Leah's Punishment
Page 24
'But –'
'I shall speak to him.'
'But my lord, under the terms of her tithe –'
'Please do as I say!'
Lirann bowed silently and remained with head hanging, uttering not another word, until Lord Shardlan had dressed and hurried from the room.
Then she glared at Leah. 'Get some clothes on.' Leah froze. Lirann took three steps forward and, raising her arm as if wielding an axe with which to fell a tree, she delivered one dreadful slap across Leah's face, then another that was harder still. Then she grasped her by the hair and dragged her off the bed. 'Get some clothes on – now!'
When Lord Shardlan returned, having asked in vain at the wharf for the elusive trader Merek, and finally having guessed what was afoot, he found Lirann alone in the bedroom.
'Where is she?'
'She has gone, my lord. Her lover took her.'
'Ean? You didn't try to stop him?'
'I could not.'
'You mean you would not.' Seething, Shardlan strode out on to the terrace and clutched the balustrade. Lirann meekly followed. He did not look at her but stared out over the gardens and the hillside beyond. 'Perhaps I should send a party in pursuit? I think I shall. What say you to that?' He scowled at her.
'Surely, the party designated to hunt down runaways is you and I, my lord?'
'I should have you flogged for this, Lirann.'
'As it pleases, my lord. But do not harm your child.' She unbuttoned her tunic top and dropped it to the floor, leaving her swollen breasts naked and her master utterly speechless.
He did not flog Lirann. He carried her to his bed and sealed the peculiar bond that tied them, lord and pregnant girl-guard. All thought of pursuit was put aside for a precious time of sharing. Then, just as all seemed settled for Lirann, Ulline came knocking at the bedroom door. Shardlan drew the sheet completely over his naked assistant.
'There is a girl asking after you, my lord,' said Ulline.
'Truly, I am having to fend them off, today, Mistress Dresser. Pray put her to someone else. As you see, I am beset.'
'She will see no one else; she seeks work; she says you promised to take her on if she chose to ask.'
'I promised no one. Who is this barefaced individual?'
'She says her name is Deneca – Denni.'
'Ah . . .'
In the late morning sun, two breathless figures stood at the top of the staircase of locks.
'Don't stand in the open, Leah. We may be seen from the Retreat,' Ean said.
'I want to look – just to look at the view.'
'But we need to keep moving: they will surely come after us. I don't trust Lirann.'
Leah didn't answer. She was strangely quiet and calm. He looked upon her delicate features, her soft blue eyes staring ruefully out across the sunlit landscape.
'Are you thinking of Merek?' Ean asked apprehensively.
'My destiny does not rest on Merek – not now.' Leah turned. The slave-token was no longer round her neck: it slid from her fingers into the water. She looked at Ean searchingly for a long while. Then she said: 'How many times did you seek to save me?'
'And failed each time . . .'
'And still you persisted.' Her eyes were now moist with tears. 'Come here, Master Ean.' Leah took him in her arms and kissed him, through her tears and with them. Then, still holding him, she turned and looked wistfully down upon the beautiful, vast expanse of the bay and the open sea beyond.
The leading publisher of fetish and adult fiction
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
Readers' ideas and opinions matter to us so please take a few minutes to fill in the questionnaire below.
1. Sex: Are you male female a couple ?
2. Age: Under 21 21–30 31–40 41–50 51–60 over 60
3. Where do you buy your Nexus books from?
A chain book shop. If so, which one(s)?
* * *
An independent book shop. If so, which one(s)?
* * *
A used book shop/charity shop
Online book store. If so, which one(s)?
* * *
4. How did you find out about Nexus books?
Browsing in a book shop
A review in a magazine
Online
Recommendation
Other ___________________________________________
5. In terms of settings, which do you prefer? (Tick as many as you like.)
Down to earth and as realistic as possible
Historical settings. If so, which period do you prefer?
* * *
Fantasy settings – barbarian worlds
Completely escapist/surreal fantasy
Institutional or secret academy
Futuristic/sci fi
Escapist but still believable
Any settings you dislike?
* * *
Where would you like to see an adult novel set?
* * *
6. In terms of storylines, would you prefer:
Simple stories that concentrate on adult interests?
More plot and character-driven stories with less explicit adult activity?
We value your ideas, so give us your opinion of this book:
* * *
* * *
* * *
7. In terms of your adult interests, what do you like to read about? (Tick as many as you like.)
Traditional corporal punishment (CP)
Modern corporal punishment
Spanking
Restraint/bondage
Rope bondage
Latex/rubber
Leather
Female domination and male submission
Female domination and female submission
Male domination and female submission
Willing captivity
Uniforms
Lingerie/underwear/hosiery/footwear (boots and high heels)
Sex rituals
Vanilla sex
Swinging
Cross-dressing/TV
Enforced feminisation
Others – tell us what you don't see enough of in adult fiction:
* * *
* * *
* * *
8. Would you prefer books with a more specialised approach to your interests, i.e. a novel specifically about uniforms? If so, which subject(s) would you like to read a Nexus novel about?
* * *
* * *
* * *
9. Would you like to read true stories in Nexus books? For instance, the true story of a submissive woman, or a male slave? Tell us which true revelations you would most like to read about:
* * *
* * *
* * *
10. What do you like best about Nexus books?
* * *
* * *
11. What do you like least about Nexus books?
* * *
* * *
12. Which are your favourite titles?
* * *
* * *
13. Who are your favourite authors?
* * *
* * *
14. Which covers do you prefer? Those featuring: (Tick as many as you like.)
Fetish outfits
More nudity
Two models
Unusual models or settings
Classic erotic photography
More contemporary images and poses
A blank/non-erotic cover
What would your ideal cover look like?
* * *
15. Describe your ideal Nexus novel in the space provided:
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
16. Which celebrity would feature in one of your Nexus-style fantasies? We'll post the best suggestions on our website – anonymously!
* * *
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Now simply write the title of this book in the space below and cut out the questionnaire pages. Post to: Nexus, Marketing Dept., Thames Wh
arf Studios, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA
Book title: _________________________________________
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM NEXUS
NEXUS CONFESSIONS VOLUME 3
Various
Swinging, dogging, group sex, cross-dressing, spanking, female domination, corporal punishment, and extreme fetishes . . . Nexus Confessions explores the length and breadth of erotic obsession, real experience and sexual fantasy. This is an encyclopaedic collection of the bizarre, the extreme, the utterly inappropriate, the daring and the shocking experiences of ordinary men and women driven by their extraordinary desires. Collected by the world's leading publisher of fetish fiction, this is the fourth in a series of six volumes of true stories and shameful confessions, never-before-told or published.
PORTRAIT OF A DISCIPLINARIAN
Aishling Morgan
Stephanie 'Stiffy' Truscott has a talent for trouble and no less than six aunts, every one of whom considers the best place for her to be over the knee. They object to her driving, her dancing, but most of all to her choice of fiancé, and as she attempts to evade their preferred form of justice she only manages to dig herself in deeper. After stealing her prospective father-in-law's prize pig and being tricked into joining the local fascists, she knows that the least she can expect is to have her bare bottom caned in front of a large audience, but still she tries to wriggle free.
If you would like more information about Nexus titles, please visit our website at www.nexus-books.co.uk