by Alexia Praks
“Merrick? Must you take my shirt off?” she cried in dismay as she brought her arms to cover her body about her breasts. She was embarrassed that he should see her so intimately like this.
Merrick smiled down at the shy nymph before him. “Don’t worry, love. I want to see you bare.” His eye glinted with mischief.
Christine saw his eyes turn a stormy teal-blue color, the pupils dilating. He was smiling, though his strong handsome face turned hard and devilish. Lord, but he looked like the very devil himself. Her heart did a somersault with that realization.
He flashed her a smile and caught her waist.
“Oh, Merrick!” she groaned with dismay again.
White, creamy flesh glowed before him. He slowly scanned the length of her body. He swallowed at the beauty of her.
Christine bit her lip, feeling very shy at the way he was looking at her. Lord, this is embarrassing, she thought in mortification. She stiffened and pushed herself up to try to get the blanket to cover her body. He caught her hand. She looked at him in a humiliated way.
His eyes burned into hers as he slowly brought her small, delicate hand to his lips and kissed it. He proceeded to turn it over and started to stroke her palm with his hot tongue. With each stroke and with each kiss, Merrick sent hot sensations down her spine, causing her head to spin. When he was done with her palm, he put one of her fingers into his mouth and sucked it.
Thrilling sensations were charging from her finger down to the pit of her stomach. Lord, she had never felt anything like this in her life. Her head twirled with the sensation of it all, and her body was getting tenser every second. She started to breath heavily. She was getting very excited. Oh Lord, she didn’t understand how she could get very excited just because Merrick was kissing her hand.
Merrick lips moved from her finger to her forearm, and all along he stroked her skin with his tongue. He then dropped small, wet kisses up to her arm and then slowly and seductively to her shoulder. He then moved to kiss her throat, then up her delicate chin, and then he caught her mouth. She was so sweet and tasty. Her lavender fragrance made him drunk with desire to make her his.
Christine’s hands shook as she touched his shoulder. She could feel his strong muscles burning beneath her palm. She didn’t understand it, but her body seemed to know what it was doing. It pushed itself up against the length of his body, trying to get ever closer.
When Merrick released her mouth, she cried out in dismay.
“Oh, Merrick, I don’t understand this.”
“Hush, my love. This is love,” he breathed into her mouth.
“Will… will it hurt?” she asked, so very afraid because of her ignorance.
“Hush, I’ll try not to hurt you too much, but there is pleasure. If you are afraid, we can stop this,” he reluctantly added. He didn’t want to hurt her, and so he must do the honorable thing.
Christine looked into his eyes and saw the love within them. She bit her lip and said, “Will you be there with me when it hurts?”
“I will always be there no matter what,” he explained and kissed her lips lightly.
“All right, then. You may proceed with this lovemaking thing.” She smiled up at him.
He breathed out and relaxed his body. He didn’t know he was holding his breath, waiting for her answer. He had to be sure, and so he asked her again. “Love, are sure you want to do this?”
“Aye, sir, I want you to give me this pleasure even though I don’t understand how you can get pleasure when you said I will hurt,” she told him logically.
“Aye, my sweet, I will give you that pleasure, and so much more that even words cannot describe it,” he whispered into her ear and started kissing her.
She giggled.
Merrick’s lips moved down from behind her ear to her neck and then down her shoulder. While he was doing this, his hands were everywhere over her body. His hand was caressing her legs, and minutes later it was behind her bottom, and behind her back, and around to her stomach. His caresses sent pleasure and excitement through her body.
Merrick lifted himself up and stared down at her magnificent breasts. He took one into his mouth and proceeded to suck, stroke, and fondle it with his mouth.
Christine groaned with the pleasure that was shooting through her body. She shook her head from side to side, biting her lips for the feeling was so tremendously powerful.
When Merrick lifted his head, he saw the magnificent girl staring at him with desire. He realized with pride that she wanted him to do more.
“Oh, Merrick!” she sighed.
Merrick gave her an amused smile while his other hand captured her other breast. He squeezed it, causing Christine to suck in her breath.
“Merrick!” she whispered. He gazed down at her while his hands played with her breast. He caressed and fondled it lightly, and then he touched her nipple, molding it around between his finger and thumb.
Christine bit her lips; her eyes grew dark with desire.
Lord, she looked glorious. He could never get used to her beauty.
Merrick’s hand slid down and captured her womanhood. She whimpered with pleasure, and because it was so intense and alien that it scared the hell out of her, she pushed him away from her. Merrick threw himself back on top of her and started to kiss her forehead.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked, concerned. God, he was so filled with desire in his head that he had no space to think that his action could scare her. He felt like an animal.
“Nay, Merrick, it’s just… were you supposed to do that? I mean, is that allowed? I mean touching me there. It’s so private, you know, and, oh Lord, this is so embarrassing,” she told him, hiding her face beneath his massive chest.
“Hush, love. It’s all right. Look, I can touch you anywhere I want,” he told her in a low, seductive voice, and he demonstrated by moving his hand to her private parts again and started to caress. Christine whimpered, and her body shook with pleasure.
“Does that mean I can touch you everywhere, too?” she asked, lowering her eyes.
