Plunder Ch. 03

Avila sat silently in the wagon, idly toying with the slapdash seam she had used to mend her skirt. Brynja had not spoken a word today either, so Avila was left to ponder her captor's menacing words from the night before. Although he had promised to give her great pleasure, she knew better than to believe him. She had heard men boast of their prowess in bed before, but her sister had explained to her that women sometimes pretended to enjoy their attentions to so that the men would finish sooner. Avila could not deny the warm tingle she felt when Thorlaf kissed her, but her sister had prepared her for that too. Inga had always said she found kissing her husband agreeable, but that it did not lessen the pain of the marital act. Avila remembered the discomfort she had felt taking just two of her captor's fingers inside her, and she was terrified of the pain his manhood could cause.

"After I have made you writhe in ecstasy, only then will I take your maidenhood," he had said. Was there a chance he would leave her alone if she found his ministrations as distasteful as she expected? Perhaps he would make a show of keeping his promise out of pure vanity, but it could only buy her a few days time at the most before he tired of trying to impress her. Would it be enough time for her to flee? Avila gazed despondently at the warriors surrounding her. She wished she had paid more attention when the men in her village discussed war, but she had always found such talk somehow boring and grotesque at the same time. The village had never been attacked before in her young life, so raids had always seemed the stuff of stories. But all the tales in the world could not prepare her for the situation she found herself in now.

Avila clenched her jaw. She had to face the reality that she would probably not be able to escape the Danes before Thorlaf had his way with her. At least it was only one man she had to contend with, so long as he kept interest. She swallowed nervously. What if he did not enjoy defiling her as much as he hoped? Would he turn her over to his comrades to be passed around like a horn of ale? Maybe she had better feign pleasure when he violated her so as not to damage his pride. She glanced over at her captor, with that cocky smile plastered on his face again, and it made her want to vomit. No, she would not—could not give him the satisfaction.

Avila wished the party would keep riding forever. But the hours seemed to rush by like minutes, and suddenly Magni was calling for a halt. She wished the evening meal could go on forever, but that too seemed to be over almost before it began. Before she knew it, she found herself staring into an empty bowl, wishing the heavy stew could have soothed her fear as well as her hunger.

"You look tired, little wildcat."

Avila jumped. She hadn't even noticed his approach, so consumed had she been by her own racing thoughts. Just the sound of his voice was enough to make her pulse rise.

"Perhaps it's time for us to retire," Thorlaf continued silkily, reaching down to draw her up from the stone she was perched on.

Avila put down the bowl and stood stiffly. He grabbed one of her hands and started off away from the campfire. In a daze, she let him guide her to the tent and usher her inside. He followed her in immediately and deftly fastened the tent flap before discarding his leather armor. Then he turned to her.

"I've been looking forward to this all day. Well, two days actually," he said cheerfully. He reached out to touch her cheek, but she flinched away from him.

"Are you still so afraid?" Thorlaf asked.

She raised her head to meet his gaze for the first time that night, and he could see the dread plainly in her eyes, even if she would not admit it.

"Please don't do this," she whispered.

Thorlaf's face hardened. "I have already waited to have you far longer than I would have liked, and I can see the delay has not assuaged your fears at all. Eventually, I am going to ravish you, and the longer we draw it out, the more the anticipation will torture us both," he said coldly. "I have already promised you great pleasure, and I mean to fulfill that promise. If you fight me, however, I will have to force you, and I will not be gentle. Either way I will take your maidenhead. But you can choose between ecstatic pleasure and excruciating pain."

Avila squeezed her eyes shut and took a long, shaky breath. It seemed her ruin was indeed inevitable, and she did not doubt it would be much worse if her assailant were enraged. She opened her eyes and forced herself to look at him again.

"Are you going to cooperate?" he asked.

She nodded meekly.

