Purr (6 page)

Giselle sat on her knees, wearing full kitten regalia. She
hung her head as the komtesse continued to heap insults on her. “I cannot
believe you continued to beg for attention when you clearly saw I was
previously engaged.”

Giselle did not speak. She’d never been summoned to the
komtesse’s chambers in her kitten costume before.

“Go fetch me the paddle.” Katarina pointed toward the chest
where she stored her accoutrements.

On hands and knees, Giselle crawled to the cabinet. Relief
washed through her that the komtesse had not found out about her tryst with
Arabella. Katarina had orchestrated all this merely to punish Giselle for
seeking attention.

She retrieved the fur-and-leather paddle and carried it back
to the komtesse in her teeth.

Katarina sat on a bench and gestured for Giselle to bend
over her lap. Heart thudding, Giselle moved into position. Her stomach tensed
as the komtesse took the paddle and caressed her bottom and the backs of her
thighs with the fur side.

The komtesse lifted Giselle’s tail, the dowel pulling so
that she rose onto her tiptoes. “Prepare yourself for a very thorough
punishment, naughty pussy.”

Giselle’s blood rushed, pounding in her ears. This time,
there were no soft swats with the fur side of the paddle. The komtesse began
immediately with the leather side. Blow after stinging blow caused Giselle’s
bottom to blaze.

The invisible thread between pain and pleasure connected
and, with it, a calming peace flowed through Giselle’s being, leaving behind
nothing but the heady throb of sensation on her abused flesh.

When the komtesse finally pushed her away, the aristocrat
stood, panting and perspiring from the effort. “Lie down at the foot of the
bed. That’s where you’ll sleep tonight.”

No orgasm? Giselle’s lips parted. She’d never been beckoned
to the komtesse’s chamber before and not been rewarded sexually.

As the komtesse padded off to the bathing room, Giselle
climbed onto the bed and lay down, pulling her knees up to her chest. Hot tears
stung her eyes and she swiped them away with her mittens.

Now more than ever, she knew she had to get away from this
place.

* * * * *

Arabella tossed and turned on her narrow bed. Exhaustion had
set in long ago but she couldn’t manage to sleep. Her brain would not stop
spinning with images of what had happened between her and Giselle.

This attraction could prove very dangerous and yet she
couldn’t have prevented herself from touching the voluptuous curves. She
inhaled deeply. The velvet petals opening to the wet softness within.

“Oh God,” she whispered into the darkness.

A soft knock came on her door. “Arabella, get up. You are
needed in the preparation room.” It was Helga’s voice.

Terror swamped her that she’d been found out and would be
reprimanded. Apprehensive, she opened her door to find Helga standing outside
with a candle. “No need to change. Follow me.”

Arabella’s pulse accelerated with every step as she trailed
behind Helga. Would the komtesse be waiting, ready to send her packing for
violating the rules? Arabella tried to swallow but couldn’t. She never should
have touched Giselle intimately but, God in heaven, she hadn’t been able to
stop herself.

A small gray cat darted from the dimly lit preparation room
as they approached.

“Be quick. Do not tarry. And I trust you will return to your
room as soon as you are finished,” Helga instructed.

“Finished?” Confusion struck until Arabella saw Giselle
lying facedown on the table. Even in the low light of a single candle, Arabella
could see the kitten’s bottom was striped with angry red welts.

“Why me?” Arabella asked, not realizing she’d uttered the
word aloud until Helga responded.

“As the newest attendant, you are the one summoned if aid is
required outside your usual duties. Now be quick.”

Helga whirled and left as Arabella rushed into the room.
“God in heaven,” she whispered. “What has she done to you?”

Giselle’s shoulders shook with a sob.

Arabella’s heart twisted. She stroked the soft locks of
brunette hair. “Why? Was it because I…because…”

“No,” Giselle said bleakly. She drew in a faltering breath.
“She can be a harsh mistress.”

