Savage Read online

  Seated cross-legged, which felt quite scandalous without a skirt masking her limbs, Siara propped her head on her hand, elbow against her knee, and drowsed.

  “Wake, lover, we must attend to something,” Anleeh said, his voice barely registering in her food and warmth induced lethargy.

  “Mmm…”

  “Siara.” Warm fingers brushed her face. “You must get up.”

  “I’m awake,” she whispered sleepily.

  “Nay, but you will be.” Anleeh dipped his fingers into the chilled stream water and then set his fingers to the side of her neck. Siara yelped and straightened, rapidly blinking her eyes and brushing at the cold water tricking under the neck of her tunic.

  “Was that entirely necessary?”

  “Yes, you were not going to wake otherwise.”

  “It is late. Why did you not let me sleep?”

  “Nights in Den are long; there is yet enough time for sleep.”

  “Indeed.”

  Smiling at her prissy tone, Anleeh rose and held out a hand. Slipping her fingers into his, Siara allowed him to raise her to her feet. He then motioned her to stand in the center of the cabin, which she did, her brow furrowing in puzzlement.

  “What are we…”

  “You may not speak.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “You will obey each command the first time it is spoken.” Anleeh paced away from her and when he turned, his face was hard, his eyes glittering, the light of the fire casting shadows over his face.

  A thousand questions sprang to mind, but Siara swallowed them, nodding instead.

  “Good. I feared your loquacious tendencies would make you disobedient.”

  Siara opened her mouth to retort—how dare he accuse anyone of being loquacious?—remembered his order, and closed it.

  “This is the beginning of your training. When we train, I will be hard on you, harder than I would normally be. It is rare that a woman is trained, for it is rare that an outsider is brought to Den. I have only seen one woman trained, and it was an unforgiving and ruthless thing. The man who’d kidnapped and brought her to Den was known for his heavy hand.”

  Siara took a step back, her heart thumping and skin prickling in a sudden rush of fear.

  “Yes, I see you begin to panic. He beat her, daily, until she gave in, until she stopped begging for her freedom and the life she had known.”

  Frantically Siara shook her head. No, what he said was barbaric, no one would do that to another human, kidnap them, beat them.

  “Had I never come to the Great City, had I never seen training, experienced training as I have, that might have been your fate. Every instance of disobedience would have been replayed with a beating, your body played with and worked until you could no longer see, speak or think, but for the pain and pleasure.”

  Pleasure? He spoke of torture. She didn’t understand. Heart thumping, features closed to hide her fear, Siara didn’t realize she was still slowly backing up, didn’t realize that her movements told him of her fear more clearly than words would have.

  “Remove your clothing.”

  Siara’s back hit the cabin wall. She could retreat no further.

  “Return to your place and remove your clothing.”

  “No.”

  “I told you not to speak.”

  “I-I won’t.”

  “Do you refuse to obey me?”

  “I refuse to submit to torture!”

  “Do you trust me?” Suddenly he was the Anleeh she knew, warm of voice and expression. His firelight flickered features no longer seeming forbidding.

  Confused, her fading fear causing her to shake, Siara wrapped her arms around her belly. “How could you say those things to me? Threaten me with them?”

  “I spoke nothing but the truth.”

  “I don’t…”

  “Want to do this? Has the pleasure in the adventure fled?”

  “I should not have to submit to daily beatings to complete this mission.”

  “You agreed to do what it took, and I warned you.”

  “No, you didn’t explain…”

  “I will return you to Den’s border in the morning. You will only be a day behind the raiding party. You can return to the Great City. Though I must admit, I expected better of you.”

  Anleeh turned to the fire.

  Siara stared at him. She could not believe he had dismissed her. It was not unreasonable for her to refuse to submit to what he asked; no one could expect her to do it. If Den really was what he said, she was not sure she wanted to go there. The men sounded barbaric, the women, pale beaten shadows.

  She would not go; he would have to go alone.

