Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

A flash of pain blinded her, but Signy barely had time to react before he rough-handled her again. His strength was so much beyond her own, and his movements sure, taking her by surprise in their swiftness.

She’d brought one foot to the floor. Little good that had done her. With her legs stretched wide across his groin, the position was too awkward for her to gain purchase.

His hands, so large and powerful, gripped her hips and abruptly lifted her, then brought her down upon his erectness.

The tearing pain came again, and Signy opened her mouth to shriek, but whatever sound emerged was drowned by the moans of the stranger. With his head thrown back, he appeared oblivious to her discomfort, wrapped entirely in the pleasure he was intent upon taking for himself.

“Fuck! Yes! That’s the way to clasp me, wench!”

‘Twas all Signy could do to hold upon his shoulders, keeping herself upright as the ruffian jerked her up and down upon his staff, moving her body to the rhythm of his choosing.

She wanted to shout at him to cease, but the words did not come. Rather, she panted and gasped, pressing harder upon his shoulders. Her exclamations sprung unbidden, wrenched from a place she’d not known was within her. She made no command for him to stop.

“Hot and tight!” The brute moved his hands to her behind again, giving her cheeks a squeeze. He pulled her down upon his hardness and dragged her forward at the same time, so his manhood brushed her deep inside.

Signy wanted to cry out—whether from the harshness of what he was doing to her or from some other cause, she couldn’t tell. He was hurting her, wasn’t he? Pushing so forcefully, it surely wasn’t right… except now the first stabbing pain was done, the burning ache that replaced it wasn’t so awful.

Her mother had warned her it would hurt, but she hadn’t told her it would be like this—with the man tossing her about at his whim, making her limp in his grasp. Nor had she told her of this mating position.

Didn’t most men like to bend the woman over or to lay her down? That must be easier, surely, than having her like this?

As if in response to that thought, the man beneath her lurched forward and clamped upon her nipple, sucking and laving with his tongue. With each pull of his mouth, a jolt traveled to the place where they were joined, splintering her in two.

Her hands were no longer upon his shoulders but twined in his hair, and when he left off to move to her other breast, she was overwhelmed by an unmistakable need for him to fasten upon it.

His hands guided her, spread upon the cheeks of her behind, but she was moving, too, driving her hips so she was no longer the mere recipient of his thrusts but a willing vessel, enjoying the way his arousal filled her.

“By the gods, you’re wet! Hot and tight and… fuck me!” He growled against her bosom before gulping down her nipple again, sending a pang so deep, Signy feared she would faint.

Her position—spread over him—was both wicked and thrilling. She wanted to keep him inside her, moving in the way he was. A mighty throb was centered in the place he’d teased with his thumb, and for the life of her, she longed for him to touch it again.

She bore down, wanting to rub against him. ‘Twas so strange! What had pained her before seemed easy now. The burning sensation persisted, but it only made her want to move faster.

“Sweet fuck!” He was rigid as he gasped.

Signy wanted to keep moving, chasing the tormenting, terrible, wonderful feeling that was building between her legs. She was impaled quite thoroughly, and she wondered at it.

His eyes, which he’d closed before, flew open. “I’m going to…”

Signy almost shrieked then, for he uttered a guttural groan and pulled her hard against him. The thickness that filled her jerked and pulsed.

A dampness already coated her inner thighs, but as he gave forth his strangled moan, she had a sense of flooding within herself.

At last, his arms sagged to his sides. He was inside her still, but his strength seemed to have left him.

“Don’t stop!” Signy wriggled her hips, wanting to recapture the actions of those moments before. She’d been fearful when he’d taken hold of her so roughly, but she wanted him to do so now—for him to fasten again upon her hips or her behind and to use her as he had. “Come now. Do it again. I’m quite capable.”

“You may be, but I’m not. Do you not know when a man is done?” His voice was weary, but there was naught hard in it. “I’ve given what you asked for. You must have felt it, balls deep as I was.” He seemed almost to be teasing her.

Signy found no humor in it. Why was it that he was allowed to decide?

“My mother said I’d know when the act was finished, and I don’t think it is.” Signy could hardly believe her boldness, but she was convinced she was correct. Something niggled within her. Again, she thrust forward, then back, wondering if she could persuade him that way.

However, to her dismay, the part of him that had stroked inside her promptly slipped out. It was a softened thing now, lacking the hardness that had enabled her to move upon it.

