Lorelie Brown is a frequent commenter here at It’s Not Chick Porn and a good friend to our blog. In fact, you might remember her from her awesome entries into those writing contests I used to throw (and I will again, I promise, once I find the time… and the dough). When I asked her if she could oblige us with a novella and she gave me this one, I squee’d. So fun. So sexy.

If you haven’t already, please read chapters one two, three, four, five, and six.

Two years ago, Corrine McQuade was desperate to escape her father’s house. In a perfect world, she would have run to Adam Springton, handsome owner of the Gilded Angel saloon and the man she’d daydreamed about for years. Believing he saw her as only his sister’s best friend, Corrine struck out on her own, finding employment and creating the best life she could. Suddenly Adam is paying attention to her – the kind of attention that makes her skin tingle and heat and she’s tempted by a new chance at love.

But who ever heard of a happy ending for a whore?

Presenting the seventh chapter of Lorelie Brown’s Tarnished Angel…

Chapter Seven

Corrine knocked on Lissa’s front door before she lost her nerve. Her friend had sent round a note, asking her to come by at the earliest opportunity. Subtly, Corrine wiped her damp hands along her skirt. If Lissa had been unable to tell Corrine had an infatuation with Adam for nearly a decade, there was no way her friend would be able to discern they were now having a clandestine affair.

If two encounters an affair made.

Adam heavy, thrusting into her, her face buried in his neck. The broad stretch of his shoulders and Corrine’s ankles wrapped around the small of his back.

Corrine held her cool hands to her flushed cheeks. Yes, it was an affair. It simply could not continue.

Their relationship had no future. While Adam was on the fringes of acceptable society in their tiny town, he could still mix with polite company. Even if a miracle happened and Adam fell to his knees before her, begging Corrine to be his wife, she could never accept. Any children they had would be pariahs, paying for their mother’s poor decisions. To continue in secret was not an option either. A little piece of her heart had already been sacrificed to him. Corrine didn’t want to give up any more.

The door opened and Corrine dropped her hands guiltily. “You’re here,” Lissa chirruped and bundled Corrine quickly into the parlor. She shut the door behind them. “I’ve something to tell you.” Lissa’s eyes were bright and she looked the happiest Corrine had seen her in a long time.

“Do tell.” Corrine unpinned her bonnet and set it on the settee.

“I’ve told Jonas all about sleeping with Phillip and he doesn’t care. Isn’t that marvelous?”

“Marvelous,” Corrine echoed. She wanted to be happy for her friend. Instead there was a funny little pang above her corset. She rubbed it absently. Perhaps she’d laced her strings too tightly. “Are you to be married, then?”

“Oh yes. I’m so thrilled. He’s such a good man and he makes me laugh.”

Corrine forced herself to smile. “I’m quite happy for you.” She embraced her excited, giddy friend, and then pushed her to arm’s length. “You realize you must break all ties with me now.”

She could hardly choke it out. She wanted nothing more than to seal the words up in her chest and hope Lissa never noticed reality. Corrine was giving up her only friend, for her own good.

“Why would you say that?” Lissa’s face fell.

“It’s true. It was one thing to thumb your nose at the town’s society when it was only your life at stake.”

“I know Jonas doesn’t mind our friendship. I made sure he knew I would never give you up.” Lissa’s eyes were huge. Corrine felt like she was kicking a kitten.

“Neither of you are looking to the future then. Marriage means children.” Corrine’s eyes prickled and her nose felt tight. She’d always wanted a squirming baby of her own and now she was even giving up the chance to be near one. She would ensure Lissa’s children had every opportunity, even if it meant staying far away.

“Yes, I hope for two,” Lissa said. “And you’ll be Auntie Corrine.”

“Open your eyes,” Corrine said. She tried to keep the sharpness out of her voice but it came out clipped anyhow. “The town might be able to overlook a youthful indiscretion. Times are changing and if you give every example of an upstanding young matron they will want to look kindly on you. It won’t be possible if you’re friends with a whore.”

“I don’t care if the town accepts me.” Lissa’s hands fisted at her side and her breath went rapid and shallow.

“You’ll care if they accept your children.”

Lissa jerked back as if Corrine had slapped her and her hands fell open. Poor kitten. Corrine wanted to hug her again and pet her. Lissa never had been one for thinking about consequences.

An awful silence descended. Corrine could practically see the wheels turning in Lissa’s mind as she looked for a way out and found nothing. Her shoulders slumped.

“Can we never associate?” Lissa’s asked plaintively.

Corrine forced herself to shake her head. “I don’t see how.”

“I can’t pretend not to know you.”

“You will, if you don’t want your children ostracized.”

“It wouldn’t be as bad as all that.”

Grey haired Mrs. Jenkins knocked and stuck her head in, saving Corrine from having to say anything cruel. “We’ve a problem with the hen house, Miss Springton,” said the housekeeper.

“Not now, please.”

“But miss there’s a board loose an’ half of them done escaped.” She twisted her white apron. “I’m not fast enough to catch ‘em all.”

Lissa looked to Corrine, her hands out in supplication. “Go, go,” Corrine said. “I’ll wait here for you.”