  Siara’s mental tirade slowed and stopped. He’d told her that he feared what would happen to him, what he would become. His description of the men gave her an idea of what he’d been. How remarkable that he changed to become the man he was now. Inching forward, she looked at his back. She took a few more steps; he didn’t move. Fingers trembling Siara returned to her place in the center of the room. Still Anleeh didn’t turn. Bending to unlace her boots and then pull them off, Siara let her hair fall forward to hide her face, hide the fear, shame, trepidation, and excitement he’d aroused in her.

  Next she undid the ties around calf and thigh that held the skins in place, shivering as the skins fell from her legs. Though still completely covered by the riding pants she nonetheless began to feel vulnerable, exposed.

  She picked at the ties that held the neck of her tunic closed. When they were loosened, when there was nothing left to do but strip, Siara grasped the hem of her tunic and pulled it off in one smooth motion. Dropping it quickly, she raised her arms to cover her breasts.

  “No, drop your arms.” Through the tangles of hair hanging in front of her face, Siara could see Anleeh seated with his back against one side of the hearth. Though his pose was casual, one leg extended along the floor, the other bent with a forearm resting on it, there was intensity, the same hard intensity of a few moments ago, in his shadowed features.

  Reluctantly she dropped her arms. The tips of her hair flirted with her nipples, which beaded up hard and tight in the cool air.

  “Finish.”

  Siara loosened the laces of her leggings, hooking her thumbs in the waist and stripping them down her legs. She remained bent, working the tight ankles of the garment over her heels.

  “Gather your clothes; bring them to me.”

  Using his order as an excuse to remain bent, and therefore concealed, Siara picked up each of piece of clothing and gathered it to her chest. When she was sure the bundle in her arms concealed her breasts and hung low enough to shield the juncture of her thighs, she straightened. A few steps brought her to Anleeh.

  “Drop them.”

  Standing so close to him, the details of her nakedness would be more apparent, highlighted by the same fire that left him in shadow.

  Siara closed her eyes, and released her grip.

  The silence, and the tension from the silence, grew until Siara’s hands curled into fists.

  “Look at me.” When their eyes met there was nothing but power and strength in his gaze, no condemnation or disappointment. Her fear that he would find her lacking began to fade and she relaxed into his control. Her fingers uncurled.

  “Watch me, watch me look at you.” When she nodded in understanding and acceptance, Anleeh broke their shared gaze, instead carefully perusing each inch of her exposed flesh. From the slender curve of her neck to the heavy hang of her breasts and indentation of her waist, he examined her. He ordered her to step back, moving her body out of the shadow created by his, so that firelight danced in the brown curls of her sex and revealed the padded flesh of her hips and thighs.

  “Turn.”

  Her back received the same treatment, though it made her nervous to be blind to any action he might take.

  “Turn back. Now, spread your legs.”

  This time the order meant so much more, for it would expose her, expose
places that had been seen and touched by none save her. Anleeh lowered his bent knee, creating a V with his legs. “Place one foot on each side of my knees.” Carefully stepping between his legs, Siara tentatively placed her left foot on the outside of his right knee. Several times she started to move, but could not bring herself to do as he asked, could not bring herself to take the step that would completely expose her. A small noise, part whimper, part growl, escaped her.

  “Your order is not to talk. I did not say you could not express yourself.” Surprised, she nodded. “Now, do as you’re told and expose yourself to me.”

  Siara responded to the steel in his voice, stepping her right leg over his left and situating her foot by his knee.

  “Good girl.” Anleeh leaned forward, his hands wrapping around her calves. “It is not uncommon for people to openly express their opinions of another’s physical attributes. This can be upsetting to those not from Den. From now on I will speak often of your body so you become accustomed to this. Do you understand?”

  Siara nodded.

