Pretty Face (11 page)

Cody saw him looking and explained. “The Mardi Gras Indians and the Zulus are two of the most famous krewes. Those costumes the Indians wear weigh over a hundred pounds each and they take almost a year to make. I don’t know all of the history, but the African American culture of New Orleans is very intertwined with Indian and Caribbean cultures. The Native Americans helped the slaves cope, sometimes they even helped them escape.” She accepted two wrapped items from a passing waiter. “Here, this is one of the most prized items a person can get at Mardi Gras.”

Hunter took the object and laughed. “It’s a coconut.”

“Yes, a Zulu coconut. Hand painted.”

“Mine’s a face, looks like a warrior, what do you have?” Hunter asked, and Cody held hers up.

“I have a fleur, my favorite.” She smiled.

“Cody likes fleurs too,” Hunter said before he thought. At Sage’s expression, he explained. “Cody Napier is the woman I’ve been working for. She has fleur-de-lis all over her house, even the pulls on her cabinets.” God, Hunter felt his face flame. He couldn’t believe he was blushing, remembering that kiss.

Cody could tell Hunter had said more than he wanted to. She didn’t know what to say, so she started off. “Let’s get a table, then we’ll dance if you want to.”

Hunter was relieved to get off the subject of Cody. Revelry seemed to be in the air. He pointed to ornate symbols drawn on the floor and on the walls. “What are those?”

Cody edged closer so he could hear her speak. “I don’t claim to be an expert, but those are veves, voodoo symbols of deity. If you look around, there’s quite a bit of voodoo and hoodoo symbols and decorations.”

Hunter did look, realizing this was a completely different world than he was used to. Sage’s world. Intermingled among the party decorations were skulls, snakes, moons, stars, and many more symbols that to him appeared unusual. A waiter, dressed in feathers and beads, brought glasses of champagne and their choice of hors d’oeuvres. They sat for a few moments, enjoying the spectacle.

“Could we dance?” Sage asked, and Hunter immediately rose, drawing her into his arms.

“Any excuse to hold you is fine with me.” He led her out onto the dance floor where they swayed and twirled. Hunter enjoyed this type of dancing more than the more formal from the night before. But when something began raining on him, he looked up in confusion. “What’s going on?”

“Throws.” She explained with a giggle. “Look, gold coins and beads. Even some candy.”

Hunter helped her pick up a few. When he rose up, she tossed something else at him, which he deftly caught. “What’s this?”

“A key.” She announced with a mysterious smile. “Room 4, upstairs and to your right. We’re staying here tonight. Give me fifteen minutes and join me, I’ll give you a surprise you won’t soon forget.” With that intriguing offer, she gathered up some of their goodies and left him standing there with an open mouth and a hard cock.

Upstairs, Cody hurried to change clothes. She hung up the dress, made sure her hair was okay and used some concealer to try and cover up the scars on her breast and hip. They weren’t nearly as prominent as the one on her face, so she hoped they wouldn’t be noticeable, especially with the lights as dim as she had them. A Victorian style lamp with a shade sat by the bed, casting the room in a rosy glow. Antiques filled the room but it was still comfortable with a huge sleigh bed and a modern bath.

After finishing with the application of makeup, Cody pulled a Mardi Gras T-shirt over her head. She was wearing nothing else.

When she heard the knock at the door, her heart beat harder than Hunter’s fist. “Come in,” she called.

Hunter didn’t know what to expect. He entered the room and was met with a sight right out of his fantasies.

“Throw me somethin’, mister,” Sage shouted. As she did, she lifted her T-shirt, baring two round firm high mounds that he couldn’t wait to get his hands on.

“God, you’re perfect,” he said, tossing two or three strands of beads toward her. Sage caught them, stripped off her shirt and slid the beads over her head. Other than that ornate mask he’d come to resent, she was absolutely naked and fuckin’ unbelievable. Hunter’s cock was so strutted, he could barely walk.

“Do you want me?” she asked in a teasing voice.

“Hell, yes,” was all he could manage to say. All the blood in his body had left his brain and was on its way south.

“Come get me.” She crooked her finger, and he followed her to the bed where she lay down on top of the covers like an offering to the gods. “Take your clothes off, I want to look at you.”

Hunter had never undressed so quickly. Even before he climbed on the bed, her hands were reaching out for him. “If I had you in my life, how would I ever leave for work in the mornings?”

“I don’t know if I’d let you.” She gasped as he captured her mouth, kissing her deeply, completely stealing her breath.

