by Miss Merikan
She put her hands on his hard stomach, moaning when she sensed his muscles at work as he thrust into her. She looked into his handsome, flushed face, mesmerized and absolutely happy. “You’re the best that ever happened to me,” she whispered.
“Not yet.” Dante’s lips widened into that signature devilish smile when he let go of one of her legs and put his thumb over her clit, rubbing it in the same furious motion in which he fucked her. “How about now?”
It was as if her clit became the center of her body. Waves of heat washed over her, gripping at her breasts and pushing into her pussy as she thrust back against Dante, breathing faster as pleasure started rapidly spiking. She curled her toes, threw her head back, and cried out, clamping down on Dante’s cock as she came.
Dante groaned, slamming his thick prick in even faster for a few seconds before making the last harsh thrusts. His cock was a hot throbbing rod in her sensitive insides, and it seemed that blood in their bodies pulsed in the same rhythm when he filled her with his seed. “So good …” He moaned and was the prettiest picture she’d ever seen when he closed his eyes, enjoying his orgasm, his face a picture of pure ecstasy, reminding her of religious portraits she’d seen in churches.
For a moment, she was almost afraid to touch him, to ruin the serenity of his face, but in the end, she cupped his face and gently brushed her thumbs over his cheekbones. There was short stubble on his cheek, and she smiled, enjoying its touch. “I feel unreal.”
“And I remember making you a promise.” Dante said, still panting, and he kneeled between her legs, massaging the sensitive insides of her thighs.
Annie chewed on her lip, glancing down, past the valley between her breasts, between her wantonly spread thighs at Dante, who leaned in and kissed her wet, sensitive pussy. She moaned and covered her mouth. Annie was embarrassed to have him see her from up close, so obscenely, but then again, she wanted the touch, she wanted to watch him as his tongue trailed along her pussy lips. She trembled when another lick went all the way down to the skin between her pussy and her ass. He licked up all the spilled seed mixed with her juices, and went back up, twisting the tip of his tongue into her throbbing hole.
Annie chuckled, equally self-conscious and happy, and slowly spread her thighs wide, looking straight at Dante’s flushed face. She gave a pleased sigh. The touch was much gentler than when he rammed his cock in, so she lazily enjoyed every lick and suckle of his hot tongue and smooth lips.
When Dante was done, he kissed her clit, sending one last spark of arousal into her pussy.
“Now we need to get you a new tailor,” he said with a smug smirk. “My woman can’t appear at the party in just any old rag.”
Chapter 11
Annie felt like she suddenly stepped into a fairytale. Her dress was made of purple taffeta, big and opulent thanks to a crinoline underneath the skirt. The fabric shone in the light with a green hue, and thanks to Rose’s hard work on the corset, Annie’s breasts looked much bigger than they actually were, two creamy mounds pushing out from the neckline of the dress and decorated with a necklace of emeralds, or green glass, but she couldn’t tell the difference. Dante also got her gloves in the color of leaves in the summer, a pair of lovely shoes of the same shade, and hired a hairdresser, who coiffured Annie’s hair into a glorious up-do, which he then adorned with a decorative pin. She had no idea why she deserved all those things, but Dante seemed enamored with her new persona.
Annie found it hard to look at anyone else but Dante, who was stunning in a bottle green tailcoat and a creamy shirt with a collar reaching up to his jawline. His cravat was the color of the shirt, pinned with an emerald brooch in the shape of a scarab. She didn’t even know the bug was called that before he told her all about it. Apparently, he got it from a store that bought artifacts off scavengers who went beyond the Bylondon walls. An aristocrat had brought it all the way from Egypt, and while the man ended up being eaten by the undead in his own mansion, his legacy and collection survived, some of it bought by the London museums.
Even Dante’s cane was special today, made out of dark wood and embellished with black pearls. Annie’s heart skipped a beat whenever he looked at her tonight, and she knew she was his sole focus. The subtle flirting with other people was a mask he wore for business reasons, but tonight in the bedroom, she would be his again.
