He obliged with a grunt, and though I knew I was bleeding, though I knew part of me was in pain, the other part of me knew how wonderful it felt, and how I couldn’t believe I’d been missing out on this the day before.
In just a few minutes, I felt the pain ebbing, and I felt how slick his member was. It slid in and out with relative ease, and it throbbed with each thrust, as did my own body… “Nephele,” Vralius breathed, throwing his head back and groaning as he thrust faster, and harder. I felt soon he would be close to climaxing, as would I.
With each thrust, I felt my womanhood beginning to tighten around his girth, but instead of causing me pain, it caused the both of us even more pleasure, and Vralius groaned loudly as his shaft shot forth its first liquid. Moments later, and with a clenching of his whole body that even I could feel, Vralius came inside me. Thick, hot liquid squirted into me, filling me up, while I throbbed violently around him. He held still, likely enjoying the feeling of my orgasm, and we both stayed how we were, groaning and panting with our mutual pleasure.
“Th-thank you, Vralius…” I breathed finally, after a few minutes of silence. He chuckled lowly and pulled out, which released a torrent of liquid from my cavity. I shuddered with pleasure at the feeling, as it was still warm, and I still throbbed pleasurably.
“No, thank you Nephele… I’m glad I could make you feel good.” It was my turn to laugh then, and I replied, “No, the pleasure is mine. I... I’m glad to be your slave.”
Vralius chuckled once, but he looked at me differently. He didn’t look at me how Cazis and the others had… like I was a slave. It was like Vralius went out of his way to make me feel human. I smiled at him, and he returned it. “Unfortunately, I’ve things I need to do. I’ll be back later to bring you your dinner.” He stroked my cheek softly, and I nodded, watching him as he unlocked and opened the door.
“Vralius?” I asked softly, standing up and moving closer to him. He looked back with a questioning expression, and I slowly approached his front. I stood on tiptoe and tilted my face upwards, and I touched his cheek, beckoning him to come to my level. Puzzled, he did so, and I leaned in to kiss him softly. I pulled away first, and he examined me with a guarded expression.
“Good day, Nephele,” Vralius told me, somewhat gruffly, before he left and locked the door. From the outside, there was a scraping noise and then the window opened, and then he was gone, leaving me to my thoughts. I redressed, and then sat at the table, staring at the lines in the wood.
I had a lot of time to think, with Vralius gone. As the romance of our latest session ebbed, I began to wonder, just what on earth had made me want to kiss him. He wasn’t a man, he wasn’t my friend… and he wasn’t my betrothed. Guilt gnawed at my belly, and I bit my lip before I got up and went to look out the window. What was I doing? I’d been captured by a herd of centaurs, and forced into slavery… and one day into it, I was gladly servicing the one who’d stolen me from my home, my family. And to think, I was beginning to grow attached to him!
Sighing, I moved away from the window and began to pace the room. In my anxious state, all I could think about was why Vralius treated me so well. His earlier reasons, they just didn’t seem to hold up well. Part of me wondered, if maybe he felt something towards me, too… which made me think that maybe I was overthinking things. Groaning, I turned back to my bed, just as I heard movement. Night was almost here, and I expected Vralius, but instead I was greeted by Cazis, for the second time today. I regarded him cautiously, and he snorted as he dropped a platter of food onto the table, along with a jug of water.
“W-where’s Vralius?” I asked nervously, as Cazis turned to leave. The dark centaur turned halfway, eyeing me, and he said, “No clue. I was told to bring you your food, and here I am. Now, here I go.” Once more, he tried to leave, but I stopped him, saying, “Wait! He… he told me he was going to bring it.”
Cazis shook his head and moved outside, arms outstretched as he prepared to shut the door. “I did as Vralius told me to do. You can ask him yourself the next time he comes to you.” And with that, the door closed. I heard the bar thud down, locking it, and then I was alone.
I stood there for a few moments, feeling dejected. What if I’d scared him away? What if… what if he didn’t want me as his slave anymore? And was it because of the kiss? Sighing and swallowing back my remorse, I sat down at the table and played with my food.
