The Maid's Daughter - S01 E12

Story 3 years ago

The Maid's Daughter - S01 E12

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 12

It wasn’t in Devlyn’s nature to be indecisive. Second-guessing

decisions—or hesitating in the heat of the moment—meant

losing out in the business world. His utter confidence and

knack for innovative leadership were the reasons his father

and uncle had chosen him to pilot the enormous behemoth

that was Wolff Enterprises.

If they could see the current state of his brain, they’d have

him committed.

Beneath his hands, Gillian’s skin and hair were soft. Her

scent, light and floral, soothed him even as it aroused him.

“I don’t know what to do with you.” He heard the raggedness

in his voice, recognized his own utter confusion.

She pulled away, smoothing her hair. “We have someone

waiting for us,” she said, not meeting his eyes.

He sensed her vulnerability. Did she think he was playing

some kind of sexual power game? She’d be shocked if she

knew that he was as conflicted as she was.

“Fine. Let’s go. But we’re not done with this.”

Before he could come around and help her, Gillian was

out of the car with the umbrella over her head. The rain had

eased to a gentle drizzle. She walked by his side as they approached

the man who awaited them.

Sam Ely was tall, rangy and rich. Maybe not by Wolff standards,

but still well-heeled enough to draw the attention of

every available woman in Charlottesville. He’d started his own

architectural firm at twenty-five and now ran a multimilliondollar

business.

Sam smiled at Gillian with a lazy grin. “Sam Ely.” He

stretched out his hand. “You must be our new expert.”

Devlyn watched, disquieted, as Gillian shook the architect’s

hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you,” she said. “Devlyn

told me you’re doing this project for half your normal fee. As

a Burton native, I have to tell you how grateful I am.”

Sam shrugged, a bashful aw shucks expression on his

angular features. “I’m a sucker for little kids…what can I

say? I’m honorary uncle to several of my fraternity brothers’

kids…a dozen unofficial nieces and nephews already. And if

my sweet grandma has her way, I won’t be far behind in the

procreation department.”

Gillian laughed. “What does that mean?”

Sam took her elbow as they walked up a steep rise, leaving

Devlyn to trail in their wake. “She’s been setting me up

with eligible women since the day I turned twenty-one. So

far nothing has stuck, but any day now…”

“Is there someone special?”

He put an arm around her waist as she stumbled. “Take it

easy. No…I’m still playing the field, but if I wait too long all

the good ones will be taken.”

The rain had stopped. Gillian lowered her umbrella and

folded it up. “Somehow I doubt that will be a problem.”

Devlyn snorted beneath his breath and wondered sourly if

Sam’s slow Southern drawl was an affectation used to impress

the ladies. Perhaps Devlyn should have thought twice about

introducing Gillian at this stage in the game. He touched her

shoulder, drawing her attention to the field ahead. “The stakes

indicate the corners of the building. What do you think?”

The piece of property sat atop a small, flat-topped hill.

Grading had not been a problem. The old farmer from whom

they’d bought the land had plowed and planted this acreage for

fifty years. There was plenty of room for the planned school,

and even space for expansion one day, if needed.

Devlyn liked the idea that this verdant, grassy space would

still be growing things…albeit children instead of corn and

carrots. Gillian hadn’t answered him. He turned and saw that

her eyes were tear-filled.

“Thank you, Devlyn,” she said, her words choked with

emotion. “You’re doing a very wonderful thing.” She caught

him completely off guard by hugging him tightly, her head

tucked momentarily against his chest.

Over her shoulder his eyes met Sam’s. The other man

shrugged and smiled ruefully as if to say, lucky guy.

Devlyn allowed himself one quick squeeze and eased out

of her grasp. He wasn’t accustomed to indulging in personal

moments during a business encounter. But then again, Gillian

was teaching him new things about himself every day.

The level of the regret he experienced in having to let her go

was staggering.

Summoning his scattered brain cells, he motioned to the

architect. “Let’s walk room to room and I’ll tell you how we

want to tweak the design.”

