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Innocent Pawn Ch. 01

By: wishfulthinking



"My Lord," a thin man with a shock of white hair appeared in the entrance to the study.

"Jean-Claude," Leonn de Angel acknowledged his footman without glancing up, his quill flowing across the page in stark, bold script without pause.

"de Lauriers' man requests an audience. He believes he has something that is of great interest to you."

"Ah," Leonn murmured, resting the quill in the inkpot and leaning back in his leather chair to observe the servant patiently awaiting his orders. 

Picking up his ruby encrusted dagger, he fingered the sharp tip. A sudden smile flicked across his face, a strange mixture of triumph and hatred.

"Show him in," Leonn ordered.

Jean-Claude bowed and silently departed to return a short time later with a man at his heels. 

de Lauriers' man was dark as night, a fact which was further emphasised by the black leather breaches and vest. A long sword swung from his hip, the only weapon visible to the eye. 

Leonn rose gracefully to his feet, easily the tallest man in the room. "Cain," he greeted. The black man bowed. "Stand up, there is no formality between us. Especially after knocking you on your ass on the practice field."

White teeth flashed momentarily in the dark face before he nodded in acknowledgement. 

"What brings you to my door?" Leonn asked, folding his arm across his broad chest.

"My lord sends a token of his gratitude for your continued support." No more was said of the betrayal of one of de Laurier's closest aids that played a pivotal role in his father's death six-month's earlier.

"Such gifts are not necessary between friends," Leonn replied. "However, please convey my deepest gratitude to your lord for such an unexpected gift."

Cain nodded before striding to the door and barking out an order. A man quickly appeared carrying a young maid. 

Leonns's amber eyes narrowed as they slowly moved over the unconscious form, taking in the cloud of scarlet that hid her face from view, the simple gray gown and the pink toes that peeked out from beneath the voluminous hem. 

Leonn bid the man to place her on the low leather couch near the stone fireplace, his face impassive. Both Cain and Leonn remained silent as the man gently laid the tiny form on the couch before turning to leave. 

"This is Isabella Margerite d'Alsace, the only living child of Count Fredrich d'Alsace," Cain said finally after the man had left. 

"Isabella," Leonn murmured, testing the sound of her name on his lips. The daughter of the man responsible for the brutal slaying of Leonn's father. His hands clenched at his sides at the thought of victory so close at hand.

"I've had my men scouting England and France for traces of her existence for the past six months, with no trace of her," Leonn said, finally dragging his gaze from his prize. "Where did your men discover her?" 

"A convent in the French Alps, my Lord," answered Cain. "A novice willingly gave over the information in exchange for her freedom."

"Freedom from the convent or from you?" Leonn inquired silkily.

"Why the convent, my lord. A right willing wench when she got the hang of things."

"And the girl?" Leonn asked with a casualness he was far from feeling.

"Untouched by my men. She yet claims to be a virgin."

"We shall see." Leonn slid open a draw and flipped the lid of a heavy silver box. He withdrew a pouch and tossed it to Cain. Leonn knew Cain and his men would be paid by de Laurier, but they had accomplished what his had not, and for that they deserved to be richly rewarded.

"You are most generous, my lord," Cain murmured, his astonishment at the Leonn's generosity quickly masked. "My men will no doubt be equally gratified." 

"My servant will escort you and your men to the kitchens. Cook will see to your needs."

Cain bowed, realising he had been dismissed, and quickly departed. 

Leonn moved to sit on the edge of the large mahogany desk, his arms crossed before him as he gazed thoughtfully upon his captive. She lay motionless on the couch, her fragile wrists bound with cloth. The fingers were long and shapely, the nails perfect pink ovals. Glossy scarlet waves hid her face from view, and Leonn's eyes traced the silken fronds where they fanned over the small peaks that rose and fell in soft, even breaths. The rest of her figure was a mystery, hidden beneath the heavy folds of her gray novice's attire. 

Leonn moved silently toward the unaware creature. Her beauty, or lack of, was irrelevant for his purposes. She would succumb to his touch, willingly or not, and carry his bastard in her belly. And when the timing was right, she would be the bait to lure her murderous father from the depths of his hiding place. 

Kneeling beside the couch, he withdrew his dagger and grasped her bound wrists in one large palm and effortlessly sawed through the cloth. Guessing her legs to be similarly bound, he pushed up the heavy gray skirts to reveal surprisingly dainty ankles and sliced through the bonds. Intrigued, he ran an exploratory hand up over the smooth creamy skin to circle her knee. When she did not move, he tugged her unresisting creamy thighs apart, intent on discovering the mysteries of his unconscious captive. His palm glided along her soft inner thigh, drawing the heavy cloth as he went. Intent of discovering on whether the crowning glory at the apex of her thighs matched the fiery scarlet mane, he was startled from his intense perusal by the sudden snap of her knees together, capturing his hand in the silky prison of her thighs. 

~ * ~

Pretending to be unconscious while the man cut her bonds to all her nerve, and she almost fainted from shock at the feel his hands delving beneath her skirts. Never before in all her nineteen years had a man dared to touch her so brazenly. Unable to observe his movements through her tangled scarlet mane covering her face, she had laid passively while with slow, furtive movements her fingers closed around the small knife she had hidden in the loose folds of her sleeve. 

As the intrusive hand snaked up her inner thigh, she knew she had to strike before the slight tremor his touch caused gave away her conscious state. She snapped her thighs together, seeking to trap his hand there as she blindly brought the knife down, intent on doing as much harm as she could with her obscured vision.

He swore as the blunt knife caught him, and his free hand seized her wrist in a crushing grip, twisting it painfully so that tears of agony welled in her eyes. His other hand wrenched from between her legs as the knife fell unheeded to the fur rug, ripe with the colour of fresh blood.

"Traitorous bitch," he muttered as his fingers tangled in her mane, tugging her head back in an unyielding grip, causing her to whimper in pain.

"Let go of me," she gasped. His only response was to tug harder. Stormy green eyes, swimming with tears, met fiery amber ones. 

"You will learn to obey me," he muttered furiously. "I will not tolerate disobedience. I have ways of punishing you that will have you begging for mercy."

At that he let her go and she cringed back into the leather cushions, trying to keep as much distance as she could between them. The fierce determination and hatred blazing out of a face more beautiful than a fallen angel burned into her memory like an imprint.

He picked up the bloodied knife and rose with cat-like grace to his feet. She watched in fearful breathlessness as he moved away from her, tearing at the rich fabric of his sleeve. She knew who he was from the awed whispers around the band of men that had wrenched her so brutally from the safe haven of the convent at sword-point, and kept her bound and drugged as they traveled speedily to the southern regions of France. Leonn de Angle, the Golden Lion. 

"Merely a scratch." He curtly informed his unsympathetic captive. She eyed the distance between the couch and the door with trepidation. Could she?

"Yet your disobedience cannot go unpunished." She blinked, focusing wide green eyes on the tall man with unusual burning amber eyes set in a tanned face framed by the fall of long straight golden hair. She was unable to the heated look in his eyes as he gazed down at her tiny, defenseless figure as he muttered those words. "Stand up," he ordered. When she didn't move, he said very quietly, "now."

Something in his tone of voice alerted her to the impending danger should she dare refuse him, and she slid slowly and unsteadily to her feet. Only when she stood defiantly before him, her slender frame draped in the enveloping folds of her gray novice's gown, her stormy green eyes staring fixedly at a point beyond his shoulder, did he speak again.

"Take off your clothes." 

The breath caught in her throat, and her eyes slid to his in shock. When she simply stood there aghast, he closed the distance between them and grasped the neckline of her gown and tore the fabric with a rendering rip, exposing the rosy tips of her breasts clearly visible through her thin wispy chemise. Using both hands this time he ripped the heavy material to the hem and roughly pushed the cloth from her shoulders so that it fell in a tattered pool at her feet. 

She backed away from him as his eyes flickered intently over her skimpy chemise, trying to put as much distance as possible between them. A gasp escaped her as his fingers stretched out and wrapped around her tiny wrist, dragging her up against his chest. 

"Don't," she cried, but is was no use as his mouth settled on hers, his fingers tangling in the curls at her nape. He ignored her struggles as his mouth tasted hers, and she moaned against him as she felt fingers curl around the back of her chemise, yanking down hard on the fine fabric. She tore her mouth from his, moisture beading her lashes as he held her firm in the circle of his arms. Her fingers desperately held the flimsy material against her breasts, but he was stronger, his hands tearing it from her slender body. 

"Now why couldn't you have done that yourself?" he queried softly, his amber eyes raking over her with slow intent. She was an alluring nymph as she stood trembling before him, the perfection of the silky expanse of milky skin contrasting heavily against the rich vibrant mane that tumbled to her bottom. The flickering firelight played shadow games with the crests and valleys of her delicious young body, making his fingers itch to explore every inch.

She refused to cover herself, glaring straight ahead with her hands clenched at her sides. She squeezed her eyes shut as his fingers pinched a rosy tipped breast. She trembled as the hand trailed lower, down over her belly to delve in the soft fleece at the apex of her thighs.

Involuntarily she stepped back, and he laughed, following her, until she was pressed up against the wall. She swallowed hard as a large palm splayed over her belly, holding her firm as his other hand delved between her quivering thighs, gently tracing the shy pink lips.

A blush heated her cheeks as he gazed down at her, watching every expression flicker across her guileless face as he caressed her there. She tried to fight him, her tiny fists pushing ineffectually at the unyielding wall of his broad chest, but he shifted his body, pressing her hard against the wall as he peeled her lips apart, his finger gently rubbing her pink flesh. She whimpered as he continued to massage her there, and soon she felt an unfamiliar sensation begin to unfurl low in her belly. 

She moaned as his head dipped and his mouth captured hers, pressing her head back against the wall as he forced her to accept his kiss. She was sinking under the new sensations as his fingers teased her innocent flesh, and she couldn't prevent her hips arching into his caresses. Taking that as a signal, he picked her up in his solid arms as though she weighed nothing and strode over to the large the mahogany desk. He swept his arm impatiently across its surface, scattering papers onto the floor, and deposited her on her back on the warm wood, her legs dangling over the edge. With determined hands he pushed her legs up so the soles of her feet lay flat on the surface, her toes curling over the edge. 

"Please don't," she pleaded softly, not sure what he intended to do as his hands slid between her bent knees and pushed them far apart so that they almost touched the desk on either side. 

"Has any man touched you here?" he asked softly, his tall frame leaning over her as his finger gently brushed over the curls protecting her secret place. Golden amber eyes bored into hers as she silently shook her head, her eyes pleading with him to end this unknown torture.

"Has a man ever kissed you here?"

Her body arched as his cruel mouth closed over the tingling flesh of her breast, sucking and nibbling in unending torment. 

"No," she choked out, tears welling in her eyes as her body arched against his mouth of it's own accord. 

His drew his head back to gaze down at her troubled face as his thumb leisurely circled the pink nub nestled between her legs. She felt a trickle of warmth in that forbidden place and she moaned in shame.

"Have you ever touched yourself here?"

"Stop," she gasped, her hands gripping the edge of the desk as he circled that sensitive flesh.

"Have you?" he demanded, flicking the throbbing nub. 

"No, it's a sin," she cried as her treacherous body stirred against the sensations his touch wrought.

"There is no sin in pleasure," he whispered, leaning over her and brushing his lips against hers. Her protests were cut off as his mouth slanted over hers in a gentle but firm kiss, moving slowly and inexorably over hers until she became used to the unfamiliar caress of his tongue. Overwhelmed by the gentle tutoring of his warm mouth, she froze when a caressing finger began probing her, circling her dewy gate before sliding slowly up inside of her. 

She whimpered against his mouth as she felt herself stretched around the invading digit. "No," she gasped, tearing her mouth from his and beating at him with her small fists. She bucked her hips, trying to dislodge the intruding finger, and gasped as it slid up deeper inside of her. He caught her wrists in his large palm, pinning them effortlessly above her head. She continued to struggle, but the strong body wedged between her legs prevented her from closing them against his invasion as his finger caressed her tight walls. Her eyes widened as another finger slid up inside of her, stretching her tight walls uncomfortably as it joined its mate. Soon she was moaning as his fingers rocked inside of her in a furious rhythm, her young body instinctively clenching and unclenching around him as she was unable to fight the growing sensations that sought to overwhelm her. She felt a coiling tension begin low in her belly, winding tighter and tighter until she felt as though she would snap from frustration. Her breathing was ragged, her soft moans filling the room.

His finger stilled inside of her, and she moaned in distress. "Please," she cried, no longer sure if she was asking him to stop this torment. 

"Beg me to make you come," he breathed in her ear, and goose pimples rose on the back of her neck.

When she wouldn't, couldn't answer, his thumb leisurely circled her nub, causing her to cry out. 

"Tell me you want me touching you were no other man has, making you spend on my fingers,"

"Please," she whispered, her hips pushing against his motionless hand, silently urging him to continue his depraved attentions.

"Say the words, and your punishment will be over." His tongue wrought havoc in the delicate pink shell of her ear.

As his large palm closed over her breast, the thumb sliding teasingly over a stiff nipple, his strange words penetrated the hazy fog of excitement shrouding her mind. "Punishment," she thought silently to herself. This was what he meant by punishment.

"N-no," she gasped uncertainly, her thoughts cloudy. She shook her head from side to side as his fingers quickly retreating from her burning flesh.

"No?" he asked harshly, his breathing uneven as the silence was drawn out. She whimpered as his mouth closed over a hard tip, sucking it deep into his mouth as his fingers slid down over her belly to lightly circle her dewy entrance. 

"Oh, god," she cried, her hips arching as a finger slid a fraction inside of her. She bit her lip as he wiggled the tip of his finger in her damp folds, her legs quivering. 

"Say it," he demanded.

"I – I want your hands."

"Where?" he demanded cruelly.

"In my, in my-."

"Pussy," he breathed against her damp breast. "Say it."

"In my pussy," she whimpered, beads of moisture coating her lashes. She moaned as his fingers plunged into her snug channel. 

"Ride my fingers." She did as he ordered, her creamy bottom lifting off the desk and then hitting its surface with a humiliating slap as she did what he asked, lost to the sensation. 

"That's it," he murmured, releasing her hands as he kneeled on the floor between her legs so that she felt his warm breath on her dampness. She bucked off the surface of the table when she felt the stab of his tongue against her nub, creating an intense spike of pleasure deep in her rippling sheath. Her fingers slid through the dark glossy waves, dragging him closer. She was unable to resist the incredible tide building inside of her, her bottom spanking the wooden surface as she sunk down on his fingers, then lifting up to feel the rasp of his tongue wiggling in her dewy folds. 

She moaned as his fingers withdrew, only to gasp as she felt his tongue pushing up into her slick channel. Shivers traced down her spine as his tongue unfurled deep inside of her, seeking out every last drop of moisture as she bucked beneath his caresses. His hands caught her inner thighs, holding her spread apart as his skilful tongue sent her untutored body up in flames. 

Her moans filled the room, her head shaking side to side as she sought to resist the mindless sensations washing over, pushing her to some unknown peak. 

Her whole body tightened as his finger brushed her hard nub, her hips arching before bucking wildly against his hand and mouth, barely restrained by his firm grip, her head rolling from side to side as she lost control. 

Slowly reality returned, and she became aware of her surroundings, the stone walls lined with books, the flickering of the fire. Her body felt heavy and limp, unwilling to move from where she lay sprawled wantonly on the desk, her legs splayed in innocent abandon over the side. 

She felt his arms slide under her, lifting her, carrying her along long halls and winding staircases. Finally she felt the softness of a feather mattress at her back, and hands pushing her tangled mane back from her damp face. She was unable to resist the long and slow kiss he forced on her, and she blushed when she tasted what must be herself on his lips.

"Come, you are exhausted," he murmured as he tucked the blankets around her nakedness. "It was not my intention to begin your lessons so soon," he said as he took her small hand and placed it against the rock hard flesh straining the cloth across his hips. "But know that your defiance will not go unpunished." 

He groaned as her fingers unconsciously flexed against his cock. He kissed away her murmur of confusion, and she snuggled drowsily in her warm nest so that she was asleep before the bolt on the outside of the solid metal door thundered home. 

He strode through the castle, intent on finding a willing wench to ease the demands of his painfully hard cock before he changed his mind and drove himself forcefully into the young novice. He felt a deep satisfaction that she was the virgin she claimed, and it was past time she experienced the fullness of a man between her soft thighs, yet he intended her to be fully awake when he tore through that final barrier. His cock hardened as the mere thought of his exquisite captive, yet he knew his present discomfort was of little consequence when the knowledge of the weeks of pleasure that lay before him as he plundered his innocent captive's body at whim loomed in his mind. 

Innocent Pawn Ch. 02



Bella lay on her tummy, her hand tucked beneath her chin as her sleepy green eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness of the chamber. Something had teased her from her dreamless slumber, causing her brow to wrinkle.

She lay sprawled on a large intricately carved wooden bed in a sparsely furnished circular chamber. Fading sunlight played over her body where it filtered through the long slim windows. As she lay there, pondering what may have disturbed her sleep, memories of what Leonn de Angel had done to her quickly returned. Oh god, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut as a wave of heat washed over her. Yet even with her eyes closed she couldn't escape the image of those burning amber eyes.

She felt the teasing blow of warm air between her spread thighs, stirring the thatch of red curls that did little to protect her plump pink lips. Pushing her long, scarlet locks back off her face she half rose on one elbow, unsure of what caused the gentle disturbance.

She gave a squeak of surprise and outrage as a large hand slapped her on the bottom and she quickly rolled over onto her back, intent on protecting her derriere from further abuse from an unknown source. 

Warm male laughter floated over her as her sleep muddled brain realised her grave mistake. For there, kneeling at the foot of the bed, naked as the day he was born except for a bandage high on his right arm, and gazing unabashedly at her warm sleepy body splayed before him in all its humiliating nakedness, was Leonn de Angel.

"Oh," she gasped in dismay, twisting to reach the pile of bed sheets that rested in a bundle in the middle of the huge bed that could easily sleep eight. As her fingers closed around the soft material, he was upon her, his long arm stretching across hers to wrest the coverings from her grasp. She pushed at him with her free arm, but it was like a butterfly trying to escape the claws of the lion. 

She gasped as his weight settled on top of her, pinning her to the mattress as he tossed the sheet on the far side of the bed. She struggled beneath him, pushing at his broad shoulders as his legs tangled with hers, his thigh sliding between hers. Just when she thought her exertions futile, she was able to push him off of her. She smelled a rat when his large hands spanned her tiny waist, taking her with him as they rolled across the bed. Her knees straddled him as he came to rest beneath her, and she leaned across him, innocently unaware of the danger as she slid and pushed against the warm muscular body in her fierce determination to wrest herself from his grasp. In her desperation to cover herself with the sheet she was oblivious of the effect of the sight of her jingling bee-sting breasts on the powerful man caught firm between her splayed thighs. 

Leonn groaned, capturing a pink nipple in his mouth, and felt her stiffen with surprise. Deciding the playful wrestling had gone on long enough, he rolled over, dragging her beneath him as he gazed down into her wide moss green eyes. He knew the exact moment she became aware of his hardness pressed against her belly as her eyes flared with apprehension. He smiled a slow, dangerous smile.

Isabella felt trapped beneath his large golden body. Her hands pushed against the muscular shoulders, knowing that her cause was hopeless. Her strength was miniscule compared to his. Long tense moments passed as he gazed down at her, and she tore her eyes away, turning her head.

She swallowed hard as his fingers caught her chin, turning her face back to his. A strange thrumming started low in her belly as he slowly lowered his head, blocking out the fading light. His kiss was hard and demanding, his tongue forcing and gaining entry into her mouth. She whimpered against his mouth, her hips trying to buck his heavy frame off of her as she tried to escape from beneath him, unknowingly generating a exquisite friction against his hard cock.

"Let me go," she demanded breathlessly as she tore her mouth from his, completely unaware of the effect her struggles had on him.

"So my little captive wants to fight me?" he whispered against her ear as he planted kisses on her temple. She squeezed her eyes shut as he caught her fragile wrists in the firm grip of his hand, dragging them above her head. She was unprepared for when his hand slid down between their bodies to cup her possessively between the thighs. 

"Know that I intend to brand you here," he murmured huskily as his head lifted to gaze down at her, his finger sliding into her hot sheath, not yet ready for him, before slowly withdrawing. "I'll spread your legs wide and pierce your maidenhead with the head of my cock. It will hurt at first, but you will learn to accommodate me, and gradually come to enjoy, even crave the feel of my cock buried deep inside of you." 

She shook her head from side to side as her struggles began anew, fear and something unknown unfurling low in her belly at his fervent words, but he paid her no heed, reaching for something out of her sight. Then she felt soft cloth being looped around her wrists, binding her to the headboard, and her nails sought ineffectually to prevent him, scraping the skin of his fingers as he tightened the knots.

He ignored her pleading cries, turning his attention to her kicking legs. He tied one ankle with a silk scarf to the heavy wooden bed by using brute strength to force it to lay unmoving against the feather mattress. Then he captured her other ankle, and spreading her legs wide, so wide that it almost hurt, he tied it so that she couldn't prevent him taking what he desired. He then came to kneel between her wide-stretched thighs as he slid a feather pillow beneath her hips.

"Please don't," she whispered as she glanced for the first time at the huge rod rising from a nest of deep honey curls between his muscular thighs. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head from side to side as she strained against her bonds. He couldn't... 

"Shh," he hushed her as his fingers traced circles on her trembling belly. She felt so exposed and vulnerable spread naked before him, unable to shield herself from his prying amber eyes. Tears pooled in her eyes at her extreme helplessness.

"The pain will be over soon," he promised, running an exploratory hand along her inner thigh.

"Please, I beg you, why must you do this shameful thing?" she cried, hating the quiver his touch evoked.

"It's not shameful to experience the joys of becoming a woman, Isabella. At the age of nineteen, your body is long ready to take a man inside of you for the first time. I will enjoy teaching you the ways of loving a man."

As he spoke his hands slid up over her ribcage to cup the tiny creamy mounds, molding them to the shape of his palms. The tips puckered and hardened as he feathered his tongue across one then the other, before capturing a rosy nipple in his mouth. The gentle suction and swirl of his tongue shot darts of pleasure to the apex of her quivering thighs.

His hand slipped between her spread legs, massaging her there as he continued to tease her breasts with his warm mouth. Soon she felt a building tension that made her toes curl and her hips arch. 

She whimpered as he leaned over her, positioning the thick head of his shaft against her dewy entrance and thrust into her, spearing her flesh with his hard cock. She felt him sliding, ramming up inside of her, stretching her painfully, and her wrists tugged at her bonds, unable to prevent his fierce invasion. She screamed as he tore through the fragile membrane blocking his full possession, affording her no mercy as he sunk to the hilt in her tight hot pussy. Then screamed again as he began to move inside of her, the pleasure he had wrought with his fingers and mouth quickly evaporating as he thrust into her with long fierce strokes.

Tears trickled from her eyes at the pain of him stretching her beyond imagining, filling her with his hard cock. Slowly the pain began to recede to a dull throbbing, no longer a white-hot flame as he endlessly rammed himself deep inside of her with fierce possessive thrusts. 

"Don't fight me, little one. Relax," he muttered, his breathing harsh as his relentless pounding brought him closer and closer to his peak, unable to keep his control in check at the feel of the exquisite tightness clenched fiercely around his glistening cock.

Gradually she felt an intermingling of tense pleasure laced with pain as he quickened inside of her, his fingers biting into her soft white bottom as he forced her reluctant hips to accede his domination and imitate the crude rhythm of his lunging body. Her whimpering cries matched his harsh grunts as he forced himself over and over into her tight pussy in deep brutal stabs, and she almost screamed anew as his cock seemed to swell twice its size inside of her before a surging gush of warmth spurted deep inside of her.

His heavy body slumped over hers as gradually his breathing eased. He brushed the curls back off her damp forehead, and gently kissed away her tears. She turned her mutinous face away, but he caught her chin in his fingers and forced her to meet his gaze. His cock was just bearable now that its punishing size seemed to have shrunk.

"Next time you will experience more pleasure. The first time for a woman is difficult, and I am told that I am quite large, yet you took all of me inside of you." He kissed her, ignoring her murmured protests. "Shh," he whispered. "In time, you will learn to enjoy everything I intend doing to your delightful little body." 

She didn't know how much time had passed before Leonn de Angel untied her, and to her heated embarrassment gently washed away the blood on her thighs with a damp cloth. Pulling the covers over her, he kissed her on the forehead before quickly dressing and departing. Her chaotic mind mulled over what it felt like to have a man deep inside of her, of the pleasure he had reluctantly drawn from her. She couldn't deny, even as she loathed him, the way her traitorous body had delighted in the feel of him brutally taking his pleasure from her, even as it screamed with pain. It was almost dawn before she finally drifted off into exhausted sleep. And even there she couldn't escape him, those burning amber eyes boring into her.

* * *

She had the strangest dream, that he was kissing and caressing her entire body with the gentlest of touches, rousing her innocent body to fever pitch with the lightest of caresses. She moaned as she finally felt the thick head of his shaft sliding in her damp folds, prodding her, rubbing against her pink nub. She was lost on a sea of pleasure, never wanting to wake from this sweet dream as pleasure swirled through her. 

She moaned as she felt his palms guide her legs over his shoulders as he positioned his throbbing shaft at her entrance, his warm breath stirring her hair.

Her fingers curled into the mattress as she felt him push slightly against her, stretching her around him as he teased her with the head of his cock. It was only as he slowly sheathed his thick cock deep inside her sore pussy that she was dragged from slumber, her horrified gaze flying to his as she realised this was no dream. 

Leonn groaned at the exquisite tightness of her pussy, his burning amber eyes gazing down into her expressive face as she awoke to the fullness of his possession. With slow deliberate strokes he buried his cock deep inside of her, his eyes never leaving hers.

She lay trapped beneath him, a whimper of pain escaping her even as her body melted around him, the slow, gentle thrusts sending fire spiraling through her belly. The gentle rock of his hips was so different from his brutal thrusts as he raped her of her virginity. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, the tension coiling slowly inside of her belly as he seduced her with his cock.

"Oh, god," she cried, as his relentless thrusts pushed her closer and closer to losing all reason. She knew she should be fighting him, this, but her melting body couldn't drag up a smidgen of resistance. "Please stop."

"Shh," was all he said against her ear. She moaned as he increased the urgency of his thrusts, his mouth closed over the sensitive skin where her shoulder joined her neck.

"No," she panted, pushing at his shoulders as she felt a pulsing, bursting sensation slowly begin to unravel her. "Oh, no." 

He continued to move deep inside of her in that slow, smooth way, his hand questing between her thighs to finger her swollen nub, and she felt the pleasure build, his knowing caresses driving her to a frenzy of need. Her whole body tightened as she felt waves of pleasure fan through her, the walls of her pussy palpitating around his hard cock as her hips arched against him as she cried out. "No!" 

Unable to hold back any longer, he exploded inside of her, spurting his seed deep in her pussy in deep jerking thrusts.

She lay unmoving, her whole body spent. She didn't resist him, simply accepted the possessive kisses he forced on her. "You have pleased me greatly, little one. I look forward to devoting my every spare minute to destroying every last vestige of innocence in those beautiful green eyes." 

