Stay strong, Ally.
“Unbind my hands, and we’ll see who beats whom,” Ally said. “I promise you I’ll see you dead. My face will be the last thing you see when I plunge a dagger into your heart.”
“You’re feisty, I’ll give you that.” He licked his lips. “I bet you’re a tomcat in bed.”
“Tomcat?” Ally grinned slyly. “That’s a male cat. Are you saying you prefer bedding males?”
Thud! His fist hit her stomach again. She retched, dry heaving. She hated showing the weakness, but she couldn’t help it. At least she hadn’t eaten since breakfast so there was nothing in her to vomit.
He hit her again, and then again. She might die from the beating, but it would be better than being raped by this lunatic.
Besides, death no longer seemed so horrible. Why go on living? The earl would take care of Mother and Sophie. Evan no longer wanted Ally, and she would never love another. Money was no longer important to her. Now, in this moment, all she wanted was to keep this maniac from raping her.
Whatever it took, she would do. She’d die before she let this creep into her body.
“Coward!” She spat out blood. “You won’t unbind my hands. You’re afraid of me. Of a lowly woman!”
Still he pummeled her. Blood flowed from her nose, and her body weakened and throbbed. She couldn’t take much more. She was on the verge of losing consciousness. Just as well. Sleep would give her peace.
Evan. She could dream of Evan…
“Move away from the lady, now!”
Not a voice she recognized… Images were all grey. Eyes…wanted…to close…
Had Osborne stopped punching her? Her body had gone numb. Her eyes were slits. Darkness had fallen. No light.
Again the voice. “Move away from the lady, or I will shoot.”
Confessions of Lady Prudence
by Madame O
Dearest Amelia,
I must confess that neither I nor Christophe pretend to have art lessons anymore. I guess he got over his need to give me what my auntie is paying for. In fact, at our last lesson, he suggested that we have an orgy. Can you even imagine? He asked me to arrange for Hattie and Lars to be available and he would bring himself and Mr. Peck, and perhaps one other if he could arrange it. Does that not sound absolutely delicious?
So I have that in the works.
In the meantime, during our last “lesson,” which took place in my chamber, Christophe educated me on the “back door.”
As you know, Lars had already breached me there, and the sensation, while painful at first, turned out to be something different and amazing. It’s a wonder that you and I never experimented in that way with Broderick and Miles. I think we all would have enjoyed it.
“You will enjoy this kind of fucking, my lady,” Christophe said to me with a wicked smile. “I’ve found that the only ladies who don’t enjoy it are those who haven’t tried it.”
I confess, Amelia, that I was quite frightened. A finger is one thing…but a cock? Good mercy, and Christophe, Lars, and Mr. Peck are all quite large!
We undressed, and Christophe turned me over so I was on my hands and knees on my bed. I jerked when he slid his tongue between my arse cheeks. It caused no pain, of course, and I expected it, but still I lurched. The sensation overwhelmed me—such a private forbidden place, yet I quivered with elation.
“Do you trust me, my lady?”
“Of course I do,” I said.
“Good. We must have trust for this to work. Relax, my lady. Let me soften you. We will go slowly. That will ensure your enjoyment.”
I breathed in calmly and let it out on a sigh. Slow was good. But fast was better. I wanted to experience all the pleasure that life had to offer…and he wanted to go slowly!
I gritted my teeth and nodded. He knew best, of course.