by Avery, Lark
“Because we aren’t engaged.” I nodded at a passing couple of Italian royalty. Two hours into the event, I was seething with jealousy. While one obligation after another snared me, Jess was free to mingle, dance, and socialize with every man who had two eyes in his head and a cock.
“And whose fault is that?”
“It’s no one’s fault. It’s complicated.” I growled. Most people backed off when I growled.
Not my mother.
Or Jess.
My mother raised a manicured brow. "Max," she said gently. I hated it when she tried to be motherly. It was as anxiety-producing as a crocodile cuddling a kitten. " She can’t practice medicine here without retraining. What do you think she'd do here?"
Jess was smiling at Nevil Brockton. Undoubtedly, he was telling her about when he crewed at Oxford. Brockton was an ass, surely she could see that? Now that she was back in my life, I didn’t want to let her go. But keeping her from her true calling wasn’t good for her.
“She’ll have plenty to do once I knock her up.” My gaze stayed on Jess. Fuck it. I was dedicating myself to filling her pussy every chance I got. If she was pregnant, she’d have to stay. I should’ve been ashamed but I wasn’t. Dukes were used to getting what they want.
My mother's brows arched towards her hairline. "I heartily approve, but whatever the problem is, fix it. You're the Duke of Gylen."
"I'm well aware of my title. Not everyone's sole objective in life is to be a Duchess. You're aware that we're in the twenty-first century, right?"
She waved away such a small detail.
“You were a bright boy, Ransom. Figure out what she wants and give it to her.”
That didn’t put me in a better mood. What Jess wanted was to practice medicine, and that as something I couldn’t give her. Worse, the only way she could do what she loved was to be an ocean away from me.
“Where’d she get that damn red dress? It’s causing a scandal.” I snarled.
The dress I had ordered for her was not red but black, with long sleeves and a fucking back. What she was wearing instead looked more like a red holiday cocktail napkin. My fists clenched at my sides.
"It's one of mine." My mother said happily.
I choked. “You’re joking. I’ve never seen you wear a dress like that.”
"It's been a while. I wasn't always just your mother, you know. And your father bought it for me before he proposed." My mother surveyed the ballroom. "It fits Jessica perfectly. And it's not red, the color is 'claret.' Do be precise."
“I suppose you loaned her the jewelry too?” I grabbed a wineglass from a passing tray. The only thing that could help tonight was more alcohol.
How soon could I send everyone home? Before midnight? Probably not.
My mother looked smug. “I loaned her a few strategic pieces. Nothing to overwhelm or detract. You are a grump. The party is going very well. I thought you’d be pleased.”
“I’m thrilled. Can’t you tell?” I stalked to join the circle of admirers thronging around Jess.
Leon Foscomb, an annoying hedge of a man but who made money with ease that astounded anyone with a brain, stopped my progress.
His eyes were squinty behind his glasses, but when you were one of the world's richest men, that didn't matter. “Good evening, Ransom. Jessica has been sharing war stories about your time in New York.”
I glanced at Jess.
"Excuse us.” I placed my hand at the small of Jess’ back. “A guest has a medical emergency and I need to consult Dr. Bates." I moved her out of Foscomb’s ogling orbit. I loved how she shivered at my touch.
Jess waved a hasty “goodbye” as she picked up her gown. She frowned at me. “What’s going on?”
“I told you, a medical issue has come up.” I removed her drink from her hand and set it on the tray of a passing server.
"Medical issue, my ass." She breathed while I steered her away from the ballroom.
“You had more than one drink.”
“It’s Christmas Eve!” She glanced around in the dark hallway where we’d stopped. “This is awfully dark for a medical discussion.”
“You should be in bed.”
“Are you offering to tuck me in?” Jess swayed as she giggled. “Daddy.”
I grabbed her by the elbows, staring down at her sternly.
"It doesn't matter if you're a grump. I had plenty of offers tonight to show me around."