“Indeed, my love, you may touch me wherever you like.”
Christine smiled and, with hands that shook, moved to touch his massive, hard chest beneath his shirt. She spread her palms out. She could feel the heat that conducted from his body into her palm. She licked her dried lips and moved down to his hard and flat stomach and then she slid her hands around to his back.
Her innocent touches shot loads of pleasure down his nerves. Merrick gritted his teeth and yanked his shirt off and then his breeches. He threw himself back on top of her and lowered his hand down to her womanhood. He felt the wetness there. He knew she was ready for him, but he wanted them to go further. He moved on top of her and spread her arms out. They were face to face, legs to legs, and arms to arms. His fingers grasped hers. Her breasts were squeezed up against his chest. She could feel the hardness and powerful strength of his member against her.
Merrick then moved his hands along the length of her arms, caressing and stroking her at the same time. Both his hands reached the crooks of her armpits where he caressed and brought her body up even closer to him. He then shifted her legs apart as he placed one of his muscular thighs between her thighs, allowing her to straddle him.
Christine whimpered at the pure thrill of this excitement. Merrick, too, felt the hot, adventurous excitement like he never felt before. He then pushed himself up and stared down into her eyes.
“This will hurt a bit, my love. Do you still want to go on with this?” He asked her to make the decision for he didn’t want to hurt her although he knew that it would hurt him like hell if she denied him this moment.
Christine looked up to the huge man above her and knew love was there. “You said you will be there with me when I’m hurt.”
He nodded his head and said, “Aye, love, I’ll be there with you, but do you still want to do this?”
She nodded her head with a smile.
He promised to himself that he would give as much l
ove and pleasure to her as much as she gave him. He lowered his head to kiss her forehead and his hand moved down to spread her legs apart. She obeyed him, although she didn’t understand what he was about to do.
Merrick moved his body closer to hers, and his finger slid into her opening. The action sent thresholds of sensation that Christine could not describe up her spine and into her head. Moaning sounds came out of her lips. Merrick moved between her legs and started to thrust his manhood into her opening.
Christine felt odd with his big manhood between her thighs and had to adjust to the feeling.
Merrick pushed in a bit more, and as it thrusted through her maidenhead, she gasped out in pain.
“Merrick, help!” She clutched him for support.
Merrick gritted his teeth at the mere pleasure of her tightness around him. “Don’t worry, love, I’m here,” he reassured her, and he lay still for a while so that she could get used to him inside her. Then he pushed farther into her.
Christine shook her head from side to side in pain, and tears spilled down her flushed cheek. She bit her lips until they bled.
Merrick came down to kiss her on the mouth. He could taste the salty blood in his mouth as he kissed her so that she wouldn’t scream out into the night. They stay motionless for a while, and then Merrick started slowly to thrust forward again.
Christine gave a sharp cry into his mouth. Merrick resumed pushing deeper into her. He tried to comfort her, God, how he tried, but the feeling of her so tight around him was so tremendously gratifying, and it sent hot, thrilling sensations through his body; he couldn’t think.
Christine clung to him tightly for dear life. God, it hurt so badly she wanted it to end.
Merrick climaxed and finally released his seed into her womb. Christine was panting and crying at the same time. Merrick moved up to look at her and saw her tears. He felt guilt consuming him.
“God, I am sorry, my sweet. I hurt you,” he whispered, his mouth very close to hers. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, my sweet, but the next time, you won’t feel pain. I promise.”
“I don’t know,” she said quietly and sobbed.
He kissed her head again and said, “It is time for you to go to sleep, my love.” He kissed her again.
Christine’s body stopped shaking. Merrick pulled her closer to him, covering her body within his.
“Merrick?” she whispered a long while later. He was surprised; he thought she was asleep.
“Hmm?”
“Next time, you said it won’t hurt?” she asked.
“Hmm, it won’t. It was your maidenhead I must get through. That is why I hurt you.”
“So next time?” she asked him again.
“It won’t hurt,” he replied. She nodded and dropped her head into the crook of his arm.
“I love you, Merrick,” she whispered.
Merrick closed his eyes, dropped a kiss on her forehead, and said, “I love you, too.”
EIGHTEEN
Christine carried the tray of breakfast up the narrow stairs to the third floor. She had never visited there before, as it was only for the women servants. It was quite dark on the way, although she knew very well that it was bright and sunny outside. Once she had reached the landing, she looked about the long corridor. She was wondering which room they had put Claire in when suddenly she heard an angry voice booming from somewhere. It was clearly a woman’s voice. With the tray of food still in her hands, she headed in the direction of the voice.
She came to a halt at the very end of the corridor. It was quite dark there. She went to hide behind the curtain. She felt in her gut that if she were seen there would be big trouble. So she stood there and listened to what was being said. It was very hard to make out the words for she was quite far away. She soon realized that the voice was coming from Claire’s room. She felt a shiver run down her body. Minutes later, she heard footsteps as someone walked out the door. A woman passed her and hurried on down the corridor. She risked poking her head out and saw the woman’s back disappearing down the corridor. The woman, she repeated in her mind, had blond hair, was dressed very elegantly, and walked with her back very straight. A few seconds later, she went into Claire’s room. As she moved toward the form lying in the narrow bed, her heart constricted with pity. Lord, how could anyone do this to her?