  “Let us start down here.” Anleeh slid his hands to her ankles, able to completely wrap his hands around them. “Your feet are long and slender, pretty, and these ankles are delicate, almost strangely so. I will see them adorned; whether with bracelets or shackles is dependent on your behavior.” His hands slid up to their previous position. “These calves are nicely muscled, through I like to see them stronger. I will make you work them until they please me.” Siara hung her head, her face flushing with painful embarrassment.

  “You must not hang your head to hide from me.” Siara turned her head to the side so her hair further curtained her face.

  “Look at me!” Anleeh quickly slid one hand up her inner thigh, bringing it close enough to her sex to get her attention. Siara gasped and looked down at him. “Do not disobey again. What you must learn is that what I say, what anyone says, reflects upon them and their wants and needs, not upon you.

  “Were I your husband, my opinion would carry more weight, and you might work to change yourself to please me, but I am not your husband, so you must remember that my wants are only words, and have no power over your heart.” He squeezed her inner thigh. “Can you remember that?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. Than I will continue.”

  The hand on her inner thigh slid down to her calf once more. Anleeh kneaded her calves for several minutes before venturing his hands up to the back of her knees. His fingers played over the soft crease, causing her to giggle, and then pressed hard, forcing her knees to bend slightly. Her legs trembled as he forced her to hold the bent knee position.

  “Straighten your legs.”

  Fingers spread, he explored the front, sides, and back of her thighs, avoiding her sex and buttocks.

  “Step inside my legs and kneel, keeping your legs spread.” She did as ordered. “Put your hands behind your back and grasp your opposite wrist with each hand. When I am inspecting you, this is the position you will take. Do you understand?” Siara nodded. “Look at me. Watch me.”

  Anleeh laid his hands on her waist and squeezed and Siara sucked in her breath and her belly. She watched him, watched him devour her, claim her with hands and eyes. He slid one hand to the center of her belly and buried the tip of his thumb in her belly button, his other fingers splayed up, the tips slipping under the heavy hang of her breasts. His free hand came around her back, slipping beneath her arms to play over the small of her back.

  Holding her front and back, Anleeh pressed in, pushing his hands toward each other, forcing her spine straighter, and controlling her breathing until it came in small pants.

  “Do you feel it, lover? Feel how I control you?” Using the thumb in her belly button like a hook he lifted while pushing at the front of her body, bowing her backwards over his hand at her back.

  Unable to see him, Siara closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing. Her hands were sweaty where she cupped her wrists, her breasts, now pointed straight up at the ceiling, felt swollen and vulnerable, lifted and exposed. Between her legs her sex pulsed with her heartbeat, the folds slick with the arousal his mastery had brought.

  A soft mewling noise escaped her.

  “Are you aroused? Your body, the helpless noises you make, tell me you are.” Moving the hand on her belly around to her back to help support her, Anleeh leaned forward and pressed his lips to her stomach in a close-lipped kiss. When he spoke, his lips moved against her flesh.

  “I love looking at you like this, lush breasts, raised up for my pleasure. I love your full breasts, but will make sure you are tightly laced, for I like to see large tits raised up, tightly confined.” He licked her, and then blew on the wet spot, sending shivers up and down her skin. “Do you like that?

  “If you enjoy it now or not, you will come to, for it pleases me, so I will do it to you often. Can you imagine what it will feel like when I lave your nipples with my tongue and then cool them with my breath?”

  Siara whimpered in arousal, her body twitching in his hold. Her bowed position made breathing hard, and the blood had filled her head until she could not think.

  Her head tossed side to side and she started to move her hands, needing a touch, even if it was her own, against the flesh between her legs. With his hands still supporting her lower back, Anleeh felt her fall out of position.

  “No. Put your hands back in position.”

  Siara growled, the sound so close to animal that she startled herself.

  “Siara, put your hands back into position.”

  Caught between her desire to pleasure herself and obey him, Siara did nothing. Anleeh lifted her, straightening her back so she could look at him. Removing his hands from her, Anleeh leaned back.

  “Siara, you already earned punishment for your earlier defiance. Will you add to it?”