With one more lost look over her shoulder, Lissa followed Mrs. Jenkins out the door. Putting a hand to her temple, Corrine sank onto an embroidered seat. Just when she thought she’d fallen low enough, there was another turn for the worse.

She would have to leave. There was no other answer. There was no way she could live without friends. At least if she moved elsewhere she had a good chance of making new friends. More people meant more possible acquaintances on the social level she’d chosen for herself.

A scuffling noise outside the door caused Corrine to sit up straighter and apply a pleasant expression to her face. All she wanted to do was fall to the floor and wrap her arms around Lissa’s ankles. She’d beg the other woman to never abandon her. They could be pariahs together. But it wasn’t an option.

Instead, Adam entered. Throwing herself to the carpet still seemed like a good idea. Except this time she would open her arms and beg him to make love to her, just so she could have one more taste of heaven. If there was any justice, she would never have to see Adam’s handsome face again.

“Good afternoon.” If she behaved with proper decorum perhaps he would follow her example.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?”

Apparently proper behavior couldn’t be hoped for. On the other hand, she’d had Adam deep within her body. She knew him all over, knew his eyes turned the blue-grey of a hurricane sky with lust. Desiring decorum was foolhardy. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Please don’t curse around me.”

“I’m sorry. I meant to do better. I lost my head when I saw that depressed look on your face.”

Lifting her head, Corrine looked at him wide eyed. “Pardon?”

“I said I’d meant to do better. It’s obviously important to you.” A sly grin spread across his mouth. “Though I do like your type of punishment.”

Her blush brought with it flashes of Adam’s mouth on her skin and the thrust of his hips between her limbs. “You are awful.”

Adam cocked his head to the side. “Yes, but that’s not new enough to upset you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, nothing.”

“Will you tell me what’s wrong?”

“Has Lissa told you her news yet?” Of all the days to forget her handkerchief. She poked through her reticule again but it didn’t appear.

“Yes. I’m quite happy for her.”

“I am too.” She dissolved into tears.

Adam picker her up and carried her over to a settee. He sat and settled her in his lap, her limbs stretched over his. Adam rubbed her back in tiny circles and made soothing noises in her ear. For a brief moment, Corrine allowed herself to bury her nose in his clean blue double-breasted vest. Staying like that forever had its own attractions, avoiding reality being the strongest. While she was at it, she could pretend she and Adam would leave Inverness together and start over.

When Corrine sniffed delicately, Adam produced a handkerchief from his town coat. Corrine told him of the decision she’d made to leave as he wiped her cheeks.

“There’s that impatience again,” he said, as he tapped the end of her nose.

Ooh, the insufferable man. “Should I stay here and be miserable, shucked even more to the side?”

The comforting strokes on her back stopped. It was past time to scramble off his lap but Adam’s arms turned into copper bands around her. This was unbelievably improper. Oh, who was she kidding? They were far beyond those worries. Now that she was done feeling sorry for herself, she became aware of the strength she drew from Adam. His heartbeat thumped sound and steady beneath her cheek. Corrine knew she should fight harder to get up but she was too tired. She sighed and leaned into him.

“Where will you go?”

“I’m not sure,” she said. “Raleigh maybe. Atlanta is almost completely rebuilt.”

“And what will you do?”

It was nice to not be forced to look Adam in the eyes. She played with the cloth-covered button on his cross-over style necktie. “I’ll look for work as a seamstress. But with no references, I’ll probably end up in the same position I’m in now.” Adam’s thighs grew rigid beneath her. She could feel the anger rolling off him in waves. “Do you see another option?” Corrine snapped peevishly. “Are you offering me one?”

He tipped her head up and forced her to look at him. Emotions tumbled through his deep blue eyes, finally settling with a solemnity she read as pity. “Stay in Inverness. With me.”

Where had she put that blasted linen? It was tangled up in her skirts and Corrine furiously dashed the tears away. “I won’t stay here simply because you feel sorry for me.”

“You think I pity you?” The soft bow of his lips turned down. Corrine traced it with a fingertip.

“I know you do. You lament the fact that you couldn’t help me.”

Clasping her shoulders, Adam gave Corrine a little shake. “I may feel a lot of things for you but pity is not one of them.”

His mouth descended in a fiercely bruising kiss and Corrine gave it back in equal measures. The kiss was wild, a furious duel of lips and tongue and breath. He moved down her neck, nipping at her.

“This is certainly not pity,” Adam breathed into her skin.

His nimble hand slid under her petticoat, leaving licks of trembling fire in its wake. Adam coaxed her legs apart and she let them go. He dipped through the slit in her pantaloons, grazing her receptive flesh. Corrine trembled and arched until she pushed down on Adam’s hand. With one thumb he pressed the hot knot of nerves at the top of her and with a finger he stroked a shivery place deep inside. A few short touches later, Corrine broke apart, keening into Adam’s mouth.

