by Lee Savino
“Thank you for looking after my brother,” I said.
“I do very little.”
“Still, he’s healing well.”
“You know as well as I, that is the magic, not I.” She pursed her lips, as if talking of magic left a bad taste in her mouth.
“You do not like our magic?”
“It makes you very powerful.”
I examined my fingers. The blood had washed away easily but my nails were still a bit long. The beast was close to the surface. “It does, until it drives us to madness.”
“I think you are already quite mad,” she muttered.
“What was that?” I raised a brow, but tonight she had no fear of me.
Anger flashed in her eyes. “You attacked a defenseless abbey. This is civilized country!” Her bosoms heaved.
“We will never be civilized.” I sat down beside her, close enough for my bare leg to brush her clothed one. She stiffened again, but after a moment, relaxed closer. Interesting. She resisted until she forgot herself and leaned into me. She didn’t seem to know she was doing it.
“When you attacked the abbey, you committed a crime against God.”
“We do not worship your gods.”
That shut her up. She jerked back, cheeks flushed, mouth open. I’d rise and feed my cock through her plump lips, If I wasn’t so sure she’d bite me.
With great reluctance, I stood and paced to the other side of the fire.
Haakon chuckled.
You better heal soon, I told him. Controlling myself was becoming harder with the beast enticed by the heavy musk of a woman in heat.
I closed my eyes and breathed it in. How long had it been since I’d lain with a woman?
“I can’t believe I am trapped with such heathens,” Laurel muttered under her breath.
“Oh, and you’re a right proper miss,” I observed. “Cooking in your shift?”
The blush spread over her. “It was hot in the kitchen.”
“I wasn’t complaining. You’re welcome to strip down to your shift anytime you like. Though out here you might catch a chill.”
She snorted.
“Don’t worry, lass.” Haakon said. “I’ll keep you warm.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
When she pointed her nose in the air, I couldn’t resist goading her. “When we are returned home, Haakon thinks we should keep you always naked. I am considering the idea.”
“Surely not!” she gasped.
I gave her a wide grin, showing my teeth.
She fell silent, shrinking in on herself.
Not too harsh. Haakon admonished. I like it when she speaks her mind.
Most men would prefer a quieter mate. I couldn’t tear my eyes from her as she trotted across the clearing, hips swaying under the gown. The movement made my cock leap in my breeches.
Good thing we are not most men, Haakon chuckled, and winced.
“Come, lass,” I said when the meat was done, and I’d carved a pile onto a flat stone we’d use as a plate. “Time to eat.”
“I’m not hungry,” she said.
“Stubborn,” I mouthed to Haakon. Instead of arguing with her, I made short work of the meat and carved another platter, then took a seat where the breeze might waft the juicy scent in her direction. The wind was strong that night, and sure enough, soon after I sat down, her stomach growled loud enough to hear.
“Enough,” I told her. “You must remain strong if you are to fight us.”
A pause, and she jerked from her seat, and sat down beside me. The beast crowed in triumph, even though I knew she would not sit so close if she wasn’t so hungry. She reached for the meat and I tutted. “No, lass. From my hand.” I held up a piece of meat.
Closing her eyes, a resigned look on her face, she closed her lips around it.
Red claimed my vision as her hot mouth sucked the juices from my fingers. “Mmmmm,” she moaned at the second bite, her head tipped back and face suffused with bliss.
I growled.
“What’s wrong?” the woman sat back, licking her lips. My cock tightened painfully. “Did I do something?”
“No, lass. Not your fault.” As I shifted in my seat, I caught a small smile on her face. “Take care. You tempt the beast.”
“Do I?” She purred. “I only wished to obey.”
She leaned in again, her bosom full on display, and I caught the back of her neck and leaned in. I breathed in her scent still sweet and rich as a honeyed fruit, ripe for plucking. “Careful, Laurel,” I whispered in her left ear. “You play a dangerous game.”
