Claiming Their Maiden (6 page)

smearing the tip of his thick length.

“When I mate with you, Amelia, a sacred bond will form between us, a bond that will last

a lifetime.” He paused as he considered his next move. “If I free your hands, do you promise to

be a good girl?”

She breathed out a sigh of frustration. “I—I don’t know.”

He grinned and started working the belt loose. “I want you on your back, looking at me

when I claim you. And I want you to be a good girl and take my cock.” He grabbed her chin,

squeezing until she sought his eyes. “There’s no use in fighting me. You’re mine. And I intend to

take what’s mine.”

Amelia couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. She was consumed by an unfamiliar need,

and this unfamiliar need was paired with her fear over a situation she had no control over. All

sensation centered on a pulsing point between her legs, and every caress, every kiss, and every

touch from Trent send a sizzling shockwave through her body and straight back to this pulsing

point. Though her wrists had been freed from the belt, he kept her arms pinned above her head

on the pillow as he trailed kisses down her neck, running his teeth over her collarbone. His thick

stubble grazed her flesh, tickling and scraping her all over, tantalizing her and driving away all

rational thought.

He worked the buttons on the front of her gown, and lowered the garment to her waist.

She took advantage of her arms finally being free to cover her breasts with her hands.

Disapproval darkened his eyes, but she refused to uncover herself. Instead of forcing her hands

away, he moved off of her and yanked her gown the rest of the way off, taking her slippers with

it and leaving her bare, except for her drawers. Amelia couldn’t decide whether to keep her

hands on her breasts, or to reach down and stop him from baring her completely. He’d already

seen her bottom. He’d already explored the wetness between her thighs. But her drawers at least

gave her a small sense of modesty. Trent shot her a small smile before ripping that modesty away

and tossing the final garment to the floor.

He straddled her, his huge length smearing a sticky substance on her thigh. She trembled,

waiting for his next move. Huge muscles bulged from his arms, and his chest was wide and

covered with the same silvery white hair as his head. He was practically a giant compared to her.

She felt small and fragile beneath him, and a tiny part of her whispered that she wished to please

him. Why she wanted to please him, she couldn’t say. Perhaps it was due to fear, or the fact that

she had no one else but Trent and Gavin. She hadn’t a place in the world until now, though the

circumstances leading her to this castle and these two Banded brothers were nothing less than

crazy.

Could she find happiness here? Was it possible Gavin had been right about the Goddess

giving her to them as a gift?

No. The very idea was insane. And yet…she wanted to believe. Wanted to believe her

troubles had ended and a beautiful new life had just begun.

Warmth reflected in Trent’s eyes and he leaned over her, cupping her face to brush away

tears she hadn’t realized had fallen. Goddess, why couldn’t she stop crying? He bent down to

kiss her cheeks, her closed eyelids, and her lips. His lips were fire, scorching through to her soul,

and drawing heat to the surface of her body.

She arched her hips up, needing to feel more of him, needing to feel the pain she knew

was inevitable. It was as if he’d put a spell on her, and her actions weren’t truly her own.

He began to speak in a tongue she didn’t understand. Even though she didn’t understand

it, his words had a rhyme to them, and she sensed it was part of some weird mating ceremony.

She wished she’d paid more attention to the stories about the forest and more specifically, the

Banded Men.

He stopped speaking and peered into her eyes with an intensity that stole her breath away.

He positioned his huge, erect cock at her entrance, and she obediently spread her legs apart.

Bracing for the pain, she winced as he pushed inside partially, stretching her tight entrance with

his rod. He stilled, and she was grateful he was permitting her time to get used to his size.

“It will only hurt this first time, girl.” His tone was deep but gentle.

“How much will it hurt?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“If I could take the pain on myself, I would.” Strange words coming from the man who’d

instructed his brother to punish her, yet she believed him. Trust flittered around her heart, trying

to push its way inside her protective shell. As much as she wanted to shove Trent away, she also

wanted to wrap her arms around him and draw him closer. No one had ever promised to keep her

safe. Perhaps she was a fool to consider trusting him, but the notion of being cared for, of being

protected, was a temptation she couldn’t resist.

A risk she had to take. Maybe.

She circled her arms around him, and marveled at the feel of his solid back under her

palms. He thrust forward without warning, forcing past her barrier until he was seated fully

inside her. He smothered her scream with his mouth, pressing his lips firmly to hers until the

pain faded along with her cries. Although her cries and moans weren’t solely due to the pain.

The pressure of being filled with his cock caused a pleasurable ache to settle deep in her inner

core. It was a relief when he began to drive in and out of her pussy with slow, precise

movements. More than a relief.

It was ecstasy.

Air rushed into her chest when he broke away from her lips. The sweet taste of his

tongue, like candy, lingered. To her shock, she wished he’d kiss her again. She flushed at this

thought. She hadn’t wanted this. She’d fought him. Sort of. What was wrong with her? Shame

clouded her mind, and she turned her face to the side to avoid Trent’s heated gaze, as well as

more of those kisses she hungered for.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” His scolding tone brought her attention back to him, and he forced

her to meet his eyes. “Don’t you dare even blink, girl.”

“Why?” she whispered, though she already knew the answer.

“Because now I’m yours as much as you are mine. If you try to shut me out, I’ll do

whatever it takes to command your attention.” He grinned, thrusting harder and faster as if to

prove his point.

The meaning behind his words melted her shame, and she felt warm all over. She floated

into a blissful state as he pounded her again and again.

* * *

“You want to share her? As in both of us taking her at the same time?” Gavin asked,

turning to glare at his brother. “Tell me you’re fucking kidding.”

