Enticed by Ecstasy (Wicked Treasures) Read online

  “He made her his mistress.”

  “She would rather have lived as his mistress than as my wife. I was devastated, but if that’s what Rebecca truly wanted, I wasn’t going to stand in her way.”

  Abby turned then and until they were face to face. “She didn’t deserve you. All she cared about was the money.”

  “I know that now. At the time I didn’t.”

  “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

  “I kept in contact with Rebecca in the hopes that Huntington would grow tired of her. I’d done some investigating, and I knew he had three other mistresses. She didn’t believe me when I told her. She thought she could get him to marry her. She had no idea he was already married.”

  Abby eyes widened. “Oh. Channing.”

  “Rebecca confronted Huntington thinking to prove me wrong, to prove me the jealous ex-fiancé that I was. Only, she discovered truths she couldn’t grasp. With her eyes opened to reality, she demanded that he divorce his wife, remove his mistresses and marry her since he had ruined her. Huntington laughed then gave her two days to vacate the townhome.”

  “As callous as usual,” she said softly. “Did Rebecca’s parents allow her to return?”

  “She sent me a message after Huntington left. I immediately went to her. That’s how I learned everything. I told her none of it mattered, and I’d still marry her. She agreed, and asked me to return for her in the morning.”

  Channing stopped, unable to go on as all the old wounds and hurts threatened to swallow him. Then Abigail’s hand touched his face.

  “Tell me,” she urged.

  He swallowed painfully and met her gaze. “When I arrived the next morning it was to find that she’d hung herself. She left a note telling me that none of it was my fault, that she couldn’t allow me to live out my life with someone like her. She had shamed me and her family, and she needed to be punished for it.”

  Abigail silently wrapped her arms around him. Channing closed his eyes and reveled in her embrace. There was nothing she could have said that would ease the ache inside of him, but holding him had been just what he needed.

  After a moment, he lifted his head. “That’s not the whole story. I went to your father and told him what he’d done. He didn’t even blink when he learned Rebecca was dead. I was out of my mind with grief and anger, and I punched him. I never saw the men come at me. There were four of them. He ordered them to beat me until I couldn’t move for daring to hit him.”

  “I’m surprised they didn’t kill you,” she whispered in astonishment.

  He lifted a shoulder. “They nearly did. I was thrown on the first boat out of London, which happened to be on its way to Africa. I don’t know how I survived, but I did. Tom Rye was there when the boat docked. He took one look at me and brought me to his house.”

  “He healed you.” She smiled sadly. “I wish I could thank him for that.”

  “He healed my body, but my mind was set on revenge.”

  She sighed. “My letters to Mr. Rye gave you the opportunity you were looking for, didn’t they?”

  “They did,” he agreed. “I’d been wracking my brain to come up with some way I could hurt Huntington. You supplied me with that.”

  “Is that all I’ve supplied you with?” she asked, her eyes darkening with desire.

  Chapter Seven

  Abby was appalled at what her father had done, but she wasn’t shocked. He had no remorse, nor did he think there should be consequences for his actions. She wanted to help Channing, but his pain ran too deep. He had to do this on his own.

  “I’ll stay here for as long as you need me to,” she said. “My father needs to pay for what he’s done. I’d like to see him in prison, but that won’t happen without evidence.”

  Channing’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. “You’ll help me get my revenge on your father?”

  “Gladly,” she answered with a smile. “He destroyed my mother.”

  Her heart skipped a beat when Channing leaned over and claimed her lips. She sighed and opened her mouth for him.

  When he finally pulled away, Abby found that the kiss had awoken her body once more. She was becoming a shameless wanton, and she loved it.

  Many men looked at her, but none had ever seen her, not like Channing did. His gaze made her blood sizzle and her sex clench. Just a small tilt of his lips made her stomach quiver.

  He was a man that could destroy her much as her father had destroyed her mother. The only difference was Abby wouldn’t allow herself to crumble as her mother had done. She would be stronger.

  “You’re an amazing woman,” Channing said into the silence.

  An elephant trumpeted in the distance, causing Abby to roll over and look out the double doors. She was in Africa, with a man who had truly stirred her body. The adventure she’d longed for was right before her.

  She turned back to Channing. “Am I still your captive?”

  “I don’t think you ever were, though I’d say your body has captured mine.”

  “Show me Africa, Channing. I want to see it through your eyes.”

  * * * *

  Before Abby realized it, two weeks had passed. Her days were spent learning of Africa and her ways. And her nights were spent in Channing’s arms training in all the ways lovers could come together.

  She leaned against the corner of the porch and watched a group of children playing. For all her time with Channing, there was still so much she didn’t know about him, but she was enjoying learning.

  A hand touched the small of her back. She knew instantly it was Channing. His touch was as familiar to her as breathing.

  “Do most children play like that?” she asked.

  “Most I’d guess.”

  She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Did you?”

  He grinned. “I did.”

  “Are they your slaves?”