"Excellent." He came to kneel in front of her and pushed the hair away from her brow. His fingers barely brushed her, but they burned like hot coals against her skin. Thorlaf leaned down and pressed his lips softly against hers. She held her breath, fearfully anticipating the moment when the ferocious warrior she had seen at their first meeting would reemerge and start to hurt her. She did not know how to react to such a delicate touch. He savored this tender contact for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her to deepen the kiss. His mouth moved passionately over her own, pushing her lips open and dipping his tongue between them. Avila felt a spark in her chest as he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth to rake it with his teeth. She realized she was kissing him back, and then thought perhaps she should keep doing so to avoid incurring his wrath. He noticed her response and kissed her harder still, pushing her down onto her back and moving over her to straddle her legs.

He slid his right hand up her ribcage to palm her breast through the fabric of her dress as his left hand gripped her waist tightly. His fingers seemed to reach nearly halfway around her midriff and she quaked at the reminder of how much larger and stronger his body was than hers. Suddenly, he broke their kiss and nuzzled his head into her throat. He licked and kissed and suckled his way up to her ear before catching her earlobe in his warm, wet mouth. When he released her ear again, the cool tingle of his breath on her glistening skin sent a shiver down her spine.

Thorlaf tugged open the laces of her bodice and pulled it off her shoulders and down below her bosom. He dipped his head to lavish kisses across her right breast and capture a pale pink nipple in his mouth. Avila tried to squirm away, but he brought a hand to her other tit, squeezing and massaging it firmly. Now assailed from both sides, she couldn't help but notice a tingle spreading across her skin. Thorlaf began to pluck at her left nipple with his fingers and nibble at the other tip. Avila realized with shame that they grown as hard as hailstones. He seemed to notice too, flicking his tongue and thumb back and forth over them in light, rapid strokes. A shock ran down Avila's spine, and she had to suppress a moan. She had no idea it was possible for her breasts to feel like this, but Thorlaf's attentions made them throb with sensation.

With a groan, he pulled away from her bosom and descended on her mouth again. His kiss was even rougher this time, battering her lips as he yanked her arms out of her bodice. He grabbed her thighs and forced them open, moving between her legs to grind his pelvis against hers. Even through both of their clothing, Avila could already feel his manhood hardening.

Thorlaf sat up and pulled the furs off his torso. "Your beauty is astounding," he said, whipping his shirt over his head. He reached for her ankles, grazing his fingers up her legs and slowly pushing up her skirt. "I could barely restrain myself from plunging my cock into you the moment I saw those tits for the first time last night."

Avila shivered as he slid his hands over her knees. Plunge his cock into her...was that what he was about to do now? She wondered furtively how long he would toy with her before he finally took her. His fingers crept even higher, skimming over her outer thighs. He leaned down to catch her lips in a kiss just as his hands came to her ass. He squeezed her cheeks roughly, pulling her hips up against him as he ground into her.

He withdrew with a grunt to kneel in front of her. "Sit up," he commanded. "Take off your boots." She complied as he tossed his own into the corner of the tent. Next he pulled her dress and slip over her head, almost ripping them in the process. He pushed her back on the bedroll and lay down beside her. Caressing her bosom once again, he brought his lips to her ear.

"Open your legs, Avila." She had instinctively closed them again without realizing it. She forced herself to do as she was told. His hand trailed down her body as he pressed kisses into her neck. "Wider," he whispered, and with a whimper she obeyed. His fingers brushed over her mound and inner thighs, making slow, lazy circles around her pussy. Gradually, the circles became smaller and smaller, until he was skimming over her outer lips. His finger dipped between them to probe gently at her opening, and he chuckled smugly as he found the wetness there. Humiliated, Avila turned her head away from him and tried to think of something else. But he would not let her. He stroked her inner lips a few times, then began to circle her the nub at the top of her sex.

Thorlaf propped himself up on one elbow to look down at her face. She might not be willing to give voice to the sensations she felt, but he could read the expressions that flitted across her face as clearly as the stars in the night sky. He pressed his finger over her clit, sliding the hood back and forth across the little bundle of nerves. After just a few seconds, her cheeks began to flush.