The lanterns illuminating the hallway outside Amelia’s room cast a yellow glow across

Trent’s face. “She needs to understand she belongs to us both. It’s a good idea. Why shouldn’t

we?”

“She just lost her maidenhead, and I haven’t even been with her by myself yet.” Gavin

paused and crossed his arms over his chest. Taking a woman at the same time as his brother had

never crossed his mind. He wondered if the practice was common among other Banded Men.

The idea didn’t repulse him. Quite the opposite, in fact. But Gavin worried Trent’s proposal

would push Amelia past her point of tolerance, overwhelming her with all that was required of

her as their mate. Too much, too soon.

“We can finish this discussion later. I’ve joined with her, brother. Now it’s your turn.

You cannot delay. She’s going to try to escape the first chance she gets, and we both need to be

able to find her, especially given the trouble she’s had in her village.”

Gavin cursed under his breath and eyed Amelia’s door. Trent had filled him in about her

past, and while a human bounty hunter venturing this far into the forest seemed unlikely, there

was a first time for everything. They needed to protect what was theirs.

Amelia.

The door opened and two servant girls slipped out and disappeared down the hallway.

Gavin and Trent kept silent until the sound of their footsteps vanished.

“I’ll claim Amelia tonight. You don’t have to worry about that.” Gavin headed for the

door and entered her room, leaving Trent and their unfinished conversation behind.

He scanned the room, intent to get their mating over with as soon as possible. Even

though Amelia might hate them now, her hatred wouldn’t last forever. Eventually she’d come

around and see that being found by Trent in the forest was a blessing. Eventually she’d

understand the reason for their abrupt joining. There wasn’t enough time to allow her to get to

know them better. There wasn’t enough time to wait for tender feelings to emerge. Trent had

already joined with her, and Gavin’s mating with her would strengthen their ability to protect her

twofold.

A large tub filled with water rested in the middle of the room, but Amelia wasn’t there.

The room was dimmer than usual, and he grinned when he noticed many of the lanterns had been

extinguished. The little imp was trying her best to hide.

“Show yourself, Amelia.” He kept his tone firm. Even though Trent had the worst

temper, Gavin had been the only one to discipline her so far. Perhaps she feared him the most.

She remained hidden, and Gavin marched back to the door, locked it, and stuffed the key

deep in his pocket. He wasn’t in the mood for a merry chase about the castle. She wasn’t in any

of the obvious places—not under the bed, or behind the curtains. Gavin’s patience wore thinner

and thinner as he continued his search.

“I didn’t come in here to play hide and seek with you, sweetling. Now show yourself this

instant, or I’ll smack your bottom good when I find you.”

A minute passed, and the room remained quiet with no sign of Amelia. The rain picked

up outside, battering against the window, and making it difficult to listen for her panicked

breathing.

“Time’s up,” he said. “Now you have a spanking coming.” He’d follow through with his

threat, and his cock twitched at the memory of her reddened backside. Punishing her last night

had affected him in a way he hadn’t anticipated. The act had been intimate, and watching her

cheeks blush under his hand downright erotic. The only reason he hadn’t taken her right then was

because he wanted her to rest after her ordeal in the forest. Taking her then would’ve been cruel.

A shuffling near the door caught his attention. He turned just in time to see her jamming a

key into the lock. The little thief. She’d stolen Trent’s key. Gavin pounced on her before she got

the door open. He tossed her over his shoulder and carried her to bed, kicking and screaming.

She clawed at his back like a wild cat, and when he threw her down on the mattress, she lunged

at him with flying fists. The little thing was tougher than she looked.

Gavin pinned her down on the bed. “Stop it!” His angry, booming voice made her go

still, and she gazed at him with eyes full of fear.

“I—I heard you talking to Trent in the hallway. You can’t do that to me! I won’t let you!”

“If you heard everything we talked about, sweetling, then you’ll know how much Trent

cares for you. You’ll know that he only has your best interests at heart, as do I. The sooner you

accept that you’re our mate, the sooner you’ll find happiness. He believes sharing you will

accomplish just that.”

“My best interests? I’m your fucking prisoner.”

He flinched at the curse word. “You’re our mate, and you’re a lady. If that word comes

out of your mouth again, you’ll regret it.”

“Ah,” she said sarcastically. “Let me guess. You’ll spank me.”

“That’s right.”

“So anytime I piss you or Trent off, I get a spanking?”

Gavin’s anger waned, and he brought Amelia up to face him, keeping her arms pinned to

her sides. “No. You have it wrong. If you misbehave, we spank you. We teach you a lesson when

you’re naughty. You’re our mate and we expect you to have good manners.” He leaned closer

and his voice deepened. “And most important, we expect you to obey us.”

Amelia shivered in his arms, and her gaze traveled to the window. She finally spoke after

a long silence. “I never expected to have a husband. I saw things in the village that made me

think men were cruel. Even if I’d had a family and a big fat dowry, I wouldn’t have wanted a

husband.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “And now I have two men. This doesn’t seem real. I

keep expecting to wake up. If I fight you enough, I’ll be able to wake up from this dream.”

Gavin released her arms, trusting that she’d keep her hands to herself. She lowered her

head, and strands of her long, silky brown hair obscured her face. He reached out to touch her,

and to his delight, she didn’t cringe away. With gentle movements, he traced her jaw and ran his

fingers over her lips. Her skin was soft and delicate. He brushed her hair behind her ears and

tilted her head up.

“Tomorrow Trent will take you on a tour of the castle and the surrounding Banded