He rolled off the bed and quickly gathered his clothes. She didn't watch him as he silently dressed. It was the sound of a bolt sliding home that reminded her that she was his prisoner, and that her body had shamefully welcomed his remorseless invasion without a token of resistance. She pulled a feather pillow over her tear-stained face as she resolved to fight him tooth and nail the next time he so much as dared lay a finger on her. 



Innocent Pawn Ch. 03



Isabella discovers his plans for revenge. 

The hateful man with the burning amber eyes returned, the scrape of the latch against metal and stone her only warning.

When he entered, she was sitting on the bay window seat, her arms wrapped protectively around her legs and her chin resting on her knees. Having no clothing to cover her nakedness, she had wrapped the huge bed sheet around tiny frame several times and tied two corners together at the nape of her neck.

He strode into the room as though a King, flicking her a frowning glance before pouring himself a goblet of wine from a skin left by a servant earlier. He stood by the fireplace, his watchful amber eyes moving over her body.

“You are not to conceal your delightful little body from me while in the confines of this chamber, do you understand me?” he queried softly, pouring more wine into a second gold goblet.

“Y-you want me to…” She gasped, rising from where she sat by the window overlooking a small walled garden far below. Her small hands clutched nervously at the draping protective folds of the bed sheet. 

“Do you understand me?” his demanded coldly, a tone his friends knew brook no argument.

She nodded, her moss green eyes wide. She remembered how he had ripped her nun’s habit from her, stripping her naked before him. Turning away so that her back was to him, her trembling fingers sought the knot at the nape of her neck. She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the material fall with a soft whoosh to form a puddle at her feet.

“Turn around.” 

Slowly she did his bidding, her eyes lowered shyly to the floor, her hands cupping her small breasts. 

“You know what I’m about to do, don’t you, little one?” he queried softly. He moved swiftly and silently across the chamber to stand before her. A gentle finger under her chin tipped her head up.

She nodded, unable to meet his gaze. 

His large hands firmly coaxed hers from her breasts.

“There will be no pain this time, Isabella, I promise you. Only pleasure, exquisite pleasure.” The backs of his fingers brushed down the side of her cheek. She shivered.

He tugged her up against him, crushing her soft breasts against the solid wall of his chest as his mouth settled firmly over hers. Her knees trembled as he held her against him, all the while caressing her lips with his. 

Her eyes flew to his in trepidation when he caught her wrists behind her back, even as he kissed her. “Please don’t,” she whispered, wrenching her mouth from his, as she felt a strip of leather being wrapped firmly around her captured wrists. He ignored her, his lips moving lower, nibbling the tender skin of her neck. Helpless tears welled in her eyes.

“Ah, Bella. You cannot deny me what is mine to take. Soon you will come to realise that I am your master, and that your sole purpose is to ensure my pleasure.”

She knew that she could not prevent him from taking her, her diminutive size no match against the finely chiseled muscle that filled out his golden chest and shoulders. She remembered how he had groaned and shuddered as he spurted his seed deep inside of her, and her body shivered. Fear and a strange heat welled in her belly.

He left her then, to lounge on a wide, deep chair before the fire, and picked up his goblet from the table and took a long draft, watching her all the while over its rim. She stood before him, naked and bound, her tumbled mane of scarlet waves affording her little protection from his all-seeing amber gaze. She felt a trickle of warmth where there should have been none.

He motioned her to him with a cursory flick of his fingers. “Come, do not fight the inevitable.”

She hesitated, and knew that small moment in time would cost her dearly as his eyes narrowed dangerously. She forced herself to move to stand motionless before him, her gaze focusing on a point on the opposite wall. 

Dipping a finger in the goblet, he traced the red wine over her rosy nipple, and to her shame it hardened and pouted before his eyes. He leant forward to lick the cool moisture with his tongue in long, persuasive strokes. Her stomach muscles clenched against the sweet torment, and she bit her lip to prevent a traitorous moan from escaping her. Tugging her hips closer so that her knees butted the edge of the chair between his tautly muscled thighs, he dipped his finger in the wine and circled its mate, before lapping at it and drawing it into his hot mouth. A low thrumming started between her thighs as he suckled and nibbled her with his mouth while his skillful fingers mercilessly teased the other. Her head tipped back, her eyes closed as his tender mouth sent shots of ecstasy between her quivering thighs.

“Please,” she gasped, and she didn’t know if she was pleading for him to stop or to continue this sweet assault on her melting body.

“So delightfully innocent,” he murmured, as his fingers slipped down over her belly to find the sparse ruby curls between her quivering thighs. He pried the lush pink lips apart and probed her slick heat, holding her open to his interested gaze. She gasped as he inserted a finger into her cunt. “So lush and responsive.”

She tried to step back, and she bit her lip as his eyes narrowed. “Do not fight me, little one. I always win.” Long fingers tangled in the sensitive curls at the nape of her neck, and he tugged down brutally, drawing a whimper of pain from her. The only way to ease the pressure was to bend her knees, and the pressure of his hand forced her to straddle him on the chair with her knees tight against his hips, spreading her thighs wide across his straining breeches.

Tugging her head closer still with his cruel grip so that her hard nipples brushed against the soft material of his tunic, he crushed his mouth against hers in a punishing, demanding kiss. When he nipped her bottom lip with his teeth, causing her to gasp, his tongue plunged into the warm depths of her mouth. His other hand stroked down over the curve of her buttocks, down between her valley of melting flesh to find her pearl of pleasure. She moaned into his mouth as his skilful fingers began to flick and spank the pulsing nub, unable to close her legs against the invasion even if she wanted to. 

“Mmm, you like that don’t you, my little cat in heat.”

Soon she was writhing against his hand, a scandalous heat building low in her belly as his fingers probed, swirled and massaged her in that secretive place. 

When his finger withdrew she moaned in protest against his mouth, but soon she felt it nudging at her, and she sunk down on it, hastening its return. Only she realised in horror it wasn’t his finger that slid up inside her, but the swollen cock she feared. She froze where she straddled him, the tip of him nestled inside of her.

“Take all of me deep inside of you,” he commanded, running a caressing hand down her silky back. 

“I can’t,” she cried, afraid of the pain, of the pleasure. Even now her cunt clenched with remembrance as he tore through her maidenhood. She pleaded with her eyes even though she knew her captor would afford her no mercy.

“Don’t make me punish you,” he warned her, his thumb continuing to manipulate her clitoris so that she arched against him. 

A shiver ran through her as the vulnerability of her situation was brought home to her. Her milky thighs splayed naked over him, his cock poised threateningly at her gate, of her wrists bound helplessly behind her, of his intimidating size and strength. 

Squeezing her eyes shut, she slowly sunk a little further on his cock, waiting for that excruciating pain. She was surprised to experience only a burning exquisite uncomfortableness as she felt him slide up into her, stretching her tight walls around the hard column of his cock. “Oh,” she gasped. 

Slowly she sunk down on him, inch by inch, allowing her body adjust to the size of him as she took him deeper and deeper into her tight cunt. When she finally took him all in after several tense long minutes, her cheeks resting against his furry balls, she rested her head on his shoulder, her breathing uneven.

“Good girl,” he whispered huskily, head thrown back. “Now ride me. Fuck yourself on my cock.”

Seeing her confusion, his hands raised her off him, guiding her, so that only the tip of him filled her, before his hands, clenched firmly around her hips, rammed her back down, impaling her on his cock and drawing cries from both of them. His hands urged her on, and she raised herself experimentally, and slowly, hesitantly lowered herself back down, her wide eyes gazing up into triumphant amber ones. 

“That’s it,” he grunted approvingly. 

Again she moved, with growing ease and the realisation that, even bound though she was, she controlled the movement, controlled the speed with which she took him deep inside of her. And with this came the shameful knowledge that she enjoyed it. Enjoyed every sinful thing he did to her body. Surely she would go to the devil…

She was helpless against the sensations he wrought in her as she shimmied up and down, again and again, ramming herself down on his thick cock before lifting herself up off of him. She whimpered into his mouth as his fingers toyed with her jiggling breasts, cupping them, molding them with his hard, insistent hands. 

“Soon your belly will swell with my bastard, and then all my plans will start to fall nicely into place.” He murmured as she rode him, his hand slipping lower to leisurely rub her belly.

“What plans?” she asked tremulously, freezing on top of him, his cock resting in her to the hilt. Fear chased through her. 

His fingers stilled possessively against her belly as his hot amber eyes met hers. “I plan to fill your belly with my bastard, so that when the news filters to your father’s ears, his honour, what little that he has, will demand he seek you out. And when he crawls out from under that rock he has been hiding for the past six months, I plan to kill him. Slowly.” 

She didn’t know whether he jested with her or not, his mouth cruelly mocking as he rolled his hips, watching her eyes darken with desire even as she tried to focus on his words. 

“What did my father ever do to you make you want to… to do this evil thing to me? You don’t even know me!” She cried, struggling on his cock, yet the intensity of sensations at the feel of him locked deep inside as she wiggled on top of him only made her situation worse. She was so close to losing control…

She gasped as she was emptied and toppled down onto the rug, his body quickly following hers. The slam of his body on hers forced the breath from her lungs, and she had barely registered what had happened before he was spreading her thighs and thrusting into her with a force that left her gasping. 

“No,” she panted. “I-”

His cock rode her, hard and forceful, pushing her, driving into her as his balls slapped against her buttocks. She was uncaring of the pain of her bound arms caught beneath them as she moaned and writhed under him. 

“He murdered my father.” He grunted against her ear. “And you are wrong, my delightful little captive. I know you better than you know yourself. The way you love it when I play with your tender little breasts, how even though your small body is reluctant to take the full size of my cock, you writhe and shudder as I ride your virginal cunt hard. You were made to be a man’s mistress, a man’s whore.”

Soon his fingers found her, sliding between their bodies, delving between her slippery pink folds to find her pleasure nub. She was moaning, shaking around him. 

“No,” She cried, as he pounded into her. Her body refused to heed her mind as it trembled on the brink. She needed him to explain…

“Oh, yes. You cannot deny me, deny this, my little slut. Come for your master.” 

Her thoughts were washed away on a tide of fierce hot pleasure as she came with a muffled scream. He continued his demanding strokes into her clutching tightness, forcing her pleasure further and further until it was almost unbearable.

His thrusting increased, and her cries echoed his as she tried to keep up, feeling as though nothing mattered except the screaming tension he created between her writhing, bucking hips, the burning exquisite pain as he rammed into her over and over with animalistic frenzy, almost splitting her with his thickness. Soon she felt that twisting, coiling sensation low in the pit of her belly as his driving thrusts pushed her in a relentless tide toward a new peak.

Another orgasm rolled over her, and her tight sheath squeezed him as she rippled and pulsed around him as she lost herself to the pleasure.

“Christ,” he cried. 

His whole body tensed on top of her, then she felt him explode inside of her, his sticky warmth pulsing deep into her womb as he collapsed heavily on top of her. She was too stunned to take much notice of the kiss he planted on the feverish skin of her shoulder.

She lay unmoving, rigid beneath him as their breathing evened out. No longer the victim of her body’s responses, anxious thoughts skittered through her mind. She remembered little of her father beyond that he would come to her each night before bedtime, watching as she ran her silver brush through her long mane. Sometimes he would ask that she remove her nightgown as she counted to a hundred strokes. She remembered feeling her chest tighten as she would inadvertently catch sight of him in the mirror touching himself in a strange way. 

She gasped as his fingers slid down between their sweaty bodies to where they were joined, and her eyes flew to his. They both knew that his seed, spurted deep inside of her, might reach its goal. Fear flickered in her moss green depths.

“You are right to fear me, little one.” His mouth closed over hers, forcing her to accept his demanding kiss. His fingers tangled in her scarlet mane as his tongue delved the moist cavern of her mouth, and her small hand fluttered hesitantly in the air before coming to rest flat against his chest. 

He drew back from her, and she shuddered as his soft cock slithered from her hot sheath. 

He moved to stand over her, tying his leather breaches, and she turned her face away in shame. He had not even bothered to undress before rutting with her like an animal. 

The tip of his booted foot slide through her slick mound, glistening with their mingled juices, and she whimpered into the soft cloud of her scarlet mane.

He chuckled at her misery. “Your body craves my touch even as your mind continues to resist me. Know that I will soon master your mind,” her body arched as the pointed tip scraped across her clitoris, “as I have mastered your body.”

Then he left her.

As he jogged down the twisting steps, he was unable to prevent the thought from crossing his mind that he hoped his delightful little captive didn’t get pregnant too quickly. But knowing how she stirred his cock, he thought this to be highly unlikely. For the first time in his twenty-eight years he had felt distracted from his work by a fierce need to drive his cock over and over into the clutching, tight channel of his beautiful prisoner, and knew it had little to do with revenge.

To be continued…

Let me know if you are interested in me continuing this story. If the interest is there, I plan for a rebellious Isabella to try to escape her prison, leading to her being punished by Leonn in the dungeon (every castle must have a secret dungeon kitted out for the master’s pleasure!) in part 4. 



Innocent Pawn Ch. 04



She tried to calm her deep shuddering breaths as she stood behind the solid metal door, a thick wooden candlestick grasped in her trembling hands high above her head.

Knowing what she knew now, that he planned to plant his seed in her belly and use her to lure her father from his hiding place, she had only one choice: she had to escape him. 

She had given up on attempting to pry the lock on the window with a small spoon left by a careless servant, knowing it to be useless. There was no way she could climb down the smooth stone walls of the tower to safety below, and even if she could, there was a little chance of doing so undetected. Instead she had turned her thoughts to the servants. There were two, an old woman in the morning and midday, and a young boy in the evening. While the boy would be physically harder to overcome, he was her best option. A woman, even a servant, seen leaving the house at all hours would invite too many questions. 

So as the sky darkened, she waited anxiously behind the door. Finally she heard the latch being drawn back, and knew the time had come.

Her heart leapt into her throat as the door creaked open, and a platter of food appeared around the edge of the door. She waited for the boy to lean down and leave her meal on the small stand inside the door as he usually did, his unsuspecting back facing the chamber and her. It was then she intended to strike.

Only it wasn’t a servant that kicked the door shut with a large booted foot, whose burning amber eyes narrowed dangerously as they caught sight of her, naked and trembling, her makeshift weapon held high above her head. She froze where she stood, her turbulent moss green eyes widening in dread. 

Carefully he turned and placed the platter on the stand, and she fearfully clutched the candlestick to her chest. When he slowly turned back to face her, he pried the candlestick easily from her stiff fingers and threw it carelessly to the floor as he towered dangerously above her. Silence stretched between them as he gazed down at her, his amber eyes fierce as they roved over her possessively. 

She gasped as he lifted her, tossing her over his shoulder as though she weighed nothing, her long scarlet mane cascading down to his ankles, her secret pink flesh and creamy buttocks high in the air. He carried her down the endlessly winding stone steps in taut silence. Past the gaping men-at-arms on sentry duty, through the kitchens filled with curious servants. None dared question their lord and master.

She felt the tears of humiliation trickle into her hair as she swayed with his movement, feeling dizziness wash over her with each jarring step. It seemed an eternity had passed before he came to a halt in front of a solid metal door. She heard the scrape of the key as he jostled it in the lock, then saw him drive the door open with his foot.

She caught sight of a narrow set of stairs before he kicked the door shut behind them, rendering them in complete darkness. He slowly made his way down a series of steps, using his shoulder to guide him. 

A muffled sob escaped her as his steps leveled out. His movements were slow and purposeful, as if following a map in his head. She cried out as he lifted her down off of his shoulder, placing her bottom on a ledge or table of some sort. The coolness of the stone was shocking against her heated pink flesh. 

She sensed his large frame stirring the air around her as he moved, until she heard his tread on the stone steps. He was leaving her! 

“Please don’t leave me,” she sobbed. 

“Silence, little one.” 

She heard the door open and close, the sounds a booming echo in the complete darkness. Was this the dungeon? Did he intend to leave her here to die? Horrible thoughts chased through their mind at what could be her fate. He was an animal, a brute!

She almost cried out in relief when she heard his return a short time later, and she wiped the wetness from her cheeks as he appeared in an entrance to what seemed to be a small chamber, bearing a torch. As he moved further into the room, the dim light pushed back the dark shadows, and her fear returned in full force.

She had never felt so terrified in her entire life as her wide green eyes took in the windowless stone chamber. Long polished weapons, whips and manacles lined the far wall, hooks hung from the low ceiling and along the wall. Her breath strangled in her throat and her terrified eyes flew to his.

“Oh, no,” she gasped, and she began to scrabble back on what she now realised was a long wide table with metal cuffs at each corner, trying to put as much distance between them as she could. “Please…”

He didn’t pay her any heed as he rested the torch in its metal bracket along the wall, then moved to stand before the implements on the far wall, legs spread, hands on hips. She watched as he picked up leather bracelets consideringly, a small long narrow paddle, and what looked like a black woollen scarf, before turning to face her, his expression breathtaking. 

“Come here,” he commanded, sending icicles of fear and something else trickling down her spine. 

When she didn’t move, her limbs frozen in fear, he strode across to her, tossing the items onto the table before clasping her firmly by the upper arms as she tried to scuttle out of reach. She gasped as he lifted her completely off the table, bringing her hard up against his muscular chest.

“The more you fight me, the harder it will be on you,” he warned against her ear. 

One large palm slid down over the tender swell of her belly to delve in the ruby curls at the apex of her thighs. “This belongs to me. You belong to me. Never question this.” He pressed a kiss against her forehead before reaching for the leather bracelets with one hand. Moving slightly back from her, he clasped a leather cuff around her fragile wrist, pulling it firm. Then he caught her other wrist and wrapped the matching cuff around it. A short thick strap of leather connected the bracelets.

Tears trailed down her cheeks, even as she felt a trickle of warmth between her thighs. She was truly wicked! 

He was impervious to her tears as he raised her wrists above her head, looping the leather strap over some sort of hook so that she stood on the balls of her feet. To her further horror he then tied the scarf over her eyes, turning the world pitch black. 


“Please,” she begged, tugging against her restraints to no avail. She knew what a sight she must make, standing before him naked and vulnerable, her small breasts forced into prominence by her up-stretched arms.

“Shh,” he said, as he gently kissed her trembling lips salty with tears. “I cannot let your continued defiance against me go unpunished.” She shivered as his finger traced a rosy areola, cringing as it puckered beneath his touch.

“It is not my wish to punish you now, today, but your actions have brought it upon yourself.” His fingers found its mate, teasing it until it peaked. “But know this: I intend to banish any thoughts of leaving me from your mind.”

He withdrew from her then, and she tried to listen as he moved around her. Then she screamed as a sharp explosion of pain radiated through her buttocks, and her whole body arched. She sagged with relief in her bonds as a gentle hand kneaded the sore flesh, before falling away. This time she heard the swish of air before the paddle landed on her other cheek, and she jerked in her restraints as she screamed, whimpering as she felt the warm palm return. He continued this pattern, the paddle forcing her hips forward with each humiliating blow, causing her to dance on her toes as she writhed in her bonds.

“Please,” she sobbed after several minutes. “Please no more. I’ll be good.”

“Ah, sweet Bella. I’ve only just begun.”

The paddle lashed out at her cheeks and upper thighs, sending waves of pain shooting through her bottom. She knew it was more the humiliation than the pain, but she had lost control, sobbing and screaming as she writhed and bucked in her bonds even as she felt dew seeping between her thighs. 

She moaned at she felt a hand slide through the defenceless curls between her quivering thighs, probing the melting flesh. The breath caught in her throat as two thick fingers plunged into her slick pussy, and she eased her thighs apart. He had done something to her, surely, to make her body ache for his even as he punished her! 

Her face burned as she heard his soft, masculine laugh. 

“Bella, Bella. Your body craves to be mounted, to be mastered. You are more my captive than you will ever know.”

She sensed him move to stand before her. She cried out in surprise as he caught one knee, lifting it off the ground and clamping it against his hip, sending her other foot in a frenzy to keep her balance. 

“Don’t,” she sobbed, unsure what new torture he had in store for her. Her mind warred with her body, wanting him to stop this dark torment even as her pussy craved his savage ravishment.

She whimpered as the paddle scraped teasingly through her wet curls. She was unprepared when he brought the paddle up sharply between her thighs, slapping her plump lips.

“Oh,” she cried. Again he slapped her there, the paddle making a humiliating slurping sound as exquisite pain radiating through her throbbing pleasure nub. “Oh, no!”

She sobbed in her restraints with each new crude slap against sore, melting flesh. She felt her body stretching, her neglected nipples tingling, the moistness seeping from her pussy. Never had she felt so wicked, so wanton as she did right then, scared and feverish with desire. 

“Do you still seek to defy me, Isabella?”

Whack.

“No, no,” she cried.

Whack.

“Do you seek to deny what is mine to take?”

Whack.

She was gasping now, unable to answer, riding the dark pleasure, feeling her sheath flutter with each sharp slap.

Whack.

“Answer me!” He thundered.

“I-I’ll do anything you want, anything, just please…”

He laughed triumphantly, slipping a thick finger in her wet sheath. She squirmed, her pink breasts shuddering. “Have you not realised yet that you have no choice? That your body recognises its master, even as your mind continues to fight it?” 

He let her go, and she skittered slightly on her toes, the leather strap creaking. She heard soft rustling, then the sound of flesh on flesh. She trembled in silent anticipation and dread, her pussy clenching and unclenching around thin air.

She whimpered as he caught both of her legs behind the knees, lifting her, spreading her thighs wide as they slid over his forearms. Soon she felt him sliding along her pink valley, teasing her, probing the melting folds. 

“Tell me you want this,” he demanded, and she gasped as the knob of his rod lodged against her dewy gate. 

“Please,” she begged, burning with the need to feel him possess her. 

Still he waited. “Tell me.”

“I want you,” she cried. “This. I need you inside of me, filling me.”

He took her then, thrusting his cock up into her, uncaring that the paddle bruised the tender skin of her flesh where he held it against her hip. She gasped at the suddenness of him pushing, sliding up into her tight wet sheath, stretching her exquisitely with his rough invasion. “Oh!”

She welcomed the stabbing thrusts, wrapping her legs around him, her innocent body clutching around him, squeezing him in her need as he rode her hard, plundering her quivering pussy. 

Her gasps and moans mingled with his harsh breathing as he pounded into her for what seemed hours, relentless and unmerciful.

“Never,” he grunted. “Never forget that you are mine. That I will never let you leave me.”

Suddenly she felt the scrape of something churning against her moist flesh, soaking in her juices as he rolled it gently between her plump lips, teasing her pleasure nub. She gasped when it come to rest at the puckered entrance nestled between her creamy cheeks.

“Oh, no,” she protested, remembering how he had wiggled his finger in her bottom as he took her on the chair. “No, Leonn!” She cried even as it began prodding her, spearing the resisting hole.

“Shh, Bella. It is narrow and tiny compared to my prick, which you will soon learn to accommodate there.” He pushed, twisting so that it’s tip rested in her bottom as she screamed. “You will come to love it, I promise you.”

The hard column of his cock stilled inside of her as his fingers found her nub, working her. Only when she writhed in need up and down on his glistening cock did he continue to work the handle of the paddle into her bottom. She was whimpering as she felt something give, overcome by the burning pain and the unfamiliar sensation as it slide up inside of her. 

“That’s it, Bella, open to me,” he groaned. “Don’t fight it.”

He slowly eased the narrow circular handle deep inside of her bottom. She whimpered as he slowly drew it out a fraction before pushing back into the hilt. Soon his strokes were getting longer, and he began rocking his shaft in her pussy in time with each thrust of the paddle. 

The tension between her thighs was urgent as she pushed down on his turgid cock, the wicked leather paddle handle probing deep in her bottom with each movement. Shards of pleasure were shooting between her firmly spread thighs as he worked himself in and out of her slick nest. "Oh, god,” she moaned, lost in that dark place, her eyes closed behind the blindfold, head thrown back. He started twisting the handle as he rammed into her, as if sensing she was on the brink, and her lips parted on a silent scream, her sheath rippling powerfully around his cock.

The feel of him lunging deep inside of her clutching pussy, his fingers working her nub and the wicked sensation of the handle plundering her untouched bottom was too much. Her whole body stiffened, then went wild, bucking on him, almost jerking the paddle out of his hand as she convulsed around his punishing cock. 

She gasped and moaned as she spent herself on him, yet he was relentless, bunching his cock up deep inside of her with the paddle lodged deep in her bottom. She moaned as his thrusts increased, the slap of his body against hers sounding lewd in the echoing chamber, her breasts jingling, her thighs quivering. 

“Christ,” he grunted harshly, unable to hold on as her tight walls milked him like a fist, and he spurted hotly inside of her, emptying himself deep into her womb with each thrust.

Soon his body stilled, their uneven breathing filling the chamber. He kissed her, gently, coaxingly. She whimpered against his mouth as he tugged the paddle from her bottom, letting it clatter to the floor as she shuddered in his arms.

“Who do you belong to?” He nipped her ear lobe with his teeth as he breathed into her ear.

“You,” she sobbed, moaning as he rotated his hips. “Only you.”

His mouth slid down to her neck, sucking and biting and sending shivers down her spine. 

“And will you forget this idea of leaving me?” 

“Yes,” she cried.

He slipped off her blindfold as he gazed down deep into her passion hazed eyes. “I want your promise, Isabella. Nothing less will do.”

Her eyes slid down, down over her flushed breasts, the swell of her belly to the apex of her thighs. Her slender legs hugged him to her, loving the feel of him inside of her, his furry warmth against her secret flesh. She knew that in the days he had held her captive, plundering her innocent flesh at will, spilling his seed deep inside of her, that he had captured more than her body. 

She lifted her green eyes to his. “I promise,” she said solemnly. 

His eyes flashed, and he kissed her, hard, his hands cupping her face. “Please Leonn,” she entreated him, tearing her mouth from his. “I - I would like a promise in return.”

He raised an eyebrow, his thumb stroking her bottom lip. 

“I want you to tell me about your father.”

He closed his eyes, and she held her breath. Finally they opened again, their amber depths dark and mysterious. He nodded slightly.

When eventually he unshackled her, all her earlier resistance had melted and she buried her pink face against his shoulder. He held her in his arms, brushing his lips against her crown as he rubbed a soothing hand up and down the ivory column of her back.  

Bella didn’t know if she imagined the soft murmur as he held her. “Perhaps I should wait until after our child is born…” She would have been shocked to discover the angry jealousy coursing through his mind at the thought of other men having her. He knew that had she escaped him, she was too beautiful, too innocent for any man who crossed her path to leave her untouched. 

To be continued…

Thank you to all those who emailed me, they have really helped shape this story, particularly KK. I don’t intend on doing any more dungeon scenes, but I am thinking about a possible confrontation with Leonn’s jealous and neglected mistress, Marie. So let me know what you think, or if you have any other suggestions, Cheers, WT 



Innocent Pawn Ch. 05



Authors note: please ignore the authors note at the end of Ch.04 where I said Marie was Leonn’s jealous and neglected mistress. I’ve since changed my mind. : )

PART 5

A day had passed since Leonn had punished her in the dungeon. A whole day in which the promises she had made while her traitorous body was tormented with pleasure and pain played over and over in her mind. She was still disbelieving that in a moment of weakness she had promised to enjoy every thing Leonn did to her. She had been kidnapped from the convent, her innocent body ravished, her freedom denied her. To also promise that she would not make any further attempts to escape him… She hung her head in shame. She hated herself for giving those promises so easily, yet she knew she would hate herself even more if she went back on them. 

