Bound

Author's note: I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone reading! This is the first series I've ever written, and I'm incredibly grateful for your feedback and encouragement. Constructive criticism is always welcome. I've had a few readers commenting making some helpful recommendations, I tried to take your advice into consideration and make a few adjustments to this chapter. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: This is an entirely fiction story, if you don't not like noncon/reluctance this will not be for you

I attempt to twist around, hoping to catch him off guard with a headbutt like I had previously done to the soldier, Lord Vale easily evades my attack, as if he had already anticipated it. I try to knee him in the groin, but he blocks that as well. "

You try my patience

"he seethes, quickly grabbing me by the wrists and ankles, lifting me up into his chest in a cradling position, completely immobilizing me. He begins carrying me back to the estate, unwaning to meet his gaze I keep my eyes to the ground, noticing the towel I had dropped earlier. "Hey! My towel, let me cover myself—" he interrupts me by pulling me harder into his chest, wrapping his arms around my body, still holding tightly to my wrists and immobilizing my legs with his strong biceps. My body tenses as I instinctively react to his electrifying touch. "You should have thought about that before you decided to run naked into the woods," he fumes, "You're lucky it was me who caught you first, the woods are not safe for a child such as yourself," he mutters, "there are worse things than me sulking in those woods."

I doubt that

, I think to myself, doubting that there could be anything in those woods worse than

him

. "I am not a

Child

," I retort, defiantly "and I've taken care of myself just fine without anyone's help, especially from the likes of you." He pauses a moment, stopping in his steps, then continues to walk at a fast pace, seemingly unbothered. "And is what happened in the square you

taking care

of yourself" he questions, his voice slightly amused.

"That was different." I mumble through gritted teeth, feeling heat surge through my veins as I recall that fateful day. "And I didn't need your help, I would have been fine on my own. If you had left me alone I could have..."

"Done what? You really don't get it, do you? Do you have any idea what would have happened if I hadn't stepped in like I did.

What he would have done to you?

" he pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in.

Deep down I know what he says is true, but my mind refuses to believe him. I'm angry, angry about being taken from my home, angry about having my freedom stolen from me, I'm angry about my fathers betrayal, and what happened in the dungeon just hours before...

No

. I will not allow myself to be tricked by his words, I know what he is—and he is no hero.

"I would have rather taken my chances in Ravenwood," I say, attempting to sound strong, but my voice betrays me by slightly wavering. "and I will never stop trying to leave here, one day, I will escape you."

He is quiet, and I feel his muscles tense beneath my skin. A few moments pass and I decide that he must be done talking. I want to look at him, hoping his expression might reveal his thoughts, but keep my gaze firmly on the ground, afraid of how I might react if I were to look at him this closely. I know I have angered him, both with my actions and words, but at the moment I don't care. Too filled with the pent-up rage that has been boiling within me, any punishment would be worth the relief I felt from expelling some of my anger. Feeling some of the weight lifted off my shoulders.

I am pulled from my thoughts as we near closer to the manor. A crowd had gathered—curious soldiers drawn by the commotion, their eyes filled with a mix of intrigue and curiosity. I feel their gazes heavy on my flesh and am now painfully aware of my nakedness. I am completely exposed, although thankfully my more private regions were concealed by Lord Vale's muscular arms, wrapped even more tightly around my body, causing me to wonder if he had done that purposely. This, however, still didn't prevent of few of the soldiers from visibly stroking their cocks and making other erotic gestures towards me as I looked back toward them, causing my cheeks to redden.

