With the same wild reluctance and fearful glare I eased from the corner toward him. Weighing my options and not liking any of them.
But the pot of stew was still on that table.
Maybe I can slosh it on him and scald him. Or conk him with the pot well and good enough to get a chair to that door and out.
It seemed my only plausible option. So I walked around the table to where he stood. Facing him as boldly as I could muster despite that I wanted to panic and slide under the bed and pray he couldn't get me out.
"Bold one, ye are. I like that." He gave me a proud look.
"Now off with me tunic." He slid a huge callused palm under the shoulder of it and pushed it off. Dropping it over my shoulder and down to my elbow.
I gasped, reflexively lifting my arm to stop the fabric from falling further but already one small breast stuck out above the neckline.
He reached and methodically did the same with the other sleeve so only my lifted forearms held it around my waist.
He gave me a warning look. "Drop it."
But I don't want to. I wanted to run.
My eyes flitted to the bed. I can fit under it.
I took one long step to try and run but he shot out an impossibly long arm and hooked me around my waist. Hauling me back to the table and stepping forward so his pelvis pinned my thighs to it.
"Please don't!" I screeched. Instantly envisioning Bonnie's wince as he'd prodded into her.
"Stop." He spoke into the hair on the top of my head. His huge body encircling mine. "Calm..."
He reached around to pull my arms straight to my sides and guide the tunic to the floor.
I was bared and shivering in fear.
"Calm down. You being tense can only hurt ye."
"Excuse me for not feeling particularly relaxed!"
He paused and chuckled. "I suppose that's fair."
He put a hand between my shoulder blades and pushed me over onto the wooden table.
Oh, God.
My small breasts were smashed beneath me. The nipples hardening at the feel of the rough surface.
With his palm in the center of my back holding me flat, I felt like I couldn't get enough air. My lungs and belly couldn't inflate.
I was panting desperately.
"Stop before ye faint." He leaned over to eye me worriedly. "I'm not even in ye yet!"
***
I met his look terrified.
"Lass, ye gotta breathe."
"I can't!" But even as I said it, I realized his hand wasn't actually squashing me. Merely holding me in place. It was my fear stilling my breath. I drew a slow unsteady breath then another.
"Good." He straightened. "More."
I continued breathing those I was shaking so hard that a metal cup on the table had begun to clatter.
"Ugh." He groaned in frustration. I felt his foot swing next to mine and push it aside. Then the other along my other foot so they were wide apart while I was bent over the table.
I knew all my most vulnerable parts were open for his access. I started drawing short quaking breaths.
"Now, listen to me. Hear what I'm saying to ye, Lass."
I closed my eyes trying to focus on his voice to keep from passing out. I couldn't throw the pot at him if I was unconscious.
I mentally calculated the distance from my shoulder to that pot and knew it was close. But I'll be able to reach it while he's distracted.
Which meant I'd have to let him inside me. Even I knew that much.
But the thought of him ripping me apart was daunting.
"I'm going to touch ye." He was telling me. And I expected rough hands hurting me below. Instead. I felt his touch on my hair. Gathering it up and moving it over one shoulder along the table. The touch nearly gentle.
The hand holding me down remained where it was. Giving just enough pressure I couldn't lurch up and flee.
He knows what I'm about.
The other trailed from my hair down the back of my neck and followed the curve along the top of my shoulder and down the outer edge of my arm which was flat back to my side.
The touch was strange. Leaving a trail of goosebumps and heating my skin.
I registered that I could feel his strong legs molding the back of mine and his pelvis was pressed into my behind with his member hardening there.
I felt my heart beginning to thrum wildly again but took those slow breaths. Focusing on the light touch which had returned to the top of my shoulder to caress over my back. Tracing the swell of my shoulder blade and down the curve at my lower back and around the plumpness of my hip to slide between us and mold the lower curve of my ass.
"Ye 'ave a sweet little body." He remarked.
I turned my head to stare at the pot. Fixating on it. Thinking that putting all my attention on it would draw me from this moment.
But his hand on the outside of my thigh was drawing my attention as it wrapped around the front of my knee and began tracing up the inside of my thigh which shivered in response.
Was that fear or something else?
"I'm going to touch your softness now." He warned.
I thought I knew what he meant but suddenly feeling the brush of his fingers rubbing my lower lips. I lurched forward into the table, slamming my thighs into it and sloshing some of the stew along the wood.
Don't do that. I need the hot fluid in the pot to throw it at him.
Without getting it on me, hopefully.
The idea of spilling the scalding liquid on my bare skin was dreadful.
Oh, no. Suddenly his fingers began to massage apart my opening and I felt his finger ease into me. As it had before but more tenderly this time.
"Please, don't!" I reflexively tried to lurch up.
But he offered slightly more weight on his palm and planted me back to the table.
