by Kate Hill
“Yer sisters should know.” His fingers caressed her cheek.
She glanced down at the base of his cock. “I am bleeding…again, but the pain is almost gone.”
“I will be gentle,” he whispered.
“Nae, I do not want gentle.” Zolona tightened her muscles around him. “I may be found out tomorrow or the next, and we both know what that would mean.”
“Ya have little ta fear, my lady.” His hands covered her breasts; the dark pebbles of her nipples grew warm against his palms. “Ya will find as the beast, ya will not be easy ta catch, much less ta kill.”
“Ahh! But as a woman, I have been captured and even now the tip of yer cock-lance points ta my heart.” She began to rock back and forth. Her head rolled upon her shoulders sending long stands of flaxen hair dancing across his hands.
Moving with her, his fingers twisted and pulled at her distended nipples. Her eyes, a sliver of white, glistened between her long, thick lashes, gazed unseeing at the roof of the cave. Soft moans from her parted lips, filled the air, and fueled his desire to please and satisfy her frenzied need.
Her face began to blur as he struggled to meet the wild rocking of her hips with his thrusting cock. Filip ceased to exist as a single person. There was no more he or she, but one, climbing higher on the lofty peak of passion.
His low panting grunts lifted from his throat, mixed with hers, and fell back to his ears sounding like the melody of a shepherd’s flute drifting over the valley on a long and lonely night.
He balanced on the edge of the precipice, waiting. Zolona’s body stiffened, tightened around his, and he dropped over the edge with her. One moment he plunged helpless towards the ground, the next he soared with her on the wings of passion as his world around him exploded, in a rush of heat.
For several seconds, Zolona lay panting, collapsed on his chest. “Oh, my,” she kissed his neck and began giggling. “My oldest sister must be doing it wrong, or else she lied ta me.”
A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “And, what makes ya think of yer sister in this way?”
She rose up on her outstretched arms. Her hair tickled the flesh across his chest. The wild passion of her eyes took on a soft, warm glow. “She told me, ‘Zolona dear, having a man inside ya is disgusting. With their pawing at ya, pulling at yer breasts like the teats of a cow and sticking their filthy little cock inside ya, why, it is downright shameful, but it is our duty as women’.”
He laughed as she mimicked the haughty tone of her sister and her speech of suffrage and duty for the continuance of the human race. “I take it then,” he pulled her down to lie on his chest, “ya do not agree with the wisdom of yer sister?”
Zolona took his lips in an openmouthed seduction. Her tongue dueled with his for dominance and possession. She broke the kiss and whispered in his ear. “What do ya think?”
“I think yer sister is doing it wrong.” The heat from her laughter warmed his skin.
“Come, my shadow-time lover,” she slipped from his arms. “Ya must eat ta keep up yer strength.” She looked over at the skewered meat. “Ya have two choices, regular lamb or…” The corners of her mouth turned down and her shoulders slumped, “very well-done.”
Filip rolled to his side. The portion of meat closest to the fire had burned black. “The lower half resembles my own cooking.” He tried hard not to laugh at her. “It will do fine, my lady.”
She got up, took the spit from the fire, and carried it back to the makeshift bed. “Ya never did tell me yer name.” Zolona tore off a large piece of meat and handed it to him.
“I am Filip.” Sinking his teeth into the meat, he waited. How would she handle the news?
“Pray tell me, from which family?” She laid her hand on his thigh, inches from his cock. “Please, after today’s events, let us not have any secrets between us.”
“I am from the Garlanzo family, as was the old woman.”
Her face turned pale as the color drained from her skin. Dropping the food, her hand flew to her mouth in shock. “Then ya are…” Her eyes grew large, apprehensive.
“The only living heir of Garlanzo Castle.”
Chapter Three
His words were like an angry fist, pounding her heart and mind with no mercy. She gained her feet, staggered to the opening of the cave, and leaned against the sun-warmed stone. What have I done? What of my parents, my sisters, and their families? What will become of them?
