Mastering The Marquess (Bound and Determined #1)(100)

The Countess stepped nearer. Louisa could hear the click of her heels upon the boards of the floor.

A cool hand settled on one of her buttocks—and then the Countess’s other hand traced slowly down her cleft.

“Has he ever f*cked you here?” A long nail traced Louisa’s nether hole. “He always did like that. He was not obsessed with it as some men can be, but he did like the tightness of a good ass f*ck.”

Do not show response. Do not show response. Louisa wasn’t sure why it mattered so much, but it did. She refused to give the Countess any response that she could withhold. Her stomach might be churning with acid and terror, but she was determined that no one would ever know.

She tried again to concentrate on the memory of Geoffrey’s smile. She would not think about anything else.

“No, I don’t believe he ever did f*ck you there, although I bet he wanted to, was working up to it.” The Countess pushed upon the tight closure. “Perhaps I should do him a favor and put in a plug. I have some nice large ones. They will fill you so completely. My only question is should I give you one with a tail, or perhaps a rosebud. There is something about seeing a rose blooming in a woman’s ass that brings every cock about to a full stand. I’ve never quite understood it myself, but they seem to find it irresistible. I am not sure I ever tried it with Geoffrey. How do you think he’d feel walking through that door and seeing you here, a rose at full bloom just waiting for him?”

Louisa kept her lips tight shut, refused to let her mind dwell on the Countess’s questions. They were meant to cause misery, and Louisa would not give her that power.

“You will learn to answer my every question soon. Do not think you will escape my punishment.” The Countess ran her finger farther down, dipping it between the lower lips. “It’s a pity you are so dry. I do like a woman who shows her appreciation of my efforts. It makes everything so much easier for us all.”

Before Louisa could even think about that, the Countess pulled back and then brought her hand down in a quick, hard slap across Louisa’s behind, a sharp sting spreading from the impact.

“Yes, that’s better. If I don’t get a response one way I will get it another. You should learn to cooperate.” Another slap. “Look how prettily you redden. It gives me so many ideas.”

“Tell me, why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?”

The Countess moved so that Louisa could see her deep red skirts. Craning her head up, Louisa stared into the cold face.

“Say please. ‘Please, my dear Countess.’ ”

What did the woman want? Did she take pleasure in this humiliation? Yes, she did.

Walking over to the wall, the Countess picked up a heavy crop. “Do I have to ask you again? You will say it. It is up to you how it happens.”

“Please, my dear Countess.” Louisa wanted to choke on the words, “Tell me why you are doing this.”

“First, because I can and because I enjoy it. There is nothing like having another woman submit to my command. And second, because your husband, my sweet Geoffrey, made it a necessity. I might not have selected you if he had given me any choice in the matter.”

“Forgive me, my dear Countess, but I do not understand.”

The Countess raised the crop and smacked it against her palm, the crack echoing in the small room. “It is not often that God makes a woman intelligent and beautiful. You should be thankful for the favors he granted you.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“That does sound sweet from your soft lips.” The Countess walked back and rested her palm upon Louisa’s cheek, before running her fingers over her lips. “But do remember, address me as ‘Countess,’ or ‘my dear Countess.’ For anything else you will be punished.” She pulled back slightly and held out her hand. Louisa could see the growing welt that ran across the Countess’s palm. “I have always found joy in pain, whether giving or receiving. It is so freeing, so cleansing. Now kiss my palm better—and use your tongue.”

Could she actually do this? Louisa was not sure. Everything in her rebelled at such an action, but what were the options? With dry lips, she laid the lightest of kisses upon the palm. The hand held there, inches from her face.

Louisa could not bring herself to lick it.

It held there for another moment, and then the Countess swirled, walking over to one of the high dressers, placing the crop on it, and pulling out a drawer. “I have whipped asses raw for less insult. And do not fear: Yours will bleed before the night is over. I would do it now, but I want to preserve that virgin skin for a while longer.”

“You still have not fully explained why I am here?” Louisa asked, trying again to distract the Countess. She did not know what was in that drawer, and she had no desire to find out.

The Countess turned back, but did not answer. Something dangled from her hand—Louisa could not determine what—as she stood still, waiting.

“Please, my dear Countess.”

“So much better. And I will indulge you, for you will not be speaking in a moment.” The Countess moved her hand, and a ball on a cord swung back and forth. “Geoffrey spurned me without cause, and he must pay. You are the currency of that payment. The foolish man did not understand the bond we shared. He did not understand all that I offered him.”

“I am sorry, my dear Countess.” Louisa could not take her eyes off the swinging ball. It looked like a child’s toy. And was that a large ring on a cord beside it? Louisa’s imagination was not up to the task of understanding what they were for.