Arabella found herself reluctant to leave the girl’s side
but she had to retrieve the salve. Dread trickled through her that Giselle
might leave Katzenhalle. “W-what are you going to do?”

“Do?” Giselle asked. “There’s nothing I can do.”

Arabella removed the lid from the salve and coated her
fingers with it. “You could…leave.”

Giselle snorted derisively. “No one just
leaves
Katzenhalle.”

“But—”

“Lies. All lies.”

Arabella gently treated the welts with the salve as Giselle
continued. “I’ve been around the komtesse enough to learn what really happens
when someone
leaves
the villa.”

The look that flashed in the kitten’s eyes sparked a shard
of fear in Arabella. “I don’t understand,” she said as she wiped the salve from
her hands with a towel.

“The hillside beyond the gardens is filled with the graves
of women who’ve displeased the komtesse.”

Denial swelled like a wave in her chest. Graves? Somehow,
Arabella couldn’t picture the komtesse killing anyone. To be certain, the woman
had dark appetites but…murder?

As she removed the kitten costume, Arabella tried to absorb
this new view of the place she’d come to see as her sanctuary. She didn’t want
to believe it. Why would the komtesse do such a thing? But then, Arabella remembered
how she’d been brought here. In chains, like chattel. She inhaled sharply.

Perhaps it was true. But what could be done?

More specifically, what could
she
do?

Giselle moved onto her side and brought one knee up so the
tail plug could be dislodged. As Arabella gripped the base of the dowel, their
gazes met.

Giselle smiled sadly but didn’t request more as Arabella
removed the tail and began to clean it. Afterward, Giselle sat. “I wish I could
escape.”

Arabella remained silent.

“I was sent here against my will,” Giselle explained. “My
stepmother told my father she was arranging for me to visit the spa in Bad
Kissingen. Instead I was brought here, and not allowed to even pen him a letter
to let him know I had not been killed in a highway robbery.” She blinked
against tears brimming in her eyes.

Arabella put the tail aside and thumbed a strand of the
kitten’s hair behind her ear. She’d intended it as a gesture of comfort but the
touch conveyed so much more. “How long have you been here?”

“I’ve lost track of the time,” Giselle said. “But I’ve been
here long enough to become jaded. Long enough to learn that something wicked
dwells inside me.”

“There’s nothing wicked about you.”

Giselle swatted at the tears dampening her cheeks. “I
willingly submit to punishment, even provoke it from the komtesse, just to
receive the pleasure she offers.”

“There is nothing wrong with desiring another’s touch.”

“Is that why you were brought here?” Giselle asked.

“My parents died when I was young and I was sent to live
with my aunt and uncle. Despite everything I was told, I couldn’t help the fact
that I found women beautiful…in a sexual way.” Even now, Arabella could not
keep her gaze from wandering over Giselle’s comely curves.

“You were caught with another woman?”

“I was caught
kissing
another woman.” Arabella
glanced at the full lips she’d fantasized about kissing so many times.

Giselle dampened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I’ve
never kissed a girl before.”

“Not even the komtesse?” The idea of that struck a chord of
jealousy in Arabella.

“She forbids it.”

Struggling against the urge to share a kiss, Arabella
swallowed thickly. Uncertainty rendered her unable to move or speak.

Giselle eased off the table. “Pull up your night rail.”

“Why?”

The kitten released a soft chuckle as she sank to her knees
and skimmed her palms up each of Arabella’s legs. “I am indebted to you for
what you did for me earlier. Allow me to repay you.”

Arabella didn’t have time to speak as Giselle bunched up the
fabric and latched onto her clitoris. A warm tongue explored her folds, knowing
just where to linger, just how to flick. Arabella had never experienced
anything that felt so good in her life.

Hands cupped her bottom, drawing her closer, coaxing her to
spread and tuck in order to open herself to the inquisitive mouth. Hot breaths
ignited the tender flesh before lips enclosed Arabella’s pearl and began to
suck. A fingertip nudged against her nether hole and Arabella could do nothing
but hold Giselle’s head captive between her legs.

