Chapter 25

"Anything I want?" Grace breathed, her eyes sparkling in mischief.

Ford nodded. "Anything."

"If you said that in my brothel, you might have regretted it," she teased.

"Why is that?"

"Oh." She shrugged. "It's just that I have all my favorite… um… inventions there."

He raised a brow. "I am intrigued."

She licked her lips, a calculating gleam in her eyes. Then she turned away from him and pulled out a drawer under her desk. Nestled there was a little velvet purse.

"Wait here." She left into the dressing room, then came out dangling something from her finger.

Ford eyed it suspiciously. "What is it?"

She came closer and opened her palm, showing a large metal ring with a little ball on top, and a gap on the opposite side of the ball, leather fastenings attached to the edges.

He recognized it as the ring he'd seen hanging from her chatelaine.

It was sparkling clean, the ball on top glinting in firelight, no sign of the grime from the travels.

Ford reached out a hand, but Grace snatched hers back. He raised a brow. "And what am I to do with it?"

"You wear it." She flicked her eyes down to his crotch.

Ford cleared his throat. "For…?"

"Many men have said that it helps them last longer," she said. He tried not to take it as a criticism of his performance. To be fair, with her he did have trouble controlling himself. She added, "And they also say it makes their pleasure more intense."

"More intense?" What Ford had experienced with Grace so far had been mind-shattering already.

She rolled the little ball on top between her fingers. "This one is the first one I've developed with a little metal ball for the woman's pleasure. Don't worry," she said, with a sly smile. "This one is new. Take off your breeches," she whispered and walked to her desk once more.

She pulled out a jar and opened the lid. The fresh scent of herbs permeated the air. She dipped her fingers in the jar and then coated the ring. "Herbal oils," she said as she walked toward him. For a smoother fit.

His heart drummed violently in his ears. Ford had never done anything like this and oddly, he found it exciting. He always thought the people who went to The House of Pain and Pleasure were depraved. And perhaps they were. However, evaluating his feelings about this new aspect of lovemaking, he realized that he was too.

He quickly shed his breeches and stood completely naked before her.

Grace glanced down and bit her lip. "It is important that you are relaxed before I put it on."

Ford's excitement was too obvious with his cock standing up and ready. "Give me a moment," he said, closing his eyes and bringing his mind back to the dirty streets of St. Giles where garbage, animal and human waste alike flanked the streets.

He opened his eyes. It worked. Perhaps, too well. His cock went flaccid and his excitement subsided.

Grace dropped to her knees in front of him and all his efforts might as well have been in vain as his cock immediately twitched at attention. Grace chuckled, but easily slipped the ring around his manhood, strapping it for a tighter fit.

Her smooth, warm touch and the tight fit of the ring sent the blood flowing up as his cock hardened instantly, standing proudly.

Grace quickly dipped her head and pressed a kiss to the top. His cock jolted in reaction, a little drop of need seeping from the slit.

Did she say this device helped men last longer? If she continued her ministrations, he would prove this theory wrong.

Grace stood fluidly and took a couple of steps back, studying his form with a predatory gaze in her eyes, licking her lips as she did so.

He met her eyes and lifted a brow. "Are you satisfied yet?"

"Not yet." She shook her head with a teasing grin. "Don't move."

He'd promised to be a willing puppet, so he complied, standing still when she started undoing the buttons of her dress. He didn't move when she pulled it down with deliberate slowness, revealing bits of skin moment by moment. He still stood unmoving when she removed her shift, standing completely naked before him, her nipples pointing at him, begging for his touch, his mouth.

"Kiss me," she whispered, and a breath of relief whooshed out of his lungs. He leapt toward her, catching her in his arms and covering her mouth with his.

He pushed his tongue inside her mouth, devouring her, claiming her as his. Her hands immediately went to stroke his cock, his hands caressed her breasts, teasing the puckered little tips of her breasts.

"Take me to bed," she whispered against his mouth, and he complied, lifting her in his arms and dropping her onto the bed. She laughed as she bounced against the mattress, the beautiful sound sending shivers down his length, adding to the overall sensations of pleasure, bliss, happiness… love.

He kissed her lips to quiet his rioting mind. His hands tangled in her hair, and he wrapped it around his fist, pulling until her head tipped back, granting him access to her neck.

She gasped.

He licked his way down her throat, biting her skin, then soothing the bite with his tongue.

"Lower," she gasped.

He moved lower down her body, kissing her collarbone, the tops of her breasts, then with torturous slowness, he licked his way around the place he really wanted to have in his mouth.

"Ford!" she cried.

"Say it," he urged, hoarsely. "Tell me what to do. Where you want me."

She plunged her fingers into his hair and guided him to her nipple. "Here."

Ford licked the tip with a feather-light caress.

"More," Grace moaned, arching her back. "Harder!"

Ford chuckled, then pressed his tongue against her harder before swirling it around, drawing a moan out of her lips.

