In the Doghouse - Chapter 58
The night was illuminated by a high-hanging moon. As soon as Courtney finished her bath, she hurried to prepare herself. The handmaids exchanged knowing glances, silently acknowledging the situation. They thought, Even if couples fight, they make up easily, and assumed that Courtney and the Crown Prince were on good terms once again.
One of the older handmaids, brushing Courtney’s hair, chuckled knowingly, and the younger, unmarried handmaids followed with their own giggles. Courtney rolled her eyes, aware of the atmosphere in the room.
“Almost done. Don’t you want to look your most beautiful for His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Oh, please. His Highness would probably still say Her Highness is beautiful even if she were covered in blood,” another chimed in, and the room filled with laughter.
Courtney cleared her throat awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed. She had a good idea of what they were thinking—they likely assumed she was desperate to consummate their relationship. And though they weren’t entirely wrong, the actual reason for her urgency was somewhat different.
The handmaids, having finished their work, quietly left the room, each casting sly, knowing looks her way. Courtney averted her eyes, feeling slightly flustered.
“Have a wonderful night, Your Highness…”
As soon as the door clicked shut, Courtney sprang into action. She didn’t have much time to prepare before Richard arrived. Though the maids had already lit the room with a soft glow and scented the air with fragrant incense, those gestures were of little help for what she had in mind.
She hurried over to the wardrobe and opened the door. The wardrobe, which was connected to a secret passage for emergencies, was also the perfect place to hide items she didn’t want others to see—like discreet toys for intimate nights.
Despite the cold front between her and Richard, Courtney had spent the past days thinking nonstop about how she wanted to spend their second night together. Just as a noblewoman was expected to run her household during the day, she also had a duty to satisfy her husband at night.
‘And besides…’
That was just an excuse.
The truth was, she had found the last night they had together lacking. Though she had been more excited and satisfied than expected, it still wasn’t enough. If she had prepared better, she might have experienced even more pleasure…
Shaking off her distractions, Courtney pulled out the items she had already selected and laid them neatly on the bed bench. Grabbing hold of a thick wooden paddle, she gulped nervously.
Could she really go through with this? Doubts began to creep in.
But Courtney quickly pushed those thoughts aside and stood up, pulling her hair into a high ponytail. Tonight’s plan was flawless, and she wasn’t going to let a single moment slip from her control.
Knock, knock—
Just as she composed herself, there was a knock at the door. She hastily adjusted her appearance.
“Come in.”
The door opened without a sound, and Richard, dressed in a night robe, stepped into the room alone. His face was flushed with anticipation, a reflection of the excitement he clearly felt.
Courtney took a deep breath to steady her racing heart. Tonight, she vowed to leave no room for him to gain the upper hand—not even for a moment.
Sitting on the edge of the bed bench, she assumed a haughty posture, exuding confidence.
Richard, having closed the door, stood still by the entrance, saying nothing. His gaze, however, was intense, locked solely on her. Dressed in a sheer black slip that showed glimpses of her skin, Courtney resembled a sleek black panther.
With her chin raised, she stared right back at him, defiant. It was like a duel between a gladiator and a wild beast, each sizing up the other. As expected, Courtney was the first to speak.
“Undress. Completely.”
The start of this encounter was strikingly different from their last. She had changed, and it showed. Richard’s blue eyes wavered, as if caught in a storm.
Of course, he had no reason to resist this welcome shift. Without hesitation, he removed his robe and discarded his nightwear. His arousal was evident—his member already hard and standing firm.
Courtney gestured between her slightly parted legs.
“Come here.”
Without delay, Richard crawled towards her. Though he thought of her as a predator, there was no doubt about which of them was truly the beast here.
Courtney tried her best not to show her nervousness. As he drew closer, his breath grew heavier. She recalled the faces of those who had once looked down on her and crafted an expression of arrogance.
When Richard reached her feet, he looked up at her with eager eyes. Courtney lightly tapped his chin with her toe.
“Are you ready to be punished?”
“Yes… Master.”
His voice was thick with desire, and just hearing it made her stomach tighten with anticipation.
Courtney reached for the items laid out on the bed bench. The first thing she picked up was a small metal ring, just slightly larger than the space between her thumb and forefinger. The ring was round but split open in the middle.
Seeing what she held, Richard’s eyes trembled again.
Clearly, he already knew what it was for.
