~Penny~
Rain was pelting down hard.
I could barely see where I was going in the dark. The icy raindrops soaked through my lush hair, turning it into a tangled mess.
Thunder roared so loud it made my heart pound louder. The wind whipped hard at my pale yellow gown, sending coarse shivers down my spine.
Hugging myself to shield my body from the cold, I stopped in my tracks and strained my eyes to look at the dense woods. Bursts of blinding lightning illuminated the endless dark skies for just a second. I thought I caught a glimpse of something.
Nestled among the trees, it looked like a quaint log cabin. Another flash of lightning, and there it was, a cozy looking wood cabin, with flickers of orange glow emanating through its frosted windowpanes.
Ah, a fireplace sounded so good right now. I scurried towards it in desperate hope, the damp earth sucking at my feet.
After hesitating for a moment, I banged on the door.
No answer.
I knocked harder. Pressing my rain-smeared face to the glass, I peered into the cozy warmth. Please tell me someone was in there.
With a bang, the cabin door flew open, nearly knocking me over. A tall figure, broad-shouldered and imposing, stood framed against the warm glow.
"About time," he said.
His hard abs tensed beneath his skin as his gaze swept over me, taking in my shivering form, lingering a beat too long on my face. Heat lanced through my body, flooding my cheeks and making me forget all about the chilly night air. Something lingered in the depths of those stormy gray eyes I couldn't fathom.
"I didn't think you would come," he said, scooping me up in his arms.
His warmth set my cold, shivering body ablaze. Taking my hand into his palm, he gently caressed my fingertips with his lips, sending tingles all over my skin.
A nagging voice in my head, a vestige of reason, told me to stop him. But it was quickly drowned out by the primal thrumming in my veins. Hunger, raw and untamed, flickered in his eyes as his hands explored my body, tearing up every bit of fabric that was in the way as he hummed, "I finally get to taste you."
I stiffened in his hold, my breath catching in my throat when he ripped my panties and cupped the cheeks of my butt, seating me naked on the French-style dresser – A very expensive dresser, just like the one I had seen a thousand times at the Campbell palace, but he was not a Campbell Royal.
Men in the Campbell family were, of course, all hot and handsome, but this man was hotter. His touch wasn't just physical; it was a claim, sending my mind into a hazy blur.
My fingers, hesitant at first, found their way to the solid wall of his chest, trying to feel his hard pecs before tracing their way down to his pants. A low moan escaped my lips, a strangled sound that mirrored the tightening knot of desire in my stomach. His response was immediate, a searing kiss that stole the air from my lungs.
What was it about him? He just needed to look at me for one brief moment, and my nipples were taut, and my core was on fire. Knowing full well the effect he had on me, his lips curled into a slow smile as he dropped to his knees between my thighs.
My breath quickened. My words were a mere whimper.
"W-wait..."
His playful eyes did strange things to my stomach. I could hear the loud pounding of my heart as his hand brushed against the curve of my thigh. The air crackled with a tension that had nothing to do with the storm outside.
"Tell me, Penny... Am I the only one losing my mind here?"
Wishing that my legs weren't so visibly shaky, I thrust my fingers into his hair and closed my eyes, pulling his head closer to my wetness.
"I want this too, more than anything I ever wanted."
His hungry mouth was immediately on my folds, dragging his tongue over and over and sucking my sensitive bud.
"Aghh, yes!" Tightening my grip on his hair and wrapping my legs around him, I threw my head back, shaking uncontrollably in pleasure. He continued flicking my clit with his tongue while pumping his two fingers slowly into my sopping slit.
"Come for me, Penny." His eyes were dark as the night for a moment as he said those words. Pleasure seized my body when he quickened the pace of his thrusting fingers and curled them inside me. Cupping his face with my hands, I kissed him hard as my toes curled from a wave of orgasm ripping through me.
"Oh my god, I- I want to come again," I mumbled, trying to catch my breath. "But I want you inside me."
