by Lily Thomas
“Are you trying your hand at small talk? If so, you’re failing at it.” Roxanne shook her head.
“Do you enjoy horses?” He continued.
Roxanne shrugged. “I enjoy horses from a distance since I haven’t much skill with them. I usually take a carriage from one place to another.”
“That’s too bad. There is nothing quite like the freedom of riding and controlling another being.”
“I don’t feel as though I’m missing anything. After all, my limbs have yet to recover from our ride through the forest.” She massaged her arms to emphasize her statement.
Silence fell, as they both struggled to find something else to talk about. She doubted there was anything they could ever relate over. He was a fire giant brute who did nothing but war, and she was a lady who preferred the finer things in life, like a warm bed and a pleasant meal at a table.
The only sound was the horse as it snorted and turned its attention back to the grass shoots. Even he was bored with their conversation.
As they stood there staring at the stallion, Daerrin finally broke the silence. “Don’t get any ideas about escaping from me. This horse will only obey my commands. He was trained to just stand there if anyone else tries to ride him. He will never help you with an escape attempt.” His crimson eyes met hers, as he tried to stare her down.
Roxanne scoffed, as she eyed him in return. Maybe she’d been showing a little too much interest in the stallion.
Turning to Daerrin, she lifted a hand and flicked her long braid over her shoulder. “I’m sure I can discover another way. You’ll slip up, and I’ll be there to snatch the chance.”
Daerrin watched, as she flung her hair back behind her. Every stray strand seemed to mesmerize him, as he watched them land back into place. He could imagine running his hands through her silky hair if she ever took it out of that confining braid. It was just as fiery as she was.
He restrained himself from reaching his fingers out to see if her hair was as soft as it looked. She wouldn’t appreciate him touching her in such an intimate way. He knew she didn’t like him touching her period, which was why he kept doing it.
The spark in her eyes was too much to resist.
He should be keeping his hands to himself. Not only was she a human female, but she was also the spawn of his enemy. His cock kept stirring every time he imagined his hands around her dainty waist or in her hair.
Daerrin could imagine her riding him, while his hands guided her hips above him and her hair was loose around her shoulders shielding them both from the world.
Shaking his head, he glared over at her. He couldn’t touch her if he wanted to live with himself. It would be a betrayal of his now dead family. They would surely roll in their graves if they knew he was even imagining taking a human female to his bed.
“We will be leaving soon. If you want to stretch your legs or relieve yourself, now would be the time.” When she looked like she may take her time, he threatened, “We can leave now, if you like, but I will not be making many stops. Now is your time.”
When her jade eyes rose to meet his, he was surprised to see a hint of fear in those sharp depths. At first, he wondered if she was terrified of him, but then he caught her giving the camp of fire giants a hesitant glance.
“They have been warned that no harm is to come to you. None of them will get in my way when it comes to getting my revenge against your father. You have nothing to worry about.”
She gave him a pointed glance. “What about the giant who grabbed me earlier? He would have harmed me.”
“He has been talked to… severely. Now I suggest you get to it or we will be leaving.”
With one last huff, she walked hesitantly through the group of giant warriors who were milling about or seeing to their horses.
Daerrin watched her walk off. He trusted that she would be smart enough to return without making him chase after her. Without a horse, she wouldn’t get far, if she decided to run and she would piss him off in the process.
Making his way through the camp, Daerrin checked in on his men.
“How are the rations?” He asked Byeg, the man in charge of making sure the men had enough to eat.
“Doing well so far, sir. We might want to have a few men go out hunting if we want any fresh meat though, otherwise it will be salted meat and biscuits.”
Daerrin did miss castle life in some ways. One of the things he missed, a fresh meal.
“We’ll see if time permits a hunting party.” With that, he moved on to check on his men and to keep his captive from plaguing his thoughts.
He found himself wishing he didn’t have any armor on. His hand had been able to feel her curves, but he wished he could’ve felt her against him as they’d been riding.
As he felt his member grow hard, he let out a groan. Shifting uncomfortably, he wished it away. While wearing armor, a hard member could be quite a problem.
Daerrin shook his head. What was he thinking? She was a human female. Not only that but she was the spawn of his enemy. Once he arrived at the fire giant castle, he was going to hold up in his chamber for a couple of days with a few fire giant females to slate his lust. Then this little temptation would be out from under his nose, and he could go back to focusing on nothing but the war.
Roxanne rushed back to the fire giant camp quickly. Daerrin may have talked to his men, but that didn’t mean she trusted them any more than before. Unfortunately, the only safe area was with Daerrin, as much as she hated to admit it.
And there was no point in running when he would only track her down and drag her back by her hair. There was no telling what her punishment would be for such an infraction. Maybe the loss of a finger or two so he could have those delivered to her father?
A shiver ran down her spine, as she flexed her delicate fingers. She couldn’t even come close to imagining the pain of losing a body part.
She was a lone woman among so many terrifying warriors. There would always be a prickle of fear at the base of her neck.
