50. Penelope
Penelope
Who was I as Queen?
How did I want to be perceived?
I thought I knew. I was so sure when I started the trials. But now, as I stared at the phone ready to call the Main Master from Red Island, I questioned myself. It wasn’t about the power one gained from authority… it was how they used that power to lead that determined their worth as a ruler.
How did I want Luke to see me?
How did I want the entire community of The Council and Main Masters to view me?
A queen wasn’t just a crown. She was a reflection of her actions and choices. And being one of the only women, I couldn’t be soft. But I couldn’t be unjust either.
“You’ve been staring at that footage on pause now for half an hour. What are you thinking about?”
My lips pursed. “My actions.”
“Don’t overthink it, love. You know what you’re doing.”
“I thought I did. I do… I just—” I reached across the desk to take Vaughn’s hand, still not happy that I was in his chair.
I needed something new. Something my own.
“The first couple of decisions I make will set the tone.” I swallowed hard.
“People are watching. What they see is everything. I can’t mess this up. ”
“You won’t. You know what to do.”
I nodded, reaching for the phone as I took in Luke’s number on the screen. I dialed, listening to it ring. A deep tone came through. It was calm. Smooth.
“Hello?”
“Luke Draper.”
He paused. “I recognize the accent. You must be The Queen of The Order. I was wondering when we would meet.”
“I wasn’t aware news traveled so fast.”
A low chuckle left him.
“I’m secluded to a small island. News is life. Besides, there aren’t many women in our world with standing. It’s refreshing. How may I help you, Penelope?”
I glanced over to Vaughn, feeling comfort settle in.
“One of your captains was detained in London. He was drunk, openly speaking about routes, women, and The Order.” I paused. “I can’t have that.”
Silence.
“I agree. Name?”
“Desmond Harvel.”
There was another pause. This time it dragged out longer.
“The man is a fool. I’ve had problems with him before.”
“He’s a risk. I was hoping you wouldn’t be opposed to me teaching him a lesson.”
Luke got quiet. When he spoke again, I could detect interest in his tone.
“I’m curious. What do you have in mind?”
I tapped my finger on the desk, glancing back at hazel eyes as I caught Vaughn’s own interest.
“I’m going to have his mouth wired shut. He’ll keep it like that until I personally have it removed. If he removes it early, he loses his tongue. If The Order leaves his mouth again, he loses his life.”
He laughed. “I like it. Do it. Maybe he’ll learn. If not, it’s his own fault. Feel free to kill him if he crosses you. You’d probably be doing me a favor.”
I smiled. “Dead men don’t learn. Living ones spread stories. They become the example.”
“Indeed, they do.”
“It was nice meeting you, Luke.”
“And it was nice meeting you too, Penelope. Take care.”
I hung up, letting out a deep breath.
“See. I told you.” Vaughn stood, leaning in to press his lips to mine. “You’ve got this. Perhaps I should take up a hobby. I do believe I’m not needed here anymore.”
I laughed, biting my bottom lip as I leaned in, kissing him again. “You forget what’s most important. I do need you here. I can’t make an heir on my own. At lunch.” I stood, watching his eyes flicker with heat.
I headed for the door, the edge of my mouth going back as Vaughn stepped in front of it.
“Maybe I don’t wait for lunch. Maybe…” he said, holding tightly to the buckle of my belt to draw me closer, “I bend you over this desk and take you right now. The captain can wait. I cannot.”
My stare searched his. Arousal hit hard as I squirmed under his predatory gaze.
“Lock the door.”
Vaughn reached back, obeying. I unhooked his belt not speaking as I unzipped his pants, pushing the material down as I let his cock spring free.
The tightness from the stitches in my back registered but didn’t hurt as I lowered to my knees, licking my lips as I leveled my tongue over the tip.
Fingers wrapped around the back of my head, holding but not leading as I began to take him into my mouth.
“Fuck. Penelope” An unsteady breath left him as I drew back, letting my tongue circle the head. I stroked the length to meet my mouth, easing him deeper towards my throat as he moaned through the pleasure.
A slight tremble built within him as I took my time. I added suction, testing his reactions. I increased and decreased speed. The shaking grew until Vaughn was lifting me to my feet. He jerked at my belt, crazed as he nearly broke the zipper trying to get them down.
Vaughn spun me, angling my hips as I leaned my body over the stacks of papers.
Where I expected his cock, his fingers rubbed over my pussy, only adding to the wetness.
Time drug out as he built me up. He lowered, taking turns fucking me with his finger and tongue. I was so hot, I couldn’t keep still.
“Don’t make me wait anymore.” I looked back at him, watching as he stood, nodding and grabbing to the base of his cock. Pressure eased forward, and I pushed my fingers down as he began to stretch me and ease deeper.
My eyes connected with my engagement ring, and it all felt so…. right…
Vaughn inside me.
Our vows.
Our love.
Me… as the Queen of the Order.
I sunk back against him as he surged forward. It would never be enough. I wanted him in me always. Here, pleasuring me. Filling me.
“Perhaps I could get used to this new,” he paused, “position.” Vaughn’s grip tightened on my hips. “After all, an heir is most important.”
“It is priority.”
I cried out through the wave that nearly had my orgasm taking over. Vaughn reached around, adding pressure over my clit as he began to move his fingers in a circular motion. “I want you inside me every day. As much as we can. I want…you.”
