Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Erik carried me over to a pallet of blankets that had been turned into bedding for the night. I had barely opened my eyes—aside from a peek or two—since I closed them against Erik's shoulder after my punishment. I was exhausted, but I also didn't want to have to face the other women. I didn't want to see their fear, or their pity. I definitely didn't want to see Pasco's face. I simply wanted to shut it all off and only focus on Erik's security.

Coward?

Maybe.

Weak?

I didn't care.

The sweet comfort of sleep was near, and I would take full advantage of it.

"All right, ladies," Pasco said in the distance. "Erik has the right idea. Time for you to come sleep with your men."

I hated how he spoke as if we were merely pieces of property. Part of me wanted to say as much, but that part was so very small and so exhausted. Let the men say and think what they wanted. The fight had literally just been spanked right out of me.

"Let's get you to bed." Erik's voice was soft and deep, and he lowered me to the pile of blankets before lying down beside me. He pulled my body against him, my back firmly against his chest, and whispered, "Sleep tight." His gentle kiss to the back of my head sent a shiver down my spine.

I wasn't sure if the shiver was of enjoyment or fear; I was far too tired to figure it out. I had no way to tell if he said anything else, because sleep took hold of me the moment the words sleep tight left his lips.

I wasn't sure what exactly woke me or how long I was asleep. Erik's arms were still around me, and he was spooning my smaller frame against his much larger one. The weight of his arm and his steady breathing told me he was fast asleep. Looking around, I could see it was still night, and based on the stillness, I figured it was in the thick of it. Would I be able to slide myself away easily without waking him? And if I did, would I be able to run away before I woke anyone else?

And go where?

Run out into the woods with no direction? Other than the smoldering fire that crackled at our feet it was pitch black. Though I was warm, snuggled under the layer of blankets in Erik's arms, the cold air on my face told me the night temperatures were close to freezing. Even if I wanted to flee, it would be impossible. I wasn't so impulsive as to be a fool.

The sound of grunting and moaning came from another bed to the side of me. It must have been the noise that had woken me from my slumber. Looking across the dark space, I could see Pasco on top of Rue, clearly having his way with her.

Motherfucker!

Without thinking, I sat up, prepared to rip Pasco to shreds for taking advantage of poor Rue like that, when Erik took hold of me and pressed me firmly back down.

"Stop," he hissed as the weight of his hand prevented me from sitting up again, though I still tried with all my might.

"But Rue—" I had to defend her! Rue was helpless against Pasco's assault.

He covered my mouth and whispered, "Rue is fine. Better than fine from the sound of it."

I stopped struggling and listened. Rue was moaning, but these were not moans of pain. She was also gasping, yet they did not seem like gasps caused from a fight. Turning my head again, the glow of the fire allowed me to see Rue's eyes were closed, her head was back and a look of… pleasure was on her face.

Was Rue enjoying having Pasco fuck her? How could she?

In disbelief, I continued watching as Pasco thrust his lower half down upon her, yet she seemed to moan in delight each time he did so.

"Give them some privacy," Erik said in a low voice, turning my head to face him rather than stare at Pasco and Rue's intimacy. "It's none of our business."

"I don't understand," I said, more to myself than to Erik.

"There is nothing for you to understand. They aren't your concern."

Perhaps Erik was correct. Rue and Dabney certainly hadn't spoken up when Pasco attacked me, and they hadn't even made a peep when Erik punished me. So why was I so concerned for their well-being? And from the looks of it, Rue apparently desired Pasco's touch as much as he was willing to give it.

I looked over their way again.

"Maya," Erik warned. "Turn your head." This time, he didn't force my head his way.

I ignored Erik and watched with fascination. Rue's mouth was open, and she arched her back, raising her hips to meet the man's quick thrusts. Pasco's grunts grew in intensity as he reached for a chunk of her hair and pulled her up, kissing her forcibly. But instead of being frightened by his aggressive touch, Rue only seemed to be more aroused by it. Her moans matched his, and it was clear that neither cared who saw or heard their lovemaking.

"Maya…"

I ignored Erik's warning and continued to spy as Pasco and Rue grew louder, and their movements more frenzied. My belly tightened, and I felt a small pulsating sensation between my legs. I had never seen a show of intimacy before, and the sinful act caused an odd yearning inside of me. Casual sex in the eyes of my religious father was a sin, the worst thing possible for a woman to do. He'd kill me before allowing a man to touch me in this way.

At least until he'd decided to sell me to someone to do whatever he chose with me.

"You're not listening again," Erik said so close to my ear his hot breath tickled my skin.

