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1.42% Lilac Temptress / Chapter 1: Chapter 1
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Lilac Temptress

Tác giả:

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Chương 1: Chapter 1

Louisiana 1878

A weary smile played on Drake McCalister's lips as he recalled a universal truth,every small town had a bar, no matter how desolate, and he was thirsty for whiskey and ached for relaxation. He strolled the dirt road, alongside his childhood friend and business partner, Girard Larivière.

Light from colorless dull buildings, lining the deserted streets, illuminated their dark path. Drake heard faint music coming from a tavern a short distance away, and his present thoughts about money, business, and small uncultivated towns ceased when he pushed through the tavern's swinging doors with Girard in tow.

?Drake took in the scene. The bar, alive and rowdy, seemed to horde every man in town, along with the scantily clad women who served them. A pianist played a cheerful tune on a piano near a curved stage, where four pretty girls sang and kicked their heels up in step to the jingle.?

Men drank clear amber or dark burgundy liquid from thick glasses, eating hearty meals of beef stew and potatoes. Ruffians yelled obscenities at the women on stage, but nobody took offense,not even the women, likely accustomed.?

Drake glanced at a large, long bar opposite the entrance with a slim bartender mixing drinks. To the left of Drake, some suspicious-looking tricksters wagered at tables,no doubt playing games of faro, poker, or craps.

"Howdy, I'm Stella. Can I get you, two fine fellas, a table?" A short, plump, older woman with curly brown hair approached them.

Drake greeted her with a tilt of his hat, eyeing her in the tight, drab dress she wore. It matched her unexceptional features. Her giant bosom heaved up and down inside her corset, and her breaths were labored. She cut through the crowded walkway, leading him and Girard to their seats unrelentingly.

"Hey, Stella! Get us another round over here!" a grimy scoundrel barked at her.?

"Wait a minute, Benny! Can't you see I'm moving as fast as I can? Hey Marlene! Get up off your rump and get Benny's table another round," Stella bellowed to a young girl, sitting on a stool at the bar, counting bills and copper coins.?

"How about this one?" Stella turned her attention back to the outsiders. She motioned them to take their seats at the round two-seater table in the center of the place. These fine-looking, polished men were probably big spenders, she surmised, hoping that giving them a better view of the stage would go a long way toward her earning a generous tip at the end of their stay.

"This will do, Stella." Drake nodded as he and Girard plunked down into the wooden, unaccommodating chairs, relaxing as best they could.

"What will you gentlemen be drinking tonight?" Stella flashed her loveliest smile.

"Whiskey," Drake answered.

"You don't look like a man who takes whiskey, not with such a comely face like yours," she drawled.

"Well, can you think of another way that I might quench my thirst, Stella?" Drake winked and showed off his vibrant white grin. He propped his elbow on the table and pressed his fist to his cheek, looking up at her, waiting on her response.

"What a smooth talker you are. Ain't you a sweet thing, playing on my sweet spot," she flirted back, liking the attention and a chance to trade quips with this handsome stranger. "But that's all right, honey. You don't have to prove anything to me. I'm too much woman for you to handle anyhow," she teased, smiling.

Drake delivered up a throaty laugh in return.

"I'll get you gentlemen your whiskeys," she said, appearing somewhat revived.?

"Much obliged, Stella." Drake grabbed the brim of his hat and tilted it toward her again, watching her bustle away, before removing it and laying it on the table.?

Girard sighed at Drake's rakish behavior and decided to remind him why they had traveled so far from home.?

"According to Daniel, we can find William Hunter here, the owner of this fine establishment," Girard intoned sarcastically, before adding, "the only tavern in Jadesville as it turns out."?

"Well, it may not meet our standards back home," Drake eyed the furnishings, and the rough-neck crowd rooted firmly in hard chairs, "but you have to admit the stage girls are damn pretty."?

"Damn pretty," Girard agreed, his sour attitude vanishing when he turned his attention toward the stage to watch the dancing girls.

"Here's your whiskeys." Stella gained the men's attention as she sat their drinks down. She offered a friendly wink to Drake before leaving.

Drake tossed back the whiskey and finished it in a few swigs while watching the stage. The ladies disappeared one by one behind a tall, red velvet curtain. A new girl stepped into view. Her ruby costume adorned with ribbons and lace flaunted a fitted satin corset that exposed her generous cleavage. A billowy thigh-high skirt and lace stockings pinned up by silk garter straps, met white, soft leather lace-up boots with Louis heels and decorative stitching. ?

This girl was not just another pretty female. She was painstakingly beautiful. Men, drunk or sober, showed their appreciation with hollers of approval.?

Drake studied her beauty. Her thick, crimson hair flowed about her oval face, wavy and free, reaching down to her svelte waistline. Green resonant eyes, enhanced with a thin line of kohl, smiled upon high cheekbones painted with light rouge. She was slightly taller than the average woman and had an enticing shapely figure.?

He had never seen a woman move with so much vitality and self-confidence. In her honor, the piano man changed his jingle to a gentler melody, and the woman in red started singing.

