Maiden and the Monster

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “Much better,” he said, nodding at his handiwork. “Now I can have my way with you.”

  “Take off your clothes,” she urged him, wanting to see his body caressed by the orange of the firelight. “Let me see you.”

  Vladamir obeyed, standing by the edge of the bed. His muscles folded and flexed with each movement as he stripped. Eden groaned, wiggling against the bed as she pulled at her wrists to be free. Why did she ever let him tie her up? If she was free, she’d be tearing the clothes from his body. If she was free, she’d be on her knees, licking his arousal into submission.

  “Untie me,” she demanded, licking her lips.

  “Not on your life.” He chuckled. His chest was bare and he set to work on his braes, kicking his shoes off. “I might just leave you like that, tied naked to the bed, your thighs parted and ready for me, your wet sex glistening and hot.”

  Eden worked her feet against the mattress, but nothing she did seemed to give her aching body any release. “Mm, please.”

  Vladamir pushed the material from his hips. His cock sprung free and she groaned. As she watched, he took the large shaft in hand and stroked it. It only seemed to grow bigger. Cream dripped from her sex, wetting the cleft of her ass with her desire. His fist swallowed up the thick head and he groaned.

  “Please,” she begged, her knees flailing back and forth.

  “I like to hear you beg for me.”

  “Please,” she said again, drawing the word out and thrusting her hard nipples up into the air. “Please.”

  Vladamir groaned, crawling back onto the bed. He settled between her thighs, kissing her breasts as he massaged them in his palms. Wondrous sensations shot through her at his touch. She rotated her hips, trying to rub against him, but he pulled back.

  Licking a hot trail down her sensitive stomach, he rimmed her navel. Then working lower he finally kissed the top arch of her pussy. Eden jerked, gasping for breath.

  “You taste better than I remembered,” he groaned, vibrating her with the low animalistic sound.

  He twirled his tongue around her clit, thoroughly torturing the bud with the light strokes. She threw a leg over his shoulder, pulling at her wrists to be free, as she tried to force him more fully to her. The duke was too strong and continued to tease her.

  “Oh, please,” she begged, unable to think of anything else. Every nerve focused on his mouth and hands.

  His fingers dug into her thighs, keeping her where he wanted her. Gradually he increased the pressure of his mouth, working his tongue up and down her slit. With each pass, he probed up into her channel, lapping up her cream and moaning in delight.

  “So good,” he moaned. “I want you to come for me.”

  Eden was beyond words. Vladamir thrust a finger up inside her, wiggling it around. She gasped. This is what she wanted. Her cream helped him slide easily as he continued to suck her clit, nibbling and licking in turn. Then, taking his wet finger, he slid it to her ass and slipped it inside the tight rosette. She jerked, instinctively tightening. Her body’s reaction wouldn’t let her hide how she enjoyed his wicked probing.

  “Ah, you like that, don’t you?” Vladamir growled. He slipped a finger back into her pussy, probing both holes at the same time. “Oh, yea. I can see how you like this.”

  His mouth became more aggressive as he took her with his fingers. It was too much. Her clit throbbed and her body jerked, tensing as an orgasm racked her body. Eden cried out, not caring who heard her. Let all the king’s men know what they did, let the whole world know.

  As the tremors subsided, she fell limp against the bed. A light sheen of sweat coated her body. Eden moaned, unable to speak in the aftermath of such pleasure. Vladamir crawled over her, his thighs pushing hers apart. His hard cock slipped along her folds, her sex still wet from her incredible release.

  The duke kissed her and she tasted herself on his lips. With a confident push, he thrust into her, filling her to the brink. Working his hips in shallow circles, he pushed up. She watched his glorious body, dying to touch it but unable to with her wrists bound. Vladamir stared at her breasts, watching them bob up and down as he began to thrust in earnest. He pulled out, only to boldly thrust in, hitting her hard.

  “Oh,” Eden gasped, feeling the need return. The tension built once more. “Oh.”

  “You’re so hot,” he growled. “I want to take you so hard.”

  “Mm, I love hearing your voice.” Eden met his thrusts, encouraging his roughness with her own.