Yes, I suppose I wasn't. A good, God-fearing woman would never watch such a scandalous act, but I couldn't resist. I also couldn't resist that my breathing was speeding up. Erik would surely know I was getting turned on seeing the two of them do such an "unmentionable"—a word my mother would use—deed.

"I'm going to tell you one last time," Erik said as he pulled away enough to tower over me. "Close your eyes and turn your head back toward me. It's none of your concern what goes on in someone else's bed. If you don't, I'll have to punish you again."

That threat alone should have been enough for me to quickly obey Erik, but defiance rallied from the depths of my soul. I wasn't going to have this man telling me what I could and couldn't look at. If he were truly going to spank me for not closing my eyes, then so be it. I would not be treated like a complete animal—beaten down to obey every order. His taken property or not, I would not follow his command. To accentuate this point, I turned my head even more as an obvious, though silent, retort.

"Your choice," Erik said.

Without pause, he reached for my pants and yanked them down. Before I could even process what he was truly doing, Erik lowered my panties.

I turned his way quickly. "Wait! Stop! Please don't?—"

Erik flipped me over onto my belly and held me firmly in place. "Shhh, you don't want anyone else to hear you and then know what is happening to you beneath these blankets, do you?"

Oh, God, was he going to take me like Pasco was doing to Rue?

He rested his hand on my ass, which was still sensitive from my earlier punishment. I wouldn't be able to take another spanking; the pain would be far too intense. Any courage I had vanished immediately under the threat of an actual punishment happening. My butt still stung with a simple touch. I gasped lightly and tried to pull away from his grip, but the attempt was useless.

"Are you still sore?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"Yes. Please, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" He squeezed one of my cheeks, and I had to bite my lip stop myself from crying out. It didn't really hurt—more of a sting—but the fear of another spanking had me on extreme edge.

"For spying on your brother. I should have looked away when you told me to." I was attempting to keep my voice as quiet as I could, though my desperation for mercy was building. "Please don't spank me again."

"As long as you're with me, you'll be expected to listen to me. I will not have a defiant possession. No respectable man would."

Possession ? I had never agreed to this, but I held back my retort. I was in no position to argue with this man.

"Did you like what you saw?" he asked.

"No! Of course not." Now I sounded like my father.

Erik lowered his hand to the juncture between my thighs and ran his finger along the seam of my sex, collecting the wetness that revealed my secret. He then brought his fingertip, coated in my juices, right before my eyes. I could see the glistening, and I could smell my own musk of desire.

"Oh, naughty girl, I think you're lying."

I had no answer. What could I possibly say? My face heated with humiliation that Erik could clearly see—and feel—my wanton ways.

"What did I tell you about lying?" His mouth was so close to my ear I could feel each puff of air released from between his lips.

"I wasn't lying. I was?—"

Erik placed his sex-coated finger to my lips and forced it into my mouth. The salty, sweet taste caused by my wicked thoughts coated my tongue. "Taste for yourself," he said, slowly pumping his finger in and out of my mouth. "You may lie with your words, but your body doesn't."

My bottom half was completely bare, a man's finger drenched in my own juices was in my mouth, and his weight pressed me firmly onto my belly. The sexual sounds of Pasco and Rue had ceased, and all I could hear was the ringing in my ears as the anticipation of the unknown threatened to steal my very breath. I was completely at this man's mercy.

"You've been a very naughty girl, Maya."

I remained silent. What could I say? His finger was still in my mouth.

"Suck my finger."

Fearful of defying him even more, I did as he asked and tightened my lips, sucking as if my efforts would produce milk.

"Very good, but I'm still going to have to punish you. You have to learn that when I tell you something, you need to obey." His voice was so low only I would be able to hear him.

I whimpered, but continued to do as he asked and sucked on his finger softly

"I have to get my other finger wet with your juices for your punishment. Be a good girl and spread your legs wider."

Why did he have to have his finger wet with my arousal for a punishment? His command didn't make any sense to me, but I spread my legs regardless.

Erik lowered his hand and rubbed his finger along the folds of my sex, collecting my wetness once again. When he did so this time, he made sure to run his fingertip across my clit and press lightly.

I gasped as a bolt of electricity shot through me. I instantly wanted him to do it again, but instead, he moved his finger to my anus and rested it on the outside of my hole. I tensed immediately, unsure why he would touch me in such a way.

"We don't want to wake everyone up with the loudness of a spanking, so I'm going to give you a silent punishment for your behavior. This tight hole of yours is perfect."