My cheeks flushed right after uttering such words, and I giggled like an idiot, burying my face in the crook of his neck. I wanted to make him feel good, but I didn't know if it was okay to be so brazen about it.
Tugging me closer to him, he rained my face with kisses before reaching for the bulge in the front of his pants. My breathing turned uneven again as I watched him undo his pants and push them down to his knees. Swallowing hard, I grasped onto his shoulders as he rubbed his hardness against my pulsing entrance.
"Fucking hell!" He murmured, massaging his swollen head over my wetness and slapping it against my clit before pushing himself inside me slowly, inch by inch. "You are so ready for me. Soaked and begging to be filled."
"Yes, please..."
His warm mouth was all over my neck, his fingers pinching my aching nipples. I couldn't stop myself from clenching around him as he slammed into me roughly. Dragging my nails down his chiseled back, I let out all my suppressed moans, completely lost in ecstasy.
"D-don't stop... it feels so good!"
Grunting, he lifted my hips high into the air and rammed himself into me until my body was trembling with pleasure. A roll of thunder crashed through the night, breaking the magical spell. My eyes snapped open, pulling me back to reality.
Heart pounding, I wiped the beads of sweat off my forehead and glanced at the clock on the wall. Just a dream, huh? My body slumped against the bed, feeling disappointed. Feelings of guilt rushed through my mind as I tried to push away the tingles from the wet dream.
I tried to remember if I had ever seen a face more attractive than his. I just wanted to curl up in his arms so badly.
With my eyes tightly shut, I hoped to go back to the sweet, sweet dream, knowing full well that there wasn't even the slightest possibility of having it come true.
~Penny~The Stable Master's impatient voice echoed through the narrow hallway, shattering the fragile remnants of my sleep."Penny!! You can't keep the Royals waiting. What's taking you so long?"It was barely dawn. Rain was lashing against the windowpanes. I was still reeling from the dream, but there was no time to dwell on it.It was already time to prep the horses for the Prince's guard. I was one of the faceless stable hands in the vast stables of the Campbell palace, just like my brother, cousins, and uncle were. Like the stalls I cleaned, my life held a predictable monotony—hay, hooves, and the occasional fleeting memory of a life before it fell apart.My uncle was the Stable Master, a man as sour as the raw week-old milk. Blood meant nothing to him. After my parents passed away in a tragic train accident during a trip to America, my uncle inherited us, my brother and I. He never missed a chance to remind us, orphans, beholden to his "kindness." Soon after taking over the guardi
~Penny~"Let me come back to the point, Penny. Jeez, woman, you are so distracting." He made it sound as if I walked in here naked. "You will need to live in Mountbatten for a bit. Since you are originally from there, it will be much easier for you to blend in."Easier for what? A part of me ached for the familiar cobblestones of Mountbatten, a world away from this miserable life. But freedom wasn't an option. Not yet. My eighteenth birthday was only a week away. Perhaps I could defy my scowling uncle then and escape with my brother."Pay attention, Penny, will you? The Duke of Mountbatten, Leander Vance Bauer, will be officially coronated on his twenty-fifth birthday. It's only a couple of months from now. He has become a constant growing pain. To make things worse, his people love him too much. His political accession was done years ago, but Mountbatten will formally and fully accept him on the day of his coronation."How did this have anything to do with me? I could barely remember
~Leo~The steam clung to me like a second skin as I stepped out of the bathroom, the luxury of a long, hot bath finally chasing away the past two months' relentless grind. As I walked from the parlor room to the closet, the smell of freshly baked bread and fried eggs infiltrated my senses.Where the hell was my coffee? I needed to fire my incompetent chambermaid right away. After checking the mail she left for me on the dresser, I ran my fingers through my damp hair a few times. Mr. Gilbert, my dresser and personal advisor, should be here soon. Tossing the towel aside, I reached for a crisp white shirt. An unwanted moan resonated through the bedroom. Sprawled across my four-poster bed was my sister's friend, with her lustful gaze brushing over my naked body with no modesty.What the fuck was she still doing here?I wanted her gone before I got out of the bathroom. She was a good fuck, but I was done with her."Get out!""Leo, you treat me like I am some poor filthy wench.""I don't sl