  Vladamir growled, pounding his hips as he continued to say wickedly delightful things—some of which she couldn’t possibly understand but was more than willing to listen to. He jabbed into her, cramming her full. The duke closed his eyes, his tight body gorgeous as it worked above hers. Suddenly, she came again, the strength of it taking her by surprise.

  Vladamir grunted a primal sound, tensing and shaking as he emptied himself inside her. Eden had never felt more fulfilled or more complete. Still buried deep, he collapsed on top of her, stopping to kiss her softly before untying her hands.

  “Mm, I want to do that again,” Eden said, smiling tiredly.

  Vladamir laughed. “Yea, I know, fourteen times in one night. Just give me a moment to recover first, my insatiable wife.”

  Eden ran her hands over his shoulders, not caring that she was hot or that his weight was crushing her. Giggling, she teased, “All right, I suppose I can give you a few moments.”

  Groaning, he kissed her again.

  Chapter Fifteen

  King Alfred stood solemnly before those gathered in the bailey yard. His royal cloak of purple stood out in a sea of the drabber colors worn by the men-at-arms. The knights waited in respectful anticipation of the king’s decision. Their low murmurs and speculations could be heard as they whispered amongst themselves.

  The darkening sky was as foreboding as the mood of Lakeshire’s inhabitants. Lightning flashed, contrasting the expression on Clifton’s arrogant face. It was clear the man thought this decision would go his way.

  King Alfred ignored them all as he quietly gazed in reflective consideration at the evening sun. Vladamir judged the Saxon king to be a reasonable man. Surely, reason would dictate letting Eden stay with her husband. The king’s face was devoid of emotion save for the thin line that edged his stoic lips. The duke could not read his expression and the fear of losing his wife crushed down upon him.

  For the first time since the siege had begun, there were no bonfires burning in the distance. The king ordered the assault stopped. Though it had yet to fall, the evening wind carried in it the threat of rain.

  Vladamir narrowed his gaze as he looked to the sky, remembering it had been such a day that brought his wife to him. He wondered if this day would be taking her away.

  I’ll fight to the death for her.

  The duke was unable to fathom the idea of her leaving him. The image of Clifton taking Eden from him clouded his thoughts. He looked at the earl, his eyes hard as a falcon as he silently dared the man to try.

  Vladamir stood with his arms around Eden and his daughter. For the first time since arriving in Wessex, he didn’t bother with his well-cultivated persona of a beast. Too much was at stake in this moment for him to care. He was beginning to remember what it felt like to be happy.

  Gwendolyn smiled confidently at her father as he squeezed her shoulder. Never one to lie to her, Vladamir had told his daughter the truth of Eden’s relation to her, but following Eden’s advice hadn’t disclosed the true depths of Lurlina’s betrayal. The child couldn’t have been more pleased with the news. Now she had a sister and a mother and, with the announcement of Lady Eden’s condition, she would soon have a baby sibling to spoil.

  Eden tried to ignore the angry stare of her father. A part of her ached deeply that they could no longer talk civilly for he was her father, faults or no. As he stood before her as proud and overbearing as he’d always been, Eden sighed for he also looked so worn, so old. She wondered if it was only their time a
part that aged the man so readily, or if the absence only cleared her vision of him.

  Lightning again streaked the heavens, this time drawing closer. The onlookers waited for the king to begin but the man only continued to stare at the sky in thought.

  Eden spent the afternoon wrapped contentedly in Vladamir’s embrace. After he released her from her binds, he made love slowly, in a way she hadn’t thought possible. When they both found their sweet release in unison, he held her naked body in his arms while they slept. Then he awakened her with his gentle kisses to take her as his own once again. Eden wanted to tell him of the love in her heart but there had been no time for such words. Too much had been said already—it was just too much of the wrong thing. Besides, she didn’t want to put a hex upon the king’s judgment.

  “After much contemplation I have made my decision,” the king began solemnly. For a moment he still looked to the gathering storm. The contemplation brought no peace to his face. Tired yet ever regal, he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “‘Tis my belief that Lady Eden is indeed with child.”

  Eden clutched hopefully at her husband’s arm. She glanced quickly at him as a small smile of exhilaration threatened her mouth and held her breath.

