Cadence’s toothpaste, astounded by her proficiency. “Wherever did you learn to kiss like that? That was so grown up.”
“I practiced.” Cadence beams proudly. “I wanted to be good for you. I didn’t want you to think I was terrible.”
That’s the third time Cadence has insinuated harboring a long-held desire for her nanny, and the sudden realization that she’s been planning this for a while has Marlee flooding between her legs again, her body longing for so much more than a kiss.
“Darling, how long have you felt this way?”
Cadence shrugs. “Since I was thirteen,” she reveals candidly. “I stopped having nightmares when I was eleven, you know. Long before you became my nanny. All those times I climbed into bed with you, I was only pretending.”
“Why?” Marlee’s voice is scarcely above a whisper.
“I wanted to be closer to you. I like it when you hold me. Feels so safe and warm.”
Marlee cups Cadence’s cheek, silently admiring her.
“I like the way you look at me, too,” Cadence adds, reveling in Marlee’s loving gaze.
“How do I look at you?”
“Like there’s only me in the world.”
After playing it out in her head several times, Marlee leans forward and kisses Cadence again, seeking out her tongue deliberately and confidently, causing Cadence to mewl with surprised delight.
It feels much too good.
Forcing herself to stop before she gets caught up in the moment, Marlee breaks her lips free. “I love you,” she whispers. “But I have to go.”
Cadence nods, not expecting anything more.
Chapter Nine
The next morning, Cadence wakes herself up and gets dressed entirely on her own for the first time since … well, possibly ever. She’s in a hurry to get the day started, and to spend as much of it as possible with Marlee.
Too eager to wait for Marlee to come to her, she dashes into Marlee’s room with the intention of diving onto the bed and waking her up, but not only is the bed empty, it’s already been made. Do the housemaids usually see to the beds this early? She shrugs. How the hell would she know? Marlee’s the only one who makes her bed now.
Thinking Marlee must’ve risen extra early for breakfast, Cadence heads for the morning room.
Still no Marlee.
There’s only one other place Cadence can think she might be, so she skips down the stairs to the servants’ quarters and starts calling out her name.
“Not this again,” the housekeeper mutters from the kitchen, trying to enjoy a peaceful cup of tea and a slice of toast.
Cadence looks here, there, and everywhere, and is about to give up and try somewhere else in the house when the back door swings open and Marlee enters—with Rachel. The two are laughing and carefree, Marlee with a basket of blackberries in her arms, but the laughter dies on their lips when they realize Cadence is standing there.
“Good morning, Miss.” Rachel dips her head and curtseys.
She doesn’t see what happens next, but Marlee does. It’s as though Cadence’s heart is shattering right in front of her. She looks crushed, tears welling in her eyes, her cheeks colored with envious fury, hurt beyond all measure.
“Oh, Cady.” Marlee takes a step toward her. “No, no, no. This isn’t—”
Her words fall on deaf ears.
For the second time in under a week, Cadence bursts into tears and runs off.
“Goddamnit.” Marlee thrusts the basket of berries at Rachel. “Here, take these.”
Rachel pulls a face. “What was all that about?”
Marlee offers up nothing elucidating and takes off after Cadence, chasing her through the house until she finally catches her in a restricted area on the top floor: the games room. Complete with a pool table, darts board, video game system, ping pong table, poker table, and all the board games you could imagine, it caters to almost every need. Including, apparently, teenage girls who just want somewhere quiet to hide and cry.
Off limits to most of the domestics—for fear that they
“I practiced.” Cadence beams proudly. “I wanted to be good for you. I didn’t want you to think I was terrible.”
That’s the third time Cadence has insinuated harboring a long-held desire for her nanny, and the sudden realization that she’s been planning this for a while has Marlee flooding between her legs again, her body longing for so much more than a kiss.
“Darling, how long have you felt this way?”
Cadence shrugs. “Since I was thirteen,” she reveals candidly. “I stopped having nightmares when I was eleven, you know. Long before you became my nanny. All those times I climbed into bed with you, I was only pretending.”
“Why?” Marlee’s voice is scarcely above a whisper.
“I wanted to be closer to you. I like it when you hold me. Feels so safe and warm.”
Marlee cups Cadence’s cheek, silently admiring her.
“I like the way you look at me, too,” Cadence adds, reveling in Marlee’s loving gaze.
“How do I look at you?”
“Like there’s only me in the world.”
After playing it out in her head several times, Marlee leans forward and kisses Cadence again, seeking out her tongue deliberately and confidently, causing Cadence to mewl with surprised delight.
It feels much too good.
Forcing herself to stop before she gets caught up in the moment, Marlee breaks her lips free. “I love you,” she whispers. “But I have to go.”
Cadence nods, not expecting anything more.
Chapter Nine
The next morning, Cadence wakes herself up and gets dressed entirely on her own for the first time since … well, possibly ever. She’s in a hurry to get the day started, and to spend as much of it as possible with Marlee.
Too eager to wait for Marlee to come to her, she dashes into Marlee’s room with the intention of diving onto the bed and waking her up, but not only is the bed empty, it’s already been made. Do the housemaids usually see to the beds this early? She shrugs. How the hell would she know? Marlee’s the only one who makes her bed now.
Thinking Marlee must’ve risen extra early for breakfast, Cadence heads for the morning room.
Still no Marlee.
There’s only one other place Cadence can think she might be, so she skips down the stairs to the servants’ quarters and starts calling out her name.
“Not this again,” the housekeeper mutters from the kitchen, trying to enjoy a peaceful cup of tea and a slice of toast.
Cadence looks here, there, and everywhere, and is about to give up and try somewhere else in the house when the back door swings open and Marlee enters—with Rachel. The two are laughing and carefree, Marlee with a basket of blackberries in her arms, but the laughter dies on their lips when they realize Cadence is standing there.
“Good morning, Miss.” Rachel dips her head and curtseys.
She doesn’t see what happens next, but Marlee does. It’s as though Cadence’s heart is shattering right in front of her. She looks crushed, tears welling in her eyes, her cheeks colored with envious fury, hurt beyond all measure.
“Oh, Cady.” Marlee takes a step toward her. “No, no, no. This isn’t—”
Her words fall on deaf ears.
For the second time in under a week, Cadence bursts into tears and runs off.
“Goddamnit.” Marlee thrusts the basket of berries at Rachel. “Here, take these.”
Rachel pulls a face. “What was all that about?”
Marlee offers up nothing elucidating and takes off after Cadence, chasing her through the house until she finally catches her in a restricted area on the top floor: the games room. Complete with a pool table, darts board, video game system, ping pong table, poker table, and all the board games you could imagine, it caters to almost every need. Including, apparently, teenage girls who just want somewhere quiet to hide and cry.
Off limits to most of the domestics—for fear that they
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