Chapter 34 - A Tribute

Duke Kleo left her that night, after he got what he wanted, which was a sign that she did want him. There was a sense of relief, which seemed to break down all the stones that weighed on his heart, as well as feeling his anger well vented.

He knew she was a little sobbing in his arms last night, but he knew that she wanted this too. Whatever happens, he will make her give up.

That night he slept in his room, though he wanted to hold her in his arms until morning. But he realized that being too fit would only harm her. Maybe he will do something obscene to her, something he doesn't want to do right now, at least if she didn't want it yet. They would have done it when they wanted it, and he knew they would do it soon.

Meanwhile, Lyra was still hiding under her blanket, when Ella and Gena came to her room and woke her up. Her blonde hair was a mess, and her eyes were a little puffy from crying. Her pajamas were torn and messy, some parts of her body had bite marks. She didn't have a dare to meet anyone that day, much less Duke Kleo.

The memory of when she pulled him deeper hit her again. Her lips said no, but her body did the opposite. He will seduce her more vigorously, the more she surrenders cunningly.

"My Lady," Ella called anxiously. "You don't have to be like that. We already know that." She exhaled sadly, worried if Lyra's psyche was getting unstable.

Gena added. "We will help you to cover everything. We can do it."

From under the covers, Lyra peeked at her two maids, looking down and unsure. "He also bit my ear last night. Does it also leave a mark?" She seemed to want to curse herself. Why should she be so embarrassed to talk about this with Ella and Gena, when normally she would be blunt with Tania and even Gerald?

"We can do your hair to cover it up," Ella assured. Her face suddenly became awkward. "And, yes, it does, My Lady."

"I already guessed it." And Lyra sank under the covers again, like melting ice.

"My Lady, why don't you just accept His Grace's proposal? It seems like he really likes you. He even…" Ella cleared her throat and did not continue her words.

"He's even been cheap on you," said Gena confidently. "He's never been like this to a single woman, My Lady. I can guarantee that you are the only woman he has."

"And you also seem to have an interest in His Grace."

"Yeah," Gena nodded. "You can't hide it, My Lady. You are indeed afraid of His Grace, but on the other hand, you also admire him, just like we do. So we understand your feelings."

"His Grace isn't that bad, My Lady. If you don't ignite his anger then you can get whatever you want. He will surely grant all your wishes."

"All of my wishes?" Lyra considered the idea carefully.

…

Duke Kleo's expression looked brighter that morning, thus making the servants whisper to one another, searching for reasonable possibilities. Some rumors flowed like waterfalls, one that didn't even care if there was a boulder blocking it.

Mr. Bertus couldn't do anything, even though he wanted to keep the rumors from growing any bigger. If he wanted to uproot it then he had to stop Duke Kleo from doing crazy things that he had never done before. And the duke's chances for obeying him were even smaller than anything else.

"Mr. Bertus, do I look handsome today?" he asked enthusiastically, ignoring his butler's brow which dipped quite steeply.

"Of course, My Lord. You look very dazzling this morning."

"Thank you." His body turned to face the door again, taking in breaths again and again, not realizing that Mr. Bertus was answering him half-heartedly.

The door to the dining hall opened, as Lyra stepped in like a shy princess. If she usually wears open-neck clothes, now it was different. Her hair seemed to be tied a bit oddly so that it covered her ears. But even so, she looked as beautiful as ever.

Pulling up her skirt, she bowed to say hello. "Good morning, My Lord." Felt her lips twitch because of Duke Kleo's actions last night. Even her lips' pain hadn't gone away, but she was thankful that they weren't hurt.

Duke Kleo nodded from behind the table, then asked Mr. Bertus to leave. She would almost sit on a chair if the duke hadn't called her.

"Come here!" he invited, waving a knightly hand, happy to see Lyra nod and approach him. He immediately controlled her curved body with his hands. "Sit down!" His other hand patted his lap, which was covered by black trousers.

His hand tugged at her waist when he felt her take a back off the stride. "I borrowed your lap the day before yesterday, now I will return it."

"You don't have to, My Lord," Lyra shook her head as she tried to back away. But now her body fell onto the duke's lap perfectly, as if her body did all that, shamelessly.

"Why are you blocking someone who wants to pay a debt?" He tilted his head, trying to absorb her beauty. "Do you know it's a big sin?"

"My apologies, My Lord." Knowing that arguing would only be in vain, she chose to lower her head and give in. She was often caught in the middle of a noble's attitude, making her excited because feeling challenged. However, this one was too challenging, which made her want to run away because knowing she would never win.

Duke Kleo's good looks had become a point that was hard for her to handle, and now he had other sweet things. No matter how hard she tried to hold on, and at the same time decided to seduce and bore him, her guts always shrunk shortly after.

It wasn't that she was afraid that he wouldn't let her go, but that she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to let him go. Men will dump women when they are bored. She will twist the rules. But if she was with Duke Kleo…. She wouldn't be sure could do it.

"Did you sleep well last night?" The question from him was like a very sweet cradle. Damn, even his voice is too sexy to ignore. His ruthless eyes now entangled her deeply and so enchantingly, stinging her in an intimate sensation, clamping and swollen, restrained by the ego.

"Yes, my lord. I slept well last night," she replied, forced to look him right in the eye after he had pinched her chin. Now their noses were almost rubbing together.

"Good. You should start getting used to sleeping well here." His eyes suddenly became droopy, looking at her as if in chains. Then his face came forward, pressing their foreheads together, caught in the moans from the bottom of the deepest ocean.

Lyra said nothing, fell silent, biting her lip. Her face looked down in Duke Kleo's embrace which drew her closer, making their chests touch even though she tried to create a wall between them.

"You're so beautiful," he rasped as if he was whining. His fingers caressed her face, from the hair to the cheeks, then to her ears, lifting her jaw and exploring her neck.

Screaming, Lyra held her breath, making her stomach tighten, as tight as her bottom lips. As she saw his face approaching, she reluctantly tried to back away. A contradictory battle raged on again, which forced her to choose.

"Lyra," he said, still hoarse. "You're starting to have to pay tribute if you want to stay in Wereal." His breath hit her face, like tickling her.

Looking up, their noses finally drifted away. "T-tribute, My Lord? But I don't have money, at least if I'm still here and doing nothing."

"You don't have to pay for it with money." Damn it, Duke Kleo's face was like someone drunk and floating, looking stunning and also full of lust, a sexy impression emanating from his bulging muscles.

"Then?"

"You just have to pay for it…. with this." He tugged at her neck, locking her movements shrewdly, smacking her lips, and slurping like he was dying in thirst, sucking, chewing on her juicy lips, growling like an animal that was starving for prey. "Lyra," he moaned in the pleading, fondling her body like want to stick it in his body.

Lyra groaned, her back pressed against the table, feeling her tight trying to squeeze his inside.

***