Darkness, page 4
“Yes— yes of course.” Isabel lowered her gaze, then looked up again quickly. Her nipples hardened under the thin dress, pulse racing beneath the choker. “But you would still act as my— protector tonight?”
“From who? Yourself?”
“No, of course not. From those who might try to— well force me against my wishes. I don't need protection from my own interests, Lord Blood. I am sure you understand how that works. I'm quite frankly not interested in being told to sit down and not take part in the fun.”
“Isabel!” Elaine hissed. “You can't mean that. You're not ready to... ”
“Mother, I've been ready for the past couple of years. My brother is younger and you let him take part in these events.”
“Dominant men don't face the same types of risks as a woman will at these get together's. You're well aware of that my dear.” Elaine patted the arm of the chair next to hers. “Now, come and sit down, you can't get a decent look at the young play thing Davien has claimed if you continue to stand over there.”
“You're being somewhat verbose today, my wife. Perhaps you should contemplate that.” Harold spoke calmly, his gaze narrowed on his, now, paling lady. “Isabel, come here please.”
“Yes, Papa.” With a soft, easy grace the young woman slipped past the chairs to stand by the side of her father's chair.
“Davien has agreed, in his own way, to keep an eye on you at the party, however he will not be officially escorting you as he has his own pet to keep an eye on.” Harold nodded toward the couch. “I can't say I blame him, she's a pretty little thing, and already partially trained. There are enough men and women who would try to grab a woman who is already trained to kneel and serve. And you do have some measure of protection already, through your blood connection to me. Few would risk angering me just to have a fun time for a few hours.”
“Harold, the few-hour game players are not the ones I would be concerned about.” Davien leaned back on the couch, holding Celeste to him. “There are others, ones who will attempt to claim your daughter. Not that she wouldn't look well naked and on her knees— but... ” He looked down at Celeste, and she tried not to shudder. “I see no issue in grabbing a wench off the street, however forcibly taking the daughter of one of your standing would be foolish. If she submits and offers herself, well and good. Force? No.”
So there it was, laid open for all to see. It wasn't as though he didn't find some measure of interest in Isabel, that much was obvious, but the trouble she'd bring with her if he grabbed her? That was another matter entirely.
She was nothing to people like this. Her entire country nothing more than a place to be plundered at the whim of...
“Your pet seems distracted.” Harold's voice dropped into an ice-touched whisper.
“She was expecting to put on a front, my fault actually.”
“You planned on passing this chit off as your fiance?” Elaine growled, her hands clutching at the arms of her chair. “How dare you... ”
“Elaine, that is quite enough from you for today. Report to our room and await me there.”
“But I... ”
“Now, woman!”
Elaine's jaw tightened, but she slowly pushed to her feet and walked out of the room without another word.
“I see she can still be a handful.” Davien shifted his grip on Celeste's hair and it took her a moment to realize she was being guided down to her knees at his feet. Her cunt rippled in hunger, a cool sweat coating her body. Just how far did he intend to take matters in front of these people? She tensed but allowed herself to be settled on her knees. She tucked her dress neatly out of the way and rested her hands in her lap, her gaze lowered to the floor.
“She doesn't like being down there, does she?” Harold inquired.
“No, but she's still coming to terms with the fact she is nothing more to me than a pretty piece of property.” Davien frowned, and shifted his gaze to the other woman in the room. “You are aware that your daughter is not going to the party tonight to merely observe?”
“I am all too well aware of that. She has been showing more signs of being submissive with every passing day. I had hoped she would be one of those rare dominant women we see at our gatherings, but I cannot be true to myself and deny her the same right.” Harold rubbed his temples. “I have to admit, I had also hoped that a marriage to one of your standing would grant her some level of protection and also allow her to explore her submissive desires.”
“She would be better off with someone, long term, that isn't connected to your family. Perhaps one that lives on the continent?”
“You're suggesting that I send my daughter... ”
“No, I am saying that someone connected with your family will, eventually, have to face the choice of punishing your daughter and potentially upsetting you, or letting her rule the roost through the threat of your retaliation.”
“I wouldn't have thought you fell into the number of those who would worry about such things.” Harold gestured for his daughter to sit down. “Or have I mistaken the strength of will you possess?”
“Your daughter is not without her interest, but I focus on training one woman at a time.” Davien shrugged slightly. “I'd test her, your daughter I mean, but she is still your child and such things are not done in the line of sight of a parent.”
“Indeed, there are not many who would remember that. Not within our circles. No, that isn't entirely true, still I am relieved that you recall such details. I would like you to take Isabel to the party, straight from here. There seems little point in you returning home to then set out for tonight. Besides, there is something I would ask of you... ” His gaze moved pointedly to the spot on the floor where Celeste now sat.
“Ah yes, of course. And perhaps whilst you spend some time with my beast I should, in turn, discuss a few matters with your daughter?”
“A grand idea.”
