The Wildling

by Treva Harte

  "Mistress, can you not help now?" This time Primary called. When he cried for help, it was needed.

  Arness pulled Six out of the shrubbery, looked at him and stifled a sigh. Oil and desert sand didn't mix well. Six's knees and ass were dirty.

  "Primary, clean him up again."

  Exhausted, touched by Six's untutored tribute, Arness made short work of oiling Three and Five. They needed little urging, though, since they'd seen what had gone on with Four and, despite the lack of display, there was no missing the rare smile on Six's face—or his sandy legs.

  "Tether them all. Make sure their hands can't get free." Secondary and Primary looked at each other. All of them knew why the wildlings weren't to be allowed any possibility of self-pleasure. Each one's manhood would be evaluated tomorrow.

  * * * * *

  "You're tired." Primary brought her a bowl of the endless camp stew. Arness tilted some down her throat, forcing herself to chew and swallow. Ah well, tomorrow there would be delicacies to savor. Patroness Morgena had an excellent cook.

  "Yes." Arness refused to allow herself to slump, even before her most treasured creatures. One didn't show weakness before them.

  Primary went behind her, kneading her shoulders with clever fingers. He knew her weaknesses after their years together even without her displaying any.

  "How long has it been, Primary?" Arness asked. "Since you became my pet?"

  "Ten years, Mistress." She didn't doubt his calculations. "You were still a new trader then."

  She had been twenty, finally allowed on her own. Those first years had been arduous, risky and poverty-stricken.

  "And you were young enough to be my secondary pet. That is, if I could have afforded two."

  "I was grateful you thought me experienced enough to be your primary personal pet despite my age. I was even more honored to be your only pet." Primary bent over the calves of her legs, massaging intensely.

  How had he felt when she took on Secondary? Arness frowned at the thought. Most traders had a whole string of personal pets, culled from the best of their own stock. She'd never wanted to take on the permanent care of more than a few…it was expensive and emotionally costly. Not many others felt that way, though. Having just one for years had made her a curiosity among the women she met.

  But Primary—he'd been her sole source of amusement and comfort for a long time. Perhaps it was ridiculous to think a pet might have such delicate feelings, but she wondered if he might have felt some jealousy when she took on another one.

  Arness shrugged away the thought. He seemed to cope with what feelings he had without difficulty. Pets were used to being one of a group. Most probably liked the companionship.

  "I'm tired but excited, Primary," she admitted.

  Primary smiled, just briefly.

  "I know, Mistress. It has been ten years. The grooming always excites you. I remember times when you almost wore me out."

  Arness smiled, too. She remembered a few of those nights.

  "You never did wear out though."

  "Not then. I have help now, though. Thank Goddess. You're quite a woman when you get going." He slanted another glance at her and stopped his massage. "Secondary!"

  Sec squatted down between the two of them.

  "The mistress will require both of us tonight."

  Arness smiled and decided not to reprimand Primary for giving such a command. He was right, of course.

  "Strip for me." She began to take off her leather vest as she watched.

  Both Primary and Secondary knew how to make a show of their disrobing. A lovely show. As her personal pets, they wore laced leggings and vests to cover themselves. Their clothing showed enough of their bodies to display her good taste, but not enough to make a free show for other women. She watched their fingers slowly unlace and uncover prime male flesh.

  Finished with her own stripping, Arness stood, thoughtfully comparing her two. They posed before her, fully exposed, letting her look. They were a lovely sight, together or separately.

  Primary, huge, shaggy, powerful, could make her wet when she put her mind to his body rather than his ability to work or converse. During sex he could go on forever, always seeing to her pleasure before his own. Goddess, how she enjoyed that.

  Secondary, thinner, his face more sculptured, his emotions never completely under control, was insatiable. Seconds after he climaxed, he was ready for more. She enjoyed that, too.

  "Primary, come to me." She spoke the command she had given so often today to the captures. "Secondary, in a moment."

