8

Andre

It took forever to take off her dress. I hoped Mabel jumped on this new trend of less complicated dresses and apparel. If not for my sanity when undressing her, because I thought she would look sexy in pants.

I licked my lips once she stood naked before me, but I groaned when she dropped to her knees. "I thought I was licking you tonight, darling?"

"You went to work too early this morning," she argued as she opened my pants. "I did not get to then." She looked up at me with those beautiful green, doe eyes. "Would you really deny me?"

"No, I would deny you nothing, Mabel, especially not giving me heaven."

She beamed up at me and lust shot through me like every time she smiled at me. "That's why it's so much fun." She kissed the head of my cock once it was free. "Besides, I am your gift from the goddess to make up for all of the times you were not appreciated. You appreciate me and I spoil you. That's how it works."

"I want to spoil you too."

"I never said you could not," she teased before licking my dick until I moaned. Then she took it in her mouth and bobbed her head. She stared up at me with glazed-over eyes and started whimpering.

"Do it, darling. Touch yourself. Touch those tits I love and that cunt. Is it dripping from sucking your lover off?"

Probably. Mabel was very erotic like that. She bobbed her head faster as she touched herself and I couldn't hold back. I warned her and she swallowed down everything I gave her, greedy for my pleasure just as I was for hers.

I picked her up in my arms and carried her to our room, planning on licking every inch of her.

"Please have me, Andre," she begged as she kept touching herself while in my arms. "I missed you so much while you were at work. I was lonely. How can you stay away from me for so many hours? Do not you miss me?"

"More than you know," I promised. "I want to lick you, Mabel."

"Later. Lick me later. I need you. I need you to have me."

I licked my lips as I reached our room. "So what should you say to me?"

She swallowed loudly and gave me pouty eyes, but I didn't cave this time, wanting to hear her say it so much I ached for it. Finally, she huffed when I set her on the bed and didn't do anything. "Fuck me."

"What?" I pushed.

"Please fuck me, Andre," she whined. "Fuck my needy cunt, my greedy wet cunt. Please fuck it and make me happy."

"Anything my woman wants," I agreed before practically jumping her. I had her a few ways until she couldn't take anymore and thanked me for her pleasure. I held her tight and wanted more. So much more, and I would have more of her too.

I breathed in fast as my eyes blinked open… And my spent cock was in my hand.

Fuck.

"It was three days ago that she was divorced and you are going to jerk off to her from now on like a cad?" I grumbled, not sure if I was lecturing my dick for being hard still or my lust for the woman I should probably stay away from.

I snorted. She wasn't even officially divorced yet. The settlement had to be handled first.

And the first meeting for that was today. It promised to be a disaster, but a few surprising things had happened as well.

After the count and marquis had lost their temper at court, Mabel had made it clear that neither of them could be at the meeting with the attorneys, but she allowed the count's cousin there… And he was up for taking over the family if something happened to the marquis. So she was also letting the family feed on itself instead of her.

Smart woman.

Plus, the count was still in jail because he wouldn't sign anything saying he wouldn't go after Mabel. He was just making this worse for himself and his family.

If I was Mabel, I would be enjoying that, but she was probably scared more than anything. At least Ian was taking her security seriously, but I was worried about after the royal family was done using her as payment for their "help."

I knew how that went more than most in the kingdom.

I got ready and headed to work, leaving my second in charge when it was time to get to the meeting. Normally, I wouldn't attend this sort of thing, but I wanted it clear how serious the legal aspect was to help Mabel.

From the look she gave me when I walked in, that backfired.

Big time. She seemed almost scared of me. She kept looking at the count's side as if expecting me to join them?

That was odd, but I went to the end with my aide while the two other parties sat across from each other. Across from me at the other far end was someone from the court to make sure everyone stayed civil or they could be found in contempt of court. It was a layer of protection for Mabel, but also a way for the king to keep track of all that was happening.

I wasn't na?ve to think otherwise.

"Let's get started," the Matthias family attorney said once everyone was seated, the cousin next to him. Raymond? Yes, I was pretty sure that was the name they introduced him as.

I was disappointed in myself for not having caught it for sure, but I had piles and stacks of my own work all over the place.

"The family is offering five million gold to dismiss the charges of everyone involved and finalize the divorce," the attorney said, smiling like he was amazing.

