A Stern Lord for My Lady Page 4

  Bertran didn’t miss her hesitation though. A slow smile curved his lips as he bestowed another, feather-light caress on her rounded buttocks.

  This time she took a deep breath, stirring a little under his touch. His smile broadened, as he realised they might not be as ill-matched as he’d thought at first. He’d been aroused by the spanking he’d delivered, while she seemed to have become aroused by the spanking she’d received. But maybe it was so with all healthy males and females – there’d been a strange intimacy in the punishment. A kind of sharing, in spite of the public place he’d done it in. So maybe it was no wonder they were both aroused – he’d held and touched her already, even if not for caressing, but for chastisement. Still, it had been holding and touching. He knew himself not to be ill favoured, and he’d perceived her green gaze on the length of him when they’d undressed him for the bedding. She might protest, but it was becoming plain to him she was not as indifferent to this coupling as she’d proclaimed herself to be.

  “Are you a maiden?” he asked her bluntly, now burning to touch her in that even sweeter spot between her legs, just to see if her sex was wet and eager for him already.

  She gave an outraged gasp, yet she didn’t leave her position.

  “I’ve never dishonoured myself!” she told him in a dignified voice.

  At this moment, Bertran would truly not have cared for her state. He wanted her too fiercely, and already knew he would have this marriage stand. His king and his family wanted the match. And he was already taken with the bride, despite her arrogance.

  He sighed, now gently turning her to face him. If she was a maiden, then he should be mindful of her innocence.

  “Since it is your first time, it would be unseemly to couple thus,” he told her in a patient voice, gazing into her wide green eyes which no longer looked defiant but slightly anguished. “If I thrust inside you from behind, I would tear through and cause you more pain than necessary. It is not something I wish.”

  She widened her eyes at him.

  “Isn’t it? You seemed not to care about the pain you caused me in the Hall. In fact, I’m certain you rejoiced in it!” she told him in a voice laced with anger.

  He sighed.

  “That was a punishment. Our wedding night should not be a punishment for you,” he told her.

  Alicia debated within herself, trying hard to keep her head clear. Oh, the fiend was comely, and she hadn’t failed to notice his proud cock when they’d undressed him. She was a wicked, sinful woman for certain, because the moment she’d glanced upon it, she’d wished it inside her. What a vile, depraved creature she was! And when he’d shamefully touched her spanked bottom, she’d nearly swooned with the rapture of mingled pleasure and pain.

  She narrowed her eyes at the fiend. He seemed sincere in his desire to be gracious to her when he claimed his husbandly rights. And she knew there’d be no return from this. It was either this marriage or the prospect of a bleak convent, since the king had been angered enough. Eleanor did not seem inclined to protect her, and Alicia very much doubted the king would allow her to make another match if there was an annulment of this one. She’d always longed to cradle babes in her arms, so the convent was not something she wished. Besides, she saw herself as a creature who took healthy pleasure in worldly things, not in holy endeavours. A convent life would not suit her at all. It would have to be the fiend then, though she knew she’d have no easy life with a husband set on chastising her at all turns to make her mind him.

  She heaved her own deep sigh, in response to the one Sir Bertran had heaved earlier.

  “Fine,” she found herself muttering. “This night need not be a punishment for either of us.”

  He smiled at her and she stared at him in astonishment. It was the first time he was doing so, and she nearly melted under that smile. He was even more comely when he smiled, the beast. He looked upon her with his hazel eyes.

  “I’m glad you see reason. And I’ll be certain to find great enjoyment in our coupling. You’re very comely, wife, but I’m sure you already know that,” he told her softly.

  She harrumphed. She supposed her looks were tolerable enough, but she’d never considered herself comely, not like the fair, blue-eyed ladies with their delicate, graceful demeanour and manners. And he’d be wrong to think he’d be able to subdue her into a meek, docile woman who swooned at the first sign of hardship.

  “Let us dispense with honeyed words,” she told him, recalling he’d not shown her any sweetness when she’d lain defenceless across his lap. “There is no need of such between us.”