Drake couldn't take his eyes off her cherry lips as a melodic sound flowed from them. Her sparkling eyes elicited his impure thoughts, making him want to touch her smooth, glistening skin. "I find her very attractive." Drake's mouth curved into a smile.?

"Rethink your affections. A woman that lovely can only mean trouble in a place like this," Girard cautioned, before turning to share his assessment of the siren's beauty. "Look at her, shameless and deliberate with a body made to lure men."?

Drake leaned back in his seat, pensively rubbing his chin while watching the seductive temptress move off the stage toward her pleasure-seeking audience. A woman like that could make a man do foolish things. Seldom had he witnessed a woman attract men so powerfully while clothed.

She sashayed through the crowd, resting her round bottom on one rugged man's lap, her back facing him while she caressed another rogue's cheek. Her routine wasn't particularly unique, but the responses from her patrons were.

?This exquisite creature was spreading herself across tables, stretching her long silky legs as her generous breasts threatened to spill from her bodice. The men smiled but kept their hands to themselves, except for when handing her bills in her hands. She strategically stuffed them into her costume.?

Drake might have mistaken her admirers for gentlemen if it weren't for their lascivious ways with the other dancing girls, cleaving to them at every opportunity. For some reason, this girl was different. Not a single hand groped her while she passed from table to table, demanding attention with her silky vocals.

"Drake, this woman is,or is connected to someone fearsome. Men are giving her too much respect," Girard surmised.

All likely true, Drake thought, but he knew Girard intended to discourage him from making any advances he may have been contemplating. He had no intention of heeding the warning.?


Chương 2: Chapter 2

Sierra acknowledged the fine-looking gentleman sitting ahead of her. His penetrating eyes seemed to see through her as she sauntered in his direction. Wavy, black hair curled along the nape of his neck. His soulful eyes were an arresting shade of blue.?

A cleft in his chin set the firm outline of his jaw. A tinge of a five-o'clock shadow lent an air of ruggedness to his features, while the hint of dimples offered the promise of a devilish boy lurking underneath the surface.?

He seemed to grow as she came closer, although he remained seated. He looks tall, she thought, spotting his husky legs under the table. His shoulders, concealed under exceptional traveling clothes, were broad. He looked robust.?

She continued watching him, finding it difficult to turn away from his profound stare while struggling not to misstep. She fortified her efforts, determined to steady her nerves, and concentrate. She'd woo the man into emptying his purse on her. Every last coin that she could manage.?

She swayed her hips as she approached, singing her sweet melody until she reached the stranger.?

Throwing caution to the wind, she smiled seductively and wrapped her legs over his lap, leaving her breasts mere inches from his chest. Wanting to know the feel of him, she pressed her thighs against his waist, locking her ankles around the backside of his chair. She whipped her red curls back and met his even gaze.?

His warm body and earthy masculine scent sent chills along her spine. Never had she forced herself on a man so deliberately that he might think of her as nothing but a brazen whore. She knew she should withdraw, but this man felt too good between her thighs.

The blaring noise of men, in drunken stupors, faded from Drake's awareness. Now that this woman was riding his lap, he could better assess her attributes.?

The enchanting beauty in front of him roused his desire as her soft and weightless body sat against his hard one. The scent of lilac emanated from her long, spiraling auburn locks that brushed his chest. Her voluptuous breasts heaved, threatening to break free of her restrictive ensemble.?

Burning sensations rippled through Drake as he stared into her jade eyes. Her luscious lips parted to give way to a glistening smile, tempting him to steal a kiss. He gripped her exposed thighs gently,pinching her garter with his fingertips, ready to place bills against her skin.

Sierra swallowed a deep breath, aroused by his wandering hands. Stay calm, she commanded herself, refusing to give in to her rising panic as she recognized the intent displayed in his eyes. He wet his lips with his tongue. He wanted to kiss her,she could feel it, and she wasn't so sure she didn't want the same.

Her heart pounded savagely at his touch. The air hung thick between them, but she didn't break their contact. Her body gave off heat as if it were about to burst into flames. She had to put space between herself and this dangerously beautiful man.?

Like a tornado, she rose and spiraled away, retreating to the stage, robbing him of the chance to taste the sweet nectar of her lips.

Drake grinned wide, his dimples piercing into his cheekbones as he mused over the not quite kiss, never letting his eyes leave her as she walked away.

"Drake, snap out of it. She's trouble. I'm certain of it," Girard warned.

"You boys enjoying everything all right?" A man approached Drake's table.?

Drake glanced up at the aged, sturdy man with salt and pepper hair. Strangers rarely caught him off guard, especially one like this that spoke with menace in his voice and had the look of malice in his eyes. This man was disturbed, but Drake didn't give a damn. It wasn't the first time a man had approached him after encountering a beautiful woman.

"This is a mighty fine establishment. We're enjoying ourselves," Girard answered, hoping to keep tensions at bay.