Paper began to bend and crinkle as my fingers started to draw into fists. Vaughn was thrusting slow but deep, careful with me as he kept rhythm.
“You have me. Always.”
Vaughn moved the pads of his fingers faster. My mouth shot open, and I cried out, arching as I angled my hips. The soreness registered in a slight twinge, but the ecstasy was all I knew. Fingers wrapped around my throat, lifting me, and I arched as Vaughn lowered level with my ear.
“If you want an heir, I will be a slave to you until I give you one.” He pushed deep, holding still and tightening around my neck as his fingers moved mercilessly over my clit. “First… give me what I want.”
I rocked against him, making continuous sounds as he tortured me with slow thrusts. The pace had me grabbing to his wrist as I lingered right on the edge.
“Vaughn. You’re teasing me.”
“This is teasing.”
He pulled almost all the way out, leaving me, only to inch back in. I could feel how thick and swollen he was as he left me, only to give me the tip.
“Please… Just…” He plunged forward and my body went crazy with spasms. Papers were crushed in my hold, and I tried to repress the scream that wanted to break through, but it was nearly impossible.
Vaughn’s cum shot into me, and I pushed back completely as I took in all of him.
Seconds passed as we both began to come down.
“I think—” Vaughn’s breath came out heavily. “This is my favorite job yet. I could get used to this.”
“You better.” I turned back to look at him over my shoulder. “Nothing is holding us back anymore. It’s me and you.”
He leaned forward, kissing against my lips.
“Me and you.”
The smell hit me before the door fully opened. The mix of sweat, damp stone, and blood carried thickly in the air. It only grew worse as Able opened the cell door.
The captain sat on a narrow bench bolted to the wall. One foot rested along the floor while the other was curled up on the bench. He lounged back as if he didn’t have a worry in the world about where he was.
“Is he still drunk?”
“Not much.”
“Great. He’ll feel this then.”
I followed the Reeve in, watching as the captain’s head lifted.
Intrigue sparked in his eyes, and he sat up straighter as I headed closer.
With each step I took, his expression changed.
Interest flickered turning into appreciation.
His gaze ate me up, slowly dragging down my body as he took in my curves.
“Well, hello, there. Aren’t you a pretty one.”
The room went quiet, and I felt Vaughn step in behind me. The captain’s gaze lifted, and his lax features turned tighter through the unease that flashed.
“Do you know why you’re here?”
He smirked, and his upturned lips fell as I didn’t react. I kept my lids narrowed. My face hard.
“You spoke of women. Of shipments and routes.”
“Maybe. I was drunk. I didn’t say anything useful.”
“Yet here you are.”
His gaze lifted to Vaughn again, and I watched the confusion as he looked between the man behind me and the Reeve.
“Who are you supposed to be?”
“Someone you’re never going to forget.” I turned my head. “Master?”
I didn’t say Lord Oxley’s name, but he knew I was referring to him.
“Yes, My Queen?”
“This man likes to run his mouth. Let’s fix that.”
“Now wait a damn minute—”
The chains rattled as he pulled against the cuffs he was secured to.
“This is the thing about privilege. We often don’t appreciate what we have until we’ve lost it. This is your only chance to learn your lesson.” I nodded to Lord Oxley. “Wire his jaw shut.”
Panic had the captain flailing. “You can’t be serious. I’ll be quiet.”
“Yes you will.”
“Please!”
Lord Oxley opened a leather case on the side table next to a chair that was bolted to the floor. The guards unhooked the chains attached to the captain, pulling them along as they drug the fighting man to the chair and forced him down.
“You don’t understand! It was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
One by one, Lord Oxley placed down tools. A syringe. Curved surgical needles already threaded with dark suture. A thin stainless-steel wire coiled in loops. The captain cried out as he saw it.
“No—”
Oxley filled the syringe, glancing over to me. “This will numb him enough to reduce resistance, but you better believe he’ll feel the pain.”
“Stop! Get away from me!”
The Reeve fisted the man’s hair as the guard pulled a lever, reclining the chair.
A strap was put around the captain’s head and chest, securing him down even more.
His yells got louder, turning deafening as Lord Oxley’s slid his gloved fingers into the captain’s mouth and began giving him the shots.
When he turned and started cutting the wire, the captain’s head tried to shake back and forth.
“I’ll never speak again. I’ll never.”
The words were slightly slurred. Lord Oxley came back, bending down as he began to pass the needle between his tooth and gum.
The captain bucked letting out a deafening howl, which only had more guards stepping in.
Oxley threaded the matching upper tooth, crossing the wire ends and twisting them together until the back teeth locked in alignment.
Yells were muffled, mixing with sobs as Lord Oxley continued. I turned to Vaughn, not able to stop the hint of a smile that came with the heat still burning in his eyes.
“Mmmmm! Mmmmm.”
Minutes passed and Lord Oxley finished, packing gauze at the corners of his mouth.
“There.” He removed his gloves. “I’ve given him a little space. He may breathe through his nose and take liquids.”
“Fantastic.”
I stepped in, lowering my gaze to the captain’s. Terror had his brow creased and his bloodshot eyes round.
“You will return in two weeks, and we will remove the wire. If you take it out early or tamper with it at all, you’ll lose your tongue.” I moved in even closer. “If The Order leaves your mouth again, it’ll be the last thing that ever does.”