by Sue Lyndon
Princess Anna stiffened and pulled back to stare into his face, the worry in her expression deepening as suspicion danced in her eyes. “What kind of a deal?” Her voice wavered with emotion, but barely contained anger bubbled underneath the surface, lending severity to her tone.
Bronson straightened and gazed at her, taking a deep breath as he braced for the storm that would inevitably follow his pronouncement. “In exchange for your life and your freedom, you must marry a commoner. You must forfeit your title of princess.”
* * * * *
Anna’s head spun as Bronson’s words echoed in her head.
You must marry a commoner.
You must forfeit your title of princess.
The side of her body that was pressed to him tingled, but she was frozen in disbelief and couldn’t summon the strength to move. Though she’d lived a lavish lifestyle in a castle her whole life, she’d never truly felt like a princess. Not like her older sisters. They’d been graceful and soft-spoken, each possessing a unique sort of eloquent beauty she never thought she’d attain. Both had married princes from wealthy kingdoms upon turning of age. When Anna had turned of age, her father had assigned her several etiquette tutors, telling her she’d best pay attention to them or she’d never make a good wife. She’d done her best to avoid the tutors and skip her lessons, hoping to stall the inevitable. The thought of marrying Edmund made her blood run cold.
Now Bronson expected her to marry a commoner. A stranger. She peered at him, feeling her anger grow hot within her. Her cheeks burned, and she was no longer shivering from the cold. “I could care less about being a princess, but I will not marry a commoner, a stranger. I will not marry anyone. My plan was to book passage on a ship and leave the Kingdom of Iverson far behind.”
Bronson grasped her chin gently between two fingers, turning her head and forcing her to meet his gaze. His features were tense and his countenance dark. “Do you consider me a stranger, little dove?”
The air left her chest. She struggled to escape his hold, but he tightened his grip. She had no choice but to stare into his eyes. Her mouth felt dry; her throat burned. An entirely new sensation of tingling warmth traveled through her center at the thought of becoming Bronson’s wife. She flushed and squirmed under his watchful gaze.
“Well?” he prompted. “I asked you a question. Do you consider me a stranger?”
She swallowed hard. “Yes, and no. I’ve thought about you often over the years, wondering what became of you and your parents. However, if I’d seen you on the street, I would not have recognized you.”
He had been a tall boy, but his parents had been rather short and she would’ve never guessed he’d grow up into a mountain of a man. Besides his looks taking her by surprise, she sensed a firmness within him that put a knot of fear in her stomach. He might as well be a stranger. She saw no hint of the carefree boy she’d followed around the castle as a child. The world had hardened him in a way that had changed him forever, marring his soul like the very scar upon his cheek marred his face.
“Booking passage on a ship isn’t a possibility,” he said, sitting straighter.
“Why not?” That was still her plan. To leave the Kingdom of Iverson and start a new life far away from the shame of her family’s cruel reign and the accusing eyes of the people. She doubted she’d be able to fit in anywhere on the island, even if she married Bronson and became a commoner.
“Travel on the seas is dangerous, little dove, and passenger ships do not sail into the ports here. Not anymore. Merchant ships are full of hard men and you’d probably be the only woman on a ship for months until you reached your destination. I won’t allow you to leave the island. It’s too risky.”
She bristled and her jaw clenched. Perhaps his words held some truth, but that didn’t mean she liked it, and she certainly didn’t like the fact that he was ordering her around as if they were already married. She gulped past the dryness in her mouth and glared at him, hoping she appeared more angry than afraid.
Bronson smiled, a kind smile that softened her insides despite her annoyance with him, and he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. He maintained his grasp on her chin, his body pressed close to hers. Her heart beat faster and the tingly warmth returned, this time pulsating between her thighs. The feelings confused her, because she felt like she wanted Bronson to hold her closer. Tighter. It didn’t make sense though. How could she want him when she hated him? He planned to keep her on the island against her will. How could she not despise him for foiling her plans?