"Good to hear it," the older man said. "By the looks of you, I know who sent you, and I can smell your kind a mile away. Go back and tell your man I won't sell. And now that you have enjoyed the show, you can finish up your drinks and get going."

Drake spared the man a broad grin before saying, "Mr. William Hunter, I presume. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Drake McCalister, and this here is Girard Larivière. We're here to make you an offer that you can't refuse."?

"As I've already said,there won't be any deal. I don't want disturbances in this town," the man replied sharply. "We're on friendly terms with the local Indians, and we've avoided disruptions of the Civil War. Bring a bloody railroad through here and bring trouble with it." He pressed his palms down on the table, glaring.?

?"The peace you know now won't last long, Mr. Hunter." Drake stared the man in the eyes.

It crossed Girard's mind to shoot Drake. He wanted to keep negotiations open, not insult William Hunter, and get thrown out the bar. Drake was causing more trouble than negotiating a deal,typical of him, which left Girard wondering if Drake enjoyed the mayhem that he stirred.

William hesitated; his brows drew into a scowl. "You two and all the men that Mr. Morgan keeps sending are the only ones disturbing the peace around here. You see,the people in this town don't like strangers. If you boys are as smart as you look, by daybreak, you'll best be on your way."

"Mr. Hunter, my firm, has been hired to represent you. Make the best deal on your behalf. In the past, you were never made an offer quite like this one," Drake countered in an attempt to pique William's curiosity.?

Girard observed several burly men rise from their chairs at a nearby table; no doubt William's henchmen and Drake, as expected, didn't pay them any mind.?

"We don't want any trouble, Mr. Hunter," Girard stated. "Drake, we've finished our drinks. Let's not overstay our welcome." Girard motioned his head toward the henchmen, then stood ready to leave.

"Mr. McCalister, it would be best to listen to your comrade." William sized up Drake with open hostility.?

Drake rose, not wanting to comply, but he wasn't there to start a brawl, and he was not off to a good start with William. "My apologies if I've troubled you." Drake's tone lacked sincerity. He placed his hat on his head and nodded.?

He pivoted, locking eyes briefly with the crimson-haired woman on stage before she fluttered away like a hummingbird behind the velvet curtain. He dug his hands into his pockets, then put several bills on the table to cover the tab. He brushed past William, exiting the tavern behind Girard.?

"Wil, I rather liked those boys." Stella approached him. "You're always threatening visitors. It's no wonder this town is a wasteland. How long you gonna keep turning down offers to sell?" She eyed the table and shoved the bills left behind, into her apron pockets. She'd be sure to give Sierra her cut.?

"I didn't like McCalister. So, stop your bellyaching," William demanded.

"Is this because of the way Sierra danced for him or because you don't want to sell to any of Morgan's men?" Stella challenged, raising her brows.?

"Sierra was doing her job. She brings in the crowd, and she worked him the same way she works the rest," Stella lied, trying to make light of Sierra's promiscuous behavior. "She's not a little girl anymore. You've got to see her for a grown woman and stop being so goddamned overprotective."?

William huffed at her. He couldn't put up with one of Stella's lectures right now.

"Besides Wil, do you remember what Adrienne told you?" She leaned in close to him to make her point. "This town ain't gonna be under the protection of the Blackfoot tribe anymore once the construction of the railroad to Vermilionville starts. Jadesville is too close to that town for us to stay safe."?

Stella shook her head disapprovingly as she walked away, disappointed with William's decision not to sell.

* * *

"For God's sake,that unreasonable, asinine old man!" Drake blurted, once he and Girard were out of earshot. Anger rose in his chest with each new obscenity he ranted. "William is missing out on a great opportunity!"

"Don't waste your time thinking about him. We depart at daybreak, and it's just as well. Better than wasting a day trying to negotiate with a man who won't negotiate." Girard hoped Drake would take the hint to cool his hot head.

"I only want to see her again," Drake added as an afterthought.?

Girard knew that Drake was referring to the sumptuous woman at the tavern that wrapped herself around him like a cozy quilt. Typical, he thought. Women were always throwing themselves at Drake, and Drake, in turn, seemed drawn to those that brought trouble.?

Girard admitted to himself that from time-to-time, such women drew his interest as well. But he'd have to vie for their affection when Drake was around. Although, Girard, blessed with angelic features of his own,hair the color of sunlight, gray eyes that shimmered like gemstones, slightly shorter, was no less strapping than Drake.?

He sometimes wondered if he should seek Drake's advice on how to snare such beautiful ladies, but today he was more content to settle for reprimanding Drake. "Don't be reckless," he grumbled. "This visit to Jadesville isn't a pleasure trip. You know who that woman's benefactor is."

"You can't be certain that William is her benefactor." Drake's face tightened. "That foolish old man wouldn't even hear us out. Now I understand why Morgan sent us."?

"Why are you letting William get under your skin? We've met and dealt with men like him before."

Drake retreated to silence after giving Girard a disgruntled look. He raised his head toward the star-filled sky, the red-haired woman pervading his thoughts.


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