As we stepped into the manner, I found myself no longer able to hide my curiosity any longer, and quickly stole a glance at Lord Vale. He was undeniably the most striking man I had ever seen, although his features were contorted into an angry scowl, which somehow didn't take away from his incredible beauty. The intense focus in his eyes both frightened and captivated me, an unsettling combination that left my heart racing. The electric energy that crackled in the air around him surged through my veins, igniting every nerve ending with a mix of fear and exhilaration, causing a wetness to form at my opening. I quickly lowered my head feeling my face go beet red, how could I possibly be aroused in a moment like this, naked in his arms, knowing that I was moments away punishment for my crimes. Realization of my actions hits me like a tidal wave, crashing over me. I had stolen from Lord Vale that day in the square, an act that he is unlikely to forget. As if my position wasn't already bad enough, I then ran from and insulted him. And yet, somehow my body reacts to his touch, oblivious to its impending fate. The thought that my captor might see this shameful act sends a wave of nausea crashing over me. I shift uncomfortably, trying to conceal my disgrace, and thankfully, he adjusts my position, reducing the exposure of my skin to his. Feeling a wave of relief, I glance up at him again and notice that his lips are pressed together so tightly they've turned white.

We weave through the mansion's corridors, my heart pounding heavy in my chest. I look around trying to see if there are any familiar landmarks that may reveal to me that we are headed back towards the dungeon. But so far nothing has. We arrive in front of a flight of stairs, he pauses to readjust me before he begins ascending the steps.

At the top of the staircase there is a long hallway leading to only one, large door, twice the size of that of any other room. My heart races as we approach the door, my mind flooding with the thoughts of the possible terrors that lie behind that door. His hand clasps around the thick iron handle, giving it a firm tug as he pulls open the door.

He releases me to the ground once we enter and my eyes widen in shock as I take in the room around me. My eyes flash around as I examine the large room before me, defined by rich, handcrafted wood lining the walls and ceiling. There is minimal furnishing, only consisting of a sturdy, unadorned bed with simple dark linens and a robust, wooden chest. A large sword hangs prominently on the wall, symbolizing prowess, while shelves filled with leather-bound books encompasses most of the space. I realize that this must be Lord Vale's room, and my initial shock now turns into confusion.

I look over to see him eyeing me curiously, I am reminded again that I am naked and move my hands to cover myself from his view. He turns and begins to walk towards the large bed facing away from me, I look back to the door, trying to think back and remember if he had locked it. There is a fairly large space between us now, maybe I could...

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," he says as if reading my mind, still facing away from me, "you wouldn't get very far, and if you did, I have guards stationed at the door to return you to me. I'm sure they'd love the opportunity to put their hands on you" he says, eyeing me up and down.

I ponder this a moment, then decide against. He's right, I wouldn't get very far, and I'd rather not have another run in with the soldiers. I face him, the tension in the room suffocating me, until I am no longer able to contain myself from speaking, "What are we doing here? What is this place? I don't understand, why have you brough me here?" He ignores me, continuing to ruffle through a drawer, but I can tell he's listening to me. "My Lord..." I ask, softly, watching him pause, curiously. "am I not to be punished?" I say, my voice barely a whisper.

This seems to get his attention, as he stops what he is doing, rising to meet my gaze head-on. My heart rate quickens in anticipation for what he is about to say, I try to even my breathing, not wanting to show him fear.

"I am a reasonable man, Clara." He pauses, thinking over what he is about to say, "I've treated you fairly since you've been with us. I've fed you, clothed you, allowed you into my home, gave you a room to stay in, and even allowed you to a chance to bathe. I have given you more than any prisoner could ever hope of receiving." I twitch nervously as he speaks, unsure of where he is going with this.

"Despite this," he continues, his eyes burning deep into my soul, "you have decided to repay my kindness by trying to escape, humiliating me in from of my men." I think back to look on his face as I slid out of the window. I imagine him bolting out the door, running at full speed under the watchful eyes of many soldiers and onlookers, to catch the small, skinny girl who had somehow managed to escape him. The only thing I had been thinking about then is escaping, not concerned about how it affected him, or how angry it would make him.

"—to answer your question" he continues, ripping me out of my thoughts,

"Yes, Clara, you will be punished."

He reaches into a small wooden drawer, pulling out an object with a thick wooden handle and long leather straps, and my heart races at the sight. My face pales as I recognize the item before me — a thick leather whip, the straps thick enough to cut through flesh. A rush of fear courses through me as I process what is about to happen, but I relax my face, forcing myself to stand tall, refusing to let my captor see the panic in my eyes. I lift my chin to meet his gaze, determined to conceal my fear from him. I look and see his eyes flash with a hint of fiery mischief, sending a chill down my spine.

