by HELEN HARDT
“I fear I’ve been a naughty girl. I think I might need a good spanking.”
Encore
The Ruby
A House Party at the Estate of Lord and Lady Peacock
Poppea’s tongue made Prissy’s pussy sizzle.
“Oh, Poppea, no one sucks cunny quite like you.” Prissy writhed under Poppea’s questing mouth. “Yes, yes, just like that. You’re going to make me—”
Prissy burst into an explosive climax, her whole body throbbing in time with the convulsions in her quim.
Poppea inserted two fingers into her channel, prolonging the pleasure as Prissy rode out her orgasm. When she finally came down, she turned to her companion.
“That was lovely, Poppea. Thank you. Might I return the favor?”
Poppea’s chin was gloriously shiny with Prissy’s nectar. “Oh, I would adore that, Prissy, but what I have a taste for right now is a good flogging.”
“You know I would love to oblige,” Prissy said, “but I never dole out punishment. I only submit to it. In fact, now you mention it, I could use another spanking as well. Let us find two gentlemen to see to our needs.”
The ladies approached the Earl of Peacock, who was just finishing administering a spanking to Sarah Nora.
“I say, Peacock,” Prissy said, “Poppea and I fancy a spanking. I fear we’ve been quite naughty. Could you arrange it?”
“Of course, my dear. As I’ve spanked you many times and Poppea only few, might I suggest that I spank her arse this evening? I’m sure Hardwood would be happy to give you a good show.”
“Oh, yes,” Sarah Nora agreed, nodding. “Hardwood is famous for his floggings. My bum has been sore since we’ve been together.” She gazed around the room. “There he is. It looks like he’s just spent his load in Fannie’s throat. I shall send him over.” Sarah Nora strode away, her well-shaped derriere wiggling.
Prissy heated with anticipation. Hardwood and Sarah Nora had never been to one of their house parties, so she had never been spanked by him. Excitement surged through her, culminating in her sweet spot. Would Hardwood be as good as Peacock?
Hardwood ambled over, his flaccid cock dangling between his well-formed thighs. “Lady Peacock,” he said, “Sarah Nora says you’re in need of a spanking.”
Prissy nodded. “Oh, yes, my lord. I do crave one. Poppea here just gave me an amazing gamahuching. I fear we were very naughty together and must be punished. Peacock is going to take Poppea. So that leaves you for me.”
Hardwood’s laid his palm over Prissy’s bottom. “Your arse is quite splendid, my lady, and already a radiant shade of rose. Let’s see if we can redden it a bit, shall we?”
Prissy trembled all over. Icy shivers raced across her skin. She was ready for his punishing hand.
“I shall take you across my knee, like the naughty little girl you are,” Hardwood said, his eyes twinkling. He walked a few steps to the divan, sat down, and patted his lap. “Come now, Lady Peacock. It’s time for your punishment.”
Prissy walked slowly toward him. When she got close enough, Hardwood grabbed her arm and forcefully laid her across his lap.
“I’m afraid you did not get here fast enough, my lady. That has earned you an extra form of punishment.” He pinched one cheek of her arse between his thumb and forefinger.
“Oh!” Prissy cried out. The pain threaded through her arse cheek, down her thigh and leg, where it began its transformation into pleasure. A pinch. How lovely.
“Did you like that, my lady?”
“Yes, my lord. Please. Again.”
Hardwood pinched the other cheek, sending the same spirals of pleasure up and down her leg.
“I’m afraid you might like that too much, Lady Peacock.” Smack! His palm came down on her bum.
“Oh, my lord, yes! Again!”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
“There’s that bright red I want to see.” Hardwood rubbed the cheeks of her buttocks. “So stunning.”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Prissy clawed her fingers into the brocade of the divan, the pain permeating through her whole body, exposing her, freeing her, until it miraculously shifted into pleasure, leading her toward another explosive climax.
She moaned and groaned into the divan, wailing, begging for more.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
With the last slap, Hardwood shoved two fingers into her wet cunt, and she broke into an incandescent orgasm. For a moment, she seemed to rise above the commotion, looking down at her guests frolicking. Peacock was thrashing Poppea. Fannie and Sarah Nora were eating each other’s cunnies, Angelica was sucking the cocks of both Beaverhausen and Gutenberg, and of course, McHunt, the voyeur, was watching and toying with his own giant cock.
When Prissy finally came back down to earth, Hardwood gently helped her off his lap.
“Can I get you some ointment for your arse, my lady?” he asked.
Prissy smiled at the handsome gentleman. “That would be lovely, thank you.”
She sat, waiting for Hardwood to return with the ointment, and gazed around the room. Beaverhausen, having just erupted all over Angelica’s breasts, walked to Peacock, who had finished spanking Poppea.
“Did Peacock give you a good flogging, my dear?” Beaverhausen asked.
Poppea’s pretty cheeks flushed. “Oh, yes. I enjoyed it immensely.”