Mabel snorted, but then a double take. "Oh, my apologies, you were serious with that offer?" She frowned when the attorney did and looked at Alec. "I thought you said he was intelligent?"

"He is, but we can only offer what his clients allow, My Lady," Alec reminded her. "The opening offer is always much lower than they expect to pay out."

Mabel sighed, putting on a good act as if Ian and Colin hadn't warned her of that. "And ladies speak nonsense and waste time? How silly to play games when so much is at stake." She focused back on the attorney and then Raymond. "Apparently your family still does not understand the position it's in and I am not going to just go away."

He studied her for several moments. "I believe that now."

"Good because you need a few more zeros in that number for it to even be one we discuss," she said firmly.

And I about choked on the air in my mouth. How much? Dear goddess.

"But I will not be releasing Angie. It's not happening and it's nonnegotiable to me."

Raymond ran his tongue over his teeth as he studied her. "While I understand your anger and need for revenge, David will not concede that either—"

"You do not understand actually if you think this is about revenge," she snapped, shaking as she fisted her hands. "That woman mutilated the private areas of my body. Intentionally. Explicitly saying the goal was to do that. People know this. That whole household are vipers and laughed that I am no longer a woman but a freak who…"

Alec moved his hand to her arm when her voice cracked. "You truly misunderstand the situation, My Lord. This is not about revenge but the countess's safety. That woman is unstable and thrives on pain. She will not let my client go and the count cannot control her. She did much right under his nose in their house."

"She made it clear she wanted me dead on many occasions," Mabel added. "I am not allowing her the chance. And I am not suffering that woman in public. He brings her into high society. Do I deserve that? To see my attacker and—even anywhere. No, she is—I will not concede this point. I would never be able to sleep again.

"She would come for me. You would think to offer that she will never leave the estate, but David is fickle. You know this. He could throw her out at any moment because of his temper and who will she blame? Who would she come after? No, I will not live with that over my head. He would use her against me because he cannot hurt me physically anymore."

"The queen also made it clear that this was a nonstarter," Ian interjected. "There are nobles coming out of the woodwork over this issue alone."

"I do not understand, Your Grace," the attorney said.

"A commoner woman repeatedly tortured a noblewoman whose husband did not protect her and in her own home. This woman just became the most terrifying boogeyman that every noblewoman now fears. She cannot go unpunished. This is much bigger than the count and countess. It sets a dangerous precedent."

"Just for what she's done to me alone starting on my wedding night and over six years, five million is beyond insulting," Mabel warned. "She is tried and punished in court. It's out of my hands, and I certainly will not change my testimony. I am willing to drop the vast charges against David if he finally hears that this is real."

"You want a protective order," Raymond said.

"Among other things," Alec said. "He never comes to her residence or approaches her in public. If forced to be around each other in society, he avoids her as best as possible and behaves himself or we will go right back to court and get a full order to bar him. If you and the marquis can control him, the countess is willing to not humiliate him like that."

"And he is never, not ever to be alone with me," Mabel added. "Never again. I will have him immediately thrown in jail and never discuss letting him out again. That is the line with me, and I suggest he not test me after he tried to get me to sign that original divorce decree that…" She simply shook her head.

"You are lucky that we are not going after shares in the company when there's so much proof she was instrumental in growing it and income to the family," Alec cut in, moving the conversation along. "And we could. You both know that."

"What are you asking for instead?" Raymond asked.

"Six years back pay for what the marquis's aide makes. That is about what the count's aide should have made and my client did more than that. She will not take all of the income the count made because she was not the one who did the deals or meetings in public, but she did—"

"I know," Raymond said, shocking everyone there that he acknowledged it. "We all did even if Uncle turned a blind eye or did not want to admit it. It's clearly not David's handwriting. Plus, he did not suddenly become smart after he was married. We all knew it was Mabel."

She flinched at him saying her name, so something was going on there.

Something I would have to look into and keep an eye on.

Alec pulled a file out from the several sitting in front of him and slid it over to Raymond. "That is the list of what my client can recall, a full timeline of what she suffered in that house. Including one maid repeatedly giving her raw or rotten food. Poison to make her stomach bleed and then laughed. The count is liable for that happening under his roof, the family is."

"Did you ever tell him?" Raymond asked.

