“Thank you, sweet cousin. A convent is an option if you’re sure you would be happy there. But all must be thought through quite carefully. Elinor will come to you later.”
Rhyannon nodded, drew her shoulders back, and walked gracefully to the curtain, pulled it aside, and proceeded up the stairs to the solar.
“She is a true lady, willing to the put the safety of the people ahead of her personal happiness,” said Elinor softly in his ear. He hadn’t noticed her move to stand with him but was grateful for her presence.
“It’s only one option. I have sent for Lord Devon.”
“Ah, my lord, you are wise indeed. He was the person I thought of, too.” She smiled at him and then took her seat at the high table beside Father Augustus.
Lord Devon and Hammond came into the great hall together, and after a few comments, Rhys stopped the chatter by saying, “Father Augustus and Lord Devon, can either of you explain why Lord Jeffrey acted as he did? Is he hiding something from us? Was he looking at the castle to assess its weaknesses before he attacks us? Do you think he is truly looking for a wife?”
Father Augustus waved a hand at Lord Devon, encouraging him to answer first.
“After the battle when he won your demesne, Lord Rhys, Lord Jeffrey changed. Up until then he’d been a good warrior, assessing all dangers, planning everything, guarding his men. But once he won the land, it was as if he’d achieved what he’d set out to do and could now sit and rest. He spent a week or more drinking his way through the demesne’s stock of ale. I swear he was not sober morning, noon, or night for a full week. He wouldn’t listen to advice from his men, and that was a change. Previously, he’d listened. He may not have agreed, but he’d always honored his men with his attention. As you know, after the ill-advised attack on the stronghold, I could no longer respect him, which is when I asked to be released from allegiance to him.”
Rhys nodded. It told him no new information, but it confirmed what he’d guessed and remembered. “Father Augustus?”
“I can add no more, I’m afraid. You know his father was knighted on the battlefield for chivalry, so, as the second son, Lord Jeffrey had no lands or inheritance of his own. I would like to know what he was doing at Court for three full years though. I shall write to some friends, but I doubt the answers will come in time to solve your problems, Lord Rhys.”
“I also would like to know that. If he was working for the King, he may yet be entangled in some plot of which we know nothing but which may spell danger for us all.”
“Rhyannon must leave here tonight, if she is to be delivered to a convent. She will need many guards in case Lord Jeffrey has men watching for just such a journey,” said Lady Elinor.
“Or else she must be married tomorrow morning. She could then remain here safely under the watch of your guards,” added Father Augustus.
“Lord Devon, you are the only suitable unmarried noble here.” Lord Rhys stared at the warrior. He was good-looking, broad of shoulder, and strong of arm. His hair was a pale-gold, his eyes blue, and Rhys thought a lady would not find him unappealing. Certainly, he was neither old, nor did he dribble.
“I don’t—I haven’t—” Lord Devon visibly pulled himself together and bowed. “Yes, lord, I will marry the Lady Rhyannon. It will be an honor. I should tell you, I was reared only with men and know nothing about ladies, but I shall endeavor to learn, and I give you my solemn vow to protect her from all dangers, not just Lord Jeffrey.”
Lady Elinor leaned forward across the high table. “Lord Devon, as a soldier, you are used to sharing everything with your fellow warriors, are you not?”
“Yes, lady, of course.”
“And you know that the Lady Rhyannon and Alistair love one another?”
Lord Devon’s fair face colored red. He swallowed and said, “Yes, lady.”
“It is you who must marry her. You are noble and a fitting match. But there is no reason why Alistair could not assist you with caring for the Lady Rhyannon. As a soldier always has a man to watch his back, Alistair would be the one to watch your back, and Lady Rhyannon’s.”
Father Augustus drew in a breath noisily, but no one said anything. Then, to Rhys’s relief, Lord Devon nodded again. “That sounds reasonable, Lady Elinor.”