The next morning, I was woken up by sunlight streaming through the open window, and I blinked, rubbing my eyes tiredly. My back ached, as did other places, and it was then I realized that I’d fallen asleep at the table. Groaning, I stood and stretched, then wolfed down the remains of my cold, stale dinner. I drank most of the water, and then used the rest to clean the blood and other fluids from my body. A few minutes later, I heard someone approaching, and when the door opened, I was faced with both Vralius and Cazis.
“Cazis is here to clean your room,” Vralius told me, tone neutral. “Come with me.” Blinking thanks to the bright light pouring into my room, I followed him out, feeling groggy and nervous. “You didn’t visit me last night,” I noted quietly as we walked. Vralius just grunted slightly, and I prodded, “Are you… are you mad at me? For what I did?”
Vralius stopped, and I stopped with him. He turned to me, face grave, and said, “No. I’m not angry with you, Nephele. I’m just… a little confused, I suppose.” He frowned, and I copied him, and without further prodding from me, he continued in a sigh, running his hands through his hair, “I just don’t understand why you did it. I don’t know what to make of it.”
I looked down and nodded, feeling mortified. “I just… It felt like it was the right thing to do, for me… I-I’m sorry, Vralius.” I felt tears well up in my eyes, and I struggled to keep them contained. “I’ve just always thought that making love is… just that. It’s love, and… love is romantic. But, I didn’t mean anything by it, I just…” By now, the tears were flowing, and I sniffled, trying to wipe my eyes with my dress. I heard Vralius sigh deeply, and he grabbed my forearms, pulling them away from my face gently.
“Nephele,” he coaxed softly, “Look at me.” I sniffed and looked up, tears still sliding rapidly down my cheeks. He wiped them away with a thumb and then murmured, “What I meant was, I don’t understand why you would… care for me, or any of my kind.”
I took a few moments to compose myself, and I mumbled back, “I don’t like the others. They’re just so… mean and cruel. But you aren’t. You haven’t been since I met you. You’re kind, and you care about my feelings… you allow me as much freedom as you can. You give me choices… Even men of my own kind wouldn’t have let me choose what you let me choose last night.”
Vralius seemed to understand a little bit better. He nodded and wiped away the last of my tears before he began to stroke my hair. I sniffled and tentatively let myself lean against his torso. He didn’t seem to mind. “And I… I don’t believe you, when you said you treat me well so I’ll be more willing to do things. You aren’t expecting anything right now, are you?” This made him chuckle, and he shook his head.
“No, Nephele,” he told me quietly, “I don’t expect anything from you.” He paused, and I looked up meaningfully at him, and he sighed once more. “I treat you well because… I care. I’ve never understood how my kind can just use women like you, and treat them like animals. We rely on your women so much; it would make more sense to make them happy…”
I sighed quietly and nodded slowly. “I… I’m happy.” I told him, looking back up. I thought I saw him smile. “You care, but… do you care for me?” My question was hushed, and I feared a negative answer… but what I got instead was a small smile, and then he leaned down to brush his lips against mine.
“I do care for you, Nephele.”
Exchanged
Book Two
Feelings and emotions weren’t something that should be hidden, at least in my mind. It hurt to have to hide how I felt about Vralius, but what hurt even more was that he had t
o hide how he felt about me, at least around others. Granted, it wasn’t often we were around the rest of his herd, but still. It was draining, those next few days, especially when he was away. I saw him, at most, twice a day, and I had very little social interactions. As it was, I didn’t particularly desire to talk with anyone else, especially when it came to other members of his herd… but I was getting lonely. The sex was great, but day by day, I was growing sad and weary, wanting little more than to talk to someone and smell the fresh air. My quarters seemed to be growing smaller, and I grew listless. The only times I perked up was when I was with Vralius, and even then, I began to sense that something was just a little bit different about him.
At first, we’d taken joy in our mutual feelings towards each other, but as the days went by, I noticed him growing a bit more distant. It scared me, though I felt it unwise to question him. He was talking to me less and less, and one morning when he entered, he said to me, “Nephele, remove your dress.”
There was little warmth in his voice, and his expression was hard. My smile at seeing him faded, and I stared blankly, a little shocked. “W-what?” I asked, frowning. He’d never demanded this of me before, but rather had asked, and had left the decision up to me.