Gillian lingered behind the two men, turning in a circle

to take in the view. Behind and above her, Wolff Castle sat

somewhere atop its eagle perch, hidden from view by the forest

that surrounded it. To the north, the Shenandoah Valley

stretched for miles. Though the view today was shrouded in

mist, she could visualize the panorama.

The school would be a showplace. She had seen the many

windows in the drawings. Boys and girls of all ages would

sneak peeks out of them in between assignments, dreaming

of weekends and summers when they could run wild

and free. This lush, remote, out-of-the-way spot was a great

place to grow up.

Environmentally up-to-date, the school would generate

much of its own electricity with solar panels and a wind turbine.

Gillian had noticed a science lab in the plans, no doubt

intended to be outfitted with sophisticated equipment. It

warmed her heart to know that Burton’s children, though

from limited means, would have the opportunity and access

to train for interesting careers.

The two men finished their circuit of the perimeter and

returned to where she stood. Sam swept his arm in an arc.

“I know it doesn’t look like much yet, but I think you’ll be

impressed.”

“I already am.” Gillian glanced at Devlyn. “And I feel

lucky to be part of such an exciting project.”

Sam eyed Gillian. “How about I take you to lunch and I’ll

go over the blueprints with you…show you all the things I’m

hoping to incorporate into the plans as we fine-tune them.

You’re welcome, too, Devlyn…of course.”

Devlyn’s handsome face darkened. “Not necessary. Gillian

and I went over everything this morning.”

Gillian wasn’t stupid. Devlyn was staking a claim. Which

made no sense at all, since he apparently didn’t want to pursue

a relationship with her. His arrogance was patronizing and irritating.

She gave Sam a big smile. “I’d still love to hear your

ideas in more detail,” she said. She shot Devlyn a cool gaze.

“I’m sure you have lots of important work to do for Wolff

Enterprises, right? You won’t miss me at all.”

Sam swooped in smoothly to close the deal. “I’d be happy

to drive Gillian up the mountain when we’re done.”

Devlyn smiled genially. “I hate to break up the party, but

I really need Gillian this afternoon. Part of what we’ve hired

her to do is deal with paperwork…and there’s a mountain of

it. Sorry, Sam. Maybe the three of us can get together another

time.”

Sam took his dismissal with good grace. “Too bad. But

I’ll take a rain check.” After shaking both Gillian’s hand and

Devlyn’s, he strode back to his car, got in and disappeared

down the road.

Gillian was so mad her chest was tight. “That was the most

appalling show of chest-beating I’ve seen in a long time. How

dare you bully me like that? And in front of such a nice man.”

Devlyn narrowed his eyes. “I did not bully you. I merely

pointed out that we’re not paying you to have long lunches

with guys you’ve just met. You’re my employee. If you want

to date handsome architects, you can do it on your own time.

And for your information, the jury’s still out on whether or

not Sam Ely is a nice guy. He has a reputation for enjoying

the ladies.”

“You’re the last person I’d take dating advice from.”

“I thought it was a business lunch. Now you’re dating the

man?”

She got up in his face. “Don’t twist my words.”

“Don’t try to make me jealous.” His yell echoed across

the open space.

Gillian’s jaw dropped. “I wasn’t…” But was she lying to

herself? Had she seen Sam as an easy shot at Devlyn?

He groaned, taking her by the hand and dragging her along

behind him. “I want to show you something.”

It petrified her how much she enjoyed holding hands with

Devlyn Wolff. Such a simple thing, and yet so powerful.

“Slow down,” she said. “The grass is all wet. I don’t want

to break my ankle.”

He relented only slightly. She was breathless by the time

they reached the back of the property. The fall of the land

was not as steep on this side, and the grassy field gave way

to a grove of hardwood trees. The vibrantly colored leaves

overhead and underfoot—combined with the foggy, misty

day—created a mystical place of beauty.

Devlyn halted eventually beside a tiny, wet-weather stream.

He released her hand and squatted to remove a clump of leaves

from a formation of smooth, moss-covered rocks.

“What is it?” she asked.

He cupped his hands, filling them with clear liquid and

standing to face her. “Spring water. From a subterranean

source. As clean and pure as the first day it was created.