  “Never. I pay all of them.” He walked around to stand in front of her. “I give them land to build on, money to buy clothes and grain and whatever else they need. In return, they give me loyalty.”

  “No,” she said. “They give you loyalty because you’re a good man.”

  He chuckled. “I might just keep you around forever if you continue with compliments like that.”

  Abby’s body stilled. She hadn’t realized until that moment how much she wanted to stay. She told herself she’d be strong whenever she left Channing, but now she wasn’t so sure. He had become such a large part of her life over the last couple of weeks, weeks where for the first time she felt like she truly belonged to something.

  “Abby?”

  She forced a smile and winked at him. “I think I’ve decided that I want at least a dozen children. I want my home filled with laughter.”

  “And broken items with that many kids,” he teased. “Not to mention trying to get them all to mind.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe, but there will be laughter.” It was something she had missed out on as a child. She wouldn’t have it gone from her life now.

  He held out his hand to her. “I’ve got something to show you.”

  Abby readily put her hand in his. “Where are you taking me today? To see the elephants again? Or the cheetahs? What about the lions? Oh, is it more giraffes? I love the giraffes.”

  “You’ve already seen all of those,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve got something different to show you today.”

  “You know how curious I get. Give me a hint.”

  He turned and picked up a bag. “No hints. You’ll just have to wait.”

  She loved each adventure he took her on – and there had been many. She had seen parts of Africa that she doubted many whites would ever see. The animals were magnificently large, their calls filling the air day and night.

  Abby hurried after Channing as he started out to wherever he was taking her. Just yesterday he had promised to take her to see the plains of Africa where the earth stretched for miles with nothing but a few trees and animals dotting the landscape. At
her prodding, he even agreed to take her to the desert just so she could say she’d seen it.

  They walked for a couple of hours. Talk was kept to a minimum while Abby admired all the wildlife. She now kept a pistol in a pocket of her skirts just in case there was danger nearby. It made her feel a little safer, but nothing put her at ease like Channing’s nearness.

  When Channing suddenly stopped and turned to her with a smile on his face she could only stare at him. And then she heard it. She gasped and lifted her skirts to run toward the sound of the surf.

  She broke through the dense trees, Channing on her heels, to see a magnificent beach of white sand. Waves of dark blue crashed on the shore leaving white foam behind.

  The roar of the waves deafened the animals behind her. She jerked her skirts over her knee and lifted her leg to tug off her boot. The thick sand made her lose her balance, and she tried to hop around to keep upright. Just when she was about to fall, Channing was there to steady her.

  “In that much of a hurry, are you?” he teased.

  She tugged off her boot and tossed it aside before rising up on her toes to kiss him. “It’s stunning. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing the many sides of Africa.”

  A strange light came into his eyes at her words. “Good. Want to feel the ocean on your skin?”

  She nodded and sat down to take off her other boot. When she stood, Channing had removed his own boots as well as his shirt and rolled up the hem to his trousers.

  Once more she took his hand and let him led her to the water. Abby pulled her skirts up and tucked the hem in her belt as the water touched her ankles.

  They waded out until the waves reached their thighs. She stood looking out over the vast ocean, ever amazed at the world. Channing moved to her back and wrapped his arms around her. His chin rested on top of her head.

  “I never thought to share this with a woman,” he said.

  Her heart skipped a beat. “I’m very glad you did.”

  “Abby,” he said and turned her toward him. His hands rested on her waist and his gaze searched hers. “Stay with me.”

  Her breathing quickened, but she refused to read more into his words than he intended. “I am with you.”

  “No.” He blew out a harsh breath, a small frown marring his forehead. “I mean always. These past two weeks have been heaven for me. You’ve healed me in ways I never thought existed. I don’t care about your father or the past anymore. I only want the future. With you by my side.”

  Before she could answer, he withdrew something from his pocket. He held his hand in front of her face and dangled the chain that held a magnificent blue diamond the size of the end of her pinkie.

  “Oh, my,” she whispered in awe. “I’d heard that Africa had such diamonds.”

  “I found this one several years ago. I don’t know why I had it made into a pendent at the time, but I do now. It matches your eyes, Abby. Please, stay with me.”

  She smiled as joy swept through her. “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been surer of anything.”

  “Then my answer is yes.” There had never been any other answer. Channing had given her a life she had only dreamed about.

  At her words, he lifted her in his arms and spun her around. Abby let her head fall back as their laughter filled the air. She had never been happier than she was at that moment.

  He finally stopped spinning. Abby looked down to find his eyes filled with desire. Instantly, her sex clenched with need. He lowered her slowly, her body sliding sensuously down his hard frame.

  When her feet touched the warm sand, he turned her around and hooked the chain around her neck. She touched the diamond before she pivoted to him. But he moved away from her and unfastened his trousers. Abby bit her lip when his thick arousal sprang free. She longed to wrap her hand around his hardness and hear him moan.

  But instead of coming back to her, he dove into the water. She wasted no time in removing her own clothes, and when she turned back to him, he stood watching her like a god raised from the waves.

