<strong>Hugh, Baron Covington</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/03/Geraint_Baron_Hugh_Covington_Av.jpg)</div>It's a risk, and Hugh knows it.  He has a solution to his knottiest of dilemmas all but in his grasp: a relatively safe and discrete way to slake his darkest desires while bringing no harm nor touch of his depravity to his soon to be bride.  Lady Katherine is the fairest, gentlest maiden he can imagine who stirs his heart and soul as well as his loins.  Hopefully she will also bear him the heir his family requires of him, as well as the companionship of her sweet presence.  But he cannot imagine even spanking her, much less taking a riding crop to her flesh.<br/><br/>Standing before him in her shift, is the answer to his dilemma, a brave and beautiful young woman with a tinge of darkness in her eyes and a taste for pain with her pleasure.  She is a woman living already within his own household, who would never dream of causing anguish to his wife, nor adding to the rumors which follow him already.  All he has to do is to confirm a polite fiction, a deception to salve Lucy's conscience.  Yet he cannot bring himself to allow it.  He will not in effect coerce from her what needs to be freely entered, even if it is simply to make it easier for Lucy to do what both of them now know that she wants.  So he tells her the truth … all of it.<br/><br/>He watches the dawning of the realization on her face, first that her Mistress will be safe, and then that she need not offer herself as a sacrifice.  He can almost envision her tensing her body to flee into the night but then immobilizing her self with second thoughts.  It would not surprise him if she fled yet returned another night as she had tonight.  That would give her a chance to think about it, at least..<br/><br/>He is not above giving inducements to stay, of course, which are made easier by the fact that she is already in her shift before him.  And she is so very responsive to both pleasure and pain that he really hopes, for both of their sakes, that she stays.   He would much rather it be Lucy than an outsider.  She is really quite exquisite in her responsiveness, and also more than  intelligent enough to make a reasoned decision.  He finds himself liking Lucy already … as much for her loyalty, conscience and careful consideration, as for her exquisite responsiveness.<br/><br/><em>"Port,"</em><br/><br/>She whispers the word, holding out her glass to him.<br/><br/><em>"Will that do for a safe word, my lord?"</em><br/><br/>He smiles at her brightly.<br/><br/>"I think not Lucy, given that it is such a useful word otherwise.  Think of a word you would not otherwise use in my presence."<br/><br/>He reaches for the decanter, this time keeping his eyes upon Lucy, as she slides off her shift and then drops her drawers as well.  He makes no attempt to hide the pleasure he takes in what he sees.  The Baron hands her the refilled glass while he inspects her, much as he did when she took her dress off.<br/><br/>Her breasts are full and firm enough to stand out prominently without support.  The nipples topping them are rosy and pale, still erect.  His fingers run across them with evident admiration and provocation.  Desire glows like banked coals in Lucy still, awaiting only raking back to life.<br/><br/>"Sensation is such a lovely thing Lucy, especially when touch is coupled with sight.  You can watch what I do, and feel its effect at the same tine."<br/><br/>His fingers drift lower, over a small mole beneath her left breast, and down her belly to brush across the soft tangle of blond strands (somewhat darker than her hair) that tops the juncture of her thighs.<br/><br/>"But sometimes sensations are more intense when they're not seen."<br/><br/>He slips a finger lower and between her moist lips, to rub once in just the right place to prove his point.<br/><br/>"I think we'll do some exploring of that phenomenon tonight."<br/><br/>He continues around her body, admiring her shapely but firm buttocks and running a finger down the bumps of her spine, smacking her abruptly and sharply on each cheek of her arse when his hand gets there.<br/><br/>"You like that, don't you Lucy?  Perhaps I shall save it for your reward."<br/><br/>He continues back around to face her.<br/><br/>"You please me Lucy; I'm glad it's you.<br/><br/>"You're a beautiful, exquisitely responsive young woman, and I think we understand each other well;  don't we?"<br/><br/>He moves away from her now toward another wall of the room.<br/><br/>"Take some time to look around Lucy, to refamiliarize yourself with the room, both what it looks like, and where things are."<br/><br/>He returns with a dark green silk scarf in his hands, folding and refolding it as he walks.<br/><br/>"Because I am going to deprive you of one of your senses now, to heighten the others."<br/><br/>He wraps the silk around her head, totally covering her eyes, and tying it behind her head, and rechecking it, continuing to speak as he finishes.<br/><br/>"Now take in the room with your other senses.  Your ears, your sense of smell, and your fingers, even your taste if you like.<br/><br/>"And when you feel ready, make your way to the couch, and lay down, either on your back, or your belly."<br/>