Vol. 1, Side Story 2

[Warning! Parental Guidance is adviced]

The tavern was rowdier than usual. It was almost midnight, but men were still having their fill. Symon wouldn't be there if it weren't for Alexander, who specifically told him to look after his sister to make sure she didn't do anything that he would be embarrassed about. But everyone knew about her. 

About her escapades and about the variety of men she favored. It's not really a secret, and she didn't fight against the rumors too.

Symon sighed. He's just three years older than the duke, but he seemed much older by the looks of it. Not only does he need to make sure that Alexander stays out of trouble, but every time Leticia's in town, he also has to look after her—and they're technically the same age! 

"Where could that woman be at this hour? At which tavern?" Symon muttered with a death stare as he walked through Thuenia's lively entertainment district, famously known as Balerno. It's a district that never slept; with many taverns, inns, pleasure houses, and a handful of shops—it's got a small portion of everything that tourists and visitors often looked for. 

Peeking through one establishment to another was taking a year each off his life. He didn't want to see the lady all ravished like some dessert—or maybe she's ravishing someone.

No. 

Leticia wouldn't be like that. She would be discreet, at least, since she's the duke's sister.

Yes, she would be cautious.

But no matter how Symon thought of only good things, his mind still told him otherwise. He's been with the siblings since they were little, and they were practically raised together since his father was the former secretary of the late duke. But things drastically changed when the two of them lost their remaining parent. 

Especially Leticia.

A year at sea, she came back all matured looking and with an extra piercing or two. She also dressed relatively light, with part of her bust and thighs always showing. And Symon would be a saint not to think of his groin whenever the lady casually strode in dressed in fabrics that left little to the imagination just to tease his brother.

Leticia's beautiful. She was beautiful then when she was still behaving like a proper lady, but every time she came back from her travels, she looked even more beautiful and charming than the last. And, of course, stories of her conquests, both diplomatic and of the flesh, were not left untold to Alexander.

The duke barely minded her, but Symon did.

Every time. 

Whenever she came home, he would think of all the men she was with at sea or on land wherever they docked. Her sexual adventures greatly worried the duke's secretary, but what could he do? 

He's just a virgin still believing in love and fate. 

Symon shook his head, disappointed. Even a young stable boy would have had sex or two at this time and age. But not him. He's so adamant on reserving himself for a special moment—a special someone—like some romance-struck maiden.

Sometimes he's proud of it, but most of the time, it embarrassed him too. 

He shook his head again.

It's getting really late. Illuminated by the faint light coming from the opened taverns, it's already almost one in the morning on his watch. He's got to find the lady fast, or he'll be attending to the duke while dozing off.

And just when he was about to give up from searching, he heard someone shrieking happily at one establishment. He followed where the familiar laughs were coming and was surprised to see Leticia dancing on the table—completely wasted. 

An equally drunk man danced with her, and the others were whistling and howling. Lively music played on the old piano at a corner. The louder the tavern became, the more hyped the Leticia danced.

It would have been fine if she just danced normally, but she was sort of, what people call, wild, on the table. Teasing meant grinding her hips and lifting the slit of her skirt higher, and running her hands on herself in a sexual way.

Symon's eye twitched, and he almost attacked everyone that looked at her with malice. Though he wanted to have everyone's head on the floor, he controlled himself and strode right in. Pushing those who blocked his way. And when he reached the table Leticia where the duke's sister danced, he looked up to her with a glare. When the lady saw him, she immediately smiled. Leticia came down and wrapped her arms around his neck. 

"You reek of ale, Leticia. Let's go. You've had too much."

"No," the lady answered groggily. "You—hic!—leave me here and—hic!—have fun. You busybody." Leticia's head rested on his shoulders as she forced herself to speak. 

If it was Alexander who's drunk, he would've been ruthless and left him to his knights to be dragged back to the palace, but it's Leticia. Without a second thought, Symon swept her off her feet and carried her out of the tavern. Outside, he sat her on a bench and told her to pull herself together. 

Symon was gearing up for a long sermon, but just as he was about to start, Leticia gazed at him with soft eyes that begged attention. Since she was sitting on the bench and him standing in front of her, the perfect cleavage that her corset were so inviting.

Any man would go insane if they were in his situation, but he needed to think straight, or nothing good would happen. 

"Where are you staying? At an inn? A manor? I know you left the palace a few days ago and haven't been home since." Symon changed the subject.

"Manor," Leticia said, her head lowered as she played with the fabric of her dress. 

Symon nodded. He knew precisely where that manor was. The lady may seem a little all over the place, but there's only one place she usually comes back to, and it's not that far from where they were.

"Let's go. I have to bring you home, or your brother will nag me."

"Will you come home with me?" she said in a soft, childish manner.

"I'll bring you home. Let's go. Stand up, Leticia." Symon ordered, but the lady couldn't even walk—she couldn't even stand straight on her own. So, instead of walking her home, he ended up carrying her on his back. 

Though she was only a tad shorter than her brother, Symon's still taller. And even though he looked weak, he trained his body regularly. Being a secretary of a duke such as Alexander was not an as easy feat. To keep up with the duke's ever-so-active lifestyle, he needed to be as strong as him physically.

The trip to the manor was short. At the gates was a lone gatekeeper that Symon had to kick awake. When he saw who disturbed him, he scampered to stand up and opened the gates. The lack of security posed a worry to the secretary, and for a while, he pondered if he really should leave the lady by herself because he could just imagine her sneaking out again. Just thinking about it was already giving him a headache. 

They were at the entrance of the manor when Symon placed the lady down. From there, she walked herself inside, murmuring something unintelligible. The secretary asked about it, but she only giggled then stumbled on some decorations that were on the way. Symon felt like some sort of nanny cleaning after her.

At the stairs, Symon almost had a heart attack every time Leticia staggered on it. When they finally reached the door to her room, the lady looked back at him. 

"What is it this time?" he asked coldly.

Leticia narrowed her gaze at his mouth, and Symon gulped. He also looked at the lady's lips, and a sudden thought of wanting to kiss her flashed on his mind. He shook his head discreetly to clear the unwanted idea. He told himself that it's just the mood and that making a move on a drunk lady wasn't manly. 

But what if the drunk lady made a move first? What if she seduced him?

Symon shook his head again from another unwanted thought. There's no way that Leticia would find him attractive enough even when she's drunk.

But Symon thought wrong.

Leticia fluttered her lashes and walked slowly towards him. She leaned forward, her bust touching the secretary's chest. 

"Untie me," she whispered as she took Symon's hands and guided it to the string keeping her dress together.

"What? You're drunk. Stop this." Symon took a step back, but Leticia quickly grabbed his tunic and pulled him down for a kiss. 

The kiss started rough, and for a second, Symon was taken aback by the lady's strength as he tried to pull away. But the man in him got the better of the situation as he let himself savor the moment and pulled Leticia closer for a deeper kiss.

When Leticia opened her mouth to let out a moan, Symon took it as an opportunity and inserted his tongue in, tasting the bitter taste of alcohol that intoxicated—and is now intoxicating him!

The lady let out another moan, and this time, her tongue masterfully played with his. It was warm and soft and wet. It was loud and a little sloppy, but as soon as his fingers skillfully untied her corset, Leticia pushed him away, leaving him with half-opened eyes, and wanting for more.

As soon as Symon entered the lady's private quarters, inhibitions and whatnots were already left behind the door that Leticia already locked. 

It was dark, with the only light that illuminated a part of her room was the moon shining brightly and high. By the time Symon turned to look at Leticia, her corset and overskirt were already lying on the floor. The only fabric that covered her was the thin chemise that showed her body's curve in the faint light as she stood at the foot of her bed. 

Symon ran his eyes from her lush, slightly curly hair to the tips of her toes, then up again to stop at her mounds with its peaks standing proud through the fabric. He stared at it, thinking how nice it would be if he could touch them. But even though he let himself loose a while ago, it didn't mean that he had the right to continue doing so.

He's the sober one; he shouldn't be taking advantage of his master's drunk sister. 

Aside from that, the fact that Symon's never bedded a woman before was also… a disadvantage.

"P-put on some thicker clothes. It's cold out tonight," he stuttered, finding the strength to look away. He spotted a dresser and walked towards it, opened it, and rummaged for a nightgown.

"What? You're not going to undress me? What kind of man are you? Turning your back on a lady—I'm a little disappointed." Leticia whined, but Symon didn't heed. "Come on, Sy. It's not like Alexander would have your head off if he knew. He treats you like family. Family doesn't just go kill each other over something so little like this…."

"It's not like that!" he said, a little forceful than he wanted, "You're a lady, Leticia. Sister of the duke. You should act like one." He stopped to gauge how Leticia would reply, but since she didn't say a word, he continued, "It's not that I'm afraid of Alexander. It's just that I respect you. I—" Symon's words trailed off to a whisper when Leticia wrapped her arms around him, her hands slowly caressing his torso in tiny circular motions. 

The secretary gulped, feeling her hard peaks against his back. With a sharp inhale, he grabbed Leticia's hands and turned to face her, taking back a step or two. He stared at the playful smile of a lady—no, a beautiful woman—in front of him as her eyes wandered all over his body, biting her lower lip as her smiling eyes fell below his waist.

"Leti, I…" Leticia was quick to walk towards him to shush him.

"I don't want to talk," she said.

She reached her hand and pulled the tucked tunic from his trouser. Her cold fingertips sending shivers to his spine as it roamed ever so slowly around Symon's bare skin. His breathing started to get ragged, so he looked up, thinking what the hell's wrong with him. 

He should stop her, not enjoy the moment! But by the time he came to his senses again, he realized that Leticia had already pulled his tunic over his head and had pulled him by the neck for another kiss. And even though his mind protested, Symon obliged, darting his tongue inside her once again, his strong arms pulling her closer.

Leticia wasn't one to lose without a fight either, so she teasingly grinded her hips to taunt the secretary. 

With a short grunt, Symon stopped and crouched down to pick the lady off the floor and dumped her on the bed. Leticia's laugh echoed in the still night as she propped herself by her elbows. She looked at the secretary again, her eyes devouring every inch of him with a smile to die for.

"You're up to disrespecting me now?" she said mockingly, "I thought you'd be too scared of my little brother to man up."

For a minute, Symon stood staring back at her. He has liked the lady for a long time now, but her great sense of adventure has left him by himself. They used to always do things together when they were younger; studying, playing the instruments, running, and sneaking out. When her mother died, he was there to comfort her and help her care for the young duke. And Alexander—he's looked after him more than a secretary. Though he sees the duke as family, he couldn't say he thought the same of Leticia.

She has always been a lady in his eyes.

Would this be the special moment he's waiting for? It's not as grand as he thought his first time would be—a quiet atmosphere, flower petals spread everywhere, a romantic dinner, and with a sober enough lady who would remember everything that happened; that's how he thought his first time would be.

"Hey, I'm waiting…" she softly said, and Symon shook his eyes, clear of any thoughts.

"You're drunk," he repeated again.

"I know," the lady smirked. She turned to the side and kneeled on the bed. "And drunk me wants you, Symon." Leticia breathlessly stated, her eyes slowly went from his body to his eyes, then to his lips, and back to his body again—then lower.

Symon's jaw tensed.

Setting aside everything, he walked towards Leticia and took her hand, planting small kisses on her palms, on her arm. He pulled her off the bed and turned her around. As he planted the same small pecks on her nape, Leticia moaned softly, tilting her head so Symon could have better access. 

