come. Sit.” The old lady patted the sofa beside her.

Several hours later they were on their way back to the inn. She had been measured, again, at JuJu’s insistance. Storm had ordered an exquisite ballgown of blue that shaded off to a turquoise. There were to be matching slips, a chemise, a corset, stockings, and slippers. Her excitement had her eyes sparkling again. She had promised to return to visit and Storm nodded in agreement. She almost believed she was a cherished wife. It was a fairy-tale. If only she didn’t occasionally see the calculation, the disgust, when he looked at her.

On the carriage ride back to the inn he had sat beside her rather than on the opposite seat as was his custom. She could feel his muscular thigh against hers whenever the vehicle shifted. As they rounded a corner she slid against him and his hand moved to her leg. His fingers tightened and fire shot through her.

“You were delectable back there with the cat atop you.” His eyes lazily stroked over her breasts. “Did he snag your dress?” His sensuous mouth all but licked at her.

So, now he would treat her like a whore, would he? Anger flashed and she removed his hand. “Indeed not. It was a silly thing. I’m sorry if it gave you the wrong impression of me.”

He made a noise in his throat and folded his hands under his elbows. The vision of the orange cat kneading her breasts had him hard and uncomfortable. He wanted her and was regretting the terms of the contract. After all, he’d had her once, twice, hadn’t he? What was one more when she made her living pleasing a man? Damn if he’d make the first move again though. He’d stick to the terms if it killed him. She’d probably orchestrated the incident to entice him. She’d know all the tricks, wouldn’t she? His eyes straight ahead, he cleared his throat.