"To hell, you will." I felt like my world was crashing down. Her dark hair, her fair skin, and her red lips made her the most beautiful woman in the world.
My hands wandered down her breasts and her nipples hardened under my touch. My exploration drifted further down her body with my hands sliding under her dress where the backless style ended right above her ass. I felt the globes of her ass, her crack, and nothing else. "Holy fuck. You're not wearing panties?"
“I thought that was what you wanted.” Her cheeks blushed in the dim hall light before glancing away.
I hauled her against me hard and crushed my lips to her. She gave a squeak of a surprise, but her lips parted beneath mine. I stroked my tongue against her lush lower lip as she moaned. My cock was stiff with need, and I flexed into her.
I pulled back, breathing hard. It was painful to be parted from her once I had her in my arms. "I'm not going to fuck you in the hallway." The wall of dark windows behind us faced the rose garden, which was wrapped in burlap and twine under the deep snow.
"Why not? I'm game if you are." Her hand tightened on the lapels of my tux, pulling me back to her. I had the oddest feeling we were being watched, but no one was in the garden this time of year.
Oh hell. Who was I kidding? I was intoxicated with her. It was easy to back her against the wall in this dim hallway. Her pupils were dilated, and her lips swollen from my kisses. My heart thumped in my chest like I’d run a marathon.
"I'm not going to fuck you here because I'm taking you to my bed where I'm going to make you come so hard, and so many times, you won't remember your name."
Jess stared at me, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire. Then she reached behind her head and unclasped her halter top gown. Her neckline immediately sagged. She caught it, but the swells of her breasts entranced me.
"Can't we do both? Besides, I know what will make you less grumpy." Jess got down on her knees.
Fuck no.
Yes.
She looked up at me from under her lashes as her fingers danced up my thighs under my kilt.
“Jess.”
"Shhh." The tip of her tongue was between her teeth; she found my bare cock.
The sight of her pink tongue made my balls ache. Fuck, I wanted her mouth around me, sucking me off.
“Wait.”
I shucked my suit jacket off, handing it to her. “For your knees, stone castle stores aren’t forgiving.”
She took it, folded it, and put it under her knees. "Always the gentleman."
My freed cock sprang forth, precum glistening on the head. Her gentle fingers ran up and down it lightly. She fingered my balls and they grew tight and heavy in her hands.
I guided her head forward.
I was a strong man, but Jess on her knees in my castle corridor was the most erotic thing I had ever experienced.
There was no way I was letting her go. I would never again walk down this hall without remembering the sound of her excited little moans.
“Jess.” I groaned.
She slowly advanced her mouth, taking more and more of me until the head of my cock hit the back of her throat.
It was heaven. I closed my eyes, letting the sensations of her lips around me flood my body like an electric storm. The pleasure was everywhere.
Then she started to suck. First, she took gentle little sucks, then she applied herself to the task in earnest. Her mouth wet with my cock was the only sound in the hall other than the Christmas carols drifting in from the ballroom. I could develop a real fondness for holiday music with Jess around.
Her
little moans only increased my own pleasure. How could I possibly let her go? Yet how could I entice her to stay?
“Jess, you better stop if you don’t want me coming in your sweet mouth.”
Her reply was to suck harder.
My fingertips lightly held her head, loving how silky hair brushed my hands. My orgasm was so powerful that my knees buckled. Ribbons of my hot cum shot down her throat. As I emptied my load, Jess swallowed every drop.
But I was determined to fill her pussy again. I never thought I'd have to work so hard to gain my duchess, but at least I didn't mind applying myself to the task.
8
Jess
"Fuck, woman, you're going to be the death of me," Max whispered.
He gathered me in his arms and pressed me against the wall as his hands at my hips gathered up the folds of my dress.
When my dress was bunched around my waist, Max hoisted me up, holding my ass, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“You’re flexible.” He chuckled against my lips.
