"A bath will do you good," said Lady Celestine, leading Valentina through the steam-filled corridors of the exclusive bathhouse. Granite pillars rose from the hazy clouds and the splashing of water echoed from the vaulted ceilings. "After such an exhausting day at the hospital, you need some relaxation."

A servant hurried over and helped them take off their robes. Valentina was grateful for the steam that hid her embarrassment. Despite the increasingly revealing evenings in the duke's inner circle, this intimate nudity with just Lady Celestine alone made her strangely uncomfortable.

"Oh, how shy," Vyxara teased. "Yet you've both seen each other in far more compromising situations."

Lady Celestine, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease in her nudity. Her slender body moved with feline grace as she slipped into the warm water of the private pool. Valentina followed her hesitantly. The water was pleasantly warm and infused with fragrant oils.

"Come closer," said Lady Celestine, tapping invitingly on the granite edge beside her. "I want to show you something."

Valentina sat down carefully next to her. Lady Celestine reached for a small bottle and dripped a few drops of a spicy oil into her palm.

"Turn around," she instructed Valentina. Her hands skillfully began to massage the tense muscles in Valentina's neck. "Relax, it's just us here."

"Oh, she's good," Vyxara purred appreciatively. "Look how deft her fingers are."

The massage was indeed wonderful. Lady Celestine's hands found every tense spot, and the scent of the oil helped Valentina to relax.

"You're doing really well at court," Lady Celestine said casually as her fingers worked on a particularly stubborn knot. "The duke is very fond of you. And more importantly, the duchess likes you."

"That seems to be rare?"

"Very rare." Lady Celestine laughed softly. "Rosalind is... discerning when it comes to her husband's mistresses. She considers most of them unworthy or too ambitious."

She poured in more oil. "Lady Margaret, for example – you know her, the redhead with the affected laugh? She was briefly the duke's favorite two years ago. But she made the mistake of meddling in things that were none of her business. Political decisions, appointments..." Lady Celestine clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "The duchess made sure her husband lost interest in her. Now she is the mistress of the Earl of Meadowshire – a definite step down."

"And you?" asked Valentina cautiously. "You were also..."

"His mistress? Oh yes." Lady Celestine smiled nostalgically. "They were wonderful months. But I knew when it was time to leave his bed. That's the secret, my dear – you have to recognize the right moment."

Her hands slid lower, massaging Valentina's shoulders. "The duke is a... passionate man. He enjoys the pleasures of life. But he is also wise and fair. As long as you respect the boundaries he sets for you, he is a generous lover and protector."

"She speaks from experience," Vyxara commented with amusement. "And her hands are getting quite... brash."

In fact, Lady Celestine's touch became increasingly intimate. Her fingers stroked the sides of Valentina's breasts as if at random, and her breath brushed the back of Valentina's neck.

"You really are enchanting," she murmured, "so young and lithe. No wonder the duke desires you so much. You know..." Her lips were very close to Valentina's ear now. "The inner circle likes to share. If you're curious what it's like with a woman..."

"Oh, say yes!" Vyxara urged excitedly. "This could be very... educational."

But Valentina instinctively sensed that she had to be careful here. Lady Celestine was a valuable ally – but also a potential danger.

"You are very kind," she said softly, moving a little away from her. "But I'm afraid I'm not ready for such... experiments."

Lady Celestine accepted the refusal with a graceful smile. "Of course, my dear. Forgive my directness. But the offer stands."

"What a shame," Vyxara sighed disappointedly. "I'm sure it would have been wonderful and she could have taught you a lot."

They spent the next hour chatting about the court. Lady Celestine knew every scandal, every intrigue, every clandestine connection. She warned Valentina about Lady Wicklethorne's ambitions, about Master Raphael's dubious dealings, about the seemingly harmless Countess Rosamere, who was in fact the eyes and ears of the queen at court.

"You must always remember," said Lady Celestine as they were dried off by the servants and wrapped in soft cloths, "that nothing at court is as it seems. Everyone has hidden motives, secret desires, dark secrets."

