Maiden and the Monster

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Vladamir’s lips left her mouth to taste the tender stretch of her neck. As he carried her, his arm slipped intimately close to her sex. Her body flamed under his instruction. The fire built within her until she could no longer feel anything but the power of his touch. His smell consumed her and his hard body bewildered her resistance. Her breath escaped in heavy, needing pants. The unknown pleasures of his touch built with each haggard breath until she was forced to cry out with the strength of them.

  Vladamir carried her to the old dusty bed that adorned the forsaken chamber. He tore his kiss away with the growl of a wild animal and tossed her flailing body onto the bed. She bounced on the straw mattress with a gasp of surprise.

  Eden watched with wide-eyed fascination as he knelt on the bed. Her mouth opened to speak but only let out a ragged puff of air. He caressed her flushed cheek, the touch both ferocious and tender at the same time and she could only stare. His shortened overtunic didn’t hide his protruding arousal from her. Of course she’d seen men. A woman couldn’t live in a castle without seeing them nude, but he was by far the most alluring. His shaft resembled a battering ram, so thick it could surely break down any defense she might put in its way.

  He leaned over her, taking the back of his hand and running it over her flesh. The caress started at her chin and moved in a swipe down her throat, in the valley of her breasts, to her navel just above her slick opening. Eden’s head fell helplessly back.

  “Part your thighs,” he ordered. “Let me see your pussy.”

  Instinctively her legs parted as the backs of his fingers drew near the fire churning within her thighs. He turned to cup her gently. His finger found the wetness of her and toyed mercilessly with her clit. Eden moaned and curved her back in surprise. Vladamir growled at her response. He grabbed her fiercely as a finger moved to part her moist folds.

  Eden fell back onto the mattress and moved her hands to grip his tunic. Feeble from her passion she tried to pull at the black linen, wanting to see him. Her hips lifted into his caressing hand, begging for the unknown pleasure he promised her.

  “Come here,” he ordered her, his voice hoarse. “Come before me.”

  Eden pushed up, confused. Wasn’t she before him? He stared at her mouth in a way that made her weak. Taking her by the back of her head, he pulled her to him. He kissed her hard before releasing her.

  Forcefully, the duke grabbed her hips and flipped her onto her stomach, causing Eden to gasp in astonishment. His movements were steady and sure and he moved her as if she were no heavier than a strand of hair. With one hand on her abdomen and one on the small of her back, he pulled her hips toward him until she was kneeling before him.

  She felt his feverish movements as his grip found her waist. His heat burnt into her thighs. He forced her to spread her legs from behind by nestling his knees between her own. Her breasts scraped along the dirty coverlet, bringing up a swift cloud of dust. The coverlet’s fur tickled the peaks of her nipples. The sensation was oddly delightful and she moaned as his adjusting movements made her do it again.

  Vladamir’s nostrils flared. Greedily, he stared at the fine curve of her ass and the smoothness of her hips. He ached at the sight of her beautiful form. Her skin was fresh and perfect, save for a few scars that lined it in places, but the scars were hardly noticeable, especially after the ones he carried.

  He smelled her desire for him and lurched in excitement. He could hold back no longer. Her lips around him had been too much. It had been so hard not to ram himself into her throat as he watched her suck him in. He’d waited too long to bed her.

  Vladamir pulled her exposed backside closer so that she crouched defenselessly before him. With the powerful push of his massive thigh muscles, he inched his body closer to hers while keeping her from closing herself to him. The soft hairs on his legs grazed the back of her sensitive thighs. He grabbed onto her hips holding her steadfast.

  The animal inside him took over. His nostrils flared. Without further testing the wetness of her resolve, Vladamir thrust his rigid shaft into her awaiting sex. He slid roughly inside of her, stopping as he felt her purity. The fact only excited him more and he pushed deeper into her tightness to break through it. He let loose a primal yell of victory as he conquered her with his full length.

