“You do,” he said slowly, while stroking her sleeve.
“I want the Grand Bucks. For one night.”
His face split into a broad grin. “Why didn’t you say so! I’d be happy to share you with my mates, love.”
No sign of jealousy, only cheerful acceptance. She needed more: either his regard or his pain. She was almost regretful about what she was about to say. How she’d knock that smile from his face and make him curse her to the heavens. But Lucy had a boon, righteous anger, and several years’ worth of wages in jewelry in her reticule, so she had to do it.
“Yes, you’ll share me with the Bucks. But only as you watch, wearing that medieval chastity cage.”
Chapter 3
All things considered, AdamChevestrer had taken the news Lucy wanted to spend a night with his fellow Grand Bucks — while he watched, caged by that medieval torture device — rather well.
He’d seen her off with a chaste kiss, gone back to the dressing room to stare at his novelty chastity cage, and beaten his cock until his balls threatened to send forth blood.
The only thing that got him harder was seeing the expanse of velvet where his pocket watches had been. Why hadn’t he thought to show her his wall safe? He might be poorer as a result, but he’d be stiff til his dying day if she stuffed cash in that sweet little reticule he’d picked out for her.
***
A few days later, Lucy pulled her beaded velvet wrap closer as the carriage slowed before the Forest, where the Grand Bucks met. She wore a half-mask that partially concealed her guarded expression.
“I needn’t ask if you’re sure. I know you are. As I was when I went to the Bucks.”
Across the way sat Julia Balistarius, Duchess of Astwell. She’d lent Lucy clothes for the occasion and had explained what to expect from an evening in the Forest.
And then they’d taken out Julia’smedical implementdilettos and used every waking minute to prepare Lucy’s body for what was in store.
It was when Lucy was learning how to take an enormous cock in her arse — via a particularly girthy phallus — that the duke had finally walked over the threshold connecting the ducal apartments and collected his wife for several hours of enthusiastic lovemaking.
“You’re loud,” he said to Lucy as he carried his wife off. “They’ll love that.”
She didn’t need to please the Bucks, or even Adam. She just needed to inflict pain on him so she could move on with her life and feel as though she’d extracted justice.
***
Lucy had wrapped her nude body in the velvet cloak, self-conscious of her generous hips, heavy breasts, and the slight extra swell at her belly. She wished there was a mirror so she could look herself over before going to the Bucks, but the room was bare save a chair. Her half-mask remained on, assuring her of the Bucks’ discretion.
“Are you ready, my dear?”
She looked up and took in a nude, masked man with a thick chest and powerful shoulders. Her eyes drifted down his waist, wrapped in muscles until she saw he was enormous everywhere. Even there.
His cock stiffened when she stared, causing Lucy to jolt.
“Oh, I apologize!” she said, bolting from where she sat and looking anywhere else. Her mistake brought back memories of her early days in service, when she constantly faced corrections while learning to scrub and sweep properly.
But unlike the housekeeper at that first house, the man simply held out a hand to her. “So you’re my brother’s little rabbit.”
Lucy started. “Adam has a brother?” she asked.
“My brother Buck,” he clarified, stroking the velvet that covered her arm.
“Oh,” she said, allowing him to lead her deeper into the townhouse. The Grand Bucks’ headquarters’ interior was as Julia had described, decorated like a forest, with trees reaching the ceiling and a soft green fabric covering the floor until it reached a reflecting pool.
It felt like she was entering a dream or someone else’s life. She never thought she’d experience this, but she was escorted by a man wearing the deer mask she’d imagined almost every night since Julia had whispered the details to her.
Lucy felt both on-edge and wet, wanting everything the Bucks had for her and also terrified of the game she was about to play with the richest and most powerful men in the land. She expected to feel shame, but the lights illuminating those strange, naked trees made the room feel magical. Like a place out of time and the constraints of society. Here, she could shed her burdens, silence her doubtful mind, and fully experience pleasure. Outside, she was an orphaned, unmarried, pregnant lady’s maid.
For one night, she was The Woman. This night could ruin everything — or make her dreams come true.
