Epilogue

“What was that, my love?” Duncan asked, his deep silky voice caressing her ears.

“More,” Alice pleaded, her soft voice trembling as much as her body was. “Please.”

Arousal surged through Duncan once more at his wife’s plea, and while he gripped her hip in one hand tighter, he drew the other back and delivered another slap to her backside. This time, to her right cheek. Alice’s cry of ecstasy rang out in time with the sound of his powerful slap, and he felt his lengthen harden and swell to the point of pain.

He loved teasing her, getting her so flooded with need and desperation that she melted into a pliant, submissive puddle, ready for whatever depravity he wanted to unleash on her. But the truth was, teasing her teased him just as much. Since their dip into more… intense sexual acts, his poor cock had been put through so much agony.

Duncan had always liked sex, but what he had with Alice was so much more than that now seemingly simple gratification. Alice did things to him, to his manhood, that made him harder, bigger, and thicker than ever before—sometimes to the point where he thought he was going to break out of his own flesh.

Despite the need in his veins screaming at him to take her, Duncan pressed an affectionate kiss to her temple as his hand, the very one that had just spanked her, drew soothing circles over the reddened cheek.

“You’re doing so well, sweetheart,” he praised, his lips working their way down to her earlobe, then just behind it, and then down to her neck.

Alice sighed as her entire body sagged against the wall of their cabin suite aboard The Queen’s Manifest, and her head lolled to the side, giving him more access to her neck.

As Duncan continued his kisses, his hand slowed its massage, and he slid his palm down her cheek and between her thighs. Alice gasped, and he groaned as his fingers brushed against the sinfully wet, hot slick that coated her mons and inner thighs. He loved how ready she always was for him, just like this. Warm, wet, tight… and so, so unbelievably sensitive.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this next part?” he whispered in her ear as he slid two of his fingers into her tight, slick channel.

“Yes!” Alice gasped, immediately moving her hips to better accommodate him.

Duncan had to take a steadying breath as he saw the absolute willingness on her face. What he had asked of her required a deep trust, and the fact that she was so ready and willing to give it to him made his arousal even harder to control. But he had to go slow. Had to concentrate on every move so that the fine line between pleasure and pain was blurred just so.

As his lips continued to trail kisses over Alice’s neck, he moved subtly and used the fingertips of both his hands to gently stroke her skin, starting from the underside of her delectable backside, up her back, over her shoulders, and then up both arms at the same time until his hands were resting over hers. He stood there for a moment, his much larger body completely blanketing hers, before he moved to her wrists. Slowly, as not to strain her arms, he brought one hand down from the wall and to the small of her back, and then the other.

Carefully, he walked her over to the chaise lounge in the sitting room of their suite. He reached for the coil of silk rope he’d placed on the small side table, and carefully but firmly tied her hands behind her back. When he was sure they were fastened properly, he tugged down on her wrists so that her head tipped back just enough so that he could look into her eyes.

Another groan nearly escaped his lips as he saw the complete arousal and willingness on her face. If there was any worry that she was going along with this just to make him happy, it vanished immediately. With one hand still holding the rope, he cupped her jaw in the other and kissed her lips passionately.

“Are you sure?” he breathed, feeling the last bit of his restraint wane. She looked so ready for him, but he needed to hear her say it first.

“I’m yours, Duncan,” Alice whispered, her voice so thick with love and arousal that it made his throat tight.

There was a plea in her eyes, as if she needed him to accept this so they could both be free.

He kissed her feverishly one more time, a silent thank you for all of her dedication and patience, and then with an edged tone, he commanded her to get on her knees. Alice’s compliance to his order was immediate, and as soon as he released her, she slid her knees up onto the chaise lounge so that her feet were completely off the floor, and then lowered her head down to the cushion until her cheek was pressed against the velvet and her plump backside rose high in the air.

A strangled growl escaped his lips as he took in the beauty of his wife—spread open and completely on display for him. His need to grip those beautiful hips of hers and slam her back onto his aching manhood was making his chest hurt, but instead, he forced himself to take a step back, and then slowly began to circle her.