What the?—

Answering my internal question, Erik pressed his slick fingertip past my puckered hole in one effortless motion.

My squeal at the invasion would have been louder had his finger not been in my mouth.

"Shhh. Be a good girl and take your punishment without waking everyone. If anyone's sleep is disturbed, then I'll spank you again."

The threat of another spanking forced me to hold back any loud shouts of protest. I had no choice but to succumb to his invasion of my most intimate spot or risk another discipline on my already tender behind.

His finger went in deeper, and although I whimpered lightly from the bite and sting of the penetration, I did control my verbal response.

"That's a good girl. Allow me to stretch your naughty little hole. Suck on my finger while I teach you your lesson." I did just as he asked, proud when he praised me and called me good girl .

In and out, he pumped, his movements slow and even gentle. His finger inside of me felt so much larger than I knew it to be, as it forced my body to accept him. It hurt… but it also felt good.

Would moans like Rue's soon escape my lips? Was it just a matter of time until Erik was mounted on top of me, thrusting his cock inside this hole rather than his finger? Is that what would be next? The thought of him doing so both terrified and fascinated me.

Just as I felt I couldn't take any more, Erik slowly withdrew his finger.

He kissed my cheek then removed his other finger from my mouth. "That's enough for tonight. You have a tight little hole that needs extra care. But with time, we'll get you ready to take all of me there. It'll all be part of your training. If you behave the rest of the trip, I may start off with a small finger rather than a large dick." He kissed me on the cheek again and chuckled.

Was he serious? Or was he gaining enjoyment from my fear of him training me?

"I don't understand," I whispered. And I didn't.

He simply kissed me on the cheek for the third time and fixed my clothing so I was no longer half-nude.

Why was he following his painful punishment with kisses and cuddles? Was this a mind game? What the hell was going on?

Why had I allowed this indecent, forbidden act to happen? My mother would have died if she knew I allowed this without a fight. Not that I had much of a choice, but I'd put up absolutely no resistance at all.

Why had I felt loss and incompleteness the moment he pulled his finger from my anus?

I didn't understand why a strong, rhythmic beat occurred deep within my pussy. It was so strong I struggled not to beg for Erik to touch my clit again and give me that jolt of pleasure I wanted to experience over and over again.

And I really didn't understand why I liked how he practically growled the words good girl into my ear, and how it filled me with security I never experienced nor knew existed before. And if I were honest with myself?—

No! I couldn't be honest with myself. I could not! For I feared what would truly result from doing so.

Erik adjusted my body to spoon me once more. "Go back to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. You and I are going home."

"Home?" I whispered, my head and body still drowning in confusion. "Just you and me?"

"Yes, our home will just be the two of us. I have a small cabin and a little land on the northern tip of Heathens Hollow. It isn't much, but for now, it'll have to do." He paused for a long moment. "I hadn't planned on taking you with me, but plans change. You're here, and I suppose we just have to adjust to the situation."

I nodded. I had to adjust to the situation. It wasn't like I had much of a choice. My father had made the decision for me. My freedom was sold the day I left Russian soil. Did it really matter who my owner, even captor, would be?

I remained silent, still feeling the arousal between my legs, the tenderness of my backside, the sting from the stretch of my asshole, and the mixture of hate and desire for this man… but as time went by, much less hate.

"Go to sleep," he said.

"Erik?" I said softly after a few minutes. His breathing had grown heavy, so I knew it was only moments until he fell asleep.

"Hmmm?" he responded, sounding barely awake.

"What will you expect of me?"

"I live my life with little expectations."

"Will you expect me to act as your… wife?" I had been promised to be married to a man who waited for my delivery.

"No."

"Then what?"

"Go to sleep, Maya. This conversation is meant for another time."

I wanted to press, but I also didn't want to risk having a finger shoved back in me, another spanking, or possibly another type of punishment I was still unaware could exist.

I certainly had never known a man to spank and finger a woman before. The men of my father's church ruled their households with different levels of strictness. Discipline was expected, and never looked down upon. My father had definitely taken my mother in hand. I had witnessed it many times, but it was never tender or loving. It was not a simple spanking he administered, but rather a beating. My father never called my mother any terms of endearment, and I never once saw him give her affectionate kisses. Erik, on the other hand, had been firm yet gentle with me. He had wanted me warm. He had made sure I was fed. He had stood up against his own brother to protect me. He had punished me, yet not once did I feel it was like how my father punished my mother. Everything about Erik and his actions were completely foreign to me, and I wondered if I would ever understand.

I couldn't decide. Was this man good or bad? And did it matter either way?