New York, Summer, 1921 . Your new neighbor across the lake is the mysterious bachelor , Dutch. His reputation for excess and extravagant parties precede him in the prohibition era. But after an invitation to one of his soirees, you discover your...
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"Oh, Father, must I go with Tom?" you whined.
"Petal, you know I'm due in the city for business. You'll have to make do with Tom as your chaperone for now," he chuckled and looked at Tom with a stern nod. Tom smiled tightly in return. He wasn't very good with this sneaking around business. He'd grown fond of your father and didn't like deceiving him.
You, on the other hand, found the whole business thrilling, pretending to loathe Tom. It was all so exciting and romantic like those books Charlotte always scolded you for reading. Two lovers always torn apart by two different worlds, desperate for each other's touch whenever the opportunity arose.
"Violet, Mr. Rochester is an adulterer and Heathcliff is a maniac," Charlotte scoffed after you moaned over their tragic love one night. You were simply beside yourself with sentiment.
"No matter," you replied with a sigh, "true love is boundless!" Then you covered your face with your pillow and dreamed of such a thing to happen to you.
It wasn't long before it did. Tom's love was so unapologetic and resolute. He so wanted to declare his love for you.
"We should tell your family," he said one night, after his lips discovered places on your body that made you sing. You didn't even realize lovers did this sort of thing.
After much kissing and caressing, Tom's lips traveled downwards, past your breasts where he lingered a bit. Then he crept onward, past your navel and placed his mouth on your most intimate of areas.
You were unsure at first, ashamed of what he might find down there. You weren't quite sure yourself. But then he started to suckle like a babe at the teet. His ravenous tongue soon eased any concerns and you instantly found yourself wanting more.
"Look at my beautiful flower just ready to bloom," Tom growled against you. His lips vibrated when he spoke and the words dripped with seduction. The sensation was unbelievable, especially when accompanied by his fingers. You didn't know such a feeling even existed.
His mouth continued to explore all over your flesh. It was like he found a treasure inside you and plucked every single gem with a lap of his tongue. It didn't take long before you pressed into his face, yearning for more, wanting his tongue to go faster.
Your hands flung to his ample ears. You needed something to hold onto. You thought you'd simply fly away.
He delighted in your pleasure. His rhythm quickened to match the rolling of your hips and the panting of your lips. His sounds were encouraging to you, low and beastly, like a predator feasting on his prey. It was deliciously obscene that he craved you like that. You felt so desired, so scandalous.
You felt yourself coming undone.
You looked down at him and caught his eyes. They glowed from the fire both inside and around you. The intensity reached its peak and you unraveled against his lips, losing all control to his touch once more.
Tom lifted his head and had a tigerish grin about his face. You started to laugh at the state of his hair. No comb or pomade would suffice for such a mess. He wiped his chin across your knee and you shivered.
"I love you, Violet," he said, crawling up to face you. It seemed like an absurd thing to say after such a sinful act.
"I want to make you mine, to make it right."
You kissed him, tasting yourself on his lips.
"I am yours, Tom. I always will be," you whispered.
He sat up and shook his head.
"We should tell your family." he said, "I want to always be by your side, my love. I don't ever want to lose you."
"You're not going to lose me," you stroked his hair lovingly.
Charlotte's words suddenly filled you head. He had no name, no family no money. You didn't care about any of that, but Father did. He would never let his petal marry someone of such meager gains.
"Let's not talk about that now," you said, pulling him to you, "It's my turn to please you. Will you teach me?" you asked bashfully.
Tom cracked you a crooked grin.
*********
"You came back to me?" you asked on the dock. Your heart was stricken by his words. Why now? Why so late?
Tom stood there, clutching your face, earnest and eager to kiss you. But you wouldn't dare. How could you?
"Violet...," he whispered. His lips were so close to yours. His breath was warm against your skin. It smelled of strawberries and tobacco.
You wriggled away from his grasp.
"Don't be a fool, Tom," you hushed. Your eyes darted around you. What if Richard saw? You had to more careful. Tom was already making you feel reckless again. Like all your cares could carefully be counted on every line of his face. Here stood the man you loved so many years ago, when you were just a ignorant child. You thought your love was boundless and enduring, but seven years of waiting can turn any fire to ash.
The band started up another jig at the house and the partygoers gave a unified roar of applause. You turned your attention to it. Your heart and head swam with fear and longing.
"You have guests waiting, Dutch," you said with a cold stare.
His eyes smoldered at you, like the dying embers in what was once a raging flame. Diminished but still capable of burning, the force of a thousand suns. They seared into your soul and no amount of indifference could shield you from them.
His brow furrowed and he stepped back, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"What's happened to you?" he asked softly.
You clenched your jaw and looked out over the lake. A knot formed in your throat that you quickly swallowed . It was too late, wasn't it? Too much time had passed. You weren't even the same person you were all those years ago. He had no idea what you endured. The looks people gave you when you went into town. The scandal you stirred. The pressure your family put on your to court Richard. The abuse you weathered at his hand. And all the while, Tom was absent, gone, silent. He had no right to question any of your choices.
You looked over at him. Your gaze staggered for a second, then you looked away and took a shaky breath.