“I cannot marry you, Bronson, just as I cannot stay in the kingdom. I will find a ship that’s sailing far away and I will book passage.”
“No.” He released her chin and gathered her closer.
His arms surrounded her, and warmth seemed to radiate off his body. She resisted the urge to lean into him and snuggle her cheek against his chest, or against the dark stubble covering his chin. “You cannot stop me," she said. "Come this time tomorrow, I’ll be gone.”
“Come this time tomorrow, you’ll already be my wife.”
Anna felt the blood drain from her face. She struggled in Bronson’s hold, desperate to escape. “Let go of me! I’m leaving right now!”
He pulled her onto his lap and captured her hands when she tried to claw at his face, easily subduing her. “Anna, you will stop this nonsense right now.”
Ignoring him, she dug her nails into his wrist, forcing him to readjust his grip on her hands. All the while, she continued to thrash and tried to flail herself off his lap.
“Anna,” he said through clenched teeth, “this is your last chance. Settle down or I’ll make you settle down.”
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she should stop her antics, but she was too angry and too far gone to listen to reason. With all her strength, she fought Bronson and didn’t stop until he’d carried her to a fallen tree, sat down on it, and flipped her over on her stomach. He held her over his lap as if he intended to chastise her. She froze for a moment, not quite believing.
“Anna, as your husband, I will not put up with your temper tantrums.”
“I was not having a temper tantrum!” She tried to slide to the ground, but he pressed a hand to her lower back and held her in place.
“Yes, you were having quite the little fit.” He cupped her bottom and she gasped at his touch.
“Let me up, Bronson.” Her voice came out strained and raspy. She was breathless from her struggling. Fear and disbelief twisted her insides. Perhaps he was just playing around. She could only hope.
“I will be happy to let you up, Anna, but not until I’ve given you the sound thrashing you so richly deserve.”
Before she could protest further, he flipped her skirts up and began swatting her bottom. Anna cried out, stunned by the pain. “Please, Bronson, please stop! You’ve ma-made your po-point.” Shame heated her whole body. Though it was night, the glow of the fire provided enough light that she was certain he could see her drawers clearly. She hoped and prayed he left them in place, and humiliation coursed through her in sharp, heated waves as she endured the swift, merciless slaps to her bottom.
“When you behave like a naughty little girl, Anna, I will not hesitate to turn you over my knee.” He didn’t miss a beat as he spoke, his flattened palm continuing to strike her tender flesh.
She felt the sting of his hand through her drawers, and tears soon brimmed in her eyes as the pain and embarrassment of being draped over his knee became too much. She kicked her legs in the air and tried to fling herself off his lap, but he draped one leg over hers and tightened his hold on her waist. His hand cracked across her bottom and upper thighs, drawing whimpers from her that soon turned to sobs. Hot tears coated her face, and she cried as she bit her lip, wishing she could hold in her emotion. It was bad enough that Bronson was thrashing her, but crying in his presence deepened her vulnerability and her shame.
He paused and cupped her bottom, massaging her sore cheeks lightly. “I came lookin
g for you, Anna, because I couldn’t let you be punished alongside your father and brother. And even if a revolution hadn’t been brewing, I made a promise to you long ago that I wouldn’t allow Edmund to marry you. Do you remember, my little dove?”
Emotion swelled within her, choking her breath. She remembered. She’d clung to the hope that she might see Bronson again one day, but now that he was here she was fighting him. She couldn’t help it. The circumstances were much direr than she’d ever imagined, and in all her imaginings she’d never thought she’d end up married to Bronson.
“Yes,” she finally said. “I remember everything.”
“You needn’t fear me, Anna. I will be a good husband to you. I’m sorry we can’t delay our marriage so you can get to know me better, but I must marry you immediately to ensure your safety. Our life will be a simple one in Cimastown, a far cry from what you are accustomed to in the castle, but I will strive to make you happy.”