“You’ve had all there will be.” He sounded rather put out, though the amused tone remained. “Come now, sweetling, you rode me well. ‘Twas as ripe a fuck as I’ve ever had. My bollocks are as empty as a crone’s teat. Surely, you felt my seed rush inside you.”

Signy wrinkled her nose at his crude language. First, he flung her upon him, shoving his manhood about with barely a by-your-leave. Now, he refused to grant her this little boon. It did not seem a fair way of doing things.

He shifted her weight a little and gave a yawn. “As bargains go, I can’t complain.” His tone was wry. “Your cunny’s as tight as a virgin’s.”

“And why shouldn’t it be!” Signy was not usually argumentative, but she was disgruntled and paying no mind to her manners.

His attention snapped back upon her. “Are you telling me…?”

“That it was my first time?” Signy retorted. “Do not tell me you were unaware. I did think you might be gentler with me. For that, I offer you no thanks! Now you tell me it’s over when I wish to continue. How are you to put a child in me if you refuse my requests!”

He seemed stunned. “You hadn’t ever… not at all?” A shadow passed over his features. “Had I known, I would have been less… Or I should have been more...”

“‘Tis only that… I’m intent on the child!” Signy swallowed. The statement was not entirely true. Somehow, along the way, she’d decided she quite enjoyed this tumbling. “Such a quick coupling can hardly be sufficient. My mother told me I’d be glad when the deed was over. I’m not yet glad, so I must assume there is more.”

Once again, he appeared lost for words.

“Here.” She took his hand and placed it upon her breast. “I liked it when you touched me and… used your mouth.” She could hardly believe how brazen she’d become, but knowing he couldn’t see her made it easier to be audacious.

“And here.” She steered his other hand to the crux of her thighs, pushing his finger between her splayed labia. She hoped she didn’t need to explain further. When he’d rubbed her there, it had come as a surprise and had felt quite different from when she touched herself.

She’d liked it.

She sensed he’d liked it, too, caressing her in those private places. It had made him groan, and his staff had been upright. If she could get him to do it again, wouldn’t it revive him, and he might give her another go, inserting himself inside her again?

Abruptly, he drew back both hands. “I’m not a bull in the field to be commanded to perform.” His jaw set hard.

Signy knew she ought to leave him be, but her frustration was too great, and she was angered, too. What right did he have to reject her?

“You made a bargain!” she persisted. “And I say we are not finished.”

“Ungrateful minx!” He pushed her away.

The suddenness of his gesture toppled her balance. With a shriek, she threw her arms about his neck, and as if by instinct, his own came around her back.

For a moment, she was too shocked to speak. Their noses bumped, and her mouth brushed his. Her breasts crushed against the hardness of his torso, and her nipples grazed his chest hair. With her legs so parted, her crux pressed upon his staff.

She’d never kissed a man, but Viggo’s lips were so close to hers. Her heart raced even more than it had when he’d been inside her.

She licked her lips. If he but leaned in, his mouth would meet hers.

In spite of their arguing, she desired it.

Grethe had told her about kissing—that a man liked to put his tongue inside. Signy had always thought it sounded repugnant.

Strange that when she was so infuriated, it was what she thought of.

From inside her, a wetness was dripping such as she’d not experienced before. Was that the seed he spoke of or her own woman’s dew, as was supposed to help with the mating?

His fingertips skimmed lightly upward, making her shiver with desire.

And then she froze.

He was tracing the uneven skin, following the pronounced ridges where her wounds had healed.

“Did you… hurt yourself?” He explored further, as if to determine where the puckered flesh began and where it ended. “You’re unblemished everywhere but here. What is this?”

“Nothing!” She recoiled.

How could she have been so stupid?

Of course, he felt the unnatural texture of her skin. Na?vely, she’d thought he wouldn’t notice, being without his sight. It was that alone which had given her the courage to remove her clothes.

She hadn’t bargained on him noticing where she was spoiled.

Somewhat awkwardly, she slithered from his lap. She’d found her nakedness pleasurable before. Now, she could only think of covering herself. Hurriedly, she threw her undershift over her head, then the loose gunna, fastened at the shoulders. Her belt was harder to locate, having found its way under the table.

All the while, Viggo said nothing.

What was he feeling?

Disgust? Pity?

She couldn’t bear it.

A strained quiet engulfed them.

“What has happened?” He sounded dismayed, as if struggling to understand. “Tell me.”

But she could not. The past was the past. There was no changing what was done, but nor did she have to speak of it.

Certainly not with him.