Sexual intoxication inundated Arabella. Her stomach seized
taut when her gaze fell on the beautiful sight of Giselle’s face as she licked
and kissed. Sooty lashes framed her closed eyes. Her mussed hair looked like a
wild, erotic mess. More enchanting than the sight, however, was the sensation
of a warm mouth on Arabella’s cunny. She spread her legs to admit the prodding
finger at her behind. A push propelled it past her rim and inside.

Arabella bit her lip to avoid crying out from the intense
pleasure. Sensation built and budded and she struggled to stay on her feet. She
gripped the edge of the table and clung to keep from falling as rapture
detonated, consuming her in its power. Her breath caught in her chest as she
surrendered to the overwhelming wonder of finding pleasure at another’s touch.

Giselle lightly nipped the inside of Arabella’s thigh before
standing. Her lips glistened and her eyes gleamed.

Arabella gaped, stunned by the bliss still pulsing through
her loins—and by Giselle’s naked beauty. All Arabella wanted to do was draw the
woman into her arms and hold her while she peppered her with kisses from head
to toe.

As she moved to do just that, Giselle seized Arabella’s
shoulders and whispered in her ear. “Think about escape. If you want to leave
here, let me know. Together, we can get out.”

“Arabella? Are you finished?” Helga’s voice sounded from the
next room.

Giselle released her and fled out the door before Arabella
could respond.

Together…

Arabella stared at the spot where she’d last seen Giselle.

“Clean up and get back to bed,” Helga said upon finding
Arabella still in the preparation room.

“Yes, ma’am,” Arabella replied, dipping into a quick curtsy.
But as she put away the kitten costume and cleaned her table, she could not
stop imagining what a life outside the walls would entail—a life with Giselle.

* * * * *

Giselle didn’t stop until she’d arrived at her room.
Sickening guilt roiled in her gut. The girl genuinely liked her. She closed her
eyes and inhaled, breathing in the scent of Arabella’s sex that still lingered
on her lips and hands. Giving the woman release had caused a stirring in
Giselle for which she’d not been prepared.

For the first time, she’d felt the true desire to give
pleasure to another. Granted, she’d sought to tempt the girl into helping her.
Giselle had learned that her beauty and sexual ability could be used to
manipulate others. Thus far, she’d used her weapons as such.

But what she’d done with the guileless girl had left her
confused and remorseful. She tamped down the unwelcome feelings and resolved to
stay the course and escape Katzenhalle—whatever the price.

Not bothering to don her nightgown, she climbed into bed.
The komtesse had awakened her to deliver another punishment more devastating
than the first. Her rough treatment had given Giselle the perfect opportunity
to appear the victim. Her entreaty to escape could not have been played to more
sympathetic ears. But Giselle had not expected to feel such self-reproach. She
had no intention of doing anything with the hapless attendant once she was
safely back in France. Perhaps her father could offer the girl a position or
give her a reward. But even the thought of easing her conscience with money
brought Giselle little succor.

Arabella was clearly infatuated with her. Giselle could see it
in her eyes. That made seducing her all the worse. Giselle had thought she
could do what it took to arrange her escape with no qualms. She touched her
tongue to her lips and tasted Arabella’s essence again.

No qualms, indeed.

Chapter Five

Arabella felt a strange quivering in her belly when Giselle
mounted her table the next day. As she readied the brunette for the den,
Arabella’s hands trembled. Perspiration misted her spine and the back of her
neck flamed. All she could think about was their exchange the previous evening.
And while she found the kitten extraordinarily beautiful, conversing with her
had made her that much more alluring.

She was falling in love with the komtesse’s favorite, and
there was nothing Arabella could do to prevent it. Her pulse skittered when she
remembered the breathtaking sensuality of Giselle’s mouth kissing her between
the legs. In contrast, an ugly streak of jealousy snaked through her at the
thought of Giselle bestowing that same pleasure on the komtesse.