Warmth permeated her senses as she processed his words. Though she hadn’t seen or heard from him in years, she believed him. She even trusted him. But it angered her that she had no choice. All her life she’d been nothing but a game piece, controlled by the men in her life. Her father. Her brother. Edmund—almost. Now Bronson was telling her how she would spend the rest of her life—living as his wife in Cimastown. The lack of control over her own future riled her, and the anger washing over her collided with the warm, tender feelings Bronson elicited within her. Another sob escaped her throat.
“Shh,” Bronson said, still rubbing her bottom. Though he’d just spanked her and she was still draped over his knee, she felt strangely safe in this moment. How odd, she thought.
“Men are the scourge of the Earth,” she said bitterly, sniffling back another wave of tears.
He chuckled softly. “You’ve just spent too much time around the wrong men. Now, are you calm yet? Or do I need to spank you some more?”
She flushed at his words. “I am calm.”
“Good.” He squeezed her right cheek and leaned down to speak directly in her ear. “As your husband, it is my right to discipline you, Anna, and I won’t hesitate to do so when you’ve been naughty. Once we are wed, I will not spank you over your drawers either. All spankings you earn will be delivered on the bare.”
Her breath caught and heat pulsed in her center, causing a deep ache to grow between her thighs. The throbbing sensation was foreign and brought her much confusion. She resisted the impulse to grind against Bronson’s lap, and she puzzled over the hardness that pressed against her center.
“Do you understand this, Anna?”
“Yes,” she said, shivering at his strict and unyielding tone.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, sir.” A wave of submission rolled over her as she addressed him with respect, and though she felt vulnerable once again, she was comforted by his strength and power. To her astonishment, she’d never felt safer and more cared for in her whole life.
“Good.” He gathered her in the circle of his arms.
Chapter 3
“Cimastown is just over that hill.” Bronson pointed at the horizon.
Anna nodded as she walked beside him, her legs aching. She looked forward to sleeping inside tonight in a real bed rather than the hard forest floor. Her face heated and she cast a sideways glance at Bronson. He’d explained to her that they would exchange vows before a priest in a private ceremony soon after arriving in Cimastown. That meant she wouldn’t be sleeping alone tonight.
Nerves twisted her stomach and her heart fluttered, beating faster at the thought of sharing a bed with Bronson. As excited as these thoughts made her, she was still angry he wouldn’t allow her to leave the island. She was certain he was exaggerating about the dangers in an attempt to frighten her. When she’d tried to reason with him this morning and convince him to release her, he’d warned her that his decision was final and any further discussion on the matter would take place with her turned over his knee.
Her bottom tingled as she recalled the spanking he’d given her last night. It had been painful enough to bring her to tears, but the comfort she derived in his strong embrace afterward left her confounded. She’d practically melted into him, and she’d sighed with contentment as he stroked her hair and rocked her gently. She didn’t understand how she could feel so peaceful and strangely happy in the arms of a man who’d just given her a long, hard spanking.
Bronson took her hand as they neared the top of the hill. Once the village came into sight, he paused and drew her close, placing an arm around her shoulders.
“Look at me, Anna.”
She met his eyes. A lump lodged in her throat, and a moment later the flutters of warmth she was just beginning to understand quickened in her inner core. His commanding presence frightened and aroused her at the same time. Ever since he’d appeared at the inn last night, she’d been unsettled and conflicted. He stirred feelings within her that she didn’t quite understand, and he’d also managed to make her question her decision to leave the island. What if he wasn’t exaggerating and it really was as dangerous as he claimed? The blasted man had planted a seed of doubt.
“Anna,” he began, “a fight is raging in the city right now and being the daughter of King Mendel, let alone having any noble blood, is dangerous. I know you think this is sudden, but the plans were laid out months ago after I learned of the movement to overthrow your father’s regime. You were my first thought, my first concern, when I learned of those plans.”
