CHOCOLATE, TEA AND THE DUCHESS (5 page)

Haynes gathered several implements from the walnut armoire that occupied a

fair space along one wall.

When Phillip stood naked, Haynes directed him to the apparatus. He placed his

stomach against the padded rungs, his legs spread wide. His cock engorged

immediately.

After strapping Phillip's legs and arms in place, Haynes lay on the flogger.

Phillip's ass burned, no doubt bleeding, as he felt warm liquid creeping down his legs.

He winced, gritting his teeth, as he always did through the first few lashes. Once into

the lashing, he succumbed to the pleasurable high.

After he'd lain on a preset number of lashes, Haynes stopped. Phillip remained

quite still for several moments. "Have you something on your mind, Haynes?" he finally

asked.

"No, Your Grace."

"I thought we agreed that when we are alone, you would call me Phillip."

"We did."

"So what is going on inside your head, Haynes? You were quite extraordinary

with that flogger."

"I was simply doing as you requested. I hope I didn't hurt you." He talked as he

released Phillip from the restraints.

Thornhill reached back to touch his ass. "Not at all. Now, how about you shuck

out of those clothes?"

"Wouldn't you rather I speak with Fortune or another of the ladies."

Phillip walked up to Haynes and placed a finger beneath the younger man's

chin. "No, I wouldn't. I want to see
your
ass beneath me."

Phillip was sure he saw resentment in the man's eyes, but chose to ignore it. He

unbuttoned Haynes's waistcoat, unraveled the cravat, and finally raised the man's

white linen shirt over his head.

He noticed Haynes's hands shaking as the man unbuttoned the fall of his

breeches. Impatiently, the duke slipped them down to Haynes's knees and bent the

younger man over the bed. "Hold yourself open for me."

Haynes did as he was bid, as Phillip oiled his cock.

"I've thought of little else all day," Phillip said, as he positioned himself at

Haynes's entrance. "You do enjoy me fucking you, do you not?"

"Yes, Phillip. I do."

"As I thought." With persistence and little gentleness, Phillip pushed his way into

the man's ass, allowing little time for Haynes's muscles to accommodate him. He heard

a gasp when he hilted himself with a groan.

His thrusts brutal, his mind full of angry resignation, he fucked as though setting

down ground rules for his marriage. Each stroke pounded out the way of it.
I. Will. Not.

Give. This. Up.
He'd not felt the fear of such a circumstance, until just then. He

wouldn't—no, he couldn't give up his desire for a man, never. Marriage be damned.

Phillip brought himself to completion with a roar, not worrying for the pleasure

of the other man. Caring was for lovers, and Haynes was far from a lover.

When he stood, he realized Haynes had taken himself in hand. Phillip turned his

back and began to wash. After slipping on a club-supplied dressing gown, he relaxed in

the comfortable, overstuffed chair. "When you recover, I would like to watch you do

that again."

"What do you mean?"

"I wish to watch you as you manipulate your cock."

Haynes looked away. He was a relatively shy man. Phillip had noticed as much,

but he'd also noted a bit more of an open manner about the man, of late.

Haynes poured them each a drink.

As he took the glass, he stroked the back of Haynes's fingers. He watched the

man's eyes, thought he saw lust, tinged with something he didn't recognize.

Phillip slouched in the chair and watched as Haynes made himself comfortable

in the chair opposite. The other man licked his bottom lip, spread his legs wide, and

began to stroke his cock, which became aroused rather quickly. Phillip took his own

erection in hand, matching the rhythm set by Haynes.

"You don't like to fuck women, do you?" Just above a whisper Phillip asked, his

eyes riveted on the other man's swift movements.

"No."

"How long have you known?"

"All my life, I suppose."

Phillip's heart raced.

"Do you like women, Phillip?"

"Yes."

"How long have
you
known?"

"I don't know." His answer pained him, for he'd known much longer than he

cared to admit.

"Which do you like better?" Haynes asked.

Phillip had no answer, so he shrugged. His breathing quickened as he pumped

his cock. He was in no hurry. He enjoyed watching Haynes, a beautiful young man with

a massive cock. He'd entertained a fleeting thought about being fucked by that cock.

He'd never allow such an act though, somehow justifying his attraction to men as only

wishing to fuck their asses, something of which he would never ask of a woman.

Always, Haynes had welcomed him.

"I'm getting married." His breath hitched as the pull toward release grew

stronger.

"Congratulations, Your Grace." Haynes's voice sounded suddenly cold.

"None due."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to, Haynes. It is my disaster, not yours." As his head lolled back

against the chair, Phillip pulled his attention from Haynes. He pumped himself to

release, feeling emptiness and desolation.

Chapter Five

Felicity returned from Madame Devalcourt's modiste shop completely and

utterly exhausted. She'd been poked, prodded, measured, and stuck with pins, until she

could bear no more. Her wedding gown was to be quite beautiful, though she was

taking no particular joy in it.

Her mother had ordered massive amounts of undergarments, as well as an

inordinate number of new dresses, saying, "We should take advantage of your father's

generosity one last time. You know, my darling, your new husband is even wealthier

than your father, and will see you in fine dresses, made in the latest styles."

At the time, she just smiled at her mother and wondered if that was the only

thing of importance occupying her mother's mind.

At other times in her life, the knowledge that she would be buried in silk, satin,

linen, and velvet, before the week was out, would have given her great joy, but given

the circumstances, she garnered no solace from her good fortune. All she could do now

was resign herself to her circumstances and make the most of it.

"Excuse me, Mama, but I have a blazing headache. I wish to lie down."

"Fine, darling. Papa and I are going out this evening, but I will arrange for a meal

to be brought to your chambers. Will that suit you, dear?"