Arabella did not want to share.

Perhaps escape
was
their only option.

When Giselle lifted her bottom to receive her tail,
frustration ate at Arabella. She wanted to take her time to explore the
tempting cleft but under Helga’s vigilant eye, it proved impossible.

“Fingers first,” Giselle implored, looking back over her
shoulder.

Arabella lubricated two fingers and eased them into the
tight, hot hole. Giselle expelled a quiet breath, inciting Arabella to slowly
thrust the fingers in and out. She didn’t dare dawdle though. Helga marched
down the line, smacking a strap against her palm.

Attempting to appear industrious, Arabella withdrew her
fingers and then pushed the tail dowel securely into place. She finished
readying the kitten for the den and as Giselle climbed down from the table, she
leaned close. “Did you give any thought to our conversation?”

Arabella bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know.”

“Keep your eyes open. You will see.” And with that, she
sauntered away with the other kittens.

After all the kittens had gone, Arabella began tidying her
station. Helga approached her, concern evident in her blue eyes. “The komtesse
is particularly possessive of her favorites.”

“Her favorites?” Arabella had tried to appear innocent. She
knew she’d failed.

“There are many temptations at Katzenhalle,” she said. “And
it would be impossible to be discreet for very long. Be warned, child.”

Arabella nodded. Her stomach knotted. This thing with
Giselle had to end. It was dangerous. And if what Giselle said was true, it
could prove fatal.

* * * * *

For the next few days, Arabella was able to maintain her
distance from the alluring kitten. And yet the memory of what had happened
between them haunted her nights. Every time she recalled those soft lips plying
the flesh between her legs, raging need rose hard, setting her nerves on edge.
She’d become short with the other attendants, withdrawn. But she’d taken
Giselle’s advice to keep her eyes open.

Soon afterward, whispers began to circulate about two of the
kittens—two
missing
kittens. The komtesse’s lackey, Gudrun, had a
strange and frightening gleam in her eye. Giselle had moved to another
attendant but never failed to give Arabella a meaningful stare as she passed
by.

As the whispers continued, little by little Arabella lost
the feeling of security she’d felt upon arriving at Katzenhalle.

But finding the time to let Giselle know she was ready to
help her escape would be all but impossible.

* * * * *

“Good morning,” Helga greeted as the attendants gathered
after breakfast. “The komtesse requests your presence in the den—
without
the kittens, this morning.”

No one asked questions as they shuffled down the hallway and
into the den. Arabella tried to read the faces of the more experienced
attendants, but to no avail. She wondered if this would be about the two girls
that had disappeared, seemingly without a trace. Some believed they’d made an
arrangement with the komtesse to leave. But Giselle’s darker declaration made
Arabella question the sudden departure.

Once everyone was inside, the komtesse swept in and sank
into her big chair. An orange tomcat leapt onto her lap. “As you have probably
realized,” she began, “two of our kittens have decided to leave us. I am
heartbroken over it but that leaves two spots for new kittens in the den.”

Her hawkish gaze roved over the attendants. “You,” she said,
pointing at Karin. “And you.”

Arabella’s eyes widened when the komtesse pointed at
her
.

“Step forward.”

Knees trembling, Arabella stepped out of the line. She
glanced at Karin, who stood smiling proudly.

“Ah yes, I recall your first day here.” The komtesse’s lurid
smile caused a furious blush to infuse Arabella’s cheeks. Her body heated at
the memory of the komtesse’s intimate touch.

“I could use some new blood in the den.” The way the
komtesse eyed Arabella made her uneasy. “Show me that luscious cunny,
sweetheart. That’s it. Lift your skirts.”

Face flaming with humility, Arabella drew up her skirts to
reveal her sex. The komtesse traced the tip of her tongue across her lips
before she turned to Karin. “And you. Let’s see yours too.”

Karin didn’t hesitate. She raked up her skirts and proudly
displayed her wares, preening for the komtesse.

