I Only Need the Duke's Child — Chapter 30

CLENCH YOUR JAW.

W-W-WAIT...!

IF I HEAR YOU BARKING ONE MORE TIME,

I'LL MAKE SURE YOU CAN NEVER TASTE ANYTHING WITH THAT TONGUE AGAIN.

ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

"WELL, HONESTLY, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL. WHO WOULDN'T FALL FOR SUCH A KINGDOM-TOPPLING BEAUTY?"

...FOLLOW ME.

THAT MAN FROM EARLIER...

WHAT IF HE IS BADLY HURT...?

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT BASTARD RIGHT NOW?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT PIECE OF SHIT WAS SPEWING AT YOU?!

BUT TODAY IS MY MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY BANQUET.

YOU NEVER KNOW HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN SAFE-

...ARE YOU DRUNK?

I CAN SMELL ALCOHOL ON YOU.

I-I'M NOT DRUNK!

HOW MANY DO YOU SEE?

...YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T DOUBT ME.

SHE'S STUBBORNLY INSISTING OTHERWISE WHEN SHE'S VISIBLY DRUNK.

SO, HOW MANY DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

HOLD STILL FOR A SECOND.

IT'S TWO.

THE HICCUPS ARE STARTING AGAIN...

SHALL I STOP THEM FOR YOU?

HOW?

THERE.

THEY'VE STOPPED NOW,

THE HICCUPS.

WHY...?

WHY IS HE ACTING LIKE THIS TOWARD ME?

HE DOESN'T EVEN LIKE ME.

THAT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE SWAYED.

THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THE ALCOHOL.

OR MAYBE...

THE REASON THIS MAN IS DOING THIS IS...

DO YOU PERHAPS WANT TO SLEEP WITH ME?

...WHAT IF I DO?

WE AGREED TO SHARE A BED TWICE A MONTH, DIDN'T WE?

WE STILL HAVE ONE TIME LEFT, SO

IF YOU WANT TO, I CAN OBLIGE...

THAT TONE OF HERS, ACTING LIKE SHE'S HANDING OUT CHARITY.

WHILE THAT ATTITUDE GRATES ON MY NERVES,

THIS SURGING FEELING IS PROBABLY

ANTICIPATION.

AND IT MUST BE DUE TO THIS BOILING DESIRE, COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM FEELING LIKE I'M STUCK IN THE MUD.

CAN WE DO IT HERE?

SHE HAS BEEN TREATING ME LIKE A LUST-CRAZED BEAST SINCE LAST TIME...

BUT SHE ISN'T ENTIRELY WRONG.

AT THIS MOMENT, MY HEAD IS FILLED WITH DIRTY FANTASIES ABOUT HER.

IS THERE ANY REASON TO REJECT A WOMAN WHO IS WILLING TO GIVE HERSELF TO ME?

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY DESIRE.

NOTHING AT ALL.