  Primary needed no more instruction to stand in front of her. His callused hands began to stroke her breasts and she shut her eyes at the roughness against one of the softest spots on her body. Unbidden, Secondary soon crowded behind, cock already stretched hard. He shamelessly rubbed himself against her rear as he reached around to move his fingers against the curls of her pubic hair.

  Arness briefly wondered if the captures could see them, outlined against the dying fire, right before she lost all worries, all concerns other than the four hands and two tongues that were working their way across her body with the sole object of giving her pleasure.

  Ahh, this was why one took on the trouble and expense and care of pets. For moments like these. Primary dropped on his knees before her, using his skillful tongue against her clitoris. Secondary was already moaning at the back of her neck, but taking his turn at caressing her nipples with one hand and gently massaging the puckered entrance to her ass with the other.

  She allowed herself to slip into sensation, into pure enjoyment of the waves of heat surging through her body, the weakness growing in her legs. Arness took pleasure in the sounds Secondary was making, the wordless pleas he groaned against her skin. She delighted in the sweat beads forming on Primary's forehead. He never pleaded, never gave in until she told them—

  "Now. Now!"

  Primary leaped to his feet. Then he groaned, as he slid firmly home inside her. Secondary, with more care, pushed himself into the entrance he had been making ready. They all paused for a moment, savoring the sensation.

  Full. Delightfully stretched and as full as any woman could be. Nothing could be better than two hard cocks pushing together. Arness wondered, briefly, what the others felt when they were inside her, but then had no time to wonder about anything but the almost blinding pleasure that began to jolt through her as Primary and Secondary, working with precision, began to slide themselves in and out.

  Primary's fingers, already slick from his previous explorations, moved gently against her clitoris. Secondary's fingers pinched her nipples, much harder than his respectful caresses before. Arness lost her footing then, held up by the two males squeezed against her.

  Fire no longer came in waves but completely engulfed her.

  "Ahh!" Arness groaned and gave herself up to her first climax, dark-red and burning hot.

  The two men barely paused before they began to send her on to her second trip to ecstasy. She heard their pants mingle with her own, felt their hearts thudding along with her heart as they moved as close as they could to her. Where did one end and the other start? Arness had no idea. She reached out her legs and clamped them around Primary's. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders. Secondary was already draped around her from behind.

  She came a second time, short and sharp, before Secondary broke.

  "Sorry! Too goooood," he moaned as she felt the first splash of his cum inside.

  "Worthless young—" Primary grunted, still hard, still urgent, still pushing hard and strong inside her.

  "No. You, too." She gave in, gave permission as her third climax began to overwhelm her. She felt herself clench, felt her whole body spasm.

  Her moan was echoed by the male before her. The gush of Primary's seed inside her left her completely drenched. They all fell to the ground as they disentangled, landing together, with Secondary cradling her fall and Primary's large arm heavy between her breasts. Secondary's snore soon rumbled in her
ear.

  She shut her eyes and dimly was aware of Primary tucking a light blanket about her. Sweet pet. He knew the desert night grew too cold for her, even when their three bodies cradled together. Primary's collar briefly bit into her arm before he resettled himself against her.

  She settled her leg over his thigh as she usually did

  "Thank…" she managed before falling into a sound sleep.

  CHAPTER TWO

  "Get him!" One voice yelled. "Damn it, hit him low and hard."

  The next instant Adan felt a burning pain in his groin. He crashed hard to the ground. Stunned, he lay quiet, gasping for air.

  "Got him." Another voice filled with satisfaction.

  "It's not another of his tricks, is it?" a third asked, suspiciously. Adan got a sudden harsh boot to the ribs. He grunted, gasping again.

  "Naw. It's real. Tie him, then."

  "Bastard was tougher than you'd think from looking at him." A fourth one's voice was a bit muffled. He'd had a few teeth removed at the start of their bout. Of course that one tied him. Cords sliced into his wrists.