She stroked a damp strand of hair from Valentina's face. "You are clever, my dear. And talented. But be careful. The duke may protect you now – but the favor of the powerful is fleeting."

"Are you speaking from experience?" asked Valentina.

A shadow flitted across Lady Celestine's beautiful face. "Let's just say I've learned my lessons. Sometimes the hard way." She smiled again. "But enough of the gloomy thoughts. Let us return to the palace. I hear there's a particularly... interesting entertainment today. One of my favorite games of our illustrious circle."

As they were driven back to the palace in Lady Celestine's carriage, Valentina thought about her warnings. What Lady Celestine had wisely not mentioned in all her warnings about everyone having hidden motives were her own motives – what did Lady Celestine want? Of course, the court was indeed a nest of vipers. But who was to say that Valentina hadn't long since become one of them herself?

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

~

The dice rolled across the table. Lady Vivienne groaned theatrically. "A two! I guess that means..." She gave Baron Sebastian a meaningful look, who was already standing up and gallantly offering her his hand.

Valentina sipped her wine and leaned back in the duke's arms. The evening was already well advanced and the mood in the parlor was correspondingly relaxed. When Lady Celestine had explained the rules of the game to her a few hours ago, her cheeks had still been flushed – the highest roll wins a wish, the lowest must grant one – or rather, the companions of the men playing that evening had to grant the wish. Now, after several rounds, she had become accustomed to the cultivated permissiveness of the inner circle.

"Oh, look," whispered Vyxara, amused. "How skillfully Lady Vivienne takes care of Baron Sebastian. And back there in the corner..."

Valentina forced herself not to look into the darker corners of the salon, where other couples were already indulging in even more intimate pursuits. The musicians' soft music mingled with muffled laughter and soft moans.

The dice rattled again. Master Raphael won this time and Countess Rosamere went to his divan to fulfill his wish, a blush of arousal on her face.

Valentina's heart beat faster with every throw. The duke had played skillfully so far, neither winning nor losing. She wondered if he was playing so carefully on purpose. His restraint moved her, but a part of her – a part she hardly recognized – longed for more. For the thrill, the risk, the sweet excitement of the unknown. But the idea that someone could 'win' her…

"You enjoy it, don't you," Vyxara teased. "The excitement, the thrill of the possibility..."

"Well, Gregory?" Lady Celestine, who was Master Bloomfield's companion tonight, picked up the dice cup and pressed it into his hand. "Are you ready for another round?"

Master Bloomfield raised his glass. "Oh yes, one last round, gentlemen?" His gaze swept across the parlor, where the other couples were already otherwise... preoccupied. "Although, I see that only leaves you and I, Your Grace."

The duke stroked Valentina's arm gently. "If my enchanting companion agrees?"

She could feel the expectant looks from the others. The tense atmosphere was palpable.

"Say yes," urged Vyxara. "I know you want to..."

"Of course," she breathed.

The duke pulled Valentina closer to him. "And what would be your wish, my friend?"

"If I win..." Master Bloomfield smiled mischievously. "I would like to give the enchanting lady an extraordinary experience with my mouth."

The tension at the table increased immediately. Lady Celestine, who was resting on the divan, raised her head with interest. "How... daring, Gregory."

Valentina's cheeks glowed. She could feel her heart beating faster. "By all the flames of the Martyr," she thought, "why did I agree?"

"Oh, this is going to be interesting," purred Vyxara. "It's all or nothing now..."

"Agreed," said the duke calmly. "And if I win... I wish the same... from Lady Celestine."

The dice danced across the table. Valentina held her breath. The duke threw well – a six and a four. But Master Bloomfield's last throw was better. For the first time that evening, the duke lost.

Vyxara giggled amusedly in her head, and Valentina felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that the duke had lost the game. The reality of what was about to happen hit her like a bolt of lightning. She glanced at Lady Celestine, who looked at her with an encouraging smile.

Master Bloomfield bowed elegantly. "If I may, my dear..."