  They stared at one another, Anleeh’s gaze hot and demanding, Siara’s half wild with arousal. Forbidden to speak, Siara snarled at Anleeh, letting herself sink into an animal-like state, so different from her normal controlled exterior.

  “You will submit to me. Submit, knowing that you might go unsatisfied, that if it does not pleasure me to see you pleasured, you will find not release. You will submit and allow me to continue my inspection of your body.”

  Hair curled and tangled, a single lock hanging over one side of her face, lush body gold and red in the firelight, Siara looked wild, like a sexual beast. Anleeh leaned forward, invading her space but not touching her, his will demanding her submission.

  “Hands behind your back.” He snarled it, voice cruel and biting.

  Siara’s gaze lowered, her hands moving together behind her back. For a moment it seemed that Anleeh had frightened her, but when she raised her head her gaze was still bright with desire. She growled at him. He leaned forward and blew on her left nipple. The growl disintegrated into a moan of pleasure.

  He leaned in closer and kissed her neck. “You are beautiful, lover.” He leaned back and her eyes had quieted. “Stand and turn.”

  Carefully she stood, keeping her hands behind her. She turned and then, again without prompting, spread her legs, placing her feet outside his knees. Anleeh wrapped his hands around her knees, cupping them to brace her.

  “Bend forward.”

  Siara bent, her upper body folding forward, her knees pressing into Anleeh’s bracing hands. Breasts hanging, the normally hidden undersides exposed, hair brushing the floor.

  Knowing she would not be able to hold it for long, Anleeh lifted one hand from her knee, reached between her legs, and traced a line from her belly button to her sternum. “This is the ultimate position of submission, either standing or on your knees. To assume this posture exposes the most vulnerable parts of your body to me.” Anleeh blew against her sex and Siara yelped. “You are sensitive and needy from much play. Normally I would need to separate the lips of a woman’s sex, but you, you are so aroused that your body has parted naturally, begging me to enter you and play with you.” Anleeh li
cked the back of her thigh. “Can you imagine what it will be like to have my tongue on your sex, licking at you?” He licked the other thigh. “You may now speak. Tell me what you want.”

  “Touch me, touch me.” Her voice was rough.

  “Beg.”

  “Please, please touch me. Put your hands and mouth and body on me.”

  “Where do you want me to touch you?”

  “Lips and breasts and between my legs.”

  “This is your sex; you will refer to it as such.”

  “My sex, touch my sex.”

  “Is a touch all you want?”

  “No… I want you to lick and pinch and bite and rub and tease…” Siara’s head began to thrash, her hair flying over the floor.

  “You think I should pleasure you?”

  “Yes.” She hissed the word out.

  “No.” Anleeh raised his hand and brought it down hard on her left buttock. Siara let out a short scream. He spanked her right ass cheek. “Stand up.” She stood, trembling. “You deserve 50 more swats, for your poor behavior.”

  “What—why…”

  “Your first thought should be of my pleasure, not your own, selfish girl. Turn and kneel.” Siara whirled and dropped to her knees, closing her legs so she could rub her thighs together and pleasure herself that way. Wise to what she was attempting, Anleeh grabbed her knees and forced them open. “Naughty, naughty, lover. You must learn to pleasure me, then, perhaps, if you beg, I will give you pleasure.”

  Siara, near tears with frustration, bit hard on her lip. “Please—I need.”

  “You want. It is different.” A single tear slipped down her face and Anleeh licked it away. “I like you this way, legs spread, naked breasts bathed in firelight, begging for my touch.” Siara snarled, her tears evaporating.

  “Arrogant bastard.”

  “That’s right. I am. But you will pleasure me.” Anleeh fisted his hand in the tangled spill of her hair and brought her face near his. “But first, a kiss.” Their lips met and in the kiss they fought, tongues dueling for mastery, teeth nipping. Anleeh broke the kiss, his heavy breathing matching hers.