Dante’s long hair was loose and shiny, an eccentricity men in London would most probably frown upon, yet here in Bylondon, nothing was off limits, even Rose’s dress, which didn’t even cover her knees, making men stare after her wherever she went. Her nose prosthetic wasn’t an issue when her other charms were so blatantly on show. Rose didn’t even care to wear a fan and pretend she wanted to hide her disfigurement. At first, Annie couldn’t comprehend it, but then the attitude grew on her. Rose didn’t waste time on those who didn’t accept her, and Annie wouldn’t either. At least that was what she’d like to do.
The interior of the theater was everything the facade promised and more. The air carried an intense flowery aroma coming from incense sticks burning in pots hung on the walls, which was oddly fitting, as the building still had the structure of a large church, with three naves and lush decorations of expensive fabrics and well-polished copper sculptures. There were parties of naked men on horseback engaged in a chase all around the room, and in one of the spaces used for drinking, a huge statue of a winged horse was the centerpiece. With all the smells and new tastes Annie had already experienced, she was grateful to have Dante lead her through the crowds and make sure she didn’t embarrass herself. He taught her how to eat snails and how to drink a new colorful cocktail. He was there to hold her hand whenever she almost stumbled in the uncomfortable yet fashionable shoes and never forgot about her presence, even when engaged in conversation with an acquaintance.
She couldn’t believe she was in a place as refined as this, listening to live music performed in one of the booths in the first floor and even eating little ice cream bonbons, like a real lady. Dante made her feel like a true princess, and she’d do anything to help him make his dreams come true, so she tried not to blush too much when they started talking to Tomas Woodley, the director of the theater, who was there to witness Annie’s humiliating cart drive at Dante’s party.
Surprisingly, the man greeted her in the most gentlemanly fashion, kissing the air above her glove and complimenting her dress.
“I would never expect a pony to wear a dress with such charm,” he laughed, and Annie was pretty sure he wanted to entertain her, not mock her.
Dante’s smile set her heart aflutter. “Of course, she would. She’s a purebred mare.” He raised her hand to his lips and gave her fingers a kiss.
Annie smiled and curtseyed the way Rose taught her the day before. “Thank you, that’s very kind.”
Woodley’s gaze settled on Dante’s face, and they walked up to the wall not to block anyone’s way. Annie couldn’t help but glance across the nave, to a place near the former altar where the dance floor was located. She wondered whether Dante would like to take her there. He would hold her so firmly, and they would spin around to the melody of the lively music. She didn’t know the steps to any of the fashionable dances she’d seen performed so far, but she could dream about it.
“Mr. Greyhurst will be looking through the crowd tonight, so make sure you are visible.”
“I’m tall and so handsome it should be made illegal, so I’m hard to miss,” Dante said with a smirk.
Annie chuckled and hid her face behind the fan, listening to the two men speak. Her eyes darted up to the rows of large booths in the second floor, some obscured by thick, velvet curtains and some revealed small parties happening alongside the main events downstairs. She knew very well where Mr. Greyhurst was, as Dante managed to obtain an appointment with him later that evening, and he was wary to move around in places visible from the man’s booth. She blinked, noticing the familiar figure of Erik Dal, who leaned against the bannister of Greyhurst’s booth. There was a t
all man with him, and it took Annie a moment to realize it was his horse. It didn’t wear a mask this time, and she could see why he was called Copper. A thick, red mane spilled down his shoulders, complementing his pale complexion and a handsome, masculine face.
Despite his steel-colored hair, Mr. Greyhurst had the moves of a much younger man, and he enthusiastically pulled Copper closer by the reins. Erik handed him something, and soon, the pony gently picked up what must have been sugar cubes out of the director’s palm. There was a light in Greyhurst’s eyes when he interacted with the horse. He never stopped petting it and even tried to train it with a crop handed over by Erik. The sheer joy of the three men made Annie smile to herself, but all humor faded from her face when she heard the name Percy mentioned right next to her.