  “‘Tis also my belief that the child is Lord Kessen’s.” King Alfred turned his head thoughtfully to Clifton. He took a firm stance as he addressed the earl. “Lord Kessen is a duke. He is wealthy and he is titled. His marriage to a noblewoman of Saxon descent is good for peace. Since Lord Luther can no longer claim Lady Eden’s hand, ‘tis my decision for the best interest of the unborn child and of peace that the marriage stands.”

  Eden gasped in happiness. She yelped and jumped into Vladamir’s arms. Pressing her lips in a most unladylike fashion to his, she nearly knocked him down with her excitement. His arms wrapped about her without hesitation to receive her thrilled kisses as she splayed them across his face. She heard her father’s grunt of disapproval and didn’t care. Behind them the victorious cheers of Vladamir’s men rang out over the bailey.

  “Bless the saints!” Haldana cried, clapping her hands in excitement as she smiled at the embracing couple. Ulric grinned his agreement next to her.

  Beaming up at her husband, Eden pulled her lips away, knowing neither one of them cared who watched. The duke nodded slightly at Eden and squeezed her tightly to his chest. A smile of contentment shone on his proud face.

  The king ignored the mayhem as his gaze momentarily turned to the ground. He crossed his hands behind his back as he waited for the excitement to die down bringing his head up when the earl started to protest.

  “Nay, I demand justice,” the earl yelled when the crowd finally quieted enough for him to be heard. His own men frowned menacingly and growled behind him. At Clifton’s yell, they demanded justice. Their hands strayed to their swords, drawing them partly from their scabbards. Encouraged by their unwavering support, Clifton hollered, “I want to challenge Lord—”

  “Wait. I’m not finished.” The king held up his hands for silence. Glaring at the earl’s defiant men, he commanded loudly, “Put down your arms. There will be no bloodshed today. That is an order from your king.”

  The gathering instantly obeyed the king’s motion for silence and a stunned hush fell over the bailey. Clifton turned and he nodded to his men to obey. The men relaxed their arms but not their guard. The soldiers, who made up the majority of the gathering, jockeyed for position to better hear. Some of the men still rested their hands on the hilts of their swords anticipating a bloody fight.

  “Your Majesty,” Eden began in a loud clear voice. She directed an obedient curtsey to the king. Alfred granted her the permission to speak with a stiff nod. Eden couldn’t keep the happiness from her words as she said, “If ‘tis compensation my sire seeks, he can have the inheritance I’m to receive from my mother’s estate, and I’m sure my husband and I can provide whatever else you see fit to give him. We are a family and ‘tis our intent to act as such.”

  “Those are noble words, Lady Eden, but I’m afraid they are not necessary.” The king took a deep breath as he hardened his face. The burden of his position etched itself in the fine lines to the side of his eyes. He rubbed his nose. Lightning flashed, carrying with it an apprehension of misfortune. Eden grew cold at the king’s expression. “The marriage will stand as is but as I can find no evidence that Luther wasn’t slain, I have to consider that he was unjustly done to death.”

  An undertone washed like a tempest over the listeners. Eden felt her limbs grow numb. Shaking her head, she looked up to Vladamir in confusion.

  “Nay!” Eden protested, breaking through the throng’s whispering with the cry. She braced herself to Vladamir, gripping his arm to her side. The duke stood motionless, his eyes steadily on the king.

  Gwendolyn looked at her father, tears of panic welled up in her eyes in the confusion. Haldana rushed forward to her but stopped as the duke pulled the child to him. Vladamir hugged Gwendolyn to his leg.

  “‘Twas not murder.” Eden began but was cut off by her husband’s gentle squeeze. He shook his head as if to say, Nay, m’lady, ‘tis not the time for battle.

  Clifton grinned deviously to the crowd. His hands settled on his hips as he turned to stare at Vladamir and Eden.

  The king’s voice steadily boomed over the yard. “Vladamir of Kessen, Duke of Lakeshire, ‘tis my decision and judgment that you’re guilty of the murder of your noble peer, Lord Luther of Drakeshore and unless evidence can be produced otherwise, you shall be put to death. Hanging to be carried out on the morrow.”

