~Penny~How could I be so irresponsible? I cursed under my breath, the chill of the late night air seeping through my coat. At two in the morning, after tossing and turning for hours, the realization suddenly struck me–where did the letter that Mr.Rolfe handed me go?It must have slipped out of my dress at some point. But where? I forgot all about it when I got off the carriage and settled in the cottage for dinner. It was snowing lightly now and the moon was out while I looked as suspicious as ever, tracing my way back to the garden and lawns I walked through earlier in the evening. Dawn was approaching soon. I glanced up at the second story window where Leo's room was. He must be fast asleep, maybe with Hannah curled in his arms. As I turned away, I thought I saw a flicker of movement.Was he awake? Could he see me out here in the cold? I had to hurry back to my room, hoping no one else stumbled upon the letter once the snow melted. The next morning, we set out to the ocean with
~Penny~I shook my head in refusal. "I hate you after what you did with Hannah. Your touch disgusts me.""My touch? You get wet just looking at me." He whispered, his breath warm against my ear. As he traced his fingers down my spine, I shuddered against him, hating how soaked he was making me. "I don't have to feel your pussy to know how wet you are for me."I took a deep breath, desperately shaking my head in a no, denying the truth in his words and the caressing strokes of his fingers against my lower back. My nipples hardened under my dress, yearning for him to fondle my breasts."You let that handsy fucker touch you. You forgot who still owns this pussy, didn't you?" His fingers reached my folds as he buried his face in the crook of my neck."It's not yours. I'm NOT yours. I hate you!"I scrambled against his hold, refusing to acknowledge how shaky and breathy my voice was. He wrapped his hand around my throat and pulled me closer, tugging me into a wild kiss while using his othe
~Leo~The Night Before:What was she looking for so desperately? It was so late at night, and she was freezing her ass in this biting cold weather. I waited for her to find whatever she was looking for so that I could run downstairs and confront her.Minutes turned to hours and she was still out there, her delicate frame shivering under the thick layers of wool she was bundled up in. Her long flowing hair was no longer tucked under her cloak. It danced wildly against the icy breeze as she started scraping the snow off the flowerbeds, looking even more distraught as she peered into the hedges and shook a bunch of shrubs.Was it jewelry that she lost? Maybe something precious or a souvenir from her family? I had no idea if she had any family left. Whoever appointed her to ruin me had done a pretty good job wiping out all her records. I had sent my men to find out more from her aunt before we left on this trip but her aunt went missing.Penny could feel my gaze. She suddenly peered up to
~Penny~My body was still twinging from a sweet ache and I savored every bit of it silently on my way back to the cottage. I stroked my arms where his fingers had dug into my flesh, thinking about how he was able to make me come so hard."I think His Grace is waiting outside for you, My Lady," Alice said, straining her eyes to see through the falling snow as the cottages loomed closer.He was probably going to ask me if I touched myself. As I stepped down the carriage, I made sure not to look his way, in fear that he would withhold my orgasms again for pleasuring myself without his permission."Penny, Hold up!" Ice spread through my chest when I heard his voice. I was frozen in place with terror.If he could kill me with just one look, I'd be already dead on the ground right now. I didn't need to ask him what was wrong. The murderous expression on his face with Lawrence's letter in his hand was enough to make me run for the hills. My heart went into overdrive and my feet took off befo
~Penny~My spine stiffened. Was he going to stick his cock in my ass? His fingers brushed up my bare thigh, his hands groping my ass and pulling it apart."I'll use this body of yours the way it should be used, and you are going to take it like the slutty little whore you are.""Your Grace, I don't mean to interrupt you in any way, but... I d-don't think it's a good idea..." my voice wavered slightly as he waited for me to say more. "My uncle has two daughters, and they are pretty horny. They..." My words tapered off into silence when I saw the slightest of a smirk on his face."They got fucked in the ass?" He asked, massaging the opening of the tight hole between my cheeks."They... aahhh." A whimper escaped my lips as he pushed the tip of his finger inside of me."Touch yourself," he ordered, pushing his finger into my ass while using his other hand to release one of my hands from the restraints.I blinked. "Er---"
~Penny~I woke once again to darkness, with just a hint of warm light by the fireplace. My thighs were wobbly as I got off the bed to clean up. Even a hot bath didn't do much to heal the achy thighs. The lingering dull throb in countless spots on my body was oddly satisfying.Alice exclaimed as I approached the kitchen with hesitant steps. "Oh look who's here! It sounded like you were dying up there Penny, screaming sooo loud, heavens!" Lucy just stared at me silently as a slight warmth crept up my neck. Alice brought some cutlery to the dining table when I reached for a plate."I'm starving, Alice," I said, hoping there was something to eat. What time was it anyway? "Um, where's Le- His Grace?""His Grace went with Miss Byrne to the mountains, to show her some ice caves and hot springs up there."Huh, give me a fucking break. My appetite died just like that. I stared at the plate full of poached fish, roasted potatoes, and carrots that Alice served me. It was half past six, the sun
~Leo~The relentless snowstorm had delayed my return quite a bit. We left Glacier's Edge three days ago but the morning the ship touched Emerald Isle to stock up on food supplies, it had been terrible weather with blinding blizzards and no visibility for hours at a stretch.The wind was howling like a banshee outside this tiny log cabin I was stuck in. If not for the constant crackling fire in the hearth, we wouldn't have survived this winter's wrath.To make things worse, my parents just wanted to wait until my return. I expected Dad to go get Mabel back but he wanted to be fucking diplomatic and secretive about this whole thing now that all of Mountbatten was scrutinizing every step we took, thanks to Penny.Dad believed Lawrence just wanted Penny in exchange for Mabel. And he was right. It made me want to fling a chair at this darned frost etched window. That twisted fuck Lawrence wanted what I had, just to regain his sense of control. He fully intended to kill Penny once she was d