Her legs shifted restlessly. I sat back, the beast in me enjoying the glazed look on her face. But I forgot myself and let the light of the fire illuminate the hideous mass of scars that was my right cheek.
Her breath caught.
“It’s all right, love,” I quickly angled the right side of my face away. “I know you would never want one who look like me.”
She blinked and drew back, her gaze falling on the ground.
Ulf—Haakon began.
I threw up a hand to silence him. I don’t wish to hear it. Carving another plate of meat, I set some beside Laurel and took the rest to Haakon.
I was only to make a jest. Between my face and your body, we make one whole man.
It wasn’t the same and he knew it. Soon you will be whole again.
I disassembled the spit and hung the carcass from a high tree to deter animals from stealing our meat. At least, any animal that dared come close to Berserkers. Drawing aside my loincloth, I marked our territory, spraying an arc around the tree with the game. As soon as Haakon was well we’d be gone from this place. We’d take care in our journey, and with any luck, the Corpse King will have forgotten us.
It wasn’t until I was walking back that I caught a whiff of something rotten. The last time I’d smelled it—
“Laurel!” I shouted, racing towards the fire. Cold wind swept through the camp ahead of me, a gust catching the fire and sending flames licking towards our mate.
She screamed, and I reached her side and hoisted her up, pushing her away from the showering sparks. Whirling, I kicked dirt over the fire, but it wasn’t enough. The wind whipped the flames to a frenzy.
The woman crouched near Haakon, leaning over him to protect him from the wind.
“What is happening?”
“The Corpse King. He has found us.” I ran to the two of them. “Haakon, I must move you.”
He nodded stiffly.
“Look out,” Laurel cried as a rock came whizzing towards me. I turned and it struck me in the arm.
“Now!” I shouted.
There wasn’t time to make a travois. Seizing Haakon under his arms, I dragged him to a small gully, protected by great boulders.
“Laurel,” I called and reached for her. She raced and clung to me as we squeezed under a rocky overhang protecting us from the rocks and clumps of dirt rolling down from the cliff. The Corpse King shook the very earth.
A boulder smashed not a foot away from us. Laurel sucked in a breath and hid her face in the crook of my neck. “Why does he do this? Why does he not leave you alone?”
“He wants you.” I hugged her as the wind howled above us, and buried my face in her hair. “He cannot have you.”
18
Laurel
When the storm died, we ventured from our hiding hole. In the ravine, there was little dry ground. Haakon lay in a little crevice in the rocks, cramped and barely able to fit half his body. One calf bled where a rock had struck it. His breath came in short, pained gasps.
Ulf dropped to his knees, tearing strips from his own clothes to make a bandage. “I should not have moved you so soon.”
“It’s all right, brother.”
“No, my fault. I built the fire too large.”
“Showing off,” Haakon gasped, and I knelt close to shush him. I held his hand tight while Ulf went to retrieve his supplies. Sleep quickly took the wounded warrior, leaving me alone wi
th his scarred companion.
I cursed myself for flinching at his scars. The left side of his face was so endearing, I forgot the whole of the man. Handsome and scarred. Stern, strong, and unyielding as a rock. And yet…
When I shivered, unable to get warm, Ulf slung a wolf pelt over my shoulders and gathered me into his strong arms. Any game that I’d been playing fell away. I needed him, and could not hide it.
Sometime later, I woke with a start. A body lay next to me, burning like an inferno. A strong body clad only in a loin cloth. For a moment, I thought I’d snuggled next to Haakon, but then the man raised his head, and the moonlight caught his ravaged cheek.
“Ulf.”
“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said, angling his face to hide his scars.
I don’t know why I did it, but I touched his chin, stilling him. I don’t know why he didn’t cringe, but he closed his eyes as I traced the line of his scars, smoothing the harsh ridge with my fingertips.
Not all of his skin was mottled and melted. The right side of his face was smooth, even pleasing. His lips were firm and fine.
