She watched him enter the tavern from the corner of her eye. Tristan was not a man to be trifled with. His rough demeanor and rippling muscles only added to his superior title. Nevertheless, Isolde's heart sped up in anticipation as he neared the bar and took a seat. She set down the glass she'd been mindlessly cleaning for the past five minutes and walked down to his position at the bar. She looked once again on his perfectly chiseled features with awe and resentment. Why did a face so beautiful have to belong to a man so damnable haughty, she asked herself. It was just plain sinful. When she stopped in front of him she became caught in the deep emerald color of his eyes. A grin swept over his face and she averted her eyes as a blush spread over her cheeks.
"Is there anything I can get for you, m'lord?" she asked, her voice, much to her chagrin, unsteady.
"I'll have a fresh pint of ale," he replied in a deep, seemingly seductive voice. She ducked her head acquiescently and moved down to grab their cleanest mug and poured ale from their freshest barrel. She silently berated herself for her earlier foolish behavior then made her way back to her waiting patron.
"There you are sir," she said, "May I get you anything else?" He seemed to contemplate her question rather seriously as he studied every part of her. She could feel the crimson stain planning to once more invade her cheeks and when he didn't answer she ducked her head and began to move back down the bar.
"Wait," he said in a commanding tone. She stopped on a dime and turned back to him. The sly grin on his face and the devilish gleam in his eyes made her weak at the knees.
"Yes m'lord?" she questioned hesitantly.
"You sloshed this ale and I want you to clean it up," he said gesturing to his now wet trousers. Indignation rose up inside her like a geyser, threatening to burst. The words were loosed from her mouth before she could stop them.
"I did no such thing," she retorted. Her eyes widened at her own bold words and she could see a fresh beating around the corner. Tristan's eyes widened as well and surprise showed on his features before, it seemed, pride came in and took control.
"Are you calling me a liar?" he demanded rising up from his seat at the bar. Panic seared through her body and alarm became evident on her features.
"No, m'lord. I was merely suggesting, I mean... of course you wouldn't lie, but-," she clamored for the right thing to say but speech seemed to have left her. She quickly grabbed a rag and hurried around the bar throwing herself down to her knees in front of him. "Let me clean that for you sir," she pleaded keeping her eyes down and dabbing at the front of his trousers. She could feel his gaze penetrating the top of her head and she could only pray he showed mercy on her. She tried to avoid the center of his wet trousers, but in order to dry him properly, it was inevitable. Much to her dismay she could see him beginning to get aroused and she stopped immediately. Wanton thoughts raced through her mind and she snubbed them at once. He was humiliating her and still she felt desire for him! She sat back on her heels unsure of how to proceed. She lifted her gaze only to be met with one of lust and anger and fire. He lifted her to a standing position and shoved her against the wall pressing the full length of his body against hers.
"You know you will have to be punished, don't you wench?" he breathed out against her ear. She merely nodded in reply too stunned to speak which seemed to incense him further. "Answer me aloud when I ask you a question," he growled, biting the tip of her earlobe. The action sent a spark through her body and she closed her eyes in rapture.
"Yes m'lord. I must be punished m'lord. Please punish me," she moaned. Her words were shocking even to her own ears but she had dreamed of being with the Lord Tristan for quite some time now. He wrenched away from her and shouted for the barkeep. An older man of about forty rounded the corner and his eyes grew as large as saucers at the sight of the lord and the young maiden.