She placed the tray on the bedside table. She took a seat by the bed and leaned over to see Claire’s face. She saw that the girl’s face was all black and blue. There were bleeding wounds and torn skin on her face. She looked at the girl’s hands, and they too showed marks of torture.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, looking down at Claire.
The maid managed a slight smile.
“I’ve brought food for you. Think you could manage a bit?” she said, turning her head in the direction of the tray of food on the table.
Claire shook her head.
“But you must eat. It will help to heal you faster,” Christine urged.
“No, I’m not hungry,” Claire whispered.
“Perhaps later you can manage a bit,” Christine commented. “Tell me, Claire, who did this to you?”
It was a simple question, but Claire looked up at Christine in horror. She shook her head and turned away, refusing to answer the question.
“Come now, Claire. I think the earl is calling the magistrate. You know you have to tell them what happened.”
“I can’t tell,” Claire said.
“Why can’t you?” Christine asked, taking hold of the girl’s hand. Claire’s hand was shaking hard. Was she scared? Of whom? The person who did this to her? Or was there something more?
“Please, Master Chris, I want to rest,” Claire said and closed her eyes as a sign for Christine to leave.
Christine just sat there, watching Claire’s sleeping form. At last, knowing she would gain nothing more if she stayed, she finally got up from the bed. At the door, she took one last look at the girl and left.
Christine was in thought as she descended the narrow stairs. Her eyes were on the steps when she bumped into somebody. She heard a scream and looked up in time to see Mrs. Ross almost fall down the stairs. In an instant, she quickly took hold of the housekeeper’s hands and pulled her back to safety. Mrs. Ross put her hands to her chest when she had regained her balance.
“Lord, I’m sorry, Mrs. Ross. I wasn’t looking where I was going,” Christine apologized.
The housekeeper just nodded and walked past her.
“Mrs. Ross, where are you going?”
“To see Emma. She didn’t come down this morning.”
“Is she still sick?” Christine wondered. “Perhaps I’ll come up, too.” She climbed up the few steps to the landing. Mrs. Ross nodded, and they both walked down the corridor.
Mrs. Ross knocked on the door twice before she opened it and went in. They found Emma still in her bed. Mrs. Ross went to look at the girl while Christine stood at the bottom of the bed. Mrs. Ross put her hand on Emma’s forehead.
“Lord, she’s burning hot,” the older woman exclaimed. Christine quickly came to stand behind Mrs. Ross and placed her hand on Emma’s forehead. Indeed, Emma felt very hot.
“I think she has a fever. I’m going to tell Mr. Jacob to fetch the doctor,” Mrs. Ross said anxiously as she rushed to the door.
Once Mrs. Ross was gone, Christine took hold of Emma’s hand and sat on the bed. She was staring out the window when she felt Emma’s hand gripping hers tightly. She turned to look at Emma, who was now looking at her with large, fearful eyes. Emma swallowed hard. She blinked several times.
“I saw them. It was terrible,” Emma said, tears spilling down her pale cheeks.
“It’s all right, Emma. You’ll be all right. Mrs. Ross is telling Mr. Jacob to get the doctor.” Christine tried to soothe the sick girl by rubbing her hands.
Emma shook her head. “I saw them. It was very dark,” she continued. She squeezed Christine’s hand harder.
“It’s all right, Emma. The d
octor will be here any minute now.”
“I saw them. It was very terrible. She was laughing, like a witch. She was and he… he… he just hit her,” Emma whispered.
Christine’s interest was captured. She realized Emma was talking about Claire’s accident. Could it be that Emma saw the whole thing?
“Emma, tell me what you saw,” Christine urged.
Emma stared up at Christine with her large, fearful eyes.
“That witch, she’s evil. She laughs while he kills her,” Emma whispered.
“Tell me who was there,” Christine said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“He, that man… red… light in old barn… fat… big…” Emma shrieked brokenly, covering her face with her shaking hands.
“Tell me, Emma, who else was there?” Christine took hold of Emma’s hand in an effort to calm her down.
“She… golden… laugh… witch… they… her…” Emma closed her eyes, shaking her head. “Go away… away…”
“Emma, are you all right? Emma, come on. Emma!” Christine panicked. She had never seen anyone like this before, and it scared the hell out of her. “Emma, stop. What’s wrong?”
But Emma was past listening, as she kept screaming and shaking her head. She kicked the blankets away with her thrashing legs.
A creaking sound from the doorway caused Christine to turn. Mrs. Ross and Dr. Liam rushed in.
“What’s going on?” Mrs. Ross asked, seeing the distraught girl on the bed.
“I don’t know, Mrs. Ross. Quick, Doctor, do something,” Christine pleaded.
Dr. Liam came forward, and with Mrs. Ross’s help, they managed to calm Emma down until her breathing became more regular and she lay quietly with her eyes closed.
“What’s wrong with her, Doctor?” Christine asked in a frightened voice.
“Just shock, I think,” the doctor replied without looking up.