I whooshed out some air on the impact and he immediately loosened the pressure but wouldn't remove his hand.
My mind was racing. Faster than a horse’s hooves as I considered my options. She embraced me tightly. “Forget whatever you’re thinking. Stay here with me baby girl!” “Here is where I was taken.” I reminded her. “Then I’ll gather all you girls and we’ll go somewhere else!” “Where?” “I don’t know yet. Just stay.” She stepped back to squeeze my hands. “Stay with me, Honey.” I wanted to. The sound of her sweet voice was something I’d badly missed. But Robin hadn’t gotten in with a bad lot trying to find me. Now I need to find him. But I knew nothing about bandits, their laws, or their weapons. But I know someone who does. And the truth was, I was aching to be close to him again. I’d missed his face every step I’d taken away from him. Now I need him. And somehow I knew, without a shred of doubt, that he’d help me. *** MARDICHI
“You’re a drunkard.” “But damn fun to be around.” He pointed out. “No. You’re not.” Mardichi gave a slight shrug. “That too, is a matter of opinion.” “What if she’s in trouble?” Acharius blurted about the young voice he could hear. “Then your old bawdys will care for her. They’re plenty vicious. Recall tha’ day they wouldna lemme in the house? I asked plenty nice and they…” He gave a low whistle. Acharius smiled fondly at the memory. “They were quite ready to fell you.” “I think they may’ve tried, too!” His voice rose slightly as he responded to Acharius’ comment regarding them killing Mardichi with the tiny daggers they’d wielded. “You were demanding to know if they had drink in the House.” Acharius defended. “Twas a fair question…It’d been a long morning.” “They thought you were a thief.” Acharius commented. “Shouldn’t you be out strolling Mane Country for Cimmerii?” “Ye mean
“I suppose.” He admitted. I turned and put my hand on the door. Realizing that every fiber of my heart wanted me to stay. Was screaming for me to turn around, embrace him and declare my love for him. But I can’t. I loved people before him. And I need to know they’re okay. And it was more than just that. Especially now. I need to know who I am. And if anyone else in my family knows how to control this… “Will you come back?” He asked softly. My gaze fell and my throat felt choked with emotion. “I don’t know…” “I travel to see the brethren often.” Mardichi breathed. But when I am not with them, I’ll always return here…For you.” He’s saying he’ll wait for me. Watch for me…Still be mine. “I don’t know how long it might take, if I ever did.” “I don’t care.” I stepped out and closed the door before the tears began pouring over my face. So, no
He’d lied. That was all I could think after it felt we’d walked for an eternity. He was incredibly spry. Nearly dancing on his feet as we walked through a meadow of tall wispy wheat grass toward a large hut. Well-built and beautiful. I felt a tingle of apprehension as I wondered who lived here. I thought it was apprehension. But it may just be my legs going numb. I’d sweated nearly all the way through the dress I was wearing. I was sure my armpits were dripping, and my hair was sticking to my forehead and the back of my neck. Mardichi jogged ahead to hold the door open for me. I was panting like a dehydrated hound. Dragging my feet and my shoulders slumped as I forced myself to take another step. Then another. I’m never going to get there. I was going to collapse into the grass first. He must’ve seen the distress on my face. He jogged back at a calm lope and swept me up
They were gloriously beautiful wings. Dark black with hints of a greenish hue which glinted in the sunlight sweeping through the trees and between the rustling bird wings around me. Everything around me seemed to quiet as I examined these things attached to my shoulders. Wondering where they’d come from. I reached out with hesitant fingers and grabbed the thickness of one. Startled by how warm, and real it felt. I didn’t know what I expected but this was the last of it. I’d half expected that my hand would sift straight through it. I flexed my shoulders, tensing the blades which I discovered, made the wings splay out and flex, to pointed tips. I moved my arms in, bringing my elbows together. Which made the wings wrap protectively around me. Instantly creating a cocoon of warmth. A blanket far warmer than any I’d ever climbed under. They’re unreal. Yet they were entirely so. Giving one a light tug revealed it was certai
I looked back down. Seeing that Mardichi was now bleeding badly. Though he was showing no sign of slowing down. The rodents were now dashing from the underbrush to tear at his slender legs. Ripping at tendons and trying to tear into something vital. One was currently hanging onto his soft stomach. Gnashing vicious little yellow teeth. Another had stepped out from the shrubbery. A flap along its belly began to lift and it loosed a woman’s cry. A sound that I’d have been certain was a woman screaming in distress. But there were echoing responses from every direction. Far too many out here. I could see them now. Coming from every direction with their hideous flicking tails. I felt a rush of heat and my teeth clenched. My arms felt like the bones locked out and my back felt as if it was ripping apart. There was a great flood of dark birds pouring from the sky in a swirl to come down and dump over the creatures. Blinding th