"Quite well, Mama." She kissed her mother on the cheek and made her way to

her room. Time to implement her plan and her mother wouldn't be the wiser.

* * * * *

An hour later, a non-descript carriage pulled up in front of the Sapphire Club,

and a darkly cloaked Felicity floated out and onto the stone porch. The door opened

and she entered. Only upon the closing of the door did she remove her hood, which had

effectively hidden her face from even the hackney.

"Good afternoon, madam," the butler said. "How may I help you?"

"I wish to see Mrs. Damrill."

The top-lofty butler's brows knitted together. "I will see if she is receiving."

"Please tell her it is an emergency."

"Of course it is, madam."

Several minutes later, the butler returned, silently gesturing to Felicity,

indicating she should follow him. He led her down a hallway and into a beautiful room,

furnished with a great many nude statues and paintings.

Before her stood a lovely woman, older than Felicity, with dark brown hair

dressed in a knot at her crown. "Good afternoon," the woman said, extending her hand

in greeting.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Damrill, I am sorry for this unannounced call, but I am

desperate and didn't know where else to go."

With a slight nod, Serenity dismissed the butler, who closed the doors to the

parlor as he left.

"Well, might we start with your name? Mine is Serenity."

"My name is Felicity Linden. I am the daughter of Lord and Lady Plimmswood,

and I am about to marry the Duke of Thornhill."

Felicity observed that Serenity was not surprised by this news, which could

mean only one of two things: the duke had already been here or the gossip was more

rampant than she'd suspected.

"I offer my best wishes, Lady Felicity. How may I be of help?"

"I wish to learn more about my husband-to-be and what to do when he wishes to

have sexual congress with me."

Serenity smiled broadly, her ice-blue eyes sparkling. "I cannot speak specifically

about the duke, but I believe I can instruct you on some of the finer points of pleasing

him."

"Oh, yes, that is what I would like. I know so little, though more than most girls

my age. I went to a school with older girls, you see."

"Yes, I believe I understand. Now, why don't you tell me what it is you know, so

I don't find myself repeating knowledge you already possess."

Felicity related the tales from school.

"You know the basics, my dear," Serenity told her gently, once Felicity fell silent.

"But you have much to learn."

They spent the afternoon discussing the mechanics as well as the finer points of

lovemaking.

"You were right. There is so much to learn," Felicity said, amazed at how much

she hadn't known.

"Lovemaking is pleasure-making. Each partner should learn the other's desires."

Felicity couldn't imagine her duke caring about her pleasure, which saddened

her. However, she would make him happy he married her, especially since it was her

fault the entire marriage had to take place.

"You do know what goes on here at the club, do you not, Felicity?"

"I know people come here and engage in sexual congress."

"Yes, that is true, but there is much more. People come to the club to do what

most can't do in their own homes. Have you ever been spanked?"

"Well, when I was a child, my governess used to spank me when I was naughty."

"Sexually speaking, spanking can be a very erotic game, played between two

consenting partners."

"Doesn't it hurt?"

"Oh, yes, but the pain is an aphrodisiac."

"Does your husband spank you?"

"Twice every day."

"And you enjoy it?"

"I crave it. More often than not, I ask him to spank me earlier than our scheduled

time. It is always followed by the most wonderful lovemaking."

"How would I convince my husband to spank me?"

"I have a feeling, my dear, that convincing him will not be a problem."

"Are you saying he comes here to spank other women?"

"I'm not saying anything of the kind. Would you care to see a spanking? It is

about time for mine, and I wouldn't mind at all if you observed."

Felicity felt her quim tingle. This was a whole new aspect of marriage about

which she knew nothing. Somehow, she couldn't imagine her father taking her mother

over his knee and spanking her.

"I wouldn't mind observing."

"Well, come then. My husband will be expecting me, and I mustn't keep him

waiting."

Serenity ushered Felicity into the library. "There is a passageway leading to our

third floor residence. My husband had the third floor staircase blocked after he bought

the estate, lest members decide to travel about the house freely."

When the women reached the third floor, Serenity led Felicity down a hallway,

to a room at the end. When she opened the door, Felicity saw a man standing by the

fireplace, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Before he could say anything, Serenity walked to him, kissed him quite

passionately, then turned to introduce Felicity.

"Darling, this is Lady Felicity Linden. She is the lovely young woman who is

about to marry the duke. Felicity, this is my husband, Lucien."

"It is very nice to meet you, Lady Felicity." He bowed politely, then looked at his

wife.

"Felicity wishes to observe my spanking. I have explained to her that spankings

can serve as an enhancement to lovemaking."

"They certainly do and I am itching to get started." Lucien began to unbutton his

wife's dress. "Spankings are always conducted on the bare, Lady Felicity. No clothing at

all. I suppose you can see the benefit of that, can you not?"

Felicity's mouth was agape, as she watched the playfulness between husband

and wife. "Yes, I suppose," she said, though she didn't understand any of this.

"Please, you may sit in the chair over there," Lucien said, pointing to an

overstuffed chair not far away. "We will act as though you are not here, if you don't

mind."

Felicity walked to the chair and sat. There was no shyness between the couple at

all. Serenity seemed quite comfortable in her nudity, and Lucien appeared to come alive

at the sight of her body.

"Oh, my!" Felicity gasped before she could govern herself.

Both the Damrills met Felicity's gaze, with quizzical looks on their faces.

"What is wrong?" Serenity asked.

Felicity pointed awkwardly. "You have no hair, you know, there."

Lucien and Serenity laughed. "No, I don't, as my husband wishes it so."

Lucien smiled. Felicity said nothing more.

Lucien smacked Serenity's bottom and her smile broadened. "Bend over the chair

and get your arse high."

Serenity did as she was bid. Felicity reasoned the woman had done this countless