Hunter was at a loss, he didn’t know what to touch or kiss first. He felt like a kid let loose at an amusement park and he wanted to try everything, eat everything and ride everything. Almost feverishly, he began to run his hands over her body, cupping her breasts, molding them, kneading them, plumping them together so he could lick and suck one nipple before gorging himself on the other. By the tone of Sage’s moans, she loved what he was doing to her. Good thing, because he wasn’t stopping anytime soon.

“Oh, I like that,” she whimpered, her hands touching him everywhere she could reach. “Come closer.” She tugged on him until he covered her body with his, spreading her thighs, making a place for himself to lie between them. He placed a hand on either side of her head, staring down at his bigger, darker body covering hers. “Watch me.”

She spread her legs wide, bending her knees, which opened her pussy up for his delectation. He slid his cock over her swollen clit, and she moaned. “I could cum just from that.”

“You can cum as many times as you want to. Hearing you cum is the best thing in the world.” She wrapped her legs around him, making some of those incredible noises as she pushed against his cock. “Don’t make me wait. My pussy’s so hungry.”

Her deliberate attempt to excite him with dirty talk was definitely working. “Let me feed it, then.” He lowered her body to his own, fitting the tip of his dick to her small hole. Threading his fingers into her hair, he bent to nuzzle her lower cheek beneath the mask. “I’ve dreamed about taking you just like this, I’ve dreamed about it for years. Wrap your legs around me.”

Cody could hear desperation in his voice. She wanted to give him anything within her power. Anchoring her heels against his ass, she raised her hips, urging him on. “Hunter,” she cried as he thrust into her hard with one powerful stroke.

“That’s right, baby, whimper my name. God, I love this. If I find I’ve dreamed all this, I’m going to be mad as hell.”

“No dream,” she said with a moan as he wove his fingers with hers, pressing her hands back against the bed. They stared into one another’s eyes. Hunter was being dominating, his slow, firm thrusts thrilled her. She writhed beneath him as he withdrew and then plunged back—again and again.

“Now that I’ve found you, I can’t lose you. You understand that, don’t you?” He pressed gentle kisses all over her face as he possessed her, pulling out, pushing in, rapid fire jabs that moved her body on the bed, jiggling her breasts against his chest.

Cody didn’t know what to say, so she gave him what she could. “I love you, Hunter.”

Her admission seemed to be what he needed to hear, because he began to fuck her even harder. She closed her eyes and listened to him enjoy her body—every groan, every sigh was music to her ears.

“Hold me tight,” he requested, turning loose of her hands. She wound them as tight around his neck as her legs were tight around his waist. Lifting her body from the bed, she melded herself to him, and he thrust deeper, harder, taking the flesh of her neck between his lips and sucking. Hunter branded her in soul as well as body. “You’re mine, Sage. Mine.”

“Yes, please, yes,” she whispered, sliding herself up and down on his cock, tightening her legs, gyrating her hips, keening with pleasure as the heat and tension began to build. “More, baby, more,” she begged. Her pussy was demanding, fisting his cock, tightening and releasing – tightening and releasing – pulling, milking, tingling – until she exploded in a shattering orgasm that stole her breath away.

“That’s right, baby, cum all over my cock. Nobody can satisfy you but me.” Covering her mouth with his, he swallowed her cries and moans, stroking faster, letting his tongue mirror the movements of his cock. Sage sucked at his tongue, even as her sweet pussy pulled on his dick like a hungry little mouth.

Cody didn’t know she could feel this way—frantic, desperate. She reveled in the way he stretched her, filling her over and over again, demanding her complete and utter surrender. “Hunter! I don’t know what to do…” she moaned.

“Cum again, cum for me, Sage.”

“I can’t.” She dug her fingernails into his back, raking in her fight to hold on to him. She never ever wanted to let him go.

“Yes, you can. Cum! Drive me over the edge,” he demanded as she bucked against him helplessly. Tossing her head from side to side, she clamored for another release.

Hunter sat up, easing her down, taking her legs and folding them forward, her knees high at her waist. Opening her up so wide made Cody feel especially vulnerable, but extremely turned-on. “Now!” He smiled, pulling all the way out, letting her feel how empty she was without him. Then, he winked at her and drove back, slamming into her, pounding deep inside of her over and over, harder, faster, making her arch off the bed and scream his name.

“Hunter!”

“Don’t ever forget who makes you feel this way. Me. Just me.” He put his hands beneath her hips and lifted, angling so that he could fill her up, drag his cock over a spot deep within her that would take her pleasure to even greater heights.