Something inside her softened as she listened to his explanation, staring silently into his dark brown eyes as a gentle breeze swept over the hill and ruffled their clothing. She swallowed hard, her anxiety increasing. In a short time, she would become his wife, whether she liked it or not. “Is this a secret?” She glanced down at her feet. “I mean, are the townspeople to know who I really am?”
He smiled. “I would never have you pretend to be someone you are not, little dove. A few in the town already know of my plan to bring you back, including the priest you will meet shortly. Once we say our vows, I’m sure word will spread, but you have nothing to fear. You will be safe here.”
“The people will hate me.”
“No. They will love you for doing the right thing.” He clasped her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “Come, let’s go meet the priest.”
Reluctance and a sense of doom weighed Anna’s feet down as she descended the hill, each step bringing her closer to the small town that would be her new home. A bird with a massive wingspan floated over the rooftops, and she stared at the creature with envy, wishing she could fly away from all her troubles. The bird dipped down and then swooped upward into the sky, before heading into the mist coming off the water. She squinted, trying to get a good look at the sea. The sun hadn’t yet burned the morning fog away, and she frowned at her surroundings, wondering where the docks rested.
As if reading her mind, Bronson squeezed her hand and spoke. “There’s only a small dock for fishing boats here. There’s a harbor several miles down the shore where trading ships used to dock, but it hasn’t been used in years. The town there has become a ghost town. I’ll take you there someday. There’s an old ship that was abandoned after an illness killed most of the crewmembers on board, and it’s been anchored in the middle of the harbor since before we were born. Sometimes you can spot a sea dragon sunning itself up on the deck.”
A sense of excitement filled Anna at his promised adventure, and her steps suddenly felt lighter. At least she wasn’t restricted to staying within the castle walls anymore. At least she could breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the breeze coming off the sea. She inhaled the scent of the water and gasped as the fog began to lift, more quickly than she’d imagined. She glanced to her left where the rising sun spilled bright rays of golden light across the hills and sandy beach further down. The houses and buildings in the town were mostly clustered close together, but she noticed a few smaller houses, cottages really, tucked into the hillside to
her right as she kept pace beside Bronson. She wondered which house belonged to him, and her face heated as she imagined their first night alone as husband and wife. A second later though, her earlier anger and resentment at having this choice forced upon her made her halt in her tracks, and she wrenched her hand from his grasp.
“Anna,” he said in a warning tone, turning to face her with an eyebrow raised.
His stern features made him all the more handsome, the scar on his cheek making him look ruggedly so. He was nothing like the gentle princes who’d come to court her sisters, and yet he was nothing like the cruel Lord Edmund whose cold eyes had prompted her to hide behind her governess’s skirts as a child.
In another lifetime, perhaps she would’ve fallen for a man like Bronson, a strong man with good morals and a level head upon his shoulders. But in this lifetime she was a princess, the daughter of a corrupt king hated by the very people he was supposed to protect, and she couldn’t fathom how her marriage to Bronson might be a happy one. Surely he didn’t love her. The idea was ridiculous. They hadn’t seen each other in years.
“Why?” she asked, taking a step back. “Why are you doing this?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “What do you mean? I thought I explained the situation adequately last night. You don’t have any other options, little dove.”
An exacerbated sigh left her. “We might have known each other when we were children, but we’re not children anymore. We’re strangers, Bronson. I’m not your concern. We’re nothing alike.” I don’t know why you care. I won’t make a good wife. She pressed her eyes shut for a moment, then met his gaze and hoped he didn’t notice the moisture she felt burning in her eyes.
To her surprise, his jaw tightened and his body tensed. “You’re about to become my wife, Anna. You are very much my concern. I’m sorry I’m not a prince with a kingdom of my own, or a wealthy noble with dozens of servants at my beck and call. I made a deal, the only deal I could possibly make, to secure your safety.” A bitter note had crept into his voice, and the hardness in his glare made her shudder.
