Page 91 of The Big Bad Duke

I’ve done this before, Leila told herself firmly, trying to summon the disconnected numbness that had helped her through similar ordeals in the past. It will not be any worse than before. I can survive this too.

After experiencing true passion in Gideon’s arms just days ago, she had thought that precious memory tucked away in her mind would make subsequent violations easier to bear. At least she had a moment of real pleasure, real tenderness, to hold on to.

But somehow, this was infinitely worse.

Now she knew how it could be. She’d seen Gideon in all his glorious nakedness, felt his gentle hands and passionate kisses, and understood what it meant to be truly desired rather than simply used. The contrast between that beautiful memory and this current nightmare was so stark it felt like torture.

Staring at the man in front of her, she wanted to die rather than submit to what he demanded.

Don’t think about Gideon, she pleaded desperately with herself. Think about saving Emir. Think about staying alive. Nothing else matters.

“Yes, be a good lass,” the man said, his voice thick with anticipation as he moved closer to her kneeling form. “Don’t resist.”

Gideon let out a laugh.

The sound was so unexpected, so completely at odds with the horror of the moment, that Leila jumped. Her head snapped toward him, confusion and disbelief warring in her chest. What could he possibly find amusing about this situation?

“Oi, what’s so funny, eh?” the guard demanded, clearly as confused as Leila by this unexpected response.

Gideon’s voice, when he answered, dripped with contempt and, oddly, dark amusement.

“Why would she resist? Perhaps because you smell worse than pigs in a sty, but with a pecker as small as yours, she won’t even feel it wherever you’re planning to stick it.”

Despite the horror of her situation, Leila couldn’t suppress the startled chuckle that escaped her throat.

Gideon wasn’t wrong.

Not about the smell, and definitely not about the man’s pecker. Not that it mattered.

It seemed to matter to the guard, though, as he took it as the greatest insult.

His face flushed dark red with rage and humiliation. He whirled toward Gideon, barely containing his fury.

“Maybe ye’d like the pleasure o’ feelin’ it yerself, eh?” he snarled, his voice shaking with anger. “Reckon it’ll give yer throat a good tickle.”

But Gideon only laughed louder, the sound echoing off the stone walls. “You take orders from the lowest of the low. You abducted a duke, and your orders are to what? Be my nursemaid? You’re not even allowed to actually hurt me. Why would I be scared of you?”

Leila watched in fascination as Gideon continued his verbal assault, his voice growing more confident and mocking with every word.

“And as far as your pathetic excuse for manhood goes,” Gideon continued, “you stick it anywhere near me, and I’ll twist it right off. I promise you, tiny thing that it is, I won’t even break a sweat doing it.”

The second guard couldn’t help himself—he let out an involuntary snort of laughter at his companion’s expense. Leila could see how it infuriated the first man even further.

In his rage and humiliation, the first guard shoved his companion hard, and the two began arguing.

Leila looked around the cell, searching for any way to defend herself. No stones lay close to her, no sharp objects. The only weapon she had was her shackles.

She didn’t have time to form another thought before the men’s argument faded, and the first guard, his face still burning with embarrassment and fury, turned back to her.

He was touching himself again—rather, yanking at his length—and she could see that Gideon’s taunts had somehow made him more aroused, not less.

Then he froze as something small and hard struck him directly on the head.

Leila blinked in confusion, watching as the man slowly and menacingly turned toward Gideon. What had just happened?

“I was right,” Gideon said, genuine wonder in his voice, as if he hadn’t quite expected his plan to work. “This bread really is like a weapon.”

He’d thrown the piece of bread she’d given him! Leila felt a strange sense of pride at Gideon’s resourcefulness.