“You, only you,” she cried, shaking, fiery waves of release washing over her, radiating through her body, rushing in, ebbing, flowing, only to rush back in again, each surge stronger than the one before. “Hunter, oh, Hunter,” she whispered, stroking his hair as she buried her face in his neck.

Hunter groaned, thrusting deep and holding there as he climaxed, giving her everything he had. “Sage, my Sage.”

Cody framed his face, kissing him, loving how his lips were cold from his release. “You’re so talented,” she whispered in a teasing, playful voice.

He rolled to his side, carrying her with him. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. No slipping out on me tonight.”

With a sigh, Cody relaxed against him. “I can’t stay all night, but I’d love for you to hold me awhile.”

“I want to stay with you, Sage. Here in Louisiana. I got a job offer today.”

Pulling back a bit, Cody looked into his face. “You did?”

“Yes, Cody and one of her friends gave me a tip. Restoring Starlight Plantation.”

By the excitement in his voice, Cody could tell what she’d done pleased him. “That’s wonderful.”

“Yes, she’s been a good friend.” He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead that was clinging to the mask. “Oh, wait a minute.” Moving from the bed, he picked up his pants and dug in the pocket, pulling out the bracelet. “Hold out your hand.”

Cody sat up, trying to see what he had. When he placed the gold jewelry around her wrist, she felt her heart flip in her chest. “How beautiful!” Going up on her knees, she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you!”

Hunter hugged her tight. “You’re welcome. I wanted you to wear something of mine. I need to feel a connection, something that will bind you to me. I’m so afraid of losing you.”

His heartfelt admission nearly ripped her soul out. As she held him to her, Cody prayed that she could get through this without destroying them both.

Seemingly content, he lay down, drawing her to him, and they slept until Cody slipped away before dawn’s early light, taking with her only the remorse a truly guilty person can know.

Saturday came and Hunter sat in the bed, wondering what he was going to do with himself until he could be with Sage. Once again, when he opened his eyes, she’d been gone. This time, however, she’d left something behind. On her pillow had been a key ring, engraved with his initials HR. A tiny golden hammer hung from it and there were two keys attached. Beside the key ring was a note. Hunter snatched it up and read what Sage had written.

Dear Hunter,

Tonight is the last Tre Fleur Ball. It takes place on a riverboat, The Mark Twain, which will launch from the Lafitte Dock on the south side of the lake at seven. Again, I’ve rented us one of the staterooms where we can be alone after we’ve enjoyed the party. This will be the night when the masks come off. I want you to know, before we even begin, that I value you more than anyone I’ve ever known. In case you didn’t realize it, one of the keys fits the stateroom door, the other is the key to my heart.

No matter what happens.

I’ll always love you.

Odd, the note was unsigned.

Restless, Hunter left the Plantation. First he went to the motel to clean up and change clothes. Once that was done, he couldn’t stand it, he lay on his bed and logged on to Facebook. To his surprise, Sage had beat him to it.

Sage
: I wanted you to know that last night was the most wonderful night of my life. When you made love to me, I felt my soul soar. You are the most wonderful man in the world. I am forever fortunate to have known you. You, Hunter Reed, have enriched my life beyond measure. I adore you.

Hunter
: Sage, are you there?

He waited for a few minutes. Nothing.

Hunter
: Sage, I found your note. I want you to know that I’ve never felt this way about anyone. You own me. I am owned. There, I said it. Don’t ever think about walking away from me.

Hunter
: You aren’t here. I’ll see you tonight. I have the keys, both of them. And I intend to use them.

Not knowing what else to do to pass the time, he decided working would be better than just lazing around—if it was okay with Cody. Picking up his phone, he called.

“Hello?” Cody had seen the display and knew it was Hunter. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he answered. “Why would anything be wrong? I’m bored. I wanted to come work. If that’s okay with you.”

“Sure,” Cody answered as casually as she could. She’d been hoping he would come over. Following Nana’s advice, she wanted to talk to him. “I have a roast on. We’ll have lunch together.”

“Okay,” Hunter answered slowly. He liked Cody, he really did. In fact, if there were no Sage…well, there was a Sage and he adored her, so there was no use going there. On the other hand, he felt protective of Cody, even from himself. He enjoyed spending time with her, but he didn’t want to give her false hope. “Just a few days ago, my life wasn’t nearly as complicated,” he murmured as he left the motel and headed toward the lake.