Slowly he begins to walk towards me, and as he approaches, I have to fight the instinct to step back. I have accepted my fate and resolved to face my punishment head-on, determined not to let him strip away any more of my dignity. For some reason this seems to amuse him, adding towards my anger of the situation. I consider trying to fight him again, perhaps catching him off guard just enough to get in a hit, when he swiftly grabs me and tosses me onto the bed in a single, powerful motion, my face shoved into the soft cushion. He grabs my arms tying them behind me once again, then continues to spread my legs tying each of them to opposite ends of the bed post, my ass and pussy now completely exposed to my complete and utter horror. I hear a soft chuckle escape from him, causing rage surge throughout my body. "Fuck you!" I hiss, my voice sharp with defiance. "I will break free from you. You cannot keep me a prisoner here," The humor in his eyes fades, replaced by a familiar iciness that sends a chill through me.

He approaches me, leans in, and presses his lips close to my ear, "You will learn to respect me," he says, his voice heavy with authority, "no matter what it takes."

He steps back and I prepare myself for the first blow of the whip, although no amount of preparation could lessen the agonizing pain of the leather slicing into my skin. I clench my teeth suppressing a scream, as the whip comes down again hard onto my ass. The pain is unbearable, but I don't allow him the satisfaction of hearing me suffer. He continues to whip, again and again, still unable to elicit a scream from me. I can see him growing frustrated, unable to break me despite the numerous blows he has already delivered.

"You are strong, I admit— and I admire that" he says, compellingly "but you need to know that there are consequences for your actions. You are my prisoner here, whether you like it or not, and sooner or later you are going to have to submit yourself to me. This can be easy or hard, Clara, the choice is yours. But know that even the strongest can be broken."

Raising the whip high above his head, he brings it down on my ass with immense force. I can't suppress the scream that erupts from within me, as a pain unlike anything I've ever felt courses through me. As I lay gasping for air and writhing from the intense pain. I hear a thump, as the whip is thrown to the ground, and know that my punishment is complete.

As I lay on the mattress, soft whimpers escape my lips as my body trembles still suffering from the pain left from the whip. The bindings on my legs are severed, and I would have collapsed to the ground if Lord Vale hadn't caught me, bringing me to the mattress. For a moment, I just lay on the soft mattress, sobbing quietly into the cushion. I feel the bed sink as Lord Vale sits next to me on the mattress, I grimace, worried he has come to inflict more pain. After a moment, I steal a glance at him and find him studying my reddened skin, his brow furrowed in concern. The expression on his face confuses me, leaving me to wonder what thoughts are flooding through his head.

I watch as he reaches into the drawer and retrieves a small tube of ointment. He squeezes some into his hands and begins to gently rub it into the gashes left on my skin. I gasp at the initial sting, but soon a sigh of relief escapes my lips as the pain starts to fade. He continues to rub the ointment into my skin, being careful not to hurt me. He begins massaging up my back and onto my shoulders. I sigh and lean into his touch, letting him work into the flesh. He lingers for a moment, expertly working on the strained muscles, making me melt under his touch. Then he continues his massage, moving downward to my thighs, causing a new sensation to grow within me. Another moan escapes my lips, one no longer from pain, but pleasure. A familiar wetness begins to pool at my entrance, and I try to twist away, preventing the Lord from seeing, but he holds me firmly refusing to let me conceal myself. "Beautiful" he whispers softly, causing my cheeks to redden in response. He lowers his hand and is now massaging the area around my sensitive flesh, eliciting another moan from me.

He rubs his thumb up and down the slit of my opening making me squirm to his touch. Using the wetness pouring out of me he slowly inserts one finger into me, letting me accommodate to its size, then another. Against my will, I feel myself begin grinding into his hand desperate to feel more of this amazing sensation radiating through me. He curves his fingers and makes a "come here" motion, eliciting a gasp as a wave of pleasure consumes me. I am now practically bouncing onto his touch, too lost in pleasure to be aware of the shameful way I was responding to the man who had just inflicted so much pain into me. His other hand finds my clit and begins to make small circles on my sensitive bud. A new sensation starts to build at my core, an intense pressure swelling within me that feels as if it's on the verge of exploding. Panic grips me, a wave of anxiety crashing over me as I struggle to pull away from his touch. "M-my L-Lord, please release me, I n-need to relieve myself" I stammer through waves of pleasure. Surprisingly, my plea only seems to encourage him as he speeds up his actions with renewed vigor.

