<strong>Sophie</strong><br/><br/>The foolish girl smiled up at the cruel wizard, thinking that his tenderness to her, even clothed in language intended to debase her, promised of future kindnesses, if she pleased him, if she served.  "Yes, your Highness," she whispered.  Not entirely foolish, she began to play along with what she thought he wanted to hear.  "I am your. . .your w-w-whore, Majesty."  She bit her lower lip, as if ashamed of what she had just said, and gasped in surprised pleasure when his thumb rubbed against her clit.<br/><br/><strong>Aurora</strong><br/><br/>There was still enough of her inexperienced enough to blush at the sight of the devices they found in the wardrobe, her fertile imagination already picturing the uses to which the tools would be put, both the ones designed to punish as well as to pleasure.  Darius belonged to her, body and soul; she knew it, and yet Aurora was not eager, not confident, to push the limits of what he was prepared to accept, what he would see in one he thought of as innocent and tender and needing protection.<br/><br/>"You are quite right, Sir Darius.  There is nothing in here that needs command our attention."<em>For the moment,</em>she amended silently.  "These books will be sufficient, and you have little love for this place, I can see.  I will not ask that you remain any longer.  I am tired and soulsick; would you please escort me back to my chamber door?"