Rhys’s heart was pounding, the blood pouring through his body making him feel hot and cold all at once. Had his wife just said, in front of a group of men, one of them a priest, that Lord Devon should marry Rhyannon and then allow Alistair to fuck her as well? Yes, she had, and with a straight, innocent face. What’s more, Lord Devon had agreed! Never would Rhys have suggested such a thing, even if he’d thought of it, which he hadn’t. But then, he and Hammond shared Elinor, and that had been her idea, too, so he supposed he shouldn’t be too shocked she’d done it again.
Rhys lifted an arm, and Byram, the steward, came over to the high table. “Yes, lord.”
“Please ask Alistair to join us.”
Chapter Two
Everything had happened so fast. Rhyannon stood silently in the solar, Lady Elinor’s solar, and stared at the barred door. She was alone in there with not one man, but two. Her husband and the man she loved.
Rhyannon was a virgin. No noble-born girl could be anything else without risking her family’s lands and honor. But she was no innocent. She knew exactly what a man and a woman did in their bed at night. She also knew what her father had wanted of his wives. But never, in her wildest imaginings, had she thought she might be married to one man with the implicit understanding that he would share her with another.
She understood that with Lord Jeffrey baying at the castle gate like a rabid dog, she had to marry someone or leave. She liked Lord Devon, and was more than ready to be a good wife to him, obey all his commands, see to his wants and needs, and in time, with luck, give him an heir. She sincerely hoped she hadn’t inherited her father’s problem and that she could give her lord the heir he would undoubtedly want.
But where did Alistair fit into the picture? Alistair, the man she had loved for years, even though he’d never so much as kissed her?
She’d been married in her Court gown, a dress of pale-green silk, the only silk garment she’d ever owned. She’d spent weeks and weeks embroidering the neckline and sleeves with tiny, pink flowers, before her first trip to Court, and had added matching embroidery all along the hemline before her second visit. It was beautiful and precious, and she was very proud of it, even though only a handful of people had seen her take her vows in it that morning.
“Should I take off my gown, my lord?” she asked hesitantly.
Lord Devon’s face reddened, and he cleared his throat loudly. “I think perhaps we should sit by the fire and plan what happens next, first.”
Obediently, she sat on a three-legged stool, leaving the two chairs for the men.
There were long heartbeats of total silence, and then Lord Devon looked harshly at Alistair. “Swear you will tell no one what is said in this room, today.”
“I so swear. But if you ever hurt her willfully, know that I will surely kill you.”
“I gave my oath to protect the Lady Rhyannon with my life, and I will. But I know nothing of women. I’m the third son, much younger than my brothers, and was raised with men. When I was grown, my father offered me my choice of serving in war or serving the church. I knew all about war so chose to give allegiance to Lord Jeffrey. Now my allegiance is to Lord Rhys.”
Rhyannon sat still. She’d heard he’d been brought up among soldiers, not in a family. Did that mean he preferred men? Did not wish to lie with her at all? But there must be blood on the bedsheets to hang in the window this afternoon or she would have no honor remaining at all.
“What do you wish to do, Lord Devon?” asked Alistair.
“I must consummate the marriage. The safety of the castle relies on me doing this. I expect I will fulfill my husbandly role from time to time in the future as well. But if we three are to bed together, you may fuck her cunt, and her ass will be min
e. In return, you and she will both suck my prick, and I may even plow your ass when I can’t bear not being with a man any longer. Do we have a pact?”
“I do not wish my son to be illegitimate,” replied Alistair.
“I understand. Besides, there will come a time when I have land and need an heir. Any child, boy or girl, yours or mine, will carry my name. If I acknowledge the boy as mine, people may whisper, but none will dare gainsay me, for fear of my sword.”
“Thank you, lord. In return, you may swive my ass in our bed, as often as you wish. It’s something I quite enjoyed after a battle, although I prefer to rest my cock in a woman’s cunt.”
“It is agreed.” Lord Devon extended his hand, and Alistair shook it.
So, I have been divided up between them. A woman is but a possession after all. However, I’m content with the contract. I am legally married and will be legally bedded. My love will fuck me as well as my husband, and my children will have a future. It’s a fair arrangement.
