II
o0o
No. No, no, no! She belonged to no one! She wiggled against him, trying to push free, but he chuckled at her attempts to escape.
"Fight all you like. But don't fight too long, my dear. You are mine, and nothing will change that."
"No!" she managed to bark out. Why did he have to be so damn strong?
"You should -- will -- be pleased to be claimed by a mighty Demon of the Sea! I will fuck you so hard you won't be able to walk for a while, and then do it all over again." He let go of her, but before she could wiggle away, he pressed her to the bed with a hand that covered most of her shoulder and the side of her neck, pinning her down securely. Shanan could feel the power and menace in his grip and looked up at him with wide eyes. Her legs now straddled his waist as he leaned over her.
"You will relish being mine. You will thank whatever gods you worship for causing our paths to cross. You will quiver in anticipation for me, and commit yourself to me. And you will enjoy all of it."
"You think much of yourself," the words slipped from her mouth before she could restrain herself.
"It's not bragging if it's the truth," came his swift reply as he grinned at her, applying enough pressure to her shoulder and neck to have her squirming against him in alarm. She batted at his hand, and he chuckled softly before lessening the pressure enough to let her breathe comfortably. She looked around frantically, trying to think of something to say or do that might get her out of this situation, but it looked like she was truly done for. His free hand moved within her line of sight, and he took hold of her shirt, finishing the tear he'd made when he bit her earlier.
A sharp whine broke from her throat for a moment before she stifled it. Under her shirt and skirt was a slip, a plain but comfortable sleeveless linen chemise. As she'd just come out of the water, the thin material did the bare minimum to hide her nipples from his roving gaze. There were streaks of red along the upper area near her shoulder, and the strap was broken.
"Sir! Please don't damage my clothing," she pleaded, not wanting to imagine what he could do to the rest of her covering. It seemed like such a small and reasonable favor to ask of the one who was intent on ravishing her.
But then, one such as this sharkman, who was willing to kidnap her from her home and claim her with a vicious bite, was not likely to give such consideration, was he? What was life going to be like, if she did not find a way to escape from him?
"I will drape you in the warmest of furs and finest of silks, as is befitting my mate," he promised as he divested her of the rest of her clothing, keeping his grip on her and calmly tugging the skirt out of her grip. The sunlight brought out the rich golds and earth tones of her skin, her nipples a reddish-brown. A small thatch of wiry dark hair did its best to shield her womanhood from his hungry gaze, but her position had her spread open so he could see everything.
She bit back a moan of embarrassment, lifting her hand to cover her face. "I have fantasized about this ever since I first saw you," she heard him rumble as his free hand trailed along her body, squeezing her breasts, rubbing her belly, stroking her hips. "Be a dear and look at me, hmm?"
She slowly lifted her hand from her face, forcing herself to lift her chin and look up at him. She had never felt so vulnerable, and her eyes darted to where their bodies met, his clothed pelvis against her naked groin. Her hands moved to the wrist that was holding him down, feeling the powerful muscles coiled under his forearm. He seemed pleased at her touch, and stood there for several moments, looking down at her as she tried to acclimate herself to her new reality.
Her hands slid up his forearm to his elbow. He said nothing.
"Why me?' she asked softly as he massaged her breast with his other hand, rolling the nipple between his thumb and finger.
"Might as well ask why the sun rises and sets," came his answer. His hand moved past her belly, and she tensed as his fingers circled her privates, sliding along the juncture between her inner thighs and pelvis. Her fingers dug into his arm as he looked down at her. "You're so tense. You should be enjoying this," he rumbled. She opened her mouth but could think of nothing to say. Why was it that she should feel desire for this man that she was supposed to detest? His monstrous features were the least of his problems.
He was an asshole, coming along and claiming the Sapphire Sea as his domain, and expecting tribute from his new subjects. Sure, he was doing this in the name of the Lord of the Sea, but that was a distant entity that was more focused on more valuable acquisitions. This self-proclaimed Lord was happy enough to let a demon fish rule a swath of the world in his name, and who cared about the thoughts of the people who lived on these islands and other lands, their lives impacted by the choices of those who lived in the highest echelons of society?
Her poor betrothed. Now that Zvigen had marked her and was going to claim her, would Albert still want her? Would her neighbors look at her the same way, even though she hadn't gone with the sharkman willingly?
A short whimper burst from her when he pressed his thumb against her clit, and a finger slid along her slit. Instinctively, she clenched, as if she could close herself off to him. This proved ineffective as he slid a finger and then another inside, and she squeezed his arm.
"Since you are my mate, I am taking the time to prepare you. There is plenty of me to take in, and I want to make sure it doesn't prove too painful." He tutted gently when she tried to pull her hips back, but the hand at her shoulder prevented that. "Ah, ah. You will get used to it. The sooner you accept the bond, the better things will become." His fingers pistoned out of her at a steady and firm pace while he massaged her clit, and she let out a small whimper of confusion mixed with enjoyment.