  Vladamir tensed, shivering in victorious delight, immersed in her feel, in her soft womanly smell. He held still inside of her, enjoying the feel of her flexing muscles as she formed around him, accepting him, molding her tightened silk depths to fit only him.

  He felt her stretching muscles ease to accept him. Slowly, he growled as he moved behind her. Tensing, he forced control to his rampant desires but when he pulled out of her, his hips flexed of their own accord and he slammed into her once more. Vladamir roared the violent call of an insatiable beast. Eden shuddered and let out a delicate cry of her own.

  Passion overwhelmed Vladamir’s control. He wanted her more than he ever wanted any other. Without thought, Vladamir captured her hips and rode her hard, as wildly as he would an untamed stallion he was trying to break. His fingers tangled in the long locks of her hair, pulling slightly back to better control her. He delved his shaft back and forth swiftly in her moistened passageway, pounding roughly against her soft unresisting flesh—fast and deep and conquering.

  Eden groaned at the violent entry. Her eyes rounded and moistened with astonished tears when he completely imbedded within her. Her fingers clutched at the fur coverlet and she managed a deeply ragged breath. Biting back her tears, she suppressed her moan as the pain of his passion tried to diminish, leaving in its stead a building sense of profound longing.

  She gripped the coverlet tighter and tried to relax. The burning pain lessened enough so when he withdrew to again thrust eagerly into her, she felt a semblance of the first awakenings of her body. Tension built where he plunged. Friction heated her innermost core.

  Eden called out as the gratification built once more inside her. This was so much better than his hand on her sex, though he did touch her with his hand as well. Vladamir quickened the ferocity of his pace. She saw her own breasts thrust forward, bobbing wantonly with each virile thrust of his shaft. Her hardened nipples peaked and strained as they grazed against the bed. A strange, albeit pleasurable, ache stirred in her midsection. She gripped her fingers into the dirty fur coverlet. His hands commanded her and his body controlled her. She was his slave but didn’t care, liking the idea of being a prisoner to his body’s whims.

  Vladamir’s powerful body pushed her onward to an unknown destiny. The beat of her heart pounded against the wall of her chest, echoing in the caverns of her ears. She knew she should be scared, but she couldn’t think to tell him to stop. Her body hummed as the blood rushed violently in her head.

  A finger slipped along the cleft of her ass, rimming her intimately. His hips ground naughtily against her backside. He continued to ride her, pushing her higher and higher until she thought she might explode with the agony of her unfulfilled longing.

  Suddenly, Vladamir grunted and her sex spasmed along his turgid flesh. Tensing, he jabbed himself one last hard time into her. She trembled and cried her release to echo the bare walls of the chamber. Her vision grew dark, her lids fluttered lazily over them, and she was unable to see from the gratification her body experienced. Their combined pants for air echoed strenuously in the otherwise soundless chamber and for a moment they were frozen as two reckless statues.

  As the spasms slowly subsided, Eden noticed how cold and dirty the bedchamber was. The dust from the bed settled around her, making her cough lightly as she breathed it in. Her body shivered again, only this time from the cold. Vladamir released her hair and her head fell forward. Then as he pulled himself gradually from her, she felt the hard sting of their lovemaking deep within her belly.

  The duke tentatively rested his head on the small of her back. Gently, he stroked her soft skin before standing. He completely relinquished his hold on her. Eden let her body fall to the bed and re
sted on her stomach, insecurely refusing to look at him. She knew a blush covered her face, could feel its heat. When she didn’t hear him move, she turned her head slightly to find him under the bend of her arm. She studied him from the corner of her lowered lashes. The narrowing of his piercing gaze was the only expression he allowed. He did up his loincloth and pulled his braes to hang loosely at his waist.

  Eden waited for a long breathless moment for him to say something to her. When he didn’t, she lifted her head to better look at him. She did her best to turn, so that her nakedness wasn’t so obviously displayed.

