Chapter Ten
Royce felt his wife's terror as he led her up the stairs. Good. She clearly knew something was amiss. She would know exactly what soon enough. He opened the door and waited for her to enter before stepping inside and closing and barring the portal.
"My lord, what troubles you?"
"Why do you think something troubles me?"
"You... you seem angry. And I suspect 'tis because of me. But I cannot fathom why."
He folded his arms. "You can't? Mayhap soon enough you'll understand. Remove your clothes."
She shivered and reached behind for the laces of her dress. After watching her struggle for a few moments, he motioned with his hand for her to turn. He made quick work of the laces, and soon his wife was bared before him. He turned her again to face him.
"Is there anything you would like to share with me before we begin?"
"Begin what? I don't understand."
"You have committed a grievous crime. One that includes severe punishment."
Her eyes widened. "I've done nothing wrong! What game are you playing?"
"'Tis no game, my unfaithful wife. And now you shall pay."
"Unfaithful? I haven't been –"
"Cease your lies. I have no patience for them. Give me your hands."
She shook her head and backed away. "Nay, you will not beat me again."
"I will not have to beat you. We both know exactly how I can make you beg."
He stalked over to her but she continued to retreat until he trapped her against the bed.
Before she could scramble across, he caught one wrist, then the other.
She struggled mightily, but he quickly wrapped his belt around both wrists, securing her.
She kicked out at him, but he evaded her, lifting her and tossing her to the bed.
She tried to crawl away, but with her hands bound, had little leverage.
He grabbed the end of the belt and secured it to the bed rail.
"Bastard! Debauched beast! I won't tolerate this treatment any longer!"
She kicked at him again, but he caught her ankles and pinned them to the bed.
"You'll tolerate exactly what I plan to give you. And mayhap I'll loosen your tongue and get the truth!"
She stopped fighting him and her bonds for a moment. "What truth?"
"'Twould seem you withhold quite a few from me. But tonight, I will uncover them all."
"You are truly mad!"
She jerked her legs against his hold and he realized he would have to secure her better. He rose and went to the armoire, thanking his squire for insisting on bringing more clothing than Royce had originally planned. He withdrew two sashes and turned back to her.
"I've had much success getting criminals to tell me all they know. I warrant with you, 'twill be fairly easy."
She narrowed her eyes, watching intently when he moved to the foot of the bed.
Anticipating her attempts to fight him off, he knelt on the mattress, capturing one of her legs within both of his.
On the other, he wrapped one of the sashes, and quickly bound it to the post. She screeched, her body heaving against him, but he quickly secured her free leg as well. He stood back to study her.
She cursed him quite heartily and tugged against the bonds holding her open and bared before him. Truly his captive. His possession.
He gave a grim smile. She was his. And he was free to treat her as he chose. Of course, the fact that she'd so openly betrayed him, on more than one occasion, gave him solid justification. None would gainsay him for what he did with and to his wife.
The bewilderment in her eyes raised a modicum of doubt about his suspicions. Well, he would know all soon enough. He already knew well how to make her beg. Tonight he would test the very limits of her endurance.
***
Gillian stared up at her husband, flabbergasted at how he'd so quickly rendered her helpless.
Being bound and spread for him this way raised alarm, even though the excitement running through her intensified as well.
Damn him for turning her into a wanton. Her body responded with eagerness.
She forced herself to try to appear unaffected, but the smirk on his face told her he knew damn well the state she was already in.
"Why? You treat me as though I'm a criminal, a prisoner to be abused and mistreated. I don't understand."
He leaned back. "You have defied, disobeyed and lied to me at every turn. You've earned every punishment you've received. And you still deceive me. After tonight, you will think twice about doing so again."
She tugged against the bonds, but they held fast, leaving her helpless. Again. Yet, her pussy swelled, her nipples hard as pebbles. She couldn't hide her body's reaction to her vulnerability. Heat in his eyes revealed he saw it as well. He reached out and cupped her breast, caressing gently.
She fought against the urge to rise up, to seek more contact with his slowly moving hand. God's blood, he would kill her if he continued. Was that his intention? To kill her, slowly and exquisitely, with this maddening pleasure? Damn him to hell and back, she would survive whatever he did.
