Page 38 of A Tale of Two Dukes

CHAPTER 16

William

I sit there staring down at Kitty, even after the carriage stopped. Though I long to take her inside and continue defiling her body, I can’t stop looking at her. Again, that wide-eyed innocence guts me.

Not that I would have done any differently. I can’t. Whenever I’m around her, baser urges take over. The instinct to mark every inch of her body, to make her truly mine beats at my head.

It’s an insanity I wish to never be free from. I never craved marriage and still don’t. More than that, she’s a woman I cannot shackle myself to no matter how much my body burns for her. However, I do so long for eternity with her in my arms. I see forever in her eyes and I’m humbled by that knowledge.

Reaching forward, I slide my fingers over her swollen lips. Next time, I plan to fuck her mouth with even more fervor. Though she probably thinks our interaction was rough, she has no idea how I held myself back. Perhaps once she’s bound in my ropes, unable to move, will I finally give in.

I scent the air, looking for any change. She’s still far from going into heat, and a frisson of disappointment runs through my veins. I suppose I can wait until she’s just as hungry and feral as I am. As I continue to touch her, her eyes dilate a touch.

She leans into me, her body lax, trusting. Again, I’m floored by just how responsive she is. Never before have I played with someone so attuned to my needs and wants. Though innocent that she is, she’s eager to please, and honestly, that makes all the difference.

Pulling her forward, I capture her lips with mine, sliding my tongue into her mouth. I can taste myself on her—musky notes intermingling with lighter, sweeter ones. I groan, cupping her head to deepen the kiss.

Her scent of arousal blooms in the carriage, washing over me until I can no longer distinguish hers from mine. I jerk back, needing to control myself. As much as I want to, I refuse to rut her in my carriage like some youth who cannot contain himself.

Despite her draining me mere minutes ago, my cock swells at the thought. With a groan, I shackle the beast back behind the buttons of my breeches. Shaking my head, I open the door and descend, holding out my hand to help her down. Her body quivers as she moves, as if she’s unable to stand on her own.

A smirk of satisfaction crosses my lips as I take in her flushed face and rapid breathing. And I hadn’t even pleasured her yet. But I will. Eventually. But I want her to beg first.

Taking her into my arms, I hold her close to my chest. My growl rumbles between us, making her limp in my grasp. Thankfully, I employ efficient staff, and their movements allow me to traverse to my dungeon with ease.

The room is dark, pitch black as I open the door. She squirms in my arms, her neck straining as she tries to see. With a soft chuckle, I set her down, leaning her back against the wall so she has some point of reference.

I don’t need light to find my way. Every inch of this room is committed to physical memory. Even if I was blind, I’d still take full command of this space and the tools within it.

This is my domain. In truth, I feel far more comfortable here than at The Rose and Thorne. Granted, when not with a mistress, it was easier to get my needs met there. And there are some deviances that I like to indulge in that are easier to accommodate at the whipping house—voyeurism and exhibitionism being the main ones.

Though I’ll never admit this to Kitty, taking her virginity while everyone else watched will be a memory that will never fade. Just knowing they saw every moment, felt the pregnant hush that descended over us the instant I withdrew my cock and saw pink is enough to get me rock hard again.

But there’s something different about Kitty. With other mistresses, I’ve been of the share and share alike mentality, but I can’t bear the idea of anyone but me having her. In truth, the only way I’ll ever ‘share’ my precious omega is to allow others the privilege of watching as I bring her to pleasure. At this point, I’ve given up trying to make sense of it.

Though she’s the only one to ever pull out these possessive feelings in me, I choose to lean into them, allowing them to shape our relationship. It’s why Hugh enrages me so. Kitty is mine and will be so until I decide to be done with her.

But even the very thought of her not being by my side is enough to draw a growl from my throat. No doubt Kitty hears the rage lacing it, drawing a distressed whine from her body. With great effort, I cease the sound, not wanting to harm her in this way.

Hugh is the one I wish to hurt right now and not her. The fact that he keeps poking his nose into our affair, showing up at every turn, is infuriating. What is his fascination with her? Yes, she’s a delectable morsel, but she’s now in my possession. He should find someone else to toy with and leave my woman alone.

Stopping just in front of the fireplace, I turn to where I know she’s standing. A chill permeates the space, no doubt adding to her discomfort. That will be fixed soon enough when I light the flames.

Though I cannot see her, I hear the quick intake of breath. Her heart beats so hard, I’m surprised it hasn’t leapt from her chest. There’s something more to this, but I can’t put my finger on it.

I wonder if my little kitten worries I’ll continue questioning her about her seeing Hugh. As much as I wish to interrogate her, she’s not given me anything to cause that level of suspicion yet. However, that doesn’t mean I will not reserve the right to drag her down here and make her spill her secrets if I feel it’s necessary.

Every instinct says Kitty is being untruthful in her interactions with this odious man. The question is why. So far, I’ve not seen any evidence that they come together in a sexual way. Then why lie?

I don’t know her well enough to know everything, but everyone has a tell, and I know hers. Shoving those thoughts out of my head, I work on the fire, coaxing it to life. I need these few moments alone to gather my senses.

Once it roars, casting light over the room, I turn my gaze to Kitty. She still doesn’t move, her eyes widen as she takes in the various bits of furniture and implements. Surely it can’t be all that different from Madame Douler’s.

Though she was a virgin when I took her, she seemed comfortable enough in the space to make me believe she’d been there long enough to have at least some knowledge of a working whipping house. But then, I’ve questioned everything since breaching her maidenhead. How could one live in such a place and not see the contents hidden within the rooms?

“You seem hesitant, kitten.”

Her lips move a moment or two before sound comes out. “I’m surprised, is all. Though I had little time to explore, I didn’t realize your home harbored such a room.”