“Don’t close your eyes,” Duncan whispered when he caught her eyelids suddenly squeezing shut. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. Come on, let me see those beautiful eyes, sweetheart.”

Alice’s brow furrowed softly for a moment, as if she were caught between wanting to protect herself and giving in to his demands, and then she slowly opened her eyes. What they were doing wasn’t just about fulfilling his needs—though that was a key part of it. But he was also doing it because Alice needed to finally learn that, to him, there was no ugliness, no “bad” weight. There was no part of her that he didn’t want to touch and taste and admire.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered, running his fingertips down her back as he kept his eyes on her. “And I want all of you on display.”

Alice let out a soft whimper as the worry in her eyes dissolved fully into molten lust, and a small, confident smile spread across her face as she relaxed once more into the rope. As a reward for her acceptance, Duncan trailed his fingertips down her back, over her buttcheeks, and between her thighs. Alice gasped in pleasure as she instantly spread her legs wide and arched her back, putting herself fully on display for him.

“Mmmm, that’s it, princess,” Duncan moaned, leaning down so that he was at eye level with her most intimate parts.

He watched in pure satisfaction as her tight, dripping, opening clenched hungrily around his fingers the moment they began to slide in, already so needy for his touch. With his other hand, he gripped her right cheek, giving himself more room, and as his fingers began to rhythmically slide in and out of her hot sheath, he leaned in and closed his lips hungrily around her petals, her clit, and other sensitive places between her legs.

Alice gasped, no doubt shocked by the feel of his face being so tightly pressed against her sex at this angle, but before she could take a deep breath, she let out a feverish moan. She could not move, not tied like this, so she had no choice but to remain still and take it all. It was not too long after he started that her moans became a constant song of need as he brought her closer to her orgasm.

She was trying now, desperately and uselessly, to move her body in time with his so that she could find her release, but she couldn’t. Her pleasure, her release, was completely up to him, and he could tell that it was making her frantic.

“Please,” she breathed, trying once more to thrust her lower half into his face.

“Say it,” Duncan demanded, his cock aching to be freed as he brought her even closer to orgasm. “Use your words, Alice.”

Her cheeks blushed a deep red as she looked back at him, her eyes watery and desperate, but also now self-conscious.

Duncan wanted her completely comfortable with him. With no limits. No boundaries.

“Please,” Alice panted, then swallowed hard as if to collect herself. “Please make me come.”

Pleasure and pride rose through Duncan like a storm as he heard her say so clearly what she wanted, and in one swift motion, he withdrew from her exposed sex, placed a foot on the chaise lounge, and slammed his cock inside of her.

Alice came apart around him as his thick length invaded her, filling every inch as she screamed and trembled with her release. Duncan groaned as her already tight walls clamped down even harder around him and coated him with wet warmth. Losing himself to her blatant pleasure, he quickened his thrusts, giving himself over to the primal, caveman-like need to take thorough possession of his woman.

Alice. Mine.

And he had her. This way. Every way. With him, always, and he was never going to let her go. Duncan let out a low, bestial growl as his release came quickly, and his hands clamped on her hips as his seed pumped into her. Her poor backside was a mess of red marks and welts from his hands and fingertips, giving him a feral sort of satisfaction.

Unable to stop, even after his release, he continued to thrust into her, driving her to another orgasm. The moment she cried out his name, her walls fluttered around him tightly, making his eyes roll to the back of his head and his half-spent cock suddenly thicken once again.

With a guttural groan, Duncan pulled out of her tight passage until his tip barely nudged her wet, parted petals, and then he slowly slid himself back inside her as he draped his body over hers.

Alice’s breaths came out in deep, shaky bursts as she tried desperately to recover from what had just happened. She had been spanked, teased, tied up, displayed, and completely shattered by his aggressive lovemaking. And she had loved it.