Beaverhausen smiled and gave Peacock a friendly pat on the back. “I say, old chap, this is a demmed fine party. Demmed fine indeed.”
Author’s Note
Physiological Mysteries and Revelations in Love, Courtship, and Marriage by Eugène Becklard is a real book, and Becklard was a physician. The original was published in 1845 and is in the public domain. The excerpts in Sophie’s Voice are actual reproductions from the Becklard text with all spelling and punctuation intact. Though the book seems ludicrous now, it was highly regarded as the Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) of its time. The latter, written by David Reuben, M.D. in 1969, is now considered antiquated on some topics, such as homosexuality.
An Introduction to the Marriage Bed by Lady Margaret Mead is fictional, though I based it on Instruction and Advice for the Young Bride by Ruth Smythers. Also in the public domain, it wasn’t written until 1894, forty years after Sophie’s Voice takes place. Today, evidence exists that the entire text was meant as a joke, and it is well known as a humorous work.
Joke or not, both of these texts illustrate the wealth of misinformation and ignorance that our ancestors were exposed to. Is it possible that in another century or two, our descendents will find out that we were ignorant as well? Only time and evolution will tell.
Message From Helen
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Sophie’s Voice. If you want to find out about my current backlist and future releases, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelenHardt. I often do giveaways, as well.
If you enjoyed the story, please take the time to leave a review on a site like Amazon or Goodreads. I welcome all feedback.
I wish you all the best!
Helen
Also by Helen Hardt
Sex and the Season:
Lily and the Duke
Rose in Bloom
Lady Alexandra’s Lover
Sophie’s Voice
Snow Creek Series (coming soon):
Craving
Obsession
Possession
Bakersville Saga:
Cowboy Heat
Cowboy Lust
Cowboy Passion
Daughters of the Prairie:
The Outlaw’s Angel
Lessons of the Heart
Song of the Raven
Collections:
Destination Desire
Her Two Lovers
Non-Fiction:
got style?
Discussion Questions
1. The theme of a story is its central idea or ideas. To put it simply, it’s what the story means. How wou
ld you characterize the theme of Sophie’s Voice?
2. It’s clear from the first two books that Sophie is more like Rose than like Lily. Compare and contrast Sophie and Rose. How are they alike, and how are they different?
3. Discuss the excerpts from the Becklard text. Becklard was a physician and was quite serious about his findings. What do you think of his book?
4. Discuss the excerpts from the Lady Margaret Mead book. Do you think they make sense considering the era? Why or why not?
5. Why do you think Sophie let Ally take her father’s abuse for her? Does this make her weak? Why or why not?
6. What do you think Zach’s life was like after his mother died? How might he have survived? How did this contribute to the man he became?
7. Why do you think Sophie allows Zach liberties so quickly? Does this go against her character? Why or why not?
8. Did you enjoy the erotic adventures of Lord and Lady Peacock? Why or why not?
9. What did you think about Brighton’s refusal to allow Zach to court Sophie? What might have been going through Brighton’s mind?
10. How did you feel when Nanette was murdered? Did you, even for a moment, think that Zach had killed her?
11. Taking into consideration the era and Sophie’s personality, why do you think she gave Zach the alibi?
12. We get a bigger glimpse of Ally’s stepfather, the Earl of Brighton, in this story. Discuss his character. Do you find him hypocritical? Why or why not?
13. What might the future hold for Zach and Sophie? Will their marriage be successful? How will it differ from her sister’s and cousins’ marriages?
14. In today’s terms, Sophie had a stalker. Were you surprised at the stalker’s identity? Why or why not? Discuss his character. Why do you think he acted as he did?
15. Who would you like to read about next in this series?
Acknowledgments
To quote George R. R. Martin, “this one was a bitch.” Every so often in an author’s career, a book comes along that makes walking across hot coals and pulling one’s own teeth out seem preferable to finishing it. Sophie was that type of book. As much as I love Sophie and Zach, I had a difficult time telling their story. These words were dragged kicking and screaming onto their pages. And then magic happened. As you see Sophie evolve from a timid young lady afraid to venture out into the world to a beautiful and talented woman who finally believes in herself, I hope you feel the magic too.
As always, thank you to my brilliant editor, Michele Hamner Moore, and my eagle-eyed proofreader, Jenny Rarden. Thank you to all the great people at Waterhouse Press—Meredith, David, Kurt, Shayla, and Jon. Your belief in your authors knows no bounds. I’m proud and thrilled to be one of them.
Thank you to the members of my street team, Hardt and Soul. HS members got the first look at Sophie, and I appreciate all your support, reviews, and general good vibes. You are all awesome!
And thanks to all of you who read Lily, Rose, and Alexandra and looked forward to Sophie’s story. I hope you find it worth the wait!
About the Author
Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.
http://www.helenhardt.com
http://www.helenhardt.blogspot.com