“Celeste, follow Harold. Remember I will hear of it if you are not pleasing.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach as she followed Harold out of the parlor. How could he do this to her? He'd told her she'd be expected to act one way and now this. Her stomach roiled, flip flops were the least of what she was now dealing with. If he'd told her she'd face this then there wouldn't have been so much of a problem. But no, he'd given her hope.
Foolish. She'd not fall for that again.
Silently, she followed Harold through the house and down a flight of stairs into a room within the cellar. Harold pushed open the door and gestured her to enter. Fear grasped her heart, knotting her throat as she entered the room. There was a couch to one side, along with a small table and a chair, but the rest of the decorations within the chamber terrified her.
Chains were fastened to the wall.
A whipping post had been set up in the center.
A cage against a far corner.
Straps, chains, belts and whips hung from the wall, each one in good condition and waiting to be used. And used on her.
“Strip and put your clothing over the couch. I have no desire to damage such a pretty dress.”
“Yes, sir.” She tried not to swallow the words as she moved to the side of the couch and slipped out of her shoes. Davien. She wanted to strangle him for what he had done to her now. What was she supposed to do? Just blindly obey?
Yes, of course she was. He wanted to show her off as a good, obedient little slave. And if she wasn't— then she'd pay the price. One she wasn't willing to put herself through, not right now at least.
The Raven would be there, and perhaps he wasn't as bad as Davien had made him out to be? If that were the case she could work with him and escape the man who had turned her life upside down. There had to be a way to find some measure of freedom and if it meant submitting to the hateful touches of Davien's friends, then so be it.
She carefully set her clothing to one side, cursing silently as she became all too well aware that her body tingled with the need for his touch, anyone's touch. Damn him, she cursed Davien from the depths of her soul. If it had not been for that man then she'd have found another life, one she could have enjoyed, a man of her own that would have delighted in her, cherished her, but now she was cursed to be a slave, with a body that now craved the touch of a man.
Any man.
Everything from the stripes from the belt last night to her public bathing in the kitchen had been leading up to this moment. He had to have known that his play to have her shown off as his companion was not going to work. Why else had he instructed her to raise her skirt to her hips and bare herself in the carriage?
He'd been heating her up for just this purpose. Her hands clenched, jaw tightening until she heard her teeth grind. And still it didn't stop the warmth from easing slowly across her skin, her nipples tight buds that begged to be touched, caressed, even pinched. She tried not to whimper as the invisible hand of desire pressed itself deeper into her body with every passing moment.
She'd become the very slut her sister had always been...
“Very nicely done, slut.” Harold's voice dropped into a low growl, one that sent a shiver through her being. “Now walk over here and bend over the bench. You can see the restraints for yourself, fit your wrists and ankles against the leather straps.”
Celeste took a step closer to the bench as she looked it over. It was roughly waist height, with a padded cover and straps at the four corners for her ankles and wrists. The position would leave her ass raised in the air and thighs apart, allowing her body to be completely exposed to Harold's view. Without a word she settled herself over the bench and waited for him to lock her into place.
“Well trained indeed, little slave. I have to wonder just how far his training has taken you?” He traced one fingernail down the length of her spine and she shivered. “Your ass looks tempting with those three, pretty stripes across it. So perhaps I shall see how accommodating it can be.”
Celeste whimpered fully. First the Raven, now Harold, was there some desperate reason why men wanted to fuck her in the ass? She didn't want to find out but wasn't exactly in a position where she could stop him.
“Has he used it before?”
“Sir?”
“Your arse, girl. Has he taken you here?” He tapped one finger against the tight ring of muscle.
“No, sir. He hasn't yet.”
“Good, then I will be the first. He should have said something if he hadn't wanted you used in any specific way.” Harold closed the straps on her body, locking her against the bench. “Perhaps it will teach him to mind his desires around my daughter. She wouldn't have wanted to explore being a submissive if it wasn't for Davien.”
Somehow she doubted that. Though it had been clear from the first moment she had laid eyes on Isabel that the younger woman had fallen in love, or lust, with Davien Blood. “Sir, do you truly believe my Master has corrupted your daughter in some way? Hasn't she seen how you live and perhaps taken her cue from that?”
Harold growled, slapping his had down hard across her upturned buttocks. “Silence, wench. If I wanted a discussion I'd be having that with Davien. Not with his slut. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.” She bit down on her bottom lip.
“You're nothing but a cunt to be used.” His hand lifted up only to crack down again on her bottom, a third, fourth and fifth spank landing quickly afterward. Until she hissed and cried out with the growing warmth across the taut skin, heat coated her labia, her cunt tightened, seeking something to fill it, but she already knew that it wasn't her pussy that the man planned on using.
“Father?” A new voice broke through the haze that now threatened to claim her mind. “Father, are you down here?”
“Victor, what are you doing here?”
Celeste turned her head, searching for the source of the new voice. Her gaze fixed on the dark haired, slender young man who's smile grew the moment he spotted Celeste's bound form. This had to be Isabel's brother, wonderful, was she now going to have to deal with the entire family?