Corrine jerked back, shoving with all her might so that she launched off his lap. What had she just done, without a thought to the consequences? There had only been the unspeakable pleasure Adam offered every time he touched her. Shaken, she stood before him and Adam rose to meet her. The bastard didn’t even look ruffled, his coat still buttoned and his hair smoothly combed back. Corrine’s gaze dropped below his waistband and her stomach toppled. There was an impressive bulge there.

He tipped her head up with a knuckle. “Dammit, you’re not going anywhere.”

“There’s that cussing again,” she said absently. Her hand rose to her throat, feeling her pounding pulse. Lissa could have walked in at any moment. There was no controlling herself around Adam. If she stayed in this town, she’d continue to betray her friend.

“Make me stop,” Adam said. A wide grin spread across his face and his eyes were bright. “Stay here and teach me not to curse.”

He already owned half her heart with his kindness and his domineering command of her body. There was no reason to blithely hand over the rest.

Since she was almost afraid he’d pounce on her when she gave her answer, Corrine backed out of the room. “I cannot do it,” she said. “I will not be your mistress.”

Corrine shut the door behind herself. It was likely just wishful thinking when she heard Adam say “Who said mistress?”

***

Later that evening, Corrine slipped into Madame Adrianna’s office. “Do you have a moment?”

The elegantly dressed woman set down her fountain pen and folded her hands on the green desk blotter. “Of course.”

Corrine sat into the chair across from the desk and folded her hands as well. It was unlikely Madame had made the gesture in an attempt to keep her hands from trembling. “I’m afraid I cannot continue to work for you.”

“I’d anticipated this.” As she drew an account ledger closer, Madame smiled. “You’ve paid off the initial investment I made in your wardrobe long ago. Since your vices are not expensive, your account should make a handsome dowry.”

“Dowry?” Corrine repeated dumbly. “I’ve no need for a dowry.” Though she realized now she’d been particularly stupid about her wages. Money had never seemed vitally important in her decision. A way to escape her father’s house and a roof over her head had been enough. It couldn’t be too crass to ask about money when she’d already earned it flat on her back.

If it was a sizeable amount perhaps she could begin a small dress shop of her own. Then she wouldn’t need references. Just how much did Madame consider a handsome sum? She didn’t require much. A tiny storefront with a workshop in the back, some stock in cloth and other materials. A building with living quarters above would be ideal. She could do the sewing herself to begin with and if she was successful eventually hire assistants. It was only right if she were a bit more lax than other employers with regards to references and history.

“Why are you leaving me then?” A fine line appeared between Madame’s lowered brows.

“I’ve decided to leave town.”

“Child, I oughtta slap you in your mind.” The thick Southern accent Madame worked so hard to weed out of her speech cropped up.

“Pardon?”

“You mean to tell me you ain’t hitchin’ yourself up with Adam Springton?”

Corrine blinked and shook the cobwebs out of her head. “Why would you think such a thing?”

“Because he finally came for you, girl. And don’t think I didn’t notice the day you came in well tumbled.”

Her slippers swam into view as Corrine looked down at the floor. No one had been in the front hall. It had been easy to believe she’d slid in unnoticed. “While Adam and I may have had. . . an encounter or two, I don’t see why you should leap to such far-fetched conclusions.”

“A body with half a brain can see that boy’s been in love with you for years.”

“Adam Springton is no boy.” It was easier to latch on to than the woman’s other, unsupportable statement.

Madame wouldn’t let her skirt the issue. “Boy, man, monkey, he loves you. Goodness girl, he was one of the prime reasons I was so hesitant to take you on. Didn’t you notice I invested very little in you at first? I felt sure as soon as Adam returned from Atlanta he’d snatch you back.”

An affronted sniff slipped out of Corrine. “I begin to wonder why you even took me on in that case.”

“I’da been ashamed to call myself a business woman otherwise. I had a chance to entice the higher class men of this town and I took it. I’ll keep it, too, once you’re gone. Mr. Heath’s taken quite a shine to Gertie when you weren’t available.”

“I’d thank you kindly to figure up my sums and prepare the funds. I’ll need them in a matter of days.”

“Haven’t you gotten high and mighty? You’ll be speaking to Adam before you think of going anywhere?”

“I’ll do no such thing. There is no future between us.”

“I didn’t figure you a fool. If I had any chance of an upstanding man being interested in me, I’d grab on with both hands.” Madame expelled a gusty sigh. “Get out of here. I’ll have your money ready in two days.”

Reeling, Corrine let herself out. Adam in love with her? Impossible.

Stay tuned next week for the conclusion of Tarnished Angel…

___________________________________________

Lorelie Brown is a goddess walking among us. She works for the US Government and is married to a paratrooper who’s very stingy with his X chromosomes. As a result, they’re trying to turn three hellions into well behaved little boys. She can order a beer in five languages and is one of those annoying people who always win at Trivial Pursuit.

Occasionally she even remembers to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

This an original story given generously to us by Lorelie Brown. DO NOT post any part of this story on your site without attribution to Lorelie or a holla-back at her site. That’s not cool. Always give credit where credit is due, yo.

Note: Hey, other writer-types, do you want to contribute to The Serial? If so, email me and I’ll hook you up, yo.

Till, then… Love, peace, and snarkage, my babies. Peace!

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