“What troubles ya, my love?” Filip stood beside her; she tipped her head and stared into his eyes.
“Ya dare ta call me yer love? This is the reason I was chosen, is it not? So that after all these years, ya could regain the castle, the lands, and the title. Tell me, when did ya and the witch begin ta plan this deceit?”
“Any deception involved came from her. Any virgin would have lifted the curse from me.” He reached out to touch her, but she brushed off his hand and stepped away.
“Oh, really,” she scoffed. “Then why is it, the stone in the village carries the names of so many virgins who did not survive on the altar?”
She saw sadness and heartache flash across his face before he turned away and stared out over the land. “Do ya not realize the guilt I alone must bear for all those deaths?”
“And is there nu guilt that I now bear the curse?”
His shoulders slumped. “More guilt than ya can possibly know.” His voice, soft and broken, drifted to her on the mountain breeze.
“Ya feel guilt now, but how soon will it end and ya stake yer claim ta the title?”
He turned towards her. “So long as the curse rests upon ya, I will make nu claim for land or title.”
“Ya say that now,” she derided. “But what of the long winter nights when ya are huddled by the fire? Will ya not think ta yourself, ‘I am the rightful lord of Garlanzo. Why do I sit here and freeze my balls, when the imposter warms himself by the fire’?”
“That will not happen.” He stepped in front of her.
Even now, she wanted him again. What power did he hold over her? “How can I be sure?” I want ta believe ya. She lifted her hand and placed it on his upper arm. She could feel the nervous tension of his taut muscles.
“Upon the word and honor of a Garlanzo, I make this my solemn vow. For so long as the curse rests upon ya, I will make nu demands for title or lands.”
“I accept yer vow of honor Filip, rightful heir of Garlanzo and lord of the land.” Her arms went around his neck and she sealed the vow with a kiss. So be it, by yer own words, ya shall never lay claim ta my father’s land.
“Come, we shall bathe in the stream and return ta our meal.” Zolona took his hand and walked beside him the short distance ta the small pool.
His size dwarfed hers with his broad muscular shoulders and thick barrel chest. Hair black as midnight, hung to his shoulders and the day-old growth of his beard darkened the lower half of his face. For being such a big, powerful man, Filip was a gentle, passionate lover.
I could have done worse in taking a man… She thought of the person who, had it not been for the curse, she might have already married. Much worse indeed.
The water, from the high snowcapped mountains, sent a shiver up her back. Zolona waded out to where the water reached her mid-thigh and began scrubbing the dried blood from between her legs. After a couple minutes, her teeth were chattering. Looking up, she found his eyes were fixed on the small patch of hair below her waist. Letting her gaze drop, she marveled at the hardness of his cock.
“It would appear my sisters were indeed keeping secrets.” He slipped a finger inside the soft outer folds of her pussy. “They told me they were thankful a man could not get it up more than once a day.”
“Then their beauty must pale beside yours, or they only mate in the dark.”
She began to laugh. “Maria is different, but my sisters would never think ta wash in front of their husbands, much less ta actually ‘do their duty’ in the light of day.”
He wadded out to stand in fro
nt of her. “Then I am glad it was ya who had the courage ta face the beast.”
Reaching up, she touched his face and trailed her fingers down his flesh ‘til they came in contact with his hard cock. She wrapped her fingers around the shaft and squeezed. “I too am glad. I would not care ta lose my sisters ta the beast.”
Filip lowered his head and took her lips in a long, passion-filled kiss. The chill of the water seemed to vanish before the flame of his desire. His cock throbbed within her hand.
She broke the kiss. “I will bathe ya, feed ya, and lay with ya upon the bed.”
“I promised yer father that I would see ya home.” His fingers pinched and pulled at her nipples. A low moan escaped her lips.
“Time enough until tomorrow ta see Papa. It will be difficult ta explain why I can live nu longer under his roof.” She splashed water across his skin. His quick, indrawn breath brought laughter to her lips.
“Laugh ya little wench.”
