by Abby Aaron
Loinbard faltered as he headed for her. Her back was to him and her glorious ass almost glowed in the moonlight. His body responded immediately. Walking was not easy with a hard rod straining against his pants. The Konrad warrior kept his eyes locked on her head; sure he would never recover if he allowed his focus to stray lower. Gaining the place where he would sit to correct her, he spoke in an even tone. “Do you need a moment to compose yourself before we continue?”
A defiant shake of the head was his only answer. “If you won’t acknowledge the danger you put yourself in…”
“You three forget I am not some unskilled city bride. I have been trained in the art of protecting myself and those around me. The right to form a triad was not open to me, so I had to learn to become an extra to many groups of fighters, assessing their strengths and matching my performance accordingly. Hendrix and Johan would not find it easy to take advantage of me. It is insulting for any of you to suggest as much. I would gut them both before they even freed their cocks to spill their seed. Have you forgotten the first challenge so soon?”
Loinbard trained his eyes on her. “Deny your skill? Never. We take pride in it. The children our Creator blesses our future family unit with will be fierce warriors before they even become fledglings thanks to having a mother like you to prepare them. But even the best warriors fall victim of evildoers. Hendrix and Johan did not resort to the more brutal techniques they could use to gain every advantage available to them.”
“I assure you, they fought hard to take away my sword.” Her hands crossed under her chest with irritation. The pants she had been holding up now puddled around her ankles. Loinbard swallowed hard as he spied the patch of curly hair below her waist. It matched the shade of her head perfectly.
Returning his attention to her face, he did his best to focus. It took a strong shake of his head to clear his mind before he continued, “An audience, namely your fathers and two other triads of warriors were present. Fighting styles are more formal when others are around to take exception to unfair methods. Without others to intervene, men like them become unhinged. Anders has shared some tales of events he witnessed. Without him around to control their baser instincts, Hendrix and Johan would have slaughtered many innocent people in the quest for power.”
Remaining quiet, he allowed his words to penetrate her thoughts. She was wise beyond measure. As a trained soldier, she would have learned to listen to correction from her trainers. Achieving the level of success she boasted, Jemina would be able to accept his wisdom once she comprehended the explanation. She finally gave him the briefest of nods.
Lifting his hand, he offered her help to carry out his next words. “Let’s get this over with, Jem. Place yourself across my lap.”
She stiffened and was back to being defiant. “Can’t you just position me yourself, like Aras did, and Anders the occasion before?”
“You are not a child below us, village bride. When we are wed, you will be an equal member of our family. As such, you have a voice in all our decisions. It also means you accept responsibility for poor choices which go against the group consensus. By placing yourself over my knees, you are accepting the loving guidance we offer and promising to learn from the experience.” His hand still remained raised, waiting for her to take it when she was ready.
Jemina’s usual agile movements were hampered by the pants around her ankles and the resentment of following through with the command. Time passed slowly, but she found her way to his side and awkwardly placed herself across his solid legs. “You please me,” Loinbard told her, his hand running gently across her already punished skin. “Your trust and bravery have changed my mind about the initial fifty strokes I planned to administer.”
Raising up on her hands, she glared back up at him. “Fifty!”
“It is your second warning about sneaking out at night.” He did his best not to grin at her expression. “I think half that number will get my point across. The first twenty will bring some of the heat back to the portion my blood brother already covered. The last five will be against the top of your perfect thighs. That area is more sensitive and will hold the sting longer, helping you recall the disadvantage of requiring a repeated correction.”
“One question before you begin,” she said. He almost ignored it, thinking she was trying to put off the evitable, but honored the request. “Had Hendrix and Johan managed to attack me, what would the triad of Konrad and Finn have done?”
“Before or after we slit their throats?” he asked without pause.
Instead of qualifying her question, Jemina gave him a slight nod of acceptance and lowered herself again. She flinched as he set about counting the first twenty, but he sensed she was fighting against the urge to pull free. Seeing the delightful way her ass responded with a slight bounce with each impact of his hand, Loinbard told himself he should be ashamed of the desire raging inside him. But he wasn’t. Everything about Jemina felt right, from the establishment of a group of husbands bonded for the sole purpose of claiming her, to the treasure of holding her this close, she was meant to be theirs.
18
Ellias’ Challenge
Konrad-Finn Triad: 2 wins
Finn Triad 1: win
Anders grew weary of waiting his turn. The soft moans tearing from Jemina’s throat were wreaking havoc on his body. Part of him wanted to step in and end the pain she endured. Yet he would never forgive himself if she repeated this defiance because of his leniency. If anything happened to her, it would be his fault for not doing his duty by her.
Something was hurled from the darkness of the tree line. The Finn warrior’s fast reaction was the only thing preventing the item from smacking him between the eyes. Aras raised a shoulder seeking to know what was going on. Anders lifted the object in his hand to show him and they both glanced back at the direction it came from. One hand was lifted in the air, the rest of Grandfather Ian’s body hidden. Anders inclined his chin to signal his understanding. The decision of whether or not to forgo his part of the punishment had been decided without his input.