Cody met him at the door. She’d just gotten off the phone with Trinity, giving the girls an update. She’d bolstered Cody’s courage. “Come in,” she greeted Hunter with a smile.

Hunter stepped over the threshold. He couldn’t help notice her. She looked cute as a bug in blue jeans and a lacy camisole. Her hair was braided down the back. “You look nice.” The words were out before he could call them back.

“Thank you.” She almost preened in front of him. His words meant the world to her. For the first time, she wasn’t hiding. She’d pulled her hair back and there was no heavy concealer, only regular makeup. “How are you today?”

“Great,” Hunter answered, his hands stuck in his pockets. “Well, did you have any problem with the work I did yesterday?”

“No, not at all.”

“Good.” He started easing toward the kitchen. “I thought I’d start putting the granite countertops on.”

“All right.” Cody could see he was trying to make his escape. “You go ahead, I’ll finish up lunch and call you when it’s ready.” She was determined to not take ‘no’ for an answer. This was important, she was setting the scene for tonight.

Hunter left her, his focus on his work. Mostly. Did Cody have a hickey on her neck? He had noticed it and then when he’d noticed it, he couldn’t see anything else. Her skin looked so smooth and…hell! He’d hit his damn thumb with a hammer! “Shit!”

The hammer made him think of the charm and the charm made him think of Sage.

“What’s wrong?”

She was always coming to his rescue. “It was nothing.” Hunter sucked on the end of his thumb. “I just whacked myself.”

“Let me see.” Cody came to him, his eye going to the blemish on her neck. Almost the same place he’d kissed Sage the night before.

When Cody saw him looking at her, she thought he was staring at her scar. “Do you want to know how I got that?”

“Cody, I don’t think…” He didn’t really want to know who…

“I was attacked when I was in college.”

She said the words so quietly, Hunter almost missed them. “What?”

Cody touched her scar. “My stepbrother attacked me. He tried to rape me…” She laughed wryly, but he couldn’t. “So, he beat me. He whipped me with a belt, the buckle end. And he hit me with his fists.”

Hunter felt paralyzed. “Cody, God, I’m so sorry.” He grabbed a dining table chair for her to sit in because she looked like she might collapse if she didn’t. After she was seated, he knelt beside her.

Cody looked down at her hands, anywhere but at him, but she kept talking. “My nickname was Pretty Face when I was young. It was my father’s nickname for me. I don’t think I was ever beautiful, but my mother says I was. When I was sixteen, my father died and my mother remarried. Joe was a year older than me.”

Hunter closed his eyes, not wanting to hear the rest. “How did it start?” He’d heard stories. The idea that Cody had gone through something like this just killed him.

“It started out innocent enough, he was my friend, then he wanted more. I guess you could say he had a crush on me.” She twisted a ring on her finger. “I wasn’t mean to him, I just told him I wasn’t interested.” Cody looked up at Hunter. “It didn’t seem right, he was my brother.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Besides, I didn’t feel for him that way.”

“Why didn’t you tell your mother?”

“I did and she talked to him about it. But she didn’t expect…I didn’t expect it to get worse. And it didn’t for a while. I graduated and went off to college. One weekend I came home, I was excited, I’d met a boy.” She smiled weakly. “I talked about him in front of Joe. Later that night, he cornered me in the basement. We were alone and he attacked me. He was big, I couldn’t get away.”

“Cody…” Hunter couldn’t stand it. He pulled her into his arms.

“He beat me till I passed out. I had lots of broken bones, but my face took the brunt of it. I’ve had surgery.” She hiccupped a half laugh/half sob. “You can’t tell it by looking, but this is the improved version. They can’t do anything about the nerve damage.”

She’d been speaking against his shoulder, while he stroked her hair. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Cody felt him kiss her hair. She couldn’t handle it, him feeling sorry for her and not knowing who she was. “Please, don’t be. I’ve made a life for myself. I’ve excelled in my work and I have friends.”

“But you don’t date.” Hunter remembered when he’d confronted her about the TRO folder. “You let him steal your—”

“I did,” she agreed with him, pulling out of his embrace. “He stole my confidence and he stole my future.”

Hunter was just about to give her a piece of his mind when a crash sounded from the living room. A cat squalled, a dog barked and all hell broke loose.

By the time Hunter helped Cody pick up, he was in a pissy mood. He’d really wanted that roast. One of the dachshunds had chased a cat around and around the table where the slow cooker had been sitting and they’d got tangled in the cord and then knocked the whole table down, roast and all. When he’d managed to get a clear view of things, the fat girl dog, Daisy, had a mouth full of roast and was growling at him.