“Your name?” the komtesse asked.

“Karin.”

“Karin, would you like to be one of my kittens?”

“Oh, very much!”

“Good,” the komtesse said. “And your name again?” Her gaze
swiveled to Arabella.

“I am Arabella, my Mistress.”

When the komtesse motioned for her to come closer, Arabella
crossed the room. The komtesse’s glittering gaze collided with hers as she
reached and raked her fingertip through Arabella’s moist folds.

In spite of everything Giselle had shared with her, a
shudder tore through Arabella at the other woman’s touch. This woman held some
sort of sexual power over them all that rattled Arabella to the core. She
gnawed her bottom lip, desperately wanting to rock her hips toward the taboo
touch.

With a dark chuckle, the komtesse withdrew her finger and
slid it between her rouged lips. “Mmm…”

Arabella trembled so badly she could hardly stay put. The
memory of Petra’s ordeal flashed like a nightmare in her head, both titillating
and terrifying. Becoming a kitten would make escape far more difficult, for the
kittens were watched closely. And yet…

The promise of slaking the ragged edge of her desire loomed
like a beacon from which she couldn’t turn away.

A more sensible part of her realized she didn’t have a
choice in this matter, and intuition told her the komtesse would brook no
refusal.

“What about you, dear? Would you like to be one of my
kittens?” the komtesse purred.

“Yes, my Mistress,” Arabella managed, her voice faltering.

“Very well,” the komtesse said, rising. “The initiations
will take place tomorrow.”

Her wide skirts brushed Arabella’s legs as she passed by on
the way out of the den. Arabella stared after her, painfully aware of the
hateful looks shot at her by the other attendants, many of whom had been at
Katzenhalle far longer.

Immediately Karin began to gloat. She clapped her hands
together and squealed with delight. “I’m to be a kitten! I’m to be a
kitten
!”

Eva, the girl who’d trained Arabella, snorted. “I’ve been
here months longer than either of you.”

Helga appeared. “There’ll be no arguing. The komtesse has
made her choices.”

Dejected, Eva sulked out of the den.

Arabella gazed at the dais, suddenly terrified of what was
to come. Images of Petra—bent to receive all manner of erotic
punishments—filled her thoughts. The initiation had seemed sensual to watch.
Receiving
would be an entirely different matter.

Pity flashed in Helga’s eyes.

“I couldn’t have denied her, could I?” Arabella asked
brazenly.

“No,” Helga muttered.

* * * * *

Arabella lay awake, staring at the ceiling. No matter how
tired she was, sleep would not come.

A soft knock sounded on her door before it opened and
Giselle’s nude silhouette appeared.

Sitting, Arabella gasped. “Come in before anyone sees you,”
she whispered.

Giselle closed the door behind her. “What are you thinking?
You can’t become a kitten!” Her face looked stricken.

“She singled me out. I didn’t feel as if I had a choice,”
Arabella defended.

Raking her fingers through her lustrous locks, Giselle
sighed. “I suppose not. But it will make it far more difficult to escape.”

Arabella stood and closed the distance between them. She
covered Giselle’s lips with her fingers. “Hush. Would you want anyone to hear
you?”

She removed her fingers and Giselle shook her head. “It’s
just that…that I can’t bear the thought of another woman putting her hands on
you.”

“Do you mean that?” Arabella asked.

Giselle tucked a strand of hair behind Arabella’s ear.
“Yes.”

Arabella couldn’t help herself. In spite of the rules, she
brushed her lips against Giselle’s, softly at first and then with bruising
force. Arabella wanted out of her night rail. She wanted to feel the kitten’s
skin against her own, to touch and kiss every inch of her body, to taste a
woman’s sex for the first time in her life.

Ending the kiss, Arabella pulled her garment over her head
and dropped it on the floor.

“If we’re discovered, we’ll be killed,” Giselle said, even
as she moved toward the small bed.

