Hot Pursuit (30 page)

Donald urged Ginger to raise her backside, settled further back in his seat, and cleared his throat. Holding the letter close enough to his face so he didn't have to find his spectacles, he read Lucy's letter:

Master,

I committed a grave error of judgement yesterday evening by trying to ask for a favour without offering you something to show my loyalty. You punished me, justly, and gave me time to reflect on what I could do for you that would earn me the right to ask a favour. That is why I've run away.

You said you missed the thrill of the chase, so I'm giving you a present of that bygone pleasure. You said you missed the excitement of the pursuit, so I'm going to do my best to let you enjoy it once more. All that I ask is, if you do enjoy the pursuit, you will consider hearing my request.

Loyally,

Kitten.

Lucy stood over Ginger, ready to slice the crop down and wondering if the act of administering discipline would give her as much pleasure as she usually received from the punishment. She was smiling to herself as she anticipated the redhead's screams.

‘What's the favour you wanted?'

She switched her gaze from Ginger's backside and regarded him warily. ‘Are you sure I'm all right to ask?'

He laughed at her unease and nodded sympathetically. ‘I haven't said I'll grant any favours yet,' he reminded her. ‘I'd simply like to know what favour you wanted. I'd be interested to know what drove you to orchestrate this splendid diversion.'

Lucy studied him solemnly. ‘I wanted a pet. That was all I ever wanted. That was the reason why I gave you the pursuit. It's still all I want. Ginger has a pet. Every other favourite in your hall has a pet. Here some of the favourites have two pets. I didn't want anything more than the other favourites are allowed. I just wanted to have my own pet.'

His flat gaze was unreadable. Ginger's head continued to work up and down as she lapped at his erection, and the quickening movement of her neck suggested she was close to sucking the climax from his length, but Donald's features gave nothing away concerning his arousal.

‘Did you have a particular pet in mind?' Donald asked. He turned toward Ginger's pet blonde who had once again retired to the shadows and asked, ‘Did you want to have Ginger's pet? Is that the one you wanted?'

Lucy shook her head. ‘I don't want to take Ginger's pet. And I didn't have a particular pet in mind when I first ran away from the hall,' she admitted. She stole a glance in Anne's direction,
shared a knowing smile, and added, ‘But I think I know the pet I'd like now.'

‘Then, if that's all you wanted, of course you can have a pet.'

He looked set to say more but stopped himself by slapping one hand against the table. Remaining rigid, a trembling smile bristled across his lips; every muscle in his body had become hard. With a deep sigh, and a groan of clear satisfaction, he relaxed and settled back in his chair.

‘If that's all you wanted,' he repeated, casting a nod in Anne's direction, ‘and if your acquaintance is agreeable to the idea, then you may have your pet.' He glared down at Ginger and told her to swallow. Returning his smile to Lucy, giving only the subtlest indication that he was a cruel predator, he said, ‘But, before we return to the unity of our former, happy way of life, may I ask a question?'

Guardedly, Lucy shrugged. Anne had come to her side, hugging her lightly and, Lucy realised, she was gleaning more pleasure from that embrace than the prospect of caning Ginger. Slowly, she lowered the riding crop. ‘You're my master,' Lucy reminded Donald. ‘You can ask whatever question you want and you know I'll be bound to answer honestly.'

His hand rested on Ginger's head, holding her over his dwindling shaft and quietly encouraging her to continue licking. ‘What would you have done if I hadn't caught you?' he asked.

Lucy laughed. ‘There was never any danger of that,' she assured him. ‘I left our baronial hall with every intention of letting you pursue me, and then capture me. It wouldn't have been much of a pursuit if I'd just disappeared at the end of the chase.'

‘Are you telling me,' he began, ‘that it never crossed your mind to just keep running?'

‘I couldn't have done that,' Lucy told him quietly. She met his gaze with unwavering honesty and said, ‘In order to be properly free I would have needed my deeds of indenture.'

He started to speak, then stopped himself abruptly. ‘You had your deeds,' he said, pointing to the ribbon-tied scroll that sat amongst the clutter on the dining table. ‘You took them from the record keeper and ...'

His voice trailed off when he noticed Lucy was shaking her head. ‘The record keeper gave me
a set of
deeds,' she told him. ‘But he didn't give me my own. Read them if you don't believe me. I promise you: they're not mine.'

Donald picked up the ribbon-bound paperwork, glanced at the contents, then began to chuckle.

Slowly, Ginger pulled her face from between his legs. Her cheeks were ruddy with fury and she cast a vicious glare between Donald and Lucy. The flames of her outrage were fanned by the knowing laughter that they shared. ‘What's so damned funny?' she demanded. Glowering at Donald she asked, ‘What could that little bitch have possibly done with the deeds that's made you laugh instead of vowing to punish her for the rest of her miserable life?'

The master took no umbrage at her outburst. ‘These belong to you, Ginger,' he said, tossing the scroll down to her. ‘These are your deeds.'

She caught the tube of parchment, a look of dismay paling her features. Her freckles stood out like blemishes against her wan complexion.

‘You'd best take good care of those,' he added. ‘Don't let them get damaged on your journey.'

‘My journey?' Ginger asked uneasily. ‘What journey?'

Donald's eyes sparkled with malevolent glee. ‘I'm giving you a reprieve from suffering that caning I promised. Be grateful.'

Ginger shook her head, consternation apparent in her frown. ‘What journey?'

‘Lucy provided some excellent sport when she led us on this chase,' Donald reminded her. ‘Let's see if you can do any better. You've already got a head start because you're holding your deeds.'

Ginger shook her head and tried to hand the scroll back to him but Donald refused to accept them. Watching her Lucy could see that the redhead didn't want to be away from her master's reassuring presence, or hounded in a gruelling chase. She had clearly preferred being by his side and her reluctance was apparent to all of them except, it seemed, Donald. Considering his cruel drives, Lucy thought he might secretly know how much the redhead loathed the idea of being put through this ordeal.

‘Hurry along,' he encouraged, grinning and waving his hands toward the door. ‘Start running. Take your pet blonde with you if you want. We'll be giving you a head start. We won't follow until morning.'

Ginger shook her head but, used to following Donald's orders, she stumbled toward the door. The deeds of indenture were held in one numb fist and she used them to point at Lucy. ‘I thought you were punishing her tomorrow,' she reminded him. Her voice was rich with the urgent need to force a reprieve. ‘How can you chase after me if she's suffering her official reprimand?'

Donald shook his head. ‘Lucy's official reprimand will have to be deferred on this occasion. As soon as morning light breaks, myself, Lucy and her new pet will be following you.' He chuckled dryly and said, ‘As soon as morning light breaks, we'll follow in hot pursuit.'

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