"'Twould seem you are enjoying this."
She shook her head. "You are daft to think so. My lord." She deliberately injected venom into her tone, hoping to hide some of her reckless yearning.
He chuckled then caught her other breast, now stroking and squeezing them both. Gillian gritted her teeth, desperate not to cry out. But the heat licking through her veins left her clinging to barely a thread of control. She squeezed her eyes shut in concentration.
When he stopped, the sigh of relief escaped her before she had the presence of mind to stop it. Another chuckle forced her heavy lids to open.
"I shall enjoy tormenting you tonight. By the morn, I will know all of your secrets."
A brief thought of Simon arose, but she pushed it away.
Yet, somehow, she knew much of this had to do with her brother.
Why didn't he just say what he meant instead of the vague insinuations?
Too much confused her and with her body already aching for more of the depraved pleasure her husband wrought, she couldn't think clearly.
Barely enough to deny any of his claims, even if she knew 'twas only a matter of time before he had her sharing every secret she'd ever possessed since childhood.
"I have no secrets."
"Again, you lie. But I will soon know all."
"There is nothing to know. Why won't you believe me?"
"I trust my eyes. I always will. And always before I'll ever trust a word from you."
His words hurt, and she resisted the burn of tears. He was cruel, this man she'd been given to. Would nothing change that?
"You are mistaken."
"I saw you! You and your guard passing silent messages during the meal."
Was that all? She wanted to laugh, but didn't dare. Besides, he'd shifted his hands and was now leisurely stroking her sides and belly. The fire he left in his wake seared through every logical thought.
"You are a fool to think that!"
"Then tell me why you met behind the outer buildings today?"
She gaped at him. He did know! No wonder he thought... again the urge to laugh came over her, but she wasn't stupid. She held it back.
"Let me explain."
He shook his head. "Nay, you will say nothing. At least, not until I am ready to hear it."
"But –"
He covered her lips with his hand. "I will silence you however possible if you don't remain quiet."
He took his hand away.
"But –"
He replaced it again. "No excuses. You will suffer your punishment. Mayhap when 'tis all over, I will wish to hear your apologies and the truth."
He removed his hand and ripped a length of fabric from his tunic.
"You must listen! Simon is –"
"I don't want to hear his name." Her husband growled the words out a moment before he slid the cloth into her mouth and tied it behind her head.
She screamed, her protests garbled. The bastard had gagged her so she couldn't tell him what he wanted to know. His claim to force the truth from her was nothing more than a ploy, just so he could torture her yet again. She silently raged against the way the heat in her body rose at a rapid pace.
"You'll never want him again. I'll ensure that tonight."
God's blood, did he actually think she and Simon.
..? The very idea was laughable. She tried to mumble through the gag holding her tongue immovable but he ignored her unintelligible words.
'Twas a fearsome anger she saw in his eyes, but something else lingered there as well.
Hurt. And somehow, her own heart ached at the sight.
She looked away, indecision churning at her gut.
She'd never imagined him capable of such an emotion and the knowledge drew forth a sympathy that rivaled her outrage. And her desire.
Yet, oddly, her body still anticipated the torment he planned to make her endure. She wanted it, God save her soul. Did she dare admit it? Nay, she couldn't bear what she instinctively knew her husband would do to her. At the same time, her mouth watered at the very thought.
The need to soothe his hurt mingled with her desire.
Mayhap 'twas a sign she wasn't as wicked as she'd thought.
Would he believe her? Hell, she couldn't tell him anyway.
God's teeth, how could she be willing to risk exactly what she'd feared most only a few days prior?
The devil must have claimed her when she wed this ferocious man.
No wonder they called him Panther. He would tear her determination to pieces.
His hands sliding along her skin chased her thoughts and she whimpered behind her gag. The corners of his mouth tilted up as if he found her predicament amusing. He reached up once
more to cup her breasts, and she trembled with the force of the desire rioting through her. When his hot mouth closed over one tight nipple, she let out a low moan, audible yet muffled.