Avila clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain control. She had to admit, she had not expected this. She had touched herself there a few times in private moments, and it had felt nice, but never like this. Never anything like this. His touch was almost too good to be true. She felt an exquisite tingling spreading down her legs, up her torso, all the way out to her fingertips. Bit by bit, Thorlaf increased the pressure and speed on her clit, stoking her fires even hotter. Her breath began to come faster, her eyelashes fluttering in arousal.

"That's it, little wildcat," he murmured. "Give in to the pleasure." A breathy moan slipped from her mouth. He was rubbing her hard now, his whole arm moving with the effort. Heart racing, she clutched at the furs, desperate for something to hold on to as she floated away from the mortal plane on a cloud of ecstasy. Her thighs trembled and her head tossed back and forth.

Her climax crashed into her, electrifying her whole body. An involuntary moan escaped her lips as she writhed beneath his hand. Her womanhood thrummed with pleasure, shooting spasms of delight through every muscle. Finally the storm abated and she fell back against the furs, her skin sparking with pins and needles.

"I new you were a wanton beneath that icy exterior," Thorlaf beamed. "That wasn't so horrible, was it?"

Avila said nothing, still shaken by what had just happened. How could she have allowed herself to yield to him like that? How could someone so cruel and rough make her feel so good? Did this happen to other women? Surely not, or Inga would have told her about it. Why, she had practically lost all control of her own muscles near the end. Such a thing could not possibly be normal.

"Too blissful for words, I see" he teased, brushing her hair back from her face.

"What...what have you done to me?" she asked weakly.

"Nothing much," he replied mischievously. "I touched you the way a woman is meant to be touched. And I gave you great pleasure, just as I promised."

Suddenly aware of her nudity again, she reached for a blanket to cover herself, but he caught her arm. "Oh no, Avila, I'm not done with you just yet." He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of her knuckles. "A deal's a deal. Now that you have had your pleasure, it's time for mine."

He peeled off his breeches and moved to kneel over her. She saw his cock, hard and thick and angry, and she panicked.

She tried to scramble away, but he was already on top of her. "Where are you going?" he said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her back.

"Please don't hurt me," she whimpered.

"Don't worry, I'll make it quick," he said dismissively.

She pushed against his chest with all her strength, but he didn't budge. "Please, I'm not ready," she cried.

"Plenty of women have born babes by your age," he countered.

She kicked upwards, hoping to catch his sack, but he was straddling her hips and she could only knee him in the buttocks.

"You can't do this to me," she sobbed.

"Oh, can't I?" he mocked.

She thrashed beneath his hands and clawed frantically at his face and neck. He seized her arms and pinned them above her head, holding down her hips with his other hand. She jerked her head up, aiming for his nose, but he dodged her and she only grazed his cheekbone. He let go of her hips and grasped her neck, choking her against the bed.

"I have trained in physical combat since before you were weaned. You will not best me in a fight," he menaced, angry now. "I will have you tonight, whether you like it or not. Your struggling will only make it worse on yourself."

Avila knew he was right, but she couldn't help herself. Terror had overcome reason, and she would do anything to delay the moment of her defilement.

He released her throat to reach down when she threw her head towards the arm holding her wrists and bit him savagely. He bellowed and slapped her sharply across the face. While she was momentarily stunned, he wrenched her thighs apart and reared up out of her reach.

"Remember our little agreement about you attacking me?" he growled. "Well, I am under no obligation not to hurt you now."

"Please, I beg you," she implored. "Don't do this."

Her protests were in vain. He took hold of his cock and shoved it into her, ripping her open. "No!" she wailed against the stabbing pain.

Thorlaf sank in a little further with a low grunt. She was deliciously warm and soft and wet from her orgasm. Her pussy was even tighter than he expected, so tight it was almost uncomfortable around his shaft.

"Try to relax, vixen," he said pitilessly, grabbing her waist to leverage his vicious thrusts. "The more you clench your muscles, the more it will hurt."

Avila squeezed her eyes shut. She could not bear to watch her own violation. He withdrew a little and plunged in again, slowly deepening his thrusts until his groin pressed against hers. His grip on her waist and arms was painfully tight, tight enough bruise. He sawed in and out of her, his length dragging brutally against her walls. She shuddered at each punishing thrust and prayed for her torment to be over soon. Thorlaf fucked her harder, ramming himself mercilessly into her sheath. His rod swelled even more inside her.