Ice water covered her breasts. She retaliated with more water, splattering it across his face. Filip lunged for her and Zolona stepped aside, slipped on rocky bottom, and fell. Submerged, she grabbed his feet and pulled bringing him down beside her.
Their arms and legs intertwined and she struggled to free herself. As they broke the surface, his mouth captured hers and all the play stopped. Her arms lifted around his neck, her breasts flattened against his chest, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Take me, here, now, beside the pool.”
“With pleasure, my wolfen queen.” He carried her out of the water and gently lowered her to the grassy slope.
The intensity of his eyes lit a fire where they touched her skin. “Please!” she whimpered. He knelt between her legs and she looked down at the hard shaft of his cock with excitement. This time, she knew there would be no pain, only pleasure.
His fingers brushed the hair between her legs and she licked her lips in anticipation. Filip parted her flesh with his finger and stroked the hard, sensitive nub. Lightning flashed across her flesh and she rocked her hips for more of the same. His low, husky laughter added fuel to the fire of her need.
“Ya torture me with yer…games.” Zolona savored the pleasure of his finger deep inside her, but she wanted more. “Yer finger feels better than my own, but,” she gasped as he slipped a second finger inside her, “yer cock is…bigger. Ohhh!”
Soft, kitten-like moans filled the air. Her fingers clutched at the grass, ripping it from the ground. “Mmmmmmm,” she whimpered at the sudden emptiness.
She opened her eyes to see his face inches from her own. Placing her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer. Their lips met and parted. As his tongue invaded her mouth, his cock slid past the outer folds of her pussy and plunged deep inside her.
Her hips lifted off the grass and ground against his. His cock throbbed inside her, filling her with his heat. “Da! Oh, Da.” She buried her face in the hollow of his shoulder, wrapped her legs around his waist, and held on as his hard, pounding shaft continued to send ripples of pleasure to every nerve.
His breathing labored, his body quivered and jerked. Liquid heat exploded inside her, sending her over the edge with a muffled cry. Zolona shook with the force of her own climax. As the waves of pleasure subsided, she opened her eyes. A dark purple bruise and several teeth marks discolored Filip’s skin.
“Ya have been branded,” she kissed the discolored skin.
Filip turned his head and looked at the mark. “So it would seem.” He stood and stretched out his hand. “Come. We shall eat and then ride ta the castle. I promised yer lord I would have his daughter home.”
“I fear it is too late, the day is far spent.” She took his hand and Filip pulled her to her feet. “I must be gone from there before the time of shadows reaches the valley.”
“We shall be.” He held her hand as they started back up the path. “Once we are outside the castle walls, ya will be safe when the time comes.”
“Ya do not know my family,” she laughed. “Were I ta show up in the afternoon, Mama would bar the gates if I should try ta leave. Alas, she may anyway.”
“Then we shall finish our meal, and then go ta my place.” He led the way into the small cave, sat on the bed, and picked up the remainder of the meat. Tearing off a portion, Filip handed her a piece.
Zolona watched him eat. In the back of her mind, a nagging suspicion kept rearing its ugly head. “How old are ya, Filip?”
He paused and looked at her—or, she felt, through her—as if she were not even there. For several long moments, she did not think Filip was going to answer.
“Why?” He let out a heavy sigh. “Does it matter?”
“Nu.” She turned her eyes back to her food.
“How old do ya think I am?”
“I…do not know,” she answered in truth. “Ya look ta be in yer early twenties, maybe twenty-four or twenty-five. But something tells me ya are much older.” A knowing smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Which do ya prefer, my lady, twenty-four or -five?”
“I think…I like older men, so I will say five.” He is not going ta tell me his real age. Everthing is so different now. Maybe I do not want ta know.
“Good choice.” Filip laughed, stood up, and offered his hand to her.
“Come then, we shall be going. We have some distance ta go and in places, it is difficult.”
“Will we make it before the time of shadows reaches the valley?” She took his hand and rose to her feet.