The sound of hand against flesh had ceased for many moments and Anders tired of waiting patiently for Loinbard to relinquish his time with Jemina. Turning his head, he found his new brother embracing her, their mouths locked together. The kiss was not what rankled his nerves. It was the liberty the younger man was taking despite having Urijah soldiers close by. He sent his signal that hardly resembled a dove’s peaceful call as it should. Loinbard’s hand reluctantly moved away from Jemina’s small breast and settled on her tiny waist. He lingered with the kiss a bit longer, though.
Finally allowed to leave his position protecting her privacy, Anders steeled his resolve. Still dazed from Loinbard’s passionate attention, it took her awhile to notice what he held in his hand. Jemina took a step away, nearly toppling over the stump her first two mates had used. Anders caught her before any harm would befall her and pulled her upright carefully.
“Yours?” she asked in a husky voice.
“No, but I will likely require one like it after our wedding if tonight’s activities are any indication.” He folded the leather strap in half and gave her the intended number to follow. “Five across your sit spot, Jem.”
She did not look pleased, but spared them both any futile protest. “Will you force me to place myself over your lap this time?” Her voice was weak, but her determination was steady. Their brave bride was submitting to them. Their bond was as solid as any merged family unit he had known.
“You won’t be laying across my lap. Face the stump and bend over. Use your hands to brace yourself if needed. I do not want you to fall over and harm yourself.” She mocked his choice of words with a raised brow. Jemina moved sluggishly, but she obeyed his orders. The hard wood provided her with something to balance against.
Her head turned back. It was flush from her embarrassing position. “One more question, Anders, if you please.”
It was hard not to grin at her sass. Her pride might be wo
unded, but it would recover and they would quickly get past this slight disruption to their growing connection. “Ask anything of us, Jemina.”
She glanced another look back at him and smiled. “Thank you for the offer. I shall ask a couple then.” Anders bit the inside of his cheek to help him maintain a stern expression. “First, do I get to take a leather strap to your backside if you disrespect a rule I set in place for your own good?”
A hooting of amusement coming from the direction where Grandfather Ian concealed himself sent Anders’ teeth grinding. Even the fellow members of his triad could not hide their response. “All rules set forth by our family unit will be agreed on by the majority. Yes, there will be times when I do not make good choices and will face the consequences. Aras and Loinbard will take great pleasure in knocking me on my ass to clear any hard feelings. But in truth, I fear your methods of extracting punishment when you are our wife. You have a keen mind and long memory. A leather strap would be a fleeting chance to demonstrate your displeasure so I doubt you will employ it. Your next question, Jem?”
“Let us consider the unlikely chance I would be bested by such disreputable men as Hendrix and Johan. After you three avenge my fate, what happens then? How would the three of you proceed after that point, when I might be carrying another triad’s child?”
All sounds of amusement abruptly ceased. Anders walked to stand beside her, bending down so their faces were inches apart. “Any child which comes from your womb would be a proud, worthy descendent of Urijah. It pains me to admit it, but Hendrix and Johan share the same ancestral genes as I do. Your babe would be a credit to the Finn Village. Finally, your child becomes our child and will be raised in the Konrad Village, learning all its rich customs and honored traditions. The only shame our triad would bear is knowing we failed to protect you in a time of need. We would double our efforts to never let you or the child you bless our family unit with down again.”
She stood up and took a moment to allow the earth to stop spinning. Then Jemina threw herself into his arms. Her mouth reached up for his. Anders needed no further urging. He pulled her tightly to his chest and sealed his promise with a deep kiss. An eagle’s call ended the passionate exchange and he reluctantly let her slide down his length so she could regain her footing.
Her eyes locked on the section of his groin, which strained against his pants. He sucked in his breath when she reached out her small hand. He was sure she meant to touch his throbbing cock, but she grasped his right hand instead. The left, his dominant still held the belt. Jemina lifted his palm and brought it to rest on the gentle slope of her breast.
Her heart pounded wildly against it. She gave him a few seconds to enjoy her wild response to his touch before pulling the palm up to place a sweet kiss. Smokey blue eyes darted up and she bared her teeth playfully. She bit down on the fleshy area before smoothing the affected area with her tongue. Dropping his hand, she stepped out of the pants around her ankles and returned to the position he had ordered her to assume before.
His own legs were not steady as he stood off to the side. Clutching the belt tightly, he arched his hand back and applied the first stripe across the most sensitive part of her bottom. Another followed, slightly above, then another below. He did not put much force behind the strokes, but her pale skin still showed the damage of leather against flesh.
The last two were the hardest for him to deliver. Jemina had recoiled after every application of the belt. She bravely forced her body to provide him with a clear target. Anders applied the last two strikes in a crisscrossing pattern, connecting all the welts. It would be a long time before their Jem would forget this correction. Every time she sat; the discomfort would be a constant reminder of what would follow if she put herself in harm’s way again.
As far as the competition went, Jemina’s family considered her as good as claimed by the Konrad-Finn triad. But tradition maintained the challenges continue until one group had rightfully collected three wins. This weighed heavily on Ellias as he sought to develop a fair task, which might still provide Aras, Anders and Loinbard with an advantage.