Duncan had warned her that his tastes were a little different. He also warned her that there were lessons she needed to learn about truly accepting her beauty. But she had not been fully prepared for these lessons. Their lovemaking had been intensely satisfying before, but this? This was an entirely new level of satisfaction, acceptance, and freedom that she had not been prepared for.

“Such a good girl,” Duncan whispered, his lips feathering kisses over her shoulder as he shifted his weight off her.

She let out a whimper as he left her, his absence immediately making her feel cold.

“Have to get the ropes off, love,” he said reassuringly, kissing her right buttcheek softly while his hands already worked at undoing the knots. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

The reverence in his voice made her heart swell, and she gave herself entirely over to his care. Their separation had been gut-wrenching and heinously painful, but the trust they had found in one another since they’d reunited was deeper than either could have anticipated.

Pain lanced up Alice’s arms as the ropes loosened around her wrists, and her aching shoulders immediately sunk forward. In an almost inhumanly quick fashion, Duncan was somehow in front of her, her cheek pressed against his chest as his hands stopped her from falling forward.

“Talk to me, love,” he coaxed, massaging her wrists and her shoulders as he somehow kept her pressed to his chest. “Are you in pain? What do you need?”

Words.He wanted words from her. But she wasn’t sure if she could speak yet. The ferocity of her orgasm was still racking her body pleasurably, and the way his hands rubbed the soreness out of her arms and back and replaced it with pleasure was absolutely tongue-tying. But she knew if she didn’t answer soon, he would grow worried and stop.

“Can we do that again?” were the only words she could think of.

The tension in Duncan’s face broke as he let out a laugh of relief and then gathered her tightly into his arms.

“After I take care of you? Absolutely, yes,” he promised, carrying her to the bed and then gently laying her down beside him. “But there is no rush. We have all of the time in the world.”

Alice sighed as they relaxed into the bed, and immediately burrowed deeper into his warmth. She felt his hand come up to massage the back of her scalp as his lips feathered kisses into her hair, and she nearly fell asleep right then and there.

“Was I too rough with you?” he asked, pulling her back into consciousness right before she was about to drift off.

“No,” Alice mumbled, her voice thick with sleep and sated pleasure.

“Are you sure?” he pressed, his arms tightening around her.

Knowing her husband wasn’t going to rest until he was sure that she felt completely safe, Alice tilted her head back and raised her lips to him. Then, with her free hand, she wrapped her fingers around the nape of his neck and brought him down to her, taking the rare moment of control. She kissed him deeply, letting him take over with his tongue as soon as he wanted, and then let him decide when to break their kiss.

“I am beyond certain,” she panted when their lips finally parted.

Relief flooded through Duncan’s cerulean blue eyes as he accepted her answer, and then he pressed his forehead to hers as they both caught their breaths.

Alice was not sure how much time had passed, but when she next opened her eyes, it was to the sound of the front door to their compartments clicking shut. Longing filled her as she found the bed empty, but it soon eased when Duncan opened the door to their bedroom and pushed in a cart laden with silver-domed dishes. His face lit up when he saw her, and the first thing she noticed was that he wasn’t wearing his mask.

Had he answered the door like that? Hope speared through her at the idea. It seemed small, but him letting anyone but her see him without his mask on was a sign that his anxieties were indeed fading even further.

“What time is it?” she half-whispered, half-yawned as she slid back down into the bed and stretched.

“Nearly nine,” Duncan replied, his voice full of amusement.

Alice’s eyes shot open, and she sat right back up. They’d gone back to their compartments around noon for their little “siesta.” She had no idea what time it had been when they had exhausted one another. Still, she had slept through the whole afternoon.

“You look beautiful,” Duncan murmured, gathering her from the bed, sheet and all.

Alice immediately stopped worrying about the time they’d lost sleeping and smiled as she looked up at him.

“You make me feel beautiful,” she told him truthfully, earning her a kiss on the lips before he sat her at the table.

“That is my overall goal,” he replied with a smug grin, uncovering the dishes.