“I said, remove your dress.” He repeated the demand harshly, his voice growing cold as he moved towards me. I stared, wide-eyed and taken aback, but I did as he said regardless. Something was wrong, that much I could tell, and my eyes searched his as I tossed my dress on the table. “Vralius?” I whispered quietly, my tone pleading. I didn’t know what was wrong, but I did know that I needed to.
Vralius said nothing more, but he moved forward, a hungry look in his dark eyes. It was the same as the other centaurs, the way they looked at me… and I feared it. I stayed where I was, watching him intently, as he reached a hand out to fondle my breast. He didn’t look at me, despite my efforts to catch his eye, and instead just stared at my body. He didn’t speak as he touched me, and his cold expression told me to stay quiet, so I did.
Despite his off demeanor, I was still willing to please him, figuring that if I did, I’d have a better chance at knowing what was wrong. He didn’t instruct me to do anything specific, so I knelt down when he released my breast and began to stroke him. Like usual, he grew stiff with my touch, but it took more time and he didn’t seem to enjoy it as much. Growing frustrated myself, I tried my mouth, but as time passed and we didn’t get any further, Vralius heaved a sigh and said, “Stop.”
I complied, feeling strangely ashamed, and hurt. I felt like I couldn’t do a good enough job, or that he was getting tired of me… I felt tears beginning to prick at my eyes, and I stood up, crossing my arms over my chest. “Was I doing a bad job?” I asked quietly, looking down. I heard him sigh again, and he replied quietly, “No. You were fine.”
Then, he turned, handed me my dress, and left. “Cazis will be delivering your breakfast shortly.” He told me, just before he shut and locked the door. With Vralius gone, I redressed and stood there, feeling defeated. I sat down on my bed, brought my knees up to my chest, and sat there. Minutes later, I heard movement and then Cazis stepped inside. He took one look at me, snorted, and placed my breakfast down onto the table.
He left without a word, and I was left alone again.
Vralius didn’t visit me that night, but I wasn’t all that bothered by it. Cazis brought me my dinner again, only to find I hadn’t moved from my spot on the bed and I hadn’t touched my breakfast. He took the first platter and left the second, casting me a curious glance before he left. Stomach rumbling its hunger, I slipped off of the bed and made my way to the table. Reluctantly, I sat down and began to eat. When I was finished, I went back to my bed and tried for sleep.
The next morning, Vralius brought me my breakfast. I’d awoken in the early hours of morning and sat back against the wall, watching the door. I’d been up a few hours before sunrise, and when he entered, he caught me napping.
“I was told by Cazis that you didn’t eat your breakfast, but I can see you ate your dinner,” Vralius said quietly, avoiding my gaze. He took the platter from last night and placed down the new one. He turned to leave.
“Vralius.” I sounded tired, which I was, and my tone didn’t have much strength in it… but Vralius paused, and then turned around slowly. “What’s… what’s wrong? You’ve been so strange with me.” He didn’t answer right away, but then again, I didn’t expect him to answer at all. He sighed a little, as if he was exasperated, and then he said flatly, “Nothing is wrong. You don’t need to worry about me.”
I scowled slightly, tired and cranky, and stood up. “Yes, I do. Ever since I told you how I feel about you, you started to avoid me, hardly talking to me and… just not caring about what I want.” Vralius glared at me and strode forward, but when he spoke, he was much calmer than I. “Drop it, Nephele. It’s none of your business.”
My eyes widened and I stopped towards him, arguing, “Yes it is! I –” I didn’t get a chance to respond, though, because Vralius yelled, “You are a slave! You have no voice! You will not speak unless you are spoken to!” And then he left me, shaking, confused, with tears running down my face. I didn’t have an answer to that; I didn’t have a retort, because he was right. I was his slave. He’d just never pushed that fact. And now that he had… it felt like a betrayal. I couldn’t help but think, had he lied when he’d told me of his shared feelings? Or was it that maybe he wanted less of the romance? I didn’t know, but what I did know was my heart felt like it had been shattered.
Stumbling back to the bed, I wrapped my arms around my chest and curled up, letting my tears fall.
