Page 46 of Tamed for Her Pleasure

“I believe your great-aunt is retiring for the night and seeks your attendance, princess.”

I recognize the voice of one of the servants, while her use of my title makes a mockery of our supposed anonymity.

“Thank you. I will be just a moment.”

Footsteps move off, indicating the servant has gone.

I have spent a great deal of my life getting into trouble. I am no stranger to curious looks. Perhaps I should care more?

“I need to go,” I say.

He nods, his eyes smoldering as his glance sweeps down me. “You better be in my room later, little girl. I was not joking when I said our training should begin.”

He has just satisfied me thoroughly and faster than I thought it was possible for a man to do. Yet now I am burning for him again.

Lest he put his hands on me, and I lose all sense of decorum, I pivot and emerge from behind the potted plant. The chatter of conversation continues around me, but I get the distinct impression that everybody is doing their best not to look at me.

I suppress my smile as I weave through the gathered nobles. They do not know what they are missing out on. I believe they would be a lot happier if they had a barbarian in their lives, and I count the moments until I can sneak into his room again.

As he promised, my training–as he calls it–begins when I get to his room. I soon discover it involves him taunting me to the point of madness with his fingers and wicked tongue until I am hoarse from begging and insensible with need.

Chapter Sixteen

Alfred

Ihave been knighted and gifted an estate to the east and closest to my homelands. The former lord pissed off Louie some years back, and the estate has been managed by a temporary steward since. Not only do I get a title and estate, but I must have a sword and armor, which means I am poked, prodded, and measured again.

I endure. The wedding is only a week away. After, we have leave to settle in the estate. I can finally escape the cursed green room.

Penelope is having a dress fitting this morning. At her insistence, I am not allowed to attend…. because it is a tradition. I do not like the fucking tradition that would keep me from my mate, for I desire only to be with her. I wouldn’t even care that I need to sit in a fancy chair with too much padding. When Penelope is in the room, I am never bored.

But I sense that this is important to her. The dress is supposed to be a surprise. I am told that a servant will come for me when she is done.

So I head down to the barracks, where I go most days to train with the men. They seem to appreciate the sessions as much as I do, and our training often draws a crowd. Once there, I visit the blacksmith to check on the progress of my sword and armor. The sword is complete, and he is starting on the armor.

“It’s not going to be unnecessarily bright, is it?” I ask, in all seriousness.

“Bright, Sir Alfred?” the blacksmith, who goes by the name of Dirk, asks me, scratching at his thick bushy beard.

“Yes, like the king’s—unnecessarily bright. I realize everyone has opinions on armor, but I will blind myself afore I can land a single blow on my enemies should I need to wear anything that fucking highly polished.”

He coughs to cover his laugh. “No, Sir Alfred. I can make it plain, should that be your preference.”

“It is, and it is just Alfred.”

He bows his fucking head, and I leave, bumping into Dick, Wendle, and Poach.

“We were heading over to the tavern,” Dick says.

“Tavern?” My spirits lift immediately at the thought of drinking some decent ale. The only stuff I can find inside the castle is weak as piss and leaves a lot to be desired.

“Do you fancy coming?” Wendle asks. He is young enough to have fluff on his chin still, but he is a tough fighter, as I have learned during our sparring sessions.

“Penelope is having a dress fitting, which I am not allowed to attend. A beer sounds good.”

Dick grins, brushing back his overly floppy hair. I have questioned how he can see to fight with it getting in the way all the time.

We leave the castle, taking narrow, cobbled streets dusted with snow until we come to a cheery tavern with a sign bearing a blue boar outside.

---