Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

I wont ever be ready. But incredibly, it didnt seem as if he intended to force her.

“By the way, he said, closing his eyes.

“Yes?

“Dont try sneaking off. I have bodyguards outside. Ive told them you might try to leave.

“Oh. Damn.

“Tyrannical despotism, he muttered. “Where did you learn such words?

“From reading, I guess. Or reading to my students.

“Reading! He turned onto his side, rolling Allegra onto her back, and pushed up on his elbow so he could look at her. “How can you read?

She frowned at him. “I open the book and look at the words.

“Well, yes. He actually laughed. “So do I. But Im a man. Youre a woman. And women cant read.

“Oh, stop. She turned over, putting her back to him.

“Allegra. He rolled her back toward him. “Im not trying to insult you. Jazid women are illiterate. Its illegal to teach them reading, writing or anything else.

“Thats the stupidest thing Ive heard yet.

Scowling, he said, “I would appreciate it if you refrained from denigrating my intelligence.

“I didnt mean you. I meant denying girls their education.

“Its always been that way. Shifting his weight, he pinned her legs with one of his while he trailed his fingers over her stomach. “A woman has one purpose in life. To please a man. If you let women read and write and do numbers, it distracts them from their purpose.

Allegra snorted. “I cant believe you actually said that horse manure with a straight face.

“Maybe if you spent less time reading, he said crossly, “and more time learning the ways of your sex, your personality would be more pleasant.

“I like my personality fine. Its yours Im finding insufferable.

“Do you have any idea what could happen to you for speaking that way to the prince regent of Jazid?

“So where is he?

He spoke wryly. “Well, I cant say for certain, but I believe he is lying next to you, attempting quite unsuccessfully to obtain pleasure from his pleasure girl.

Allegra reddened. “I meant, if youre the regent, where is the king? The atajazid?

“Someplace hidden. He slid his hand over her leg and under her skirt, between her thighs. “And no, I wont tell you where.

Sensation burst within Allegra, starting where he touched her and spreading through her body. Embarrassed by her reaction, she pushed away his hand. No one had ever touched her this way, not even Tanner when they tussled in the barn. “Please, dont, she said. “I cant do this. The only way youll get what you want is through force. Is that what you intend?

“I wont hurt you, Allegra. He slid down her body and shifted so he was on top of her, his hips between her knees. His voice gentled. “Try to relax. The miradella will help. Then he lowered his head and suckled her breast, his unshaven chin rough on her skin.

Allegra groaned as sensations shot through her body. Had he been someone she loved and trusted, it might have felt good. Now it frightened her. When she tried to wriggle away, he caught her wrists and pinned them on either side of her body.

Just get it over with, she thought. She stared at the cloth of the tent and tried to imagine herself somewhere else.

Markus lifted his head. “Youre as stiff as a plank.

“Please d-dont Her voice caught with a sob.

“Ah, hell. Dont cry. He slid up along her body until he was looking into her face. “Love shouldnt upset you.

She rubbed her face with her palm, smearing the tears across her cheeks. “Its not love. Its coercion.

“You should try harder to please me, he grumbled.

“Why? Why dont you try to please me?

“I swear, you are the strangest woman I have ever met. He rolled off her and lay on his side with his head propped up on his hand. His gaze traveled along her body. “Strange, but erotic. When you walked into the tent yesterday, I couldnt believe it. Ive never seen a woman like you. Gold hair and violet eyes? I hadnt really believed such existed. He put his hand around her waist. “Youre so small here. And this womanly shape. An hourglass. You could drive me mad.

Allegra was certain now about his lack of sanity. Sure, she had a small waist, in comparison, because what went above and below it were so much more ample.

“Im fat, she said.

“What idiot told you that?

“I can look in a mirror.

“Youre just right. He brushed his lips over hers. “Most Aronsdale women are too skinny.

She was at a loss for a response. From him, the compliment didnt have the ugly edge it had when Vardok had said something similar.

Markus smiled. “What, no cutting insult to humble me?

“Humble, she said, “is not a word I would use for you.

“What words would you use?

“Arrogant. She paused, uncertain. “Are you cruel? I thought so, but now I dont know.

“I am what I am. He laid his palm over her breast and rubbed her in circles. “I dont know if it is cruel or not.

“Thirty lashes and three days dragged in chains? She knocked his hand away. “That was cruel.

His voice hardened. “Its the principle. If the men start thinking of our armaments as supplies for their personal use, it will be a disaster.

“He hasnt seen his child in years! You could have ordered him to pay it back in double or do hard labor. Instead youll have him damn near killed and then humiliated in front of your company. And you think hell serve you with loyalty after that?

“He will fear to do anything else.

“Thats no way to command an army.

His voice cooled. “And you are an expert in military discipline?

“Its common sense.

“Youve a good deal of arrogance yourself, to so blithely dismiss my leadership.

“You really want people to follow you out of fear? Wouldnt you rather they followed you out of respect?

“They wont respect me if I appear weak. He seemed more puzzled than angry. “I would have lost their respect if I let you humiliate me without an appropriate response.

She didnt doubt that was why he had spoken loudly while he was cracking the belt. “Then why did you mostly pretend with me?

“I told you why.

She didnt believe him. “I dont understand how you can be brutal one moment and compassionate the next.

He studied her face as if she were a puzzle he needed to solve. “Those are your judgments. Not mine.

“If you go through with those thirty lashes, it will tear the flesh off his back.

“Hes already been lashed by now. Markus scowled at her. “And stop trying to distract me.

“From what? Committing rape?

“Saints, woman!

“What, am I supposed to pretend I like it? Ill never do that, no matter how many ways you threaten or drug me.

Markus glowered at her. “I dont need women to pretend with me. Any other would be honored by my attentions.

She felt as if she had a lion by the tail, and that if she relaxed for a moment, he would devour her. “Im not other women.

“Thats certainly true. He rolled onto his back, his torso half-raised in the cushions, his long legs stretched out on the carpet. “Im tired, and I cant sleep. Sing to me.

“All right. Maybe she could make a spell. For what, though? Creating light would serve no purpose, and she had no particular wish to offer comfort. She didnt know any other spells. Surely, though, even someone as minimally talented as herself could manage something useful. He obviously had trouble sleeping, and her last spell had made Stubble sleepy. It had also aroused him, and she didnt need Markus any more worked up, but if she could put him to sleep, he would leave her alone.

“I really do need a disk to hold, she added.

“That makes no sense, he grumbled.

“It helps me focus. Which was true.

He waved at a chest behind his head. “You may look there.