Deep in thought as she gazed out over the small garden below, she was at first grateful for the distraction provided by the unexpected visitor. She was dazzling, tall and voluptuous with thickly fringed ice-blue eyes and honey locks that tumbled over her shoulders and glinted with golden highlights. Her gown was exquisite, made of rose silk cut low over sun-kissed mounds and cinched in tight beneath their heavy weight before flaring softly to the ground. Matching beaded slippers peaked from beneath its hem. 

“So you are the little whore Leonn has stashed in his tower,” the woman said coolly, striding further into the chamber. Cold blue eyes narrowed as they raked over the sweet face and creamy shoulders, the small upthrust breasts and the mound of red curls at the apex of her thighs. “Passably pretty, I suppose.” 

Isabella blushed to the tips of her breasts, striding over to the bed to gather up the bed-sheet protectively before her body. Never had she been so looked at by another woman, with a mixture of scorn and fascination. 

“You, I presume, are Isabella.”

Bella could do no more than nod, the arrogance of the woman taking her breath away. 

“I am Marie de Angel, mistress of this pile of rocks,” the woman moved to stand before Bella, hooking an imperious finger over the edge of the bed-sheet as she gazed down into wide green eyes set in a gentle face.

“You are young. Much younger than I had been led to believe.” At Bella’s look of surprise, the woman laughed. “Gossip of Leonn carrying you through the kitchens spread like wild fire.”

The finger nestled between the valley of her breasts dragged on the material, revealing a rosy tipped breast. Bella’s face burned, and she lowered her eyes. 

“Ah,” the woman murmured, as if realising something about the young girl’s shy demeanor. “Tell me, Isabella,” the woman demanded coldly, her small fingers gripping Bella’s chin and forcing her to meet the woman’s gaze. “Was it Leonn who burst your delicious little cherry?”

It took Bella a few moments to realise what the woman meant, and her flush deepened. The woman smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. 

“Did you enjoy the feel of his large cock filling your hungry pussy for the first time?” Marie whispered, leaning close as though sharing a confidence, the sweet cloying scent of her filling Bella’s nostrils. “Quite a lover, isn’t he?” 

Was it possible that Marie was Leonn’s wife? Bella was horrified at the thought. Had she been intimate with another woman’s husband? Had Leonn betrayed this woman in the cause for revenge?

“N-no,” she gasped hesitantly, her moss green eyes widening as she felt the material tugged from her suddenly nerveless fingers. 

“No?” A fine blonde eyebrow arched in surprise as the older woman yanked the sheet fully from Bella’s grasp, tossing it behind her. “You didn’t squirm and writhe as you worked yourself on his big juicy pole, loving the feel of it sliding deep inside your little love purse?” 

Bella swallowed hard, unable to answer. A teasing nail circled her rosy areola, its tip puckering shamefully. She was scandalised that another woman would touch her so. She knew it was a sin to be intimate with a man before marriage, but a woman…

She gasped as the long nail trailed down over her belly, delving scandalously in the fleecy mound between her thighs. 

“I think you are lying. Perhaps we should investigate, hmm?” 

Bella stiffened as the finger curled between her pink folds. Without thought she instinctively stepped back, feeling the bed brush the backs of her knees. The woman moved quickly, slapping her across the face. 

Bella cried out, her hand flying to her face as the stinging spread like fire across her cheek, tears brimming in her eyes. 

“You dare defy me, your mistress? You wish to incur Leonn’s wrath?” Marie demanded, gazing down at her with flashing blue eyes. 

A shiver traced down her spine as remembered the dungeon lined with sinister whips and paddles. Bella silently shook her head, unable to prevent a tear from sliding down her raw cheek.

“Good,” Marie smiled coldly. “Now lay on the bed and spread your legs. I want to see this honey-pot the servants have been raving about.” 

Bella gasped, shocked to the core. She couldn’t…

“You don’t want to displease Leonn, now, do you?”

Marie’s eyes narrowed as Bella hesitated. Biting her lip, Bella slowly sat on the bed, turning to lie lengthways. She eased her quivering thighs slightly apart. “Wider, that’s it,” the woman murmured appreciatively as Isabella obeyed. 

“So soft,” the woman murmured, her fingers trailing along her calf and over the inside of her knee. “Like baby’s down.” The hand curved around her inner thigh, massaging the fleshy bit at the top of her thigh. 

She quivered as the fingers gently cupped her mound. “Is this innocence an act?” Marie asked, her fingers curling into her heat. Bella moaned, a heavy pulsing beginning between her thighs. “You’re exquisite.”

Isabella squirmed as soft fingers peeled her plump lips apart, exposing her secret pink flesh to the inquisitive blue eyes. 

“Mmm, someone’s been a naughty girl. The skin looks slightly tender. He must take you rigorously and often,” the woman murmured, as if to herself. Bella bit her lip as the fingers explored her there, soft and tender, melting her resistance. 

She gasped as a finger was inserted inside of her. “You’re tight, extremely tight,” Marie murmured as her the muscles clenched around her invading finger. “Let’s get you wet, shall we? Then we can see what we can do about stretching your little cunny.”

Isabella shuddered as another finger entered her there. Shame welled up in her as the fingers began caressing her, drawing a response from her young body she didn’t wish to give.

“Please don’t,” Isabella whimpered as a finger found her pleasure nub, and she turned her head to the side, her eyes closed in misery. She felt the bed shift under the weight of the other woman as she straddled Bella’s spread thighs, sweeping her voluminous silk skirts out behind her.

Bella moaned as a hot mouth closed over a sensitive nipple, suckling her sweetly, the feel of her heat sliding against her thigh so wicked. She tried to imagine it was Leonn lavishing her breasts with kisses, his mouth hot and tender, not this woman with the cruel eyes and soft touch. Soon she found she couldn’t stop, her helpless body beginning to respond as a trickle of dew seeped between her thighs.

“Oh, you like that, don’t you, you little slut,” the woman said delightedly as she blew on her damp nipple. 

Her back arched, seeking the woman’s mouth as she felt her control slipping. She was panting and writhing as the skillful fingers tormented her, so different from Leonn’s demanding caresses. 

The mouth trailed across her chest to find the tip of her other breast hard and expectant. “No, please…I-I don’t want this.” Another hot tear spilled down her cheek. She shivered as Marie’s tongue swirled around its taut length before taking it fully in her mouth.

“Ah, but your sweet little body tells me quite the opposite. It can’t lie like your pretty mouth.”

A small whimper escaped her as another finger joined the others to plunder her pussy, and her body arched off of the bed, her hands clenched at her sides. “Oh…”

“Marie,” both women gasped at the unexpectedness of that quietly spoken word. Leonn leaned negligently against the door to the chamber, his narrowed amber eyes taking in the spectacle laid before him. 

“Darling,” the woman cried, quickly turning toward the voice. She slipped off of Bella and crossed the room, flinging her arms around the tall silent man. “You’re back early.”

Bella’s breath caught in her throat as his eyes skimmed her creamy curves over Marie’s head, noting the dazed eyes and feverish cheeks, the taut nipples still damp from Marie’s attentions. Her whole body clenched under that unreadable gaze. 

Leonn tore his eyes from Bella to stare down at the blonde woman in his arms as he slowly yet firmly grasped the woman’s wrists and removed them from around his neck. 

Something about the stiffness of his shoulders chased a warning shiver down Bella’s spine. Slowly she sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. 

Bella’s eyes drunk in the sight of him, tall and forbidding as he gazed down at Marie. He was like a golden god, with gleaming gold locks that brushed the collar of his black leather coat. A snowy white tunic brought out his golden skin and tight brown breeches clung to his muscular thighs before disappearing into knee high black leather boots. She felt her body palpitate at the sight of him, and wondered if she could ever bear the sight of him without her traitorous body responding to his mere presence. 

“I gave orders that this tower is out of bounds.” Leonn said quietly to the woman before him. Too quietly.

“But darling, I knew you couldn’t mean me, and once I heard you had a delicious girl up here, I simply had to find out for myself. And truly, Leonn, she is remarkable, so pliant and fresh.” 

Leonn raised an eyebrow. “My orders were crystal-clear.” 

“I haven’t seen you in days, ever since that convent slut arrived, and I was starting to get lonely.”

“Whether she is a slut is yet to be seen,” Leonn replied coldly, his eyes flicking briefly over Bella. “And if you feel the need to amuse yourself, there are any number of men or women willing to lend a hand. Now get out.”

“We could share her, Leonn.” The woman, in all her arrogance, seemed to be pleading. Isabella held her breath, wondering what his answer would be. He wouldn’t…

“Marie, you are not in a position to control me or make demands upon me. Now go. I will deal with you later.” His coldly spoken words were like a whiplash.

Isabella watched with wide eyes as Marie flicked her a chilling glance over her shoulder before storming from the chamber. Slowly Bella’s eyes swung warily to Leonn’s. It had slowly dawned on her that it had not been his wish that she allow Marie to fondle her so intimately. Her faced burned in humiliation. 

Leonn stood silently, hands on hips, his amber eyes molten as he surveyed her. She had never seen him look so, and hoped she never would again. His eyes seemed to burn all the more fiercely set as they were in a coldly stern face, a muscle ticking at his jaw. She tore her eyes from his, ducking her head, and waited.

“Isabella,” was all he said, moving silently toward her. He stopped before the bed, his legs brushing her knees. “Show me.” 

She gazed up at him from beneath lowered lashes, unsure of his meaning. 

“I want to see if Marie made you wet,” he said slowly and carefully. 

Her eyes widened, and shame at her stupidity flickered through her. She couldn’t bear to show him and simply nodded her head. 

“Show me.” The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. 

She eased her legs apart, allowing a glimpse of red curls. 

“Wider.” He ordered, a harsh reminder of Marie. She obeyed him. She did not need to look down to know the plump lips were glistening with hard fought desire. 

“Come, do not hide the precious jewel between your soft thighs from your master.” His tone was icy. 

Squeezing her eyes shut, she moved her hands to rest on her inner thighs. Taking a deep breath, her fingers curled around the pouting lips, slowly spreading them wide to reveal the full extent of her shame. 

He was silent a long while as he gazed down upon her swollen flesh, slick with her juices. 

She cried out when he caught her knees, lifting them high and wide as he dragged her across the bed so that her bottom rested at its edge. He flung her legs wide apart, moving to stand between them. “Don’t move,” he commanded her. He was silent as he swiftly slipped the tunic over his head and tossed it carelessly to the ground. All the while his eyes where fixed on her lower belly, burning with anger.

Even now, fearing his barely leashed anger, her body responded to the sight of him. His shoulders were broad, his golden chest lightly matted with honey blonde hair that traveled down over the flat plane of his belly and disappeared beneath the laces of his breeches in a tempting line. The state of his arousal was clearly evident by the thick bulge straining the material across his hips.

“Please, Leonn, don’t do this, not in anger,” she pleaded. 

She lay there, her hair spread like a halo around her, her breath coming in short pants. She was unable to move as his fingers tugged at the laces of his breeches, making short work of them. She moistened suddenly dry lips as his shaft sprung free. He was so very so thick and swollen, nestled in a thatch of dark golden curls. Her insides clenched at the thought of him moving over her, his shaft stroking the deepest parts inside of her. 

“No!” She cried, moving swiftly as she rose from the bed, almost disappointed that he didn’t stop her. She had taken two steps before his arm flung out, his fingers curling around her upper arm. He used brute strength to swing her back around, pulling her up tight against him so that she felt fullness of his lust against her bottom.

“I leave you alone and you amuse yourself with the first person that comes along,” he breathed angrily against her ear. “Did you enjoy the touch of another? Were you glad it was not my touch you had to bear?”

“No,” she cried, wiggling against him, but her held her there, his breath stirring her hair. The warmth of his body seeped into her through the fine cloth, and his scent, male and tangy, teased her nostrils. 

“You are mine. You belong to me and no one else.” She felt him stir against her as her mind registered the hurt, the possessive jealously behind the words. 

He forced her face down on the bed, kicking her ankles wide apart so that she was stretched over the bed on tip-toe. She felt him slide in her cleft, searching for her dewy gate. A moan escaped her as the tip of him nudged her entrance. 

“No, Leonn,” she gasped, trying to buck him off of her, but her position made it useless. His fingers splayed over her cheeks, spreading them wide as the head of his shaft found her again. 

“You are mine, and mine alone,” he breathed harshly, jealousy firing his lust. 

He thrust into her, ramming up deep inside her tight pussy. She cried out, the breath rushing from her lungs as he took her fiercely. 

“No, please” she cried. She felt him still inside of her, feeling the large length of him pulsing against her walls, his balls resting against her mound. 

“’Yes’ Bella, I want to hear you say it. Soon you will be begging me.” 

She moaned as he began moving in her with deep possessive strokes, drawing gasping cries from her as her body shuddered around him. 

“Please…” She panted. Even as her mind protested, her traitorous body responded to his touch, the moisture gathering in her sheath.

His hands gripped her hips as his body drove into hers, over and over. It felt as though he was splitting her, trying to push his body through hers and out the other side. 

A hand slid beneath her body, cupping a tiny breast. She cried out from the roughness of it, even as the nipple hardened, as if encouraging the brutal assault.

“Did you even care who played with your eager body, glad it wasn’t me?” He demanded, rolling the nipple. 

“Stop this, Leonn,” she begged, her body shaking beneath him with each thrust. 

“Did you enjoy her gentle woman’s fingers deep in your pussy?” His hand slide under her belly to stroke the slick valley between her thighs, dewy with her need. Her found her nub, his fingers maddening as they circled it, teasing her. “Do you hate that I interrupted you before she got to taste you, licking up your sweet juices as you came in her mouth?”

The tempo of his thrusts increased, his body a forceful slap against hers. She was moaning and writhing beneath him, trying to ease the exquisite pain of his driving cock, her body craving relief only he could give.

“Tell me you want me,” he demanded, his long strokes creating havoc between her thighs, his fingers tormenting her. She felt the tingling, coiling sensation snaking low in her belly and hated herself for her weakness. Even now she wanted him, all of him. 

“No,” she cried, denying him even as her body welcomed his savage possession. She trembled on the crest of her pleasure, her whole body as taut as wire as his fingers explored her channel. She almost screamed aloud as he stilled against her, only the tip of him resting in her quivering sheath. 

“Beg me, little one,” he whispered cruelly. 

“Oh, God,” she moaned, her whole body feverish with lust for him. “I hate you,” she cried. 

“Do you?” He whispered. “Tell me to stop and I will.” Desire prickled her skin as his teeth nipped the flesh of her shoulder. 

She clenched her fists, burying her pink face against her arm as she fought for control in a losing battle. 

“Tell me you want what only I can give you.”

She pushed her hips against him in silent entreaty. She whimpered as he withdrew from her fully.

“No,” she choked. 

Her pussy clenched and unclenched around emptiness, desperately craving his familiar fullness. She felt the tip of him sliding along her cleft, rubbing her clitoris and drawing a deep moan from her.

“Oh, God,” she cried, no longer able to deny her need. “I want you. Please…”

He groaned triumphantly as in one swift thrust he surged into her to the hilt, starting a fierce tempo that left her gasping. His grunts echoed her moans, the bed shaking with the force of his thrusts. She cried out with relief as his fingers found her, raking her nub. She screamed beneath him, almost bucking him off of her as violent waves of pleasure washed over her. She shattered around him, her tight walls milking him, drawing him in deep as her rapture took her.

“Christ!” He cried at the force of her orgasm, his head thrown back as he slammed into her with deep thrusts as he took himself to the brink. He spent himself fiercely inside of her, the pulsing spurts filling her womb. 

Bella drew a ragged breath as he pulled away from her so suddenly, leaving her bereft. 

He swore under his breath, gathering up his breeches. She heard the chamber door slam behind him. 

She rolled over onto her back, easing the pressure on her lungs, her body limp and exhausted. She rubbed a hand over dry eyes, feeling the disgust well in her. She hated him then, for what he has done to her. He had shown her that even in anger her body craved his with an intensity that scared her.

* * * 

Leonn woke with a pounding head, scratchy eyes and a mouth that felt like old leather. He groaned, flinging an arm up over his eyes, feeling the world tilt on its axis as he waited for the world to right itself. 

He was unprepared for the sight of a furious Marie storming into his chamber not long later, her golden hair uncombed as she slammed the door shut. 

“How dare you!” She screamed, and he grimaced from the pain. “You filthy, rotten, low down bastard. You are no better than your father.”




Innocent Pawn Ch. 05



“Ah, my father,” he nodded sagely, shifting to sit up on one arm and then regretted even that small movement. “Your late husband.” 

“Yes, my husband! My ruthless, conniving husband, who left me without a cent.”

“Don’t speak ill of the dead, Marie,” he said quietly. “Especially not of my father. He quickly realised his mistake in marrying you, yet he was willing to turn a blind eye to your greediness and infidelities, when others would not have. He let you live in the lap of luxury, swaning it like a Queen, as you soiled yourself with the lowest serving boys.”

“The bastard was old and unable to satisfy me in bed. I was young and beautiful, I had needs. You of all people understand that.” 

Leonn held his tongue, sliding his feet over the edge of the bed and sitting up tentatively. He didn’t care that the coverlet slipped, displaying his nakedness. 

“Dammit Leonn,” she cried. “How could you send the servants to my chamber with orders for me to pack and depart immediately! I love you. I know we could be good together, if only you would give us a chance. That afternoon we spent together is burned in my mind forever!”

“There will be no chance for us, Marie.” He stated firmly, pinning her with his bleary eyes.

Marie’s eyes dropped sullenly, and she flounced to the window. “So you’re kicking me out, all because some convent slut whined to you about not liking what I did to her.” Leonn stilled, keeping his face composed as Marie turned to face him. “She’s a lying little bitch, acting the innocent when all along she wanted it. You can’t believe a word she says!” 

“I want you gone from here, Marie, before you inflict any more damage on Isabella.” He barely managed to keep his distaste for her, for himself, from his voice. 

“It sounds as though you’re in love with the whore,” she cried, and Leonn merely looked at her. “You can’t be serious?” She snorted, then stilled. Silence reined in the room when he had no response for her. 

He saw the desperation in her eyes. “You can’t kick me out, a penniless widow. What will people think,” she cried. 

“Residence in a chateau a mere two days travel from Paris, servants at your disposal and a monthly allowance, is hardly what I would call penniless, Marie. If that sounds so terrible, you could always remarry.”

He stood up slowly, mindful of his sore head. He strode to the door and flung it open, motioning with his hand. 

“But I want you,” she cried.

“Go, before I think to reduce your allowance.” He said without heat, his thoughts only of Isabella. Knowing now that Marie had played him, and well, changed little. Somewhere after the fifth mug of ale he had realised the gravity of his actions, of what he had done. Only then he had been in no condition to anything about it. 

He pushed Marie away as she tried one last attempt to press a kiss on him, her crafty fingers groping his shaft, before slamming the door behind her with a wince. 

In the cool light of day, the brutality of his actions washed over him. He had used Bella’s sweetly responsive body as a vessel for his anger and jealously, raping her. He doubled over, acid bitterness erupting from him as he emptied his belly in a wave of remorse and self-disgust. Even after his stomach had emptied itself of its contents, it continued to heave, his depravity a physical thing. 

Half blind with tears, he finally acknowledged to himself the glaring truth. Isabella was as sweet and giving as she had first seemed that day in the library. Only he had been too blind to see it, casting her in the same mold as her father. 

“Hell, what have I done?” 

* * *

She knew the moment he appeared in the doorway of the chamber, feeling the intensity of his gaze upon her. She trembled where she knelt near the warm fire, her legs tucked beneath her, her skin glowing in the firelight. Her fingers curled on her thighs as she fought the instinct to cover her tiny breasts. 

“Did I hurt you?” The gentle question was so unexpected that her wide green eyes flew to his amber ones. He moved silently to stand before, his eyes full of remorse. She shook her head slightly, not sure whether to be angry or sorry. 

“Is she your wife?” Isabella asked finally, glad that she was able to keep the quiver from her voice.

“No, she is my father’s widow. A thorn in my side, one that has now been removed.”

“Removed?” Bella asked hesitantly, refusing to acknowledge the flutter in her chest at his words.

“She is travelling to one of my other estates to remain there until she remarries.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip. “Do you…and she…” She couldn’t continue, dreading the answer. 

He was silent for a long while, as if debating how to answer her. “Once, when I was young and inexperienced, new to the games between men and women. It is something I have been deeply ashamed of ever since. I think my father guessed, but he never spoke of it to me.” 

She felt sick at the thought of Leonn and that woman.

“Leonn-“

“Bella-“

“You first,” he invited.

“I thought that you…she,” Bella began, then tried again. “I thought it was what you wanted.”

“Little one, it was never my wish to share you.” His finger reached out to touch her, but she flinched away from him. She saw the flash of pain in his eyes before he quickly masked it, dropping his hand to his side. “She has tried in vain to rekindle what little passion I had for her then over the past decade,” he continued quietly. “It was my thoughtlessness that led to your pain. I should have foreseen that she would try to use you to get to me. My stupidity and jealously only compounded your hurt, and for that I am deeply regretful. I hope that your sweet and generous heart is able to forgive me, and I promise never to give you cause to fear me again.”

She felt his regret, his pain, and knew only she could ease it. She was silent, gazing sightlessly at her clenched fists where they rested on her thighs.

“Will you forgive me?” He asked again, when the silence in the chamber dragged on. 

She gazed up at him with determined green eyes. “I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

To be continued…

Authors note: I have tried to follow the suggestions made in feedback, such as longer chapters, more character development, and a stronger heroine. Let me know if I have been successful or not :)



Innocent Pawn Ch. 06



“I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

She felt his tension, his stillness. She gazed down at her tightly clenched fists where they rested on her thighs, her belly fluttering with nerves. 

“What if I can’t let you go?” he asked finally.

Her eyes flew to his, and the expression in their amber depths took her breath away. 

“What if I can’t let you go?” He repeated softly, moving to stand over her where she sat with her feet tucked beneath her bottom. The tips of her tiny breasts peeked between the long cascading waves of fiery red hair that was her only protection from his scorching gaze.

She tore her soft green eyes from his, her heart racing madly. “You – you have to,” she whispered. 

“Have to?” He inquired, placing a gentle finger beneath her chin and titling her head back. There was no escaping those dark amber eyes that seemed to burn through her to the core. 

“You can’t keep me locked in here, like this, forever,” she murmured huskily. 

“I adore you like this,” he said softly. His fingers swept back the fall of silky hair behind a creamy shoulder, sending shivers down her spine. "Soft and sweet and defenseless. Like a new born kitten." 

She quivered as his eyes flicked over her, her soft plump thighs, the gentle swell of her belly and the tiny thrust of her rosy-tipped breasts that seemed to swell and tighten beneath his gaze.

“Ah, Bella, do not ask me to let you go. I do not have it in me to deny myself the exquisite pleasure of your sweet body, the way it clenches around my cock as I plunder your delicious pussy, so wet and tight, as though it were made for my possession.”

She had to bite her lip to prevent the whimper from escaping her as he crouched down before her, his long fingers trailing down over her shoulder to find a pouting nipple. She shuddered as he gently rubbed it with the pad of his thumb. 

“How can I let you go when the mere thought of you makes me hard.” He caught a tiny fist in his palm, compelling the fingers to uncurl before he brought it up hard against him where he strained the seam of his breeches. He groaned as her fingers instinctively flexed around the swollen ridge of flesh. 

She quivered as his fingers trailed down the valley between her breasts to lazily circle her belly button before slipping down into the tight niche between her thighs. 

He groaned as his fingers found her dampness. “Little one, even now your body begs to be plundered.” 

“N-no,” she gasped huskily, dragging her hand from beneath his as though burnt. "No more.” 

“No?” he queried as his finger found the hidden jewel nestled between her thighs. Her eyelids fluttered close as he stroked her there, her thighs yielding slighting to the pressure exerted by his hand as he sought even deeper between them. 

Her breath came in a shuddery jerk as a finger slid up inside of her. 

“No,” she whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut as her traitorous body melted beneath the knowing touch as he swirled the finger inside of her. 

“Oh,” she gasped, her hips arching as another finger entered her there. 

A frown creased her brow as his fingers withdrew. Before she knew what was happening she found herself toppled back onto the soft fur rug, the momentum causing her knees to splay in the air as the breath rushed from her lungs. 

"Leonn," she husked as he moved swiftly to kneel between her thighs, yanking them even wider apart.

“We both know your body is unable to deny me anything.” 

Her body clenched as the warm pad of his fingers walked up over her belly, to cup her tender breast. 

“So sweetly responsive,” he whispered as he leaned over to swirl his tongue over a rosy tip before drawing it deep into his mouth. Her back arched as his teeth gently rasped her there.

“No,” she cried, her small fists pushing against broad shoulders. She whimpered as his hands captured hers, forcing them up over her head. She lay there panting beneath him as his mouth sought her other peak.

“Oh,” she moaned, feeling moistness seep between her thighs as he tenderly sucked on her nipples. “I…stop,” she gasped. She knew what he was doing, trying to use her traitorous body against her, but she had to fight him. 

When eventually he let go of her wrists to reach for the laces of his breeches, she used the fleeting opportunity to draw her legs up and press her knees against his shoulders with all her might. It shouldn’t have worked, her strength miniscule compared to his, but he had been unprepared for her resistance. She had rolled quickly onto her side and started scrambling up on to her hands before he reacted. She squeaked as an arm snaked between her thighs, clasping the soft flesh and dragging her back toward him. 

The rug slid beneath her as he tugged her down into his lap, and her hand closed over his, trying to pry his fingers from where they clutched her intimately. His other arm clamped around her hips like a steel vice, and she slapped at both of them. “I hate you,” she cried, trying to wiggle off of him, but he only chuckled at he attempts to escape him. 

“Do you really?” he asked teasingly against her ear, and she froze on top of him when she felt the effect her struggles had on him. 

“You – you pig,” she muttered, and pinched him on the thigh. He didn’t even have the decency to flinch. 

“Tut, tut. So my sweet Bella has a temper underneath that demure exterior.” 

The breath caught in her throat as a thick finger probed the slick entrance of her pussy. 

“Leonn…”

A low moan escaped her as his finger slid up inside of her while the fingers of his other hand caressed the soft skin of her belly where they held her firm on his lap. 

Soon his finger eased in and out of her, generating an exquisite friction in her clutching pussy that had her writhing on his lap. 

“Even now you would beg me to take you.” He pressed a kiss against her temple as his finger eased out of her. “But I can wait.”

“W-what?” She gasped as he gently shifted her off of his lap onto the rug and rose to his feet. She was rosy and damp from her exertions as she gazed up at him in confusion. 

“I will wait until you are ready to come to me of your own free will.” His voice, gravelly and deep, was filled with an underlying seriousness that stole her breath away. She had seen his forceful nature as he molded her untutored body to his fierce sexual demands, his anger and possessiveness, yet never had she witnessed this side of him. Even dazed with desire she realised something about him had changed. He seemed softer somehow, less fierce, although his eyes still burned bright with lust. 

“I will send up a selection of gowns to be at your disposal until a designer from Paris can be arranged.” Wide green eyes followed his progress as he strode to the door of the chamber, only pausing briefly to glance over at her tumbled disarray. “My castle is yours to use as you wish.”

