“Now, let me look at what I have purchased with my honor.”
“Honor? You purchased something? Not here at Oxborough. Your honor didn’t purchase you a single chicken. All you did was ride in with your men, marry me, and become the lord.”
“You have angered me beyond my limits, and my limits have stretched more and more with you with each passing day. I will take no more of this from you. No, I will not rape you, but I will use you so that finally you will come to understand that it is I-not you-who allows you to be what you are. You have no say in anything. No, hold still.” He dropped her to her feet, then hauled her by the arm to the bed. Both Hast-
9 6
j -prist went flying back onto their backs. Severin stood at the bed-
•A staring at her. She was sprawled, her legs apart, and he knew imme-
1v that he needed no sermons about his duty to mount her. She was
hite and very nicely shaped. Her skin glowed with health and youth.
H wanted her badly, very badly. She’d thrown water on him. She didn’t
deserve that he treat her other than as a disobedient wife.
“It is you who have pressed me, Severin.” She rolled to her side, bringing the covers over her. “Nay, I do not want you to touch me now. You are angry. You will hurt me.”
“Hurt you? Nay, Hastings, I won’t hurt you, though you well deserve it.” He leaned down and pulled the jar of cream from beneath the covers. “Now, turn on your back and show yourself to me.”
She didn’t move.
He roared at her, “Pull off those covers.”
Instead, she flung the covers at him and rolled to the far side of the bed. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. Damn her, she deserved that he hurt her. But he couldn’t. He grabbed the jar, dipped his fingers into it, and came down beside her. “If you move, if you fight me now, you will regret it.” He shoved his finger into her. She quivered but didn’t make a sound. When he came out of her, he found that he had some control. He needed control with her. He looked up and down her body.
“Your breasts are adequate,” he said. She didn’t move. Neither did Trist. He just mewled loudly, staring at Severin. “Adequate, no more.”
Severin touched his hand to her breast. “You adequately fill my hand. You will adequately suckle our sons.”
She tried to pull away from him, but he held her down, his leg over
belly. “I do not like this. You do this to punish me. Let me up, Severin-1 must go downstairs to see to your evening meal.”
Shut up, Hastings. The cream is inside you. When I come into you, ic won’t hurt.”
His hand moved to her other breast, cupping it, lifting it, squeezing
gently “Aye? adequate.” Then he looked down her body. He splayed his
^ide over her belly. “I can barely reach your pelvic bones. Aye,
” ‘.«•
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you’re made to bear children. At least you have some worth.” Without another word, he grabbed her arms, lifted her, and shoved her down onto her stomach. She reared up, but he just pressed his hand against her waist. “Don’t move. ” She felt his hands stroking over her hips. She wasn’t afraid of him, hadn’t been afraid even when he’d lifted her up and shaken her. When he touched her breasts, she still didn’t fear him. His callused fingers scratched at her smooth flesh. It felt odd. But now, he was staring down at her bottom, feeling her. She realized that he was measuring her again to see if she would carry his children. It was too much. Far too much.
Ç) 8
m
C^he couldn’t bear it. Suddenly, his fingers eased between her thighs. k3He touched her woman’s flesh. She reared up, sending Trist to scurry down her back and up Severin’s arm.
“Don’t fight me, Hastings.”
He pulled her onto her back again, bent her knees, and opened them. “Now,” he said, staring down at her. “Now.” Without another word he came into her fast and deep.