Arabella did not respond. Any words that came to mind only
sounded melodramatic and reckless. Instead, she moved over the other woman’s
body and kissed her. Her skin felt like smooth satin, her lips like the softest
rose petals. She wanted to know this sweetness, this innocent coming together
of two women without the forbidden dictates of the den.

Her palm swept across a pebbled nipple and she lingered
there to knead the taut bud before skimming downward to delve between Giselle’s
legs. She slid a finger through the moist folds and into the opening.

Seizing Arabella’s hand and holding it tightly against her,
Giselle sucked in a breath and began to rock her hips. She muttered things in
French that Arabella didn’t understand.

“Taste me.” She breathed the words. “I want your mouth on
me.”

Arabella didn’t hesitate. She moved down the lithe body and
buried her face in the soft thatch of hair. Using her fingers to open the
folds, she laved the lush cunny spread wide for her, thrusting her tongue into
the opening, dipping lower to tease the taut rosette and then licking her way
back up to the ripe clitoris. The kitten tasted sweet. So, so sweet. Arabella
could lose herself between this woman’s legs, consequences be damned.

Giselle’s fingers threaded into her hair and held it back.
Her legs trembled. Her back arched and dipped and finally, she pushed up with
her toes and ground her cunny against Arabella’s mouth. Erotic moans spilled
from the kitten’s lips and her body jerked as rapture claimed her.

Joy filled Arabella that she’d brought her lover to this
pleasure. She kissed her way back up to Giselle’s mouth and took her fill of
it, caressing her body, her breasts, her curves. Desire burned like an out of
control fire and her emotions ran wild. The possibility of love brimmed and ran
over. Tears spilled from Arabella’s eyes and she straddled her lover.

“I want to ride your fingers,” Arabella pleaded softly. “I
want to feel them inside me.”

Hovering, Arabella gazed into her lover’s eyes as a finger
stroked her opening. She braced herself as the pressure intensified—and then
went away altogether. Disappointment flashed through Arabella.

“I can’t, darling,” Giselle cooed.

“Why not?” Arabella blinked away tears.

“The komtesse would know you were no longer a virgin. It
would be too dangerous.”

Arabella could not be still. Frustration inundated her. She
clenched her teeth, aching to move, to assuage this lust that had all but
driven her insane since her arrival at Katzenhalle. Whimpering her regret, she
planted her hands on the mattress on either side of Giselle’s shoulders and
began to rock, rubbing her cunny against her lover’s fingers.

The threat of tomorrow’s initiation, of what might happen if
they were discovered, faded until there was only this moment with Giselle, this
magical feeling coming from another’s touch.

Sensitive tissue awakened in Giselle’s capable hand.
Arabella had never felt anything so good. Bliss lurked near and she could not
resist giving herself completely over to it. Her channel seized against its own
emptiness. Her breath caught and ecstasy sparked, setting off a charge that
fired through her body, leaving her limbs, her fingers and toes, even her scalp
tingling with pleasure.

She sagged over Giselle and kissed her deeply. Every touch,
every kiss Arabella had known until now paled in comparison to what she had
just shared with Giselle.

“Let’s leave this place tonight,” Arabella whispered.

Giselle cupped her face. “Tonight? But how? We’re not
prepared.”

Disappointment weighed on Arabella’s heart. It was true. They
weren’t ready to strike out and make good on an escape. They would need
provisions and clothing. For the most part, the kittens were kept nude and the
attendants were only allowed one costume at a time. It frightened Arabella how
easily she’d been drawn into the komtesse’s tangle of deceit. A tear coursed
down her cheek and Giselle brushed it away with her thumb.

“I don’t want to go through the initiation tomorrow,”
Arabella squeaked.

“I know,” Giselle said, drawing her into an embrace. “I
know.”

Arabella’s brain raced for a solution. She pushed up far
enough to look into her lover’s eyes. “Will they perform the initiations
simultaneously?”

“I don’t know. The komtesse has never before chosen two
kittens at once.”