“Undress then, Lady Rhyannon, and we’ll begin.”
Silently, she removed her beautiful gown, folded it carefully, and laid it on top of the chest at the foot of the bed. She removed her shoes, her stockings, and the three underdresses she was wearing, standing as straight and tall as she could in nothing but her skin.
Lord Devon undressed while she did then sat on the bed. “Come, Lady Rhyannon. It is many years since I lay with a woman, and never with a virgin, but for the sake of the stronghold, we can both accomplish this. I regret having to hurt you, but it must be done. Later, I will plow your ass, and that will pain you, too. In future, I hope we can both enjoy this much more.”
Rhyannon just nodded. She’d heard her father’s wives screaming in pain. She wouldn’t scream, however, no matter how much it hurt. She’d also heard the ladies at Court say how much they enjoyed being fucked, both before and behind, so she would concentrate on the future when she’d find pleasure in being bedded.
Lord Devon began pulling on his cock. He seemed to tug on it very roughly, but it ceased lying limp on his thigh, and grew longer and wider, so he must like it rough. She needed to remember that for when it was her duty to arouse him. After some time, his cock was large, the head quite red, and he gestured for her to lie on the bed.
She lay on her back and opened her legs. Her insides were tense with a mixture of fear and excitement. She was married now, and to a good man who’d promised to protect her. She was also to be allowed be with the man she loved, and that was more than she’d ever thought possible. Not only did she owe her lord her duty, but also her gratitude for agreeing to include Alistair in the bargain. Rhyannon promised herself she would be the very best wife to him she could possibly be, beginning right now by accepting his embraces, and hoping to give him pleasure even if there was none for her this time.
Lord Devon spat on his hand and rubbed his fingers up and down his shaft, then spat again, repeating the action and paying particular attention to the head of his cock. Next, he rested his cockhead at her entry, lifted her hips into his hands, and drove his cock into her like a battering ram at the gate of a castle. Rhyannon bit her lip not to scream with pain as he pulled out and did it again. The second time didn’t hurt as much, but tears were leaking from the sides of her eyes at the throbbing pain in her cunt.
Lord Devon leaned over her body and kissed her forehead. “It is done. Now I must release my seed to seal the contract.”
Rhyannon nodded.
At first it wasn’t so bad. He moved in and out of her, touching the sore place from time to time, but arousing her feelings as well, making her see that it would be possible to enjoy being fucked. But again and again and again, he drove into her, until her thighs ached from being held wide apart, and any pleasure had long disappeared. Finally, he sighed, groaned, and hot seed burst into her, stinging her core. But it was done. The marriage had been formally consummated.
Lord Devon dropped his body onto hers, and she understood his arm muscles must be very tired from holding his bodyweight off her for such a long time. His body was slick with sweat, too, which meant it had taken a lot of effort for him to plant his seed in her. Tenderness filled her. He’d acted in a truly noble way, making everything as good for her as he could, despite exhausting himself. He was a good lord, maybe not who she would have chosen, but he’d treated her far better than her father treated his wives, and he was worthy of her respect.
“Undress and join us, Alistair. I need to rest a while, and then I must take her ass. Her ass will always be mine.”
Rhyannon had forgotten Alistair was there. Had he been watching? Whatever had he been thinking as Lord Devon fucked her?
Alistair slid into the bed, his body a handbreadth apart from hers. So now here she was, a married woman in bed with two young, strong warriors, men any woman would like to have, and they were both hers alone. It was an exhilarating thought, although one still quite difficult to comprehend. Silently, she moved her thighs a little, trying to ease their aching, to find a more comfortable angle to rest her body. On one side of her, Lord Devon’s breathing became heavy, and then he started to snore. Relaxing, she wiggled her hips and thighs until they were comfortable and let peace sink through her body, too.
It seemed like only a short time later, but the fire had died down, so it must have been an hour or more. Lord Devon’s hand was on her arm. “Lie on your front, lady. It’s time to complete our contract.”