God, the sounds she made drove him mad.

His cock strained and promised to burst at the seams if he wasn't surrounded by her heat soon. But this wasn't about him. This was about her.

And he was willing to satisfy her any way she pleased, even if it killed him.

He took her nipple into his mouth, licking it, scraping his teeth against it, sucking it in. She guided him to the other nipple, and he repeated his ministrations.

"Lower," she whispered and punctuated her words with a tug on his hair.

Ford grinned against her breast and moved lower, kissing his way down the center of her body.

He kissed her lower abdomen, his lips moving downward, trailing along her stomach. He dipped his tongue inside her belly button and her hips shot off the bed. He gripped her thighs to hold her in place, then kissed just over the hairline hiding her female delights.

He raised his head as she looked down at him. Their gazes locked for a long, heated moment.

Tell me, he dared with his eyes.

She licked her lips in anticipation of what would come next, then said, "Lower."

Ford's grin was predatory. He could smell her desire, could feel her quiver beneath him, and he wanted nothing more but to taste her. Instead, he pushed her knees apart and kissed the sensitive skin of her inner thighs.

"Ford, please," she begged, her fingers tugging at his hair, guiding him toward the place he wanted to taste the most, and finally, he couldn't deny them both the pleasure any longer.

With gentle fingers, he traced the seam of her feminine lips before pressing his mouth to it.

Grace's breath hitched as his lips closed around her quim. He kissed her there, sweet and tender at first, then his tongue emerged, darting out to taste the evidence of her desire.

Her taste was intoxicating, turning him into a wild beast who wanted more.

His tongue danced across her folds, licking and sucking on her center. Ford draped her legs over his shoulders, his hands on her hips as he pushed his face closer, licking his way into her molten center. He drank her like she was a spring at the end of the desert, devouring her with his lips and tongue. Instead of quenching his thirst, his desire for her intensified instead.

Grace's cries of pleasure urged him on as well. Her scent, her taste, her sounds were exhilarating.

His hands moved up her body, caressing her waist, then achieving his goal and squeezing her breasts.

"More," she demanded, and he had no choice but to comply. He raised his head and licked his mouth, gathering her sweet nectar with his tongue. Her head was thrown back, her hair spilling all over the pillow. Then his gaze traced down her body—her breasts resting comfortably in his hands where they belonged, and lower still, to the treasure before his eyes.

He dipped his head and swirled his tongue around the swollen nub, forcing her to shoot up under him.

She cried out, her hands digging into his shoulders, her hips bucking against his mouth.

He smiled, his lust for her growing with each sound of pleasure she made.

Her juices were now running down his face, her scent filling the room, making Ford harden even more. He swirled his tongue again, caressing her lightly, then pressing harder against the places that made her scream.

She was delectable, and he never wanted to stop.

And he didn't. Not even when she shuddered in his arms, her quim pulsing around his tongue. He continued to lick and suck on her center, drawing more and more cries from her, not letting up even after the pulsing stopped, only for her to start convulsing in pleasure once more.

Again and again, he drew orgasm after orgasm from her until she begged him to stop.

He rose over her and wiped his mouth and chin with his hand and then licked his fingers. "I will never get tired of your taste," he rasped.

She reached out slowly to caress his cheek. Sweat was running down the sides of her face, her cheeks were red, her eyes bleary, her mouth swollen and utterly kissable.

He acted on his impulse and kissed her lips. Gently at first, then his kiss grew more demanding. He couldn't regulate his need for her. His body was coiled tight, his cock hard and throbbing.

Grace broke the kiss and pushed at his chest until he fell onto his back. She climbed over him, straddling his hip. "Your turn."

* * *

Grace eased herself down Ford's cock. His face was flushed, his fingers tightening on her hips. He was straining from the need to push her down and impale her on his cock; she could feel it. And because of it, she went slow.

After he'd made her come so many times, she'd think she would be satisfied, yet she wanted more.

She wanted him. Inside her.

She sat on top of him, her muscles grabbing at his cock as she tried to take all of him. Pressing her palm against his chest, she lifted herself up, then sat down harder, her clitoris making contact with the ball of his cock ring.

A tingle shot across her body.

She repeated the action.

Her eyes were on his face, watching the minute changes in his expressions. After a moment, he joined in, thrusting with her every slide down his cock.

Their breathing grew ragged, their moans filling the room as they matched their movements.

"You feel so good," he whispered, his voice raspy, his face flushed with desire. "So tight."

She tightened her inner muscles as he said so, and he groaned.

Desire surged through her like wildfire. She lowered her body over him, her need to taste him undeniable. She licked his neck, then bit him there.

"Ford," she gasped, feeling the beginnings of her orgasm again.

He grunted, thrusting harder inside her depths, the little metal ball caressing her swollen sensitive tip, urging her to climax.

