Mastering The Marquess (Bound and Determined #1)(104)

Not that he could pretend nothing had happened. His wife was naked except for her corset, her wrists red from the ropes that held her. Dried trails of tears clearly marked her cheeks. And the smell of cinnamon filled the air. He knew exactly what that meant, what the silky oil that the Countess had been spreading so liberally could do. He loved its effects sometimes, but only in moderation.

The Countess had no love of moderation.

“Oh, my sweet Geoffrey, you have come. It was dreadful of you to cause me such worry. I’ve planned such entertainment.” The Countess walked toward him, her full crimson skirts opening to reveal a slit that rose almost to her crotch, her breasts standing sharply from the size-too-small bodice that held them. They looked as if they wanted to jump right out and join the party themselves.

Revulsion flowed through him.

And that was without looking too closely at Louisa and what had been done to her.

He’d glanced over at her when he’d first entered the room, but he was afraid to look too long, afraid of what he might see. Hell, he was afraid to see her at all, afraid to meet her eyes.

What had the Countess told her?

Did she know his every secret? Was she as revolted by him as he felt in this moment?

He had caused this. He couldn’t shy away from that fact.

Ignoring the Countess, although he knew that was not wise, he walked over to his wife and, placing a gentle hand under her chin, raised her eyes to his. Moving his fingers to her face, he reached back and began to work at the leather thongs that held the cruel ball in place. “Shh, my love, just a minute.”

“I don’t think I would do that,” the Countess said.

“I do not care what you think.” His fingers worked faster.

“Oh, but you really should. I have planned this party with such care and I would hate to have it ruined. Come, take your hands from her and have a glass of wine. Let us relax a bit first. Unless you wish to switch to the O-ring. Do you feel the need for some relief before we begin?”

“You bitch.”

“You always did say the kindest things. Now take your hands from her or I will punish you both. You do remember how I like to render punishment, don’t you, my dear Geoffrey?”

Damn, the knots were tied tight and slippery with sweat and drool. Louisa gazed up at him with such hope and faith. Faith. The woman had faith in him, even now. Didn’t she realize that this was all because of him? If anything was wrong with her he’d kill the Countess, plain and simple. Nothing elaborate—just an old-fashioned gutting.

“You are ignoring me, Geoffrey, and you know I don’t like that. Nor do I like repeating myself—you taught me that. I can still feel the bite of the whip when you taught me to behave. Now, take your hands off her. You will touch her only when I tell you to.”

“Or what?” He turned his head toward the Countess and saw the “or what.”

“Or I will shoot you in the knees and have Jack—I do believe you must have met Jack on the way in—and have Jack prop you against the wall before I let him play with your wife. Tell me, Geoffrey, would you rather whip her yourself, or have another man do it?”





Chapter Thirty-one





Louisa had felt such hope when Geoffrey entered the room—her rescue was here, and everything would be fine. She was safe.

And then she’d seen the gun. She’d seen it before Geoffrey, as his back was to the Countess.

Yes, it could always get worse.

She’d shifted her eyes back and forth between him and the Countess, trying to warn him, but to no avail. His whole focus had been on the blasted gag. Hadn’t he seen that didn’t matter—that he might be shot, be killed?

Trying to scream, she’d fought against the gag, but he’d only focused more on her. It had made him believe she was desperate to be rid of it—which she was, but not for the reasons he thought.

And then the Countess spoke and Geoffrey turned his head. His whole posture stiffened, but he did not remove his hands from the ties that held the gag.

“Is that really necessary? I was not proposing to actually let her talk, but you know I do not support needless cruelty. Let her swallow and moisten that mouth. She will be silent if I tell her to. Won’t you, Louisa?”

She tried to nod, her neck straining with the effort.

“Well?” he said to the Countess. “You can shoot me if you really want, or we can proceed. I’ve always preferred willful obedience to forced, but you know that.” His fingers began to work the ties again.

The Countess did not stop him. “I should not complain when it is that dominating, powerful personality that drew me to you. Just do not assume that because I allow one thing I will allow another. I do prefer to watch you, but only to a certain extent; I can find my pleasure in other ways. Do not push me too far, Geoffrey.”

“I understand you perfectly, Countess.”

Finally the knots came loose, and with a sudden yank the ball was free. Closing her lips hurt as Louisa brought her teeth together. It felt wonderful to swallow freely, but her cheeks ached as the muscles moved for the first time in what must have been hours.

It was starting to burn between her legs. The cinnamon oil had only warmed at first, but now it was more than that. She tried to shift, but the restraints made it near impossible.

She opened her mouth to try to speak, but closed it when Geoffrey rapped it once with his fingers.