“I have. A beaded flogger.”
“Really? Before the spa and the marriage? Unexpected. What was the offense?”
“Telling lies,” Linc said, running a hand absently over one of his scars.
“I assumed those were from battle.”
Linc’s hand dropped. “From a battle to survive.” Linc shrugged, testing the flexibility of the switch as he walked to the bondage table. He scrutinized the marks on Princess Brandese’s bottom. They were shockingly bright up close.
“Will they bruise?”
“No. And since the flogger? Whippings?”
“No.” Larsinc gripped one of Giss’s buttocks through the dress. “Spankings with my hand.”
Giss drew in a startled breath and stepped forward to get out of his grip. She threw him a harassed look. This wasn’t the sex-drenched first night of marriage when almost all the lights had been off in the playroom. She was dressed in finery. Every light shone down. And she was not the one being punished.
The lord stepped back and his cock pulled from the bound princess’s mouth with a pop. He stroked his shaft until pearly white liquid erupted, landing in silky ribbons on the side of Brande’s face and her dangling breasts.
The princess’s face blushed a deep red that spread to her chest.
Lord Evston swept some of his come from her cheek and fed it to her from his fingertip. Every movement was carefully calculated to dominate and humble his beautiful wife.
“You’ve made her cry again,” Giss whispered.
The lord tucked his cock away and closed his trousers before exhaling a sigh and bending down to speak to the princess.
“Had enough?”
“Yes, more than enough,” she said through tears. “You know I have.”
He shook his head. “You’ll apologize to Duckworth and her staff for snapping at them?”
“Yes. It was just a misunderstanding. I thought I’d given them the menu change. I thought she was ignoring me.”
“No one ever ignores you,” he said, unbuckling the straps.
“She did for the council dinner.”
“She did not ignore you. She changed that menu on my order. That Odi fish makes the minister of finance’s throat close.”
“She could have told me though, Ev!” she said, as he sat her up. “I ordered the wrong drinks. Several women commented,” she added, trying furiously to wipe away her tears. “And the decorations were delayed because she wouldn’t sign the order. I looked so foolish. She said I overspent my allowance and would have to await permission to spend more. Am I an orphaned child you’ve taken in? Or your wife and the mistress of your home?”
Giss bit her lip, her own eyes stinging. She remembered how difficult it could be to have every little thing scrutinized and criticized by one’s stuffy neighbors. In her case it had been with the risk of Urcolin undermining Zaw’s guardianship, so it had been doubly hurtful to Zawri.
“People can be wretched,” Gissandre said, swallowing hard.
Linc wrapped his strong arms around her and drew her against his muscled chest. “To the dogs of war with them,” he said harshly.
She loved him for the way he always knew the exact right moment to side with her.
Lord Evston sighed again, but to Giss’s surprise he picked up the princess and carried her to a couch. He wrapped a blanket around her shaking frame and spoke softly to her.
“It’s not you Ducks is worried about. Mels is a soft touch. Every contractor and tradesman from here to her village has learned he can pad any bill two or threefold if Melsint is the one who places a work order. Rocurt suggested we sign off on any orders over a fixed amount. I didn’t realize I would be away and out of touch when you were planning parties. The oversight was not meant for you. We just wanted to be consistent so Melsint wouldn’t lose face with the castle staff. You know how they can be toward her.”
“I will fire anyone who is rude to her,” Brandese said fiercely. “And Duckworth will not stop me.” The princess slid down to lie on her side with her head resting on his thigh. “And that’s another thing. I should be allowed to hire my own staff who’s loyal to me.”
“Ones who’ll stage a revolt when your wicked husband switches your pretty ass?”