Valentina's hands trembled a little as he pushed up the skirts of her dress. She leaned against the duke's chest as Master Bloomfield knelt before her and stepped between her thighs. His hands were warm as he touched her naked skin.

The duke stroked her hair gently, his lips against her ear. "Sometimes," he murmured, "it's arousing to share a little..."

"Well, well, well, he likes to share you, who would've thought", Vyxara purred. "It only makes you more desirable in his eyes."

"Look how she's blushing," murmured Lady Celestine to Baron Sebastian. "Delightful."

The first touch of Master Bloomfield's tongue on her sensitive skin made her flinch. Valentina gasped softly and curled her fingers into the duke's robe.

"You like that, don't you?" Vyxara whispered in her head. "His tongue on your most intimate part while everyone watches? Isn't it just like in your fantasies?"

Valentina could barely think, too lost in the overwhelming sensations coursing through her body. Master Bloomfield's tongue was warm and skillful as it parted her folds and circled her bud expertly.

Another shiver ran through her body. It was so different from the intimate moments with the duke – public, observed, forbidden and yet allowed. The duke's warm hands in her hair, Bloomfield's fingers on her bare thighs, his tongue greedily between her folds, the gazes of the others on her... She felt like she was in a dream, intoxicated by the intensity of the moment. Was it really her who was so shamelessly indulging in this delicate display?

It was surreal – lying here, in her lover's arms, while another man was going down on her. The looks of the others made it even more intense. She felt ashamed and aroused in equal measure.

The duke kissed her neck tenderly as he watched Master Bloomfield satisfying her. "He's very talented," he murmured. "Just relax and enjoy it."

Valentina could only nod, her voice a stifled gasp. She felt simultaneously exposed and safe in the duke's arms, who stroked her gently while Master Bloomfield's relentless tongue brought her ever closer to her climax.

The intensity increased with every second. Valentina's breathing was intermittent, her nipples were stiff with arousal and rubbed uncomfortably against the fabric of her dress. She squirmed under Master Bloomfield's skillful touch, unable to lie still as waves of pleasure coursed through her body.

"Let yourself go, the duke has given you permission," Vyxara whispered. "Show them how much you like it..."

Valentina felt the tension in her core grow stronger and stronger. Master Bloomfield's tongue found the perfect rhythm, he licked and sucked until she thought she was going to explode.

And then it happened. A violent wave of ecstasy washed over Valentina, her body twitched and shook as Master Bloomfield continued to calmly and pleasurably lick her most sensitive pearl.

Valentina moaned, unable to hold back, completely lost in pleasure. She felt the eyes of the others on her, heard the sighs of Lady Celestine, who was apparently herself aroused by this intimate performance.

When Valentina finally caught her breath, Master Bloomfield pulled back and gently kissed her thigh. "Thank you, my dear," he murmured with a gallant smile.

The duke pulled her even closer to him, and she could feel his excitement pressing against her through their clothes. "A... breathtaking experience, wouldn't you say, my beauty? And now you're all mine again."

Valentina leaned into his arms, exhausted and content, unable to speak, still dazed by the aftershocks of her orgasm. She knew that she had experienced something unforgettable.

"You enjoyed it," Vyxara purred. "Every second of it. And you know it won't be the last time..."

Later, in his chambers, the duke's kisses were particularly passionate.

"You were perfect tonight," he murmured between kisses. "So graceful, so sweet, so seductive..."

Valentina gave herself to him willingly, enjoying his stormy caresses. She now understood even better what aroused him – the controlled display, the regulated sharing, the power to decide how far it went, the power to decide when to keep her to himself and when to give her away. And to her own surprise, it excited her too.

Later, as she lay exhausted in his arms, Valentina knew that she had crossed another line. But had she really crossed a line, or was it always going to end here? A month ago, she wouldn't have thought she would ever really do something like this, but strangely enough, it felt right. She had found her role in this exciting game of power and lust, she belonged in this world of cultivated debauchery – and she was enjoying it more than she ever thought possible.

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