He left the chamber door slightly open, and she heard his light footfalls on the winding stone steps slowly fade. She was still sitting there, staring off into space as she tried to comprehend his actions, when a maid arrived with an armful of pretty petticoats and gowns. Bella discovered that her name was Mina, and she was to be her lady’s maid. 

She felt uncomfortable as the maid dressed her, remaining silent as the young girl chatted freely as her small hands smoothed the lacy chemise over her slender body and tied the ribbons of her petticoats around her waist before lowering the gown over her up-stretched arms. 

The feel of cloth against her skin for the first time in eons felt peculiar where it rubbed against her hard nipples, and painfully restrictive after the freedom of bare flesh. 

She had never felt so confused and unsure as when she took her first steps from her prison a little while later. Leonn was an enigma, a puzzle she didn’t have all the pieces to, but at least she had known what he wanted of her until then. He had stolen her virginity and relentlessly taken her with the single intention of planting his bastard in her belly as a means of revenge against her father. Had he guessed that she was late? Is that why he allowed her more freedom, because he no longer thought he needed to force himself on her? Did he plan to be rid of her soon? 

* * *

“I thought I might find you here.” 

Lost deep in thought as she sat on the narrow stone bench in the heart of the walled garden she had only seen from her window, Bella was startled by the deep voice. Sunset had fallen hours ago, yet she was content to sit outside, uncaring of time slipping by as she listened to the sounds of animals going about their nightly rituals. She felt alive again, no longer closed off from the world.

He must have sensed some of her thoughts as she turned her head slowly to gaze up at him where he stood just behind her shoulder, and she could have sworn she saw a flicker of regret in those amber depths. She looked away, smoothing the violet silk over her knees apprehensively as she waited for him to speak. 

She shivered as fingers slid though her silky mane and his mouth pressed against the nape of her neck.

“You’re exquisite,” he breathed, his fingers trailing over her shoulder, to delve down under her bodice to capture a soft breast beneath her chemise. 

She made a noise like a kitten as his teeth gently closed over her ear lobe, the sensual tugging generating a similar sensation between her thighs. 

“I want to take you right now, exactly as you are,” he murmured against her ear as his fingers teased her nipple to a hard peak. “I want to push your skirts up and spread you soft thighs wide as I thrust into your tight pussy. Are you wet for me?” 

Her heart raced as he straddled the large bench to kneel before her, gazing up into her expressive face as his large palms easily found her slippered feet beneath the layers of silk and lace. She bit her lip, knowing that if he were to lift her skirts and petticoats he would discover the dewy moistness at her core. 

His fingers stole up over her calves to the sensitive underside of her knees. “I’ve been standing there watching you, wondering how it would feel to take you fully clothed.” She gasped as his hands curled around her knees and quickly jerked them apart. 

“Y-you can’t, not here,” she whispered in shocked fascination as fingers teased along her inner thigh. “Someone might see.”

It was his husky laughter that made her realise how inviting her words sounded. 

“I mean –“ Her thoughts were muddled as his other hand slowly pushed up her skirts. 

Leonn chuckled. “I know what you meant, little one, and your eagerness to have me deep inside you is extremely flattering.” 

“You know I said no such thing,” she murmured, a small frown puckering her brow. She bit her lips as she felt his mouth kiss the flesh on the inside of one knee, then the other, before slowly working up under her skirts. 

She was panting, her whole body on fire as his mouth moved closer and closer to her slick heat, pressing teasing kisses along her quivering thighs. She tried to fight back the heady, breathless anticipation stirred deep inside her as she imagined where he would plant his next kiss. 

“Leonn,” she gasped as his warm breath blew gently on the red curls at the apex of her thighs, her face pink at the thought of him breathing in her scent. Even if she had the will, the broad shoulders wedged firmly between her thighs prevented her from closing her legs against his tender exploration.

“Little one,” he replied huskily as his fingers delicately parted her slippery folds. 

She closed her eyes, trying to block the image in her mind of him gazing upon her glistening pink flesh with amber eyes molten with lust. 

“You said…” She moaned as his tongue licked the full length of her slit, her fingers curling around the edge of the bench. “Oh!”

Before she could catch her breath his tongue lapped at her secret place as though she were an ice-lolly melting in the full heat of the midday sun. Blood thrummed between her thighs as his tongue delved between her damp folds, seeking to lick up every last drop of dew. 

“You said you would wait…” Her words were barely audible as his tongue probed her nub, but he heard her, his devastating mouth pausing between her thighs. 

“So I did, little one,” he replied, his voice muffled by her skirts. She was unprepared for the finger that plunged into her tight sheath in one heart-stopping motion.

“Leonn!” Her whole body screamed with tension as his finger probed her slick heat. Her hips arched off of the bench as his mouth closed over her damp flesh, sucking on her pulsing nub as his finger caressed her. “Please…”

She could have ground her teeth with frustration when he sat back on his haunches, a pair of twinkling amber eyes appearing from beneath the layers of her skirt. “But I never said I would make the waiting easy.” 

“You – you…” 

“What?” He chuckled as he gently smoothed down her skirts as though she were a child before rising to his feet. “Scoundrel? Cad?”

She could have screamed as he leaned down to plant a hard kiss on her mouth before sauntering off with a stiffness to his stride that was gladdening. 

“Toad!” She called out breathlessly, but he merely laughed as he disappeared around a tall hedge. 

* * *

She was passing through the great hall when out of the corner of her eye she spied Leonn at one end, leaning against the great fireplace, his fingers drumming out an impatient tattoo against the creamy marble. She hurried her step as much as the pale blue gown would allow, praying the rustle of silk would not give her away. 

“Bella.”

Her steps faltered, and slowly she turned to face her captor, her arms sliding around her waist protectively. She had spent a sleepless night worrying over what devilish torments her captor would dream up so that she would allow him free reign to do those wicked things to her. That he had given her the choice to come to him should have made things easier, but only seemed to make it that much harder. As much as she tried to convince herself that she would never go to him, deep down she knew it would take little for her to crumble, her resistance to him a fragile thing at best.

She was unprepared for the frown that darkened his face as he gazed across at her. “I would never intentionally hurt you, Bella.” 

“Then let me go,” she said, her heart beating. 

“No,” was his only reply as he strode toward her. 

“Because of my father,” she said soflty, feeling her neck prickle as he bore down on her. Her wide green eyes drunk in the magnificence of him, lean and muscular, with cat-like grace and warm golden skin. She gasped as his outstretched hand caught her wrist, tugging her the last little distance between them and into his waiting arms. She was caught off-guard by the soft kiss he planted on her lips, the feel of his thumbs brushing the under swell of her breasts as his palms spanned her tiny waist. 

“Even now, with any number of servants within earshot, I ache to explore the delicious body hidden beneath all that frothy lace.” A teasing finger traced the sweetheart neckline of her pale green gown, pausing at the dip between her breasts. 

“Don’t,” she gasped, as he pressed tender kisses on the corner of her mouth. She was unused to this new Leonn. 

“Don’t what?” He murmured as his finger curled over the neckline, rubbing the shadowy valley teasingly. Any reply was cut off as his mouth closed over hers, his tongue teasing her lips apart before delving into the soft depths of her mouth.

Her fingers hesitantly slid up his arms to curl around his shoulder as he drew her firmly up against the solid wall of his chest as he deepened the kiss. She was unaware of how long they stood there entwined, their mouths fused as each kiss melded into a new one. 

So she was stunned when he tore his mouth from hers, her eyes flickering open as he abruptly turned and strode away from her. 

Her hand flew to her lips as she gazed after him uncomprehendingly. What had she done wrong?

* * * 

She gave a squeak of surprise three days later when a large palm reached out and captured her wrist, dragging her unceremoniously into a cramped, dark room. She felt his warmth and the scent of sandalwood and musky male teasing her senses as the door was kicked closed behind her and she was pinned up against it by a hard wall of muscle.

She had barely enough time to draw breath before a hard mouth slanted over hers, pushing her head back against the door as he ruthlessly plundered her depths. She moaned against his lips, her fingers tangling in the golden mane. 

“Bella,” he groaned as his hands tangling in her skirts, yanking them up so that cool air swirled around her knees. “Let me touch you.” 

His free hand delved beneath her skirts, seeking her warmth and getting tangled in her silky chemise. “Hell,” he muttered as he tore the fine material in his impatience. He nuzzled her neck as she felt him fumble with his laces between the press of their bodies. 

She felt him then, full and hard, nudging at the apex of her thighs, its pulsing heat like fire against her secret flesh. “Leonn,” she murmured, trying desperately to recapture reason as his mouth recaptured hers in a drugging kiss. 

She whimpered against his mouth as he caught her buttocks, hefting her up against the door before his lower body slammed against hers, holding her firm. “Wrap your legs around me,” he ordered. 

She gave no thought to resistance as she did what he asked, her trembling breasts crushed against the solid wall of his chest as his tongue caressed hers.

She stilled when she felt him prodding against her dewy gate. 

“Leonn…” she gasped, tearing her mouth from his. 

“Forgive me,” he grunted as he rammed the full length of his cock up deep inside her pussy. 

Her tight walls stretched around his invading thickness as she was impaled on his thick length. She had barely caught her breath before he quickly slid out before lunging back forcefully inside of her.

“Please, Leonn. S-stop…” 

She moaned against his neck as he rotated his hips.

“Bella,” he groaned, pressing his damp forehead against hers.

She whimpered as he plunged into her in a series of sharp, searing thrusts as he held her prisoner against the door. She quivered against him, feeling the heat pool between her thighs as her body welcomed each brutal stroke. 

“Don’t,” she pleaded even as her muscles clenched and unclenched around him as she fought a rising tide of pleasure.

Almost as abruptly as it began it stopped. “Christ,” he ground out harshly. His fingers dug into her where they clenched around the soft flesh of her bottom, his thick shaft fully immersed in her slick heat. 

Several tense seconds passed by as he fought brutally for control, and she could only cling to him, glorying in the feel of his throbbing shaft filling her as he pressed her against the door.

Slowly, horribly, he withdrew from her, dragging a moan from her lips. 

“Go,” was all he managed to say. 

She slipped her trembling legs to the ground, as slowly, deliberately he backed away from her.

“Go before I change my mind and take you like a rutting animal!” 

She fled without a backward glance. 

* * *

Two weeks had passed since he had let her have free reign of his castle. Two agonising weeks of building frustration as she fought to master her urges. Each night seemed lonelier than the last as she lay awake in the darkness, yearning for his brutal possession. Several times she had wished the choice would taken from her, and immediately hated herself for the thought. 

She refused to go to him. She wished it were pride and self-respect that kept her from his bed, yet it was the tiny spark of life growing in her belly gave her a renewed determination. For the sake of her unborn baby she knew she had to convince Leonn to let her go. He didn’t care for her beyond a means to an end, nor would he care for her baby if he should ever discovered the truth. They would merely be pawns in his sick game for revenge. 




Innocent Pawn Ch. 06



He had avoided being alone with her since those moments in the dark where he had fought so severely for control. When she lay awake at night she remembered those intense minutes with a shiver, knowing how he close he had been to losing control. So she was surprised when one of the maids come to her with an elegantly scrawled message requesting her presence in the courtyard. 

As she stood on the cobblestones, gazing about curiously, she was unprepared for the sight of him trotting across the courtyard on a large black stallion. She watched in awe as he expertly guided the horse along side of her, feeling her belly clench. With a lazy grace that stole her breath away he leaned down and caught her about the waist, hefting her up on the saddle before him as though she weighed no more than a feather. 

“Slide your leg over,” he ordered against her ear, and she struggled with her skirt as she raised her leg and let it slip down over the other side. She couldn’t reach the stirrups so she quickly gripped the pummel and clenched her thighs against the saddle as she settled in the saddle. A strong arm clamped possessively around her waist, anchoring her against the solid warmth of his chest as he expertly steered the horse through the outhouses and barns at a slow trot until they reached open fields. 

The wind whipped through her fiery mane as they cantered through the long green grass sprinkled with tiny white flowers, and she closed her eyes and tipped her head back against his shoulder, loving the feel of his arms around her as the sun caressed her face. 

She had been allowed free reign of the castle, but whenever she had stepped outside she had been conscious of the eyes watching her every movement. To race on the stallion as though without a care in the world put a sparkle in her eyes that had been missing for so long. 

She felt his fingers splay across her belly, exerting a firm pressure that drew her bottom fully into the cradle of his hips. Her heart picked up speed as his fingers lightly massaged her belly, creating a weakening sensation between her thighs. 

Her eyes widened as she felt his shaft begin to lengthen and thicken against her bottom as each stride brought them into jarring contact. 

The breath caught in her throat as his palm slid down her hip to clench around her skirts, slowly drawing up the silky material, inch by teasing inch. Surely…

Her stomach muscles clenched as his warm palm came to rest on the bare skin of her thigh. 

“Relax.” His breath teased the scarlet tendrils at her temple, sending a slight shiver through her. 

Long agonising minutes passed as he rested his palm there, his thumb rubbing tormenting circles on her soft inner thigh a mere inch from her secret flesh.

Self-preservation forced her to slide forward on the saddle with the intention of putting a fraction of space between his body and hers. It took only a few seconds for her to realise her mistake. Her mound was pressed tightly against the base of the pommel. Each stride forced her lower body up hard against the leather, bringing her into wicked contact with the raised ridge. The folds of her gown caught between her and the pommel only added to her torment. 

Bella sucked in her breath as Leonn slid forward, wedging her firm against the pommel and making her devastatingly aware of the ridge of leather running down the centre of the pommel. 

Oh, God, she thought as he spurred the horse on even faster. She shifted awkwardly on the saddle as she sought to escape the delicious sensations, her face pink as she tried to think of some way to prevent what was happening to her. 

Her eyes closed as his hand slid up over the silk of her bodice to rub a pouting nipple. 

“L-Leonn,” she puffed, tingles shooting down her spine as his fingers plucked at the taut peak through the fabric of her gown.

“Shall I stop?” He breathed mockingly against her ear, and she pinked at the realisation that he was fully aware of her humiliating dilemma.

She moaned as the press of his powerful thighs and the speed of the horse forced her sensitive flesh against the damp leather with unrelenting determination. “Please,” she murmurred huskily, not sure if she was asking him to stop this torment. 



Her fingers pushed against the pommel but she unable to prevent each jolting contact as the stallion’s legs flared out before them. Her breasts rose and fell heavily, the uneven friction of the pommel only fanning the fires of her torment, never letting up or easing her frustration.

She shuddered as he drew the horse to an abrupt halt, her body a quivering mass as he swung his leg over the horse and planted his feet on the ground before capturing her waist and dragging her into his arms. He slowly slid her down his body, letting her feel the full effect she had on him. 

“Please,” she begged as his fullness rubbed against her belly, her body craving the feel of his cock filling the empty, aching void between her thighs. “No more of this torment. I need to feel you inside of me.” 

God help her, she thought, awed by the look in his eyes as he gazed down at her. He slapped the rump of the stallion, sending it off a fair distance to chew on the long grass. 

“Thank God,” he grunted as he dragged her to the ground, pressing her into the soft earth as his body moved over hers. 

She felt his hand slide between their bodies, pushing impatiently at his breeches before tugging up her skirts as his tongue tangled with hers. She moaned as the head of his shaft slipped between her thighs, searching for her dewy gate. 

“I can’t wait any longer…”

He thrust into her with one powerful stroke, stretching her tight walls around him as he slid up inside of her to the hilt. His molten eyes gazed down into her wide ones as he slowly withdrew before ramming back up inside of her, watching every expression flicker across her expressive face. 

Her legs wrapped around him, her hips bucking to the pace he forced on her as his body slapped against her creamy flesh, drawing cries from both of them as he plowed her tight pussy with each long stroke.

Waves of pleasure rushed over her as he rode her hard like the stallion, forcing her to accede to his will. He thrust into her over and over as she rippled around him, sensation spiraling through her as tingles began between her thighs.

“Hell,” he grunted as he thrust into her, glorying in the exquisite friction of her tight pussy as it clenched around his thrusting cock. He caught her leg, pushing it over his shoulder as his shaft speared her molten core. 

“Leonn,” she gasped, her body straining beneath him, her head rolling side to side as she was overcome with pleasure, the waves washing over her. She cried out, arching beneath him as he thrust into her tender flesh, ramming home with an urgency that thrilled her. 

He threw his head back, the cords in his neck straining as the force of her climax rocked him. Soon it became too much, his hot seed pouring into her as he came on top of her with long, driving thrusts. 

Eventually she came to lay sprawled on top of him, their bodies entwined, his fingers tangled in her mane where it was spread across his damp chest. 

She wasn’t quite sure that she had imagined the words he had cried out as he had spilled his seed deep inside her, even as they continued to echo in her mind as she drifted off into slumber. 

“I love you,” he had said. 

* * *

Something stirred her, dragging her from her peaceful sleep. Her eyes flickered, blinked, before they focused on the gleaming sword thrust in her line of vision. Her eyes widened before a sharp pain sent everything dark.

To be continued…



Innocent Pawn Ch. 07



Bella slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times as she adjusted to the dim light filtering through the windows of the unfamiliar chamber. She lay on her belly with her hand tucked beneath her chin, a dull pain throbbing behind her eyes. 

A sense of urgency filled her as memories flooded her mind, and she knew she had to discover if Leonn lived. In those few moments when those men had closed in on them with swords drawn, she had finally learnt that she loved him. 

She raised her head, and a soft whimper escaped her as dizziness and nausea assailed her. She quickly lay back down, sweat beading her forehead, and waited for the worst to pass. 

Her whole body stiffened as she felt a warm hand glide down her back, drawing the sheet with it as it came to rest teasingly upon the sweet curve of her bottom.

“Leonn,” she gasped in wonder, uncaring of the pain as she pushed herself up on her elbow. Sweeping back her long scarlet mane from her face, she gazed up at the man that towered over the bed where she lay. Her eyes widened warily as they met shrewd brown eyes set in a handsome face lined with age.

“Do you know who I am, Isabella?” He queried, the mattress dipping beneath his weight as he settled on the bed. 

She nodded shyly, a blush staining her cheeks. Her fingers hastily reached for the sheet to cover her bare breasts, but his hand shot out, capturing her wrist in his firm grip.    

“Let me see you,” he murmured as his eyes wondered over her. Goosebumps rose on her flesh as his other hand applied firm pressure against her shoulder, forcing her over onto her back on the bed. 

The blush deepened as his eyes caressed the small thrust of her breasts with their rosy tips, the narrow waist and gentle flare of her hips. 

“You’ve ripened in the years since I saw you last.” 

She flinched as his fingers pushed back her long red mane where it tumbled over her creamy shoulder, her wide green eyes filled with uncertainty as she gazed up at him.

“Please, I – I have nothing to cover m-myself with.” 

“Isabella, do not deny me a father’s concern. I must see with my own eyes that he has not marred your soft flesh.” “I-Is he-“ Her lips trembled as she tried to fight the dread at the thought of what her father would do to the man who had kidnapped her and stolen her innocence. 

“Forget all thoughts of him,” he father decreed. “He cannot harm you here, with my guards to protect you.”

Her eyelids fluttered close in shame as a heavy palm cupped the tiny mound of her breast, even as hope flared in her breast at her father’s words. What did her father mean that he needed to protect her from Leonn? Had he escaped?

Alarm shivered through her as he leaned forward to press a kiss in the valley between her breasts, inhaling the sweet scent of her.

“I-I am in sore need of a bath,” she whispered pleadingly as his thumb brushed a soft pink tip. She drew her knee up slightly, shielding the red fleece between her soft thighs as she pushed tentatively at his shoulders. 

“Don’t be shy,” he commanded as he lifted his head to gaze down at her. Tears shimmered in her moss green eyes as his fingers curled around her knee and applied firm pressure, easing her quivering thighs apart. 

He gazed down at her most intimate flesh for what seemed an age, his thumb lightly brushing the tender curls. “He will pay dearly for taking something that belonged to me,” he murmured as his eyes finally lifted to lock with hers. 

Fear curled in her stomach as he stood up, his broad frame towering over her where she lay defenselessly on the bed.

“Rest,” he ordered. “You’ve been through a traumatic experience. Tonight will be soon enough.”

Terror held her frozen on the bed long after he had left. 

* * *

A guard escorted her to the Great Hall where the evening meal was to be held. The hall was full when she arrived, and a cheer went up as she was led to her father’s table before the large stone fireplace. 

Her father leaned back in his chair as he watched her steady progress between the tables filled with men and women. Her eyes lowered, unable to look upon the admiration in her father’s eyes as they roved over the long flowing violet gown of crushed velvet that moulded her breasts and hips before flaring out in swirling folds around her slender legs. 

She was seated at her father’s side, and serving maids hastily approached, pouring wine and offering various platters of meat. Bella chose sparsely from the fine selection, doubting whether she could force even a tiny morsel of food past the knot in her throat. 

Bella flinched as his large palm settled on her thigh beneath the table, and she fought back the nausea that welled inside of her. As much as she wanted to avoid this meal, she knew she craved the answers to the questions that plagued her. 

“Father,” she began, eyes downcast, unsure how to phrase the question that had burned inside of her for so long. “I need to know why he did t-those things to me. He said you murdered his father.”

“I did,” her father replied, and the breath caught it her throat. “Although not for the reasons de Angel probably led you to believe.” 

Bella bit her lip, not sure whether to tell her father that Leonn, for whatever reason, had refused to tell her why her father had killed his. 

“It began over a woman named Claire de Courtenay.”

Bella’s eyebrows rose in astonishment. She wasn’t sure what she had expected to have caused the burning hatred between Leonn and her father, but a woman had never entered her mind. 

“She was like an angel, lit up inside with an inner sweetness. She was fragile, and demure, and all you wanted to do was protect her from the world. You remind me of her in many ways.”

“You loved her,” she breathed in surprise.

“I would have done anything for her, would have laid down my life at her feet had she asked. Yet she was betrothed to another man, a man she didn’t love. So we planned to elope. Somehow he found out, but he was so blinded by his obsession for her that he did not care that she loved someone else.”

She heard the pain and longing in his voice, so fresh, as though he was speaking of events that took place yesterday. 

“He sent several men to kill me. They came in the early hours of the morning, slipping into my chamber. Only they hadn’t planned on Claire being there in my bed, or that she would try and protect h-me from their killing blows. She died almost instantly.”

“Yet they didn’t harm you?” she queried, frowning.

“As soon as they had realised what they had done, the men fled, knowing their lives were forfeit if their master ever caught up with them.”

“What did you do?”

“I could do nothing then. He was too wealthy and powerful, and I a mere second born son. I found work on the first ship leaving port, and it was years before I returned to France, years in which I had amassed a fortune in trade and shipping. I met your mother on one of my trips to Ireland, but I dared not bring her home to France for fear that this man would harm her, for he still blamed me for Claire’s death. Only when your mother had passed away did I finally bring you to France, but even then I didn’t think it was safe for you to be with me, so I sent you to a convent.”

“Six years ago he finally found me. He forced me to fight him, ordering his men to stand down. By some trick of fate it was I who killed him, not the other way around. I had finally that it had been put to rest, and it saddened me to discover his son had taken up his cause, holding me responsible for his father’s death.”

She was stunned. All this time she had in some part of her heart believed that Leonn thought himself justified in his actions, holding her captive, forcing her to accede to his lust. To know that he had abused her wrongly gave her no satisfaction, and only seared her with pain. 

She was lost in somber thoughts as two guards strode through the hall to kneel before her father’s table. 

“De Angels men have been sighted in the village and surrounds, asking questions, my lord.”

“Round up my men. I want de Angel dead before dawn.”

* * *

Isabella had barely made it to the chamber pot upon rising the following morning before emptying what little contents there was of her stomach. 

“So, Leonn de Angel’s arrow shoots true,” drawled Marie, and Bella spun around, her eyes widening as she caught sight of the elegantly attired woman sitting by the window. 

Dread clenched in her belly at the malicious triumph in those golden brown eyes. 

“Leave,” Bella demanded with a calm she did not feel. “I don’t care for your reasons for being here in my father’s castle, just stay well away from me.”

“Perhaps,” the woman murmured as she strolled across the stone floor toward Bella. “You should care.”

Bella flinched as soft fingers gently traced the delicate line of her jaw. Bella swallowed hard, fighting down her revulsion as she turned her face away.

“This castle belongs to my father. You have no say here.” 

“As your father’s betrothed, it is unfortunate for you that this is not the case.” 

“He can’t have…” Bella trailed off, horror widening her moss green eyes as her face swung back to Marie’s. “You weren’t at the evening meal last night.”

“I wanted the surprise of our first meeting to be in private,” Marie declared, eyebrow raised. “Surely you didn’t think I would forget what you did, using what was between your legs to get Leonn to throw me out of his castle with a mere pittance to survive on?” 

“It wasn’t like that,” Bella breathed. “I didn’t know.”

“Don’t lie to me with those big innocent eyes, Isabella. I know you for the slut that you are. Leonn would have married me if you hadn’t turned him against me.”

“You’re his step-mother,” she whispered, shocked. 

Her lips trembled as Marie reached out and slipped a nail beneath the thin strap of Bella’s shift, sliding it down over her shoulder. The silky material slipped, exposing a small rosy tipped breast that trembled with each agitated breath.

“What did you do to get my father’s promise to marry you?” She whispered, trying to distract the woman. Marie’s laughter tinkled in her ears like shards of glass being crushed underfoot. 

“You’re father wasn’t even aware that Leonn had kidnapped you from the convent. Imagine his surprise and rage when he discovered who had you, and exactly what he would do to you,” Marie shivered delicately, her eyes glowing.  

“My father’s men are out there now, scouring the countryside for him,” she choked out. “You claim to love Leonn, but was his death to be a part of your plans?” 

Anger flared in those almond-shaped eyes. “I hardly think you are in a position to antagonise me,” the older woman said coldly. “Your father will never allow the bastard child of his enemy to live, even if it is his beloved daughter that carries it.”

“Marie, please,” she whispered, the blood draining from her face. 

The older woman watched the turmoil in the sweet innocent face as she slowly slipped the other thin strap from her shoulder. 

“Don’t…” Bella gasped as cold fingers gently pinched a soft nipple, coaxing it into a hard knot.

“What are you prepared to do, Isabella,” Marie drawled as she cupped the tiny breasts, causing the younger woman to shudder, “for me to keep your sordid little secret?”

“W-what,” she gasped, taking a step back as she tried to escape Marie’s caresses, but Marie followed her, forcing her up against the bottom of the bed. “What is it you want from me?”

“So tender and firm,” Marie murmured, playing with the puckered rosy tips. “Quite delicious. It’s a shame I have to punish you.”

“P-punish me?” Bella gasped tremulously, wincing as Marie squeezed her tender breasts hard.

“Mmm. I intend on making you pay for what you did to me.” Bella swallowed hard as Marie smiled maliciously. “I want you to turn around and hold onto the bed post like a good little girl.”

Bella gazed at the woman apprehensively, fear holding her frozen.

“Now! Do as I say or I’ll have you service the entire garrison on your back.” 

Bella squeezed her eyes shut as she did as she was told. A whimper escaped her as the silky chemise was yanked down over her hips, tearing the tiny straps to let the material pool at her feet.

She trembled as her long red tresses were swept over her shoulder, exposing the creamy column of her back and the inviting curve of her bottom. 

She heard a rustling behind her, and a scream escaped her as she felt the lash of something flick across the skin of her back, sending waves of hot, burning agony searing through her. Her knees buckled, but before she could catch her breath she heard the swish of air before she felt it again, fire igniting across her skin in its path. She clung to the wooden post, tears streaming down her cheeks as the punishment went on, her screams filling the small chamber. 