  He too noticed their surroundings and frowned as he looked her over. Eden smiled shyly as she reached her hand to rest on the fine linen tunic that covered his sweaty chest. She ducked her face into his side as she curled up next to him. Despite the cold chamber, his body felt as if it were on fire.

  “M’lord?”

  “Yea, m’lady,” he replied hoarsely but didn’t wait for her to speak as he stood.

  Eden motioned helplessly, not knowing what to say at such a moment. Sitting, she drew her legs up to hide her nakedness and licked the corner of her mouth. Without another word he stalked from the room.

  Eden felt her heart drop as he left her and she drew a painful breath. An ache so intense unravelled in her stomach, overbearing the duller throb of her sex. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Shivering she stood only to freeze as she saw him reenter with her torn gown. He handed it to her.

  “Is everything all right?” Eden asked as she took the gown, daring a glance at him though her lashes. She quickly turned away when she found him studying her and pulled the torn garment over her nakedness to shield her body from his emotionless eyes. However, the gown was too damaged to provide her with adequate coverage. When she finished dressing, Vladamir’s hand was held out for her to take.

  She couldn’t force herself to touch him. “I’m tainted, that is why—”

  Vladamir looked at her sharply, cutting off her words. “Nay, you are, were a maiden.”

  “Then?” Eden shivered, relieved to hear it from him. She held the torn gown to her breast to keep it from falling and sniffed. Her eyes pleaded with him to comfort her. Vladamir’s frown deepened. Slowly, she reached out to take his offered hand in hers.

  “M’lady deserves a better bed than this.” He glanced at her shaking palm cradled inside of his. His fingers trailed lightly over her hand to her wrist. Her hands were still a bit red from scrubbing his hall floor. A frown once again marred his brow as he let go of her. A wall once more went up between them. Eden blinked back her emotions and Vladamir didn’t look at her face.

  Without further comment, the duke turned on his heels to walk stiffly in front of her, out of the musty chamber. She silently followed behind, letting him lead her through the turns of the darkened passageways. Following the movements of his feet with her eyes until they finally he stopped before their shared bedchamber, she waited as he silently opened the door for her.

  Eden stepped past him at the soundless bidding only to turn and find him gone. He left her alone in the room. She peered down the hall. Her hand strayed to the chamber door, closing it behind him, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it was she’d done to anger him this time.

  Chapter Ten

  Two fortnights passed with the rising and falling of a calm summer sun and Lakeshire Castle fell into a stagnant routine. Even-tempered breezes filled the days and stillness wafted the nights. The air was neither too hot, nor too cold. The servants continued to clean, the soldiers continued to practice, the evening bonfires continued to burn outside the walls, and Vladamir continued to ignore his wife.

  After their hasty lovemaking, he felt so remorseful that he hadn’t been able to face her. He couldn’t. The very touch of her innocent fingers had reminded him of his dastardly treatment of her.

  Vladamir berated himself for taking her, his wife and a lady at that, like a paid whore in a dirty chamber. Afterwards, he had waited for her accosting glare or vehement reproach. His insides had shaken with self-reproach. It mixed with his sated passions.

  When he closed his eyes, he saw her virtuous form curled on the dingy bed. The supple waves of her disheveled hair fell over her shoulders to cover her perfect breasts. Her long arms gracefully encircled her legs as she pulled them into her stomach. The backs of her thighs were smooth and creamy white. She’d crossed her ankles to hide her sex from view, but he still saw the smudge of blood on her skin.

  The duke shook his head with self-loathing and couldn’t help but wonder if she was frightened of him. He couldn’t blame her, especially now after his inexcusable behavior.

  After he led her to his chamber and left her there alone, he didn’t go back to her in the many nights to follow. He chose instead to help man the bailey walls. His days were filled wishing that Luther would dare to attack so that he might release his pent-up rage and frustration on someone. Luther and his armies stayed quiet. He spent his nights against the hard black stone of the wall as the smell of burning wood drifted about him, scarcely sleeping and eating even less. He found comfort in nothing, forcing himself to endure the torment of his body and soul as a punishment.

