Page 17 of A Tale of Two Dukes

“Does my flame frighten you?”

“Y- yes, Your Grace.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Not one bit.” That revelation sparks a smattering of laughter, including a chuckle of my own.

“At least you’re honest.” Yet one more thing that’s refreshing about this conundrum.

Tipping the flame forward, I make quick work of lighting the other candles. Sweat beads on her forehead as she cranes her neck up, watching the flickering. They dance in her eyes, illuminating her from the inside out.

With a groan, I grip my cock and squeeze as I tip the candle forward again and splash her with the hot wax. Her lips part, but no sound comes out. Lips splitting into another grin, I do it once more, painting her body with white, waxy splotches.

She moans so softly I almost miss it. But as her eyes roll back and her body arches forward, I can’t help the feelings swamping my brain. Desire, lust, and wanting all coalesce until I’m unable to breathe.

I’ve played this way with others before, but they seemed to merely tolerate it. My coin made them receptive. However, with Kitty, her body seems to crave it. Though I want to draw this out, to torment her with my candles, I find that I must be inside her.

Bending low, I blow out the flames before the wax can even drip down. I don’t despair, however, because deep inside, I know this will not be the last time we play. Again, that feeling of unease at the thought of any other man touching her rips through me.

It’s maddening, an itch under my skin that I cannot seem to rid myself of. Maybe once I fuck her and get this need out of my system, I’ll be able to take my time and truly torment her. That must be it. Once I’ve conquered her with my body, I’ll find that she’s just like every other woman. Nothing special. Nothing to continue tormenting myself over.

Pausing for a moment, I take in the quiver of her lips, the uncertainty in her eyes. There’s a hint of fear, a slight bite to her gaze. And yet, the only scent surrounding her is one of arousal and need.

I must be seeing things. My brain is conjuring up something I desire and yet know I can never have—a virgin who wants my darkness as opposed to dreading it. Kitty acts like an innocent and yet doesn’t shy away from anything I do to her. She’s perfection, a Venus sent to Earth to torment me.

Making quick work of the three pillars, I pluck them from the ropes and set them down on the table. No sense allowing them to knock about and fall off of her while I rut her like the wild man I am. Besides, these few moments are good for me. They allow me to catch my breath, to once more be in control.

But by the time I’m back in between her thighs, I feel myself slipping. Our eyes lock as I line the tip of my cock up with her entrance. Staring down, I watch every flick of emotion that passes.

She’s nearly unreadable, a blank slate, as if she’s purposefully keeping her thoughts to herself. Again, a niggle of unease teases at the back of my mind. However, I cannot deny how badly I want to sample her body, to combine our flesh until we’re one.

The heat from her body scalds me, demanding I take her, making her mine. A courtesan needs no preamble, and with how wet she is for me, no other coaxing is needed. With a snap of my hips, I impale her with one thrust.

God but she’s tight. Her inner walls clamp around me, milking my body, robbing me of all rational thought. Light shoots from behind my eyelids as pleasure and relief in equal measure pour through me.

It takes a moment, but soon, the erotic haze dissipates as her soft whine of distress reaches my ears. That can’t be right. This should feel good to her. Cracking an eye open, I notice the rigid way she holds her body, the way her eyelids scrunch as she frowns.

I reach out to stroke her cheek, concern twisting my insides. As she finally opens, I see the pain and discomfort in their depths. And that’s when everything stills.

Sounds fade away as I extricate myself from her. There, in the flickering lights, is the proof of what I’ve just done. Light pink intersperses the arousal coating my cock, but there’s no denying that I’ve taken this young girl’s virginity.

Madame Douler’s insistence finally makes sense. It’s as if clarity descends upon me in crystalline shards that I can no longer ignore. I’m this girl’s first.

This knowledge should repulse me, make me angry that I allowed myself to fall into such a trap. I should want to apologize and beg forgiveness from this girl who still stares up at me, unblinking. But I don’t want any of those things.

An anxious air sizzles about her, but she stoically remains silent. I wish she would say something, do something, give me a reason to feel like a cad. And that’s when I realize it will never matter what she does. I will revel in the idea of being that monstrous villain if it means keeping her chained to my side.

Feral need races down my spine as I stare at the virginal blood. “Mine,” I snarl, easing myself back in.

And for a few tense moments, I know that I’ll never be rid of this girl. She’s given me the one thing I’ve never owned before. More than ever, I want all of it, all of her. I already have her virginity, but now I want her very soul.

CHAPTER 8

Kitty

“Shhhh, love,” his voice floats about my head like wisps of smoke. “Relax for me, my little kitten. Fight me, and this will hurt far worse.”

“You seem to like my discomfort, Your Grace,” I croak out, turning my face away from the devilishly handsome smirk lifting his lips.