~Penny~ Leo's cousin has been banging on the door for the past five minutes, wanting to meet him. But Leo had resolved to ruin me today. The small log cabin room barely offered any insulation. It was embarrassing to imagine Trevor hearing it every time Leo thrust into me so hard. The room was filled with my cries, our bodies slick against each other. "Come back later, Trev!" He said through clenched teeth, his eyes not leaving my flushed face. "Jeez, Leo." Trevor knocked again. "I have some new intel." "I'll be out in a minute," he said, leaning his lips to my ear and sucking on my lobe. My back was shoved against the wall, my wrists pinned over my head. I was standing on my tiptoes as he slammed into me over and over. The weather was clearing up and we were about to board the ship to Mountbatten in an hour. Leo was acting like he was deprived of sex for decades. I lost count of how many times I came today. There was nothing really to do when we were snowed in but it was time to
~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 y
~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 to 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
~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. Th
~Leo~Meeting Penny awakened a feeling I had never known before. Fear. The fear of losing her and living in a world without her. It was an all-consuming feeling that fogged my brain and stopped me from thinking rationally.Lawrence wasn't expecting me or Dad until another two hours. I used this time to look for any clues that could lead me to Penny or her brother. While I was away iceberg hunting, I found out she had a brother. I tasked my men with finding him but they had nothing to report upon my return. Now I knew why. He had fled a few weeks ago. His uncle was too terrified of Lawrence to say a word to me.I gripped his arm, my fingers tightening until he winced in pain. This was the man who had made Penny's life a living hell. He had abused his right to guardianship. I wanted to shake him until his teeth rattled. But he looked like a cornered animal, his defeated eyes the same shade of blue as Penny's. Despite the strong desire to inflict pain, I released his arm."Where's your d
~Leo~"Numbskulls!" I hissed, my fingers clenching the guard's collar. "Did I say she could leave?"I sucked in a breath when something flashed in my mind. The other guard, where was he? When he said earlier if it was okay to meet Alice, did he mean if it was okay for Penny to meet Alice?"Fuck!" A growl ripped from my throat. "Where the hell is Talbot? Did he---""Leo..." My dad's voice cut through my rage. He stepped into the hallway, and Talbot trailed behind him, his downcast gaze fixed on the floor."The gatekeeper found him lying on the Knight's Path trail. He was drugged and pushed off a moving carriage." Dad told me, signaling Talbot to join the other guards."Was it a Campbell carriage?""Yes, but a stolen one. No valet. The driver wasn't in his uniform. Anyway..." Dad was not interested in finding out who took Penny. He waved dismissively, turning away to leave. "I have more pressing things to do, boarding the two o'clock train, for example. I'm going to tear that thickheade
~Penny~My chest tightened to the point I couldn't breathe in terror. Out of all the possible ways it could have played out with Lawrence, this was the worst case scenario. I fled from Leo and Mountbatten to protect my baby, only to lose it within hours. I jeopardized Mabel's safe return, still had no idea if Ben was alive, and even Lucy's life was at risk now.Lucy tried to free me from Lawrence's relentless grip, but he sent her stumbling over onto a large boulder that jutted out from the side of the path. My heart raced as I watched her arms flail over the moss-covered dark rock. Please God, please... I cried, praying desperately to keep her unharmed. Her kindness toward me could cost her life today. She would have never come to Grafton if not for me. As she attempted to stand, one of the guards slapped her hard across the jaw.She pressed her lips together in defiance, glaring at Lawrence. Releasing me from his cruel grasp, he sneered at her. She was unbothered by his intimidating
~Penny~Pain stole my breath. A sob tore through me as I stared at the crimson, sickening stain spreading across my pale dress. I pressed my forehead against the cold sliding glass pane, praying for the sharp, stabbing pain to soften.Lucy's comforting words were a distant hum, unable to reach me through the wall of my pain. My hand instinctively went to my stomach again, resting protectively over the baby bump that would never be. Would it have been a girl or a boy? My breath caught in my throat as I pictured a tiny Leo with eyes as gray as the storm clouds.I stared at the gloomy winter skies as the train chugged away. Weariness settled over me, and I welcomed the sleep. I could do anything to escape the guilt and grief I felt at the moment. The darkness I saw when I shut my eyes was no match to the darkness my heart was overcome with. As I floated between wakefulness and sleep for what seemed like an eternity, the train lurched to a halt."Penny, this is our stop. Wake up," Lucy sa
~Penny~"You are with child, aren't you?" Lucy's voice was sharp as I doubled over the train's wash basin, consumed by nausea.She pressed a cool glass of water into my shaking hands. She then reached out, her fingers hovering near my growling stomach. I recoiled, flinching away from her unwelcome touch and probing gaze."Is it the Duke's? Or perhaps the Prince's?"I wondered how she knew about my supposedly secret affair with Lawrence. "I'm not pregnant." My voice was hoarse. "You said you were seasick the entire way back from that cold godforsaken town. Today, you threw up the minute we stepped out of that buggy. And now, ten minutes into the train ride, you are pale and heaving again. Boy, we have a long way to go.""As I said, I am not... with child, I mean. I just feel overwhelmed. I ran away from the man who swore to protect me, and we pushed an unconscious guard off a moving carriage---""You can't fool me, Penny," she said in a firm voice. "I was a nurse for several years befo