Take Me Forever Read Free Page A

husband do
you.   I remember when you were a little
girl how you used to dream of a big wedding and all you talked about was
getting married one day.”
    “That was when I was a child.   I am no longer a child.   I can take care of myself.”
    “Oh   Mercy, be
sensible,” Melany stated as she hurried off to get herself ready for the
evening’s festivities.
    An hour later the doorbell rang and Cole Massey was escorted
into the parlor.   Michael McMillan stood
at the foot of the long stairway and called to his wife and daughter to come
down.   Melany came down first and greeted
Cole as he took her hand and kissed it.   His eyes averted quickly to the top of the stairs as Mercy began her
descent.   She was a vision.   She gracefully came down and curtsied before
Cole.
    “It is a pleasure to meet you sir,” Mercy stated.
    “The pleasure is all mine,” Cole said as he took her hand
and kissed it a little too long.
    Cole offered Mercy his arm as they went to the dining room
for dinner.   All throughout dinner the
McMillan family drilled Cole about his business and his likes and
dislikes.   Mercy was getting dizzy from
all the badgering her parents were giving him.   Finally, dinner was over and her parents urged her to show Cole their
small garden for an evening stroll.
    Mercy escorted Cole to the garden and they stopped at a
concrete bench in the center and sat down.   Without warning, Cole put his arms around her and kissed her.
    “My, aren’t you a bit forward,” Mercy stated as she was
stunned by his actions.
    “I just want to sample the goods before I commit to
anything,” Cole said as he dipped his hand down her dress to touch her bosom.
    Shocked, Mercy slapped him.
    “What was that for?”   Cole said angrily.
    “I am not that kind of girl,” Mercy stated coldly.
    “You are 18 and you expect me to believe you have not had
the pleasure of a gentleman.”
    “You sir are no gentleman and for your information I have
not,” Mercy stated hotly.
    “I don’t believe you,” Cole said as he stood up.   “I don’t know why I would consider marrying
someone of your age even if you are extremely beautiful.”
    “I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth,”
Mercy yelled as she ran back toward the house leaving Cole alone in the garden.
    Well now, she is
spunky, thought Cole as he casually strolled back to the house after
enjoying a cigar.
    “Michael, I have come to a decision,” Cole said as he
rejoined Mr. McMillan in the library.
    “And,” stated Michael anxiously.
    “I think I would like to accept your dowry and marry your
daughter.   I think she could be a
wonderful wife,” Cole said as he thought about how much this would upset Mercy
and how much fun it would be to toy with her.
    “That is wonderful news.   I will start arrangements right away.   We can announce at the next ball,” Michael proclaimed as he called for
Melany and Mercy to join them.
    “Mercy, Cole has graciously announced that he would like to
offer his hand in marriage to you.   Isn’t
that wonderful news?”
    Mercy almost fainted.   How could this pompous ass want to marry her after she clearly let him
know she had no interest in him at all?
    “Mr. Massey I do not see how you could possibly want to
marry me after only one brief meeting,” Mercy exclaimed.
    “Oh my dear, you are just what I have been looking for,”
Cole said.   As much spunk as you have in public, I can only imagine how wild you
will become in the bedroom, thought Cole as he smirked.
    “But….,” Mercy pleaded.
    “With your age, I see no reason for a long engagement.   We need to get started on heirs as soon as
the wedding takes place.”   Cole stated
before whispering in Mercy’s ear, “You look like you are built to birth many
children and I look forward to making each and every one of them.”
    Mercy shuttered as her future husband stood so close to
her.   She despised him.   There was no way she was going to be