  He gave her an appraising look, as his hand slowly began to caress the contour of her cheek. Like earlier, she felt surprised a man who’d spanked her so hard could be so gentle.

  “You’re still not happy with our match,” he said, as his fingers were caressing her, now sliding down the sensitive side of her neck.

  She laughed incredulously.

  “You’ve humiliated me in front of everyone! They’ll talk of it for years to come! Lady Alicia’s blazing red bottom! And you’re asking me if I’m unhappy with the match?”

  He shrugged, and she held her breath as his hand slid lower, slowly descending and moving away the long tresses of hair that were covering her left breast. Alicia had been too incensed to care for modesty, but now she keenly recalled she was standing stark naked in front of him, and she belatedly blushed. Fiercely.

  “I reckon bruised pride and a sore bottom can heal after all. Don’t you?” he eventually said, as he began to caress her nipple. The heel of his palm moved in circles, brushing it until it became a hard, aroused pebble.

  She felt a deep stab of pleasure inside her quim, akin to the sweet ache she’d experienced when he’d caressed her bottom. She didn’t answer him, too stunned with the way she was acting around this man. Like a true wanton. No wonder he’d asked her if she was still a maiden. Her behaviour was certainly brazen.

  “I think it’s time for a kiss, my lady,” he said in the same soft voice, and he didn’t wait for her acquiescence, capturing her lips with his.

  There was a wonderful, wet breathlessness to the kiss she just loved, as much as she loved the feel of his body pressed against hers. But, after a while, she found herself craving more. Since he was still clad in his fur-lined robe and she was stark naked, she broke the kiss, reaching for the cord of his robe.

  “You’re bold, wife,” he muttered, cocking an eyebrow at her.

  She shrugged, reconciling the fact she was indeed brazen. But it had never been in her nature to be shy. She’d shouldered the burden of a big estate since a young age with little help from her father. There’d been no room for shyness or hesitation.

  She untied the cord of the robe and stared at his long, aroused cock. Because she was a maiden, her father had not allowed her to help in the bathing of their male guests, so she was not familiar with the male body. But she’d heard the whispered comments in the bedchamber during the bedding ceremony, and she’d had occasion to see for herself. The fiend was well favoured, that was certain. His long cock was now prodding at her belly, stiff and hard, and she couldn’t help it. She touched it lightly. It stirred.

  He took a deep breath, then captured her lips hungrily, pulling her to him. His robe was entirely discarded during their embrace and she had the satisfaction of pressing herself against the bare, hard muscle of his body.

  He broke the kiss, drawing away from her and raking a hand through his brown hair.

  “Oh, wife, I think you’ll be the undoing of me,” he whispered.

  He then lowered her on the bed, and she whimpered as he did so. Her bottom was still sore, and it was still painful to lie down on it. She glared at him, recalling he was responsible for it, yet that shameful, ignoble ache took hold of her nether parts. She was now gushing wet.

  “Just raise your hips,” he told her, coming above her, to prop himself on his haunches. “It will be less painful.”

  She frowned at him, but did as he bid
her. She raised her hips trying to keep her bottom from plopping against the bed. His right hand came between them, and he touched her shamelessly between her legs. She moaned deeply, as his fingers found her sticky wetness.

  “Jesu, you’re gushing wet already…” he muttered, and it seemed to her he was incredulous.

  She blushed, now knowing for certain he thought her a wanton woman.

  He took hold of her hips, and she abandoned all modesty as she felt his hard cock brush against her slick entrance.

  “Will you impale me now?” she asked him rather breathlessly, recalling the ribald joke one of the guests had made.

  She supposed she should feel afraid. Instead, she felt her heart thumping and her sex even slicker with moisture.

  “Oh, I will, wife. I will,” he said in a laboured voice, and he swiftly embedded himself inside her, tearing through the barrier of her maidenhead.

  There was pain, and for a moment that pain burnt fiercely, but, truth be told, it was less than the burn she’d felt in her bottom when he’d spanked her. He remained embedded within her, kissing away a tear of pain that had run down the corner of her eye.

