Page 76 of Viking Warriors: Vol. 1-3

As I pushed myself back onto the bed, he picked up the pot and passed it to her.

“Get rid of this.”

She glanced at me, showing no surprise at my naked state. Of course, she would not. Everyone would know my purpose in the jarl’s chamber.

There were voices and movement in the main part of the hall already.

Damn the lot of you,I thought. They were the men who’d burnt Svolvaen. The men who’d carried me away to this place. I hoped the rich food they’d eaten the night before turned their bowels liquid. I hoped they felt as bad as Eldberg looked.

Curling my feet under me, and my arms about my body, I shrank to the corner. Thanks to the season, I felt no great chill, but I wished to cover myself and regain some dignity.

He sat heavily on the mattress edge, his head in his hands, and I thought again about caving in his skull. But I had no weapon—nothing of sufficient weight. The harness and the stone thing were upon the trunk, out of reach.

On Ragerta’s return, he took the mug from her and drank it down, wiping his mouth, and nodding for her to refill it. Being thirsty, I did the same.

There was porridge—just like the grøt Sylvi used to make, sweetened with honey. I ate hungrily, scraping round with my spoon.

“You don’t need to tie me again,” I ventured. “You have my oath that I’ll do your bidding.”

Eldberg glanced over his shoulder, wiped his mouth again, then tossed his bowl away.

“I’ll do what pleases you.” Let him think it! I glowered behind his back but, kneeling forward, touched his hair, gently raising it above his left ear, revealing the scars that ran across his neck.

He moved quicker than I’d imagined him capable, grasping my wrist, twisting it away.

I cried out, but he only pushed back harder, rendering me flat upon the bed again, his bulk bearing down on me.

“I can’t b-breathe!”

His other hand came to my throat. “Think not to seduce me with lies, thrall.” His thigh came between mine. “I shall know when you truly desire to please me.” Releasing his hold on my neck, he brought his hand lower, squeezing my nipple hard—making me gasp with the suddenness of it.

“When that time comes, you’ll take me into your body and plead for my seed. You’ll fuck in all the ways a woman can take a man and the viper in you will writhe for more. You’ll ride me until your cunt aches, and still you’ll beg.”

Pinned beneath him, I seethed. I’d never beg.

He was growing aroused. Through his clothing, he was hard against my stomach. I was all too aware of my nakedness—leather and chain links against my breast and belly, woolen serge between my legs.

Before I had the chance to reply, he flipped me onto my front. With my cheek pressed to the covers, I faced the wall.

“Fuck you!” I couldn’t help myself. The man was an animal. Again, he was tying my wrist—looping the silk and knotting it, pulling me forward to secure the sash to the far bedpost.

I could do nothing to prevent him from tying the other hand.

“Please.” I couldn’t let him do this again. “You don’t need to—”

“Quiet, thrall.” He dragged my legs apart.

Though none of the bonds were drawn tight and the sheepskins were soft to lie upon, I could not bear the thought of being made to remain still again.

“Don’t do this.”

And then I felt the dampened cloth, drawn gently up my inner thigh. Hot and then cool, along both sides. Eldberg dipped it into the water again, then wrung out the excess. He held the cloth to my sex then eased apart my cheeks, drawing it along the crease, pressing to my anus.

A trembling fear was taking hold of me—that he would enter me there. I’d felt the size of him when he’d been pressed to my stomach.

He put aside the cloth and rested his palm upon my behind.

“You won’t hurt me.” My voice sounded so small.