~Penny~On the morning of my eighteenth birthday, I set out to Mountbatten with a heavy heart and a mind full of uncertainties and fears. The train chugged towards my hometown for about six hours now, but I couldn't sleep a wink. An edgy, frantic energy filled my mind all week.Spying. The very word made my stomach churn. There were so many lies involved, so much at stake if I failed.Lawrence Campbell had mentioned that the nursemaid who had failed him before was dead. He didn't care to elaborate if he killed her or the Duke had her executed. Every position of work at the Duke's castle involved stringent background checks, and yet, Lawrence somehow created some fake records for me to show that I had lived in Mountbatten all my life. He even went to the extent of writing letters to the housekeeper and butler on my behalf, fabricating lies upon lies.His grand plan, it seemed, was for me to waltz right up to the Duke himself. But the best he could manage was a dressmaker position for th
~Penny~I woke up in a panic the next morning and lunged for the window.What time was it?Fully expecting the sun to have already crested the mountains, I pulled the curtains apart to look outside.Heavens! What was this? A snowstorm! The gusty wind was sending flurries of rain and snow against the windowpanes.The first day of my mission. A quick bath later, I draped a scarf over my printed silk dress to cover the deeply scooped neckline. Dressing up to look attractive and alluring was a prime requirement to succeed in this 'Seducing the Duke' plan. The Campbell princes paid me a hefty amount of money for the trip and I burned through most of it buying pretty clothes and accessories. Whatever money was left after that, I lost it all somewhere on the train. "First snow of the season, so early this year," Aunt Molly said nonchalantly, pouring herself a steaming cup of tea as I grabbed my purse along with signed copies of my appointment and recommendation letters.No time for pleasantr
~Penny~I sucked in a deep breath and slowly turned the door handle. Another silent prayer escaped my lips. So far so good. Stepping inside, I fought the urge to gawk at the breathtaking mountain vista that sprawled through the expansive windows. Luxurious furniture whispered of wealth and privilege, but my mission demanded focus.I approached the ornately framed mirror, its gleaming surface reflecting a nervous intruder. A bunch of neatly stacked mail was on the dresser. But none of them were opened yet. I retrieved a pen and a scrap of paper from my purse and scribbled down the names of the people they were from.Where did he put the opened letters? These weren't what I was looking for. I walked over to the wastebasket to take a peek. It was empty. I reached into the coat pocket of a suit lying outside the closet. Nothing.I faced the wall, trying to think. The clock was ticking. Did I have enough time to open the closet and search through it quickly? I should at least skim through i
~Penny~The clock was ticking faster and faster. After that embarrassing exit from the Duke's suite, I didn't find the courage to go anywhere near him again. I was still bruised, breathless, and utterly shaken from the experience. Three days have passed since then while I covered zero ground.Crisp autumn air nipped at the base of my neck as I huddled in Aunt Molly's garden, trying to soak in the last few warm rays as the sun raced to hide behind the mountains. My heart rate spiked up as the mail carrier whistled at the gate."Oh, these are for me! Pardon me." I almost stepped on Aunt Molly's foot while trying to grab the two letters addressed to me. They had Ben's name but in Lawrence Campbell's familiar scrawl. I dreaded opening them, fully knowing the threats and disappointment they would brim with."But Penny," Aunt Molly began, "Why on earth are you here if Ben needs you this terribly? He's too dependent for a young man to be writing to his sister so much, don't you think? Does he
~Penny~"Looks like Trevor's early." The Duke got off the bed while she caught his arm in a panic."Trevor? You mean your cousin Trevor?" Fear seemed to seize her. "I can't be caught like this! He is the top suitor for me. My mother will have my head!" She jumped off the bed and started hunting for her clothes.I felt more panic than she did. What if she wanted to hide in this same closet until Trevor was gone? God, please stop her. I tried to move to the farthest corner, almost knocking over one of his shoes. Barely managing to catch it before it crashed to the floor, I held onto it mindlessly while straining to hear their conversation. "Your cousin is too clueless to figure that I am interested in him." She explained, frantically smoothing the wrinkles of her silk gown. "Every time he sees me, he just tries to send me away. Maybe I'm not his type."The Duke, clad only in a pair of breeches, arched a brow. He seemed to be unfazed by her beauty."Does he have a type?""Most of the tim
Characters and events in most novels are fictional, but they are usually deeply rooted in the experiences and emotions of real people.The inspiration for this story comes from people who hold onto past relationships a little too tight and for far too long. They pour so much of their wonderful selves into keeping a relationship alive, even if it makes them question their self-worth. Only a few fortunate ones move past it and meet the kind of love that feels like a safe place, a love that accepts all the scars of the past.I did not fully explore this theme by drawing a contrast between Lawrence and Leo because Leo is far from perfect, but, at its core, the idea is to be able to tell the difference between red flags and imperfections before investing our hearts and souls into someone.