"This is nothing," I whispered back.
No matter how much I tried to pretend otherwise, it was heaven to be back in Max's arms. I'd missed him.
No, I craved him. It was like our one night together created a need in me that I didn't know how to fill.
I cupped his balls. He swore softly as I raked him with my fingertips.
He'd positioned himself, so one hand was under my ass, anchoring me to him while his other hand was free to stroke down my ass. He paused at my asshole. I stiffened with surprise.
"Oh, yes, Jess. I want every part of you. I'm going to taste every part of you. And if I didn't have a castle full of guests, I'd do everything that we both need. But right now, I'm going to give us a bit of relief until later."
I nodded, weak with desire for him. He said exactly what I wanted to hear, he was going to claim every part of me.
He dipped his fingers lower into the fold of my pussy, sliding one finger inside me to stroke me. “So wet, Jess.”
"Please," I begged.
He added a second finger. The sound of my wet pussy sucking on his fingers made me more excited. I moaned and clung to him.
I reached for his cock, slipping my hand over his smooth round head. It was wet with precum. He flexed hard into my hand.
“I want you inside me now,” I begged.
He grunted his agreement by sliding the tip of his cock into my pussy. His head was large, filling me. He paused, giving me time to adjust to his size. Soon I was squeezing my legs around his waist, trying to pull him deeper inside me.
Max thrust all the way inside me in one smooth stroke.
"Oh." I breathed. It was a wholly inadequate sentiment to the pleasure radiating through my body, but it was all I could manage.
His cock completely filled me. When Max pulled back, my pussy muscles clamped down, trying to hold him inside me.
"Patience, love," he murmured, then he thrust again slowly.
He began to work me like that, pulling his cock almost all the way out until my pussy muscles grabbed at his head. He increased his pace. The wet sound of our coupling mingled with murmurs.
"You feel so fantastic. It's like your pussy is made for me, Jess."
I nodded, unable to speak. I could feel my orgasm building. I clung to Max, loving the feeling of him fucking me, of our fucking each other.
My nipples were hard and pressed against his dress shirt. The friction of my them against the shirt made them more sensitive. That, combined with his cock buried inside me and being fucked up against a wall in a Scottish castle made my body tingle with pleasure.
“You are a dirty girl.” Max breathed in my ear, smoothing my hair back. “You like this don’t you?”
“Max, please. Don’t stop,” I cried softly.
"No chance of that. Now come for me, Jess." He thrust so deeply, my back pressed hard against the cold stone wall. The combination of those sensations pushed me over the edge.
Max swallowed my cries with open mouth kisses as I trembled in his arms. He came then too, the hot pulse of his cum filling my pussy over and over.
I felt boneless and sleepy. I wanted to crawl into bed and sleep until Max fucked me again.
“I’m going to bed,” I said.
"No, come back to the party. We haven't even danced yet."
The only sound in the hallway was our heavy breathing, though far away strains of the orchestra played Christmas carols.
I wanted to be near Max. I would do anything to be near him.
It wasn’t a thought I wanted to dwell on right now.
“I’m kind of a mess. Do you have a Kleenex?” I asked, straightening my rumpled skirt down over my hips. For the first time this evening, I was sorry about my lack of panties.
"No." He arranged his kilt.
“Doesn’t that kilt have pockets?” A gush of cum slid down my inner thigh.
"Nope." He glanced up at me with a heart-stopping smirk.
"What the fuck, Max?" It was hard to be mad at him when all I wanted was for him to repeat what he had just done.
"I'm fine with you waltzing back in there with your pussy full of my cum." He gave me a feral grin as he straightened his tie. "In fact, that's how I prefer it. Let all those leering fuckers smell me all over you." He paused to meet my eyes as he gathered me in his arms. "You do realize you could well be pregnant."
“I hope I am.” I was drowsy with pleasure. I laid my head against his chest, hearing his heartbeat under my ear.