  “It will go away. Soon,” he whispered soothingly.

  He was proved right. The pain was indeed soon replaced by a pleasurable ache, and she found herself raising her hips to meet his thrusts as he began to slide in and out of her. Her sore bottom made her arch her back and meet the rhythm of his thrusts, and she soon noted the fiend perceived this and began to touch her bottom so she’d raise her hips to him as he thrust in. She suppressed a curse on her lips seized by both pleasure and pain. The fiend was making use of the sting of the spanking he’d delivered, in order to increase his pleasure in coupling. Yet Alicia came to understand he was not only increasing his pleasure but also her own. Soon she forgot to resent him, and the pain in her bottom was utterly forgotten as the throb in her quim became rapture. So much rapture. Alicia had never felt so, not even when she’d shamelessly touched herself between her legs in her bedchamber. Yet she knew the rapture for what it was. It was heavenly bliss. And as she shouted her unrestrained joy, she saw the fiend bestow his comely smile upon her. Kissing her lips ardently, he began to thrust inside her faster and deeper, then came to spend his sticky seed.

  When she was able to come back to herself, Alicia attempted to glare at him, as he was lying by her side, spent, still smiling his comely smile. Yet she understood the fiend had not used her ill. Instead, he’d been mindful of her innocence and had given her pleasure. He’d bedded her well and had behaved honourably.

  After she’d cleaned herself between her legs, Alicia lay beside her new husband, on her belly, feeling exhaustion soon taking its toll. This day had proved the worst day of her life. Yet… she began to doze off, dimly thinking this bedding had been the most pleasurable thing of her life. How could such a foul day feel so fair at the same time?

  Chapter 4

  Lady Alicia had already fallen asleep on her belly, with her bare bottom still a delicious shade of deep pink. Bertran frowned a little upon this wife of his, so bold and eager, though she’d been just a maiden. He took hold of a blanket and covered her, loath to hide her wondrous body, but knowing that the royal residence could get chilly, especially at night, even if it was May. He lay beside her, but sleep would not come, and he thought with a smile of how well his bride’s wet sheath had accommodated him. She was fiery and bold, this new wife of his, unlike his first wife, who’d been shy and skittish.

  He recalled his first wedding night. It had been far removed from the one he’d experienced tonight. His first wife had been obedient, and willing to do her duty, but it had taken much work from him to get her eager and ready for his first thrust. Even later in their marriage, it had taken considerable coaxing and patience to get her to welcome him between her thighs. This did not happen often – she’d been devout and held all the holy days, which required them to abstain from coupling. Bertran had been barely twenty at the time, and he’d keenly craved frequent coupling. He’d been loyal to his wife though, because he held his honour very dear, and would not break faith with his lady, but sometimes his wife’s austere behaviour had been a trial to him.

  He smiled to himself, thinking his second wife could not have been more dissimilar from his first even if he’d wished it. Where his first wife had been sweet and meek, this woman was defiant and haughty. And where his first wife had been shy and restrained, this woman was bold and fiery. She’d ignited like fire, and he’d not even had the chance to caress her as he’d planned. He’d meant to pleasure her with his fingers and mouth, and make her gush and writhe for him in rapture before he took her, but in the end he’d had no need of doing it. She’d been already gushing for him, and, in truth, he’d only begun caressing her. She was a woman who ignited like tinder, this new wife of his.

  Again, he smiled, only to have this smile replaced by a frown. If Lady Alicia ignited like tinder for him, what guarantee did he have that she would not do so for other men? She disdained him and what he was – her venomous letter had been more than clear in this respect. Yet, she’d coupled with him boldly. He fell asleep belatedly, with a crease on his forehead, not knowing if he should rejoice in finding a wife who ignited like fire under his touch or bemoan the fact that he’d found a fierce, bold woman who unashamedly revelled in coupling.