Alice’s stomach grumbled hungrily as he revealed her favorites: roasted pork, creamed potatoes, baby peas, and little Yorkshire puddings. For dessert, he’d ordered them a cinnamon cake with cream that looked absolutely heavenly.

“You spoil me,” she gushed as she picked up her fork.

Duncan chuckled as he watched her eat, taking his time with his own meal of fish and potatoes.

“I thought you might want one more English meal before we land in Genoa tomorrow,” he replied. “Italians have a cuisine all their own, and it will be very different from what you are used to.”

Appreciation for his thoughtfulness bloomed in her chest as she continued to eat. Although her father had traveled abroad many times, he had never taken her or her two sisters with him. Seeing the lands beyond England was something she’d wanted to do for a very long time, and she was beyond elated that Duncan was finally giving her the honeymoon they’d always wanted. The change in her diet was something she hadn’t even considered, but she was thankful that he had.

“What are our plans again?” she asked excitedly.

She knew them by heart, but she loved watching Duncan’s face as he talked about them. It was as if her happiness fed his own. Even now, his lips curled into a loving smile as he took in her excitement.

“We shall be arriving at approximately 4 p.m. at the docks of Genoa,” he began, reaching for her free hand. “From there, we shall go to The Mariner’s Court, an absolutely decadent hotel not far from the docks where we can rest and ravish one another before we explore the city the next day.”

Alice smiled wickedly, loving that he spoke of their intimate habits so bluntly, and tightened her fingers around his.

“We’ll stay here a few days before we head to Milan. It will take us two days to get there, and I plan on hiring a carriage that shall afford us all the privacy we need to make the trip naked.”

“Duncan!” She hadn’t meant to, but she gasped out his name before she knew it.

Duncan’s eyes darkened deliciously at her reaction, and his smile turned predatory. He tilted his head slightly to the side, then took his time to study her form through the thin sheet wrapped around her.

“You have objections?” he asked her, his tone thoughtful.

Alice bit her bottom lip, before smiling again, and then shook her head. “Continue, please,” she said politely.

A satisfied smirk tugged at his lips, and he obliged.

“We’ll spend three or four days in Milan, and then we have a three-day ride to Venice, where we will spend the rest of our time in Italy. From Venice, we shall take a ship to Athens.”

It seemed like a lot of travel, but Duncan had assured her that there was much to see and that they would have plenty of rest once they got to Greece. There, he owned a sprawling, private oceanside estate.

“And once we get to Athens?” she asked, her smile widening.

They had both nibbled on their dinner, but as Duncan rose from his seat, she knew that they were done eating. Alice raised her arms to him as he lifted her into his arms, and she wrapped them around his neck as he carried her back to the bed.

“When we get to Greece,” Duncan purred, his voice dropping to the devilish octave that made her womb spasm, “I’m going to dismiss every male servant so that I can have you naked the entire time like my own personal Aphrodite.”

Alice sucked in a breath at the thought. Duncan had warned her that he had wanted this, and while it equally filled her with excitement, she was also still a little self-conscious.

“Won’t you… won’t you get tired of looking at me?” she asked, glancing at him anxiously.

His sensual smirk turned into a flat line as his arms tightened around her. “I will never get tired of looking at you,” he stated forcefully, “especially naked.”

His eyebrow rose as he brought his hand to her face and gently caressed her cheek.

“Have you forgotten your latest lesson already?” he asked, his tone making her tremble with desire.

Alice hadn’t. How could she? All she had to do was look down to see his possessive marks on her—marks that brought her a deep pleasure, no matter how wicked it seemed. Still, perhaps a reminder would be beneficial…

“Perhaps I am a slow learner, after all,” she said, leaning up to trail delicate, seductive kisses along his jaw.

Duncan groaned at her touch, and his body clenched.

“Do you have it in you to give me another lesson?”

“Whatever it takes,” he purred, pushing her into the mattress as his mouth laid claim to hers.

The End?