Taste.”

He held it out, unsmiling. Gillian had the odd notion that

they were enacting some kind of primitive ritual. She bent

her head and sipped from his curved palms. The water was

cold and tart, making her throat sting at the same time that

it quenched her thirst.

Inevitably, her lips brushed his skin. The intimacy of his

offering tapped something deep inside her. A sensual yearning

to give herself to this man.

She took a second drink and lifted her head. “Thank you,”

she whispered, not daring to break the protective layer of

quiet that cocooned them.

Before he could squat on his haunches for a second time

and drink for himself, she crouched, giving not a thought to

her nice outfit. Hands trembling, she gathered water, rose and

offered it to him. “For you,” she said, mentally urging him to

let go of whatever chains held him back.

For long seconds she thought he was going to refuse. Giving

her a dark, reluctant stare, he dipped his head and s----d

up a great mouthful of spring water. His teeth grazed the sensitive

pad beneath her thumb. The feel of his lips on her cold

skin turned her inside out.

She wanted him dreadfully, and yet she knew the danger.

Was she totally naive to think she could play with fire and

walk away unscathed?

Water dripped from her hands when he t----t his tongue

between her fingers, one at a time. Her knees literally went

weak. “Devlyn…”

“Gillian.” He mocked her gently.

“I can’t do this on-again, off-again thing. It hurts too much.

I don’t expect you to commit to anything beyond this moment,

but I have to know you need me as much as I need you.”

“I don’t,” he said flatly, gathering her into his arms. “I

need you more.”

The last word was muffled as he moved his mouth over

hers. Every time they were together she learned something

new about him. Today it was the taste of kisses that combined

remorse with promises. First gentle, then demanding,

he staked a claim.

His tongue probed between her teeth, tangling with hers.

She heard him moan. The sound of his hunger shuddered

through her like hot honey. They were pressed so closely together

that his heartbeat mingled with hers. His sex, eager

and ready, pushed urgently against her flat belly.

What they were doing was wild, impractical, without reason.

They had no blanket, nothing to cover the damp ground.

And although it was not especially cold, getting naked might

be another story.

“Devlyn?” She winnowed her fingers through his thick

hair as he suckled a sensitive spot behind her ear.

He had either gone deaf or he was choosing to ignore her.

But last night’s awkward parting had made her cautious. Selfpreservation

was a strong instinct.

“Devlyn.” She said his name a second time, more urgently.

“What are you doing?”

He lifted his head for a moment, eyes glittering, cheekbones

ruddy with arousal. “I’m tasting you.” Beneath her

jacket he stroked his hands over the slick fabric of her blouse.

Heat blossomed every place his hands touched. Running

the tip of her tongue along his jawline to return the favor, she

sighed. “I get that. But what about birth control?”

He went still, his expression tense. “Hell.” Almost simultaneously,

jubilation lit his face. “I have one,” he croaked. “A

condom. In my wallet.” He released her and stepped back, at

the same time extracting from his billfold what they needed

and tucking it into his shirt pocket.

He grimaced. “You make me lose sight of everything.

When I touch you, I burn. I never intended our first time to

be in an October forest. But I don’t think I can wait another

minute to have you.”

“You don’t sound very happy about it,” she muttered…

though having a man speak as if he would die if he didn’t

have her was damned effective foreplay.

“Happy doesn’t enter into it. You walked back into my

life and it was as if I’d been struck by lightning. I can’t explain

it. And no…it’s not the path I would have chosen. You

deserve a man far better than I am. But I can’t seem to resist

you. If you feel for me even a fraction of what I do for you,

I need you now.”

“Here? Really?” She glanced around them as if a bed might

magically appear.

“Trust me, Gillian. There are ways.”

She had never seen such a look on a man’s face. It thrilled

and scared and aroused her in equal parts. The adult Devlyn

was essentially a stranger to her, a man she had met less

than forty-eight hours ago. Nothing about the situation was

prudent or wise. But after last night, she couldn’t deny him

anything…didn’t want to.

She had lived a lifetime of caution. But today was a new

adventure. “Okay, then,” she said. “Show me how.”