It was Mabel's turn to study him for a few moments. "You assume I would need to and he did not already know. He was standing right there laughing when I coughed up blood the one time, asking me how the steak was. I cannot even look at a steak now and not shiver. Do you know what David did after he executed the maid for stealing?"

"I bet the bastard served you steak once a month to keep you in line."

"No, anytime Angie was upset that I was in her house or she was not the countess. She would scream and throw a fit to feed me steak again." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Would you allow that threat against you to live?"

"No, I would have already taken care of it and never endured that."

"How lovely for you that you have that option. I did not."

He seemed impressed with her response and completely unrepentant at his poking. Asshole.

There were a few other items, but then they got to the real goal of the meeting… And we all knew it. The way to silence her.

"Whatever is signed, we both have to adhere to, and I give David a week if he gets out of jail in five days before he breaks an order that he cannot speak ill of me in public," Mabel said confidently. "And if you tell me you can control him, we both know that's a lie. So this is a fairly moot point."

"But one we want to put financial penalties on because we think that might be the only way to enforce it with the count," Alec added. "And the cost is higher for the lies he tells often."

"That's easy to say without an example," Raymond countered. "My cousin is a lot of things, but I have not known him to be much of a liar."

"Then you've been willfully ignorant," Mabel threw right back, ignoring when anger flashed in the man's eyes. "Remember that lapis jewelry set that he boasted to the family he bought for me for our first wedding anniversary? That I picked it out and he was such a doting husband?"

"I saw you wear it at the luncheon."

"I did not pick it. Angie did. It's easy to verify with the shop who did since we do not look alike and hereyes are lapis blue. Mine are green. He enjoyed humiliating me by making me wear blue jewelry around his family and friends while lying about it. I do not have it. I did not have access to the jewels he said he gifted me."

"Which is why we're asking for the value of the jewelry he said he did," Alec told them, sliding over another folder to the attorney. "The count's reputation went up and the narrative changed from him being a gambling womanizer because of his lies involving my client. Those are the approximations given what we were told."

"However, if we go to court, appraisals will be needed and the values certified," Mabel pushed. "The court could award it all and I could sell it. I prefer not to do that and quietly receive approximately the value of the jewels he told everyone he bought me. Instead, he cut me with them at times."

He studied her again. "You did not strike me as such a petty, spiteful person who would want revenge for so much."

"You think that petty and revenge? He told the world he gave me those, bought them for me. I want the family to make that true. That's not being petty." She raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "David took me to an illegal casino once a few years ago. He forced me to go. I know a list of names of the people who were there and who runs it.

"The men laughed at my bruised face and jeered me the whole night, asking David what I'd done for him to need to keep me in line? Praising him for having good control and a leash on his wife." She told me the address and how to get in, specifically the codeword and which door before looking back at Raymond. "You liked gambling there, right? Tonight, normally?"

"I do not know what you mean," he bit out. "I have never been to such an establishment.

She clucked her tongue. "That's being petty. That's to ruin the fun of those gentlemen who ignored a woman who was barely conscious she was so abused and in rough shape. At one point, my nose started bleeding and they called me unseemly and embarrassing. Well, now they will not have such gatherings there to ridicule women."

I wasn't shocked when Ian snickered, but I was surprised beyond words that she told me what she did.

"Then again…" She trailed off and beamed at me. "There was a reward for that information, was not there? Apparently, I need to be smarter about the information I know and how valuable it is when some people would be so unscrupulous and not only insult me with words but only offer five million gold."

I was hard for her. I was so damn impressed I sat there erect and wanted her.

Not the right time for this.I cleared my throat and nodded. "Yes, fifty silver, My Lady. I will handle the cleanup of the location and bring you the reward."

"Lovely." She turned back to Raymond with a smile. "Knowing you liked to gamble there was being petty for trying to bully me. Should we stop with the childish games now? Or are you going to throw a fit next like David?"

Oh, she knew how to push his buttons because steam about came out of his ears at being compared to the count.

"It was childish of me, but you just proved our main concern," he said firmly. "You do know a lot and you are willing to discuss it."

"Yes, I am." She gestured to the grand duke. "He helped me before he knew who I was, but the moment he did, he did not even hide that he hoped I would sing like the loudest little songbird. But I have not." She gestured between them. "I want not to be involved in this or your family. Or my family after how they treated me.