I shifted uneasily. Liquid trickled from my nethers. I snatched my hand away, rolling to my back. I should be sleeping, resting so I might plot my escape. I should not be thinking about his lips…
“Thank you for saving me,” I whispered.
His body jerked beside mine. Shock at my gratitude?
Before I could think, I rolled onto him. I pressed my curves into his hard body, marveling at how we fit.
“Laurel?” his hand touched my hair, hesitant.
“Mmm,” I answered, halfway to falling back asleep. I was not playing a game. I didn’t know what I was doing, but one thing I did know. Ulf didn’t think he was worthy of a woman’s touch, love, or affection. I wished I was brave enough to stay and prove him wrong.
But I could not. I had to leave before my feelings bound me to these men forever.
When I woke Haakon lay sleeping. He didn’t wake when I moved. He looked whole.
Ulf was gone, most likely checking for danger. It was time. Rising, I wrapped the pelt around my shoulders.
My feet squelched on the muddy leaves as I followed the hidden stream out of the ravine. The sun was high, and I was well and truly lost when I realized I was not alone.
Stomach quivering, I faced my tracker.
“How long have you been following me?”
In answer, Ulf walked towards me. His boots made no noise on the gravelly ground. He made no move to hide his ruined face as he took my wrist. I followed willingly, only hesitating when our camp came into sight. Haakon was awake and sitting up.
I’m sorry, I mouthed to him. His gentle gaze was more censure than I could bear.
“Are you going to punish me again?” I asked Ulf. Some part of me had always known I wouldn’t escape. Had I run only so they could bring me back?
Ulf drew me into his arms and held me, the harsh lines of his face and stern frown at odds with his gentleness. I shook against him. When he drew away, I kept my eyes on the ground, unable to look at him or Haakon.
Ulf pulled me to face him and tugged at my gown. “Off.”
“What?”
“You disobeyed. I’ll give it back when I am sure we have trained you not to run.”
Slowly, I shrugged off the gown and handed it to him.
“All of it.” He draped the dress on a bush and folded his arms. He would not force me or hold me. He made me make the choice to obey on my own.
Once naked, I wrapped my arms around myself.
“It’ll be all right, lass,” Haakon called.
Ulf bound my wrists and wrapped a leather thong around my neck, taking care the knot would not tighten when he pulled the lead.
“You’ll sit with Haakon.”
Haakon pulled me to lie on my side next to him.
His hand stroked my arm as Ulf went to work. His axe chopped saplings, and lashed them together to make a frame, much as he had to make a spit for the stag.
“What are you going to do to me?” I whispered.
Haakon cupped my cheek. “We’ll make sure you never want to leave.”
The sun hung low in the west before he was done making a sturdy frame. Ulf left and returned with plenty of rope, and more rabbits for dinner.
He did the cooking, and brought over a bowl of food.
I raised my hand for him to untie, but Haakon clucked and held a morsel to my mouth. Cheeks burning in shame, I let him feed me like a babe.
“How long will you leave me like this?” I asked.
“As long as it takes you to learn,” Ulf said in voice hard as flint.
I winced and bowed my head.
Ulf crouched in front of me.
“Why did you run?”
“I cannot do this,” I pleaded. “I cannot be your mate.”
Ulf’s cheeks tinged red and he looked away.
“You already are.” Haakon’s hand drifted over my breast, secret pleasure curled through me.
“I was raised to be good a good girl. You should find someone else.”
Ulf put his hand on my knee and stroked. His touch was maddening. I winced away and his face turned to stone.
“Please, just punish me.”
“Very well,” he said harshly, his expression closer to hate than I’d seen it. I’d rejected him, I realized. Last night, I’d held him close, but I’d destroyed any fragile tenderness when I ran. As Ulf untied me and led me to the frame, I wondered if I could atone for what I’d done.
My heart beat faster as he secured my wrists and ankles to the structure. He lashed my legs and arms and middle to the saplings. I found myself spread eagled, legs far apart and cunny exposed. I squeezed my eyes shut and quivered as much as my bounds would allow.