Woodley gave Dante a serious nod. “You need to be careful now. Percy Preston is at a disadvantage now that the political tide has turned.”
Anne froze, remembering how the man mocked her, how he made the tailor touch her, and finally that he endangered Dante’s life. For a role. What a lowly person he was.
Dante squeezed her hand tighter. “Yes, I’ve heard he tried to mock the new government in his last play. Bad for business. I hope Greyhurst will be able to recognize that.”
Woodley sighed and twirled his moustache. “Be careful nevertheless.”
Annie brushed her thumb over Dante’s hand, trying to offer her support the best way she knew, but he didn’t seem all that bothered, and after a short conversation, she and Dante moved on, talking to other people and making their way through the various exotic foods on offer. Annie never even knew there could be so many dishes she had never heard about. There had to be a thousand jellies, in a hundred shapes.
As they were at a small fountain of white wine, she couldn't help but notice the crowd parting, and her heart beat faster when a faint sound of hooves clomping against the floor reached her ears. That sound she associated with Coal coming back to the stable, and she looked up, smiling at the sight of Mr. Dal and his horse. The red mane spilled on the dark blue cloak that parted in the front, revealing a white leather suit that clung to the pony’s body in all the right places. He kept shaking his head, stirring the silver-colored plume on top of his head. Erik must have put it on him when they were leaving the privacy of Mr. Greyhurst’s booth.
Annie squeezed Dante’s arm. “It’s him. He told me to tell you to come see him.”
Dante gave the man a tight smile. “Good evening, Mr. Dal. I don’t think we’ve ever been truly introduced.” He held out his hand and gave Copper a glance. The horse’s bright amber eyes were attentive, and Annie could almost see the man behind all the tack in there. But even at an event like this, Copper had a bit between his lips, and she wasn’t sure if the arrangement between him and Erik was anything like hers with Dante.
Erik grinned, and his eyes brightened as he shook Dante’s hand. “Indeed. What a pleasure to meet you. And your lady friend,” he said, sliding his gaze up and down Annie, and she suddenly had the most horrible of feelings growing in her gut. What if Erik was disappointed not seeing her in the tack? He did say he wanted to see Dante with his mare, not with a woman who looked nice but was hardly representative of the arts. Maybe she would be better off wearing the tack to the party? She would do that for Dante if he promised to protect her from unwanted touch.
“Dante Salvai,” he said as he shook Erik’s hand, and then petted Copper’s chest with his knuckles. “Copper is looking stunning tonight, Mr. Dal.”
Copper straightened up even more and shook his head with a snort. Annie felt a pang of jealousy seeing her man praise Copper, but he did promise her she was the only one now, and she didn’t want to be difficult, so she stepped closer and patted the horse on the chest gently. It whinnied and lowered its head, nuzzling her forehead. Annie couldn’t help but smile. “He is lovely.”
“Best one I had. We have a lot of fun together, don’t we, Copper?” asked Erik and nodded vigorously at the horse.
Copper quickly nodded as well, and his eyes sparkled with adoration for his master. Annie half-expected him to nudge Erik with his hoof, but then she realized that under the cape, Copper’s hands in hoof mittens were strapped to his sides. She looked away, embarrassed when she noticed an erection straining against Copper’s leathers. She was definitely not in London anymore. Oh, well, at least Copper clearly wasn’t doing this against his will.
Erik kept touching his pet as he talked to Dante. “You may remember that I am organizing pet and owner meetings on my birthdays. Would you care to attend the next one with your lovely mare?” he asked, gesturing at Annie, who looked down, flushing hard.
“I might just be tempted into that.” Dante smiled and placed his hand on her waist. She’d never felt safer than when he was by her side. “What do you say, Annie?”
She nodded and fanned herself, trying to look as graceful as a lovely mare would. “Of course. It would be an honor, sir.”
Erik seemed pleased with her answer, but he smiled even wider at someone behind Annie. She looked back and froze in terror when she saw the angelically pretty face surrounded by blond locks.