"I want my freedom and what I am owed after what I suffered, how I helped your family, and what people were told I received. I am not asking for family property or shares in the company. I am not asking you sell your house and give me money because I do not know how much you knew about my abuse or the situation.

"But David was the culprit and could rot in jail for the rest of his life and the marquis knew all about it. I am also not stupid and will not sign something that I cannot ever discuss anything about the family or business because that could implicate me in something, and David was all too ready to do that.

"I also do not trust either of them that they will not kill me the moment this blows over. So I do not want this war. I never wanted it. David did all of this. I want to survive it with what I am owed and go live my life as I want. That's it. Leave me alone and I will leave you all alone. It's not a hard concept especially when I started none of this."

"But you certainly will finish it if pushed anymore," he bit out, not making it a compliment.

"I am glad you finally understand it and can convey it properly." She reached for a file and slid it over to Raymond, Alec frowning as he glanced between them. Ian seemed surprised as well.

He opened the folder and read for a bit before his hands started shaking, he closed it back up and slapped it on the table. "You have proved your point."

She moved her elbows onto the table, folding her hands and then resting her chin on them. "You did not flip the pages and keep reading. There was more."

He did and then he was pale and his whole body was shaking, not just his hands. "I understand what you want, and I will convey the fairness for what you ask. We will ask you to meet when we have a proper offer now that I am better informed." He stood and the attorney scrambled to do the same. "And for the record, I agree with you on Angie.

"That is bigger than your marriage, and I will convey it to the marquis as well. If David hadn't made such a mess with her and so many people have known of her—he is the reason it could not be handled quietly, not you. I will convey all of this. There is still one question that he will want to know that I must have an answer for."

She studied him. "I am not sure what, but if I can answer it, I will."

"What do you plan on doing after the divorce?"

She sighed. "I have no idea. I have dreams of starting a business that could help people, but…" She shook her head before looking at him again. "As a noble, there are things I will have to attend, but I do not want to be involved in politics. I do not want to be the belle of a ball. I do not want the spotlight. I enjoyed the business side of what I did for both families."

"Nothing competing?" he checked.

"No." She frowned. "I do not think so. I do not know what all the cousins have hands in. That's not the intent, but there can always be some overlap or items sold in the same stores. I am not planning to take over either family's businesses or—I wish to never step in either territory again nor see David. Leave me out of all of it."

"I understand. Good day, My Lady."

"To you as well, My Lord," she said as she stood and dipped her head to him.

He didn't bother with saying anything to anyone else, even ignoring Ian as he left with the attorney and people in his party.

What the hell had been in the folder?

I shared a glance with Ian, and clearly he wanted to know the same thing. I knew someone was going to ask, but no one got the chance to… Because Mabel hurried over to the garbage can by the door and threw up her breakfast.

And whatever else had been in her stomach.

It was so ridiculously endearing that I was fairly sure I was sunk on her. She put up such a brave face and act, pushing back in a way that neither her attorney nor Ian knew and really she was shaking so badly inside, she got sick over it.

She tried to apologize but almost vomited again. Everyone kept simply staring at her as if they'd never seen someone sick or didn't know what to do. When she seemed over the worst of it, I stood and poured the cold drinking water over my handkerchief and handed it to her.

"Hold it to your face, My Lady," I muttered.

"Thank you," she barely managed to get out, doing as I said.

"Will carrying you make it worse?"

"I do not know, but I am dizzy," she admitted… Before fainting.

I caught her and lifted her into my arms and glanced at Ian. "We need a back way out of here, Your Grace. It will undo all of her hard work and acting if they learn she fainted after they left." I gave a warning look to the court attendants.

"We left right after they did," the first man said. "And saw nothing and do not wish to be involved now that our job is done."

"Wise," I said, a few others echoing me.

They hurried off and Ian came over to check on her. "I'll show you the back way and we will pick you up there. I have a glamour stone just in case something went wrong. I can use it to be her and walk out with Alec like I handled something else while here."

I blinked at him a moment. "You are going to glamour as a woman?"

"Do you want to?" he snapped.

"I do not know how to use a glamour stone," I admitted.

"Few do," he reminded me. Hence why he offered himself.

Well, at least one day a year Ian had to do something nice and… Wait, it wasn't selfless. He needed this to go well too.

At least he did it and we got her back to the count's place safely.

Now it was a waiting game for the next move.