Daerrin still terrified her, even after he’d told her he needed her alive for his revenge. It didn’t mean he had to keep his hands to himself. So far he had taken a few opportunities to touch her.
She still remembered what he told her father. He was going to teach her about men. She didn’t plan on letting a fire giant show her anything. Not that she thought he’d be able to teach her much since she was moderately experienced in the realm of men and pleasure.
As she strode through the camp, a few fire giants eyed her but most kept their eyes on their work. Maybe Daerrin’s warning might keep her safe, but she wasn’t about to test that theory.
Roxanne met Daerrin back at his warhorse. He swung himself onto the saddle and then offered her his armored hand.
“Don’t you have a spare horse you can lend me?” She was tired of riding in front of him.
“This is a war camp, not a stable,” Daerrin growled down at her.
“You can’t like being this close to me either, what with me being your enemy’s daughter.”
A slow smile spread over Daerrin’s face, his crimson eyes dancing with light. “I enjoy having such a pleasant body rubbing up against mine.”
Roxanne sucked in an audibly harsh breath. “There’s no way I’m getting up there now.” She folded her arms across her chest, issuing a challenge.
“If you don’t behave, I’ll have to teach you obedience.”
“Good luck. Many a man have tried… and failed.” Men thought bedding her would make her want to marry them to save her reputation. They’d been wrong.
“I think we’ll start with how to please me in the sheets.” Daerrin mused.
Roxanne gulped. “You find me as repulsive as I find you.”
“True, but it has been a while since I had the comfort of a soft woman beside me.”
Did she dare put his challenge to the test? She didn’t have a choice in the matter. One night with Daerrin would ruin her forever in the eyes of a suitable huma
n suitor.
So she slipped her hand into his. For now, she would have to wait patiently, until she figured out a way to get back to her father. The more foolproof, the better. Outwitting this fire giant would give her an immense amount of pleasure.
He placed her before him on the horse and hugged her close to his armored body with an arm.
Roxanne attempted to scoot away and put room between them, but his arm was like a band of steel wrapped around her waist. She couldn’t budge it, no matter how much she wiggled.
“Here I thought we agreed we repulsed each other.” She seethed at his closeness.
Daerrin leaned down and whispered in her ear, “My cock seems to disagree.”
Roxanne’s spine stiffened, and she heard him chuckle as he got their horse going. What an absolute brute!
When their ride dragged on, Roxanne finally relaxed her stiff spine. She leaned back into his chest, and her back felt instant relief. She wanted to remain strong and keep the distance between them, but there was only so much torture her muscles could endure.
Rotating her shoulders, she did her best to get comfortable, but the metal of his armor kept jabbing into her delicate skin. Gritting her teeth, she refrained from snapping at him for the uncomfortable position he held her.
She had given up one ache for another.
Boredom got the better of her, as the rhythm of the horse wore on her tense nerves and her rigid bottom. There was nothing like the comfort of a cushioned carriage seat. Though a bit bumpy, carriages held more luxury than the stiff leather saddle of a horse.
Daerrin and his men showed no signs of stopping. They had set a quick pace and were sticking to it.
She wondered how far they were taking her into their territory. At some point, they would take her too far, and her father would have a hell of a time reaching her. Her father might do anything to get her back, but there was only so far he could go into fire giant territory before risking great peril.
The king may treasure her father’s service, but he wouldn’t give her father enough men to march safely deep into fire giant territory. They had too many lines to defend, against not only the fire giants but the rock giants as well.
At a certain point, she would be beyond his grasp. The fight was at the border, and the fire giants were holding their lines very well. Darn them.
Roxanne might be the only person who could save herself. She was up for the challenge even if it was daunting.
“Where are we headed?” She was done riding in silence. The only thing around them to look at were trees, and it was beyond boring.
His answer was only silence to her great frustration.
“I don’t see why telling me would matter all that much. It isn’t like I can do anything with that knowledge.”
Still, no sound came from him. Was he made of stone?
“I can’t tell anyone either. It isn’t like it’s a secret I can spill since the only ears around me belong to fire giants.”
“Can humans not stay silent?” He ground out.
“I just would like to know. I think you could take mercy on me. My thoughts are running wild, and I would like to relax.”
“You are nothing but a captive. I don’t need to take mercy on you, and neither do I worry about your relaxation.”
“And if I keep bothering you with my incessant talking?”
“I’ll gag you.”
Roxanne huffed but fell silent. Then he surprised her when he uttered, “We are heading to our castle.”
“The fire giant castle?”
“It’s not like I’d take you to a human castle.”
Roxanne didn’t appreciate his snarky tone, but let it slide anyway. It wasn’t like she’d get any gentlemanly manners from him.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She shouldn’t have asked where they were going. Now her mind had even more to think about.
If she thought a group of fire giant warriors was terrible, then a whole castle full of them would be a nightmare. If she didn’t escape before they reached the castle, then she would never getaway.