  His mood was blacker than ever, due to his unappeasable desire for his wife. After his one taste of her, he was like a drunkard craving mead, and because he couldn’t have his blessed addiction, his body ached and his mind turned sour.

  Sometimes from high on the wall he would spy Eden in the bailey. She would be instructing the servants, laughing with the soldiers, gazing far off into the distance with a look of intense longing. He wondered if she dreamed of leaving him, all the time knowing she wouldn’t. Her pride and honor would keep her loyal. It amazed Vladamir to think his wife had more integrity and honor inside her slender body than was common in the whole lot of the fairer sex.

  The few times that he accidentally crossed paths with her, their conversations had been abrupt and he quickly left her side. When she did speak, her words were timid and she held back from him. How could he blame her? He’d treated her like a whore. The sound of her soft sweet voice reminded him of his transgression against her chastity and his deeply rooted guilt wouldn’t allow him to stay near her.

  Besides, I’m the lesser evil for her, naught else. She wouldn’t have had me if it had been her choice to freely make. The consummation is done. That was her reason for seeking me out.

  His wife didn’t purposefully seek him out again and he never caught her eyes straining for him. Her gaze never lifted and her smile never lingered toward the wall. She hadn’t sent word to him, not even a small message through the soldiers she laughed with.

  Though she talks with them oft enough.

  Jealousy burned in his chest each time he saw her with the other men. He couldn’t recall her ever looking so kindly to him.

  The day was still young and Vladamir had only slept a few hours that morning while on the wall. He rubbed his eyes as he looked over the bailey. He hated to admit that he was growing fond of the place, his little dukedom. As the days passed by, he grew less fond of his castle in Northumbria. It was the home he had with his first wife. He thought oft of selling it to King Guthrum so he would never have to think about it again, though such an occurrence was highly unusual.

  The only thing he missed about the Northumbrian castle was his daughter. But that too would soon be reconciled. He sent word to have her delivered to him the same night of his marriage. Then, after the siege, he sent another missive telling those who delivered her to let her be carted in as a peasant. He wished for her to be kept safe. If the earl got wind that Gwendolyn was in the area, Vladamir didn’t doubt that he would steal the child away from him and hold her in ransom of Eden. So he told none that she was coming save a select few, and he didn’t dare go after her himself for fear of drawing attention to her.

  Luther, out of fear of King Alfred, had been letting the peasants who came to the duke’s castle pass into his gates unharmed and those trapped within the walls
hadn’t been made to starve. But in case of a longer direr siege, Vladamir ordered some of the animals out in the pasture brought in within the walls. The order made for a slightly louder, more crowded keep. He also ordered that the food be rationed until the danger passed. There would be no feasting at Lakeshire until the siege was over.

  Vladamir narrowed his eyes as he saw his wife walk toward Raulf. Out of all the men, he noticed that she spent most of her time with the young robust Saxon. A wave of jealousy entered his chest as Eden’s laughter filled the air. His hand tightened on his sword as her fingers lightly brushed the handsome man’s sleeve. It was just the offense his rage had been waiting for to justify itself into manifesting.

  The morning breeze was pleasant as the sun shone on the horizon line. Vladamir squinted, his eyes tired, straining to keep his gaze pinned on his wife. Raulf escorted her to the stone bench in the garden. The man stood above her, his hands on his hips as they talked.

  M’lady doesn’t know she is being watched. Lest she wouldn’t dare act so bold.

  Unable to control his rage, the duke stormed the length of the wall rudely knocking the posted soldier without comment. The men didn’t pay heed, having grown used to the raging figure on the wall. Making his way to the ladder, Vladamir climbed only a few rungs, choosing instead to jump down most of the distance. He landed firmly on the ground like a skulking beast.

  He moved with a swift and deadly purpose toward the dark castle, only to make his way to the side garden where his wife flirted dangerously with her favorite knight. Tensing, he stopped, his hands balled into fists as he listened.