  His black hair, wet and plastered to his head, gleamed in the sun while ripples of water ran down his chest before the ocean claimed them once more. Abby walked into the water and grinned when Channing’s eyes roved over her body.

  Her nipples, hardened by the constant wind, puckered when the cool water splashed on her. And then his hands were on her, pulling her through the waves to his chest.

  Abby wrapped her legs around his waist and rubbed against his shaft. He hissed and ran his lips over hers, teasing her with nibbles but never kissing her.

  She wound her arms around him then leaned to trail kisses down his neck. He moaned low in his throat, deep and resounding. Abby smiled inwardly.

  Then his hands gripped her bottom and lifted her. His cock grazed the entrance to her sex. She was eager to have him fill her, but when she tried to lower herself on him, he held her.

  “Not yet,” he said.

  She wanted to argue with him, to beg him, but the words died in her throat when his mouth closed over her nipple and his tongue circled the tiny bud.

  Abby strained against him as desire pumped through her. She ground her hips into him, silently begging him to ease her torment. Instead, he continued to suck and lick her nipples.

  “Channing,” she pleaded.

  He chuckled, but lifted his face from her breasts. “I could feast on your breasts all day. What do you want?”

  “You,” she answered without hesitation. “I want you. Always.”

  “I’ve made love to you a million ways, and yet it’s never enough.”

  She knew exactly how he felt. He kissed first one breast then the other before he turned her so that her back met his chest.

  “What’s this?” She tried to reach around and grab his cock, but he evaded her.

  “Something I’ve dreamed of doing since I first took you that night two weeks ago.”

  Abby closed her eyes and sighed. Channing always knew what to say to make her heart melt.

  His hands cupped her breasts and his thumbs circled her aching nipples while his cock rubbed against her bottom. The waves crashed around them, but she no longer felt them. Her entire being was centered on Channing and the desires he awoke in her.

  She moaned and dropped her head back on his shoulder when his hand moved down her stomach to part the curls at her sex. His finger moved over her clit with the slightest of pressure while his other hand pinched her nipple until pleasure mixed with pain.

  He loosened his grip on her nipple and pushed a finger inside of her. Abby’s body was on fire, her need growing with each beat of her heart. He stroked her body, pushing deep and adding a second digit.

  His fingers knew just where to touch to make her moan and beg for more. When she began to set a tempo, he’d remove his fingers and swirled them around her clit until she was writing with need. Only then would he once more fill her.

  Abby felt the familiar tightening of her body. Her hips moved with his fingers, seeking the pleasure he tempted her with.

  And then his hand was gone. She opened her eyes when he lifted her once more and carried her toward the shore. When he reached the beach, he sat down and shifted her so that she straddled his hips.

  “I’ve wanted to see you riding me for days now.”

  Abby glanced down at his cock that she now held in her hands. “You want me in control?”

  “I want you to do whatever it is you want.”

  She was eager to have her way with him. He lay back on the sand, the water touching their legs. She shifted her hips and her sex rubbed against his arousal.

  Her body burned for more, and she couldn’t wait a moment longer. She would spend another time hearing him moan as she took his cock in her mouth again. But now, now she needed to have him fill her.

  Abby used her legs to lift herself over his rod. His gaze smoldered as she slowly lowered herself onto him. The feeling of him entering her was deliciously wonderful. She thought s
he’d never get tired of it.

  Channing glanced down at their joined bodies and groaned, his fingers tightening on her hips. She looked down to see what had affected him, and watched, enthralled as she took him inside her.

  Once she was fully impaled, she rotated her hips. Channing groaned, his eyes closed and his jaw tightly clenched. She braced her hands on his chest and shifted forward so she could move up and down on his cock.

  “Abby,” he moaned softly. “You’re killing me.”

  She grinned, but her smile faltered when his hands cupped her breasts and his fingers found her nipples. He had made her climax with just sucking on her nipples, so he knew how sensitive they were.

  He rolled the peaks between his fingers, pinching lightly. Abby’s eyes rolled back in her head. The need built quickly, driving her to move her hips faster.

  The water pooled around them, teasing her swollen sex as she rubbed it against Channing while she rode his cock, the necklace he’d given her dancing between them. He gave her nipple a hard pinch, and it sent her spiraling into her orgasm.

  His body continued to move beneath hers, and a heartbeat later, he shouted her name as he dug his hands into her hips.

  Abby fell atop him, desperate to catch her breath. “Thank you.”

  “You’re more than welcome,” he said a moment later. “You can do that anytime.”

  “Really?” she asked. “There are many things I’d like to do to you. I want you to spill in my mouth.”

  He groaned. “Don’t. I just peaked, and hearing you say that makes me want you again.”

  “Then you know how I feel.”

  He moved her hair away from her face and touched the blue diamond. “When we get home, I’m going to tie you to the bed and tease you for hours.”

  She giggled and lifted her face to look at him. “Only if you let me do the same.”

  “Agreed.”

  They lay in each other’s arms for nearly an hour before a shot rang out too close for comfort. Instantly, they were on their feet.