“What are you saying?” He put one hand on my shoulder and used the other to tip my chin up.”
"Let's talk about it later, Max." His eyes were full of hot, possessive desire, and something else that I couldn't read.
“Now is good for me.”
“It’s not good for me.” I fastened my dress back around my neck.
He wanted to talk now? It was too soon. I wasn't ready for the fairy tale to end.
I smoothed my hands down my thighs, hoping to smooth any wrinkles out of my dress, then snatched his jacket off the floor where it had saved my knees and handed it to him.
But I’d never been a fan of fairy tales, I preferred facts.
Fine.
"It can never work between us." I glanced up.
His dark brown eyes were hooded in the shadow of the hallway. He was hurt. Of course, he was. He was a damned duke and used to getting whatever he wanted.
"But I'm fond of you." The silence turned me into a babbler. Why didn't I shut up? But I didn't. I charged on. " Don't worry, if I'm pregnant, I will cherish our child."
Max's face went white. He grabbed my upper arms.
I winced at his grasp, and he loosened his hold.
"Are you fucking joking me?" His voice was hoarse.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t joke about something like that. You could visit anytime you like. I won’t be a barrier to you knowing our child. Besides, it’s too early to tell if I’m pregnant.”
“You are serious." Max breathed. His mouth set into a grim line. "You actually think you're going to have my baby and raise it across the Atlantic Ocean. In what, a walk-up in the Bronx? And that I'd visit, every other Thanksgiving, or stop in a Christmas with a gift?"
“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Your life is here. Someday, you’ll want a family here—”
“Don’t you tell me what I want.” Max leaned against the wall. He ran a hand through his hair. “I have enough other people doing that.”
“Max! Jessica! There you are!” Max’s mother’s voice echoed down the hallway. “Come quickly, it’s time to light the tree. Everyone’s waiting for you. It’s almost midnight.”
Max reached out for me, but I crossed my arms over my chest as I shook my head.
He was insane if he thought I was going back in the ballroom with him now.
With his back turned to his mother, he folded me into his arms and whispered into my ear, “This discussion is far from over.”
Then that Mother Fucker kissed me. And it wasn't a quick peck on the lips. It was a soul-searing kiss, which had me opening my mouth to grant him better access.
He broke it off. “You are mine.”
Then he stalked off to his guests.
Holy Fuck.
If I had been wearing panties, they’d have been soaked.
I had a chemical weakness for this man, and it was only going to end by drastic means.
I had to leave Gylen.
Now.
Glancing out the window, the falling snow made leaving by climbing out a window an absolutely ridiculous idea.
Shame. I liked the drama of it.
I made my way back to the front of the castle. I bypassed the ballroom, refusing to even glance inside. One look at Max and my resolve would weaken.
In the main front hall, Jaime stood by the massive wooden front doors.
I recognized the young man from my arrival. I’d seen him around Gylen working while I was here. He always blushed when he saw me.
Sweet. Why couldn't I fall for some sweet guy like that? Hell, we were probably the same age. Instead, I was in love with the broody, bossy asshole duke.
Fuck.
“Jaime, can you give me a ride to the airport.”
“Now?” His glance dropped lower to my attire.
“Now.”
"His Grace's vehicles are away in the garages. But there are taxis out front for the guests."
"A taxi sounds perfect."
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Should I gather your luggage?”
“No need. I’m ready to go now.”
He shrugged out of the dark wool coat that he wore. "You'll need this, my Lady." He held it out to me as I slipped my arms into the sleeves. It was still warm from his body. He wore the Gylen staff uniform of a blue button-down shirt and blue pants. He'd need another coat, but I'm sure there was a closet full of them.
Jaime swallowed. "What should I say to His Grace?"
I looked down. The jacket arms were too long, and the coat’s hem went past my knees. A badge with Gylen ducal crest was sewn on the chest pocket.
I ripped the crest off and handed it to Jaime. “Give him this.”