After that, Hunter had gone back to work and Cody had retreated to her room. What she said stayed with him. She actually thought no man could want her. He wanted to talk to her, convince her otherwise but this was his big day with Sage, when he’d finally be invited into her life. When lunch rolled around, he decided to take a quick break. Walking back toward Cody’s office, he called, “I’m going to go pick up a hamburger. Do you want something?”

“No, thank you.” A muffled voice came through the door.

“Sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” He gave up. Women.

Once he was in the truck, he backed out by her bright red car and drove about five blocks to a McDonald’s. It wasn’t his favorite, but he needed something. Cody had been feeding him so well, he was spoiled.

“That’s six dollars and fifteen cents.” The clerk told him and he exchanged the money for a burger, fries, and a large coke. When he went to set down his food, he saw a slip of paper that had fallen out of his wallet. Hunter picked it up. It was his baggage claim ticket. He stared at it, remembering the panic when Sage didn’t meet him. For some odd reason, the number 782 popped out at him. Where had he seen it before?

Damn, he must be going nuts.

Then, he remembered. He’d seen that number written on a piece of paper at Cody’s house.

Odd. Weird coincidence.

Stuffing the paper in his glove department, he ate his burger and listened to a ball game on the radio.

*  *  *

A few hours later, Cody was a nervous wreck. She’d seen Hunter off. The job was coming to an end. He probably only had two days of work left on her kitchen. She hated to think what those two days would be like if tonight went badly. Heck, he might walk away from both her and the job. She might have to find someone else to complete it all. Who was she kidding? Finishing the kitchen was the least of her worries.

Now, she was all dressed up and ready to go. This was it. She was about to attend the third ball, have one more chance to be with him, then pull off the mask. Could she do it? As much as she’d like to run away and hide, Cody really had no choice. Telling Hunter the truth was her only option. It was the right thing to do.

Before she left, she looked at herself in the mirror. This purple dress was the most beautiful of all. It was an off the shoulder design with an empire waist, made of pure silk. The material reminded Cody of a butterfly’s wing. Her hair was okay, the mask was in place and the slippers were still unscuffed and perfect. The makeup she’d applied was nice, even her eyes through the mask looked good. Last, she’d put on the bracelet Hunter had given her. She picked up the heart and rubbed it between her fingers. “Please let this go well. Even if he can’t love me, please don’t let him hate me.”

At the dock…Hunter waited. Darkness had fallen and the river boat looked like it had floated right down the river from a time long forgotten. A trumpet wailed a blues number as the boat’s horn sounded and Hunter expected to see Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn come strolling up to board right along with him.

“Hey, Hunter.”

He smiled. Her voice was what he’d been waiting to hear all day. That sexy little accent of hers made his blood burn every time.

Hunter turned, a smile coming to his lips as he saw how beautiful she was. “Hey, baby. Ready to board?” He kissed her on the lips, a sweet lingering kiss and held out his arm. “You look beautiful, that dress is almost as pretty as you are.”

“Thank you.” She squeezed his hand. “Yes, I’m ready.” Cody just hoped he couldn’t tell she was trembling.

Hunter steadied her as they walked across the gangplank. Dozens of people stood on the bottom deck where the band was playing. The whole boat was decorated with lights, purple seemed to take preference. “Thank you for the keychain and the keys,” Hunter whispered in her ear.

“You’re welcome. Look, I’m wearing my bracelet.” She showed him her wrist. Anything to put off what was to come.

“I’ve never been on a riverboat before,” Hunter muttered close to her ear as they were passing the band.

“Well, you’re in for a good time.” Cody intended for them to enjoy their last few hours together as much as possible. Holding hands, they worked their way to the lido deck and found a table next to the railing. Hunter went to the bar and brought them back a glass of wine. “Bacchus is one of the superkrewes for Mardi Gras. They’re the ones who opened up the celebration to tourists. Their parade is very popular.”

Hunter looked around as Cody pointed different things out to him. Everything was decorated in a Greek theme with grapes, ivy, statues, and fountains. “Following river boat tradition, there is gambling on board. I also read there’s a palm reader somewhere.”

“Would you like to have your fortune told?” he asked, tracing a finger from her elbow to her wrist. He couldn’t seem to stand not touching her. “I can tell it for you if you’d like.”

Cody felt uneasy. He was being so romantic and she knew everything would fall apart before the night was over. Still, she couldn’t resist. Holding out her palm, she asked, “What do you see?”