Though Duncan's work kept him busy during the week, every weekend he made it a point to whisk her away to a country hotel, or find some local excitement they could share, and he never neglected her Friday night spanking. Though she didn't tell him, by midweek she looked forward to the trip over his knee. His discipline centered and calmed her, and when it was over she'd melt into his arms.
Catherine and Brittany formed a warm friendship, and one night, when Duncan was working late, the two friends met up for a drink. Brittany sensed Catherine was troubled, and with some gentle prodding, Catherine shared her worry about her fiancé's unpredictable temper.
"He smashed my favorite coffee mug yesterday afternoon," Catherine said woefully, "but then he came home with flowers and a new mug just like it. He was so sweet. I find it impossible to stay mad at him."
"What does Duncan say?" Brittany asked, shocked that his beautiful sister was with a man who displayed such violent tendencies.
"That marriage is a big step and I should postpone the wedding if I'm not sure."
"Sounds like good advice."
"I agree, and I don't know why it's so difficult to come to a decision."
"Let me ask you something," Brittany said solemnly. "Do you feel safe with Robert? That might sound corny, but, do you?"
"Do I feel safe?" Catherine repeated thoughtfully. "My gosh, Brittany, you've just hit the nail on the head. I don't. I've just never thought about it like that, but the truth is, I never know when he's going to blow up. How can I commit to him if I'm always walking on eggshells?"
"I think the answer is pretty obvious."
"Brittany, thank you! I see it so clearly now. I'll tell him it's off tomorrow night, but would you mind if I came and stayed with you two for a little while? I don't fancy being alone, and if he shows up with some grand gesture I might weaken and take him back."
"Of course I wouldn't mind, in fact, I insist you stay, and for as long as you want."
Duncan had been profoundly relieved when he heard the news, and grateful to Brittany for helping his sister see sense.
* * * * * * * * * *
As the end of the month drew near, he couldn't imagine his life without Brittany in it. Wanting to celebrate, he called Claridges to reserve a room, but Harry had immediately stepped in to offer a luxurious suite compliments of the hotel.
"That's so kind of him," Brittany exclaimed when Duncan told her.
"I'm sure the hotel is just thanking their lucky stars you're not suing them."
"It's not their fault I stupidly went off with some stranger."
"No, but they have celebrated guests who need privacy and security. If you had taken them to court, it would have harmed their reputation."
"Regardless, I still think it's great, and I'm so excited to be spending our anniversary there."
The night they checked in, Harry personally showed them to their suite, and assured them the hotel had changed their security protocols.
"I'm sure you heard that dreadful man has been arrested for other crimes," he said solemnly. "It looks like he'll be going away for a very long time."
"It couldn't have happened to a nicer chap," Duncan remarked sarcastically, "and I'm glad others will have their justice."
"I'm just pleased he's off the streets," Brittany interjected, "but that's behind us now. Harry, thank you for this wonderful room. It's just perfect."
"It's my pleasure. If there's anything you need, anything at all, don't hesitate to ring down and ask for me."
As he left the room, Duncan took Brittany into his arms and stared down at her with a twinkle in his eye.
"What? Something's up," she declared."Tell me!"
"First, any thoughts about our month?"
"Only one. It's been the best month of my life!"
"For me too. Would you like to stick around a while longer?"
"Of course I would."
"When do you need to go back to South Carolina?"
"There's no rush. Why?"
"Prepare yourself. I've tracked down where Francois Benoit and Babetta lived."
"Oh, my gosh."
"The house is a few miles outside a village in the South of France."
"Duncan, I just got chills! Is there anyone living there?"
"Apparently it's owned by an elderly couple, but it's been empty for a number of years. I've made arrangements for us to visit. We can actually go inside and look around."
"That's fantastic. When?"
"We're flying out on Saturday morning."
Thrilled with the news, it was the only thing Brittany wanted to talk about over dinner, and Duncan was just as excited, but when they returned to the suite he suddenly became reserved.
"What is it?" she asked. "Please don't tell me there's a problem."
"This is crazy. I just remembered something. I meant to ask you at the time and I forgot. I suppose it came to me now because we were talking about Francois and Babetta. Do you speak French?"
"I know merci, and bonjour, but that's it. Why?"
"Brittany," he said solemnly, dropping on the edge of the bed, "Do you remember the night we had dinner at that wonderful restaurant? I told you what I'd learned about the painting, and when we got home I introduced you to my flogger."
"Of course I remember. I'll never forget that night."
"When we were going to sleep, I whispered, fille précieuse, and you replied, bonne nuit mon amour."
"I did? Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"But I don't even know what that means."
"It means, goodnight my love."
"Oh, I just got chills," she whispered, leaning against him, "but I'm suddenly feeling so close to you."
"I feel it too."
"Please will you hold me?"
"I'll do more than hold you, precious girl."