  Eden glanced about in disbelief as she hugged Vladamir’s chest. Her ears rang in violent protest. Her sight dimmed in agony. The bailey was silent save for the continued words of the king. Finally, her eyes landed on her father, beseeching with him silently to reconsider, to stop Alfred’s decision.

  “Lady Eden, you will retain the title of Duchess of Lakeshire Castle and the lands adjoining that title. As long as my blood is on the throne, they won’t be taken from you or your family—on this you have my royal oath. Clifton, you and yours will have no claim to the title or the lands. You’ll be paid a hefty handgeld for the loss of your daughter and whatever else she wishes to bestow you.”

  “That is outrageous,” Clifton yelled. “She is a woman! She cannot manage—”

  “That is my ruling,” the king said softly, though he was well heard over the silence. “Woman or no, this land will be hers alone. No other will have a claim unless the child she carries is a boy, or at such a time as she remarries or her daughter marries.”

  The earl snapped his mouth shut. His jaw clenched with anger and his eyes narrowed in defeat as he turned them to Eden. She refused to return his stare as her eyes focused dazedly on the king.

  King Alfred looked to the guard at his side and nodded his head. The man moved cautiously forward and took Vladamir by the arm. Eden pushed violently at the poor red-haired knight, who tried to pry her hands from her husband, but the duke didn’t resist as they led him away.

  “You cannot do this,” Eden protested through her tears. She turned her pleading eyes to the king as the soldiers dragged her husband into the main hall. Rushing to Alfred, she asked, “Where are they taking him?”

  “Abovestairs,” the king answered, the concern for her shone in his sorrowful expression. He didn’t like the work he had to do this day. “You’ll be permitted to stay with him tonight if that is your wish.”

  Eden nodded barely able to hear his words through the blood rushing in her ears. A fog built in her brain and she forced her mind to clear. She would have to think if she was to save her husband.

  “Please, he didn’t murder Luther. I’ll swear my life on it.” Eden took a calming breath as she heard the fading steps of the men who led her husband away. She wasn’t helping matters by feeling sorry for herself. “Luther challenged him, baited him to fight. Please, there must be a way to prove it.”

  “I wish that were so. But the men who are loyal to the duke
claim he is innocent, the men in the encampment say he is guilty and they both agree that ‘twas by Vladamir’s hand that Luther is dead.” The king shook his head in helplessness. His hand rose as if to touch her arm only to fall back to his side. “Your husband is a foreigner to this land. If I don’t have the word of someone other than his contingency of men, I have naught. The nobles of Wessex will go after my throne if I don’t act justly. One of their own is dead. If I were to pardon Vladamir, they would call me weak. I must have proof of his innocence. If the nobles attack the throne, this land will be torn apart. If not by our people, then it will be ravished by the Viking armies under Guthrum. They will know the land of Wessex is weakened. I cannot, I will not let my people die for the life of one man. I’m sorry, m’lady. I like your husband but I love my people and my country.”

  Eden understood well the king’s logic and deep down she knew her husband would agree with it. If Vladamir caused no argument over the king’s judgment, King Guthrum wouldn’t attack Wessex. “Is there naught I can do?”

  “I have tried to figure out another way all day m’lady. I cannot.” the king sadly shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

  Eden watched the king walk away from her to her father. The earl’s face was lit with a grim sense of superiority. As Clifton caught her eye, she held his stare in steady defiance. She narrowed her gaze and shook her head in disgust. The earl didn’t smile. Instead he turned his face away from her.

  “Gwendolyn?” Eden asked, dazed. She knew that Vladamir would want her to look after the child. Her hand shook as she moved blindly to find the girl.

  “Yea,” the child answered from directly behind her. Eden didn’t know how long the girl had been standing beside her. She looked at the solemn eyes that reflected her own sorrow. Taking the child by the hand, she turned back to her father. Clifton gave a questioning glance at Gwendolyn. As the color drained from his face, his sunken eyes shot up to Eden in shock. It was clear he’d ignored the child in his anger. In that instant, Eden knew her father had no prior knowledge of the girl.