He squeezed her bottom, aiding her movements on top of his swollen cock. It was hard and hot, pulsing and trembling within her.

She felt that he was close to his finish as well.

Their moans were loud and desperate, and the bed rattled violently, adding to the cacophony of sounds.

"I'm almost there," he whispered and gripped her hips. He rolled her over, still deep inside her and continued his thrusts as they changed positions. She was sprawled on her back, her legs wrapped around his thighs, his body covering hers.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, his face red and twisted from tension. He braced himself against the mattress, his elbows bracketing her face as he continued his wild thrusts. Grace pushed her palms into the headboard to keep herself from banging into it.

His cock was swollen, hard, full… wonderful, filling her perfectly, the friction between their bodies making her moan.

He finally withdrew, slapping his throbbing cock against her belly. He came, an agonizing growl leaving his throat, his entire body shuddering with the force of his climax. The evidence of his bliss spilled over her belly and breasts before he plopped onto his back, with an exhausted sigh.

Grace watched him as heat traveled in waves through her body, still recovering from her own release. Their heavy breaths were the only sounds in the room.

Sweat ran down his face and throat. He looked completely drained. And utterly satisfied.

Slowly, he reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.

"This was inc—" he didn't get to finish his sentence, as right at that moment the door opened unexpectedly with such force that it banged against the wall.

Grace yelped, and Ford immediately lunged in front of her, shielding her naked body from the intruder while his own nakedness was on full display. His hand shot out to the side table, feeling for the dagger he kept there, when Grace recognized the intruder. The tall, broad frame, the ink-black shoulder-length hair, the icy gaze, the menacing frown, and the scar slashing across his face—she would have recognized him anywhere. Not to mention, this was his house.

"Hades?" She pulled on the sheet in a futile attempt to cover them both.

"For God's sake!" Ford cursed.

Grace's entire body flushed in embarrassment as she watched Hades' face turn from calm and calculated to shocked, then furious, embarrassed, and back to angry again.

"Get dressed," he growled. "And come out immediately!"

He turned on his heel and stomped away, not bothering to close the door behind him.

* * *

Grace wiped Ford's semen from her body and rolled off the bed. Throwing the nightshirt over her body, she tried to button it with shaking fingers. Ford looked down at his deflating cock, still locked in the confines of the ring. This was not how he'd imagined the night ending at all. But the heights of pleasure he had achieved could not be dimmed even by the rude interruption of his brother-in-law.

He stripped the cock ring, wiping their mutual juices from it with the bedsheet, and placed it on the velvet purse by the bed. He stood and walked over to Grace, who still struggled with the buttons of her nightshift.

He covered her hands with his and stilled her frantic movements.

"Breathe," he murmured. "We weren't doing anything wrong."

She nodded and attempted a smile. "I know."

"Do you want to stay here while I talk to him?"

Grace quirked a brow, then her usual, confident expression filled her face. "No, of course not."

"You're shaking," he noted.

"Only because I was taken by surprise. I am not afraid of him. And as you said, we weren't doing anything wrong. This might be his house, but I helped him buy it, and I am allowed to use it."

Ford pressed a kiss to her forehead, and she immediately relaxed in his arms. He pulled her further into his chest and drew soothing circles over her back. As he felt her pulse grow slower, he kissed the top of her head and moved away.

They quickly cleaned themselves and donned their clothing before walking into the main hall hand in hand. Hades paced the length of the room like a caged tiger.

"You!" He immediately whirled on Ford. "You were ready to kill me for falling in love with your sister and yet you spend nights here with Grace and think you'll get away with that?" He advanced on Ford with menacing steps.

"I have a right to be here—" Grace started but Hades interrupted her with a sharp, sweeping gesture of his hand, his gaze fixed on Ford.

"I am speaking to him right now. I have no issues with you…" He couldn't even look at her after what he'd witnessed. "Except for your taste in men."

Grace quirked a brow and Ford pursed his lips. It was amusing to hear him say that, knowing that Grace had been in love with Hades half her life.

"Grace isn't your sister," Ford noted. "And she isn't your property either."

"She might not be blood," Hades growled, "but she is my little sister, and I am going to make certain scum like you don't take advantage of her!"

"I am older than you," Grace countered.

Hades' expression immediately changed to annoyance, his voice oddly brotherly in that moment. "Would you not interrupt, please? That isn't important."

"Four years older, in fact," she continued. "And I own a brothel. I can take care of myself. I don't need anyone looking out for me!"

"Yes, you do!" both men echoed.

A strangled noise drew everyone's attention, and they turned to see Eloise covering her mouth with her hand. Ford's heart softened at the sight of his little sister, rosy-cheeked and looking happy. She waved her hand and bit her lip, stifling her laughter. "I am sorry, I did not mean to interrupt." Then she glanced at Grace with a knowing look. "Insufferable, aren't they? I am glad to know I am not the only target of their overprotective behavior."