“Da, but we must hurry.” Filip gave her a quick kiss and turned away. “There are some clothes for ya in the things yer father sent.”
Finding the clothes, she noticed her father chose wisely in their selection. The special riding skirt she had made had caused uproar in the home and a scandal in the village. She did not really care, as long as she could ride astride through the open meadows of the estate.
Filip reached down and picked up the small iron kettle that the witch had used. “Do we need ta take it with us?” She knew the value of a good iron pot. Even a small one, would be of value to a poor shepherd’s family. Zolona, however, sensed some lingering presence of evil that surrounded this pot, and she wanted nothing to do with it.
“I share yer misgivings.” He tossed the iron pot into the shadows. Picking up the sack, he turned to the cavern entrance. “Are ya ready ta see yer new home?”
“As long as ya are with me,” she smiled, “I am ready.”
She rode in front of Filip, keeping her horse at a steady gait to prevent overtiring the animal. They moved up the valley, skirting the small stone houses of her father’s tenants and the shepherds tending their flocks. After crossing the meandering stream several times, he pointed to a smaller creek to the left.
“Follow this inta the mountains.”
With a slight tug of the reins, the horse turned.
Zolona followed the thin trail beside the creek, but pulled up short at the rocky cliff. “Which way now?” she asked in confusion.
With a smile on his face, Filip pointed to a small fissure in the rock face. “Through there.”
Her horse had other notions and it took her several tries to get it to enter the narrow opening. Their feet brushed the rock wall, and once she had to pull her legs up out of the way to make it through.
They finally reached a small finger of green valley on the other side and she let the reins go slack in her hand. Leaning forward, she pushed her ass against his growing cock. His hands moved along her legs, up under the loose shirt she wore, and cupped her breasts.
Dropping the reins, she let the horse choose its own path and undid the buttons on the inside of her thighs.
“What are ya doing?”
“It should be obvious.” Zolona reached behind her and undid the buttons of his trousers.
“I have ta wonder how ya ever made it this long and still be a virgin.” His laughter sounded low and sensuous in her ears.
“I had a bodyguard who was w
ith me everywhere I went.” She grabbed his cock, flipped up the back of her riding skirt, and rubbed against him. “He came out of Egypt and had served his life as a eunuch.”
He brushed her hand away, took hold of his cock, and placed it between her soft outer folds of womanly flesh. Sliding backwards and lowering her hips, Zolona sighed as his hard shaft delved deep into her. Grasping the long flowing mane of the horse for support, she slid up and down on his cock.
Filip grasped her around the waist, and with each backward thrust of her hips, countered with his own.
Her horse began prancing in the field adding to the movement of his cock and depth of penetration inside her. With the long hair of the horse’s mane wrapped around her fingers and her knees pressed against its side, Zolona rode out the rising tempest. The muscles in her legs quivered with each pounding thrust of his cock. She felt the surge of liquid heat flow from his cock and with a cry of passion collapsed on the horse’s neck as her climax washed over her in breath-robbing waves.
“Oh! I shall never be able ta ride again…without comparing it with this one.” Her breathing slowed, her pounding heart quieted, and she loosened her grip on the horse’s hair. Taking the reins, she slowed the horse to a walk.
“And when I see ya on a horse, walking through the tall meadow grass, I will grow hard with remembering the passion of this ride.”
The stone face of a house set against a towering cliff came into view. “We are home, my lady. It is not so grand as ya are use ta, but it is comfortable and dry.”
“It looks wonderful. I will be honored ta share it with ya.” She brought the horse to a stop with a slight backward pressure on the reins, swung her leg over, and hopped lightly to the ground.
Filip dismounted, took her hand, and led her to the front door. “My lady, yer cottage awaits.” He opened the door and bowed out of the way.
Zolona stepped across the threshold and looked around in wonder. The house continued as part of a cavern deep into the side of the cliff. She could tell much time and effort had been taken in building his home.
“This is more than adequate, Filip. It’s lovely.” Turning, she slipped her arms around him. “Thank ya,” she whispered, and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek.