Futile Flame Read Online Free

warriors and square figures, feeding square animals.
    ‘So, why do you need Father in such a hurry?’ Behind me Caesare closed the door.
    ‘The marriage. I’m concerned.’
    ‘Ah. I am also,’ he replied, walking past me to the desk.
    ‘You are?’
    I studied his broad shoulders as he moved back to Father’s desk. I wondered whether he was merely teasing me again. He had never taken the slightest interest in Father’s dealings with me before, other than maybe to agree with his comments. For a long time Caesare stood by the desk gazing down at an open book with barely any acknowledgement that I was there. I watched his expression. My brother was an attractive man. His features were elegant and his long pale blond hair, the same colour as mine, was tied back with a leather thong at the nape of his neck. I had given him that thong myself for his 16 th birthday and was pleased to see he still wore it. He was dressed elegantly as always in black breeches and velvet cream coloured surcoat. He was tall, and unlike Father, he was slender. The long fingers of one hand rested on the desk beside the book as he gazed down intently at the page, while his other hand stroked the colourful image. I was intrigued. He was mesmerised. I could vaguely make out patterns and shapes on the page from my position near the main door. I took a step towards him then halted, feeling strangely uncomfortable about intruding.
    ‘What do you want to show me?’ Apprehension caused the hairs to stand up on my arms and neck as he turned his attention back towards me.
    His eyes were strange. Heated in a way I couldn’t understand. They shone with a mysterious excitement. He walked towards me, stopped, looked into my eyes and I quickly looked down. They were too intense. Then he walked around me and turned the lock in the library door. I shivered.
    ‘This,’ his voice was cheerful, but forced.
    He took my hand and led me back towards the study desk. Here lay a vast and exquisite book. It was open somewhere in the middle and even close up I still could not make sense of the images until Caesare twisted it around to face me, waving me forward, so that I could see the picture he had been looking at. The illustration was beautiful. A man and woman, embracing. Exotic colourful clothing dripped from the top half of their bodies. The woman’s legs were wrapped around the man as he kneeled between her thighs. Her breasts were bare. I gasped.
    ‘What is it?’ I asked.
    Excitement mingled with shock as I involuntarily stepped forward.
    ‘It’s a very special book. One that Father paid a small fortune for.’
    ‘They are half naked.’
    ‘Yes.’
    I found myself drawn to the image. Scrutinized it carefully, observed the stiff rod that protruded from the man and seemed to pierce the woman.
    ‘Is he hurting her?’
    ‘No. It’s pleasurable.’
    ‘Oh.’
    I was fifteen. Caesare lifted my skirt.
    ‘Let me show you. There’s a small space, here...’ His voice, matter of fact, implied knowledge of things that I should know, things I had suspected but was unsure of. His fingers fumbled inside my underwear, pulled them down around my knees as his hand deftly pushed between my legs, making me open a little as he kneeled down at my feet. I stumbled, hand resting on his shoulder to stop myself falling. His touch made me afraid though I didn’t understand why.
    ‘What are you... ? I don’t think you should do that, Caesare.’
    ‘Haven’t you ever noticed this? Right here?’
    My knees went weak.
    ‘Oh.’
    ‘See. It’s nice isn’t it? Now, just let me...’
    Half pain, half pleasure paralysed me then.
    ‘Don’t,’ I gasped.
    All the time I wanted to demand he stop, but could not force the words from my lips as his finger continued to induce a pulsing warmth inside me that made me feel wet and hot.
    ‘Yes. You like it don’t you?’ His voice sounded thick and husky.
    I shuddered and trembled against him. Wanting him to stop but hoping he