Kissing her nape, his hand went in front, undoing the ribbon of her chemise. When he was done, Leticia turned to face him and pushed Symon to sit on the bed. Not a second later, Leticia gathered her hair on one side and pulled her chemise up her thigh as she saddled on Symon's lap. 

Looking up, Symon had a better view of her mounds. Wanting to touch it, his hand went through the thin fabric, caressing her firm thigh along the way. When he found it, he lightly pinched Leticia's peak, and she squealed a little. Smiling down at him, the lady bent over for another kiss, biting his lower lip gently when she leaned back so she could properly sit on his lap.

"You're so hard down here," she whispered, grinding her hips slowly, and Symon gritted his teeth. He grunted and moaned, making him pinch her peaks harder. When he couldn't take the teasing for another second, he grabbed one of Leticia's breasts and sucked the tips through the fabric; he'd circle his tongue around it then continue sucking again like a hungry babe. When he was satisfied, he transferred to another. 

Leticia's skin was soft and supple. The taste of her trickling sweat was like a drug to Symon, who kept on sucking one breast, then the other, and so on until he heard Leticia told him to stop. But he knew he couldn't. Every time she came home from one of her travels, without a care in the world, or just for him, she would tell him stories of her sexual adventures, knowing full well that he liked her.

He's had enough of her teasing. There's no stopping him this time, not his restrictions, not his morals.

And so it started.

The road that he shouldn't have crossed was but a blur to him now. Drunk on the ecstasy of lust, Symon let himself go in more ways than he'd could've thought. With the expertise and guidance of the duke's sister he subjected the both of them to continued pleasure that lasted longer than the former.

Even though the rigorous lovemaking kept on until both of them couldn't take it anymore, when morning came, Symon found himself alone in Leticia's bedroom. Confused, he hurried outside with only a blanket wrapped around his hips and looked over the baluster from the second floor. He also looked out in the front yard and in the back, but there was no soul in sight—not even a single breath could be heard of the lady or any of her men. But the scrumptious whiff of something delicious being cooked perked his hopes up, though he quickly corrected himself.

Leticia might have gone all over the world and learned various things other than cooking. She's a terrible cook who couldn't distinguish between burnt or edible.

Symon sighed at himself, running his fingers through his hair as he inhaled sharply.

"Is this what they call a one-night stand?" he asked himself, picking up his own clothes scattered on the floor when he reentered the room. 

Looking at the mess of a bed they've made, his recollection of last night's affair came rushing to him like a mockery.

With a scoff, he took a quick bath and dressed himself. Ignoring the maid who came out of the kitchen with a tray of food in her hands, Symon went out of the manor and into the streets. He didn't bring his horse or a carriage with him last night, so he had to walk back to Balerno and rent a carriage home. Good thing it wasn't that far.

By the time he arrived at the palace, he was informed that Alexander wanted to see him as soon as he arrived.

"You knew I didn't come back?" he asked when he arrived.

"You came looking for my sister in Balerno. I assumed you won't be able to get back," Alexander plainly answered. "Have breakfast with me. I know you'd be too prideful to enjoy a cup of tea at my sister's manor after she left you by yourself."

Symon stiffened. His face was stamped with confusion and then the duke laughed.

"You know?" 

"Well, she came here to say her usual farewell and then told me to comfort you when you came back. I knew what she meant instantaneously. It's alright, Sy. I'm not mad. Matter-of-factly, I feel a tad sorry—" Alexander wasn't able to finish his sentenced when Symon stopped him.

After pulling a chair out, he sat down and gulped a glass of water that was already in the table for Alexander.

"Don't even think of finishing that sentence," he said.

"At least you're not a virgin anymore." Alexander teased and Symon almost grabbed him by the hair so he could go bald and feel humiliated for once.

But he even doubted that given how the duke was.

"It was a great first time, just so you know," Symon said, "It was sweaty and loud and the bed sounded like it was—"

"Oh, Heavens! Stop it!" Alexander threw his napkin and they both laughed over it after.