  She was still asleep when he woke up next morning, with his cock stiff and ready, as it usually was when he roused. He sighed with regret, knowing he would not be able to avail himself of his lady this morning. She must be still sore between her thighs from last night, since he’d taken her maidenhead, and he didn’t want to use her ill. So he pleasured himself, looking at her as she slept peacefully, and thinking of her scrumptious, reddened behind, which must be still somewhat pink from the spanking he’d bestowed upon her yesterday. He made quick work of it, because he was already very much aroused. He wiped the seed that had spurted from his cock with the bed sheets, which were already soiled from their coupling last night. There was some blood on them, but not much. She had been slick and eager, and this had eased his passage. Besides, he already suspected she’d sheathe him better than his first wife. He’d not given her his full length last night, mindful she was still tight and unused to a man between her thighs. But he already had an inkling this woman would be able to take his full length, to the hilt, the next time they coupled.

  He watched her while she slept, still torn between joy and anguish. Last night, she’d plainly stated she hadn’t wanted the match, and he assumed she still disdained him, in spite of the fact she’d given herself to him. Would she be loyal to him, to a man she obviously thought little of? He didn’t know. He meant to treat her fair, and be a good husband to her, but would she try to be a good wife in return? She plainly hadn’t learnt her lesson from the humiliating spanking he’d delivered. Did this mean he’d have to spank her even harder when she defied him? And he felt sure she would defy him again. She was not a meek, obedient woman.

  Alicia woke up with a pleasurable feeling inside her sex. She’d dreamt delicious dreams last night. She’d dreamt of her new husband, thrusting inside her, and then she’d dreamt of his hand, bestowing playful, but stinging spanks on her bottom. She opened her eyes, noting there was a slight discomfort in her behind, but not as much as she’d experienced last night. There was also a discomfort between her thighs, but she dismissed it, understanding it was natural for a newly deflowered maiden to feel thus.

  She glanced upon her husband who was fully dressed, and noted he had not waited upon her to assist him. As his wife this was now one of her duties, but he didn’t seem to mind dressing without assistance.

  “Good morrow, wife,” he said, perusing her with his hazel eyes.

  She’d never thought she’d find hazel eyes so compelling. She’d always been partial to eyes that were blue, or green, but Sir Bertran’s eyes were simply arresting. It was probably because of those gold flecks in them.

  “Good morrow, my lord
,” she replied, now blushing in earnest.

  She was unused to rising late, and it was remiss of her to wake up after her lord husband. Her mother had schooled her well, and she knew her wifely duties. Wives should never wake up later than their husbands, her late lady mother had decreed. What time was it? Well past dawn, for certain. Alicia had seldom woken past dawn, but she surmised it was the sheer exhaustion of the day before that had gotten to her.

  “And how are you this morning, lady wife?” her husband asked her, coming to seat himself on the edge of the bed. “Still sore?”

  Did he mean her bottom or that place between her thighs? She blushed even more fiercely than before when he pulled the blanket to stare at her upturned bottom.

  “Still pink, I see, but not as angry red as yesterday,” he said mischievously, giving her bottom a light pat.

  She glared at him, though she’d not felt any pain, but rather an ignoble stab of pleasure in her sex at his touch. In truth, she’d even forgotten to feel angry with him for the burning, humiliating spanking he’d delivered. He had been courteous and gentle with her last night. But at the same time his loving had been pleasurable and hot. Perhaps she had been wrong – he might prove a tolerable husband, after all. And perhaps he’d really meant to spare her the humiliation of a painful switching in front of everyone. He’d only meant to make her pay for the insults her father had most certainly bestowed upon him. Replaying the scene in her mind, she reasoned he had been fair in the way he’d dealt with her. The insults the king had talked about were heinous – another lord knight might have asked payment in blood for such. Still, that didn’t change the fact he’d humiliated her in front of the entire court, to satisfy his pride and ambition. They’d laugh at her for years to come – that was certain. She sighed, deciding to rise, knowing that, soon, the attendants would come to take the sheets away.

  “Shall we leave this very morning?” she asked him, knowing this was a decision they should discuss. And if they left, where would they go? To one of his estates or to one of her own estates? Alicia knew her own estates were richer than those a De Morne would possess. So, choosing one of her manors as their chief residence seemed like a more reasonable choice.