She was unaware of the door slamming back on its hinges or the thunderous words of her father as he wrestled the belt from Marie’s grip. She was barely conscious when her father gently laid her face down on the bed, careful not to touch the inflamed skin. 

“Please don’t hurt my baby,” she whispered as he smoothed back her hair, unaware that he stiffened beside her.

“Tie her down lest she roll on her back and do herself injury,” he barked out to the closest man before striding from the room, dragging a struggling Marie behind him. “Get a maid to tend to her,” he told another, before turning to glare murderously down at Marie. “Be thankful, Madam, that you did not draw blood.”

* * *

Her moss green eyes were lowered in shame as she stood naked in the middle of the chamber, unaware that the soft morning light lent a glow to her creamy flesh. 

Her father leant against the fireplace, taking a leisurely puff of his pipe as he watched as the maid helped clothe her in gown he had selected. It was a creation of pale green faille scattered with tiny green and blue glass beads that caught the light. It was exquisite, with matching delicate undergarments that lent a blush to her skin at the thought of her father witnessing such feminine intimates.

She held on to the bedpost as the young maid rolled a stocking up over her toes and ankle, her eyes lowered beneath her father’s watchful gaze.

She knew she could not stay here, knowing that her father’s love for her was unnatural, that he merely waited for her body to heal before taking her to his bed. 

She was still unsure what had happened when her father’s men had stumbled onto Leonn and her in the fields outside Leonn’s castle, and only had vague snatches of castle gossip to go on. It seemed as though Leonn’s men had been returning from a hunt when they stumbled across the small camp of men. Even though the armed men easily outnumbered the small camp, they quickly realised that at the first sign of attack her father’s men would have killed Leonn. Some sort of negotiations ensued, but when the men returned without Leonn, her father ordered their deaths. 

Revulsion shivered down her spine as he inhaled deeply from his pipe, his canny brown eyes caressing her, returning over and over to the fleece of red hair between her creamy thighs as the maid slipped on a garter. 

She was wary that morning, distrustful of the smugness and anticipation that curled around her father like the smoke coming from his pipe. 

“You seem of high spirits, father.”

Fear had followed her around since he discovered she carried Leonn’s child. She didn’t remember the words she had spoken before collapsing into unconsciousness after partaking in Marie’s cruel games, but later he had assured her angrily that had she not already been badly punished, he would have seen to it himself for her stupidity in getting with child. So this smugness she was now witnessing was extremely disturbing to her frayed nerves.

“No doubt word of my anger at discovering your predicament has reached de Angel’s ears,” he finally said as the maid tightened the whalebone corset that dipped low in the back so as not to distress her bruises. “I’ve had men travelling the countryside on the pretext of business, spreading the news.”

“I don’t see…” Bella began as she stepped into the layers of petticoats, her hands shyly covering her breasts.

“Don’t you? I realised I no longer had to search de Angel out. He will come to me of his own accord.”

“You mean – you intend using me as bait?” Bella asked incredulously as she raised her arms to have the gown lowered over her head. “But he wouldn’t want this child even if he learned of its existence. It was his intention all along to return me to you with his child growing in my belly as a means of revenge against you. Only - only I never told him.” 

“Have faith in your charms, Isabella,” he father said, striding to the door. “Many a man would do more than kill to get between your soft thighs.”

Bella squeezed her eyes shut in horror at the thought, unable to meet the questioning gaze of the maid.

* * *

She had spent the day with the ladies of the castle, always within careful distance of a guard. She let the chatter flow over her as she stitched delicate flowers on fine cloth, her fingers cramping after so long without practice. It was a relief when she could finally excuse herself on the pretext of having a headache as dusk fell. 

She lay sprawled on her belly on the bed, unwilling to call a maid to assist her in removing her gown despite her discomfort as tears trickled down her face as she thought of the days ahead without Leonn. Even knowing he did not care for her, that she was merely a pawn in his revenge, did nothing to ease the ache inside of her. 

She did not know how long she lay there, staring off into space before sleep finally overtook her weary body. She had barely slept these last few nights, anxiously fearing her father would force himself into her bed.  

She sighed in her sleep as she felt a warm mouth press against the nape of her neck, the slide of fingers over her back as they fumbled with the tiny glass buttons.

She sighed in her sleep as his scent wrapped around her, a heady mixture of sandlewood and maleness that had haunted her for days. 

Her lips twitched at his muttered oath as he gave up on the delicate buttons and hastily pushed up the layers of lacy skirts. 

She whimpered as he pressed a kiss on the bare curve of her bottom, his fingers caressing the creamy skin of her thighs and bottom. 

“Leonn…” she murmured huskily. 

“Shhh,” he whispered, his fingers probing between her thighs, gently spreading her folds as he gazed upon her. “Let me taste you.” 

She squirmed as she felt his tongue delve in the dewy heat between her thighs, licking her, nibbling her. She moaned as his tongue slid down her slit to circle her gate before pushing up inside of her. She writhed beneath him, and is hands slid up to cup her bottom, holding her firm beneath his teasing caresses. 

She gave a start as she heard something crash far away. She whimpered as he withdrew from her, quickly smoothing down her skirts. 

“I can’t stay,” he murmured against her ear, his fingers sliding beneath her body to gently squeeze her tiny breast. “But I will return. We have unfinished business, little one.”

“Leonn,” she murmured, slowly lifting her head, but the dark chamber was empty. 

* * *

She had convinced herself that it has been nothing more than a dream. So she had been shocked to discover from the maid the next morning that men had stolen into the castle in the early hours and set the horses free from the stables. Her father had been livid when he discovered the only horse that appeared to be missing was his prize black stallion. 

She had been barred in her chamber as soon as it was discovered that the castle’s defenses had been breached, and she was thankful she didn’t have to spend another day fighting off the catty barbs and whispered comments of the other women. 




Innocent Pawn Ch. 07



The day dragged as questions tumbled through her mind as she thought of Leonn, and the danger he was in should her father catch him. 

She barely noticed when a guard knocked before entering with a tray of food that evening and placed it on a low table. 

“Thank-you,” she murmured, not turning around from where she gazed out of the window, watching the people below go about their business. 

She gave a squeak as the man captured her wrist, dragging her to her feet and tugging her up against his tall frame. 

She struggled in his grasp as his mouth closed over hers, cutting off her scream as his muscled body pressed her up against the stone wall. 

“Don’t fight me, little one,” he murmured as he pressed kisses down the side of her neck, his hands tangling in the lacy layers of her skirts. “I’ve been dreaming of doing this for days.”

“Leonn,” she gasped in astonishment, her fists pausing where they beat against his chest. 

The breath caught in her throat as his fingers slid up her inner thigh to cup her mound. 

“God,” he muttered as he found her slick heat. She arched against him as a finger slid up inside of her, before slowly withdrawing. 

“Forgive me,” he muttered as he gripped her by the hips and lifted her, her legs instinctively wrapping around him. She held her breath as she felt the moist tip prod her, sliding along her folds as he sought her dewy gate. She moaned as he slid up inside of her before drawing out and surging back in, this time to the hilt. 

She was speared on his thick length as his burning amber eyes gazed down into her wide green ones, giving her no quarter as he withdrew and slammed back up inside of her. 

She moaned as he took her up against the wall with brutal strokes, driving over and over into her yielding flesh. She clung to him, her body moistening, opening itself up to the fierce invasion.

“Forgive me,” he muttered as he rammed inside of her as the urgency of his need drove him to a fierce climax. She clung to him for support her as he held her there up against the wall, feeling his warmth inside of her. 

She gasped as with little warning he shifted her slightly, his arms holding her firm as he walked over to the bed. 

His mouth cut off her cry of surprise as they tumbled onto the mattress, slanting over hers as he explored her moist depths. 

She moaned against his mouth, her hands running up over his chest, tugging up the tunic in her father’s colours as her hands sought the warm flesh lightly matted with golden hairs beneath. 

His hands explored her, delving beneath her low neckline to cup her tiny breasts with their hard rosy tips. 

She arched against his hands as her tongue tangled with his, lost to everything but the sensations he wrought in her. Her eyes widened as she felt him harden inside of her, and he chuckled at her surprise as a blush warmed her cheeks. 

Heat shivered down her spine as his fingers caressed her breasts, her nails dragging down his chest as his mouth left hers to close over a tight tip, her head falling back as his hands slid beneath her back, lifting her to his mouth. 

“Leonn,” she gasped as he shifted inside of her, his thickness pulsing in her tight sheath. 

She barely caught her breath before he began to ease in out and of her with long, forceful strokes. He gazed down into her soft green eyes as he slid up deep inside of her, tormenting her, flaming her need. 

She felt out of control, her fingers clutching at his buttocks as he rode her at a leisurely pace. 

“Harder,” she gasped, wanting this teasing torment to end yet to never to stop, her body writhing beneath his. 

She gasped as he rolled onto his back, taking her with him so that she ended up on top of him, her thighs straddling his hips.

“What…” She arched on top of him, her hands clutching his chest for purchase as his hips bucked beneath her, rocking inside of her with a frenzy that took her breath away. 

“Ride me,” he commanded, his palms sliding up her thighs to grasp her hips, lifting and dropping her on the thickness of his column as the sensations built up inside of her. 

She lifted herself off of him before sinking back down, impaling herself on him over and over as sensation pooled between her thighs, driving her on in a frenzy of need. 

The breath caught in her throat as his thumb delved in the damp nest of curls at the apex of her thighs, finding the pink jewel hidden in their depths.

“Oh,” she gasped. “Oh!” Her whole body arched on top of him as sensation rippled through her, her head thrown back, the breath torn from her lungs as she came on top of him. 

She gasped as he rolled her beneath him, his hips slamming against hers as she rippled around him, sucking him in as she bucked and moaned beneath him. 

He took her with fierce strokes, ramming into her, no longer holding back as he poured into her with a groan. 

She lay beneath him, shattered by the force of their joining, his forehead pressed against hers as their breathing slowed.

Her lashes fluttered close as his lips closed tenderly over hers, his fingers stealing up to cup her face. 

“I must go,” he murmured, before stiffening on top of her. Whatever else he was going to say was lost as they both heard a noise. 

“Hide,” she whispered desperately as she heard footsteps approaching her door. She watched in amused horror as he tried to fold his tall body beneath the heavy wooden bed frame, before turning to watch as the door swung open.

She swallowed hard as the light from the candles in the hall fell on her father as he filled the door frame, dressed only in a robe.

To be continued… 



Innocent Pawn Ch. 08



Bella swallowed hard as she gazed upon her father where he stood at the entrance to her chamber, dressed only in a robe. A belt was tied loosely around his hips, and the material gaped over his thick chest matted with wiry black hair. With trembling hands she smoothed her gown over her knees, praying the dark chamber hid her flushed cheeks and crushed gown. 

“Ah, you’re awake,” her father drawled, and dread filled her belly as he silently closed the door behind him. 

Her heart thundered in her chest as he moved across the chamber toward her, the moonlight casting his features in shadow as he came to tower above her where she knelt on the bed. 

“I-I, don’t feel too well,” she lied, praying fervently that he would quickly leave. She flinched slightly as he laid his hand against her forehead. 

“You’re warm,” he murmured, his fingers trailing down over the soft skin of her cheek, damp with perspiration. “You should take of your gown.” 

“P-Please father. I would rather be alone. I-“ 

“Nonsense, Isabella. Let me help you out of it. There’s no need to call a maid at this hour.” Bella’s eyes closed momentarily as she fought to control her trembling as his large hands slid over her breasts before closing over the tiny pearl buttons marching down the front of her gown. It felt like spiders crawling over her skin. 

Bella was frantic, knowing she had to get rid of her father before Leonn sensed something was amiss and came to her defence. Should her father discover the man his men were scouring the countryside for was hidden beneath her bed, a simple shout would bring armed guards racing to her chamber, and Leonn’s life would be forfeit.

“Father, really, I can do this myself,” she whispered, trying to struggle from his hold as he fumbled with her buttons. She gasped as he tore violently at the fine material, exposing the shadowy cleft between her tiny mounds upthrust by the crush of her bone corset. 

“I fear I am too impatient,” he murmured as he pushed the material aside to gaze down at the rapid rise and full of the creamy breasts, their rosy tips a tantalising shadow against the thin cotton chemise. 

“Father, don’t-“ The breath rushed from her lungs as he drove her back of the bed, his large body swiftly rearing over her as his mouth covered hers. She tried to turn her head away, but he caught her face firmly between his fingers as his wet tongue sought entry into her mouth. She fought him, her nails raking down his arms as the full weight of him fell on her, pinning her to the bed. She whimpered as his teeth bit down on her lower lip, the taste of her own blood filling her mouth as his tongue finally thrust between her parted lips. 

She almost gagged from the taste of him, tears pooling in the corner of her eyes as she struggled beneath him. He drew back from her slightly to gaze down at her, the intensity of his dark brown eyes sending chilled darts down her spine. “I’ve longed to taste you, Isabella. Even as a child you drew me. I wanted to see your eyes widen as I thrust inside of you, tearing your maidenhead and filling you completely for the first time. I will make him pay dearly for what he has taken from me, before I end his miserable life.” 

Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Leonn loom above them, his face a terrible mask of fury as he wrenched her father from her and shoved him away from the bed and Bella. Her father stumbled back, fear and disbelief written across his face as he caught sight of the man that dared deny him what he so long desired. “de Angel!” he cursed. 

“You sick bastard. Your own daughter,” Leonn ground out menacingly as he advanced on the cowering man. 

“She’s a slut,” her father rasped out, never taking his eyes from Leonn as he backed toward the door. “Couldn’t spread her legs fast enough, begged me to fuck her from the moment she arrived.” 

In a blur of speed she saw Leonn throw himself on her father, sending them crashing to the floor. She could barely stand to watch as the two men struggled on the floor, praying the guards would not hear. She wasn’t to know that her father had sent them away for fear they would spread gossip of her screams. 

Her eyes widened in horror as she saw her father reach for something in his boot, and she cried out to Leonn in warning. Her father rolled on top of Leonn and slashed the dagger down toward his chest. Leonn’s hands wrapped around her father’s wrists in a tight vice, the tendons in his neck straining. 

Bella laid her hands on the first heavy object she found, her fingers trembling. She moved toward the two men, raising the silver candleholder above her head. She held her breath as she brought it down hard against the back of her father’s head, feeling the sickening thud reverberate up her arm. Her father groaned at her attack, his hand snaking out to grip the front of her torn gown, but she dodged him, swinging the solid silver instrument around with all her might. The blow landed on his temple, and a look of surprise filled his face before he slumped sideways, the dagger clattering to the floor. 

Leonn pushed the limp weight off of him and rose, catching a swaying Isabella and pulling her firmly up against his broad chest. 

“Is he dead?” she mumbled against his chest, the bloodied weapon in her hand falling to the stone floor as she slid her arms around his waist. 

Leonn kissed the top of her head as he arms tightened around her. “Yes.” 

She shivered at the matter of fact tone of his voice, even as she felt relief that the monster was finally dead. 

“Why didn’t you tell me about him?” he demanded, shaking her slightly. She buried her head against his chest, but he caught her chin in his fingers, titling her head back. There was no escaping those burning amber eyes. “Why Bella?” 

“You never asked,” she said quietly. “Go,” she whispered, pushing against his chest as she tore herself free from his arms. “They will kill you if they find you here.” 

She couldn’t bear to look at him, knowing it would tear her heart out to watch him leave her again, perhaps this time forever now that her father was dead. She turned her back on him, struggling to get out of her torn gown, and kicked it away from her with disgust as it fell to the floor. 

“Would you try and stop them?” he asked quietly, and she stilled. 

How could he ask that of her? Didn’t he know how he made her feel? 

A lengthy silence filled the chamber as he waited for her answer. 

He gave no warning as he strode across the chamber and caught her up in his arms. She shrieked as he tossed her over his shoulder, and he slapped her firmly on the bottom. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be, little one. I’ll drag the answer from you if I have to.”

~ * ~ 

She knew she shouldn’t have been surprised that Leonn had discovered secret passages that led deep into the bowels of her father’s castle, but she was. Her lips parted on a silent gasp as he lifted a large, dusty tapestry that lined the far wall of her chamber and pushed against solid stone, revealing a narrow passage. 

“How?” was all she could manage, her fingers clinging to his linen shirt as he slowly made his way through the dark maze. 

“You’re father made the mistake of allowing the steward to live when he murdered the family who lived in this castle to take possession. The man, upon learning my name, came to me, eager to spill his secrets in return for my promise to kill your father.” 

“Why didn’t he go to the King for help?” she asked naively, trying to comprehend her father’s despicable behaviour.  

“Your father had his wife and daughters locked in the dungeon as surety.” 

A shiver racing through her at the horror the steward and his family must be going though. “I must go back, Leonn. I have to release them.” 

“They have been freed. I saw to it myself.”

His tone was final, inviting no questions, but her mind tried to piece together the night he had come to her room and the distraction of her father’s missing horse to the steward’s plight. The rush of feelings she had for this man who would risk his own life to fulfil a promise threatened to overwhelm her. 

Leonn carried her for what seemed an age, feeling his way through the darkness until eventually the air seemed to ease around them. Finally she spied moonlight filtering softly through grates above them to spill on the ground at Leonn’s feet. He paused beneath one and pushed it aside with one arm before lifting her up through the tiny gap and squeezing through behind her. She found herself standing in a thick grove of trees, the full moon casting long shadowy fingers across the mossy open ground before her. Her toes sunk into the damp softness and she breathed in the moist air as Leonn moved to stand beside her, his fingers seeking hers. 

She caught sight of movement from the corner of her eye, and she clung to his warm strength. 

“They are my men, little one. They won’t harm you.” He ran his hand soothingly down her back as his men silently closed around them. 

They had been laying in wait for their lord, and Bella was only beginning to appreciate the calculated mind of her captor. One man handed the reins of a large black stallion to Leonn, and it tossed its head and nickered in greeting as it caught sight of his master. 

Leonn swung his leg gracefully over the back of the stallion and leaned down to lift her up before him. It was only as she settled on the saddle before him, her chemise drawn up high on her thighs that she realised her state of undress, and her hands flew up to cover her breasts as a heat bloomed in her cheeks. She quickly gazed around her, and found that his men refused to meet her gaze as Leonn guided his horse along a barely noticeable trail.

Belatedly realising her distress, Leonn handed her the reins before unbuttoning his white linen shirt and slipping it off, baring his tanned chest to the cool night air. He gathered it around her shoulders and fed her arms through the sleeves one at a time before reaching beneath her arms to button up the front. 

The breath caught in her throat as more than once his fingers brushed against her breasts, the rosy peaks puckering beneath the light caresses. She could have groaned aloud when his hands seemed to brush the hardened tips all the more and she tried to concentrate on steering the horse, her cheeks a rosy pink. She breathed a sigh of relief when his hands recaptured the reins, and he chuckled against her ear. She slapped his thigh, outraged, and he only responded by tightening the arm around her waist so that she nestled firmly against his warmth. She squirmed against him, and he groaned under his breath as she rubbed up against him tantalisingly. “Witch,” he murmured. 

The ride to Chauboneau was long and swift, yet despite the discomforts she had somehow fallen asleep in the protective circle of Leonn’s arms, her head cradled against his shoulder. He woke her gently at dawn as they rode through the castle gates, and she blinked sleepily, shifting in the saddle and drawing a groan from Leonn as she brushed against him. She bit her lip as she discovered the pulsing hardness nudging at her bottom, and felt her own body tighten in response. 

Her wobbly legs could barely support her as he lifted her down from the horse, and he held her firmly against him as he barked out orders to his men. One of his orders was to find a maid to help her to her chamber, and she vaguely recalled her pleasant face as a young woman rushed to her. 

“Mina,” she murmured, and the young woman smiled and curtsied. 

“Yes, My Lady,” the maid said, one arm around her waist as she helped escort Bella to her chamber. Bella refused to gaze back at Leonn as they left, unwilling to let him see her uncertainty at returning to where she had been held captive for so long. Was she to become his captive again? Even as her body thrilled at the knowledge, her mind rebelled. 

Mina gasped as Bella nearly lost her balance on the last few stone steps, forcing Bella to lean heavily on the maid. 

“I’m alright,” Bella murmured. “I just need rest.” 

~ * ~

She woke slowly, sleepily blinking her long lashes as she rolled onto her side. Light from the tall windows fell across the bed where she lay, and slowly the tall naked man gazing out of the windows came into focus as he turned to face her. 

She held the sheet to her breasts as she sat up, feeling relief that she still wore her chemise. The feather mattress beside her was imprinted with his body, and her cheeks flamed at the thought of him spending the night with her for the first time, and her mind raced at the intimacies their unconscious bodies may have shared. 

“Did he rape you?” he queried softly. 

She shook her head, unable to meet the burning amber gaze. 

“But he wanted to,” he said, moving closer. 

She didn’t reply, her fingers plucking nervously at the sheet. 

“Even if you had escaped me, you couldn’t have gone to him,” he said angrily, the bed dipping beneath his weight as he sat at her side. “What other secrets have you kept from me, little one?” 

She closed her eyes and shook her head, unwilling to answer. Her lips trembled as he gently peeled back the sheet, her clutching fingers little match against his strength as he drew the covering from her body. She flinched as his fingers gently trailed down her bare arm to gently circle her wrist, lifting her palm to his warm lips. 

“Don’t make me force you to tell me, Bella,” he murmured, still holding her wrist as he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss where her shoulder joined her neck. “You know you can never win this fight. Your body is too sweetly responsive to deny me anything I desire.” 

“Leonn, no,” she murmured, trying to shift away, only to find herself flat on the bed and gazing up at him with startled green eyes. “So the cat hasn’t got your tongue,” he queried softly, pressing another kiss on the corner of her mouth. 

“Stop it,” she gasped, wiggling out from beneath him to present him with the column of her back as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. He moved swiftly, his large palms clamping down on her shoulders as he shifted to kneel behind her, pressing his warm body along the rigid line of her back. A shiver raced through her as his teeth nibbled on her ear lobe. 

“I want you to tell me, Bella. I want to hear it from your own sweet lips.” She moaned as his fingers slid down to cup her tiny breasts through the thin cotton shift possessively. 

“You’ve won, Leonn. You did everything you set out to do. There is no need for – for this.” The words were torn from her as she arched against him. 

“There is always a need for me to touch you, to caress you.” His breath stirred the tendrils at her temple as he gently molded her soft flesh in his large palms. “To take you.” Her head fell back against his shoulder as he caught the hard tips between his thumbs and forefingers, rolling them sweetly. She felt moisture trickle between her thighs at his knowing fingers caressed her sensitive flesh.  

“You-” she gasped as he tugged at the ribbons of her chemise, drawing the edges apart to expose the tiny thrust of her creamy breasts to the cool morning air. “Oh!” she gasped as his hands slid down beneath her chemise to rest on the noticeable swell of her belly. She leapt from the bed, only to gasp as he caught a fistful of her chemise, tugging her back. 

“Oh, no, little one. You do not escape my interrogation so easily,” he murmured. 

The thin material gave way, tearing along the seam down her middle, and she sprawled on her hands and knees on the fur rug, giving him a delicious eyeful of her creamy bottom peaking out from beneath the tattered material. 

“You – you pig! You tripped me!” she cried as she scrambled to her feet and faced him, blushing as she fought to drag the material over the taut peaks of her breasts. He chuckled at the alluring picture she made, all tousled and pink with feminine outrage. 

“Ah, Bella,” he murmured, a smile curling his lips as his burning amber eyes caressed her sweet curves as she stood before him clad only in her creamy stockings and frilly garters and the doubtful remains of her chemise. His fingers itched to slide those garters over her soft thighs and slowly roll down the stockings and he pressed soft kisses against her quivering flesh. 

“How could you possibly think that there was no longer a need to do what it is that makes you tremble and your eyes darken to sage at the mere thought of it?” 

“Don’t come near me,” she cried, backing away as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. She swallowed hard as he stood up, all hard muscle rippling beneath smooth golden skin. Her eyes were drawn irresistibly to the nest of golden curls between his thighs, widening at the hardness of him before flicking away scandalously. 

“I’m p-pregnant. Is that what you wanted me to say?” 

His eyebrows lifted as she bumped against a marble-topped side table resting against the wall. She was unable to retreat any further as he leisurely strolled across the chamber toward her. 

“I’ve waited weeks for you to come to me with the truth. It gives me no pleasure to have to drag it from you.” 

Her eyes widened as he planted a palm against the wall on either side of her head. “Y-you knew?” 

He nodded, gazing down at her intently. “I knew,” he said softly as his head dipped and his mouth lightly brushed hers. “And I’m glad. It simplifies things between us.” 

She didn’t know what he meant, but she couldn’t help the glow of happiness his words created deep inside of her. She frowned as something occurred to her. 

“Then why did you come to me at my father’s castle if you already knew I was pregnant? There was no need for you – for us to…,” she stumbled to a halt, a blush rising in her cheeks, and he smiled wickedly. 

“To make love?” he murmured as he brushed another kiss against her parted lips.

“Stop it,” she gasped, turning her face to the side as he pressed another kiss on her. “I won’t allow you to – to put your thing inside of me.” 

“Thing?” He raised an incredulous eyebrow as he gazed down at her, and she knew the evidence of her desire for that very thing must be obvious to him: the way her rosy peaks tented the gaping cotton material, her moist parted lips and her turbulent green eyes. “Surely you love the feel of my ‘thing’ sliding up inside of you?”

Her skin burned where he trailed kisses down her neck. “You must have given yourself a pat on the back when my father learned that I carried your child,” she gasped out, trying to block the wicked sensations spiralling low in her belly at his close proximity.  

“Our child,” he breathed as his tongue wreaked havoc with her senses. 

“So you’ve had you revenge,” she cried as his lips closed over the fluttering pulse at the base of her neck. “Your father killed my father’s lover, so he in turn killed your father. You then had me kidnapped from the convent and kept me prisoner while you - you ravished me to get me with child, and then you used me as bait to lure my father from his hiding place.” 

“What garbage is that?” he demanded incredulously. She tried to duck beneath his arm but he caught her around the waist, lifting her bottom onto the narrow side table and pressing her back against the wall as he gazed down at her intently. 

“What part of it is garbage, Sir,” she said with a coolness she was far from feeling as the material of her chemise gaped down her middle, exposing a creamy breast and the swell of her belly and the red curls between her soft creamy thighs. 

“The woman you speak of was never your father’s lover. She was my mother. The woman your father was so obsessed with that he eventually killed her in an attack on my father, was married to my father. Theirs was a love match. My father worshipped the ground she walked on.” 





Innocent Pawn Ch. 08



Her lips parted soundlessly as her lashes fluttered close, shame filling her at the thought of believing all those lies her father had fed her. 

Slowly she opened her eyes, and he was stunned by the anger that blazed in them. 

“You never once, in all the time you held me here against my will, breathed a word of this to me, of your mother, or of what my father had done. You locked me in this chamber, you - you forced yourself on me, you got me with child. Then you let him take me without a fight. Go out of here!” she cried. “I can’t bear to look upon your face. You are no better then him, full of half-truths and deception.” 

“Bella-“

“Get out,” she cried. 