Eighteen Months Later (Mountbatten, Summer of 1862) ~Penny~ A tear escaped my eye as I gazed at the bright blue skies stretching above the moorland. The wild open space of the moorland opened up to a meandering river. Walking down the gentle slope of the well-worn path to the gushing water, I settled onto the bank. The low resonant hum of the water currents did little to calm my mind. Laying against the comforting heat of a sun-warmed stone, I fondly placed my hand on my stomach, trying to fight the tight knot in my throat as tears pricked at my eyes. It's gone—eight long weeks of emptiness. After carrying a baby for close to six months, I lost it. Just like the first time, but much further along. The pain was so much worse, both emotional and physical. And the bleeding lasted for days. I didn't want to dwell on the loss. But it was a persistent ache that lingered like a shadow. The day was too beautiful to be sad today, and I was here for a mental reprieve. I blinked back the t
~Leo~ Long after we settled into bed, I lay awake and restless, my gaze fixed on her sleeping face. I rubbed the red spot on her neck where a hickey had begun to form. What was she dreaming about? I leaned in to graze my lips over the delicate curve of her lashes but stopped myself. What the hell was I doing?She had looked so reluctant to stay with me but wouldn’t tell me the reason for wanting to leave. I think I knew the reason. All that violence, bloodshed, and the Campbell asshole deaths were too much for her to handle. She could have died if I was late even by a few minutes. I almost lost her. It was the price she had to pay for falling for me.Even when she was in my arms, here, in this quiet space, I was consumed by a sense of failure. What was the point if I couldn't make her feel safe and protected? I didn't want to be the guy who just made her toes curl with orgasms. I yearned for her absolute trust that I'd raze the world to keep her from harm."Ready?" I asked her when sh
~Penny~He was punishing me for wanting to leave him. A week had passed since I got discharged from the hospital in Grafton, but he hadn't uttered a word. We were back in Mountbatten, in some tiny town with a strange name, Fludir. I wondered why he wasn't back at the castle.I had no complaints about the town or the lavishly comfortable and cozy log cabin we were staying at. But the warm scent of pine and the soft crackles of the fireplace could only offer so much comfort against his chilling silence.Every night, I watched him return after dark and go straight to his room. I received updates through Lucy, which was infuriating. She told me he was trying to locate Ben.I wanted to be part of this search. I hoped to help ease his workload as he juggled managing his Duke duties and covering up the mess we created in Grafton. With the Campbell Princes gone and the King under probation, their kingdom's succession and the future of the ambitious railroad project hung in the balance.As he e
~Leo~ She melted into my embrace as I pulled her closer. I tightened my grip around her waist and dipped my head, breathing in her sweet scent. “Oh, Leo, I missed you terribly!” she whispered, her words thick with longing as her fingers dug into my back. Her voice was like a soft balm to my heart. But I needed to hold her close for a while to stop the ache in my chest. Stroking her chin with my thumb, I lifted it to make her look me in the eyes. "Did you just lock Lucy up? Who's helping you escape this time?" Her cheeks bloomed a delicate shade of pink as she averted my gaze. Her tongue ran along her bottom lip, tempting me to devour her mouth with an uncontrollable hunger. “Don’t,” I growled, leaning in to cover those delicious lips with mine. She slipped her tongue between my lips, making my breath catch. I clung to her like I would die if the kissing stopped. Lucy's persistent knocking forced me to pull back for a moment. Breathing hard, I rasped out, "Penny is with me, Ms.