  They began to haul him back. His head slammed against a fallen branch as they hustled him along.

  "Bastards! How can you do this to your own?" Adan yelled as they threw him into the small room where he'd been not three hours before.

  "Patroness will be pleased to get him back," was the only reply as they walked back down the hall.

  "Wager you he'll get some special training after this," Adan heard another say. "Mistress Arness is due here soon. Wonder if she'll take him on?"

  Adan's breath caught. He told himself it was the lingering pain in his ribs.

  Arness. The men at the ranch were always babbling about her, but he'd heard of the trader even before his arrival. Who in the out-country hadn't? Escaped captures whispered her name first when they spoke of powerful pet traders.

  Arness.

  Head throbbing, stomach still churning, Adan rolled himself to one side, his hands still bound behind him. Blast it, there was no need to worry. He'd escaped before. Just give him a little while to recover and he'd do a better job of running next time.

  * * * * *

  Arness slapped her wide-brimmed hat against her side, clearing the trail dust from it before she stepped over the patroness' threshold. The fans whirled almost silently inside, their motion and the thick mud walls of the house giving a measure of relief from the sun outside. Her boots sounded noisy against the polished wood floors. Arness took a deep breath, trying to accustom herself again to the delights and nuances of civilized behavior.

  "Mistress!" The majordomo of the household, Dorinda, stepped into the hall. "We were delighted to hear of your arrival."

  She'd sent Secondary on ahead so that the household would be ready for them.

  "I'm delighted to be here." Arness tried the formal response on, slowly remembering the correct phrases. Of course it helped that she truly was delighted. "It's a pleasure to see the household again."

  "Mistress Arness!" The patroness herself appeared. "Welcome."

  It was always a shock to remember Morgena was short. She carried herself with such authority that one forgot until confronted with the reality again. Arness inclined her head respectfully. "I'm honored."

  "The honor is mine, I assure you."

  The two of them stopped, staring at each other, unsure what to say next.

  "Enough formality." Morgena let out a loud laugh. "I truly am glad you're here. Have you any pretty toys for me?"

  "They may look like pretty toys, Patroness, but they're more than that." Arness paused. "You'll see that for yourself, of course."

  "Ah, as always, you'll have me overstep my budget." The patroness shook her head sadly. "I can't resist your wildlings."

  "You drive a sharp enough bargain for a woman unable to resist." Arness allowed herself one quick grin. It was too early to begin the barter, but it was something Arness enjoyed as much as Morgena did. "My wildlings are prime and they're already well on their way to becoming pets."

  Why did she have the feeling Morgena wanted to say something more? Morgena never waited to say whatever was on her mind.

  "Patroness! Patroness!" A burly blond man ran into the hallway. "We got him! He's trussed up and safely back."

  "You're interrupting my conversation," Morgena said, mildly enough, but the giant looked horrified.

  "Forgive me, Patroness. You said to let you know as soon as possible." He bowed low, the glint of metal on his carefully wrought collar gleaming as he moved.

  Morgena sighed and turned back to Arness.

  "I'd hoped to ease into this discussion. So much for finesse. I never had the flair for it anyhow." She looked at Arness. "I would like to hire you for a particular task. I think you have the talent to succeed where those on my ranch have failed. Shall we discuss it while we dine?"

  Arness inclined her head again.

  "Delighted, Patroness." Sometimes the forms of politeness were useful, particularly when one wasn't sure what to say.

  * * * * *

  "Shut the door after me," Arness said.

  "Are you sure?" One of the three men who came with her asked. "He's clever. Sly."

  "I'm sure." Despite her words, she didn't like the sound of the heavy door clanging shut behind her. Arness squatted down and let her eyes adjust to the half-light in the room. It was cooler in here than outside but still uncomfortably warm. There were no fans in this part of the ranch.

  The huddled figure before her was imposing but oddly still. Arness squinted.

  "Goddess! You're still tied!" She jumped to her feet.