“Bel, it’s not –“ 

“Fine. If you won’t leave, I will,” she said determinedly, pushing at his shoulders as she tried to climb off the table. His fingers closed around her waist, holding her captive, and she kicked out at him. 

“Listen to me,” he muttered, rocked by her fury. 

“No!” 

She gasped as he forced her knees apart and moved between them before she could close herself against him. His hands caught her wrists and dragged them above her head, pinning them against the wall as he gazed down at her. 

“I couldn’t tell you what he did for fear that you loved you father, and I didn’t want to hurt you by exposing the truth about him even if I thought there was a slim chance you would believe me.”

She glared mutinously at him, blinking back tears. 

“Listen to me, little one,” he murmured, shifting against her so that she felt him then, hard and insistent where he pressed between her thighs. “I hadn’t planned on getting attacked that day in the fields, of using you as bait. Lust for you sweet body overrode all caution when I took you for a ride with every intention of seducing you, and both of us nearly suffered the consequences. It was only by sheer luck that some of my men were returning from a hunting expedition and stumbled upon us. My men outnumbered your father’s three to one, and they bartered for my safety by allowing them safe passage off my land. Your father’s men were cowards, and they refused to give you up, so I let you go, not thinking for an instant that your father or his men would hurt you.” 

“But you came and used my body then left without a backward glance.” 

He closed his eyes at the wealth of pain in her words. “I shouldn’t have come to you then, but I couldn’t stop myself. My men and I were gathering information, how may men he had with him, his weapons, how long he could be expected to last in a siege. I risked the lives of my men and yours so I could come to you, but I couldn’t take you with me, as much as it hurt me to leave you. It was too dangerous for you, and I could not afford to alert your father.” His mouth moved tenderly over the tears that spilled down her cheeks. “It was the hardest decision of my life to leave you, yet I had to see you, if only for a few minutes.” 

She turned her head away from him, and his hands released hers as he caught her face in his fingers, turning her back to face him. “Do you know what I’m trying to tell you, Bella?” 

She gazed at him, the anger dying from her eyes at what she saw in his face. Some spark of uncertainty made her shake her head. 

“I love you, little one. I think I loved you from that moment you were carried into my study, scared and defenceless as a newborn kitten.” 

“I had a knife,” she muttered petulantly, and he smiled, kissing her on the nose. 

“Yes, my brave, sweet Bella, you had a knife, and I still bear the mark you gave me.” His hands gently drew apart the folds of her chemise, and her eyes narrowed suspiciously. 

“W-what are you doing?” she gasped as he pushed the straps down over her shoulders so that her arms were pinioned to her side. Fingers tangled in her scarlet tresses, tilting her face to his as his mouth descended to hers. She whimpered as his lips slanted over hers in a hot, demanding kiss, his tongue tangling with hers. Her small hands rose to clutch at his shoulders as the intensity of his kiss forced her head back against the wall, and she lost herself in him, wrapping her legs around his thighs as she moved against him. 

“Still you defy me, refusing to give up all your secrets to me,” he murmured hotly as he tore his mouth from hers to gaze down at her. “Know that I will drag them from you one way or another.” 

“W-what secrets?” she murmured distractedly as his hands slid up over her creamy thighs. She felt a thrumming begin between her legs and she quivered at the thought of what he might do to her. 

“Think, Bella,” he murmured as he leaned back slightly to gaze down at her damp red curls that contrasted deliciously with her milky-white skin. He barely contained a groan at the alluring sight of her stockings clinging to her thighs and the handful of soft flesh above their restraints. 

She trembled as he knelt before her, his hands pushing her thighs wider apart beneath the intensity of his gaze. A shiver ran through her as his fingers traced the dewy valley, running up and down her plump pink lips with light, teasing strokes. 

“Leonn,” she moaned, her hips pushing down on his hands, demanding more. “Please…” She arched as his long fingers parted her plump lips to expose the lush pink folds, shivering at the feel of his hot breath against her melting flesh. 

“Tell me what it is I want to know, little one,” he commanded, his burning amber eyes locked on hers as his fingers explored the slippery petals, teasing her, stroking her, pinching her lips together. 

“I don’t know,” she cried truthfully. She gasped as a long finger slid up inside of her. “T-tell me what it is.” 

He laughed as his finger swirled in her tight sheath while his thumb teased her nub, and she writhed on his hand, her breathing coming is short uneven pants. “It is not something I can tell you, little one. Only you can give it to me freely.” 

She gazed down at him helplessly, her hips bucking against his knowing fingers, her body moistening, opening to him, unable to deny him anything. His burning eyes told her he wasn’t as unaffected as he seemed, and her gaze dropped lower, down over the flat belly, to the full, heavy shaft rising from its nest of golden curls, hard and swollen and glistening. 

“I want you,” she murmured, lifting her wide eyes to his. “Now. Inside of me.” 

She saw a shudder run through his large frame, and a dry chuckle escaped him. “It’s a start, little one.” He rose before her, moving between her spread thighs as he caught her face between his palms and he kissed her hard. She arched against him, feeling the hard, pulsing length of him pressing against her heat, and he groaned against her mouth. 

Her fingers clutched at his hips as she felt the tip of him probing her damp folds, sliding along her damp cleft until he found her dewy gate. She moaned as he nudged at her before sliding up between her tight walls with one brutal thrust as he drove himself to the hilt. 

“Tell me your secret,” he murmured hotly against her ear before he eased out of her before surging back into her with a fierceness that took her breath away. She could barely think as her body stretched around him, taking all of him in as he slid up deeply inside of her. 

She wrapped her legs around him instinctively, drawing him closer, her body clenching tightly around him. “Tell me,” he muttered as began to take her with brutal strokes on the narrow side table, spearing her yielding flesh around his invading column. A helpless moan escaped her as his hand closed possessively over her breast, sending shivers of heat down between her thighs as his thumb brushed over the aching tip. 

“Leonn, please” she gasped, arching against him. “I can’t think…” 

She whimpered as he stilled inside of her, and her body clenched and unclenched around him in protest, drawing a groan from him. 

“Tell me what is in here, little one,” he murmured, rearing back slightly to gaze down at her as his hand came to rest above her breast. Her lips parted on a soundless sigh as her wide green eyes met his burning amber ones. “Yes, Bella, that is your secret.” 

She moistened her suddenly dry lips. “I…you must know how I feel about you.” 

He gazed down at her, and she squirmed on the thick column impaling her. “I want to hear the words, little one.” His fingers caught her wiggling hips, holding her still as he fought for control. 

She dropped her head and shyly mumbled the words. His finger beneath her chin tilted her face up, and she met his questioning amber eyes. “I love you,” she whispered, and a smile curved his lips and lit up his eyes. 

“Thank God,” he breathed, his mouth slanting over hers as his tongue delved her moist depths. His hands slid down to cup her bottom lifting her tightly against him as he began to drive into her with long, powerful strokes, and she arched against him, opening herself to each searing thrust. His burning amber eyes were reduced to mere slits as he gazed down at her, watching her expressive face as he plundered her sweet body. Her fingers dug into his bottom as he speared her, fusing his body with hers as his groans stirred the damp tendrils at her temple. 

She writhed on the hard length of him as he impaled her, pushing down to meet the fierce strokes, the slap of his body and the knock of the table against the wall filling her ears. She was uncaring of the tightness in her thighs from the long ride, or the roughness of his demanding thrusts as he took her savagely, his need as desperate as hers as they clung to each other. Moisture trickled down between her breasts as he drove into her melting heat, her body stretching around him with each thrust as he slid up deep inside of her. 

Her soft moans filled his ears as he rode her, her body quivering as the tension built between her spread thighs. The breath caught in her throat as his thumb delved in the damp nest of curls at the apex of her thighs, finding the pink jewel hidden in their depths. Her body felt as though it were on fire as he speared her on the thick column of his shaft and his mouth sucked on her neck as he teased the pulsing bud between her thighs, driving her into a frenzy of need. 

“Leonn,” she moaned as she shuddered around him, her fingers raking down his back as sensations spiralled through her, her whole body tightening as he plunged into her. He caught her wrists, dragging them above her head as he took her with driving thrusts as her tight pussy rippled and shuddered around him, sucking him in and dragging the breath from his lungs as her climax rocked through her. He drove into her slick heat, his gaze locked with hers as he forced her pleasure on. His glistening body rode hers with hard sharp thrusts, her breasts jiggling under the sweet force. When he could hold back no longer he poured into her, filling her with his warmth, his fingers clasped with hers where they were pinned against the wall, his gaze never leaving hers as he took her with final, brutal thrusts. 

When finally they caught their breaths his hands drew hers to his shoulders, and he caught her around the waist as he lifted her and carried her toward the bed, their bodies still joined. She winced where his fingers pressed against her bruises even as her arms tightened around his neck as she sought to move closer to him, her cheek pressed against his shoulder. 

Leonn frowned down at the top of her head in concern. “Did I hurt you?” 

“No,” she murmured, shifting slightly in his grip and her lips kissed his damp flesh. “It’s just my back.” 

“Your back?” he queried, and her eyes widened warily. He slowly eased from her as he lowered her to the ground. “What about your back?” 

She gazed at the floor, unable to answer as humiliation filled her. She swallowed hard as his hands on her shoulder slowly turned her and he gently lifted her hair, sliding it over one shoulder. He was silent for an age as he gazed upon the livid purple bruises slashing across her back. She flinched as his fingers softly traced the line of one bruise. 

“Who whipped you?” he demanded, struggling to get the words past his tight throat. “Was is your father?” 

Bella slowly shook her head in shame. “Marie,” she whispered. 

“Marie,” he said calmly. Too calmly. “You forgot to tell me about Marie.” 




Innocent Pawn Ch. 09



Leonn strode through the heavy golden doors intricately carved with angels that sheltered the small chapel within. 

He spied Bella where she kneeled silently before the altar, her violet gown pooled around her. Soft light filtered through high glass-stained windows, bathing her in its warmth and turning the scarlet tresses tumbling down her back into a fiery river of red-gold. 

Every morning she came here to pray, and every morning he found himself following her, feeling strangely jealous. He knew her connection to God was strong. She had been raised in a convent, and was to become a nun before his men had her kidnapped. Yet he wanted to be her connection to him, for want of a better word, to be stronger. 

"Have you reconsidered, little one, and consented to be my bride?" he asked, leaning against a pillar and crossing his arms over his broad chest. He watched her shoulders stiffen, of how she gazed over her shoulder, lashes lowered. 

"You know I have not," she replied softly. 

He turned and quietly strode from the chapel, leaving her to pray in peace. He would soon wear her down, he knew. She was too sensual a creature to be able to withstand his refusal to make love to her until she gave in to his demand. 

~*~

Bella eased over onto her back, her legs tangling in the bed sheets. Her rosy nipples strained against the soft muslin of her chemise as they rose and fell with her agitated breathing.

"No...please," she moaned softly. 

"Shh, Bella," Leonn murmured, reaching to brush away a stray tendril feathering across her softly parted lips. He gazed down at her sweet face, softened in sleep, feeling his heart wrench. "It's only a dream. No one can hurt you here."

"Marie..." she cried, her voice full of dread, and he closed his eyes for an instant as he battled the burning anger that tore through him at the thought of Marie tormenting Bella in her dreams. 

He caught her small hand in his large palms, smoothing down her fingers where they had clutched fiercely at the muslin of her chemise. She murmured something intelligible as he pressed his lips into the heart of her palm. She shifted in her sleep, her chemise riding up over her thighs, and he could have groaned aloud as moonlight revealed a tantalising glimpse of soft curls between her slightly parted thighs. 

His tongue delicately traced the lines of her palm as he gazed down at her, possessiveness coursing through him at the evidence of her slightly swelling belly in the rumpled chemise. 

He had frothy chemises made for her that revealed more then they hid, and it had become a source of irritation to him. The first time he had gently removed it from her, and she had been sweetly furious when she woke to find herself wrapped in his arms, his gaze locked on her face. He sensed it had more to do with the bruises on her back, although her sweet shyness would be a close second. Bella still refused to come to his bed, and every night he carried her sleeping form from her chamber and laid her on his bed. It had become a silent war between them since their arrival back at his castle a week ago, one he was determined to win.

But her distressed sleep made him worry. He knew the bruises would eventually fade from her body, yet he feared it would not be so from her mind.

[i]Damn Marie to hell...[/i]

His burning amber eyes moved down over Bella's sprawled body, and the vision of her barely covered by the soft transparent cloth that clung to her creamy skin made the blood pool between his thighs. 

His mouth and hands had explored every curve and shadow of her sweet body, making her tremble and quiver and cry out with her need. Her sweet innocence drew him, challenged him, and he knew he would never stop until he removed every last vestige of modesty from his innocent lover. Eventually she will come to realise her place was in his bed and in his arms, with no barriers between them. 

The tip of his tongue lightly traced the finger that he was determined would soon bear his signet ring, his gaze transfixed by the curve her lips as she mumbled something in her sleep.

She continued to refuse him, declaring that he sought to marry her for the sole purpose of having their child born without the stigma of bastardry. In his mind it boiled down to just one thing: trust. She didn't trust him. And he couldn't blame her. He had been unable to protect her from her father, nor from the poisonous Marie. 

Leonn was determined to do everything in his power to prove to Bella that she could trust him to protect her and their child. His men scoured the countryside for Marie, and as soon as Bella became his wife, Leonn would ride to join them. 

Leonn shifted down on the bed, gently running his hand up her inner thigh and easing her thighs further apart. He breathed in the womanly scent of her, and he hardened as he imagined the feel of her tight pussy closing around his shaft as he slowly sunk into her, filling her. He groaned softly. Denying her the delights of lovemaking until she consented to marry him took every ounce of his will power. He wanted nothing more right then than to position himself between her spread thighs and slide up deep inside of her welcoming heat. 

With an inward groan, he drew her chemise higher, revealing the tiny waist still untouched by his child growing in her womb, the tiny breasts with their delightfully tender pink crowns.

Leonn felt himself harden further at the thought of latching onto one of those sweet tips, suckling and nibbling like a man dying of starvation. Unable to fight the urge, his tongue darted out of its own accord and swirled around the pink tip until he felt it stiffen delightfully. He stilled as she whimpered softly, her thighs falling further apart as she shifted restlessly on the bed. 

He slipped his hand between her thighs and gently parted her lush pink lips. The tip of his finger lightly stroked her, teasing her, and she whimpered, her bottom wiggling. 

He felt her growing wetness as he gently played with her between her thighs while she slept. Her hips arched instinctively as his finger eased up inside of her, exploring her, massaging her. 

He began to ease his finger in and out of her, feeling her wetness coating his fingers as he sought to draw on her body's exquisite responsiveness as he slowly built her need to fever pitch. He carefully eased another finger up inside of her. 

He sensed the moment she came awake, the slight stiffening of her body, her soft gasp as his fingers worked insistenly inside of her. 

"Leonn," she breathed, her sleepy green eyes widening as her hips arched on his fingers as he immersed them in her pussy to the hilt. Her nails dug into the mattress as he thrust another finger up inside of her, stretching her, as his thumb moved over her pink nub. "Oh!"

"Are you ready for me, little one? Are you melting inside at the thought of my cock moving deep inside your pussy?"

"Oh, yes," she murmured, her dazed green eyes locking with his as his mouth brushed over the swell of her belly. He shifted on the bed to kneel between her thighs, pressing kisses over her belly as he eased her thighs over his shoulders, his hands cupping her cheeks as he drew her to his mouth. 

"Leonn," she cried hesitantly as she felt his breath against the melting heart of her. 

"I have to taste you, little one," he murmured huskily, breathing in the heady scent of her before his tongue darted out, lapping at her sweetness, wiggling in the glistening folds until she writhed helplessly in his firm hold. 

He wanted nothing more to plunge into her, driving into her over and over until there was nothing but the feel of her exquisite tightness clenched around his cock, milking him of his seed as he exploded inside of her, yet some shred of sanity remained.

"Tell me the words, Bella," he breathed against her slippery pink flesh.

"Leonn, please," she panted, her head rolling side to side, her fingers sliding into his golden mane as she clutched him to her.

"Say them, little one. Tell me that you consent marry me and this torment will end for both of us."

"I can't," she whispered torturously, squirming on his fingers where they held her open, her face pink and feverish, her lips trembling as she gazed up at him with beseeching eyes. 

He gazed down at her for long tense moments before easing her bottom onto the mattress.

"So be it, little one," he muttered, gathering his robe as he strode from the chamber, intent of putting as much distance between them as possible. Soon, he knew. 

Prayed. 

~*~

Bella woke to an empty bed, her hand sliding over the cool sheets at her side. Unhappiness washed through her. [i]If only Leonn would accept her decision...[/i]

He told her he loved her, and she knew he honestly thought he believed the words. But it was only guilt that made him think he loved, confusing his real feelings for her. He had kidnapped her from the convent and forced himself on her, stealing her virginity and planting his seed in her belly. That it had been his plan to use her as a pawn in his need for revenge against her father only seemed to reinforce his determination to marry her and give their child his name now that her father was dead. But she refused to tie herself to a man who did not really love her. When he did fall in love with another, it would destroy her. And she refused be the reason that kept him from that woman. 

She would willingly give him her body and her love for as long as he desired. But this cruel game Leonn played, refusing her his lovemaking until she finally gave into his demands, was taking its toll. She prayed she had strength enough for both of them.  

Bella spent the morning with Cook, a tiny lady who could intimidate the brawniest guards with her waspish tongue and steely blue gaze. Cook had demanded to see Bella the day following her arrival back at [cheryonbeau], insisting that as mistress of the castle it was Bella's duty to see to the needs of their master and all his people. Bella had been too stunned to murmur a protest, and found herself surrounded with recipes and lists of spices, vegetables and dried meats in their stores, relying heavily on Cook's advice at first as they planned the menus for the week. 

The steward had approached Bella mid-morning about ordering cloth for the servants to see them through the winter. At Cook's encouraging nod, Bella ordered wool and bolts of cloth, trims, ribbons and leathers. Bella prayed that Leonn could afford her extravagance, particularly at Cook's and the stewards surprise at her insistence on soft linen for their underclothes, and hoped to placate Leonn by ordering it all in his livery colours of gold and black. 

Bella finally found a minute to herself mid-afternoon, and paused to catch her breath at the bottom of the steps. She found she was tiring easily, for despite the protective warmth of Leonn's arms around her when she slept, her troubled dreams often left her feeling drained and restless when she woke. She hid it from Leonn as best she could, not wanting to cause him worry, but the intent looks he gave her when he thought she wasn't looking told her she wasn't do to good a job. 

Lost in thought, she gave a squeak of surprise as two muscular arms slid around her from behind, drawing her up against the solid warmth of his body as hands splayed possessively over her lightly swelled belly. 

A shiver raced through her as he feathered butterfly kisses down the smooth line of her neck. 

"I fear you are over extending yourself, little one. Do not force me tie you to a bed in order to give your feet a rest."

Bella shuddered at the image that flittered through her mind, of being bound and helpless as he teased and caressed her naked body. 

She blushed when he chuckled softly against her ear. 

"Ah, Bella, perhaps I have been going about this all the wrong way," he murmured as his teeth gently closed over her lobe. 

"W-what do you mean?" Bella's lashes fluttered close as his hands slid up to mold her tiny breasts where they thrust against the fine golden cloth. She was forced to go unbound as Leonn had tossed away her bone corsets, insisting they could harm the baby. 

She protested weakly when he tugged down the shoulders of her gown, pinning her arms to the side as he exposed the creamy swell of her breasts to his intent gaze. "Someone could see!"

"Let them see," he replied, grinding the hard evidence of his arousal against her bottom. "It is no shameful secret how their Lord feels about their Lady."

"L-Leonn," she whimpered as his fingers trailed tantalising circles over her throat and breasts with their budding nipples. His mouth opened over the sensitive flesh where her shoulder met her neck as he gently kneaded her breasts, and her knees almost gave way. 

His fingers plucked and rolled the rosy nubs, sending fire coursing between her thighs, and she squirmed back against him. The gentle sucking motion of his mouth against her flesh sparked an answering throb between her quivering thighs. 

"Are you wet, little one?" he murmured, and she whimpered as his hand slid down over her belly to slip between her thighs. His fingers massaged her there, pushing the soft cloth of her gown into her flesh until her dewy heat seeped through the folds. She melted against his hand, her thighs open and unresisting as her bottom writhed against his fingers, the movement rubbing her bottom along the thick shaft surging against her. She was lost to everything but the feel of his hands and mouth, her moist lips parted on a soundless gasp, her bared breasts rising and falling unevenly. 

Her hand slipped down, pressing his hand between her thighs as she arched against him. The motion parted her cheeks over the hard ridge of flesh straining against her bottom, and her cheeks flamed at the feel of him nestled there, the pulsing heat of him rocking against her seeping through the fine breeches. 

"I-I want to take you in my mouth," she whispered, and hadn't realised she had spoken the words aloud until he almost shoved her from him as though she had burnt him. She almost stumbled to her knees, and clung to the balustrade at the bottom of the steps as she fought for balance. 

She gazed over her shoulder at him with trembling lips, her wide eyes meeting the wild look glittering in his amber eyes. 

She swallowed hard, her lashes lowering to hide the hurt in her eyes. "I just thought...I-I'm sorry," she whispered.

He stood there, fists clenched, his face strained. 

"Bella, there is nothing to be sorry for. Nothing. I would love nothing more than for you to take me in your mouth and caress me." He ran a hand through his golden mane as he fought for control. "Or at least, one thing more. And that is my ring on your finger." 

She couldn't bear to look at him as she felt him move up behind her, his fingers gently drawing her sleeves up over her shoulders and covering her tiny breasts. She felt his lips brush against her soft mane before his warmth left her. 

"What little will power I have that prevents me from burying myself between your soft thighs and tasting your sweetness would be lost the moment I felt your warm mouth close over me."

She heard his departing footsteps on the stone over the pounding of her heart, her green eyes were wide as she dwelled on the precious knowledge that he had given her. 

~*~

She had drunk more wine that usual over dinner, and had blushed at the questioning look he had given her when she asked for her goblet to be refilled. She desperately needed the courage, and prayed that he wouldn't realise something was amiss. 

She fell asleep alone in her bed that night, her belly knotted with nervous anticipation. She had debated long and hard about whether to wear a chemise, and ended up selecting her favourite out of fear that he would guess her wicked intentions. It was a filmy creation the colour of sweet chocolate, with fragile cream ribbons that tied between her breasts and left her shoulders bare except for two thin ribbon straps. 

She woke with a gasp of dismay as dawn softly lit the chamber. Leonn lay behind her, his naked golden form stretched out on his side, his palm settled over her breast. Most nights she woke when his arms slid beneath her and cradled her against his chest, and she pretended to be asleep as he carried her silently through the castle. 

Carefully so as not to disturb him, she felt above their heads for the silk scarves she had tied to the bedhead and hidden from sight the previous afternoon. Praying under her breath, she gently wrapped the loose end of the scarf around his wrist and tied several knots with shaky fingers. Then she did the same to the wrist of the arm that cradled his head. She peered down at his face, but his long lashes didn't so much as flicker. 

Slowly she crawled to the end of the bed, her bottom high up in the air as she set about restraining his ankles. When he shifted slightly, murmuring something in his sleep, her heart stilled in her chest. 

She gazed back at him over her shoulder, fearing she had been caught, but his chest continued to rise and fall slowly. Breathing a sigh of relief, she kneeled by his thighs, a thrill of nervous anticipation racing through her as she inspected her handiwork. 

He was completely naked and loosely stretched out in her bonds, like a golden sun god. Golden curls lightly matted his chest, arrowing down over his bronzed rippling stomach to the dark nest between his thighs. She shifted closer, her gaze focused intently on the long thick length of him resting against his thigh. Peeking at his face before leaning closer, she lightly stroked his shaft from base to tip experimentally. Her heart thudded as he stirred slightly, but still he didn't awaken. 

Getting bolder, Bella smoothed her thumb over the tip of him, feeling the tiny groove with interest. She felt him begin to harden beneath her touch, and her eyes flew to his closed ones suspiciously. She waited with bated breath for several seconds, and when he didn't move, she gently encircled the thick velvety length, measuring it with her fingers. He was big and intimidating, even when soft, and she inspected him with avid curiosity. Lifting him slightly, she slipped her other hand beneath him and gently cuddled the globes nestled between his thighs, feeling their downy softness. She gave a gasp of delight when he hardened as she gently squeezed them. 

"Bella," a strained voice warned dangerously. "What are you doing?"

Bella jerked back horrified, her startled gaze flying to his face. 

"Nothing," she answered guiltily, a blush staining her cheeks. He met her gaze steadily, with no hint of sleepiness in their amber depths. Her mind raced, and she chewed her lip worriedly. How long had he been awake? 

"It doesn't seem that way to me, little one," he murmured silkily as his wrists struggled in their bonds. His eyes narrowed dangerously when the scarves refused to give. 

Bella shrugged sheepily, causing the strap of her filmy chemise slide down her arm. His eyes dropped, following the slide of the frothy lace until it hung prevariously on the tip of her taut nipple, a hint of rosy areola peeking over the trim. He swallowed hard, and she felt him stir against her hand. 

"Untie me," he commanded, and she bit her lip and she shook her head slightly, her tousled scarlet tresses tumbling around her shoulders. 

"Bella," he said, his eyes narrowing dangerously on her pink face. She struggled not to feel intimated as she shifted uneasily on the bed. Her fingers slid across his straining shaft, and his breath caught in his throat. 

"Bella," he repeated huskily, his face impassive. "You do not want to do this." 

"Why?" she questioned guilelessly, and she stilled in her gentle exploration as a realisation hit her. "Am I hurting you?"




Innocent Pawn Ch. 09



The breath shuddered from his lungs at the concern in her eyes. "No," he ground out truthfully. "My concern is more for your bottom, and how warm it will feel after my hand is through with it." 

"Oh," she murmured with relief. "Oh!" she squeaked when she realised that he had threatened to spank her. Something told her it would not be wise to untie him in the dangerous mood he currently was in! 

She tried to ignore him, returning her attention to his shaft. She was fascinated by it, her fingers leaving no space untouched as she explored him. He remained impassive throughout, his jaw clenched as his eyes silently issued her a deadly warning. 

She was unaware of the tantalising glimpses she afforded him of her swaying breasts as she lightly caressed and squeezed the hardening length of him.

Again her small hand encircled him firmly, and he arched, his bottom pressing against the mattress as he sought to evade her. The movement forced her hand to slide along him, and she stilled at his harsh indrawn breath. 

Tipping her head to the side, she began to slide her hand up and down the length of him experimentally, watching him carefully from the corner of her eye as she tugged on his growing length and thickness of his cock. Heat pooled between her thighs as he gazed back at her stormily, the cords in his neck straining. 

With growing confidence she teased the hardening shaft, and before long a soft groan escaped him. He began to rock in her grip as he glared up at the ceiling, his features closed and drawn. 

"Untie me, Bella. Now," he bit out harshly, his breathing laboured. 

Taking a deep breath, she released him and sat back on her heels. Her breasts strained against the filmy chemise, the creamy lace irritating her tight nipples until she could bear it no longer. She reached up and loosened the ribbon ties, easing the fabric against her flesh. When she gazed up shyly beneath lowered lashes, it was to find his burning amber eyes riveted on the glimpses of her soft mounds. 

Holding onto his upper thighs, she swung her leg over his thighs to straddle him, her bottom wiggling as it settled comfortably between his knees. She was fully aware of his furious regard on her pink face. 