~Penny~My eyes fluttered open, trying to adjust to the dimly lit hospital room that smelled like antiseptic and smoke. "Leo? Where's Leo?" My words sounded like a croak. I tried to sit up, but the bandages around my chest tightened, spreading a dull ache across."Hello there, good afternoon," a nurse rushed to my side. "You can't move like that. You've been shot." How could I forget the searing heat of the bullet that tore through my chest? But I needed to know if Leo was okay. Was he shot too? Lucian had pointed his gun at Leo once he was done with me. I tried my best to stop him but failed."Is... Is His Grace----""Penny! You are up," Lucy cried out, her head peeking through the curtains before she stepped forward and occupied a chair by the bedside. "I was getting worried about you.""Lucy, thank the heavens! I am so relieved to see you fine and alive. You fell unconscious---""I feel all good now. It was just a minor contusion, either from the fall or the hard blow.""No concuss
~Leo~"A slight detour?" Dad repeated my reply in a murmur as I removed my hat and bowed my head to the envoy. "Your Excellency."The envoy, Sir Llyod, was a tall, imposing man with a shock of silver hair and piercing blue eyes. His gaze swept across the room, looking for Lawrence and Lucian. The gripping tension in the room was palpable as I took a seat."I see I'm not the last one to show up," I said, faking my surprise. "The princes are delayed, perhaps?" I exchanged a glance with the King, whose face was laced with suspicion.The envoy also turned to the King, his gaze probing, "Any idea what might have happened? We lost fifteen minutes of our meeting time already.""I can only speculate, but His Grace and his father might have a better idea." His voice was almost accusatory.Acting clueless, I waved at the footman. "All I see is tea here. Fetch me a good cup of coffee, please." I tucked a napkin into my collar and got busy eating breakfast."Oh, pardon me, Your Majesty. I assumed
~Leo~Penny's desperate shot, a near miss, barely grazed Lucian's shirt while Lucian's bullet slammed into her chest. The sight ripped a piece of my soul away as the shot sent her gasping to her knees. Even as she dropped to the ground, she mustered the last of her strength to put a bullet in his thigh.Before the echo of the shots faded, I leaped to grip my weapon instantly and unleashed two thunderous shots at Lucian, right between the eyes. Ignoring the spray of blood as his body crumpled to the ground, I ran to Penny's side, sweeping her broken form into my arms."Penny? Baby... please, look at me." This couldn't be happening for real. I pulled her to sit crosswise on my lap and cupped her tear-streaked face. She was gasping for breath. Fuck! I ripped a length of fabric from her gown and attempted to seal the wound with the material. The warm, slick feel of blood stained my trembling fingers through the cloth. "Trevor! Carriage, now!" I yelled, scooping Penny into my arms and rush
~Leo~I was late. By the time I rounded up a reluctant Trevor and some men to cover as much ground as possible, I was too fucking late! Her screams cut through my heart. Lawrence's filthy hands were on her. Tears streamed down her face from the pain of being dragged by her hair. The sight of her stance was so full of pain, it tore apart my soul."No, Leo, wait!" Trevor grabbed my arm as I dismounted my horse. "We can't shoot any of the royals without---"I cut in. I didn't need a voice of reason at the moment. "Who said anything about shooting? That would be too quick of a death." I could feel my pulse as it thudded through my body."We can't hurt them!""I don't fucking care, kill all his guards and take their horses." I peered through the haze of red fury, growling at the motherfucker whose blood was going to be on my hands."Lawrence!" I charged toward him, my hand closed around the concealed weapon I was carrying, ready to shoot his hand if he attempted to reach for his pistol. The