“Mother is threatening to leave to Grandmama's place.”
“Wonderful, and this had promised to turn into such a fructuous afternoon.” Harold turned his attention to the bound woman, shaking his head. “I'm afraid, my dear, that our time together will have to wait. I shall leave you in the very capable hands of my son, Victor.”
She didn't know if she should laugh or cry when the younger man took his father's place and Harold left the room. Victor was, even to the most discriminating woman, a handsome man. His hair had been slicked back carefully from his face, his trim waist and long legs were enough to catch the attention of many a woman, but it was his smile and the glint in his eyes that were the true eye-catcher.
“Pretty little chit, aren't you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Celeste forced her voice to remain calm. The last thing she needed was Victor angry with her, especially as she was bound, naked and helpless right now. She couldn't imagine that Davien would be pleased if she displeased the son any more than the father.
“Now what to do with you? I see my father has already taken his hand to that pretty little arse of yours.”
Was that a real question? Celeste pressed her lips tightly closed, a tremor running through her bound form. Her nipples had become hard pebbles that pressed against the covered bench. Heat rippled, hungry and anxious through her core and liquid desire now coated her lower lips in a sensual cream. She needed something, anyone, just as long as she was finally granted some measure of release from the appetite she was now cursed with.
“You're aroused, slut.”
“Yes, sir,” she whispered.
“From?”
“I don't know, sir.” Not the truth but why should she let this stranger know just how Davien had slowly teased her hunger to life over the past day? “I'm just— needful.”
“I think we can use other words, don't you?” He ran one hand along her thigh, cupping her ass cheek, massaging his fingers into her tender flesh. “I believe Davien will be taking you to the party tonight.” He shifted, slowly, behind her until she was convinced he was standing close to her ass, facing her head. “I've seen whores who were less aroused than you are now.”
Her cheeks flushed scarlet. Perhaps he was right, but she'd never seen a whore during their— conducting their business. She tried not to tense as he reached between her thighs and cupped her mound but it was almost impossible to shut out the rush of dampness that claimed her sex lips. Just what was she supposed to do? Have no feelings of her own?
They didn't care, just as long she reacted in a manner that was pleasing to them.
“Perhaps I should do something about this little problem you have?”
“Sir?”
He slid one finger into her heat.
Celeste arched against the bonds, her eyes wide. A low moan slipped free from her lips as her hands clenched, her core trying to close on the intruding finger. Desire rippled through her being, before she had a chance to say or do anything more he slipped the finger free of her tight cunt.
“That little problem.”
“P— please sir.” The words little more than a heated whisper. He wasn't Davien, he might not be as cruel in his use of her hungry body. “I need something.”
“I know. Your body, your whimpers, all make that quite clear. But what to do about this little problem?” He reached under her, tapping against her clit with one finger, each soft jolt rocked through her system. Her hips jerked, breath catching in the back of her throat, how could Davien have pushed her this far down the slope into degradation? How could she have allowed it?
Because she'd had no choice, he'd snatched her from the road and turned her into a wanton, hungry slut.
She groaned, hips shuddering with the teasing, determined touch that Victor played against her slick clit. She couldn't stop him, or the pleasure that now tormented her being. Her eyes closed, nails digging into her palms as she struggled to find a way to control her body. It was pointless, but still she fought against the oncoming tide. She bit into her bottom lip, shuddering, lifting her hips as much as she could to welcome his touch.
“Ah yes, hungry little whore aren't you?” His cold laugh shocked through her heart and soul. Were all men like this? No, there had to be someone decent out there, someone who could arouse her body and mind alike.
So if they couldn't, if these men had no real hold over her, why was she, even now offering her body to Victor?
Because she'd turned into a slut, a whore, a toy for the use of any man her master threw her at— and there was no way out of the situation. Her cunt was hungry for the feel of a cock buried deep within her body. Sweat pooled on her back as Victor played his relentless game on her clit. She whimpered, trying to find a way past the haze of wicked delight that even now wracked its path of devastation through her body.
“You want me, don't you whore?”
“Yes, sir,” she whimpered, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Please.”
“Please what?”
“Fuck me, sir. Please.”
“With pleasure.” She heard his open his pants as he shifted his position a little more. In a moment the head of his cock was pressed between her wet lips. He groaned and shoved his cock fully into her body, his fingers clutching at her hips. Her slick walls clenched against his thick erection. She no longer cared that she was being taken by a man she didn't know, her body didn't give a damn, she just wanted, needed to be in this moment, his cock thrusting into her body, taking her, claiming her...
His hand slapped down on her ass cheeks, first one then the other, each fresh jolt of pain surged through her being as she squirmed on the padded bench. Just what was he planning on doing to her? Other than fucking her?
Not that she cared right now, just as long as he didn't stop.
His cock stretched her inner walls apart, each thrust sending her higher, further towards the edge of sanity. Fire burned through her core until she sobbed and gasped in delight and horror alike. Thought fled, her body welcoming his throbbing erection as if it were water and she the starving woman in the desert.
