Valeria by Kaitlin R. Branch Read Free Book Online Page B

in his arms. He tried not to shiver in anticipation, instead asking. “Do you really want me to stay?”
    She gulped and cautiously nuzzled his shoulder. “I…yes. I…” She took a deep breath, “I think of you all night when you go to bed and it drives me crazy, Mache! I feel hot and restless and it’s impossible to sleep. I want you here so I can feel you rather than wishing I could.”
    It took an awful lot of control not to stiffen at the description. He managed it with a meditative thought on a circus show he’d once seen of the bearded lady, supplementing it with an image of his boss’s wife who once tried to lure him into bed. He let out a breath and hugged her close. “Sure I’ll stay,” he said and glanced at the bed, pleased to find it was big enough for the two of them and more.
    She sighed. “Good,” she said. “Even if I have to sleep in my clothes it’ll be nice to have you close.”
    Mache chuckled. “You don’t have to keep all your clothes on, you know. Your shirt and pants should be fine. I’ve never worn one but I’m sure corsets can’t be comfortable to sleep in.”
    “I’ve done it,” she protested. “I’ll be fine.”
    Mache backed off, vowing to try again tomorrow. “If it makes you feel better,” he said. “Let me know if you want it off, though. I promise not to do anything untoward.”
    She smiled, turning to kiss him. “I love you,” she said. “Thank you.”
    He started, mind stumbling. When was the last time someone had said that? When was the last time he had agreed? “You’re welcome,” he said. It didn’t matter about the last time. He was here now. “I love you too.”
    As they settled in, shoes off, Mache realized this was the longest he’d gone without properly bedding a woman. And it was the first time the words were said before the actions taken. Maybe he was doing it the right way this time? It wasn’t that he was a ladies’ man. He’d just never put the effort in. He supposed anyone who could be worth going slowly for was worth doing things the right way to boot.
    Valeria turned to lay on his shoulder. “It’s nice.” She murmured. “You here, I mean.”
    “Sure is,” he replied, stroked her hair, and drifted off to sleep.
    They slept. They woke and spent several hours paying attention to little else but each other. Mache taught her the meaning of a morning in bed, breakfast brought and responsibilities forgone. She worried and also delighted in it.
    The CEO came and went again a month later and Mache spent the entire time in solitude thinking of Valeria–the scent of her hair, the softness of her skin, the way he had, only once, gotten a soft moan out of her when he kissed her neck. Each time she came into the room he watched her hungrily, pleading Valeria, Valeria…let down your hair.
    And eventually, she did. She stepped into the ballroom, looked out the window for a long moment, raised her hand, and pulled the pin down. Mache wasted no time in getting to her, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her.
    “Did the CEO say anything?” he asked, stroking her hair.
    She shook her head, smiling up at him, her eye patch flipped down, glasses pushed up on her head. “Only that I seemed happier than the last time she was here.”
    He laughed, catching her lips, lifting her close. “Are you?”
    “Yes,” she said, and touched his face. “I love you and I am happy with you.”
    “And I with you,” he murmured, taking both of her hands and holding them to his chest. She looked up and he kissed her again, murmuring. “It’s nice that you say how you feel, Valeria.”
    “Why wouldn’t I?” she asked.
    He smiled. “Exactly. I love you.”
    That night she allowed him to unlace her corset, and Mache was certain to take all the care he possibly could in doing so.
    * * * *
    The CEO came and went two more times. Mache made certain Valeria never neglected her work for long so the CEO would not realize her ward was being