  Pets were too valuable to mishandle. From what Morgena said, this one had cost more than any of the others by a considerable sum.

  "I probably got a bit carried away. But this is a gift for my daughter who is coming home for the first time in years. Thought he'd be a fine start for her own breeding farm if she chose to use him so. Or one hell of a pleasure pet."

  Arness hissed her displeasure as she saw the pet's hands and legs were tethered far too tightly together. She didn't know how long they'd been so, but the wrists were already swollen.

  She began to use her machete against the cords. As the first ties loosened, the man's arms dropped heavily. She knew the pain must be intense as blood began to recirculate.

  He grimaced, let out one pained grunt, and turned his head away from her.

  She wished she could see him more clearly. His hair was longer than what was allowed for most domestic pets. Arness could see why he hadn't been groomed. It was beautiful hair, silvery white and flowing down to his shoulders. It covered his face as he bent over.

  He looked young, hard-muscled, long-limbed. Wide-shouldered, narrow-hipped. She mentally ran down her trader's checklist of desirable pet attributes, saving the best for last. Ah, yes. She looked carefully. Well-endowed. Amazingly so, in her professional opinion.

  Well, Morgena was no fool. When she paid top dollar for a pet, everything had to be perfect.

  Everything, apparently, but the pet's attitude.

  "I got him from a trader I never used before. He cost me plenty but less than you might think for a prime piece like that. Now I know why. The damned idiot has tried to escape three times since I bought him a month ago. I'm at my wit's end with him. I don't believe in breaking a pet's spirit. If I did, he'd be no good for my purposes. My Salla is as high-spirited as he is. She'd have no use for a docile male since she has odd notions of her own from that fancy education I bought her in the city. What she needs is a pet who will test her mettle, keep her interested. This one could if the fool would just settle down enough to be ready for training."

  She saw he wore no collar. A month here and he still refused to wear one? The creature remained more wildling than pet.

  Arness shook her head. How was she going to settle him down?

  "Water!" Arness called out the door. "Bring water!" He had to be thirsty.

  His legs had stayed curled in almost a
fetal position this whole time, so when she turned back, she began to massage them. The pet jerked away and grunted in pain again.

  "Don't be foolish," she said and went back to a deep stroke against the ankles and up the calves. He had good, firm leg muscles. Arness would have liked to admire them, perhaps let her hands linger a bit, but she knew he must be hurting.

  Apparently he thought better of his bravado because he quieted. Arness frowned at the bruises on his arms and ribs. Unruly pets were often paid back by the others—at least if the others were hurt by the pet's escapades. She remembered the blood and bruises on the group who had announced his recapture. From the signs, this one probably had fought ferociously.

  Arness stifled a sigh. Morgena hadn't promised her a hefty fee for an easy job.

  "I'm here to look you over," Arness announced. "You're lucky I bothered to check you out today before I started marketing the other captures. It might have been a while before anyone deigned to free you."

  The pet didn't look up. Probably he didn't understand the language, but he might well be stubborn enough to refuse to acknowledge her. Arness went to the door and picked up the bucket of water that had been left there.

  Deliberately she took some in her cupped hands and put it to his lips, forcing him to touch her hands as he drank. He was too thirsty not to, but he kept his eyes shut as he did.

  Arness almost smiled. He refused to look at her? This capture was amazingly stubborn. Why was she so amused by his resistance?

  "Adan." She thought he twitched a little. He knew that word at any rate. "I hear you've been named Adan. We're going to get to know each other very well. I intend to learn a great deal about you."

  She let her hands linger at his mouth a little longer than necessary.

  "Don't touch me."

  "What?" Arness was stunned. This pet had snapped out an order.

  He looked at her then. Burning blue eyes glared into her dark ones. Intelligence and anger gleamed there. This Adan was handsome. Sensual lips, lean face, high cheekbones. The sweat and blood on his face didn't detract from the impact. He had a fighter's face, not a pet's.