Just then, the heavy wooden doors of the courtroom swung open, revealing Violetta standing in the doorway. She took in the tense scene before her, her violet eyes widening as she noted the anger that flashed in Cassian's gaze and the defiant, almost mocking grin that curved Lucien's lips. "What's going on here?" Violetta asked, a note of concern coloring her melodic voice as she stepped forward, her silk skirts whispering softly against the stone floor. Her gaze darted between the two men, a look of wary suspicion in her eyes as she studied Cassian's furious expression.
Lucien stepped away from the wall, his hands raising in a placating gesture as he turned to face his beloved. "It's nothing, my dear," he murmured, his voice a low, soothing rasp. "Just a...minor disagreement between the Duke and myself." He reached out, his fingers curling around Violetta's slender arm, a silent gesture of reassurance and protection. "You need not worry about it." Lucien's eyes softened as he gazed down at Violetta's face, a look of tender, almost worshipful adoration in his gaze. "I would never let anything or anyone come between us, my love."
Violetta's gaze lingered on Cassian for a moment longer, a flicker of uncertainty in her violet eyes as she tried to read the anger that simmered beneath the surface of his handsome features. But seeing no immediate threat, she shrugged slightly and turned back to Lucien, a soft, trusting smile curving her lips. "Alright," she murmured, her voice a low, breathless whisper. "If you say so, my love." She leaned into him, her body molding to the hard, muscular lines of his own as she rested her head against his chest.
Lucien's eyes softened with adoration as he gazed down at Violetta's lovely face, his fingers tightening slightly around her slender arm. "Are you finally free, my love?" he asked, his voice a low, hopeful rasp. "Has your brother given his blessing for our union?" Lucien's heart raced at the thought of finally being able to call Violetta his wife, of being able to claim her as his own in the eyes of the law and the gods.
Violetta looked up at him, her violet eyes shimmering with a mix of joy and a hint of apology. "Yes," she murmured, a note of relief and happiness coloring her melodic voice. "Augustus has given us his blessing, my love." She bit her lower lip, a sudden pang of guilt and regret flashing through her as she thought of the long, lonely years that had passed since her husband's death. "I'm sorry for making you wait so long," Violetta whispered, a note of sincere remorse in her words.
Lucien's smirk widened, a look of dark, wicked amusement playing at the corners of his lips as he gazed down at Violetta's lovely face. "Shhh, my dear," he purred, his voice a low, silken rasp. "You should know by now that apologies with words matter not to me." His other hand came up, his fingers cupping Violetta's cheek, his thumb brushing over the soft, plump swell of her lower lip. "No, my love...I much prefer apologies made with actions." Lucien's voice was a low, suggestive growl, a sound that held a dark, erotic promise of the delights to come.
He leaned in closer, his lips hovering a mere breath away from Violetta's own as he gazed into her eyes with a look of intense, almost feverish desire. "And I have a feeling that once we are finally, truly alone...you will find many ways to make it up to me."
Violetta's cheeks flushed a pretty pink at Lucien's bold, suggestive words. A mix of shock, excitement, and a hint of embarrassment played out across her lovely features as she gazed up at him with wide, startled eyes. "Lucien!" she gasped, a note of scandalized delight coloring her melodic voice. "Such brazen words...here, in public?" Violetta glanced around the empty hallway, a sudden self-consciousness gripping her as she realized the potential for prying eyes and ears to witness their intimate exchange.
And yet, even as she blushed and glanced away, Violetta couldn't deny the thrill of excitement that raced through her at Lucien's daring, almost scandalous declaration. It was his very brazenness, his utter lack of discretion that had first drawn Violetta to him. That, and the dark, passionate intensity that smoldered in his eyes whenever he looked at her...as if he wanted to devour her whole.
A slow, coy smile curved Violetta's lips as she gazed up at Lucien through the veil of her long, dark lashes. "Alright," she murmured, her voice a low, breathless whisper. "I will make it up to you, my lord husband-to-be...with my body, as you so boldly suggested." Violetta's words were a silent, sultry promise of the delights to come, a hint of the intimate, carnal pleasures that awaited them once they were finally, truly alone. "But first..." She paused, reaching out to curl her slender fingers around Lucien's wrist, a silent urging as she tugged him gently towards the exit. "Let's get out of here. I want you...all to myself." Violetta's voice was a low, fervent murmur, a sound that held a desperate, almost anguished note of longing and need.
As soon as the carriage door closed behind them, Lucien was on Violetta, his mouth claiming hers in a fierce, almost desperate kiss. His hands roamed her body, squeezing and caressing every curve and swell, as if he couldn't get enough of her. Violetta gasped into his mouth, her own hands fisting in his hair as she kissed him back with equal fervor, years of pent-up passion and desire pouring out of her. The carriage swayed and rocked as Lucien pressed Violetta back against the plush velvet seat, his body pinning her down, his hips grinding insistently against her own.
After a moment, Violetta tore her mouth away, a strangled cry escaping her lips as Lucien's hand slid up under her skirts to caress the bare skin of her thigh. "Lucien!" she panted, her voice high and breathless with arousal. "Not so fast..." But her protests were cut off as Lucien captured her mouth again, his tongue delving deep, conquering, possessing, claiming her utterly. Violetta arched beneath him, her body trembling and aching with need, her core throbbing and damp with desire. She wanted him, god how she wanted him...but not like this, not when she wasn't in control of the situation.
With a sudden burst of strength, Violetta shoved hard against Lucien's chest, pushing him back and away from her. He crashed against the opposite seat, a look of stunned surprise on his handsome face as he stared at her, his chest heaving with exertion. Before he could recover and lunge for her again, Violetta pressed the sharp heel of her boot hard against his chest, pinning him down against the seat.
"Stay," she commanded, her voice a low, breathless rasp. "Stay down." Violetta's violet eyes flashed with a sudden, fierce light as she gazed at Lucien, a look of regal authority and a hint of something darker, more primal in their depths. "Lucien, while I appreciate your acting in the courtroom, don't you think you went a bit overboard? Even here, in the carriage, you dare touch me without my consent?"
Lucien's eyes widened, a mix of shock and a sudden, wary respect flashing in their depths as he stared up at Violetta. He could feel the sharp point of her heel pressing insistently against his chest, a silent warning and a promise of punishment should he disobey her command. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his handsome features as he gazed at Violetta, taking in the fierce, almost regal authority that blazed in her violet eyes. It seemed this Duchess was not as meek and mild as he had once believed.
"Duchess..." Lucien began, his voice a low, cautious rasp as he raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I meant no offense. I simply couldn't control myself, so desperate was I to make you mine." He paused, swallowing hard as Violetta pressed her heel harder against his chest, a sharp, almost painful pressure that made him wince. "It seems I have been remiss in my duties as your future husband," Lucien murmured, a note of grudging respect coloring his words. "It appears I require a firmer hand...and a sterner lesson."
As he spoke, Violetta suddenly pulled her heel back, only to slam it forward again, hitting Lucien's chest with a sharp, stinging blow. He grunted in pain, his body jerking beneath the sudden, brutal impact. Violetta's eyes flashed with a dark, almost feral light as she gazed down at him, a cruel, almost sadistic smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Yes," she purred, her voice a low, silken whisper. "I believe you do." She pressed her heel harder against his chest, a silent warning and a promise of more punishment to come. "And I intend to teach you that lesson...thoroughly." Violetta's voice was a low, menacing rasp, a sound that held a dark, erotic promise of the delights and torments to come. "Now...be a good boy and stay still."