Dark, burning amber locked with hers. "Release me, or so help me..." he threatened her. 

As she pushed back her long mane over her shoulder nervously, she felt his gaze move down over the thrusting mounds exposed between the straining ribbons, the swell of her belly and her soft thighs pressing against his as she straddled him, the hem of her chemise riding dangerously high. 

Her hands settled on his hips as she leaned over him, unaware of how her chemise dangled low, giving him ample view of her tender breasts. Gently and with exquisite care she circled his hard length and guided him to her lips. She felt the muscles of his thighs bunch and strain beneath her, felt the breath rush from his lungs as her lips gently feathered across the tip of him with aching tenderness. 

"Hell," he muttered, breaking out into a sweat. His arms strained in their bonds as her tongue darted out hesitantly, flicking over the satiny head and tasting the pearl of moisture at its tip. She watched him from beneath lowered lashes as she savoured the taste, and his eyes promised her full retribution. 

He pulsed in her grip as she gently kissed the head, nuzzling him with her pink lips before parting them around him. Slowly she sunk down on him, taking as much of him in as she could. Her eyes widened in surprise when he bumped against the back of her throat. 

"Bella," he ground out. "Get these bloody ties of me right this instant." 

She quivered at his fury, yet she was unable to deny the strange excitement she felt between her thighs. 

"No," she mumbled around him, and his burning amber eyes scorched her. Slowly she began to move up and down on the hard length, each time taking more of him deeper inside of her mouth as she slowly began to relax around his thick length. When she gently cuddled the downy globes in her hand, his hips arched off the bed.

She whimpered as his hips began to surge against her, his clenched bottom lifting off the bed. She heard his soft groans as she struggled to take him in as he drove into her mouth, his whole body straining. She had never felt so deliciously feminine and powerful as she did right then, arousing him against his will. 

"Bella, have mercy," he ground out as he felt himself about to spill himself into her mouth like an untried boy. "If you don't do something about the state I am in right now before I embarrass myself, I will ensure that you are unable to walk for a week." 

"What would you like me to do?" she asked guilelessly as she released him, and he prayed to a thousand different gods to release him right then. The loss of control was eating at him. He wanted to rip that damn chemise off of her and lick her sweet nipples and stroke her between her wet pussy lips until she shuddered and writhed on his hand. To tumble her on her back and drive his cock into her tight little pussy. He had never experienced this feeling, and disliked it intensely, yet never had he experienced anything so erotic as the way in which Bella explored him with innocent enthusiasm. 

"Climb on top of me, Bella," he urged her. "Lower yourself down on the length of my cock." 

Bella, her head tipped on the side, hesitated. She wanted nothing more than to feel him moving inside of her, but some part of her wanted to taste him in her mouth as he spilled his seed. Without thinking her fingers continued to stroke and caress him, enamoured with the feel of the pulsing hard length clasped in her fingers.

"Ride me, Bella. Please," he ground out, his eyes squeezed shut, a fierce expression on his face. 

Her lips parted on a soundless gasp at his pleading, and she found she was unable to resist him. Never releasing her grip on his shaft, she wiggled forward and rose up on her knees to straddle his hips. 

She reached beneath her chemise with her other hand, and with trembling fingers guided him to her dewy gate. She whimpered as he slid along her glistening folds, her lashes fluttering close. She squirmed against him, reveling in the delicious friction of his shaft accidentally rubbing against her pink nub. 

"Bella," he urged huskily, his body straining. "I can't hold out much longer..."

Reluctantly she guided him lower, until he pressed against the dewy entrance to her pussy. 

"Yes," he hissed between his lips as she pushed down on him until the pulsing head of his shaft rested inside of her slick heat. Panting, she eased herself down further, feeling his thickness force her tight walls apart as she lowered herself a fraction at a time. 

Her eyes were closed, her moist lips parted as she slowly took him inside of her snug pussy, feeling herself stretched around the hard length of him as she strained to take him all in. 

"That's it," he urged as she slid down a fraction more, her tight walls clenching around him. She tried to catch her breath as she rested halfway down his shaft, urging her muscles to relax. She was unprepared for when his hips arched from the bed, forcing himself up inside of her as slid those last few inches until he was sheathed in her to the hilt. 

"Oh," she murmured, gently rolling her hips on him as she tried to adjust to the feel of all of him buried deeply inside of her. The movement ground her nub against him, and her head tipped back as intense pleasure shot through her. 

Slowly she opened dark green eyes, taking deep breaths as she gazed down at him. Her remaining strap slipped down over a creamy shoulder, baring her breast with its taut rosy nipple to his hungry gaze.

"Hell," he muttered, swallowing hard at the sensual heat in those mesmerising green eyes, and it was all he could do not to come inside of her. 

Urged on by the burning heat in those amber eyes, Bella raised herself up until only the head of him nestled in her slick heat, before plunging back down on him, impaling herself on his thickness and drawing moans from both of them. 

Lost to sensation, she began to move on the thick hard length of him, the tension between her thighs almost unbearable. Any thoughts of seducing him had flown from her mind as she fought not to lose her control before he spilled inside of her. 

Her nipples taut, her wide green eyes feverish, she slid along his length with growing skill. A small tense smile curved his lips as heat pooled between her quivering thighs as sensations built to almost breaking point. She hesitated, tying to stop the building peak, but his hips thrust up, driving up inside of her. He began to rock furiously inside of her, his burning amber eyes intent on hers, his arms straining in their bonds as he drove himself up into her, bunching himself deep inside her pussy with each burning thrust.

"N-no," she gasped weakly, squirming on his cock, her hands pressing down on his hips to prevent him taking control. 

"I'm going to make you come first, little one," he murmured, triumph glittering in his eyes. 

"Leonn," she cried helplessly, her hips arching on him but he surged inside of her unmercifully, forging a burning path deep inside of her snug channel.

He took her with an urgency that left her breathless, quick, swift lunges as though he were trying to unseat her. The tension snapped between her thighs, and she shuddered and rippled around him as the force of her climax tore through her. 

He arched beneath her, his muscles tensing, a fierce groan torn from his lips as he jerked inside of her, his pulsing heat flooding her. 

She collapsed on top of him, panting, her skin damp and feverish, all thought wiped from her mind. Her pussy gently throbbed as she settled against him, her hair spilling out across his chest. Her fingers crept up, settling over his thudding heart. 

"Bella," Leonn murmured silkily after a while as her breathing eased. She lay still on top of him, her warm curves molding themselves to his body. "Do you think you may have forgotten something, hmm?"

She murmured sleepily as she wiggled on top of him, but otherwise she was silent.

Leonn lay there, gazing down at the crown of her head with amusement. Struggling with his bonds, yet careful not to dislodge Bella, he finally loosened the cords binding one wrist, before releasing the other. His hands smoothed down over Bella's back until they settled firmly over her bare bottom. 

As his heart began to slow, he knew Bella's victory was one they would both savour. Bella was too sensual a creature, even in her innocence, to seduce him without seducing herself. Even now, the image of her shocked sweet face as she took her pleasure on top of him, stirred him. 

He gently squeezed her bottom, but Bella didn't stir. A wicked smile curved his lips as he decided he would let his exhausted lover sleep before he exacted his punishment. 

~*~

Bella silently closed the door to Leonn's chamber behind her, and padded lightly over the cool stone floor. She glowed inside at the knowledge her lovemaking had roused him to his peak, reveling in her feminine power. 

Lost in thought, she was unprepared when an arm lashed out, grasping her arm and spinning her around. Bella's hair tumbled over her face as she was pushed back against the wall with brutal determination, the breath rushing from her lungs. 

Her heart stilled for an instant as she felt the press of something cold against her throat. She blinked, all vestiges of sleep blown from her mind as fear raced down her spine. 

"Look what I've found," a familiar voice murmured against her ear, and her knees went weak. 

Even as Bella opened her mouth to scream for Leonn, a hand pressed over her mouth, fingers digging into her cheeks. 

"Be a good girl, and I won't be forced to hurt you. Yet."

To be concluded in the final chapter of Innocent Pawn...



Innocent Pawn Ch. 10



Black spots danced over her vision as she gazed at her father in horror. His fingers gripped her cheeks painfully as his large frame pinned her against the cold stone wall. Something sharp pressed against her throat. 

"You tried to kill me." A chilling smile curled Alain d'Alsace's thin lips. Bella's legs almost gave way beneath her. Her lips parted to call to Leonn, but no sound came.

His head dipped, his breath warm on her face as his lips pressed against hers. She tried to turn her head, a small moan escaping her, but punishing fingers held her still. She squeezed her eyes shut as his mouth moved warmly over hers, nibbling and teasing, his tongue seeking entry. Her hands pushed at his chest as his fingers pinched her nostrils close, and her lips finally parted as she sought to draw air into her burning lungs. She felt bile rise. 

His tongue plunged into her mouth. She couldn't breath, couldn't think. Dizziness washed over her as he explored her mouth greedily, his firm lips moving forcefully over hers, his breathing heavy as his solid frame pressed against her softness. 

Bella shuddered when she felt the sharp point at her neck drawn down over her chest, over the uneven rise and fall of her breasts barely constrained by the thin silk chemise. A gasp was smothered by his mouth as the dagger sliced through the strap of her chemise. She felt the material slip down over the crest of her breast.

Her fingers clenched around his wrist as she felt the sharp tip press against her taut nipple. A tear slid down her cheek as the stinging sensation grew worse, a mere promise of what was to come. Her teeth clenched and she tasted blood. Her father jerked back angrily, his hand going to his mouth. 

"You bit me!" he bit out angrily as his fist connected with her temple, sending everything black. 

~*~

Leonn stirred, drawn from the edges of sleep by the creak of the chamber door. He wondered who dared enter his chamber at this early hour. It was of little concern if a servant accidentally happened upon him naked in his own chamber. His own manservant was long used to laying out his clothes and arranging hot water for his baths. But it was Bella who had changed the routine of his household. In the week his servants had come to know her, they had begun to dote on her, basking in her sweetness and gentleness. Now it seemed there was a silent agreement among his servants that none would breach the privacy of his inner sanctum for fear of causing his shy Bella embarrassment. 

Leonn's hand slid over the rumpled bed linen, seeking to draw Bella into his arms and cover her sweet curves from view. He frowned when his fingers discovered only cool emptiness, then his lips curled in amusement. His little coward had fled back to her own chamber rather than face his tender punishment for what she had done. 

He hardened instantly at the memory of her sliding down upon his length, of her nails digging in to his chest. The exquisite frustration of being bound to the bed as she rode him, of being forced to watch the exquisiteness of her taking him inside of her. Of her soft moans as she bucked upon him, her taut little nipples pressing against the silky chemise, begging to be suckled. 

Leonn groaned into his pillow. She had bewitched him from the start with those innocent eyes and delightful curves, yet he hadn't allowed those feelings to veer him from his course of revenge. He had stolen her virginity and forced her to accede to his every desire as he held her captive. All for the sole misfortune on Bella's part for being the daughter of the man that had killed Leonn's father. 

Even now Leonn could not completely regret his actions, only the circumstances. Her innocent sensuality had taken his breath away as he sought to enslave her with the bonds of lust. To make her crave the feel of him pressing between her thighs. Only to find himself enslaved...

Out of the corner of his eye a shadow stirred, and the breath stilled in his chest. His narrowed gaze flew to where his sword rested but two arm lengths away on a brocade chair. The muscles in his arms tensed just as a familiar voice reached him. 

"Don't move." 

He turned his head swiftly, and noted with interest how the sliver of early light gleamed on the menacing blade gripped tightly in her hand. Leonn forced his body to relax. 

"Marie," he acknowledged coolly, fighting back the hatred that burned through him as he finally came face to face with Bella's tormentor. He had no intention of obeying her command. He sat up, swinging his long over the side of the bed with a lion's grace, unconcerned by his nakedness. 

Marie's arm stiffened, the sword raising up between them even as her eyes lowered to the masculinity nestled between his golden thighs. "Pleasant dreams?" She murmured, moistening her lips. 

"To what do I owe this honour?" he queried dryly, not bothering to draw a sheet over his lap as his erection subsided. 

"I heard you were looking for me," Marie said, an eyebrow raised as she moved closer to the bed. "So here I am." 

"How convenient," he replied calmly, noting the tight black leather breeches and tunic that clung to her long thighs and waist and molded the full swells of her breasts dispassionately. "You saved me the trouble of paying the ten thousand gold pieces I promised for your capture." 

Marie smiled coldly as her gaze flickered over him. "You will find that I can be very convenient." 

Something swirled low in his stomach as he gazed intently upon Marie's face. "You are - were my father's wife," Leonn bit out. He struggled to keep his anger under tight control. "There could never have been anything convenient between us, Marie. That you took a belt to Bella's back when she was at her most vulnerable..."

Marie's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You are very protective of a woman who does not want you. Yet you continue to amuse yourself with her, despite knowing she would gladly give you over in order to return to the convent after what you have done to her. Only we all know that the convent would never take her back when the evidence of your sins is clear for all to see. You wonder why she refuses to marry you, yet the answer is clear. Bella simply bides her time until she rids herself of your bastard." 

"Leave now, Marie, and you do so with your life," he promised her coldly, his glittering amber eyes locked with her dark ones. He stood up, towering over her, his hatred for her clearly visible. He ignored the weapon raised between them. 

Her fingers tightened their grip on the handle. "I won't be leaving until I get what I want." 

"And what is it that you want, Marie?" he asked with deadly softness.

Marie's eyes flashed, before her lips curled cruelly. "To make you suffer."

"How? By denying me the delights of your well ridden body?" Leonn asked idly. As fury sparked in those eyes his hand shot out, gripping her wrist and twisting sharply. She cried out as the sword clattered to the stone floor, and again as he forced her up against him as he twisted her arm awkwardly behind her. 

His fingers stroked the side of her neck as his warm breathe stirred the stray brown curls at her temple. 

"I want to hurt you, Marie," he murmured against her ear as his fingers trailed down to hook over the leather tunic where it dipped between her breasts. "I fantasise about my guards holding you down as I take my whip to your back as you did to Bella. Of watching them mount you, forcing their pricks into you eager pussy over and over."

"Leonn," she moaned. 

"We both know that you would be hot for them, don't we, Marie?" he murmured as his hand slid down beneath her tunic, finding a hard nipple. "That you would spread your legs eagerly, welcoming the humiliation as you begged to be fucked roughly." 

"No..." she muttered. 

"No?" Leonn queried, as his finger lazily circled her nipple. She arched against him, pressing her breast into his palm. 

"I hate you," she moaned. 

"Do you really?" he mused as he toyed carelessly with her nipple, watching her eyes darken with desire. "Then perhaps you will be pleased to know that it is Bella, and not I, that will decide your fate." 

Marie stiffened, then laughed softly. "I don't think Bella will be deciding anything in the near future. Not if her father has anything to do with it."

Leonn froze. "Pray, Marie, that it is indeed Bella who decides your fate," he said softly. "Where is she?" 

Marie gasped as he wrenched her arm higher behind her back, bringing tears to her eyes. "The church," she muttered, and he thrust her from him as he strode from the chamber. 

As he called for his guard, he knew that this time he would ensure that Bella's father could no longer harm her. In the meantime, Marie could enjoy the comforts of his dungeon. 

~*~

Bella moaned softly, her hand flying to her throbbing head, only to flinch back as lightening agony shot through her skull. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she lay there, waiting for the pain and dizziness to subside. 

She remembered. Leonn asleep. Slipping from his warm bed before the servants awoke. Her father. The dagger. She sat up jerkily, squeezing her eyes shut momentarily against the pain, before slowly opening them again. She must warn Leonn. 

Her fingers clutched at her chest, and she gazed down, startled. She wore a gown of blue chiffon, so deep it almost seemed like violet. Long sleeves swirled from her elbows, and a deep bodice clung to the tiny swell of her breasts. Trembling fingers reached up, discovering the crowning garland pinned over her loose, flowing hair. Bella swallowed hard as realisation slowly dawned. He couldn't...

A noise startled her, and her head turned, the sudden movement causing the world to spin before righting itself. Her heart began to thud as she gazed upon the large solid man leaning against the doorway to the sparse chamber, his arms crossed lazily over his chest. 

Bella took a deep shuddery breath. "There is not a priest in this land that would condone a father marrying his daughter."

His lips twitched, yet the humour never reached the cold brown eyes moving intently over her. "No?" He strode toward her, and she scrambled back until she felt the cold stone wall against her back. 

"No," she whispered. Bella knew this to be the priest's antechamber leading off from the main chamber of the church that was housed in the grounds of Chayboneau. Knowing that Leonn could not be far away gave her some comfort as she returned her father's gaze. Her mind raced as she tried to think of some way to escape, to get to Leonn. 

"Then it seems it is fortunate that I am not the intended groom." 

It was a moment before comprehension dawned. Oh god, she thought. He would force her to wed a stranger, binding her to a man she did not love. A man who would not protect her from her father's wicked desires. She swallowed hard as he squatted before her.  

"Had you done your duty, all this would be unnecessary," he said, catching a silky red strand between his fingers. "Yet your stubbornness has left me with no choice." 

Her wide green eyes locked with his. She barely winced as he tugged on the fine strands. "I hate you."

"You are no longer the meek, obedient girl I sent to the convent," he told her, his eyes narrowing. "De Angel has made a woman of you, Isabella. Something for which you will both pay." 

Her skin felt clammy where his fingers cupped her breast through the fine material of her bodice. 

"Had you been a dutiful daughter, you would have married de Angel when he asked. Now I am forced to see the deed done myself before I finally dispose of him." 

"W-what?" she gasped, stiffening as his fingers found her nipple. Her hands clenched as he pinched and rolled the offended bud. "Why?"

"This way I get what I want, legally. In the event of de Angel's untimely demise, you, as his wife and mother of his heir, have full control of his estates until your child reaches the age of majority." 

Her lips parted as she realised her father's intent. With Leonn dead, her father planned to use her unborn child to control the de Angel estates. 

"What if our child is a girl?" Bella barely registered the feel of his fingers stroking her nipple into a taut peak as she forced herself to breathe, to stay calm. 

"The sex is irrelevant. De Angel's great-grandfather changed the entailment so that either sex could inherit. Theirs' was not a fertile family, and his great-grandfather foresaw the need to prevent the de Angel estates reverting to the King. Fortunately for us."

"There is no 'us'. I will have nothing to do with this. I would rather die than help you steal Leonn's heritage!"

"Then the babe dies with you," her father said agreeably as he smoothed her bodice and rose to tower over her. 

Her face paled. "No..." she breathed. "You cannot!"

"No?" he enquired. She didn't struggle as his fingers gripped her by her upper arms and dragged her to her feet. "I didn't think so, somehow." 

His head dipped as he inhaled her scent deeply. She shuddered as she felt his lips brush against the side of her neck. 

"When de Angel is dead and I have legal control of his estates, I will teach you to love the feel of my cock pounding your tight pussy and ass," he promised her. 

She stiffened in his arms. A large hand slid down over her waist to grip her bottom, drawing her abruptly up against him. She pushed against his chest, only to be released as a loud commotion came from the main chamber. She pushed past her father and stumbled into the main chamber. Leonn stood at the entrance to the church, his face an intimidating mask. Dangerous amber eyes scanned the surrounds until they alighted on a dishevelled Bella. And narrowed. 

Bella heard her father shout something from behind her, and she cried out "No!" as she ran down the aisle toward Leonn, her eyes only for him as she sought to warn him. She was unprepared for the arms that caught her from behind. She struggled, and felt herself almost hefted off the ground as her captor fought to subdue her. 

"Go back," she cried. She kicked her attacker, her legs tangling in the flowing layers of her skirts. She stilled as she felt the cold press of steel at her throat. Her gaze met Leonn's fearfully. Silent fury emanated from him as her father's men blocked his way with swords. 

"Let her go. It's me that you want." Leonn stepped further into the church, allowing the doors to swing close behind him. The move separated him for the dozens of armed guards at his back. Everything in her screamed 'no'. 

"Ah, how touching. You make me begin to think you might care for her." Alain smiled, crossing his arms over his chest where he stood in the doorway to the antechamber. 

"Let her go," Leonn repeated, never taking his eyes from Bella. "The church is surrounded by my men. They have orders to let you pass through the gates of Chauboneau unmolested so long as Isabella is released unharmed." 

"Leonn don't!" she cried. She had to make him understand, to go back. If he married her as her father planned, Leonn was effectively signing his death warrant. "You must-" 

"Be a good girl, Isabella, and be quiet," her father said casually as he strode toward her. "I have no intention of harming Isabella or the babe. Unless you force me to do so," her father informed Leonn. 

She looked up at her father with burning hatred as he came to stand beside her. She flinched as he lifted a hand and gently smoothed back a silky strand from her flushed face. "Or you, de Angel, for that matter, so long as you accede to my wishes. Once my business here is concluded, my men and I will shortly be on our way." 

"What is it you want, d'Alsace?" LEonn paid no heed to the dozen or so men with drawn swords as he walked toward Bella. At a signal from her father, the guards shuffled uneasily around Leonn as he approached them, allowing Leonn to pass through their ranks. Leonn didn't acknowledge their presence by so much as a flicker of an eyelid as he gazed intently at her. Alain held his hand up as Leonn came within 5 yards of them. Leonn obeyed, but he visibly disliked doing so. 

"Apparently the same thing as you," Alain murmured, gazing down at Isabella's sweet face as his fingers stroked the side of her neck. 

Bella whimpered as the band of muscles across Leonn's shoulders and back tensed beneath the fine linen shirt. 

"She's a pretty little thing. And passionate. She fairly spits when I touch her," her father murmured as his fingers traced her jaw.

"Don't. Touch. Her," Leonn commanded softy.

She felt the sting of the dagger at her throat as Leonn took a menacing step closer. 

Alain laughed again, not in the least intimidated. "She is mine to do with as I please," he said, motioning to someone over Bella's shoulder. "And I choose to give her to you. For now." 

Leonn's eyes narrowed, then shifted to something over Bella's shoulder. Bella felt dread well inside of her, as she knew what was to come. She watch the frown cross Leonn face as Father de Ambiage was brought forward by one of the guards. 

"In marriage, of course." 

"Why?" Leonn demanded incredulously, thrown off guard.

"Would you believe, it wouldn't do for my grandchild to be labelled a bastard?" 

"No." 

Alain smiled. "I didn't think so. Shall we begin?" 

The next few minutes seemed like a lifetime to Bella. She was forced to her knees before the priest, the guard's dagger pressed keenly against her neck throughout the short ceremony. On her other side kneeled Leonn, and tears welled in her eyes as his fingers laced through hers, squeezing reassuringly when it was time for her to say her vows. 

When the scrolls were signed, and handed to her father, she barely caught her breath when her father's fist lashed out, catching Leonn on the temple. Leonn slumped to the side, and she tried to catch him, his weight bearing her to the ground beneath him, his head cradled in her arms. 

"Oh, god, Leonn, please, please wake up." 

"It would take much more than that to hurt him permanently, Bella," her father muttered as she was dragged screaming to her feet by several guards. "Stop your whining, girl. The marriage must be seen to be consummated by the King, despite you already being pregnant with his bastard. So he lives for now." 

When she didn't stop struggling, trying desperately to tear herself free and run to Leonn, her father lashed out, his fist connecting with the side of her face as he sought to subdue her. 

~*~

Bella moaned, slowly coming around. The galloping horse beneath her only added to her confusion and dizziness. 

"You're awake. I was afraid I had caused you serious harm." Strong arms held her against him. It was pointless struggling. Should she fall, she could hurt the babe. 

"Where are we? What have you done to Leonn?"

"Leonn is alive. I'm sure he would be touched by your concern, despite your refusals to marry him." 

At some silent signal her father and his men halted in a small clearing. A man helped lift her down and guided her to a tree. Her father sat on his horse and watched as her wrists were bound, and then her feet. 

"Why are you doing this?" she cried. She realized he must have used her as a hostage to gain safe passage, yet was it now his intention to rape her here, before all his men? 

How far were they from Chauboneau and Leonn? The image of him slumped lifeless in her arms brought a rush of tears to her eyes. She did not resist as the guard checked her restraints. 

She then watched with stunned disbelief as he climbed back on his horse. With a salute, her father and his men disappeared in a cloud of dust. 

He father was not going to hurt her or the babe? She could have wept with relief her joy was so great. Only now she had to wait and pray her husband found her. 

Husband. That one world held such a wealth of meaning. She still couldn't quite believe it. 




Innocent Pawn Ch. 10



Time passed with agonising slowness as she mulled over the enormity of their vows, and the consequences on Leonn's life. She was thankful for the distraction when chased toward her carrying the familiar black and gold insignia of Chauboneau. 

As they came closer, her heart began to race as the broad shouldered man at their lead. Leonn. 

He drew the horse to a halt not far from her and swung down. He strode toward her, his gaze inspecting every inch of her for the slightest injury. Fury sparked in those golden eyes as he tugged the ropes free from her wrists and ankles. 

"Are you hurt?" he demanded, almost shaking her where he gripped her firmly by the upper arms. She shook her head, too choked up to speak. 

He lifted her up and drew her into his arms. "When I get you home I am going to spank your bottom soundly!" he warned her as he carried her toward his waiting horse, pressing light kisses against the bruises that marred her skin. 

"W-why? What did I do?" she gasped in dismay as her arms circled his neck, melting against him. She pressed her face against his neck, breathing in the warm, familiar scent of him. 

"You, my love, among other things, deserted me in the middle of the night." 

"Oh," she said, squirming against him as she remembered tying him up and the events that followed. Her cheeks pinkened. "That." 

~*~

"You are never to leave my sight again, do you understand me?"

Leonn stood in the middle of the room, feet planted wide apart, hands on hips. Bella nodded meekly, knowing full well not to argue with that tone of voice, even though she had no intention of obeying. 

His burning amber gaze roved over her, noting the tumbled mane and the swell of her creamy breasts pushed up over the bodice of her fresh gown. Leonn wanted nothing more in that instant than to strip her, throw her down on the bed and ravish her, wiping away all memory of her father. 

Bella backed up against the door as he strode intently toward her, like a hunter circling its prey. She gasped and spun about as he made a grab for her, her fingers grappling with the door knob. Large palms imprisoned her waist from behind and dragged her around and up against the solid wall of his chest. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck as he lifted her and carried her determinably toward the bed. 

"Leonn..." she gasped as he dumped her on her back on the bed and towered over her, hands on hips. He was unpredictable in this mood, and the thought both frightened and excited her. 

"There is a little matter of punishment to be had," he murmured silkily as he gripped the bodice of her gown and yanked. The fine material gave way with a loud rendering noise, and he peeled away the cloth to gaze lingeringly on the taut rosy nipples thrusting impudently against the gauzy shift. She tried to move, and gasped when he planted a firm hand on her belly, pinning her to the bed. 

"Don't move, little one," he murmured as he gaze lingered lazily on the shadowed triangle between her thighs. 

"L-Leonn," she murmured warily as his hands glided up over her inner thighs caressingly. A gasp escaped her as he gripped her thighs and dragged her toward him until her bottom rested against his thighs at the edge of the bed. She wiggled against him, trying to escape him, and felt herself melt at the feel of his hardness nestled against her secret place. 

Bella shivered helplessly as his fingers trailed down her upraised thighs and over her belly, drawing with them the hem of her shift. She felt cool air on her heated flesh, and moistened her lips. 