He had spent some time with the triad from Konrad before they departed. He gathered much from the young men. They felt Aras’ group was vastly more prepared to travel between the villages without coming to great harm. The game should involve traversing the territory out of their village. Ellias had thought to seek his wife’s advice on the challenge he decided on to get her insight.
Unfortunately, Ellena was not talking to any of her mates at the moment. Ian, one of the youngest Urijah elders and Leodon’s father, had paid their family unit an unannounced visit last night. Jemina had taken a nightly stroll, and their dear wife had helped their daughter sneak away.
There was no question. The husbands had to sanction Ellena. She held her position as each applied a cane to her backside. They assumed this signaled her understanding of the need for punishment for the disgraceful action. Yet she held herself stiff when they tried to comfort her afterwards. Sometimes he questioned if they were too lenient in their discipline. If she continued to pout much longer, Ellias would suggest another session with the cane to see if her disposition improved any.
“After the wedding ceremony, our daughter’s new mates will be taking her away from the protection of our village. It pains us to have her far away, but it would help ease our minds if we could be assured, she will be well cared for no matter where she goes. The challenge I offer is this. Tonight, both triads will spend the night outside our village boundaries, with only your weapons and wits to protect your backs.
“Return at dawn, bringing with you any proof of the dangers you managed to eliminate, so we can understand your survival skills.” Ellias waited for any questions. He hoped he would be able to provide an adequate answer. He wanted these games over and done with. Ellias did not trust the Finn warriors and every moment they occupied Urijah land worried him more. How imprudent he and his triad had been to allow such evil men the honor of trying to win Jemina’s hand.
She had seemed so taken with Crosby during her time with him. He lacked true intelligence and they planned to reject him outright if he appeared at the border. But Hendrix and Johan had hidden their true manner when they arrived, Crosby in tow. Ellias had foolishly thought the older, more seasoned warriors would make up for the witless one. Jemina would have a man she desired and two others capable of protecting her he had falsely reasoned.
He would personally see these two dead before allowing them to wed her now. Hoping not to chance starting a war with their allies, the Finn village, he purposely kept secret the details of what the triads should collect to claim victory in this challenge. Ellias and his triad would give the win to Konrad-Finn no matter what either team returned with the next morning.
When the sun rose over the horizon, most people present wanted to spill the Finn men’s blood after they returned with a trophy, arrogantly secure that victory was theirs.
Jemina barely noticed Aras was cradling something in his strong arms as the Konrad-Finn triad returned. Her eyes rushed from one to the other, searching for any signs of trouble they may have had to contend with during their night outside the protection of the village. She smiled brightly when no noticeable wounds could be found. Aside from Aras, their hands were empty. Had they returned with nothing to prove their skill to Ellias?
She took heart for the moment; there was still no sign of the other triad. Jemina felt ashamed of her pleasure about their absence. The Creator had to understand her secret desire that something would stop the Finn triad from being able to return to Urijah. She did not wish them death, only some humbling experience that sent them back to their own homes and far from her.
The Konrad-Finn triad followed tradition, greeting her fathers and mother before seeking Jemina out. A pitiful hissing sound escaped from whatever Aras carried. He lifted a scrawny bundle of fur to his face and made soothing sounds by the creature’s ears. Shrieking with thrill, Jemina rushed to examine the treasure.
“What is it?” she asked, prying the soft animal from his hold. “Why does it look so sickly?”
Aras stroked the animal’s head. “It’s a cub, maybe a cougar, but I cannot be sure. It’s bellows of hunger prevented us from gaining a moment’s sleep until we sought it out. Loinbard and Anders cleared the immediate area, making sure no mother cat would show up and attack us for touching her baby. I pulled this little fellow from a small cave just south of here.”
Anders and Loinbard moved closer until the four of them formed an intimate circle. The Finn warrior scratched behind the cub’s ears. “The mother must have been killed, leaving this little creature orphaned.”
Loinbard extracted a bit of meat from his pocket and broke off a small piece to feed the cat. “Its mother must have perished a long time ago. The cat was close to death by the time Aras extracted him from his hiding place. We’ve been taking turns feeding him through the night. He’s a survivor. Aras thought your healer may offer suggestions to care for him until we can release him back into the wild.”
“Konfin Kitty may not want to be released,” Jemina announced.
“Konfin Kitty?” Aras mocked. “I think our little Jem has not only decided to lay claim to this scrappy bit of fluff, but she’s already named it in our honor. Sneaky move, Jemina. Are you trying to turn our pride against us by using our village names?”
“He doesn’t look like a Smiley, and the worthy warriors of Konrad and Finn did rescue him,” she said, her eyes sparkling with joy.
A snide voice tore Jemina’s attention away from the animal purring in her arms. “Is that pitiful creature all the Konrad-Finn warriors have to show for their night outside the village limits?” Johan smirked. “Did you bring some cute little bunnies, too?”
Hendrix strolled across the border; a sack laid carelessly over one shoulder. Crosby appeared next, a look of despair etched across his face. The attractive Finn warrior quickly found his way toward Jemina’s parents.