As she obediently rolled over, she noticed him spitting on his cock again so knew he was fulfilling his promise to take her ass. Undoubtedly it would hurt, but once it was done, she was fully protected from Lord Jeffrey, so it was worthwhile.
Her body was jerked up the bed with the force of Lord Devon slamming into her ass. She buried her face into her pillow to keep from screaming at the raw pain of his entry, but then he lifted her hips and plowed into her once more. Before long, she was actually enjoying it. It didn’t hurt much. There was a feeling of fullness and burning, but nothing too bad. And he climaxed much faster this time. Her body was not starting to ache from maintaining the position he wanted, before a blast of heat in her rear told her he was finished.
Lord Devon rolled off her back and pulled her around to face him. “Thank you for giving me your maidenhead. It was a great gift, and I appreciate it. You may do whatever you wish, as often as you wish with Alistair, save only that your ass is mine. But anything else, you may do. And now, I shall watch you.”
Rhyannon had listened as the men had divided her body between them but hadn’t quite understood until just now that they would watch each other fuck her. But then, it was not very likely Alistair had turned his back while Lord Devon was taking her, so she had to agree it was fair for him to watch Alistair in action.
“Thank you, lord,” said Alistair softly.
He came closer to her and buried his face between her breasts. “For months I have looked at your breasts, wondering what color your nipples were and what your flesh tastes like. Now I’ll find out.
Alistair pushed her breasts together, rubbing them over the rough skin of his cheeks, then licking her skin, and burying his nose on her flesh. “You smell sweet, like rose petals,” he said, licking her flesh more.
Rhyannon wiggled as he licked and sucked all across her breasts, finally pulling her nipples deep into his mouth and sucking hard on them. An answering pull responded deep inside her, surprising her with the pleasure she felt in such a simple action.
Again and again, Alistair licked and sucked his way over her breasts, playing with the mounds, stroking the tender undersides, sucking every inch of her flesh. Deep in her core, she felt warm and happy because of his actions, and when he pushed his cock into her cunt, although he scraped across a sore place, it didn’t really hurt very much. As he pumped his hips up into hers, she moved with him, suddenly understanding how much better it was when they moved together, in harmony.
A hoarse voice from the foot of the bed gasped, “I must have your ass. We’l
l seal this three-way bargain now.”
Alistair stopped moving for several heartbeats, and then Rhyannon felt the pressure in Alistair as Lord Devon must have penetrated him. Alistair’s cock grew longer and harder inside her at that moment, so she knew he was enjoying it.
Then Alistair’s mouth was busily licking and sucking her flesh again, teasing her nipples until they were hard points, and she felt cream gathering in her cunt and bathing his cock. Lord Devon and Alistair were pumping together, almost as if they were both inside her. It was a strangely exciting experience, and Rhyannon widened her legs to allow Alistair to push deeper in her channel, right down to the place where joy and happiness were coiling deep within her.
Both men made groaning noises, and heat flooded her cunt. Rhyannon knew from that they’d both achieved their pleasure. She’d enjoyed the fucking, too, which was a good sign for the future.
They all relaxed back onto the bed, and Alistair pulled the sheet over them. Rhyannon dozed a little but knew it was important her bloodied sheet be hung from the window before too long as Rhys had to be back at Lord Jeffrey’s demesne by midday.
She went to the fire where a bowl of water was waiting for her and washed her woman’s place. There was blood and seed on her cunt and her thighs, so she hoped there’d be enough blood on the sheet. Although she’d heard one lady at Court say a woman could always use her dagger on her thigh if necessary.
“Is it time?” asked Lord Devon.
She looked out the window at the sun. “I think so,” she replied.
Both men climbed off the bed, and she went over to look at the sheet. There was a dark bloodstain on it, so her honor was preserved. There were also three or four yellowy stains from the men’s seed, so that was good, too. Relieved, she hung the bedsheet out the arrowslit window and got dressed again in her underdresses, shoes, and stockings, but not the precious Court gown.
Defending Rhyannon's Inheritance [Elinor's Stronghold 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 2
