Pressing a kiss to her temple, he sat back and watched her sleep. If she had any nightmares, he’d chase them away. For now, his woman had to sleep soundly.
****
Ashley lost count of how long she’d been there. The days turned to nights, and nights turned to days. That first night, she’d gone to bed alone, but every single night since then, Draven had joined her. His arm banded around her waist, pulling her against him, demanding so much without a single word.
She felt the evidence of his erection constantly pressing against her back. He wanted her, and each night she expected him to rape her. Every time he came to the room, he always had a book with him. His demands were always the same. A kiss for the book or at least to read some of the book.
It surprised her every time he brought her food. She expected him to want some other form of payment for the pleasure to eat.
Standing at his window, she looked down at the grounds. She saw people, his people, milling around. Some were carrying firewood, and others were working the land. She’d noticed a small patch of earth that had been overturned where they were trying to grow fruit and vegetables.
There was a time she loved to have fresh strawberries dipped in rich, sweet cream.
“Morning,” Draven said, entering his quarters.
She turned to him as he put the tray filled with food down. The two romance books he brought every single morning were still within his grasp. She had yet to read a single page.
Was it selfish of her to just want to sit and read without making any payment? Would it be so bad to give him what he wanted?
Glancing from the book to the owner, she averted her gaze as he watched her. She wrapped her fingers around the ink that claimed her fertile. Whenever he was in the room, it always made her nervous. The ink was what made him choose her, she was sure of it, and she hated it.
This ink didn’t make her any different from Luanna or any other woman.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. I don’t like you having nightmares.”
Since sleeping in his bed, the nightmares had been chased away, but she didn’t tell him that. The last thing she wanted was for him to believe he had some kind of power here.
“I should be downstairs helping everyone,” she said, pointing out of the window.
“Everyone has a job to do, and you’d be bored.”
She turned back to the window. “I’m a hard worker. I was before I got this stupid thing.” She lifted her wrist to see. “I can be useful here. Please, I don’t want to spend my entire life living in this room. I want to help. To do my part.”
“You do enough.”
Slamming her hand against the wall, she whirled around to look at him. “I’m doing nothing. You don’t want me to do anything. Do you really think I’m happy with this? The only thing I’m good for is my fucking womb.”
Rage filled her body. It took her by surprise, but it didn’t stop her as she started to strip the clothes away until she stood before him naked. There was no point wearing a bra and panties. If all he wanted was her body, then fine. She would just have to give herself to the beast and hoped that once it was gone, she would survive it somehow.
“There. This is what you want, right? I’m right here, ready to do my duty.” She stormed toward him. Grabbing the book from his hand, she threw it across the room.
Her hands shook, and tears filled her eyes. She wasn’t ready for this. With her hands on her hips, she waited, daring him.
There was no point in being afraid, and all she could think to do was get this over with.
He stared up from her feet. His gaze went over every inch of her body until he landed on her face. He stood up, and she watched as he adjusted his cock.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stand still. To stare into his eyes. For him to know that she wasn’t going to be ignored.
The moment he was right in front of her, she was completely taken back by how big he actually was. He wasn’t small by any means.
She flinched as he reached out to touch her. Clenching her teeth together, she waited for him to hurt her.
He tucked her hair behind her ear, and down he stroked until his finger was beneath her chin and he tilted her head back.
Keeping her eyes open, even as tears fell down her cheeks, she stared at him, waiting for the pain. A touch she never asked for.
He lowered his head, and still she didn’t pull away. Her stubbornness stopped her from doing anything but staying still.
When his lips touched hers, she didn’t respond.
Draven didn’t rush. He explored her lips, taking his time, and against her own wishes, she started to find herself responding to his kiss. Wanting him. The hit of pleasure took her by surprise as her nipples started to harden.
Her stomach clenched, and she reached out, shocked by how strongly she felt this tug to touch him. He didn’t move her to the bed. His finger stayed on her chin, keeping her head lifted even as she kissed him back.
This was the first ever kiss she’d been given.
Running her hands up his body, she wrapped them around his neck and moaned as she opened her mouth and he plundered inside her. It felt so amazing, so hard, and so everything she wanted.
Pressing her body against his, she gripped his shoulders, and still he didn’t touch her. He didn’t spread her legs and fuck her.
Instead, he pulled away.
She watched, amazed, as he licked his lips, and there was a glint in his eye. Something she couldn’t read.
“I think for that kiss, you can read the entire book.” He stepped away from her, and she saw the evidence of his arousal pressing against the front of his pants.
Why hadn’t he taken her?
He picked up the book she’d thrown aside, and he put it on the tray.
Next, he picked up her clothes and knelt before her. He held her panties out, and seeing no reason to fight him, she stepped into the panties, and he slid them up her body, putting them into place.
She expected him to leave it at that, but he wouldn’t. He helped her into her bra, trousers, and shirt. The socks she wore were the only things she’d not kicked off for him.
Once the shirt was in place, he held the bottom of the material between his fingers.
“I know you don’t think highly of me right now. I’m being selfish with you, and I know that it scares you. I’m not going to hurt you, nor am I going to rush you. When you’re ready, I’ll take you. Show you what you want, and give you everything your heart desires. It’s not safe for you to be with others.”
Tears filled her eyes as he spoke. His voice was so soothing, so gentle. Hypnotizing.
“Why can’t Luanna be here then?”
“She hasn’t got this.” He held her wrist up, his fingers stroking over the delicate ink.
“I hate this.”
“I know. Something happens to men who see it. I don’t know why or even how it happens, I just know it drives them crazy. They want what they can’t have. My men are good people, and to make sure I don’t have to kill them, and to keep you safe, it’s why you’re here.”
“It’s also why you’ve claimed me?”
“Yes, I have claimed you. You’re mine, Ashley.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you so much for kissing me.”
He helped her into her seat and then walked out of the room.