Page 52 of Baby Duke

West laps at my cunt until he has consumed every last drop of my satisfaction. In a state of bliss, I collapse onto the bed beside him and close my eyes. Just for a moment.

A moment seems to blend into God knows how long because the slamming of a car door startles me awake. I blink around me in confusion as my mind struggles to catch up with reality. I am wrapped snugly like a bug in a rug, which, conveniently, is exactly what I am wrapped in. I am cradled against a hard chest, ensnared in taught arms that hold me beneath my knees and around my back. Glancing up blearily, I take in the firm jaw, with a five o'clock shadow, of Western Mazzuchelli.

He glances down at me briefly before refocusing on the path he treads. Snapping my gaze away from him, I take in our surroundings.

"Take me home," I whisper hoarsely. Damn, all that singing, screaming, and sleeping has taken its toll on my throat.

I take it that West does not hear, so I repeat my demand as he opens the front door.

"No," he says plainly. As if what I am asking is outrageous and impossible.

I am about to abuse the fuck out of the Duke when urgent claws skitter across the floor in their haste to reach us.

Instantly, I forget about feuding with West.

Captain Floof barrels into view, his paws grasping for purchase on the slick tiled floor. I can't help but giggle at his frantic attempts to reach us. Well, to reachme.

I squirm enough for West to relent his hold on me. My feet have barely touched the floor before I am bowled over by the over-eager bear.

I bounce on my butt, and the linen that had kept me covered falls off my shoulders as I snuggled with my puppy dog.

"Oh my gosh! My big shmooshen mcstuffin muffin!" I laugh, wrapping my arms around the beast. "Who's the most handsome boy ever?" I grab his floppy cheeks and smoosh them together, his eyes disappearing behind the loose folds and fur of his face.

I hear West grunt from nearby, something about questioning who raised the damn dog. I ignore the broodiness wafting off him and snuggle my boy.

He breathes his unpleasant dog breath over my face as his jaw drops and tongue darts out.

"Captain Floof!" I squeak, holding up my hands to protect my face from the disgusting love slag I am receiving.

A sharp whistle pierces my ear, and Captain Floof instantly abandons me to sit at West's feet. He stares up at him with such adoration that it is hard to believe anyone could feel for this young man.

West's hard mask slips away as he reaches down and pets the dog with a smile on his face. Fuck, he is beautiful.

I realize I have spoken aloud when West turns raised eyebrows my way. His smile only grows.

I raise my chin and say stubbornly, "Don't look so satisfied. I was talking about the dog.”

His grin grows even more so, white teeth making an appearance.

"Itisbeautiful," he says, eyes skirting down my body and back up. "The dog, I mean."

Huffing, I pull the blanket up over my breasts and rise.

"You will sleep here," West says, turning his back on me and leading the way down a side corridor. Captain Floof looks at me with a giant, tongue-lolling grin before he takes off after West.

Considering my options, I decide to follow West, hoping he is headed for East's room. I roll my eyes at myself.There is no fucking way he is taking me to his sister. Not after tonight. Not after what we did.

I follow West as he traipses up a set of stairs. Something I notice as we walk through the halls is the bare walls. No hundred-thousand-dollar art pieces break the uncomfortable bareness. No family photos. What kind of home doesn’t have family photos adorning the walls proudly?

West opens a door and stands back for me to enter first. I do so with my chin high and my pride intact.

I pause a few steps in and take in the large bedroom. The walls are painted a navy blue, blending satisfyingly with the carpet of the same hue. A giant, cream-colored dog bed sits in the corner. Captain Floof sits on it with his tail wagging happily as if saying, "This is my bed!"Two doors on one wall indicate a walk-in robe and ensuite. Turning my gaze in the opposite direction, I eye the floor-to-ceiling window taking up the entire side of one wall.

"No shit," I whisper, tiptoeing over to have a closer look.

Beneath Wests' window, I can see a maze-like hedge garden lit up with Narnia-styled lampposts and fairy lights. A giant and completely unnecessary rich person's fountain sits in the middle. I snort as I take in the details of the centerpiece; a man with naked women kneeling at his feet, their arms and hands clutching at whatever part of him theycan reach as they worship the faux Duke. I snort at the ridiculousness of it.

"That will be the first thing to go when I inherit this place," West says, coming up close behind me. I can feel the heat of his breath on my neck. "IfI inherit it at all.”

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