I'm now gasping for air, my heart racing in my chest as the tension in my core continues to grow. I want to beg him to stop, to keep from humiliating myself before him, but the pleasure burning within me prevents me from being able to speak. He continues his efforts until I feel like I'm about to explode, then in one final motion, he presses him thumb hard into my clit— I scream out, my mind going white from the extraordinary pleasure encompassing every cell in my body, enveloping me in a blissful ecstasy that I'd never know.

I don't know how long I stayed like that before I came down from my high, my body stull pulsing with waves of pleasure from that unexpected sensation. "What just happened?" I barley make out, hearing him chuckle in response, "It is natural," he coos, a small smile appearing on his lips, "your body is reacting to my touch as it should." He brushes a strand of hair out of my face, looking as if he wants to say more; but choosing not to.

Before I can respond, he effortlessly flips me onto my back as if I weigh nothing, forcing me to meet his gaze head-on. The sudden shift catches me off guard, and I find myself staring directly into his eyes, a mix of surprise and intensity flooding my features. His gray eyes pierced through me with a magnetic intensity, shimmering with longing and hunger. As they trace my features, I feel a mix of excitement and unease, as if his gaze was both a promise and a challenge, stirring something deep within me.

The air around us thickens, my heartbeat echoing like a drum in the silence. I could feel the weight of his gaze, a mixture of curiosity and something more intense. It was as if he was searching for answers hidden beneath my skin, unraveling the layers I had carefully constructed.

I gasp, too captivated in his beauty to notice that he had completely undressed, his cock now fully erect, jutting towards me. My stomach sinks as I look at the massive, protruding flesh extended toward me. I am filled with mixed feelings of longing and apprehensiveness, my ass still sore from the rough blows that he delivered. I don't want to give in; to cave so easily to my desires, I feel a familiar surge of anger build up in my chest. I refuse to give in to my captor so easily, so I make one final attempt to resist.

"Stop" I say, pleading, "please, don't do this..." But he doesn't hear me, his eyes glazed with hunger and longing.

Desperate to stop him, I'm filled with a surge of confidence, unable to contain the words escaping from my lips, "what they say of you is true then," I say through gritted teeth "you are a

monster."

His eyes flicker, and for a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of hurt within them. But just as quickly, that softness vanishes, replaced by the dark storm that had been there before. Suddenly his hand is on my throat, and I know he could break it simply with one squeeze from his powerful hands.

"This can be pleasurable or painful," he said, his voice low and threatening, "the choice is yours." I grimace, remembering the sting of the whip just moments earlier, not wanting to experience that pain again.

Grabbing my thighs, he pulls me towards him, and a shiver runs through me. "W-wait" I stammer, eyes widened with fear "Please I...I've never done this before"

He draws in a sharp breath, his gaze fixed on me with a hunger that sends a shiver down my spine. Leaning over me, his warm body presses against my skin, his face just inches from mine. Once again, I'm captivated by the depth of his gaze, drawing me in with an irresistible intensity.

His fingers graze my lips before he slips two into my mouth. "Suck them," he commands "it will be more painful for you if you do not."

Fearful of what he says, I obey him, circling his fingers with my tongue. He begins trailing small kisses down my neck, continuing down to suck and nibble at my nipples, his fingers still in my mouth. A familiar warmth begins to grow in my core as my body betrays me, becoming wet again. He removes his fingers from my mouth, bringing them between my thighs, noticing the moisture already there, a smile appearing on his lips. My cheeks burned with a deep blush of shame, the warmth spreading from the tips of my ears to the hollow of my throat.

"You say you don't want this," he purrs "but your body betrays you." He brings his hand down to his cock, guiding it towards my entrance, using my moisture as a lubricant.