Percy Preston stood between her and Erik and greeted him with a firm handshake. “Good evening, sir. I hope you’re enjoying yourself and so is Copper.”
Copper made a step toward Percy and nuzzled his hair. As if that bastard deserved any attention.
Dante looked at Percy, and the tension on his face told Annie he was barely holding back a scowl. She stepped back, not wanting the treacherous man to touch her.
Erik smiled. “Mr. Preston also bred Copper, though not as a stallion.”
Percy snorted, and his mouth stretched so wide Annie was afraid it’d break.
“You want to tell me what you were doing in my house uninvited, Preston? Because I don’t recall there being a man to fuck there,” Dante’s words were sharp, and Annie bit her lip, knowing that even those words were creating more of a scene. Dante’s temper was rearing its ugly head, and she was afraid for how it would affect his standing in the theater community. After all, Mr. Greyhurst could be watching from above. She dared to look up and immediately lowered her eyes. He was. Of course, he was, and Percy wouldn’t miss the opportunity to strike back.
“I merely wanted to help. Mr. Dal might not know this, but your little friend isn’t that well trained.”
Annie pressed her lips together and held on to Dante even as the weight of Percy’s words squeezed around her chest.
“She is free to do how she pleases,” Dante hissed. “She just happens to enjoy this kind of play. It is no reason for you to insult her in my home, even engage another person in your scheming. You disgust me!” As he raised his voice, the crowd around them got quieter, and many gazes burned into Annie’s skin.
“Of course, she is,” said Erik. “Anyone can be a horse lover, and Miss ...”
“Annie,” muttered Annie in a quiet voice.
Erik nodded. “Annie clearly is a lovely addition to our scene, even if she’s just a part-time horse. She wouldn’t be the first one.” He looked at Dante with a pleasant smile. “I know Alexander was very happy with your services during your employment at his stable. People choose the type of play they like, and that’s that.”
Percy snarled and straightened his back, and then in a loud voice, he said, “So you were a whore, Dante? And for a year at that, as I have heard from the lovely Crema. I suppose one must do what they have to. I have much more respect for those who simply horse for the love of it.” He smiled widely at Erik and Copper.
Annie’s stomach turned inside out as she stared at that devilishly beautiful face as Percy stabbed an invisible knife into Dante’s heart.
Dante’s nostrils flared, and he gave Annie a glance that pierced her heart. “You told him that? I was no whore!” he hissed at Percy and took a step toward him, letting go of Annie’s hand. It felt as if he broke an only freshly forged connection, still too fragile and hot to survive such a storm.
Percy spread his arms. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, Dante. I thought that’s what you call someone who sells fucking for money. And in a horse costume at that. What was your horse name?”
Annie could hardly breathe. There were whispers she could feel tearing at their flesh, stares hot as a branding iron and just as permanent to stay. She wanted to cry. She wanted to tear Percy apart, but she couldn’t bring herself to move.
Erik frowned and pulled his hands back, looking between Percy and Dante. “That is not very gentlemanly of you, Mr. Preston. Didn’t you fuck my horse for a handsome sum yourself?”
Copper snorted and stomped his hoof.
Percy pouted. “Yes, but I’ve heard it wasn’t Dante who did the fucking in his case.”
Sniggers and gasps resounded around them, and Annie watched Dante as if time slowed down. He took one more step toward Percy and pulled his arm back for more momentum. The punch straight to Percy’s face was ruthless, and a crackle of bone resounded through the air, speeding time back up again. Percy screamed, blood splattered over Annie’s dress, and people moved away.
Dante didn’t waste time. He grabbed onto Percy’s collar when he tried to escape, and threw him to the marble floor. When Annie thought it would be over, Dante darted down after Percy to deliver more punches. A lady standing close by screamed in terror and turned to hide her face in the chest of her partner.
“No. One. Fucked. Me. You scum!” Dante yelled as he turned Percy’s beautiful face into a pulp.