There would be more eyes to watch her at a castle. There would be gates, and there would be sentries. Now was her time and she would have to think fast. She had no idea how much time she had left before they reached the castle.
Once behind those walls, she would never be seen again. She would disappear from the civilized world never to be heard from again.
Feeling desperation rise inside her, she took a few deep calming breaths. A panic attack wasn’t what she needed right now. She needed to keep a level head. There had to be a way for her to escape. She wasn’t about to lose hope now.
Daerrin probably hoped she’d lose her wits and meltdown. The sight would please him to no end she was sure, but he’d stolen the wrong woman for that. She would escape his clutches, and then her father would surely dispatch Daerrin if they encountered each other on the battlefield.
Roxanne jerked forward as Daerrin reined in his horse and raised a hand, signaling his men to halt.
“Damn you giant,” Roxanne muttered as she straightened herself again.
His hand went down, gathered the reins and sent his horse into a trot. Slamming against his metal chest again Roxanne cursed like a sailor.
“Are you trying to give me whiplash?” But she doubted he’d even heard her over the sound of the horses.
Within a few minutes, they burst into a ginormous meadow. But it wasn’t just any meadow. It was a field filled to the brim with tents. Too many to count.
Her breath caught in her chest, as she took in the sight before her. It was unbelievable how many soldiers’ tents there were in front of her very eyes. Fire giants strutted around the large encampment going about their business, oblivious to her shocked glances.
Roxanne prayed Daerrin would stop the horse and turn around, but he never did. He kept the horse going at a steady pace. As he maneuvered the horse through the cramped meadow, she tried to take in everything around her.
She was doomed!
Daerrin couldn’t possibly keep her safe among so many fire giants. He wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on her all the time. There had to be other fire giants who wished any and all humans ill will.
Fire giants looked up, and their blood red eyes settled on her small form. It made her squirm under all the unwanted attention. They seemed to find her riveting. So far, none of them were grabbing their swords and raging towards her. Hopefully, they would take pity on her for being a small human woman, because she could use that to her advantage because she was stronger than they thought.
She alone was no threat to them or their people. All she wanted to do was go home back to all the comforts she had been cruelly snatched from. The gossipers of the king’s court were looking more appealing by the minute.
Daerrin finally pulled up his horse and dismounted from behind her.
Turning he offered her a hand. “Would you like assistance?”
“Yes.”
She slid her hand into his and allowed him to lift her down. She wasn’t going to risk getting off on her own and falling on her face in front of so many fire giant warriors. There was only so much embarrassment she was willing to endure.
Once her feet hit the ground, Daerrin released her and turned to leave. Roxanne stopped him with a hand on his forearm.
He paused, and she stared at her small hand on his armored arm. Some small part of her let out a thrill as though it was delighted about being his captive.
She shook it off. “Am I to just stand here next to your horse?”
Daerrin cast her a smirk. “Are you finally afraid?” His tone implied it was about time.
Roxanne hesitated for a split second, before straightening her shoulders and sticking out her chin. “Of course not. I was only curious what will be done with me.”
“Of course you were.” His crimson eyes scanned her face.
She felt as though he could read her true feelings, like the fact that her nerves were tu
rning her legs into unstable mounds of flesh. She didn’t want to be left alone in an encampment of fire giant warriors, but she wasn’t about to admit that out loud.
“Perhaps there is somewhere where I might be comfortable and safe?” She craned her neck up to gaze into his eyes, beseeching him silently.
“And here I thought you would have wanted to remain at my side.”
Roxanne was unable to hide the scowl that formed on her lips. “As appealing as that thought might be, I wouldn’t mind having a moment alone.” Somewhere where she could collect herself. “Each hour that goes by drags on my delicate senses.”
Daerrin eyed her for a second more, and then he nodded curtly.
“Fine then.” He took her arm in a rough grasp and dragged her through the camp until they reached a tent, which was just a few short feet away.
“You will be safe here, but don’t forget you’re a prisoner. I will not be bossed around by a human female, and if you make yourself a nuisance, I may not keep you around for long.”
With that, he left her to stand right outside the tent. Roxanne took a moment to glare at his receding back. He really was an awful brute. Shaking it off she turned on her heel and entered the tent.
“Oh, father I miss you so much.” Roxanne flopped down on a bed of furs and listened to the noise outside the tent. She couldn’t understand how their growls and grunts made a language. It seemed so primitive to her.
She was strong, and she would remain strong, but it didn’t help the fact that she was alone and in a perilous situation. She wasn’t prepared for this. Her sharp tongue was going to get her killed since she wasn’t used to reining it in.
Roxanne was unsure whether or not to believe Daerrin when he said he would get rid of her if she became too much of a problem for him.
If she thought about it logically, he didn’t need her anymore. Her clothing would most likely be found by her father, and Daerrin never need show her again. The thought of her being with the fire giants would plague her father night and day, as long as he had no proof of her death.