Peeling off her clothes, then stripping quickly, he laid her on her back, and kissing her fervently, he placed himself at her slick entrance. As she moaned his name, he pinned her arms above her head, thrust his cock into her slick pussy, and rode her with slow, strong strokes. Taking his time and building their orgasms, when her cries signaled she'd reached the brink, he had no desire to make her wait. The powerful climaxes shuddered through their bodies, leaving them both breathless and their hearts pounding.
Their lovemaking had been intense, passionate, and spellbinding.
* * * * * * * * * *
Francois Benoit's former residence sat only a few miles from Moustiers in southeastern France. Duncan had reserved a room at a hotel in the picturesque village, and though it had been highly recommended, the romance of the place swept them up the moment they arrived. The arrangements to see the house had been made with the elderly couple's lawyer. When they checked in, an envelope with the key and directions was waiting. Anxious to see the centuries-old home, they left their bags unpacked in their room and set off, Brittany navigating while Duncan drove. The fifteen minute trip led them up a gentle hill, then a turnoff took them to the house. Stopping in front of a high wall with black metal gates, they stepped from the car, pushed them open, and found a large courtyard flanked on three sides by a two-story dwelling. Walking across the stones, they stopped in the center and stared at each other.
"I feel as if I've just stepped back in time," Brittany said softly, staring at Duncan with wide eyes, "or is my imagination getting the better of me?"
"Then mine is too," he replied, then pointing to a paned window in the middle of the second floor, he said, "That's where the studio is."
"This is so strange. I think I might cry."
"Deep breaths," he said, putting his arm around her. "Shall we go in?"
"Definitely."
Arm-in-arm, both completely unnerved, they unlocked the door and walked inside. Though dusty and run down, the old-world charm of the home shone through. Instinctively following a hall to a flight of stairs, they found the room Duncan had pointed out from the cour
tyard.
"This is filled with natural light," he remarked. "It would have been the perfect place to have his studio."
"And Duncan, the bedroom, it's at the end of the passage."
"Yeah, I know."
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking this is where we need to be. This is where I need to write, this is where you need to…what? What do you want to do, Brittany?"
"Remember I told you I'd found some great vintage jewelry and I thought I'd like to start an online business?"
"Sure, but you also said you weren't sure, that you had something else in mind."
"I don't want to buy and sell it, I want to design my own jewelry. Being in this room—I'm getting ideas already."
"I believe it. The energy in here is amazing, but God only knows how much work this place needs," he muttered, then staring up at the wide beams across the ceiling, he broke into a grin. "You know what's weird?"
"Seriously? You mean besides knowing I've been here before, and wondering if I was once Babetta and you were Francois?"
"Yeah, besides that. My home in London. The beams. The moment I saw them I wanted the house. Brittany," he said, pulling her into his arms, "the night I flogged you for the first time, it was surreal. It was like you were meant to be there, shackled to the ropes hanging from those beams."
"What are you saying?"
"Seeing the portrait, then meeting you on the ship, that was no accident. Neither was finding that corset tucked away in a corner. I don't know if we're distantly related to Francois and Babetta and we have memory in our genes, or if there's some other explanation, but I do know you and I belong together."
"We do. I feel it in every part of me. Duncan, I love you with my whole heart. I want to be with you wherever you are, but this place," she murmured, moving her eyes around the room, "this place is magic."
"I never thought, when I left on that cruise, I'd meet a girl from South Carolina, invite her to stay with me in London, and end up in a French village holding her my arms and asking her to marry me."
"Oh, my gosh. Is that what you're doing?"
"That's what I'm doing, and if you don't say yes I'll spank you until you do."
"You don't need to spank me, Duncan," she whispered, a tear springing from her eye. "Yes. A thousand times yes."
"Precious girl, I love you to bits," he murmured, lowering his lips to hers.
Kissing her softly, then fervently, devouring her mouth as she pressed against him, he felt almost giddy. When they finally broke apart and he gazed down at her, he thought his heart would burst.
"Duncan, do you really think you can buy this place?"
"I have no doubt. This whole thing is meant to be."
"Then let's get married here," she said breathlessly. "This place has so much room for everyone, and we could have the wedding in the courtyard."
"I was going to make the same suggestion. Brittany, for a logical barrister like me this is all pretty crazy, but as I said to you driving to The Crafty Fox, there are more things in heaven and earth..."
THE END
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STEAMY SCI-FI ROMANCE
TRAINED BY THE ALIEN
KINDLE UNLIIMTED
EROTIC ROMANCE
KINDLE UNLIMITED
HUNKS & HORSES
TAKING CHARGE
BLAZING ROMANE SUSPENSE
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ALPHA MALE MASTER SERIES
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HISTORICAL WESTERN
VICTORIAN
WET 2: London: A Steamy Holiday Romance Page 14