39. King Lawrence
King Lawrence
“Even death…”
The words had been repeating for days.
Their meaning was nothing new and yet… the context changed everything.
Even. Death.
I’d killed women. Men. I’d done it during spirals of needing control, and I’d done it just to watch the life leave their eyes.
Killing wasn’t a big deal to me. I didn’t have to do it. The spark in Penelope’s eyes when she asked it, now that intrigued me. That… fed my adrenaline. My cravings. It led me to walk the razor’s edge of my sadism.
Why kill anyone when I could watch them suffer?
But maybe I wouldn’t mind watching her kill.
Did she like the thought of that? Had she asked me because she secretly needed it?
She had been groomed for life in The Order.
Maybe there were things about her I didn’t know.
Had they already made her kill? She pretended innocence concerning that place, but I wasn’t quick to believe her.
She knew more, and I wanted to find out exactly what that was.
“Ahhh! Please!”
I sent the cane whistling to connect against pale skin again. Dark hair swayed as the stranger screamed out, choking on her sob.
I was fascinated with the trails of blood. With the swollen welts. Even more compelled to trace my finger along the split skin that oozed crimson down the woman’s back. Skin… so close to the shade of Penelope’s.
Whack!
Whack!
“Your Majesty.”
“Shut up.” This woman’s voice wasn’t the same. Penelope’s was soft with a throaty deepness. Velvet. Yes, Penelope’s voice was like velvet. It was a stupid comparison, even generic and cliché, but it felt right. Real.
“Even death…”
The words left me. I stepped in, fisting the woman’s long dark hair, exposing her back even more. She tried to turn to face me, but I gave a hard jerk, forcing her forward as I trailed the tip of the cane down her spine.
“Even. Death.”
I reared back, using a force so strong it caused my cock to harden. Skin peeled apart, and her knees locked just before she collapsed in the cuffs. Her sobs were loud as I still held to her hair. I dropped the cane, letting my fingers glide over the blood that began to race down the new opening.
I could fuck this woman. She was close enough to Penelope. I wanted to fuck her. But not as much as I wanted the real thing.
My eyes traveled over both of our nude bodies, and I made an aggravated sound. I dropped her hair, reaching up and unclasping the cuffs.
“Leave.”
There was no point in saying anything else.
The woman collapsed, crawling and scrambling for her clothes, not even bothering to put them on as she raced for the door.
I walked over, grabbing my phone and crawling into my bed.
Just staring at Penelope’s name had pre-cum beginning to pool on my stomach.
I reached down, wrapping my fist around the thick length, holding still as I hit the button.
I stroked down, closing my eyes as ringing began to echo through.
“Your Majesty.”
Tighter I squeezed, trying to keep my voice sounding normal as I slowly began to stroke.
“You’re not at Rosemoor.”
She paused. “Not sleeping there, no. I did swing by for a few hours this morning. Have you had a chance to look over the email Jarrod and I sent you?”
“No.” I bit my lip, clinging to her words. To the tone. “I’d rather you tell me.”
“And bore you with work at such a late hour? You do realize it is almost ten.”
“You’re awake. I’m awake.”
A pause.
I swallowed hard, opening my eyes. “You said… even death.”
Hesitation, and then a deep laugh. Not happy. Dark. My lips parted, and I nearly moaned.
“So, death is on your mind. Or… perhaps you’re wondering about death so easily being on my mind.”
I swallowed down the sounds that wanted to come. “It was the way you said it. You’re not afraid of death.”
Time past as I soaked in her breaths. “No?”
“Mmm-mmm.”
The word came out more as a rumbling moan.
“I’m not saying I’m not afraid, Your Majesty. Maybe I am. But what if I wasn’t? What would you think about that?”
Faster, I stroked, tightening my jaw as I clutched to my phone.
“I think… I think I’d want you to prove it. I think…” Flashes of blood, of Penelope holding my cane overtook me. She was in my spot, marking the woman. Making her cry as she split skin. Going further. Taking her down and straddling her. Choking… and suffocating her. “I think I’d want to see it.”
“Is that right?”
The seductive purr left my toes pointing. My legs trembled through the orgasm I tried too hard to prolong. It was right there. So close.
“Could I… see something like that? Watch you…” I swallowed hard, trying so hard to control my voice. “Maybe you could come here. Somewhere safe. I could… provide…”
“You want to watch me kill someone?”
No judgment.
No alarm.
Smooth.
Yet… textured.
It was like I could feel Penelope’s voice stroking my cock.
“This is new for you. This thought.” A huskiness took over her voice. “You like it. A lot.”
Sweat beaded my body as I let myself get lost in the fantasy of Penelope standing before me.
“How would you do it? Would you make it fast?”
“What’s the fun in that?”
My lips parted wider and my breaths deepened.
“Tell me.”
Silence.
“I’m afraid there’s nothing to tell. I am an innocent, good girl who knows nothing about violence or murder.
My lids opened, and my hand stilled.
“You’re teasing me. That’s not true.”
“Hmm. I don’t know.”
I squeezed harder, slowly stroking.
“I think you like it. I think there’s more you can tell me. We will meet at Rosemoor tomorrow.”
“… No.”
I stopped.
“What do you mean, no?”
“I mean I have other plans. I can’t cancel them every time you want to meet. I am a duchess, remember? I’m connecting back with society. I am making my mark. Besides, talking about death isn’t work.”
“But I’m the king, and I want to see you tomorrow.”
“Too bad. I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I’m going to have to decline.”
I gave one last squeeze, more out of frustration, dropping my hand.
“Come see me tonight, then.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Sitting, my eyes connected with the cuffs.
“We will talk about work. And history. I have more history to tell you.”
She paused. “What is there left to know? I can’t see something being so important that I’d have to travel clear across the city to know it tonight.
“I’ll come to you.”
Silence.
“Your Majesty—”
“Lawrence.”
“Lawrence. No. Go to bed.”
The line disconnected, and my eyes flared as I pulled the phone back and stared down at it in disbelief. She hung up on me? She told me no?
I threw my legs over the side, stopping myself from surging forward to get dressed.
There was no way I could just show up at Penelope’s home. Her home with Vaughn. I didn’t want to think about how I’d learned that only this morning. It was the entire reason I’d brought in the woman that looked like her. I’d meant to take my anger out on her, but that had backfired in my face.
“Fuck!”
I brought back up the phone, dialing her number again. The voicemail had me gritting my teeth. At the beep, I tried to control the anger in my voice, but I knew I was failing.
“You will come to the palace tomorrow. I don’t care what time. You will come, and you will meet with me.” The anger grew. “Don’t make me find you.”