That evening, Cazis entered, bringing with him the usual dinner of bread and venison. He saw, once more, my breakfast untouched and replaced it, pausing for longer this time before he left. And like the last day, I ate my dinner.
The days started to blend by. I’d get my food, twice a day, and every couple of days or so I would be visited by Vralius. We would make love, or try, for it didn’t really feel loving. Even so, I missed him, and so each time I tried. We never got very far, and he would leave the room, leaving both of us feeling sexually frustrated. Each time Cazis would come by and deliver my food, he would stay longer and longer. He never did anything other than stare, and I wasn’t bothered. To be honest, I was more than willing to pleasure someone else, if only it meant forgetting my time with Vralius. Even so, I was listless. I didn’t truly want to move, to eat… I just wanted to go home. But I couldn’t, because I was Vralius’ slave.
Vralius started to come by less and less, and I began to wonder if he’d taken a new slave, or just didn’t want me anymore. Part of me began to hope that I was going to be released, and when Gisor, the chief of the centaurs, came to me one afternoon, I felt my heart flutter. Was I close to freedom?
“Follow me,” he grunted, grabbing me roughly by the arm and leading me out of my quarters. I stumbled after him as he walked, too quickly for me to keep up, and he half-dragged me away. I knew better than to speak to him; I just kept my eyes down while I tried to keep up. I didn’t really think it mattered – if I resisted, I’d either be carried or dragged. Gisor would probably drag me the rest of the way if I didn’t walk, he didn’t care.
We walked for about half a mile, and when he stopped, I knew we were in the heart of the camp. The centaurs were handy folk – there was a wooden platform, and even steps leading up to it – but my admiration was cut short by Gisor’s rough voice. “Get up there,” he told me, releasing my arm and pointing to the raised platform. He toyed with a bow at his side, and I caught a malicious gleam in his eyes as he added, “And don’t try to run.”
I swallowed and nodded obediently before averting my gaze. All around me was the sounds of rustling bushes, and I couldn’t help but wonder… what was I here for? Gisor came up after me, and he placed a hand on my shoulder, too tight, but I didn’t protest. I stared ahead blankly while the herd gathered. I didn’t even bother searching the gathering cro
wd for Vralius… part of me knew, instinctively that this was because of him.
Once everyone had gathered, or so I assumed, Gisor began to speak. “Gentlemen,” he boomed, shaking me slightly, “It has come to my attention recently that this slave, and her master, have developed unnatural affections for each other! The master himself has admitted this to me, and has offered up for trade, his slave.” All around us, there were murmurs and everyone’s eyes locked on me. I avoided all of their stares, and instead tried to block it out. I should have seen this coming, what with Vralius’ recent attitude towards me, his distancing… Even Cazis’ ever-growing attention. I feared being given to him.
“I ask all of you, now, to step forward if you wish to claim this slave as your own!” And with that, he ripped my dress off of me. Abruptly nude, I gasped out and tried to cover myself, but Gisor beckoned to another centaur, and he forced me to expose myself. Before me, I saw Cazis step forward, and another centaur. Others did, too, but Gisor seemed to have a preference.
“They have seniority,” he told the crowd, nodding to Cazis and the second centaur. “Do you wish to fight for her?” Gisor asked Cazis.
Cazis shook his head after a glance to the other centaur. “No, Gisor, we will share her equally.” And with that, Gisor nodded.
“Very well. Due to the unnatural, unhealthy relationship between this Master and this Slave, as well as the Master giving his consent, the Slave known as Nephele will be exchanged,” said Gisor, letting his voice ring out over the silent crowd, while he brandished my nude body one last time in front of the herd. I was hollow inside, blocking out what I could… the stares, the expressions on the centaurs faces. How could Vralius do this to me? “The new Masters, named Cazis and Placias, may do with their Slave as they see fit.” And with that, I was shoved forward; two pairs of hands grabbed me, the dark pair belonging to Cazis, while the other, pale-skinned and calloused, belonged to Placias. I identified him as the other centaur that had carried me from my village, though he looked as ruthless as Cazis. Defeated, I lowered my head, while they carried me between them, heading towards my quarters.
Captured Series Bundle Page 3