What would he do? Would he whip me? My back was to the frame, but my large breasts were exposed.
I opened my eyes when Ulf cleared his throat. He held a switch. I gulped.
“Do you know this implement of discipline?”
I nodded. The nuns had used it on us, often.
“As I watched you leave, I was tempted to whip you up and down with it. Haakon does not wish to mark you. I must confess I’d like to see you marked by my hand.” He gripped my breast, no hesitation at touching my body now. My heart beat faster, breath coming in gasps as he squeezed and massaged my flesh. Helpless, bound before him, I never wanted his touch to end.
My cunny wept.
I sighed when he stepped away.
“I’m going to strike you, as a warning. You’ll be getting a spanking later. We will punish you as much as it takes to bind you to our will.”
I nodded, unable to look away. His harsh gaze captured me, held me tighter than any rope.
The firelight played along the edge of his ravaged face as Ulf snapped the switch a few times, testing it. I winced at the supple sound.
“Not too many, now.” Haakon spoke up.
“Just a few.” Ulf said, and flicked the switch across my breasts. I cried out, and stinging red line appeared across the pale skin. He placed the switch under my breast, lining up his next shot. My chest heaved. The switch left a mark under my breasts.
“One more,” he said and rubbed the switch between my legs. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.
“Give me your tears, Laurel. This is how you please your masters. We would risk everything to keep you safe. Our very lives. You will not throw yours away.”
My lips trembled. I’m sorry, I wanted to cry out but had no words.
He marked the tops of my thighs and biting into my cunny.
I whimpered.
“Enough. See that you don’t earn more.”
I shook my head frantically.
He turned the frame and I saw what else he had done.
Haakon now lay on his back between two rows of large boulders on either side of him.
“Gently, brother,” Haakon instructed. Ulf just grunted as he lifted me, frame and all, and carried me o
ver to Haakon, where he set the sturdy structure over the prone warrior. Haakon’s dimple flashed up at me. I hung suspended over him, helpless, held fast in my many bindings.
“What are you doing?” I thrashed but couldn’t free myself.
“Whatever I want.” Haakon craned his neck to kiss me. His lips seduced me as roaming fingers plucked my nipples, explored my cleft, squeezed my bottom.
A sharp smack made me cry into Haakon’s mouth. Ulf stood over us, switch in one hand. The other spanked my other buttock, hard enough to make me yelp.
“Poor little love,” Haakon crooned. “Did Ulf mark you? I will make you feel better.”
Carefully, he scooted down, and I moaned when I realized his intent. With my body suspended on the frame, my breasts hung down like fruit. Haakon was all too eager to lick and suck them, swirling his tongue along the switch marks to soothe them. He kissed the line of my hurts until I gasped.
“Enjoying yourself, brother?” Ulf asked.
“Not as much as I could be.”
“She’s responsive.” Ulf’s finger pressed against my bottom hole.
I yelped and tried to flail, but couldn’t budge.
Haakon chuckled. “I want to taste her sweetness.” He set his teeth around my nipple and I panted. Turning his head, he nipped me and my hips bucked.
“Please, no. I will go mad.”
“You accused us of being mad. Perhaps then you will better match us. Or perhaps the madness was in the abbey. Beautiful, luscious girls all taught their flesh was sinful,” Haakon tsked. “We will teach you a new lesson.”
Ulf lifted the frame again, turning me around so I hung over Haakon’s legs. His giant cock waved in the air, stiff and proud as a flagpole.
“Oh, no,” I groaned as I felt Haakon’s hot breath on my cunny.
19
Haakon
Laurel sounded horrified. Her hips strained in their bounds. “Surely you cannot mean to…”
“Why not?” I nuzzled her lower lips. Turning my head, I rubbed the rough side of my jaw against the tender skin of her inner thighs, just lightly enough that she whimpered. Not in fear. But in need.