She opened her eyes to glance up at him, and immediately wished that she hadn't. His handsome face was distorted, red and grimacing. Veins pulsed in his neck and forehead beneath a sheen of sweat. He leered down at her helpless body, teeth bared and nostrils flaring. He looked as if he would eat her alive. She shut her eyes again at the terrifying sight.

His thrusts grew erratic and his cock began to twitch. Pain seared through her sex as he drove into her one last time, groaning his release. Finally, he collapsed on her breast.

Avila trembled beneath his crushing weight. She had known it would hurt, but nothing could have prepared her for this ordeal. His member softened and slipped out of her and he rolled off of her onto his back.

"That was superb," he said lazily. "Well worth the wait."

Avila could hold back the tears no longer. She turned away from him, curling up in a fetal position. He looked over to see her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.

"Did it hurt that badly?" he said. "I'm sorry, you were struggling and I got carried away." He reached out to stroke her back.

"Don't touch me." She flinched away. "You've taken what you wanted. Now leave me alone."

"I've been told I am larger than average, so the pain is quite normal," he said. "But fear not, there will be no lasting injury. And the next time we lie together it will hurt much less."

"I do not weep for the pain, but for the shame of it," she said.

"Shame?" he said incredulously. "What shame?" He grabbed her arm and pulled her back to face him.

"You have ruined me!" she cried. "You ripped me from my home, my family, and now my virtue. Any chance I had at a happy marriage and a life of contentment is gone. You have made a fallen woman of me!"

"I assure you, your virtue is very much intact," he said quizzically. "If you mean your virginity, then yes, that is gone. But there is no shame in what we have done. There is nothing more righteous and natural than to lie together as man and woman." He smiled warmly, wiping a tear from her cheek in a poor attempt at comfort.

"Such an act is only sacred between husband and wife," she said bitterly. "And thanks to you, I will never experience that now."

"Is that the way of your people, that a woman cannot be married if she has already lain with another man? How ridiculous," he scoffed. "For now, you are my woman, and any man who dares to touch you will be very sorry he tried. But if that should change, there are thousands of men who would gladly take you for a wife."

"And what if you have gotten me with child?" she demanded. "Who would want to care for another man's issue?"

"I do not think men likely to reject you rather than gain a new son or daughter," he replied. "In any case, I would gladly provide for the babe. And should I die, the child would be entitled to a portion of my wealth."

"If what you say is true, then why deceive your commander of my virginity on the night of the raid?" she challenged. "He had no interest in me when he believed I had already been defiled."

Thorlaf sighed. "Magni is...uniquely perverse among men. There is nothing he relishes more than the look of terror in a woman's eyes. He prizes maidens for their naiveté, not for their purity, as he would have you believe." His words dripped with contempt. "Besides, even he knows better than to take a woman I have already claimed."

"You think yourself better than him?" she derided. "Clearly my distress is of no great concern to you."

"You need to come to terms with the fact that you have been captured, and you will never be returned to your people," he snapped. "When I found you in that cottage, it was far too late for you to escape the raid alive. Sooner or later, one of our men was going to deflower you, and for your sake I would rather it be me than an ogre like Magni. Now it was never my intent to traumatize you, but I told you that if you did not submit to me, I would have to force you, and you left me no choice. I hoped you would relax a little once we'd gotten it over with, but clearly I was mistaken." He shook his head in exasperation. "Besides, I did what I could to make the experience tolerable for you. I thoroughly prepared your body to accommodate mine, and you writhed on my hand like a cat in heat. Gods above, you didn't even bleed!"

"What?" she exclaimed, looking down at herself in shock. "How can that be? It hurt so much!"

"Fear amplifies pain," he said shortly. "Now go to sleep, and let us speak on this no more." He pulled the furs up over them and turned his back on her, leaving her to ponder their confrontation in silence.