Leonn gazed down at her with heated amber eyes, taking in the sight of her creamy thighs, the sparse thatch of scarlet curls and the gentle swell of her belly. 

"You teased and tormented me with glimpses of your breasts as you rode me last night, never allowing me touch or caress them as they jiggled temptingly before me," he murmured hotly as his fingers reached up to tug on the ribbons at her bodice and peel the flimsy material apart, exposing her tiny mounds to his heated gaze. A throb began to beat a tattoo between her quivering thighs at the intensity of those wicked amber eyes. 

"Leonn," she whispered, her green eyes wide as a finger gently circled an aching nipple. 

"You never even bothered to remove your chemise as you took all of me inside of you, denying me the sight of my shaft being swallowed by your sweet little pussy."

She whimpered as the fingers walked seductively down over the swell of her belly to lightly stroke the valley he spoke of, discovering the dewy heat at her core. 

Bella swallowed hard as he kneeled between her thighs, his eyes locked with hers as his warm breath stirred the soft curls. 

All thoughts flew from her mind as his warm mouth opened over her, nibbling and sucking on her tender flesh. She moaned as his tongue darted out, swirling in her glistening folds. His hands on her thighs held her wide as his mouth, tongue and nose nuzzled her lush pink flesh, until she was writhing and squirming against him, soft moans escaping her parted lips. She arched beneath him, her fingers sinking into the thick golden waves as she tugged him closer still. 

Her whole body stiffened at the incredible sensation of his tongue pushing up inside of her, and she quivered with need, the tension between her thighs almost unbearable. His fingers played with her nub as his tongue coaxed her melting channel into submission until her head rolled side to side, her soft cries filling the chamber. 

She moaned in desperation as his mouth left her. "Leonn, please..." she panted. 

He moved up over her, and she arched up against him as his mouth closed over a tender rosy nipple, nibbling and sucking as his fingers pinched and plucked at its mate. Her nails raked down over his back, and he caught them, drawing them above her head. She squirmed against the hard, throbbing length of him barely contained by the leather breeches where he rubbed between her thighs. Lost in a sensual daze, it took several moments before she realised he was knotting a scarf securely around her wrists. 

"Oh," she cried breathlessly, her eyes widening warily as he gazed down at her with a dangerous smile. He shifted, sitting on the edge of the bed and reached for her. She let out a gasp of dismay as he captured her as she squirmed to escape him, and found herself flipped over onto her belly and dragged across his lap. 

"No, you can't..." she gasped, wiggling on his lap, unsure of his wicked intentions.

"Ah, Bella," he murmured as one large palm splayed firmly on her back as he drew up her shift, revealing the quivering curves of her sweet bottom. "You will shortly discover I can and will." 

Bella found herself maneuvered helplessly over his thighs, her bare bottom thrust up in the most vulnerable of positions. His hand on her back effortlessly pinned her over his muscular thighs as fingers traced lazy circles over her derriere. 

She kicked her legs in protest, but he slapped her softly, the sound shocking her more than the flash of stinging pain radiating over her bottom. His fingers gently kneaded the creamy flesh, drawing out the sting. 

"Leonn, please..." she murmured, pink with humiliation, a flutter of excitement low in her belly.

"I do please," he murmured with a chuckle as his fingers stroked along her cleft, exploring the tiny rosebud nestled in their depths. She was a delicious, squirming handful as he teased her bottom. When she least expected it, he brought his palm down firmly, slapping the creamy globes. 

"Ow," she cried plaintively, struggling futilely. She was more humiliated than hurt, and more excited than she wanted to let on. She prayed he wouldn't discover the dewy warmth between her thighs, but even as the thought crossed her mind his fingers delved lower. 

"Ah, sweet Bella," he murmured as he discovered her glistening folds. His fingers gently stroked the pink valley, the tips of his fingers grazing over her nub in tantalising caresses. 

She whimpered as he gently peeled the lush folds apart, exposing her to the cool air. Every nerve ending in her body anticipated his next touch, her thighs falling slightly apart of their own accord.

Her whole body jerked as fingers lightly spanked her mound, and she gasped in outrage. Again and again he smacked her there, and her struggles began in earnest even as her nub pulsed with fiery tingles of pleasure.

She jerked up with a scream as fingers thrust up inside of her wanton core, only to find herself toppling onto the stone floor with its thin layer of bear fur. She struggled awkwardly up onto her elbow as she pushed back her fall of red-gold hair as her outraged eyes gazed up into amused amber ones. 

"You dropped me!" she cried petulantly as she struggled gracelessly to her feet, providing him with a delicious eyeful. She stood before him, her wrists bound, sparks flying from her wide green eyes. 

He rubbed a hand across his mouth. "That was not my intention." 

Her tiny bound fists thumped his shoulder. "You rotten scoundrel." She went to thump him again, only to find her fists captured in his larger one as he used his weight as a lever to tumble her over him as he fell back onto the bed. 

His body was hard and muscular beneath hers as she struggled and squirmed heatedly on top of him. Before she released what was happening, he was dragging her chemise over her head. The breath hissed between his teeth in frustration as the straps caught where the scarf bound her wrists, but a determined tug snapped the thin straps, and he tossed it triumphantly on the floor. She was left naked sprawled on top of him, her red mane tumbling around her pink face. Her belly rubbed insistently against the hard bulge straining his breeches as she wiggled on top of him. 

He groaned as her knee slipped between his thighs, grinding against him intimately. "Bella," he ground out as his fingers clenched over her bare bottom, holding her still against him. Burning amber eyes gazed up into hers, all humour wiped from his face.  

Bella gasped as Leonn tumbled her onto her back and half rose up above her as he reached for the ties of his breeches. "You make me feel like an untried boy without a shred of control," he murmured as his head dipped to kiss her parted lips. 

She kissed him back, her fingers clutching the neck of his tunic and dragging him closer. His lips left hers, trailing a path of fire down her throat to capture a taut nipple. 

"Untie me," she moaned breathlessly, wanting to touch him as he was caressing her. 

"No," he declared, smiling wickedly. Her eyes widened as she felt him then, probing insistently against her dewy folds. 

She squirmed half-heartedly away, pushing against his shoulder. Her let her, and she rolled from beneath him. She scrambled over the bed on hands and knees, unaware of the effect the sight of her pink bottom had on him. Firm hands seized her hips, dragging her backwards so that she fell on her elbows, and again she felt the demanding head of him nudging against her. 

"Leonn," she gasped in shock at the strangeness of the position, but it was too late. His fingers dug into her hips as the head of his shaft forced her lips apart as he surged forward forcefully. 

She cried out as he began to take her with long, deep strokes, his hands holding her prisoner as his weight bore her to the mattress. She trembled and shuddered beneath him, her back arching as his hard shaft surged against an incredibly sensitive pad of flesh deep inside of her, over and over. He bucked inside of her, working himself furiously in her tight pussy. Quivers raced through her as he drove her toward her peak. 

She cried out when left her, her fingers searching blindly for him. "Leonn," she gasped demandingly. She felt his breath tickle her ear as he chuckled groaningly, capturing her hands. "Not yet, little one. First tell me that your place is here, in my bed."

He rolled her over onto her back, sliding his thigh between hers as he dragged her wrists above her head. She whimpered as his mouth hovered teasingly over hers. 

"Tell me," he murmured, his dark amber eyes locked intently with hers, all humour fled from his features. She felt a moment of relief when he began to untie her wrists, which quickly turned to a cry of outrage as she realised he had merely secured the scarf to the head of the bed. He levered himself up on his elbows as he gazed down at her. "Tell me that you won't ever sneak off to that other chamber again."

"Oh," she breathed as she realised her predicament, licking her lips. Some imp of mischief made her shimmy teasingly against the hard, throbbing length of him where he pressed against her belly, earning a low growl and a quick slap on the thigh in response. 

"Perhaps..." she began hesitantly, lashes lowered. Her lashes flew open as she felt his fingers delving in her dewy heat. She whimpered as his finger slid up inside of her, caressing her. 

"You were saying?" he queried softly when several moments passed. 

Bella swallowed hard as she gazed up into seductive amber eyes. "Perhaps ... perhaps I need ... convincing." 

His brows flew up, before his eyes narrowed to amber slits. "You're playing a dangerous game, little one," he muttered, before his mouth slanted hotly over hers. 

His mouth muffled her cry as he teased her dewy folds, massaging her until she was bucking wildly against his hand. He gave her no mercy as he brought her to the edge several times, always drawing back before she spiraled into ecstasy. 

She moaned as his fingers worked inside of her, stretching her deliciously, and she clenched down on his fingers in protest, trying to capture them as he tugged them from her, her whole body arching as she hovered perilously close to the edge. 

He shifted against her, guiding his hardness to lodge firmly against her gate. He pressed against her softness, the head of his shaft spearing her slick heat and forcing the tight walls to part against the slow invasion. He felt her muscles tense along the backs of her thighs as he slid up deep inside of her, groaning as he felt her ripple and shudder around him as she came beneath him. 

He groaned as he began to thrust slowly inside of her, gazing down into her wide eyes dark with desire. Soon he felt her breathing quicken as he slowly worked himself up deep inside her tight walls, drawing out the exquisiteness of feeling her clenched around him. Soft gasping cries escaped her as he rocked with barely restrained control inside of her, watching her expressive face as he took her, driving her into a frenzy of need. 

"Please..." she cried as he dragged her legs over his shoulders. She shuddered around him, clenching down hard, and with a groan he forced himself hard and deep into her clutching pussy. 

She whimpered beneath him as he rode her hard, his cock pounding deep inside of her as he sought to possess her, brand her. He worked himself furiously in her pussy, his breathing harsh, his muscles straining, lost to everything but the feel of her closing around him as he slid his cock deep up deep inside of her. 

He felt a fire start low in his belly, building almost unbearably until he erupted deep inside of her, spurting hotly into her womb. She gasped, her sheath clenching and unclenching around him as a second climax tore though her as he thrust jerkily inside of her.

He slumped against her, damp with perspiration. She completed him, was his other half. He loved her more than life itself, and he would do anything to keep a hold of her. 

After a while he gently untied her wrists and tugged her against him as he wrapped his arms around her. His chin rested against her hair and he breathed in the scent of her, never wanting to let her go. After a while, he eased back slightly to gaze down at her. 

"I don't think I could go on if something happened to you, little one," he said seriously. 

Bella swallowed hard as she gazed up at him, tears blurring her soft green eyes. His love for her burned clearly in those fascinating amber eyes. 

"As much as it would haunt me, there would always be the chance that we could have another baby," he murmured as brushed his lips over her forehead. "But there is only one of you." 

Isabella clung to him, ashamed that it had been her foolish pride that had prevented them from marrying. She realised that it wasn't guilt over kidnapping her or for making her pregnant that he felt for as he gazed down at her tenderly. 

"I love you," she told him. "I would like nothing more than to be your wife." And there is nothing I wouldn't do to protect you from my father, she promised silently. 

One eyebrow quirked. "Are you asking me to marry you again, Bella? Properly this time?"

She pinkened as a glorious smile lit up her face. "And if I was?"

"Then perhaps I need convincing," he replied as his mouth covered hers. 

"Scoundrel!" she cried, laughing chokily as she kissed him back. 



Innocent Pawn Ch. 11



Bella lay on her side beneath the sheets, her moss green eyes slowly opening. It was dark yet, the sun just brimming over the mountains. Leonn stood before the robe with his back to her as he slipped on a tunic over his buff breeches.

"Don't go," Bella pleaded softly. "He will kill you." She rose up on one elbow, clutching the sheet to her breasts.

"Don't question me on this, Bella. My men and I will find your father and rid you of this fear."

"It is not fear, Leonn, but a certainty," she cried. "He will see you dead, and I..."

"I can not wait until he slips into the castle again and threatens to take what is mine. Do not ask that of me." The words, though quiet, held a wealth of anger and pain.

Tears glistened in her eyes as she rose from the bed, the sheet trailing behind her. At first he and his men would only be gone a day, but lately it had stretched to three or five days at a time. "Be safe."

He turned, his golden gaze meeting hers. He moved toward her, his strength and height dwarfing her tiny form. His palm rose, gliding over the swell of her belly. "I will not rest until you and the babe are safe." He leaned down and brushed his lips against cheek before striding to the door. "My best men are stationed outside the chamber. Call them if you need anything."

"Leonn, wait." Leonn turned at the catch in her voice. And watched as the sheet pooled at her feet. Her milky white soft skin gleamed in the first light of dawn, her pouting pink nipples begging to be kissed. Her long lustrous hair tumbled over her shoulders in a scarlet cloud, making his fingers itch. 

"Witch," he whispered, unable to take his eyes off of her. From the moment he saw her, bedraggled and frightened, she had captured a piece of his heart. 

"Do you want to bind my wrists?" she suggested breathily, holding her hands out before her. "Perhaps tie me to the bed, as you once did before?"

Bella turned and strolled to the bed, the curling ends of her hair brushing against her soft bottom. Placing one knee on the bed, she gazed back at him over her shoulder. "Or do you want me to tie you to the bed?"

"Bella..." he ground out. Bella crawled to the middle of the bed, and he swallowed hard at the sight she presented. She twisted about to kneel facing him, her breasts swaying, lashes lowered shyly. 

"I want to taste you, Leonn. I want to take you in my mouth."

He briefly closed his eyes as though in pain. "My men are waiting in the courtyard."

"Then go." Bella muttered huffily. She crawled to the other side of the bed and sat down, sliding her feet to the ground. "I will find other ways to amuse myself."

Tense silence. Then "Explain." 

"Aren't your men waiting?" She asked disinterestedly, her feet searching for her slippers beneath the bed. 

Leonn strode around the bed to stand before her where she sat. "Who do you intend amusing yourself with? My guards have orders not to admit anyone into the castle."

She gazed up at him with an arched brow. "Are you still here?"

"Bella, you play a dangerous game. Now answer me." 

"Perhaps..." she swallowed hard and gazed desperately around her for ideas. "Perhaps I intend to amuse myself."

She saw his jaw work as he gazed down intently at her. "Show me." His voice sent a shiver down her spine. She blushed when she realized what meaning he took from her words.

Could she? Bella gazed at him from beneath lowered lashes as her hands slid tentatively upwards to cup her small breasts. Their budding tips peaked from between her fingers. A quick peek from beneath lowered lashes revealed a transfixed Leonn. 

With growing daring, her hands slid down over her belly and along her thighs and back again. Gently she gripped her nipples between thumb and finger as Leonn was want to do, pinching them and rolling them. Heat shimmered between her thighs. Her lips parted at the decadence of it all as she watched her hands play with her breasts, knowing he watched her.

"Touch yourself. Between your sweet thighs."

Her heart raced as she did his bidding, her hand sliding down over her belly. A blush bloomed over her cheeks as she cupped herself. Gathering her courage, she ran her fingers through the sparse thatch of curls. She couldn't lose sight of her purpose.

"Part yourself. Let me see you, little one."

A trickle of moisture escaped her at his words. With both hands she slowly opened herself, feeling the cool air on her heated flesh. Leonn knelt before her, not once taking his gaze from her hand between her thighs. Bella swallowed hard.

"Touch your bud."

A soft moan escaped her. With the tip of one finger, she gently pressed the throbbing flesh. She was damp and hot. The sensation was intense. Slowly she began to rub in small, circling motions. 

Leonn caught her ankle, lifting her small foot until it rested flat against the wall of his chest. His face turned and he pressed his mouth there. "Is this what you do when I'm not here?" he husked, unable to take his eyes off the jewel with its crown of red curls. 

"I-oh..." she moaned. It was wicked, sinful. She sprawled back on the sheets, touching herself where the nuns had forbidden. Her hips arched, her bottom rising off the bed. Her lashes rested against her cheeks as she struggled to draw in gulps of air. Her breasts rose and fell, her thighs quivered. 

Leonn leaned forward and licked at the glistening folds, his tongue swirling teasingly. She whimpered, her bottom tensing. "So sweet," he muttered. A moan escaped her as he slid a finger up inside of her. Her quivering heat clutched at the tiny spear, silently urging him on. 

His finger plugged her tiny entrance as he sucked and nibbled on the throbbing nub until she was writhing on the bed. Her fingers slid through his golden hair, dragging him to her. 

Soon she was bucking against his mouth, her body melting as she came to a shuddering climax. Leonn eased her legs from his shoulders and stood. He gazed down at the alluring picture she made, flushed and dazed. Her soft pink lips and pouting nipples begged to be kissed.

Leonn groaned as he turned away, running a hand through his tousled hair. He throbbed for her, barely able to contain his cock in his straining breeches. But the thought of losing her, and the babe, demanded that he resist temptation her. He forced himself to walk away without another glance.

Bella watched him go, biting down on her knuckles to keep the tears at bay. Each new day was the one she feared he would not return. 

~*~

Bella gazed down at the courtyard below, basking in the familiar site of the men and women going about their business, of creaking carts, barking dogs and children's happy cries. Her hand rested on the swell of her belly, feeling the life growing within her. She knew she would go to imaginable lengths to protect what was now hers. Leonn's and hers. 

Slowly she turned from the window, loath to leave the warm rays of the sun. Crossing the chamber, Bella came to stand before the silent woman bound to a chair in the centre of the room. The guards had been speechless at her request, before almost falling over themselves to do her bidding. No doubt Leonn would hear of it on his return, but by then it would be too late. 

The silence stretched as Bella considered her wary captive. Finally, patience won out and furious brown eyes rose to meet hers. 

"Leonn left the question of your fate in my hands. He believes he is showing you mercy because you're his father's widow." Bella sat down on a matching chair, smoothing out her lavender skirts. Marie's eyes followed every movement. "A man's honour is a strange thing." 

Marie remained stonily silent. Bella continued. "You prostituted yourself to my father, who happily left you here to die. You would have stood by as he raped me. You whipped me. For what? Leonn? His wealth, power? Tell me." 

Bella drew a silver dagger from the folds of her skirt and rested it on her outspread palms. Marie stiffened, her face paling. Bella knew she finally held Marie's full attention.

"Who do you hate more, Marie? The man who used you? Leonn, for not loving you? Me? Or yourself?"

Marie laughed. "You don't have it in you to kill me."

Bella's eyebrow arched. "Who said I would kill you?"

Marie swallowed, uncertainty flickering in her brown eyes. "You're bluffing."

Bella rose and approached the older woman. "I want my father dead, Marie," Bella whispered. "I want him in a place where he can't hurt Leonn."

The silence stretched. "You're serious." 

"My father will kill Leonn to take what he thinks he deserves. Leonn refuses to see the danger. He's out there scouring the countryside with his men for any signs of my father. And my father is simply biding his time until the babe is born safely before he strikes so he can use Leonn's heir to secure his wealth."

"You're asking me to kill your father?" Marie asked, arching an eyebrow. "You love Leonn that much?"

"Yes, I love him. Only I'm not asking you to kill him. I want you to take me to my father so that I can."

The silence stretched. "You think I know where he is?"

"You are a resourceful woman, Marie. It would be shameful for me to underestimate you twice."

Marie laughed mirthlessly, shaking her head. "Perhaps you aren't the gullible nun I originally assumed."

"I've had to grow up fast, Marie. You saw to that."

~*~

Bella itched at her woolen breeches, quite unsure how men suffered wearing them. Yet she wore them gladly to keep up the charade of a young boy assisting his mother visit relatives in the outskirts of the village. Then she had stood back and waited as Marie purchased horses from a farmer before setting out in a direction Marie decreed.

A tight ball sat low in her belly. She knew she couldn't trust Marie, yet she had placed her life in her hands. Marie could turn her over to her father, and Bella prayed the incentive of gold was enough. Yet Bella had gambled, and prayed that it would pay off.

Leonn had not come home last eve, and possibly would not discover her missing until the morrow or the next day. He would be furious, but she would bear that fury gladly if her plans came to fruition. If Marie did not lead her astray. 

Bella pulled an apple from the saddle bag, munching on it worriedly. She gazed up at the noon day sun, its warmth on her face doing little to soothe her. 

~*~

Leonn strode down the hall, pulling off his leather gloves. The memory of Bella touching herself had tormented him during the long, grueling hours on horseback. He dismissed the guards and pushed open the door, breathing in the soft familiar scent that was uniquely Bella's. And discovered the chamber was empty of his tempting wife. 

He pulled the tunic over his head and sat down on the bed. His bath would soon arrive, and no doubt Bella too as soon as she heard of his arrival, and then he would show his wife what the consequences of teasing him beyond reason were. 

As he tugged on his boot, he spied the parchment propped up among her brushes and delicate perfume bottles

He picked it up, his heart catching as he read the scrawled words. "Forgive me, husband mine, for I find I can not be a dutiful wife you require and wait patiently for you to return to me. I must do something."

Leonn bellowed.

~*~

Bella was weary and dusty and hot. She longed for nothing more than a hot, steaming bath and a soft bed. "How much further?"

"Not far. Your father and his men squatted in the old monastery on the outskirts of Coreau. It is difficult to find, remote as monastery's want to be. I will know when I see the path."

Marie passed the skin of water, and Bella took a long swallow. The uneasy silences between them had become slightly less strained. Every now and then Bella caught Marie gazing upon her, a strange look upon her face. 

Bella admitted to herself that she was curious about the older woman. Marie was stunning, sensual and hard. Was it survival that had yielded this personage? Marie had been married to Leonn's father when she was fourteen, barely a year or two older than Leonn himself. Had her nature been shaped by marriage to a much older man who loved his first wife dearly, or had some other events made her the woman she was? Bella knew it would be futile to ask such questions. 

As time passed, she could no longer push back the creeping doubts about her plan. Would her father be where Marie said, or was Marie leading her in circles before running off with the gold, or worse, a trap? 

When they reached a rise overlooking sweeping forests with a crumbling stone tower at its heart, Bella's skin goose pimpled with foreboding. 

"You may go now with the gold I have given you. Remember our bargain. I want you far from here and mine." Bella didn't take her gaze from the ruins. It was unearthly still, not a sign of life stirred. She swung her leg over her horse and walked toward the edge.

"You are a naïve, trusting fool. What makes you think he will not harm you?" Marie demanded. Bella turned as Marie strode up to her. 

"I carry Leonn's heir. He will not harm the babe, for he is intent on using him or her to control Leonn's lands and wealth."

"There are other ways, Isabella. He can break your spirit without harming the babe. I have seen his unnatural lust for you."

Bella couldn't dispute the truth of her words. "Go, Marie. I will see this finished." Bella showed the woman the bottle of almond oil extract she had taken from the stores. "His reaction to nuts is little known, but the merest touch brings him out in a rash. Imbibing it should kill him swiftly."

"I'm afraid I can't let you, Isabella."

Marie's fist caught her by surprise. Pain exploded as everything went black. 

Marie stood over Bella, shaking her head. "You are an innocent fool in need of protection, mostly from yourself."

~*~

"My lord, there is a man here to see you. He claims to have news of your wife."

Leonn, his foot on the stirrup, paused. "Where is he?"

"At the gates, my Lord."

Leonn lifted himself up and swung his leg over the horse, settling in the saddle with creaks of leather. "I will see him there."

He rode through the courtyard, his men falling in behind him. He pulled his horse up beneath the arches.

"What news have you?" he spoke to the man. He was a farmer of middle years, his hat in his hand. 

"The Lady -- that is, the former Lady -- she said to tell you 'the ruins near Coreau'." 

God damn it to hell. Leonn tossed his purse at the man and dug his heels into his horse and urged him over the moat bridge with a cry. His men swiftly followed him to what was surely a trap. 

~*~

The sound of voices wakened her. Bella moaned softly, the sound muffled by the rag in her mouth. She lay on her side, her hands bound behind her, her feet tied together. The side of her face throbbed in agony. She blinked, gazing through the strands of hair at the gloom around her. In the centre of the stone chamber sat her father on a low, worn chair. Straddling his lap was Marie, her hands lifting her long, heavy dark hair. 

Horror and fear welled inside Bella to be at their mercy again. How could she have been so stupid? 

Bella watched as Marie slowly unbuttoned the tiny buttons trailing down over her full breasts. She tugged the material apart, revealing a silk shift and the swells of creamy flesh. Her father laughed as Marie grabbed his hands and drew them to her breasts, her back arching. "Touch me," she muttered as she rocked on his lap. He moulded them, before yanking down on her shift, tearing the fine material to reveal her full breasts. 

His fingers dug into her breasts, and Marie whimpered, her head falling back to expose the line of her neck. Grinding her bottom against his lap, she offered herself up to him. Her father clutched at the edges of her gown and yanked brutally, tearing the cloth. Again he tore at it, until she sat astride him in nothing but her drawers with their ribbon ties. 

Marie rose off of him and slid down her drawers, revealing a thick triangle of dark curls between tanned thighs. Bella almost cried out from the shock at she realised Marie's skin gleamed unnaturally in the firelight. What had she done? 

Then she leaned over, and tugged his tunic over her father's head. Bella watched in horror as Marie's hands expertly slipped beneath his breeches and pulled him free, smoothing her hands over his hard shaft as she lifted herself above him. Slowly she slid down on him, taking him in with a soft moan. 

"Ride me, Marie. Ride me like the slut that you are. God, yes!"

As her father latched onto a pouting nipple, Marie's arms come up around him, smoothing her hands over his back and leaving gleaming traces of oil.

Bella squeezed her eyes shut, yet she couldn't block out the sounds as easily. She felt ill, hating the intimate sounds of flesh hitting flesh, of grunts and sighs. She silently struggled with the rope tied about her wrists behind her. It was tight, and wouldn't give, and she could have cried with the frustration.

It went on and on. Her father's breathing became laboured and gasping, Marie's cries more horse as she moved on the barely conscious man. Bella prayed it would end soon. 

When he died, it wasn't a quiet death. She blinked back tears. Marie came to stand over her, naked, her flushed skin gleaming with the almond oil. Her brown eyes glittered. 

"I decided I hated him more," she said, then smiled a horrible smile.

~*~

Bella stumbled along the rock strewn path, uncaring of the low bushes that scratched at her clothes. The ruins rose behind her, casting its shadow over her. 

Beneath her feet the earth trembled, and she lifted her head. Dirt kicked up about the dozens and dozens of horses that galloped into the clearing. Light glanced off the armour and weapons of the knights in the familiar black and yellow. Her heart swelled when she saw Leonn at their lead, furiously barking orders for his men to surround the ruins. 

She came to a halt, swaying slightly. There was no need, she could have told him. She had learnt from Marie that her father's men had fled this place upon learning Leonn's reward of a thousand gold coin for the capture of any man who aided her father. 

"Bella." He swung down from his horse and strode toward her, his face black with fury and fear. He caught her in his arms and lifted her clear off the ground and carried her protectively to the circle of his men. She clung to him, pressing her face against his neck and breathing in his familiar scent. "I don't know whether to put you over my knee or kiss you for what you have put me through."

"How did you find me?" She whispered. She didn't want to ever let him go. 

"Marie left word. Where is she? Has she hurt you?"

"No. S-she's seeing to something. I thought I could do it, but now...It just seems so...real. Final."

"You're speaking in riddles, little one."

"It is over, Leonn. With Marie's help, it's finally over." She pressed her lips against the warm flesh of his throat, tasting his salty maleness. 

"Do not think to sway me with kisses. It will take a lifetime to make me forgive you for the agony you have put me through."

She tipped her head back and smiled up at him, her smudged and bruised face glowing. "So be it. Take me home."

The Very End